Snow Day!

Beautiful snowy day at the homestead...

It was too lovely today outside not to do a quick sketch. I love painting snow scenes, especially when I am finishing a project with lots of outdoor summer scenes!

Christmas Sketchbook and a Daring Escape from Euclid

Angie is a good model. She stays still for a long time. (Note: Her bed does not really look this much like a peppermint)

We just got back from a brief trip to Kentucky to visit Troy's parents at lake Barkley. We had hoped to stay till the 26th, but the blizzard warning forced us home a day early. We worried about getting trapped in the storm. Snow clearing is not good in KY...

So I am posting this on "storm watch"... Soon we will know if our caution was justified.

Anyway, I did some little sketches of Angie, my in-laws' dog.

Ahhhh....The humiliation continues...

Here is a view of the lake... The sunsets are beautiful.

I also sketched my mom, brother and sister-in-law's pets on Saturday while we celebrated at her house.

The full menagerie!

Just One More Sketch Before Christmas

Some sketches of my friend Theresa's adorable chinchilla Coco. She loves Cheerios and was very friendly. Probably not a good fit with cats though.

Happy Holidays from Christina Wald Design and Illustration

Happy Holidays! I hope 2013 is another great year! Lots of amazing stuff in the works so stay tuned!

I also just posted my latest Pop Smoothie comic: a very, super special spectacular, spectacular pop smoothie epic holiday special

It covers a lot of bases except for my favorite Christmas special, Mr Magoo's A Christmas Carol...

 

Crazy Holiday Season

Spike gets into the Holiday spirit...

This is a crazy time of year with a lot of deadlines so this is a quick post. I am finishing another fun book for Sylvan Dell called the Fort on Fourth Street (images form this very soon when I have time to breathe) and starting some new and exciting projects as well.

Anyway, Happy Holidays! I will be revealing this year's card soon! As well as the Pop Smoothie Spectacular, Spectacular Holiday Special...

Miffy must know she is in this book and wants to provide reference...

Little watercolor I did for Troy's parents for Christmas with their adorable fox terrier Angie up front. No spoiler alert for them; they do not have computers or internet access... (They do have electricity though and phone service. They are not that old school.)

Bloomington, Indiana for Greg Proops Podcast

The Bloomington Courthouse

Sketch inside Comedy Attic. It was so dark, I did not realize I was sketching with a green pen... A happy accident I guess...

Little sketch of GP's unicorn DandD character from a Dan Harmon podcast...

Troy and I went with our friends Nicole and Ray to see the Greg Proops podcast last night. (I know, "seeing" a podcast seems like a strange idea.)

I really want to come back when the weather is nicer for a day of sketching at Indiana University.

We had dinner at FARMBloomington before the show. Great place!

Troy's namesake restaurant

Bizarre old factory sign

Adorable chocolate yule log at FARMBloomington

Book Signing at Joseph Beth in Crestview Hills, KY

I will be signing A Warm Winter Tail and Why the Possum has a Large Grin on Wednesday, December 5th at 5 pm.

I will read the books and do an art demo.

Note that this is the Joseph-Beth in Crestview Hills, KY.

Hope to see all my Kentucky (and Ohio) friends there!

More info here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/137125883104497/

Joseph-Beth Booksellers

2785 Dixie Hwy.

Crestview Hills, KY  41017

859 912 7860

Here are the book trailers:

Mention of Annie Jump Cannon, Astronomer on The Planetary Society blog

Great to see a mention of the Annie Jump Cannon on the Planetary society blog. How exciting is that?

http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2012/review-story-books.html

This is so huge. I am a massive Carl Sagan fan. Check out my web comic entry about it:

http://popsmoothie.com/2012/07/09/cosmos-by-seth/

More Sketches

Hattie Heron at the champagne pyramid...

 More sketches from The Ultimate Sinister character I am developing. Mostly warm up sketches as I am painting a lot of the time right now.

Bertie Whisker on the Piano...

Sketching in Covington, KY

Scan from my sketchbook... It was a beautiful and blustery day...

We walked around Main Strasse yesterday with Troy's parents (and I worked on this in my sketchbook). 

The streets were strangely deserted and many of the shops were closed. Someone talk me down and tell me the area leaps into action after 5 on a Friday. It was a little disconcerting especially on Black Friday. I worry that many of the businesses they are probably struggling. Hopefully they got a boost from small business Saturday today?

