Ginger Nielson ~ An Illustrator's Journal

ILLUSTRATION FRIDA ~ FORWARD

2012-01-28T14:13:00.000-05:00

©Ginger Nielson

Jason seems to be moving right along...going forward all the way. Hope he has a happy landing *:)

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ TWIRL

2012-01-21T13:12:00.000-05:00

Winter again...

2012-01-20T09:09:00.000-05:00

Henry does not like to get his feet wet or cold...

And he is always ready to welcome visitors inside, especially if they are bringing him

a doggie cookie....... *:)

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ GROUNDED

2012-01-11T11:51:00.000-05:00

From "Carla's Cloud Catastrophe" written by Beth Bence Reinke and illustrated by Ginger Nielson. An emergency presented itself on Carla's birthday when the clouds suddenly made their way to the ground and just stayed there! The book is worth looking into. Carla's story is fun, fanciful, and great for kids.

You can find copies at 4 RV Publishing, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and your favorite bookstore.

A New Book with fun for the whole Family...by Linda Fogarty

2011-12-28T14:49:00.000-05:00

Now you can bring home some year round fun and adventure for the whole family.

Visit the MOOSE at:

A MOOSE ON THE LOOSE

Wishing you Joy and Happiness in the New Year

2011-12-28T11:57:00.001-05:00

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ SINK

2011-12-18T14:20:00.001-05:00

On a fiercely foggy night Lucy groped for her cabin door. She thought she'd found it and stepped inside, only to find herself in midair on a slow drop into the sea. Before she began to sink she called out to her parents onboard.... "Bummer!"

MORE HOLIDAY GIFT TAGS TO DOWNLOAD

2011-12-15T16:26:00.000-05:00

Here is another page of Holiday Gift Tags to download. Click on the image for the larger size then either drag the image to your desktop or right click to download. I print mine on heavy card stock and then cut apart.

MERRY CHRISTMAS..... HAPPY NEW YEAR

Downloadable Gift Tags

2011-12-11T13:16:00.001-05:00

Here is a collection of downloadable gift tags for your Holiday enjoyment. Click on the image to see the full size image and then either drag to your desktop or right click to download. Once printed you can choose to color the outlined ones or leave them plain. There are six tags here. There is plenty of space on the back for you to write a to and a from and a message of hope and love.

2011-12-11T07:35:00.000-05:00

Connie Arnold, writer, has given Gunther the Underwater Elephant another thumbs up *:)

You can read her review here: Connie Arnold, Children's Author

In between the lines

2011-12-05T14:45:00.000-05:00

Working on a new dummy... but slowly. This one is going to take a while and has already been going on for quite some time. Little by little things get done, and I am usually happy with the results. Who knows if this will become a book, but for now, it is taking up the prime space in my studio.

2011-12-04T13:51:00.002-05:00

These are the WINTER PEOPLE

You have permission to download and print them. Then cut apart to make your very own Holiday/Winter Mural. You can paste or glue them onto larger paper or use a brown paper bag that you cut apart into one long sheet if you don't have a huge sheet of paper. These even look good marching arcross an old newspaper; Recyling is good *:)

To Download click on the image to see a larger version then right click on the larger one and download. OR click on the image and once the larger one opens in Blogger, just drag it to your desktop to save and print.

Winter Fun

2011-12-03T08:50:00.000-05:00

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ BRIGADE

2011-12-02T15:59:00.001-05:00

From the Flying Poodles, by Karen Morss , an image that I illustrated from the book, Flying Poodles, A Christmas Story.

And then there is this... another kind of Brigade *:)

New seasonal mailer ready to print

2011-12-01T09:57:00.000-05:00

I ordered the seasonal mailers today. They will be here in time for mailing to select publishers and a few friends. Henry was kind enough to pose for both the front and the backside. He does get along with cats, but there are limits to his patience.

Time for a fun Craft

2011-11-18T10:27:00.000-05:00

Sometimes during the holidays there are those days that the weather is really not that great outdoors.
When that time comes, and the holidays are close at hand, it is fun to make these great little angel decorations.

They don't need to be angels, they can be snowmen, or cookie cutter people or critters.

Here is the recipe for CLAY DOUGH you can bake. If you cannot see it clearly, click on it to enlarge the image.

Sometimes if your dough gets too dry, just wet your own hands a little bit and knead the dough some more to soften it. I keep it covered while I work. Using a damp paper towel works well.

These are fun to make and can be hung on a Christmas tree or in a window.

Two new books from 4RV

2011-11-16T08:47:00.001-05:00

I am delighted to say that two new books I illustrated have been released by 4RV Publishing, LLC.

The continued adventures of Dilly the Pickle loving rat, by Rena Jones is a heartwarming and humorous romp through an alphabet of possible new friends. His final choice will lead him right into a new story I am sure.

