Breaking Through Creative Blocks

Recently, I was asked by the lovely people at the Highlights Foundation to write a guest blog post for their website.

I’m not going to lie; the prospect was a little daunting, especially since this summer has been a little rough for me creatively. I haven’t really felt much like drawing. It certainly wasn’t the first time I felt that way, and I know it won’t be the last. So I decided to use it as an excuse to make some new images, and to work through some of my own stumbling blocks. Here it is, complete with rainbow poop*. And if you’d like to get more of these kinds of tidbits from me and some superstars of children’s literature, join us for our workshop “Storytelling Through Drawing” at Highlights from October 17-20.

Yes…that little, orange dog is my alter ego. To see the portfolio of images, click here.

*Since the theme of my summer seems to be rainbow poop, I had some fun die-cut stickers made. Next time you see me, hit me up for one. 🌈💩

"Storytelling Through Drawing" at the Highlights Foundation

This October, I’ll be co-leading an intensive workshop for illustrators alongside some superstars of children’s literature at the Highlights Foundation in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. I just about jumped out of my seat when my friend, James Ransome asked me to join him in developing a weekend of drawing, experimentation, demonstrations, and critiques. We will be working with illustrators of all skill levels, helping them with strategies to push their work to the next level.

On top of all that, we’ve got an amazing roster of guest faculty in Sean Qualls, Lucy Ruth Cummins, and Jerry Pinkney. Here’s the description on the Highlights website:

Explore the elements of storytelling through drawing, experimentation, and problem solving with picture making materials. Craft your own artistic style with leading industry professionals illustrators James Ransome, Anna Raff and their special guests during an intensive weekend of one-to-one critique and discovery to expand your illustration practice.

I had an amazing time during my first visit to Highlights a few years ago for an “Unworkshop” with a group of kidlit colleagues. The place is simply gorgeous—perfectly conducive and full of quiet spaces for honing your craft. And did I mention it will be October? With a little luck, the fall colors will be at their peak. There are still a few spots open, if you’d like to join us for "Storytelling Through Drawing: Discovering Your Visual Voice and Style.”

Behind the Scenes: Time-Lapsed Process

For the past several months, I've been experimenting on the iPad with the Apple Pencil. While it has sped up my sketch process considerably, I'm still trying to figure out how and if I'll use it for final art. That decision is far down the road, but in the meantime, I'm having a great time exploring applications like Adobe Photoshop Sketch and Procreate as I consider ways to recreate the look of my analog illustration digitally. One of the really fun features I recently discovered was the Timelapse function. The iPad actually "records" your entire drawing session of a document.

This is most entertaining to me—seeing my illustration choices sped up in video form. For instance, in the image called, Flying Machines, you'll see my first thought was to draw an ice cream cone on wheels. I guess I didn't like that, so I switched to helicopter-like contraptions, flown by animals.

Flying Machines Timelapse Drawing

Here's one called Roller Skates where I was trying to make choices about the background. Yes? No? I settle for mostly no.

Roller Skates Timelapse Drawing

I'm also wondering about the story-telling possibilities with Timelapse. While it would be complicated to incorporate, I think with a little planning, there are possibilities. As quick examples, here's a drawing I made called Cat in the Woods. It takes on a short narrative as you see the footprints appear and the cat's eye direction change at the very end. (I know, you have to squint to see it.)

Cat in the Woods Timelapse Drawing

With my Teacher Appreciation Day illustration, I must've I wanted to draw a dog exercising at first, but quickly changed my mind to an image related to the final piece. But because I'm using the same dog character, it seems at the beginning like we've gotten a peek into her personal life—first with an exercise coach, maybe before she goes to her job at school where she is then greeted by the cat student with the fork. It sure did take me a few tries to get that fork right!

Teacher Appreciation Day Timelapse Drawing

At any rate, it's interesting to see the decisions I was making in process: things I test out, then  eliminate, and also elements that I obviously have to draw over and over, until I get the look I want. So there you have it—the ugly underbelly of my current iPad drawing process.

A few of these images are available for purchase as prints in my shop. Just click here to see the whole assortment, and a slew of other products featuring my art. Thanks for reading!