tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62905105038403647742024-03-05T00:53:40.027-08:00Erin Illustrates!Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290510503840364774.post-87022056178753364672010-10-28T10:48:00.000-07:002010-10-28T11:14:39.943-07:00Evolution of a T-rex<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1x1CKGb4vEsBQSDAtB2R0UBFGs9zEpFRSiRK3JWb2KPqubqqNw60LST2PSA_I-ku1ihQozwb-2cRMnns1kZYUz-_3TYXF3GAKy_kf7Kz0Ff_kyqhglV3KvYUYEzUDoyAMGo4Uoqbbaw/s1600/IMG_3327.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1x1CKGb4vEsBQSDAtB2R0UBFGs9zEpFRSiRK3JWb2KPqubqqNw60LST2PSA_I-ku1ihQozwb-2cRMnns1kZYUz-_3TYXF3GAKy_kf7Kz0Ff_kyqhglV3KvYUYEzUDoyAMGo4Uoqbbaw/s400/IMG_3327.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533159191624271410" /></a><br />My daughter Aislin really inspired me with her request for a T-rex. And I've managed to surprise myself with what I've come up with so far. Apparently, I really love painting dinosaurs! Here's a peek at how my T-rex's tail is coming along. Above is a photo I took of the work yesterday, and below is a photo taken today. I'm looking forward to sharing this one in completed form with you soon. And to doing more fully expanded dinosaur illustrations, adding backgrounds and environment into the mix.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6cFKw6Il7WXM4Z_OonYzvdf456PGuCHjPJzezzYferTlb0OKRLGKSFiNF8Tim6uFIi2pWhHE-Yxph_veE-y50Y5Sjh7DlkjWfF-NUcHUHZKzEtq6mO5dL6ODDbYHoMnUMI0Y-oeOGpA/s1600/IMG_3328.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6cFKw6Il7WXM4Z_OonYzvdf456PGuCHjPJzezzYferTlb0OKRLGKSFiNF8Tim6uFIi2pWhHE-Yxph_veE-y50Y5Sjh7DlkjWfF-NUcHUHZKzEtq6mO5dL6ODDbYHoMnUMI0Y-oeOGpA/s400/IMG_3328.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533160003594277394" /></a>Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290510503840364774.post-23630490877972517812010-10-26T06:25:00.000-07:002010-10-26T07:07:09.168-07:00I'm back...and with inspiration<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40D0bOg1u79pOuDRl2YMAxkgoOs1KfRjbE1ZYWn1jgwnM-spxpd7nh1vTcJPhmHT33a9wXWfubAWvtNCl5l0DecF4gXiJqaRJrrQT6a0KkzGWZbtP_KeFbof7flsfmt1AhkzVj4oPSJk/s1600/IMG_3324.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40D0bOg1u79pOuDRl2YMAxkgoOs1KfRjbE1ZYWn1jgwnM-spxpd7nh1vTcJPhmHT33a9wXWfubAWvtNCl5l0DecF4gXiJqaRJrrQT6a0KkzGWZbtP_KeFbof7flsfmt1AhkzVj4oPSJk/s400/IMG_3324.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532350001736226082" /></a> <br />As I somewhat expected, my couture invitation business found it's way to front and center over the past 9 months. The result? A fabulous wedding season, but little time to illustrate. As the season winds down, I find myself itching to get back to my first love...drawing and painting. But I'll admit I feel a little spent in the creativity department. As much creativity as it takes to design and create thousands of invitations...owning a business, parenting small children, and helping to keep a household running, demand even more creativity. So now that I'm ready to illustrate. Where do I find inspiration?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00eSwV-cTe_tEmBTJsLdAKhXeKdvhVvQQZyi7q7FbidNwo2B4KUFXBHoCGa2BzA9GLXiaLltvT7qJUZZBNfYOxjCIwhIGBvkPElg6_vNy1Hj1-2-rMOl2BVUMh-BbuQ2dHDN8QPP6Ltk/s1600/IMG_3323.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00eSwV-cTe_tEmBTJsLdAKhXeKdvhVvQQZyi7q7FbidNwo2B4KUFXBHoCGa2BzA9GLXiaLltvT7qJUZZBNfYOxjCIwhIGBvkPElg6_vNy1Hj1-2-rMOl2BVUMh-BbuQ2dHDN8QPP6Ltk/s400/IMG_3323.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532355158210603330" /></a><br />This time I've happened to find it in a lunchbox, in the form of a napkin note. I write them for my daughter Leah, and being the future writer and illustrator she hopes to be, she instantly started writing them back to me. Since she's still learning to spell, many of her notes to me (which are left on my kitchen table each morning) are riffs on whatever I wrote and drew for her the day before. She'll often copy the larger words I used from one of my old notes (it's sweet to see that they don't often end up in the kindergarten garbage bin), and rearrange them. What a treat to see my doodles and ideas reinterpreted through the eyes of a child! I have felt very inspired by her feedback, additions, and the freedom with which she creates. I just love how graphic and stylized her tulips and fairy skirts are. Why didn't I ever think of that!? I'm experimenting with ways of applying this inspiration to what I'm drawing and painting now, and I have a feeling I will always have a critic in my oldest child.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzoM9bDVggLt8uaa5lN7Fa-L28om3461zs7U2gbRotvHZR0nA8g1W4oWyKtm3fle4Z-0CvsRntSJ6_lZk_l8_3Izfb1OGAsfVk_M4rGnCRx8XisJgvmf8MCWhsqWJLf6ENVMq9ZkJfto/s1600/IMG_3325.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzoM9bDVggLt8uaa5lN7Fa-L28om3461zs7U2gbRotvHZR0nA8g1W4oWyKtm3fle4Z-0CvsRntSJ6_lZk_l8_3Izfb1OGAsfVk_M4rGnCRx8XisJgvmf8MCWhsqWJLf6ENVMq9ZkJfto/s400/IMG_3325.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532354581615395042" /></a><br />In fact, when she saw a watercolor sketch I'm doing using an "Illustrator's Reference Guide" for reference...she was interested to hear about how I used the guide and gave me some feedback on my work in progress. Hearing her say "You always use such nice, bright colors" made my day. Thanks for the inspiration Leah, and to my daughter Aislin as well...who recently asked for a drawing of a T-rex. A subject I'd never choose to paint on my own. I hope to share with you all my interpretation of a T-rex sometime soon!Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290510503840364774.post-72900408752825625602010-03-10T16:41:00.000-08:002010-03-10T17:36:10.903-08:00The dance that is Illustration...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNbC3ErdQ8A-wT7Jp7D0J-BnT46SdP4VbWmhNu3wyBYlyUGj5IgLxVkbtXCFA_LzGwaedVGN3kfhtkVqzupnxWr0FfSWB2A3OrdjfeZ_im7X1GPX5lbvQBTh_28ULIPwRfGZ_6gv95Yc/s1600-h/ENowak_Martins&Farell_InProgress.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 316px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNbC3ErdQ8A-wT7Jp7D0J-BnT46SdP4VbWmhNu3wyBYlyUGj5IgLxVkbtXCFA_LzGwaedVGN3kfhtkVqzupnxWr0FfSWB2A3OrdjfeZ_im7X1GPX5lbvQBTh_28ULIPwRfGZ_6gv95Yc/s400/ENowak_Martins&Farell_InProgress.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447183983277072722" /></a>I love to dance. I spent age 4-16 dancing ballet, took up modern in college, taught tap and jazz to little kids for a spell, and still dream about the dances I'd choreograph when I hear certain music. All the while I was drawing, painting, and printing dancers. This is a current illustration in progress that I thought I'd share to give you some insight into my process and the way I do things. It's an experiment, a sketch just for practice and fun. And when I really want to have fun and just enjoy the painting, I often choose dancers as my subject.<br /><br />This is the start of my interpretation of <a href="http://www.paulkolnik.com/closeups/bal4.html">this photograph</a> by iconic dance photographer Paul Kolnik. It's Peter Martins and Suzanne Farrell from NYC Ballet, performing "Diamonds" from the great Balanchine ballet "Jewels." I'd say the painting is about two-thirds of the way done. Some of the spacing is a tad off, but already this painting is serving a purpose. I am so driven to practice, practice, practice my technique lately and this painting has helped me do that. It's kept my interest, forced me to make modifications, and allowed me to see where I can make changes and improvements.<br /><br />One stand-out change I decided to try with this piece is to limit my usually rainbow color palette to a more select group of colors. So far, I think that aspect of the piece is working well and lends something to the mood, while still retaining a sense of my style. What do you think? I look forward to posting the finished product whenever that happens, so keep an eye peeled for that.Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290510503840364774.post-31014517771188068662010-03-04T06:26:00.000-08:002010-03-04T06:41:01.470-08:00Sweets & Treats<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YZA5HPlnh3tU4eUTIsd5jP4q0yCB6ko6tOpf5LqnCu3KZjqiUsNlqocXpyQCmdrGctckU9o2GnhG_G-VUo4ra_bJtKffr_VOUClhsTOJ05XucHXP1uVAfNLO8-hYFlYJeJebrTu5G68/s1600-h/ENowak_Sweets&Treats_Elephant_Web.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YZA5HPlnh3tU4eUTIsd5jP4q0yCB6ko6tOpf5LqnCu3KZjqiUsNlqocXpyQCmdrGctckU9o2GnhG_G-VUo4ra_bJtKffr_VOUClhsTOJ05XucHXP1uVAfNLO8-hYFlYJeJebrTu5G68/s400/ENowak_Sweets&Treats_Elephant_Web.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444788520255277714" /></a>Lately I've been working on improving certain aspects of my illustration. I want to become stronger at rendering animals. I also want to get better at drawing faces, and the expressions and emotions they contain. Eventually I'd like to push these into character studies that show a consistency to my work. So, meet my first attempt at an animal/character that enabled me to practice all of those things at once. For the most part, I naturally favor drawing kids, human beings, fairies and the like, but I found it really interesting and fun to work with an animal in this case and at the same time capture that creature's emotions and expressions.<br /><br />I created this original work for an auction that's going on at my children's school. Here's hoping it's picked up by a family or person who is touched by the gentle, yet formidable, joy that this elephant is compelled to share. As well as the very real joy I experienced creating it. I love to paint and draw. As I heard my daughter's teacher say (in reference to dancing to beautiful classical music. Another true love of mine as well!)..."it makes my heart happy." Illustrating definitely makes my heart happy. Here's hoping that each of you reading this get to do some of whatever makes your own heart happy today.Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290510503840364774.post-84734557176212598092010-02-22T17:12:00.000-08:002010-02-22T17:42:07.048-08:00Is it Spring Yet?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWQG19IRU2IPIq9FMj5MFddwgB5qI4weNDhWQlFWKkQhTY27XvdSrFcSeIXsQ5Ss8m5TP-5N9ni-lNOId6xNjfzE6rliDqES9UZVh8boni_eNzHdFmWweC1rzy5pWkpocjS91MRcnwlQ/s1600-h/Callas.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWQG19IRU2IPIq9FMj5MFddwgB5qI4weNDhWQlFWKkQhTY27XvdSrFcSeIXsQ5Ss8m5TP-5N9ni-lNOId6xNjfzE6rliDqES9UZVh8boni_eNzHdFmWweC1rzy5pWkpocjS91MRcnwlQ/s400/Callas.