Another new book, Sammy the Shivering Snowblower, really hit home with me. Living in the northern New England area we are used to snow and having any kind of help removing the mountains of the white stuff is key to getting where you want to go. Sammy's story is written beautifully by Mike McNair. He has a flair for humor and pairs that with a genuine care for feelings that we all share.

My basic problem was finding just the right kind of representation for Sammy. The final cover shows poor Sammy shivering away in the snow. I ended up using our own snowblower as a model of sorts *:)

Both of these books are available on the 4RV Publishing site. There is a sale going on until Dec. 5.

More News about Gunther *:)

2011-10-21T07:26:00.000-04:00

A visit to Sunshine Smile Publications will feature an announcement about my first book as both author and illustrator.

The article is just one of the ways that Sunshine Smile supports artists, authors, and agents. Stop by and see all they have to offer.

Many Thanks for your kind words *:)

2011-10-15T08:26:00.000-04:00

I wanted to take some time to thank all who post here for their kind words and encouragement. The past 7 years have been very busy for me. I left my day job, moved to northern New England with my husband and have been illustrating books full time since then. In that time I have met many wonderful artists, designers, and friends through the internet and in our new community.

Seeing your posts and comments is very heartwarming to me as I strive to perfect the craft of creating meaningful illustrations for children's books. I want to thank all who follow this blog and all those who find me on facebook, twitter, and Linked In. Sometimes, things get a bit busy and I don't have too much time to post, but when I can I enjoy sharing what I do.

Hopefully I will have more surprises to offer in the way of children's books and illustrations. If your vocation is making art, it is a life long event *:)

Car magnet

2011-09-30T18:53:00.000-04:00

I am also riding around with one of these car magnets on each side of my car. I have no idea what people will think, but I am hoping someone will be interested enough to take a closer look. When they are retired from my car, they will go on our fridge *:)

Launching Gunther the Underwater Elephant

2011-09-30T18:47:00.000-04:00

I made some take away cards for book festivals and other events where I can promote my new book.

The cards are 6 x 4 and printed with a UV coating on both sides, since I didn't need to write anything on them.

This is the front... the cover view.

These will show up here and there *:) This is the backside of the card including the publisher contact and the ISBN.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ HIBERNATE

2011-09-30T10:31:00.003-04:00

©Ginger Nielson

Just as the last leaves fall, a mother bear leads her cubs to the den she has carefully chosen.

Winter is coming and the reluctant cubs are nudged gently to their safe haven.

This new layout I used earlier is an experiment. I may want to change to it at some point but not just yet. I wanted to keep my link lists, and be able to change the background color. Those elements are not available for the newer template design. Hopefully blogger will address that issue in the near future.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ FEROCIOUS

2011-09-23T17:51:00.000-04:00

This summer I painted a number of oversized posters for the children's summer theater camp in our town.This is a study for one of the posters. If I was still doing silk screening this would be a perfect piece for that medium.

©Ginger Nielson 2011

2011-09-18T16:06:00.000-04:00

An Emergency, a rescue, an adventure, and the most adorable cast of characters to meet Christmas in ages!

Karen Morss's story will delight the entire family and is a special treat for any animal lover.

Just imagine what could happen if all Santa's reindeer came down with the flu!

Flying Poodles, A Christmas Story is a wonderful gift as a book or as an APP.

To find either just visit the website or iTunes APPS.

Flying Poodles

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ MESMERIZING

2011-09-16T19:56:00.000-04:00

©Ginger Nielson 2011

The Children's Illustrators Talent Pool

2011-09-09T19:07:00.000-04:00

This week I decided to take the plunge and add a showcase of sorts to my Children's Illustrators portfolio site. As part of the Talent pool I am pleased to feature Gunther the Underwater Elephant as a lead in to my portfolio. I updated the portfolio portion with some of the images from the book that I am allowed to display.

And Now for Something Completely Different

2011-09-06T09:04:00.000-04:00

Using the visit to the Friendly Farm for my first sketches, I am beginning character studies for a fun picture book. Meet Maxwell. He is a little pig with a big appetite.... for cookies!

His story will be submitted to the editors for review and revision, but I think he has a chance to end up on some child's bookshelf in the future.

The Children's Illustrators Talent Pool

2011-09-05T14:00:00.000-04:00

This is my week on the Talent Pool of Children's Illustrators. I chose to feature, (who else?) Gunther the Underwater Elephant as the main event. The Talent Pool is designed to show off the many illustrators that are featured on Children's Illustrators' portfolio website. The illustrators choose a week and reserve it with a small fee. The idea is hoped to generate interest in the artist for future assignments.

Gunther is special for me because it is the first of several books I have not only illustrated but written as well. Others are in the wind, or wings, waiting to be launched over the next few years.

There will be bears, and witches, and pigs, Oh MY!

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ MYSTERIOUS

2011-09-04T15:20:00.001-04:00

©Ginger Nielson

Forests hold a mystery all their own. Evergreens, mosses, the smell of pine. Rustling in the leaves, and murmurs beneath the logs. Be careful where you walk. Be aware of what lies ahead... and behind.

