Gifts From the Enemy

I recently finished work on my next picture book called "Gifts From the Enemy" written by the wonderful Trudy Ludwig. It will be released in March 2014. You can read more about the story in an earlier post below.  The cover design isn't totally finalized yet but since it is appearing on Amazon.com now as a pre-order I want to share it with you now along with a couple other finished paintings.

I am really excited to spread the word on this inspiring true story!

Boys Camp reviewed in USA TODAY!

"Boys Camp- Zack's Story" made it into the newspaper USA TODAY as part of a feature on Summer Reading For Kids! Very exciting to have such wide exposure.

You can see the article here:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2013/06/19/summer-reading-for-kids/2435439/

Boys Camp book launch & signing this Saturday June 8th!

Just a heads up that this Saturday June 8th at Magnolia Books in Seattle author Cameron Dokey and I will be launching our new middle grade book, "Boys Camp Book 1- Zack's Story" into the world! We will be signing books from 1:00-3pm and I will have all of the art to share. Hope to see you there! Please spread the word.

Here is a link to the event: http://www.magnoliasbookstore.com/news.php

A new picture book project you can help get off the ground!

I thought you’d like to know about GIFTS FROM AN ENEMY, my exciting nonfiction picture book project that I have been working on with bestselling author Trudy Ludwig. Trudy's inspiration for GIFTS FROM THE ENEMY is Alter Wiener, a teen survivor of five prison labor camps during WW II and the author of From a Name to a Number.

GIFTS FROM THE ENEMY is carefully crafted to educate young readers in an age-appropriate way about the dangers of hatred, stereotyping, and prejudice. It’s also a story of hope for anyone who has ever been devalued or treated poorly by others—not for what they’ve done but simply for being who they are. The cool thing about this children's book is that it also includes a brief history overview, vocabulary, discussion questions, AND activities to promote social justice and kindness in kids!

To make this book happen, we need some help. We’ve created a a Kickstarter Campaign, offering some great giveaways for those folks who want to support our project with funding pledges. Click here to check out the short video clip about our project and see some of the amazing artwork in progress! You can also support us by spreading the word by Email, Facebook, twitter, or blog posts, etc. to those who may be interested in this great project! We would appreciate any help you can offer.

Below are two of the finished paintings from the book thus far. I have been able to spend time with Alter on a couple of visits to Portland, Oregon. On one trip I took photos for the painting you see below. He is a very special person and I feel honored to help tell his story.

Current projects

By the look of things it has been some time since my last post. I am happy to say it's for a good reason. I have been very busy with work! Now is a good time to mention a couple of the new projects I am working on. The first is a sequel to the Boy's Camp chapter book I illustrated last fall which will be released in May called "Zack's Story". Each book follows the adventures of a different boy at the same summer camp. The project was started by some of the people behind the "American Girl " books including the author of the Kit Kittredge books, Valerie Tripp. The new book I am working on is called "Nate's Story" and will be released this fall. Fingers crossed their will be more for this series in the future. My contributions consist of two illustrations per chapter plus the cover. They are really fun well written stories perfect for a 7-10 year old reluctant reader. The most fun for me are the nature scenes, a favorite subject matter.

Another project I am working on is my first picture book project in three years and the first trade-picture book since "The Can Man" four years ago. I was lucky to be chosen to illustrate the great Trudy Ludwig's new book "Gifts From the Enemy". I have been working closely with the author to bring this true story to life. It's based on the autobiography of Alter Wiener, a Holocaust survivor who was separated from his family in Poland as a teen and survived four slave labor camps in Germany and a Concentration camp before WWII's end. His powerful book is called "64736: From a Number to a Name- A Holocaust Survivor's Autobiography" and has found great success since it's release in 2007. You can learn more about his book here www.alterwiener.com. The books success is partly due to 86 year old Alter's unwavering efforts to speak to school and libraries about his experiences during the war.

Trudy's picture book focuses on the kindness shown to Alter by a German woman factory worker and how her actions helped him survive. The best part of this project has been the chance to spend time with Alter and gather information from him to better illustrate his story. He has been very patient with all of my questions and it's been wonderful to get to know this kind man with a great sense of humor. He also plays a mean game of scrabble. Alter lives outside Portland Oregon and you should really see him give a talk if you have the opportunity. Our picture book will be released next year. Until then I have a lot more work ahead of me. Below is a photo of Trudy Ludwig, Alter Wiener and myself taken last weekend outside Portland.

Charlotte Award weekend in New York State!

This past weekend I made a whirlwind trip to Liverpool in New York State near Syracuse to receive the 2012 Charlotte Award for "The Can Man". Thanks to the New York State Reading Association for this great honor! 

The NYSRA started with 600 books published over two years then narrowed them down for the ballot so the kids could spend the next year reading and voting. 12,000 kids across the state picked their favorite books in four catagories. Laura Williams the author of "The Can Man" and I won in the intermediate level. Thank you to the NYSRA for flying me out and showing me such a good time. Thankfully I managed to just miss hurricane Sandy! I am glad to report Syracuse rode out the storm just fine.

Sadly because of the weather four other winners had to cancel their travel plans, but luckily most made acceptance videos that were played during the ceremony and three even skyped in which was really great. I was shown a lot of love for being the only winner who was able to make it for the weekend. Below are some pictures from the two days.

Here is the view from my room at the Holiday Inn. Didn't make it out much but enjoyed the fall color!

On Sunday we had a community day event where kids and parents could come and celebrate books.

Here is my setup for that event. We had a great turnout and I got to meet lots of kids familiar with "The Can Man". They also got to color their own skateboard designs.

The VanRiper's are a really nice local family who had a booth next to mine. They write and illustrate a on going series of books set locally called "The Aidirondack Kids". They are currently working on their 13th. Father and son write the stories and mom does the interior drawings. Really fun books and a great success story.

Here we are Sunday night at a banquet dinner singing the song "Reach Out and Touch Somebodies Hand" at the close of a great speech by Patricia Edwards. These teachers know how to party!

 All of the 2012 Charlotte winning books together.

On Monday the Charlotte awards were given during the luncheon. Here are all six of them together.

 And here is mine!

 Everyone still arriving.

 Judy is presenting my award.

 Me whipping up the crowd in my gunslinger pose (I guess).

 Enjoying the moment after my short speech.

Writer Adam Gidwitz a winner for his book "A Tale Dark and Grimm" brought the house down with his thank you video and skype visit from NYC, all while riding out hurricane Sandy!

My book signing buddies. Both of these authors, Suzanne Bloom and Alan Katz have books I have used in my illustration classes over the years. So cool to meet them in person!

Sadly the whole conference may have been upstaged by the child beauty pageant just around the corner in the hotel. I was tempted to sit in that chair. NYSRA and the Charlotte Award Committee made me feel like a king for the day!

Elvis loves Seattle

In honor of  the 35th anniversary of Elvis's death today here is a painting I just completed. It is for an art show coming up at Seattle's Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival over Labor Day weekend. The show is called "Elvistravaganza! The King Returns to Seattle!" Thanks to my former Cornish teacher Jo David for asking me to be a part of it. The lineup of artists is incredible. Here is a link to learn more about the show http://elvistravaganza.blogspot.com/.

It marks the 50th anniversary of the Space Needle built in 1962 and the same year Elvis visited Seattle to film the movie "It Happened at the World's Fair". My piece was inspired by an actual souvenir Space Needle pen from 1962 that went back on sale this year. The creator had some lying around these many years. So if you buy the painting ($500) you get a pen! The pen hangs on a string. Elvis really did love Seattle and so do I.