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441246734961421778" /></a>Looking for great art quotes? Look no further than Picasso. Here's a great <a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/p/pablo_picasso.html">collection</a>. My favorite Picasso quote is:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it. "<br />Pablo Picasso </span><br /><br />I'll admit, I am not always very eager to do what I "cannot do." It would appear that's just an attempt at a failure waiting to happen, right? And I don't really like to fail. But aren't failures a (very important) part of the learning process? I know they are. You can take it from me, an artist and person who has been failing and consequently growing A LOT lately.<br /><br />This is a little something I had to whip up for my day job (second only to the all-consuming job of Motherhood), as owner and principal designer at <a href="http://bridedesign.com">Bride Design</a>. Creating this minimalist version of some summer callas went against my natural way of painting. What? I can't use every color in the box on this one? Just purple and green you say? No pen? Just paint? In the end it wasn't a success for the client, or myself, which was disappointing. But I did learn while creating it. Not only did I learn better "how" to paint in this different way just as Picasso talks about, but I also learned FROM the experience of doing and failing at it too.<br /><br />Failures have an amazing way of leading to focus for me. I'm starting to befriend them, as ultimately these pesky and sometimes painful little wrong-turns, lead towards change, movement, momentum and hopefully, success (whatever that means.)!Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290510503840364774.post-77525992175674922822010-02-08T10:28:00.001-08:002010-02-08T11:10:11.319-08:00Wouldn't it be nice...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8iblYlHZwuRpqh9dMcSrqo5B_X1ps8sHFwRUJmQluim37ry-FThEm3rAn_mgp-tFE6LkPaqZRBimliyQ_h9szl8KdB4QnSN-y9VX4mFdHVCjLGgtFEJjCnGiaJ7YgmchLxoI6mrZfus/s1600-h/BellyButton_3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8iblYlHZwuRpqh9dMcSrqo5B_X1ps8sHFwRUJmQluim37ry-FThEm3rAn_mgp-tFE6LkPaqZRBimliyQ_h9szl8KdB4QnSN-y9VX4mFdHVCjLGgtFEJjCnGiaJ7YgmchLxoI6mrZfus/s400/BellyButton_3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435951158026202866" /></a>It may sound cliché, but I've always loved books for the escape they offer. As a kid reading Madeline L'Engle's <span style="font-style:italic;">A Wrinkle In Time</span>, I'd get sucked into the adventure and narrative. Now as a mom reading picture books, I get lost in the nightly ritual of settling into a comfortable spot, reading the familiar words of a story, finding new things hidden in the pictures (like I did in Helen Crag's gorgeous illustrations for <span style="font-style:italic;">Angelina at the Fair</span> last evening), and calming myself and my children with the rythmic turning of pages. <br /><br />It's easy to lose one's self while reading, and I've found it's easy to lose one's self while creating an illustration as well. So to celebrate "getting lost" I figured I'd post a picture of some place I'd like to be. As snow swirls outside and a burgeoning calendar bursts with activities for the next few months, I'd love to be exploring (in this case with an adorable little one in wellies and sunscreen of course!) a lush garden in New England somewhere. Actually, it would be even better if I was just visiting these hospitable people. I'm just off the page to the right in an adirondack chair, with sunglasses, lemonade, and if I'm lucky a drawing pad. I can enjoy the giggles of that little one and my own little ones who are also somewhere playing in the distance. See how easy it is to get lost? Where are you getting lost to these days...in books, in creative pursuits, and in life?Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290510503840364774.post-14584858480149199242010-01-08T11:43:00.000-08:002010-01-08T11:58:31.880-08:00Contemplating my Navel<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwfjF7_egy9CwxcRNo2W1AQ3lJBSwJYzDCzcaB8ryLAmUmgccu41TmpwMGhhICHGG9FYN7vOeroOz7PiOre0neH6xDEyaMgN0fnvwCV7J4nmFsn290MWHVtXguVmOItSmeqvhgmI3G8c/s1600-h/BellyButton.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 392px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwfjF7_egy9CwxcRNo2W1AQ3lJBSwJYzDCzcaB8ryLAmUmgccu41TmpwMGhhICHGG9FYN7vOeroOz7PiOre0neH6xDEyaMgN0fnvwCV7J4nmFsn290MWHVtXguVmOItSmeqvhgmI3G8c/s400/BellyButton.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424457274237341314" /></a>So what have I been doing since the new year started? A LOT. Or at least that's what it feels like! Not the least of which has been thinking about the direction I want my life to take, and that includes many factors such as children, husband, family, art, business, community, philanthropy, spirituality, and more. Honestly, It's overwhelming. So instead, I'll just sit and focus on something smaller. Something I can handle, like this drawing.<br /><br />I created this for a wonderful picture book manuscript authored by a friend. It actually looked like it was getting of the ground, but nothing came of it. Still, I love this drawing nonetheless. Perhaps I'm partial to how much this rendering resembles the model....although she's grown quite a bit from this sweet toddler/early preschooler phase. Now the curious little girl from this picture is starting to sound-out phrases, draw illustrations to the stories she dreams up all by herself, and can even read a few words all on her own. Thrilling and exciting do not even begin to cover it! Celebrating and learning about the world of books is something I know I will be doing in 2010. What will you do?Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290510503840364774.post-6702309430498462172009-12-23T11:16:00.000-08:002009-12-23T12:27:40.104-08:00Happy Holidays!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRse0LfCinYI_NyANoVf-9gznsRYLn1Rg86qPGBrzYT_4ketKA77oDFkU7gprL2UtO4vg3-cKVh_1u5Kgk1ePqn0b8Njfz6SW_bhoYTG88Jyc5qgcd6uwyYqs5a1lSjMzAYi-Ad5KoF_U/s1600-h/I11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 223px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRse0LfCinYI_NyANoVf-9gznsRYLn1Rg86qPGBrzYT_4ketKA77oDFkU7gprL2UtO4vg3-cKVh_1u5Kgk1ePqn0b8Njfz6SW_bhoYTG88Jyc5qgcd6uwyYqs5a1lSjMzAYi-Ad5KoF_U/s400/I11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418513147543849842" /></a>I'm going to be taking a little holiday hiatus here at Erin Illustrates! until 2010, but before I do I wanted to wish you all the most colorful, energetic, and creative of holidays! Sorry I missed putting my dreidel drawing up earlier in the month for those who celebrate Hanukkah. It has been a whirlwind season and I'm sure many of you can relate.<br /><br />One thing I find peaceful at this time of year is sitting in front of my Christmas tree. A cup of tea or cocoa and some time to just zone out on the lights, draw, cuddle with my kids, or read a book, always does me good. We're traveling this year and while I am away I hope to get some drawing done and put time into improving upon and expanding my illustration portfolio. I am slated to attend a "New Year's Resolution" Conference in January put on by my regional chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. I also plan on getting my portfolio reviewed by some esteemed illustrator members who will be there. I'm excited, but also a bit nervous for that! I've had the many incarnations of my design portfolio reviewed hundreds of times by teachers, renowned designers, employers, and clients. No biggie. But this feels different and takes me back to my days of standing in line with tons of aspiring teenage artists to have my work reviewed by college admissions counselors.<br /><br />During this time off, I'll try to draw those jitters out and remember that any feedback I get will undoubtedly be helpful in my quest for publication. I hope all of you have a delightful holiday season as well. And I promise, really promise myself, that next year's season will be calmer and filled with even more of the true meaning of Christmas. Thank you for starting this journey with me this year and following my progress. I'm so emboldened and inspired by your comments and I am humbled by the amount of support I've received from you all. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can't wait to see where we're all at this time next year!Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290510503840364774.post-11318732490828874722009-12-16T20:47:00.000-08:002009-12-16T21:12:09.950-08:00Warm & Toasty<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0wE3hOOtSUbjUYu_VubE2ZaCPXXqGzwIrUM_J_ujsl4QYMdsWKDEJ0IX7YDw92v3ZNOpLM8XhFLZEdywGV8BQ2BpDEdestJRBll679zpd2pPsS-3lbL3R4nJ_09-TzZA9JGPtYX_juo/s1600-h/piboerin1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0wE3hOOtSUbjUYu_VubE2ZaCPXXqGzwIrUM_J_ujsl4QYMdsWKDEJ0IX7YDw92v3ZNOpLM8XhFLZEdywGV8BQ2BpDEdestJRBll679zpd2pPsS-3lbL3R4nJ_09-TzZA9JGPtYX_juo/s400/piboerin1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416062504228393794" /></a>I'm thrilled to be part of the first installment of the <a href="http://taralazar.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/piboidmo-art-gallery-1/#comments">PiBoIdMo Art Gallery on Tara Lazar's fabulous blog</a>. I am in the process of learning a huge and overwhelming amount about the KidLit world each day, and Tara's blog and the PiBoIdMo contest has been a huge resource and inspiration. I am also honored to be featured with two fabulous artists (how funny is Courtney's body guard? And I love Bonnie's Piston Pete Robot), and I can't wait to read the other art gallery installment posts and see the drawings and sketches.<br /><br />So now that they're up on Tara's blog you can meet Warm & Toasty. Two characters I've dreamed up who are always happily served side by side on snowy mornings. That is until the day they decide that being part of a team can't compare to being star of the show! As each parades what they believe to be their best and unique qualities about, the two realize that complimenting each other doesn't have to mean sacrificing their individuality. That might sound deep for a piece of toast and some hot cocoa but trust me, it is only through lots of silliness that they come to this realization. I've also had a lot of fun experimenting with words and rhyming for this particular story idea as you can see from my sketchbook pages. Go over to Tara's blog to check that out.<br /><br />In the meantime, I've been messing with, adding to, and furthering this story every morning through discussions on the finer points of wheat bread with my 4 and 3 year old (they've got opinions!) and we do it over hot cocoa...of course.Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290510503840364774.post-86955870167299661892009-12-14T11:15:00.000-08:002009-12-14T12:15:08.211-08:00Cool Contest Alert!