What in the world did Gunther do to save the day?

2011-08-30T06:32:00.002-04:00

When Gunther the baby elephant finds out that he can float along underwater he is delighted.
With his trunk held up like a snorkel he floats along happily. Perhaps he should have paid attention because trouble finds him too quickly. How he solves his problem and saves the day will have you laughing. Gunther has a big surprise in store for anyone who tries to mess up his day.

Gunther the Underwater Elephant will be released in mid September. More details will be coming soon.

Why you never give up...

2011-08-19T19:27:00.000-04:00

Gunther the Underwater Elephant.

This is a story that I began writing when my children were all at home. I was working full time and had only the kitchen table to draw and paint on, only the kitchen walls to hang the finishes on, and only a few willing publishers in NYC to visit in person. At that time there were "OPEN WEDNESDAYS" at several houses. Anyone could wander in with a portfolio and be seen by an editor. One particularly generous editor looked at the paintings, which were pen, ink and watercolor and asked me: "Do you know how to do a Color Separation?" I tried for weeks after that to master color separations on tracing paper and acetate, but failed miserably at the technique.

Gunther's paintings and story were shoved into a folder and it was another year or two before I began working on his story. Then the children grew, games and plays, and college trips took precedence and Gunther sat and waited. Eventually we moved north from the NYC metro area to NH. By this time I had actually illustrated several small books and stories for other authors.

Having left my day job and finding our new home had the extra "ROOM" I needed I dived back into my passion of illustrating for children's books. I joined SCBWI, paid my dues, bought the yearly copies of The Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market and embarked on a full time illustrating career. Might I add ... very late in life. But my mom always said I was a late bloomer. ( But as you may know, sometimes those final flowers bloom the brightest.)

This fall, after many revisions and many words removed, changed, and even some new ones added, Gunther's story is now complete, with my illustrations, and will be released by that "wonderful little publishing company that could"... 4RV Publishing LLC in Edmond Oklahoma.

How long was that journey? What is my point in telling you all this? It took more than 20 years from that first drawing and story to get to this point. There are so many artists and authors who are disappointed with those early rejections. All I have to say is you MUST keep trying if you believe in your work.

Gunther the Underwater Elephant will be released mid September of this year. I will announce his launch with pride and a collection of give-aways, take-aways, and personally signed posters. For those who buy the book and cannot attend a book signing, I will prepare a personally signed bookplate for your book. My fondest hope is that you will love little Gunther just as much as I do *:)

Illustration Friday ~ SWELL

2011-08-16T14:36:00.001-04:00

Now this is swell and sweller. My first book as author/illustrator is due out in mid September. And it definitely includes a SWELL..... a swell of waves from page to page to page.

Gunther the Underwater Elephant is coming to an ocean near you very soon. Published by 4RV Publishing LLC in Edmond, OK the adventure follows a baby elephant from his jungle home into an ocean of trouble.
I will be able to share more in a few weeks and hope you will find a space for little Gunther on your bookshelf.

You can see more about this book and my work here.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ IMPERFECT

2011-08-07T15:14:00.000-04:00

©Ginger Nielson

Well, really, nobody's perfect. But I am sure Nelson will find a way to create a more perfect order in this chaos.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ OBSSESSION

2011-08-01T14:31:00.000-04:00

Everybody, have a happy day!

2011-07-28T06:58:00.000-04:00

A Walk at the Farm

2011-07-21T06:25:00.000-04:00

Not to far from my in-home studio is a piece of heaven called the Friendly Farm. Farmer Bruce Fox and his family care for the animals who are lucky enough to be residents in a sprawling country setting. For me, as an illustrator, any visit to the farm is an opportunity to gather information for the books I am honored to be assigned.

Open from late May until Labor day and then on weekends until mid September the farm hosts a variety of loveable animals. This is the perfect spot on a summer day to photograph or sketch the many friendly creatures. No matter how many art books, nature catalogs, google searches, one may have there is still nothing like the real thing.

At the end of a slightly up hill trail is a welcome bench. This is the perfect spot to sit and sketch the piglets and their huge mama. The close observation of ears, hooves and noses is something I wanted to study in particular. Now I have to figure out if I can turn a piggy into a boar.

Researching animals online or in the library is never quite the same as being face to face with pigs, goats, geese, horses, chickens, sheep and a scattering of happy children and adults.

If you forget to by a bag of feed at the entrance, you can find a quarter machine near the hungry geese. I bribed them with a bit of corn to get some needed photos.

Along the pathways one can find chickens....all kinds, colors and sizes.

Goats...

If you have a bag of feed in your hand, the goats will obligingly follow your all along their fence. The more industrious ones will find a way through the wire mesh and try to grab your bag of feed.

Sheep...same thing here, except that we are allowed to walk among the sheep. They seem to be less forward than the goats.

A beautiful horse was just getting some fresh hay along with two friends. These animals are fenced off while visitors are at the farm, but they are still close enough to sketch and photograph.

