Here’s a really fun puzzle spread illustration created for the October 2022 issue of Chirp Magazine, depicting the Fiddler Festival in Alsace of France! A lot of liberty is taken here so kids get a glimpse of the real thing, but can find letters hidden in the scene, among other things to do within the scene! My thanks to those at Owl and Chirp for the enjoyable project!
High Five Magazine--May 2022 Issue: "Let's Build" Hidden Picture Puzzle Spread!
More catching up! This was a Hidden Picture puzzle I created for Highlights. It ended up in the May 2022 issue of High Five magazine! It was a lot of fun to put together and turn it into a Three Little Pigs scene. I envisioned that the pigs built block houses when they were little piglets, all before they built their houses that Wolf blew down. Except the brick one. I wonder which of these piglets built that one…? My thanks to Highlights and High Five magazine for the fun project to work on!
Chirp Magazine--May 2022 Issue: "Busy Bakery" Puzzle Spread!
I’ll be doing some catching up of several illustration projects that have been clamouring to be posted, starting with this fun scene for Chirp Magazine! My thanks to the great editors, art directors and designers who send me these super fun jobs!
Something New! Chirp Magazine & Farmers' Market Puzzle Spread!
I get such fun projects! This is a magazine spread illustration for Owl Publishing’s Chirp magazine, the April ‘21 edition, depicting a farmers’ market, with a few puzzles built in. I debated over whether to use an outline/cartoonish style or not, and in the end went without. I like working both way and this one I felt would be just fine to do either way, so it was just a in-the-moment call. Since it’s still the covid era with restrictions, we opted to not do a large crowd, so that kept it simpler. I also added fun textures all over. Hope kids enjoy the puzzles and learn! I always do!
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!
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! Grassi Lakes Hiking Trails Illustration Spread
This illustration for the summer 2020 issue of Chirp magazine took a lot of turns due to the Covid-19 pandemic, changing subject matter twice before it became what you see here. My poor clients! We all survived and in the end, it was decided the Grassi Lakes Hiking Trails in Alberta, Canada would be showcased! It was a fun challenge to look at the map and work out a stylized illustration of place geographically. I have the view looking north to south. Anyway, what a great place to visit and hike, see the falls, and rock climb among many other activities. Here’s the official link to the provincial park. I hope to discover and enjoy it myself some day! Oh, and due to pandemic, I haven’t been able to get a hard copy of the magazine, so these digital files will have to do for now. You can see the AD’s notes in the layout!
Something New! Magzine Spot Illustrations/Cartoons -- The Great Bear Rainforest!
It’s always a pleasure to work with Owlkids Publishing and Owl magazine on their many educational projects. This time, I did a spot illustration/cartoon & map for an article about The Great Bear Rainforest, located in British Columbia, Canada. It looks like a wonderful place to check out and perhaps hike and enjoy other activities. Someday I will go! In the meantime, I hope the kids enjoy learning about this place, and that the bear cartoon and map add to their fun of learning! Samples are below. The second bear was one of the sketches I sent to see what would be best to put in that spot. The bear sitting up was chosen, but the other is just too cute to not include! And please check out Owlkids and all the books and magazines they have to offer! Your kids will be glad you did!
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! "It's An Animal News Flash!" Spot Illustrations/Cartoons!
I created a few spot illustration/cartoons for the May 2020 issue of Owl Magazine’s “Incredible!” section, which is always so fun—and so informative! Presently, we’re living with the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and they aren’t sending sample copies at this time, so I have the spots mocked up in the spread. Sometimes the final changes a little, and certainly the designer makes it more sharp, clean, & clear, so thank you for overlooking these flaws on my samples!. : )
Something New! Magazine Puzzle Spread: "Drive-And-Go-Seek" ("I Spy")
Here’s a VERY busy 3-page illustration spread I did for a magazine, in which kids are to identify numbers of cars & trucks from the poem (by Stacy Lane) and find them in the picture. I hope they enjoy doing that as much as I enjoyed creating the puzzle! Sample photos are below.
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!
Something New! "Wacky Wetland Tours" Puzzle Maze
It was really fun to work on this Maze/Puzzle spread for the spring 2020 issue of Chickadee magazine! Samples are below. Check out Owlkids other magazines and books! Your kids will learn a lot and have fun at the same time!
Something New! "Officer Dog" Graphic Story/Comic!
I illustrated this simple graphic story/panel comic was for High Five magazine, a really super magazine for little kids. It was so fun to work on and interpret the story and characters.
Please check out High Five magazine for your kids! There are things to learn and do, besides entertaining stories and silly stuff/jokes!