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeWfBfr6RcQDQRMr2yrzIUZTPZRTCdIi2eaGE-boOd0W-Yd8W1RpV08BrHxQlvkwxWCdYFx45qMMrpbvUavn-eAEkFq3sDQBE01uA-AIGPChT0sAm2DNAAtMRxzrSuVPaBwGGZ-VefU4/s1600-h/OttoGrowsDownContest.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 156px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeWfBfr6RcQDQRMr2yrzIUZTPZRTCdIi2eaGE-boOd0W-Yd8W1RpV08BrHxQlvkwxWCdYFx45qMMrpbvUavn-eAEkFq3sDQBE01uA-AIGPChT0sAm2DNAAtMRxzrSuVPaBwGGZ-VefU4/s200/OttoGrowsDownContest.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415186265444674418" /></a>I'm going to be unselfish here and share the news of Holiday Giveaway #4 - Otto Grows Down, on Suzie Townsend's blog <a href="http://confessionsofawanderingheart.blogspot.com/2009/12/holiday-giveaway-4-otto-grows-down.html">Confessions of a Wandering Heart</a>. I say unselfish becuase I'd LOVE to win a copy of <span style="font-style:italic;">Otto Grows Down</span> by Michael Sussman all for myself! Still I've got to share, since in the short time I've been lurking about and engaging with the online kid lit community I've come to see that it is filled with highly generous and enthusiastic individuals. Many have been extremely encouraging and they've also shared knowledge and invaluable insight. In fact, I've been meaning to check out <span style="font-style:italic;">Otto Grows Down</span> and the work of illustrator Scott Magoon for a while now as I've read about both the book and the artist on several blogs.<br /><br />Here's the gist of the story as found on Suzie's blog: Otto has just one birthday wish: that his new baby sister Anna had never been born. And it comes true when the days suddenly start moving in reverse. But now, instead of growing up, Otto's growing DOWN. He's getting younger every minute and in danger of disappearing entirely. Can he turn things around before it's too late—for Anna and himself?<br /><br />I need to know what happens to Otto! If you do too enter by commenting on <a href="http://confessionsofawanderingheart.blogspot.com/2009/12/holiday-giveaway-4-otto-grows-down.html">Suzie's blog</a> and include your email address so she can contact you. Enter by midnight on December 20th and who knows maybe the winner will have it before Christmas!Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290510503840364774.post-30395148071296493582009-12-09T07:03:00.001-08:002009-12-09T07:12:24.128-08:00A Morning Cuppa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewZDrmnbTKozs7P4OKhre1BecGmrn42LuSRgfeagW3dLLVSyV3ZeGHk_hzLNLOEHc4e6DRIeUyuMgT2uSkxImGiTneAgVzXU-8z1U6sdk1nRw_rjfZYJQsW1ucr2PTow361B65CS8Tlo/s1600-h/E.Nowak_TeaCup.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 274px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewZDrmnbTKozs7P4OKhre1BecGmrn42LuSRgfeagW3dLLVSyV3ZeGHk_hzLNLOEHc4e6DRIeUyuMgT2uSkxImGiTneAgVzXU-8z1U6sdk1nRw_rjfZYJQsW1ucr2PTow361B65CS8Tlo/s400/E.Nowak_TeaCup.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413252468039759170" /></a>I thought this one was a perfect post for this snowy, rainy, dreary morning. I really do love to sketch. Sometimes I get so caught up with designing, or creating "pictures that have a purpose" that I forget the joy of just sitting down and creating a quick sketch. I love the activity of "mark-making" as some of my Freshman Foundation professors called it. They encouraged us to focus on the drawing utensil hitting the paper and the way it feels to just make marks on the page, rather than focusing on creating the most perfect drawing of a human form, landscape, or in this case a tea cup. This way of drawing went fully against the way I drew for my entire life up to college. It truly expanded my technique as an artist and still influences me today...even if I was a little crabby about feeling forced to draw this way when I was 18. Sometimes, it's when we let go of the "thinking" that our true style and unique expression is most visible.Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290510503840364774.post-1953931003390719122009-12-07T06:37:00.000-08:002009-12-07T06:53:57.214-08:00Miss SassyFrass<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZoPrBA99ujQ41EZg5aKOgRU_Rekdyvj4KemcFOOdc_uhwfSDRgSo64O-dPB_hFdC1LA-7oyDjW9qJtrZgjKVohQAfl5C0bw3qYYj6mP-FKj2zun6gogKPcagNvRsA5fjFPUX0EUOf_A/s1600-h/MissSassyFrass.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 349px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZoPrBA99ujQ41EZg5aKOgRU_Rekdyvj4KemcFOOdc_uhwfSDRgSo64O-dPB_hFdC1LA-7oyDjW9qJtrZgjKVohQAfl5C0bw3qYYj6mP-FKj2zun6gogKPcagNvRsA5fjFPUX0EUOf_A/s400/MissSassyFrass.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412507532720691794" /></a>This is another illustration I originally worked up for my <span style="font-style:italic;">You Have a Voice</span> manuscript. She was an alternative drawing to my loud and proud little girl in the header up there. Her gown is modeled after my all-time favorite nightgown when I was a little girl. The gloves are present, because as anyone who ever saw me at a prom knows I love any excuse to wear opera length gloves. She's completely imagined, but what amazes me is how her expression and attitude capture much of my daughters' personalities. I think it's the hands on the hips personally. <br /><br />Lately in my sketching, I've been exploring body language and doing studies that show characters in deferent poses or positions to showcase a different mood or feeling. For one set of characters who I hope to share with you soon, I really couldn't decide if they should have arms or not. In the end I think I decided to keep the arms since they add a lot to the characters' expressions.