There under the canopy I spied a bull. I was not too keen on getting very close, however.

Farmer Fox's four sons help out with the feeding, the clean ups and the general care; Mr. Fox himself is always on hand with a smile, a wave and time to chat a bit.

I was in for a treat when one of his son's came to feed the llama. The llama posed so patiently I am sure he is used to having his picture taken time and time again.

As an illustrator for children's picture books and beyond, I find outings like this not only worth the time and mileage ( in this case not far at all) but necessary for the soul. Getting out of the studio is important for writers and illustrators . The change of scenery, the human and non human contact is refreshing.

Farmer Fox took a bit of time to pose for one last photo and we chatted about the fire that took place one winter not too long ago. Because the farm is right off Route 101 in Dublin, NH many people saw the fire and reported it right away. The damage was fixed and the farm is a good as new. If you are looking for something bright and beautiful, something warm and friendly, something inviting and inspiring, the Friendly Farm has it all.

Bruce Fox is also a teacher and has recently retired. I have a feeling after seeing him interacting with the people and the animals that he is going to wonder how he ever had time to go to work. His smile says it all! You are invited to visit and you will certainly find a friendly welcome. I am sure I will need to use him in an upcoming picture book.

If you live in the Dublin, Keene, Peterborough, Nashua, Jaffrey, Rindge, NH area be sure to visit. Bring a camera, a kid or two, or just your notebook. The farm will draw you in and bring you back time after time.

You can find me Here....

Summer reading

2011-07-05T11:19:00.000-04:00

I plan each summer to take a week (at least) just to read. It's good on so many levels.

In between illustration assignments I want also to do some more writing. I don't know where the writing will go each time I begin, but I love to see what will happen *:)

Cards and Postcards for fall mailing

2011-07-02T07:49:00.001-04:00

I decided to create a postcard for the Fall mailing, but at the same time decided upon a business card to match. I used a different set of criteria for each. Since business cards are small I wanted the image to stand out a bit more but not overtake the card. You can see what I mean from the images below.

Postcard:

Business Card: I moved the image in a bit closer.

Although I won't use both these items in the same mailing, it is nice to have some consistency in both the postcard and the business card. Each has also a bit of the same total effect on the back.

Also, if I put together a media kit it would be nice to have the two coordinating items included.

The postcard is coated on the front only, in case I want to write something on the back or hand letter the addresses. The business card, on the other hand, is coated on both sides.

My address and phone contact are on the back of the postcard and the business card.

I have been keeping my target list small enough to be able to afford 3 or four select mailings a year. That means I don't order that many cards and I can justify three or four different (NEW) designs a year. In some cases there may be a need to promote a specific style and I want to have that option open.

It was a dark and stormy night

2011-07-01T11:12:00.001-04:00

It is important to choose the first line of any story with care.

~~It was a dark and stormy night~~

~~Once upon a time there was a frog~~

~~Once upon a time there was a frog and a bug~~

~~Once upon a time there was a HUNGRY frog~~

Once upon a time there was a frog

What is up with the WEATHER?

2011-06-30T08:39:00.005-04:00

The new picture book, "Carla's Cloud Catastrophe" has been released. Beth Bence Reinke's delightful, "WHAT IF" kind of story comes from a question that children may often ask. "What if, one day, all the clouds fell from the sky?"

Carla's solution to the problem is the perfect ending to a fun filled adventure. The book is available from 4RV PUBLISHING LLC and Amazon.com as well as any and all bookstores. All you need to do is give your bookstore the

ISBN ( 978-0-9828346-0-2 )number

for them to order the book. OR, you can go directly to the 4RV Publishing site and get your copy.

What on earth will the Mayor of Clarksville do with all those clouds? Carla knows!

I always get excited when a book I was chosen to illustrate is released. This book has great appeal for boys and girls alike. It is always a pleasure for an illustrator to receive a manuscript that has so many ideas for illustrations that you have to choose from the dozens of images that pop into your head as you read the manuscript. It also meant that I had to stretch a bit to create some of the images. My research included asking permission of certain people to use them as subjects in the book. It also meant a trip to our recycling center and town DPW to get photos and sketches of heavy road equipment. I was fortunate enough, at the same time, to have an entire road crew working on our road. The machines they were using were perfect sources for some of the illustrations.

SUMMER THEATER CAMP

2011-06-26T07:44:00.000-04:00

Each summer an amazing musician stages and directs a fantastic play in our community. It is put on by the children in our community and nearby towns as part of the Summer Theater Camp in Peterborough,NH.

Mary Ann Fleming makes magic each year with children from grades 2-5 and a handful of teenagers who help with lighting, costumes and more. This year's play will review the life of PT Barnum and will feature an intergenerational cast.

For the play I created a number of oversized posters for parts of the backdrops and other scenery. These are what I have done so far. One of our daughters, a very talented artist in her own right is completing the set of posters and I will put those online later when they are finished.

