Figuring out the right style...

The last step in creating a "dummy" (a mock-up of a book, composed mainly of sketches), is doing one finished piece. It helps give prospective agents and publishers a sense of what the book will look like when all is said and done.

It never hurts to try out a few different styles, color palettes, whatever-- and this is a great stage in the game to do it.

So what do you think? Textural and a little wonky or straight and bold with a more modern look? The one on the left is graphite and the other is ink. Both with digital color. Which one does it for you?

What Is Art? -- My Latest Project

I started working on another picture book. While walking through the fantastic sculpture garden at the PepsiCo headquarters in Purchase, NY, my four year-old nephew asked me what one of the sculptures was. It was a totem-pole looking sort of construct, and while at a loss for a simple and accurate description, I said "It's art," to which he replied "What is Art?"

It was such a keenly felt retort that it gave me an idea (and a title) for my newest story. I'm not ready to give it all away, but I will say that it's about a rat, whose name is Rat, and his search to answer the very difficult but important question, What IS art? Something I'm still trying to pin down myself.

He tries to paint a landscape, but this goose gets in his way:

The adventure begins again. Stay tuned-- I'll introduce his mentor, Pigeon, next.

Adam