<br /><br />While I originally drew this for another piece, I think I'm going to work on some other ideas using this character. In the meantime I named her Miss SassyFrass. It's the first thing that came to me, and completely subject to change depending on what adventures she encounters or what sort of story develops. I look forward to seeing where she leads me.Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290510503840364774.post-52966386405644060832009-12-04T06:57:00.000-08:002009-12-04T07:14:55.351-08:00Time to Celebrate!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5vmC0xFT44EoVeSldFPc8rVFzzjfV3iuhsUR_oEAq5rqF_aYzNSnGEhUK3dXXIsryVniRfcy_3z-cbmwksVkampqTHSQR2339w10DZc2Gfv-4kvES-Slhx_3iXw1biR5JjL7a81BnAU/s1600-h/I16.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 122px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5vmC0xFT44EoVeSldFPc8rVFzzjfV3iuhsUR_oEAq5rqF_aYzNSnGEhUK3dXXIsryVniRfcy_3z-cbmwksVkampqTHSQR2339w10DZc2Gfv-4kvES-Slhx_3iXw1biR5JjL7a81BnAU/s320/I16.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411396526046236706" /></a>While illustrating for kids might be my passion, most of my experience illustrating is commercial for the retail and medical industries or higher education field. Just a little tidbit about me.<br /><br />I need to get in the holiday spirit, so while drinking lots of hot cocoa with peppermint sticks, and listening to the Christmas station on Pandora, I started thinking about cookies and all the fun little holiday drawings I've done in the past few years for <a href="http://www.sweettalkboutique.com/index.php?osCsid=f5ada62b40ca06a14adb01fbda83210d">Sweet Talk Boutique</a>. At Sweet Talk, baker Jen Comfort of <a href="shetakesthecake.com">She Takes The Cake</a> serves up cookie cards and invitations with my little illustrations, along with a whole lot of cheer. Check 'em out. Yum! And back to our regularly scheduled programming with my next post. I've got some fun planned and new images to share.Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290510503840364774.post-69543301211947976242009-12-01T17:33:00.000-08:002009-12-01T17:50:54.132-08:00The Happy Machine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-R67HXjU4bOTmeYU1hPQ6_xQ-HmRmjm8YJ2rrmZzNdvZx6n9AVOs_vFV-lhtn7E6v40IWmCgmWTpJm916ntHafnw3xOM0RM-Wd3wlllpzm-GryoIQ3i9a5y8a8BYPuZIHyRC4g3edag/s1600/HappyMachine.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-R67HXjU4bOTmeYU1hPQ6_xQ-HmRmjm8YJ2rrmZzNdvZx6n9AVOs_vFV-lhtn7E6v40IWmCgmWTpJm916ntHafnw3xOM0RM-Wd3wlllpzm-GryoIQ3i9a5y8a8BYPuZIHyRC4g3edag/s400/HappyMachine.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410446287215706498" /></a><br />I owe this illustration to my four year old. A kid whose creative ideas honestly make my own seem pale and second-rate at times. Over the summer she drew me a picture of a "happy machine" that spit out hearts and suns, and that inspired me to create my own version (with her blessing of course). I added wheels, wings, and flower antennae. I ran it past my collaborator and she approved. She especially liked the addition of the stars and the machine's jaunty shoot, or snout, or whatever you want to call it. I like to think he might be an upcycled tennis ball machine.<br /><br />I've had this drawing rolling around since then and just this past month I fleshed out story ideas based on this "character" for PiBoIdMo (see the link to the upper left for more info on Picture Book Idea Month). The story idea I've started to create around The Happy Machine, as well as 29 other ideas (some OK, some lame), are down on paper. What will become of them? Who knows? But they are there...and that's the first step right?Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290510503840364774.post-71265116041602783572009-11-29T10:36:00.000-08:002009-11-29T10:52:40.331-08:00Two great tastes that go great together!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEvoV8uJxQpqLkYgjycvi-C3B2UAYoG22ljr34jl8F2OpTtwX2AnXVjp0QZzCItQhthEDtyPBHrbiHGfpgvtefZD96Q_T5PUbT-42WYP08B-qql1uyQslb114lRqXz0V6JiDbnjlbzgM/s1600/Spaghetti&Meatballs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 384px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEvoV8uJxQpqLkYgjycvi-C3B2UAYoG22ljr34jl8F2OpTtwX2AnXVjp0QZzCItQhthEDtyPBHrbiHGfpgvtefZD96Q_T5PUbT-42WYP08B-qql1uyQslb114lRqXz0V6JiDbnjlbzgM/s400/Spaghetti&Meatballs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409599247939947682" /></a><br />Hopefully you're not too full from Thanksgiving dinner to enjoy some spaghetti and meatballs. Made with paper, colored pencil, and a little imagination, I guarantee that this version of my kids' favorite meal is relatively low in calories. Bon Appetit!Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290510503840364774.post-83756416827302609592009-11-23T16:32:00.000-08:002009-11-23T17:21:07.840-08:00Raising Voices<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRwfve5GUkIU0E6bdSDKfUMWnoYRp8chwccyBaz12at_KBIhwuNt8D3xuzuI1Aurzm3wy7XyqCABy5giMJFYsNN08dgnfosAeBbTfn1-fvMP0fXzyRDIW7t4xF6ZW3BcZvkCjk6Dywko/s1600/Sick.