I don't want to throw the posters away after all this work... actually months of work, so we are going to offer them for donations to the Summer Theater Camp... or auction them off, whichever works best.

There will be quite a few and they are rather large. Most are over 3 feet wide and some are taller than that. They are based for the most part upon the vintage circus posters I was able to find in my old circus catalogs from when my dad took me to the circus and when I and my dad took our children (his granddaughters, ) to the circus.

I really liked the wording on some of the posters. It has a timeless feel for a the spectacle that was the circus of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey.

I had to hang these in the hallway to get a good place to put them up so the area was a bit crowded and I cut off some of the lettering in the shots, but all the letters are there and the posters look good from the distance the audience will be from the stage and sets.

For the paintings we are using acrylic paints, computer printed lettering and painting the letters into the posters with the closest match to the background paint. Since they are seen from a distance it works well. I used brown craft paper to paint on because I have a lot of it in a big roll and it takes the acrylics very well.

I don't want to tear the posters off the flats after the play, but will carefully remove them, and if anyone is interested in having one, they can make a reasonable donation to the summer theater camp.

Weather Alert : The clouds are coming

2011-06-24T10:12:00.000-04:00

Another bit of fun in this review for Carla's Cloud Catastrophe, by Beth Bence Reinke. If you like weather, are fascinated by clouds and have an imagination, this book will please you and the children in your family.
Published by 4RV Publishing LLC, the book is available for pre order and will soon be in bookstores as well.

One question: could it happen?

And if it did, would Carla's plan work?

Does this illustration give you any clues?

This picture book is so much fun to read and so filled with imagination that even the youngest children in your family will be able to "READ" the story all by themselves. And, grown ups, you won't get tired reading to them because I have a feeling they will want to hear it over and over again.

The illustrations posted here are copyright to 4RV Publishing LLC and Ginger Nielson. Please do not copy or borrow these images without express written permission of the publisher.

Illustration Friday ~ Midsummer Night

2011-06-24T09:40:00.001-04:00

©Ginger Nielson 2011

This is an image I had just finished. It is more of a study piece than something I will be using. It has evolved from a sketch that was much larger, but I condensed it for the sake of the characters.

I do, however, plan to use this sketch, but as a daylight illustration.. and a fairly large one at that.

My Storefront

2011-06-12T09:24:00.001-04:00

Very often I am asked if a print of an illustration I have created is available for sale. Most of the time it is part of a book, and cannot be offered for sale. However, there are some illustrations that are available. I have put them in a STORE on my website. Most are separate from any book I have illustrated, and more items will be added later.

To my Friends...

2011-06-11T08:24:00.000-04:00

I have decided to leave the Facebook community but will keep my blog, my portfolios and my Linked In connections. You can always reach me via email or phone if you have my number. There is a contact area on my website and I welcome any communication.

My work requires a bit more of my time, and I will be concentrating on the assignments I am accepting.
Although I miss communicating on a day to day basis with my art community friends I know that we can still keep in touch.

My email: gingernielson@gmail.com
My portfolios: www.gingernielson.com and via the links on my website

Illustration Friday ~ Swept

2011-06-10T12:55:00.000-04:00

©Ginger Nielson

Oh, if only it was that easy to have the cares of the day swept away. And who is ringing the doorbell?

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ SHADOWS

2011-06-04T08:07:00.000-04:00

The illustrator ..... the picture book.... and the reviewer

2011-06-01T11:13:00.000-04:00

Illustrations are such a large part of picture books, that I often wonder why so many reviewers fail to mention the illustrator. They are responsible for a great deal of the interpretation of the author's vision. Illustrations add great depth to the overall story. Some of the finest picture books are almost or entirely wordless.

A satisfying picture book opened in the lap of a child or adult is like a mini art gallery.

The reader can visit places only imagined ... and do so over and over again.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ ASLEEP

2011-05-27T14:50:00.001-04:00

©Ginger Nielson

If you are sleeping quite peacefully and soundly, it is wise to know who is not.

Elliott as a woodcut

2011-05-21T08:33:00.000-04:00

©Ginger Nielson 2011

Still experimenting with the woodcut effect and watercolor. This version is digital, but I will continue with the woodcut experiments and add traditional watercolor. I am really liking the effect and having a great deal of fun seeing what I can do with this technique.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ SOAKED

2011-05-20T16:00:00.000-04:00

Experimenting with Woodcut

2011-05-20T10:23:00.000-04:00

I have been experimenting with the woodcut feature in Painter. I think I can take some images into a new direction with some careful planning. It could be fun to create an entire book in a similar style. It would depend upon the subject matter, but I do have one story in mind for the future.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ SAFARI

2011-05-13T17:09:00.000-04:00

This illustration is larger. To see the entire view click on the image.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ LESSON

2011-04-30T08:53:00.001-04:00

©Ginger Nielson

One of the hardest lessons to learn is to know when to ask for help.