Covington is a really beautiful place with a lot of old buildings and cute shops. It seems like a lot of buildings are empty on Pike Street. I hope they can revitalize like the Gateway Quarter has but it is tough. The architecture is beautiful but renovation is very expensive and there are a lot of factors that make these areas living organisms.

We had a great Thanksgiving with a lot of food, wine and good conversation. I hope everyone reading this had a good holiday.

I love this sign on Pike Street. It looks like something out of Game of Thrones...

Happy Thanksgiving in the Year of the Dragon!

Did you doubt this year's theme??!!

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! I am preparing a turkey from a local farm. It should be a good day!

Krohn Conservatory and the Area Around

A little sketch of the Krohn Conservatory and some details around the area. I cannot believe I did not know the balloon lighting at Eden Park was yesterday evening or I would have stayed longer... As Homer would say: "Doh!"

Started the morning at the Crafty Supermarket and Findley. A beautiful day!

The Ultimate Sinister

This is a character I have drawn for years. I am now working on a mini-comic of it. I first drew him in grade school, he looked very different though. Now it has a bit of Jeeves and Wooster, Downton Abbey, cats and mice...

Sketching and Painting the Figure

Homes in North Avondale

I just started breaking in a new sketchbook. Vanessa and I were walking in her neighborhood Tuesday to keep our minds off things and away from the TV. There are some gorgeous homes. I sketched a couple, but would love to sketch more of them. Another place I would like to sketch is Oak Park, IL.

Also, I have been taking a Painting the Figure class with my retired DAAP ID professor Gil Born at the Art Academy.

Painting or drawing from a model is one of the best ways to improve your skills as an illustrator. I really need to start going to life drawing sessions at Manifest.

My November 8th painting at the Painting the Figure class.

Buckeye Book Fair

Angela Johnson and Me sharing a table. Photo by her cousin Roz.

I have had a really good time both visit to the Buckeye Book Fair in Wooster, Ohio. This year we sold out of a Warm Winter Tail and almost out of Why the Possum has a Large Grin.

Angela Johnson was fun to talk to and made the day pass quickly (which is good when you are at a table all day). She was a big advocate of the Possum Book (and got a copy for her niece).

I bought a couple copies of her picture book Lottie Paris Lives Here illustrated by the amazing Scott Fischer for Christmas presents. It is so cute!

She is best known for her YA books (which I would like to read) but has also authored some amazing picture books in addition to Lottie illustrated by Loren Long (one is a Golden Kite winner).

Here is a sketch I did that day:

I added color to this while I beat Troy and Cline at Scrabble...

Halloween Doodle

"Catbat leads the Halloween parade..."

A little doodle I did while waiting for my car. I love this craft paper pad I got at Smartfish in Over-the Rhine. It is a little iffy with a lot of watercolor though.

Happy Halloween!

Bat Fest Demo

Demo I did at Bat Fest on some awesome craft paper I got at Smartfish Studio on Main Street in OTR

Last Saturday I was at Bat Fest at the Cincinnati Museum Center. It was a wonderful time. I read Little Red Bat and did art demos.

A lot of people stopped by with questions and the Museum has an actual red bat! (Her name is Ginger.)

Brown bats in a cave

Anyway, I will be in Wooster, OH this Saturday for the Buckeye Book Fair. Hope to see you there!

Also, a photo a friend took of me signing the Possum book at Books by the Banks!

Signing at BBTB! Photo by Kathy Myers

Fall Color in Spring Grove

This was an odd sign. I hope they is not a zombie problem here... There were mounds of dirt... :O

Vanessa and I took a walk to sketch fall color at Spring Grove Cemetery Monday. It was a beautiful day and the light was that partly cloudy mysterious feel.

Above is a wooded path the looks like it goes to a strange land of fantasy. One could even imagine a sprite or two there...

The path to...?

Interview with Johnette Downing about Why the Possum has a Large Grin

Page Title - No value

Johnette talks about the book and her new CD where she reads the book. So if you get the book here, you can order the CD here.

Cartoon I did of Johnette

Books By the Banks and and the 20th Century Theater

Sketch of the amazing 10th Century theater from the outdoor eating area at Habit's after the illustrators lunch

Books by the Banks was great this year. I met a lot of people and had a great location. Book sales were very good. A Warm Winter Tail sold out almost instantly lots of Why the Possum has a Large Grin takers and we sold a fair amount of the others too! They had four of my titles there.