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 384px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRwfve5GUkIU0E6bdSDKfUMWnoYRp8chwccyBaz12at_KBIhwuNt8D3xuzuI1Aurzm3wy7XyqCABy5giMJFYsNN08dgnfosAeBbTfn1-fvMP0fXzyRDIW7t4xF6ZW3BcZvkCjk6Dywko/s400/Sick.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407468776804430002" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"And when you feel like your voice is away,<br />your throat may feel “froggy,”<br />you don’t know what to say...<br />Don’t be frightened, your voice is still there.<br />Waiting until you are ready to share."<br />-You Have a Voice</span><br />by Erin McKenna Nowak<br /><br />Did you know that according to the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities, it is estimated that speech, language, and hearing disorders affect one of every 10 people in the United States? It was that statistic, as well as personal experience, that moved me to write and illustrate a picture book that would encourage and inspire young children affected by communication disorders to use whatever language they may have. I also designed it to help children without communication disorders better express themselves and understand their friends and peers who are coping with language impairments, stuttering, or autism. <br /><br />Now that I have my own children, I can see that every toddler and preschooler needs to be gently and consistently reminded that what they have to "say" matters, and that we, their parents, teachers, and friends, are listening. As I hope the little snippet of writing above shows, it is my intent to approach these needs of all young children in a unique way. Accented with bright and lively illustration, this book, currently titled <span style="font-style:italic;">You Have a Voice</span>, focuses on how play and every day activities (like groaning to let mom know your tummy hurts) give all children a chance to use their voice, express themselves, and be heard. I believe there is a real and large audience for this book. Now, I need to find a way to reach it.Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290510503840364774.post-62025539031241414812009-11-19T11:15:00.000-08:002009-11-19T12:04:17.247-08:00While we're on the subject...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedUcQ5ZPGJvPOg50wJn0hO1lajn5a1ceuAMh2RnhSlwQfR6nCkBi6a1sNKyBsNquIJodcXKOOk0ckZnH_tWQGiZejxhrgt1hdL-DOHHygxjGXDWX7bW8kJ3DbQjvd74EEBpP6XSy3_Wk/s1600/SurferGirl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedUcQ5ZPGJvPOg50wJn0hO1lajn5a1ceuAMh2RnhSlwQfR6nCkBi6a1sNKyBsNquIJodcXKOOk0ckZnH_tWQGiZejxhrgt1hdL-DOHHygxjGXDWX7bW8kJ3DbQjvd74EEBpP6XSy3_Wk/s400/SurferGirl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405905757299541010" /></a><br />I thought I'd stick with my beach theme, but get back to some illustration I did with children in mind. Behold, a surfer girl. I'm thinking she's a teen. Ever since I was a teen I've loved to draw "action-shots," mostly depicting dance or gymnastics. And I've learned that these are challenging subjects for an illustrator. You want the face and body to communicate feeling to the audience, but you also want it to look "realistic" to a point. Here I want to show how much fun my surfer chick is having, but I also want it to look like this girl is in motion, and balanced at the same time. I'm not sure I've achieved that, but it's on its way.<br /><br />Since I've begun digging up old illustrations for stories I've written, as well as creating some new ones for this blog, I've learned a few things. Some areas I want to improve in are: perfecting skin tones, creating truly finished and polished works, and nailing down my style even further. I've been reading a lot of <a href="http://tomie.com">Tomie DePaola</a> lately, and while I love him for a million reasons, I'm currently in awe of his consistency...even across story genres. I also want to spend more time practicing keeping characters looking consistent through a variety of situations. Now in the case of Jane Chapman's work with author Karma Wilson's delightful Bear series, we are talking about a cast of animal characters. Still, I admire how from book to book (and there are quite a few!) Bear and his friends look so familiar and uniform, yet are still rendered so artistically.<br /><br />Sounds like I've created a few homework assignments for myself for the week. Better get cracking.Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290510503840364774.post-82069569202514087642009-11-17T12:23:00.000-08:002009-11-17T19:54:14.298-08:00Sunny day in Syracuse or precipitation on Peter Island?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCL_RK3S8oju4T6GJU_UYDzHZn54DYc8b00mGMuaqlnmvkpus2ES0w4B1NS0oNCGDkzCWdLujSc7hbrevx1Kn_wx9ftJtWbkgrMWZtlZwiUj7Y2EtBsOyl_HzsHukWxz6JKximSFPfHA/s1600/PeterIsland.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 274px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCL_RK3S8oju4T6GJU_UYDzHZn54DYc8b00mGMuaqlnmvkpus2ES0w4B1NS0oNCGDkzCWdLujSc7hbrevx1Kn_wx9ftJtWbkgrMWZtlZwiUj7Y2EtBsOyl_HzsHukWxz6JKximSFPfHA/s400/PeterIsland.