Spring Mailer

2011-04-29T14:30:00.000-04:00

When I began creating my Spring Mailer I wanted to use an idea I had worked on for an Illustration Friday Challenge. But I wanted, also, to make it better. Once I had created the front, I was having a hard time deciding what to use on the back.

©Ginger Nielson 2011

I wanted to attract the attention of whomever picked up the card, but I wanted to tell a little story as well.
What I finally came up with was kind of fun for me as well as a nice outcome for the falling boy.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ BICYCLE

2011-04-22T14:46:00.001-04:00

©Ginger Nielson

Dogs just love to ride!

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ JOURNEY

2011-04-16T08:48:00.001-04:00

©Ginger Nielson 2011

This is a new illustration created specifically for IF. I enjoyed creating this one as much as I would enjoy the same kind of ride *:)

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ Bottled

2011-04-08T11:32:00.001-04:00

Her wizardly ways and secrets of transformation were bottled and stored, then carefully sorted for use.

Books... those wonderful art galleries in your lap.

2011-04-03T15:48:00.000-04:00

It's about books: I love them. Every month I volunteer in a used book shop. The sales support our library. Each time I work there I usually come home with a bag full of books. There is no substitute for a book you can hold, take off a shelf and enjoy hour after hour any time of the day or night. This week's purchases included an entire Wildlife Explorer series of 300 or so panels of animal photos and a huge Jaques Cousteau book about Whales.

There are two others one with black and white photos of animals and another of wild birds. All of these are great additions to my art library and the cost? Only $8.00 for all five. Considering the price of even one is over $25.00 it is certainly a bargain.
In addition these books will be used, loved and treasured by many members of our family.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ DUET

2011-04-01T13:22:00.000-04:00

Beginning work for Summer Children's Theater Camp

2011-03-30T15:47:00.000-04:00

I have started work on a series of 4' x 3' posters for our local Children's Summer Theater Camp. Our oldest daughter is helping to create some of these. She is an AWESOME artist with great skill in animal paintings. Actually she quite the professional having painted an entire mural of animals from the arctic to the antarctic complete with sea animals around the globe.

This is the beginning of one of the posters I am working on to create the mood for a play about P T Barnum. So, the posters will all be of the vintage type and need to look like they did in the 40s and 50s.

This is step two in a progression.....

I will be adding Circus type lettering to each of the posters, that will take a while, but when I have one completed I will share.

Winston the Wonderhound coming to the interenet

2011-03-28T07:29:00.000-04:00

I have figured out that the only way to actually provide Winston's story in a reasonable progression is to put him back on the internet in a way that people can access his story and any chapter more easily. Blogger is fine , but it is hard to go back and forth if you missed something, so as time permits, his adventures will continue at:

Winston the Wonderhound

Winston and Roxxanne are off on their newer adventures. If you want to keep track, just bookmark the link above.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ TOY

2011-03-25T13:09:00.000-04:00

©Ginger Nielson

Elliott

2011-03-20T15:01:00.000-04:00

©Ginger Nielson 2011

Elliott and Frank had a rare affinity for one another on several levels.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ CULTIVATE

2011-03-18T14:56:00.000-04:00

Just as we cultivate our gardens, there are other important friendships to cultivate.

©Ginger Nielson 2011

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ STIR

2011-03-12T14:12:00.001-05:00

©Ginger Nielson & 4RV Publishing LLC

From the new book, Carla's Cloud Catastrophe, by Beth Bence Reinke... this illustration should give you an idea of what happens when you STIR up a collection of clouds that have fallen to earth mysteriously.

The New Blog on the Block

2011-03-09T08:38:00.000-05:00

Just opened : The 4RV Reading, Writing & Art Blog.

Check out the daily posts for some great insights, wonderful book news, art tips and tricks and the viewpoints of a number of talented authors and illustrators. Each visit promises to be of interest to those who love to read, write and draw...and those who do all three.

Add your voice in the comments section or make this a place you want to follow. I will be adding illustration themed articles twice a month and invite you to chime in with your thoughts.

SpeedBump and YO YO

2011-03-08T09:11:00.000-05:00

©Ginger Nielson 2011

Somehow when you can't sleep or think you might be sleeping other thoughts and images invade your mind. Last night these two critters kept showing up in my thoughts and dreams. So this morning I had to create SpeedBump and Yo Yo. I think it is pretty clear who is who. *:)

I also think they need a story of their own. I'm not sure where they will fit into my plans for them, or if they will decide on their own just what they want to do. I am sure they will easily find their way into a ton of trouble.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ WARNING

2011-03-05T16:31:00.000-05:00

©Ginger Nielson 2011

It wasn't as if he had not given fair warning. Because he had and because he had not been paid what was owed, the Piper played his magical flute and took an alternate payment.

Working with Dreamweaver CS5

2011-02-28T19:05:00.000-05:00

My revised website is updated and now I will let it rest awhile before adding any more. I need to be sure the links are working and the pages still make me happy after a week or two.