I was lousy at taking pictures this year which is too bad. A lot of great illustrators (and authors) were there. I was at my own table which made it harder to skip out for a few moments. I did briefly meet Mac Barnett and got a couple Brixton Brothers books for my nephew. I also got Chloe and the Lion for my personal collection. Both are illustrated by Adam Rex, an amazing and generous illustrator (and a great help when I was getting started in children's book illustration). I met him years ago in the 90s when we were both doing illustrations for role-playing games during the CCG craze. He has produced an amazing body of work since then and has a book written by the equally amazing Neil Gaiman called Chu's Day out in January.

Anyway, a couple pictures I managed to take. In the Platonic context, they are the shadows on the wall compared to the true event...

My table, just imaging me sitting at it...

The parade of beloved children's book characters. Seemed a little dog heavy; good thing the cat was there.

Books By the Banks!

Books by the Banks is Saturday and I will be there this year with A Warm Winter Tail by Carrie Pearson and Why the Possum has a Large Grin by Johnette Downing.
 

There are a lot of great books, authors and illustrators attending this year, it is great place for holiday shopping!

Hope to see you there!

I am in the process of setting up other signings too, so stay tuned.

In the meantime, here is a coloring page I did for the possum book. Feel free to Share and Enjoy!

The books I will have at the show!

Adorable picture of Johnette at the possum book release party.

Sylvan Dell Has an App!

One of the things I LOVE about Sylvan Dell, is how they embrace technology.

They now have an app available with the books I illustrated for them! So cool!

          We are very excited to announce the launch of our

                               “Fun eReader” iPad App.

                   Enjoy with this 30-day free trial offer!

Picture carrying 76 ebooks to inspire reading and teach children about science and math. Now all the great things you have loved about Sylvan Dell books are available in one spot on the iPad or any flash capable device. Covering tough science and math subjects through picture books children will digest amazing facts about strange animals, faraway places, earth systems, and even math concepts.
			Free Trial: Login only as a School Site License User by entering 2WZ637 into the Red box at the bottom of the iPad App Registration page. Trial Expires Nov 15th.
Features include: ·         76 eBooks each with Read-to-Me / Read-toMyself, Auto Play, and English / Spanish selection on the fly. ·         Cloud and Download eBook play. High speed internet needed for cloud viewing ·         Download, Uninstall, Buy Now options via MyAccount page. ·         Drag, Tap, and Flick page turning ·         Easy Registration for: (1) New Users, (2) existing Personal eLibrary customers, and (3) School and Library eBook Site License users. ·         Viewable on iPads, computers, and flash compatible devices.
Share! If you love Fun eReader shout about it in iTunes and rate us in customer reviews. If you have any questions please email or call us at (877) 243-3457

Gateway Quarter in Over-the-Rhine Sketch

I ended up early downtown for my Painting the Figure class with Gil Born at the Art Academy Thursday and had a bit of time to sketch. (I had to pick up my husband Troy from the very sad Reds playoff game and the traffic was crazy so there was not time to take him home before class started so I was dropped off.)

I love the restoration they have done with that whole area and am obsessed with how lovely the architecture is.  It was the perfect time of day too when the sky is golden.

I got some odd looks as I sat on the sidewalk across the street and sketched. I need some sort of little chair or sit-upon for these occasions.

Findlay Market and Doodles

Quick sketch at Findlay Market Saturday Morning

Gelato=Yum...

It was such a nice day on Saturday that I stopped by Findlay Market to sketch. I also did a little shopping for apples and stuffed pork chops from Kroger Bros. But of course I always stop for a little gelato. Dojo Gelato has some great flavors. I got a mix of Maple Cream Cheese and Pumpkin.

It was very weird to open the Cincinnati Enquirer Sunday and see their photo of the market from almost the same vantage point. I suppose it is the best angle and there is seating there. It was very serendipitous. Although, I doubt this is a situation like the TV show Heroes where a character was drawing the future. If  I start sketching natural disasters however, watch out! It could be a total Cassandra situation.

Anyway, here is a doodle I did while waiting for my computer to restart. Thank goodness I am upgrading!