It was really fun to illustrate this dance like a dragon interactive spread for the January 2022 issue of Highlights for Children’s High Five magazine. Thank you, High FIve! I Hope the kids get a good bit of exercise as they groove to dragon’s moves!
Something New! Highlights Magazine Puzzle--Mitten Match!
I had the pleasure (and fun!) to illustrate this puzzle for the January 2022 issue of Highlights magazine, depicting a VERY busy village with several people missing their mittens. Kids are supposed to find the mitten in the scene and figure out who’s mitten it is. Below is some samples of these project. Thanks for stopping by!
Something New! January 2022 High Five Cover!
It’s been a while since I posted as I’ve been quite busy with several fun projects, both for clients and for myself! Happy New Year! It’s time to catch up and post some items that have finally come out in print! This cover for the January ‘22 issue of High Five magazine was working on over a year ago. Seems like forever but here it is on the cover. I had a fun time working on it, and I appreciate the opportunity to start the new year with such a nice item to post about. Below I have pics of the cover, and the original illustration before it got pared down and changed a bit. I also included some early sketches I sent to the client.
Something New! "That's Silly!" Puzzle Spead-Hardware Store Scene
Wow, what a challenging and fun illustration to do for High Five magazine’s March ‘21 issue! A “That’s Silly!” that’s featured in a hardware store made for some really fun—and silly!—things to show. I am including the sketch here, as some things changed a little for the final (The baking bear replaced the grandmother). Other things adjusted along as I got to the final art, too, as it usually does. Anyway, I hope the kids enjoyed the scene and had a good laugh here and there! Thanks, Five High /Highlights, for this fun project!
Something New! High Five Magazine Spread: "Art With Friends"
I’m a little behind with keeping up with the blog and posting new, printed work, but hey! This two-page spread hidden picture illustration was created for the December 2020 issue of High Five magazine. I enjoyed working out the bedroom this little boy was making art in! And how cute, that his “friends” are stuffed animals! They seem making some nice art there—all of them! I hope the kids enjoy the illustration, as well as finding the hidden items in the spread. Thanks, High Five!
Something New! Highlights Hidden Picture for Christmas!
I was also asked to create this inside illustration for the same Hidden Picture book! Such fun to work on these elves as they decorate a Christmas tree. See if you can find the hidden pictures that are on the list! Have fun!
(C) Highlights for Children
Something New! High Five Magazine Spread: "School Supplies"!
It’’s always special to do anything for Highlights For Children, and when the art director asked me to create an illustration spread for the September 2020 issue of High Five magazine, I of course said yes! This is for their “That’s Silly!” segment in each magazine, where kids find as many “silly” items in the scene as they can. It is a good educational tool which is fun and humorous as well! Below are samples of the spread as well as closeups. I hope the kids had a few laughs as they looked over this scene! I know it was pretty fun to create!
Something New! High Five Magazine "That's Silly!" Spash Park Spread Illustration
It’s always a treat and blessing to do work for Highlights and High Five magazine! This “That’s Silly!” spread is for the June 2020 issue, and features a splash park full of kids keeping cool—along with unusual and “silly things. See if you can find the “sillies” yourself! Below are close-ups of the illustration to make it easier to see. Have fun and have a happy, cool, safe summer! And be sure and check out High Five and Highlights magazines and books. They care about your kids and do a wonderful job of making it fun to learn—or just plain have fun!
Something New! Highlights Hidden Picture (The Corona Virus 2019 Edition)
Highlights is really one of the best companies to freelance for, I have always said! Things have changed a lot over this past decade, but they never cease to appreciate their illustrators! So with this odd time of the world shutting down and sheltering because of a very-bad-no-good virus, they have found ways to be relevant, helpful, and continue to educate and amuse kids! I am grateful and honored to be one of many illustrators commissioned to do a special HP to reflect the this period of time. These Hidden Picture illustrations were published on social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, where kids and adults alike can find the hidden objects, and maybe even identify with the scene. I know I do! My contribution is below, including some closeups. Thank you, Highlights, for all you do!
(c) Highlights For Children/Paula J. Becker 2020