The site includes links to articles, books I have illustrated, a bio and contact along with portfolio pages in color and line. Using the upgrade to Dreamweaver CS5 has been a bit of a challenge for me personally but I am finding it easier to use day by day.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ SWARM

2011-02-25T10:13:00.001-05:00

There are many kinds of swarms, but with all the snow we are having the one that comes to mind is a rookery of penguins bleating their way down a snowy slide.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ LAYER

2011-02-21T12:30:00.000-05:00

Whenever she could, Princess Lentil would play.

She'd layer on clothing and take off the day.

Because "Princessing" can be such a hassle

She'd rather be outdoors than back in the castle.

Many thanks for your kind words *:)

2011-02-17T11:21:00.000-05:00

Because I and many others in the illustration world do get the nicest compliments on our work, and because many authors request illustrations for their books, I thought it would be best to create a page that addresses that question and others. You can find out more at:

How I work,

And it isn't just about me. Many illustrators receive requests to illustrate for authors who plan to self publisher or use a POD publisher for their work. In all fairness to the industry there are guidelines to follow. If you have a great story it should be submitted to a publisher (s). Be prepared for a few or more rejections, but keep trying. Once your work is acquired the editor or publisher will choose the best illustrator for your work. If you are determined to self publish or even create your own publishing company you will bear the cost of printing, hiring an artist and marketing your work.

I love what I do and would work for everyone on the planet if time and energy allowed. However, illustrators cannot live on paint, paper and pen and stylus. We need to charge a reasonable fee for our work. That means that we cannot work on spec, and we need support as well as good critique from those who hire us. Professional illustrators charge fees and give any project his or her full attention. Contracts are necessary and help to keep the author and the artist equally happy with fair and professional arrangements.

Illustration Friday ~ Sweater

2011-02-11T15:59:00.000-05:00

It stands to reason, if you are going to have an "all-out" sweater, you need leg warmers as well. I think with this cold snowy winter, I may actually see some fashionably attired creatures in our forest.

Is anyone sure they really want to fly?

2011-02-09T08:57:00.000-05:00

I'm just sayin'

Another way to look at snow...

2011-02-06T14:04:00.000-05:00

The more we shovel, the more we sweep

We shed those calories in one big heap.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ REVERSE

2011-02-04T15:44:00.000-05:00

The party just started and each had a cup,

but when it was poured the tea just flew up!

How does one cope with things in reverse?

And make them get better before they get worse?

Hold your cup upside down and try not to blink.

Maybe by then you'll get something to drink.

One more from the dummy...

2011-02-04T08:53:00.000-05:00

For the dummy I like to keep the sketches rather loose. I may want to leave a lot of the line work in this one as well. The thick and thin lines add so much movement to the piece. This is one half of a double page so there is no text needed here.

New dummy under construction

2011-02-03T10:48:00.000-05:00

Since I have sent out the dummy I worked on for most of the last few months, I will begin this second one while I wait patiently for some type of response on the one I just sent out.
Here is a quick sketch ... but I can't give away the story. I will say that there is a surpise ending that just cracks me up. If the sketch looks familiar, and it might, that is because I have been coming and going with the manuscript for over a year now. I finally love it, so the dummy will come next. At some point this story will find a home.

Happy Chinese New Year ~ Gung Hay Fat Choy!

2011-02-03T08:50:00.001-05:00

The Year of the Rabbit has begun. To learn more about the Chinese year of the Rabbit Click Here.

Can a mouse Cook?

2011-02-02T14:17:00.000-05:00

Can a Mouse cook? If he has the right book!

And now for something completely different

2011-02-02T13:46:00.000-05:00

This is a scene from a dummy I have been juggling for a year or more. I have changed the story but the characters remain the same, they just keep asking for script changes.

A Few Winners!

2011-02-02T05:55:00.004-05:00

IF Wishes Were Fishes by N. A. Sharpe, Illustrated by Ginger Nielson ISBN 978-0982588673
Why oh Why do grownups say such silly things? JT has a hard time understanding why some grown ups don't mean exactly what they are saying!

A Wish and A Prayer, by Beth Bence Reinke, pictures by Ginger Nielson ISBN 978-0-9826423-1-3
When Jason's pet parakeet flies off out the window, Jason is desperate to get him back. After a number of ideas are presented to him by his friends, he realizes the difference between a wish and a prayer.

In My Bath, by Beth Bence Reinke, illustrated by Ginger Nielson- ISBN 978-0982588666
Bath time is so much more fun when you can share it with a manatee, a penguin, a dolphin, or a tortoise..and many more creatures.

I was really excited to see that these three books placed in the top ten for the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll this year. All of these books were published by 4RV publishing in Oklahoma. They are really fun books for children and all can be purchased via the publisher's website,Amazon.com, or any and all bookstores. I added the ISBN numbers in case you want your bookstore to order any of these.

As the illustrator for all three I am also equally excited to have placed fourth among all the artist's who were considered in the voting.