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405286145993474162" /></a><br />I thought that a good question to ask myself today when I stumbled upon this little travel sketch I made while on my honeymoon. This month, my husband and I shared our my 6th wedding anniversary. Looking at this drawing I made while lolling around in the BVI, brought me right back to that November day by the pool. I looked out at the sea and mountains while it misted and rained...for a whole week. A whole week! And all in a place where it supposedly never rains two days in a row, let alone an entire week. <br /><br />Needless to say, it was still a dream vacation, and I love how the colors of this quick, lively sketch capture the setting, weather, and my feelings at the moment I created it. I'll admit, all the rain made me a tad blue. So fellow travelers, artists and writers, do you sketch or journal to capture your feelings and experiences while on vacation or when you hit the road? What do you get out of it? One thing travel sketches always give me, no matter how much time has passed, is perspective. For example, six years later I experienced a brilliantly sunny fall day here in Syracuse, and while I may not have been sipping a BBC (oh, Bailey's, Banana & Coconut...I dream of you often!) on a private island in the BVI, it was still a GOOD day. And there wasn't a drop of rain...Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290510503840364774.post-2216604540420499682009-11-13T10:30:00.000-08:002009-11-13T11:07:00.981-08:00And now for something completely different...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLpjp75OcXZHZbcE4P2k7dTbqGEBsJrYExOlJityTQvkP6G-RO6au2IS9RGEthLyMu4b1_1VjMpkCycGVnr2-GwlVr4QD3WpDSblRcQU1n6Eb51KDJw8KhvD_x8gUXouJ2M5v1O_0kb8/s1600-h/Erin_WinterCardinals.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLpjp75OcXZHZbcE4P2k7dTbqGEBsJrYExOlJityTQvkP6G-RO6au2IS9RGEthLyMu4b1_1VjMpkCycGVnr2-GwlVr4QD3WpDSblRcQU1n6Eb51KDJw8KhvD_x8gUXouJ2M5v1O_0kb8/s400/Erin_WinterCardinals.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403666753385812034" /></a><br />I know I said yesterday that I have a relatively well-formed illustration style, but every once in a while I like to try something different. Who doesn't right? Since I normally lean towards colorful brights, pattern, and ink outlines, this little drawing seems out of order for me. Yet these exercises in exploration always inspire me creatively and often help me narrow my focus when it comes to fleshing out story ideas. Here are two little winter cardinals cuddling in their tree hollow home. I am always mesmerized when I see a cardinal flitting amongst the snowy landscape and in this drawing I wanted to share the feelings I experience when I do magically catch a glimpse of one. So in an attempt to reflect the stillness, cold, and heavy quiet of that atmosphere, as well as the tiny yet powerful ray of delight and warmth the cardinals' red color adds to the equation, I came up with this. I'm also intrigued by the idea of the house off in the distance with it's warm golden color and plume of smoke. What are they cooking in there? Who is sitting in front of that hearth? Have they seen the birds? Do I need to add footprints in the snow?<br /><br />And so the process begins...Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290510503840364774.post-75069071344110838102009-11-12T16:25:00.000-08:002009-11-12T16:58:27.446-08:00Stating my intention...loud and proud!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2p5OTHhrEXTsKpIKVHR8aU1vjbJwBNU-9xnoayPJkOPEsgCQhf6MyJCBUC5c5q8BnSFM1Rh8ZjJN5uPvOE6WivG06q2AuTT1mGXMeMsFnm-D4dkhRyLHPhE9JkNX-hLaw0s4X60UWvA8/s1600-h/SingingGirl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 393px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2p5OTHhrEXTsKpIKVHR8aU1vjbJwBNU-9xnoayPJkOPEsgCQhf6MyJCBUC5c5q8BnSFM1Rh8ZjJN5uPvOE6WivG06q2AuTT1mGXMeMsFnm-D4dkhRyLHPhE9JkNX-hLaw0s4X60UWvA8/s400/SingingGirl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403386226529656274" /></a><br />What's something I need like a hole in the head? That's right, another blog! It may be tough to believe, but in the process of streamlining and organizing my life, I've actually found that I need to add a bit more to certain areas. The trick is to let go of the extraneous stuff and only add the most important. In my case, the most important "stuff" are the things that support my goals and dreams. <br /><br />One of those dreams has always been to write and illustrate a children's book. Somewhere out there is my 1st grade teacher Miss Rosen. I bet if you asked her (and she remembered me) she'd agree this is a goal I set for myself at age 6. Of course, a lot happened between 6 and now: the teen years (which I'll spare you), a BFA, a design career, a family, a business, and a whole lot of fun. Still, I never forgot this dream. I may have deferred it, but the entire time I was still drawing, journaling, scribbling, and plotting.<br /><br />Now is the time to make it happen, and I hope this blog proves a useful tool in tracking and achieving my goal. Before I go, I need to introduce you to the spunky little character above. I haven't got a name for her just yet (perhaps that's something you can help with? Comment away), but she's the perfect mascot for my efforts. Her image exudes my illustrative style: a mix of watercolor, colored pencil and ink; wrapped in brights and reflecting a love of pattern. Her stance and body language speak volumes as well. I hope to bring a unique, strong, fun-loving, and enthusiastic voice to the world of children's writing and illustration. And just like this confident and hopeful little miss, I believe I can.Erin Nowak, Designer and Illustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09858631998582617914noreply@blogger.com5