All the results can be seen on the 4RV PUBLISHING LLC publisher's page.

You will see a number of other 4RV books in the standings.

And more great books for children are coming soon from this publishers. Watch for the news. One of those books is my own story and I have been waiting ten years to tell it!

And so it goes

2011-02-01T10:18:00.000-05:00

The snow it snows and snows and snows, the wind it blows and blows and blows, and so does my nose...

The penguin is warming up his ice pod for Bunny Week. The Chinese Year of the Rabbit begins on Feb 3 and all are invited to the FB page of Illustration Board to post your bunnies!

Click here to get the link to the FB page.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ SURRENDER

2011-01-29T16:11:00.000-05:00

From current dummy...

2011-01-27T14:39:00.000-05:00

The "Twins" discover snow.

I won't be finishing any other items from the dummy before I send it out. I have two finishes and the cover plus the inside sketches. That is normally enough. The text is also added inside the dummy. There is space below the cubs on this page for the two or three sentences for this page. The ms goes with the dummy book, a resume, and a cover sheet. If the publisher states that they do answer queries or submissions I enclose a business size envelope, stamped and addressed to me. If not, I have to be aware that they may not answer and simply recycle the whole submission. That is the best reason for only finishing one or two illustrations, and sending only copies of the work.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ DUSTY

2011-01-22T11:59:00.000-05:00

When it is too dry for a bath, elephants might enjoy a dusting.

It makes them feel good but they look like they're rusting.

From "Song for a Giraffe"

2011-01-20T06:59:00.001-05:00

Hippo from

"Song For A Giraffe"

by Michael LaLumiere and Kim Messinger,

available at Amazon.com

I have always enjoyed painting African animals. This hippo is from one of the earliest books I illustrated. The story is lovely and speaks of friendship and trust. It is a wonderful way to show children and adults that although we are different and have some shortcomings, we are all wonderful individuals in our own way.

Ice Cream Emergency

2011-01-17T11:32:00.001-05:00

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ Chicken

2011-01-15T09:51:00.002-05:00

New Look for the New Year

2011-01-14T08:36:00.000-05:00

I plan to redo the whole website, but in the interim, I changed the theme a bit. To create an entirely new website I will want to use some of the newest work. That means waiting until a few books are published, so that I can share some of my favorites. In the meantime I will still be drawing and painting every day.

Here is the thing about drawing and painting every day and having lots of work. When my house is a bit messy and cluttered you know I have a lot of work. When it is neat, picked up, and things are all in the right places and it looks like "House Beautiful" then you know I NEED more work. Right now the house is very clean, very picked up and the photographer could walk in any minute and be pleased. You can draw your own conclusion from that .... yep, looking for more work.

Why elephants don't ski

2011-01-11T08:38:00.001-05:00

At least there is a bit of warmth waiting at the end of the run. (Click on Image to enlarge.)

Now I am happy with the cover

2011-01-10T09:14:00.001-05:00

Finally happy with the cover I am ready to print the dummy and add the two required finishes. It is a simple story with lots of action and I loved watching Clarence and Alexander go off in search of snow. If you scroll down on the blog you can see the older version of the cover. What I did was to make the bears smaller, simplify the area around them and change the text on the back cover a tiny bit.

When sending a dummy book I usually send prints of one fully painted piece from the book and one black and white version. Because this is my story I won't suggest that any publisher pick another artist. It is what it is and I am learning to be patient.

This is the older version of the cover.....

and here is where I began the changes.....

Simple pictures are the best.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ DEJA VU

2011-01-08T16:40:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I get the feeling I 've been here before, done this exact same painting.. over and over and over.

A new direction for the cover

2011-01-08T08:55:00.000-05:00

The more I looked at the cover for the story I am working on the more I could see where it needed improvement. For one thing the bears are too close to the ground and too large in the hollow of the tree.
I made them smaller, added some of their behinds to bring depth into the scene inside the hollow and redid the tree bark and fading grass. Now I am happier with this part of the cover. More to work on, but I am glad I changed it.

Sometimes simple pictures are the best. I won't be adding as much "stuff" to this version but I will create some interest for the wraparound.

Full cover image

2011-01-06T13:21:00.000-05:00

This is the full wraparound cover for a book I am creating in dummy form. Almost finished with the sketches I will still need two finishes in color and one in black and white before the dummy is complete.

Here we have Clarence and Alexander, two adventurous brown bear cubs.

Up a Tree......

2011-01-03T18:14:00.000-05:00

Dummy in progress, I am enjoying watching these two cubs find fun, adventure and challenges.

I face challenges too. Submitting dummy books with manuscripts is limited when one is not represented by an agent. However there are options for illustrators who write and I intend to investigate those.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ RESOLUTION

2011-01-01T10:02:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year To All...

2010-12-30T08:34:00.000-05:00

Hope you have a roaring great New Year. Success, Happiness, Health and Friendship are wished for you.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ WINTER

2010-12-24T16:08:00.000-05:00