Here are a couple of my sketchbook pages with
work from "Up, Up and a Ray". It shows some of
my early concepts for the character creation and
a few of my initial thumbnails for some of the
various pages and potential compositions...
At this point I'm really just having fun with the
script and just throwing tons of ideas out there
and seeing which ones stick.


(click on image for larger view)

Here is a look at how I go from simple sketch to finished painting.
I begin with a rough, simple thumbnail. I usually do about two or
three different thumbnails for each image, trying different
approaches and compositions. Then using the feedback given to
me from the Editor I do a final "finished" sketch. Then it's back to
the Editor for more feedback and suggestions. After all is agreed
upon, I begin the final, painted art...



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from "Up, Up and a Ray" written by
Angela Johnson, published by Simon & Schuster Books for
Young Readers

(click on image for larger view)

from "Up, Up and a Ray" written by
Angela Johnson, published by Simon & Schuster Books for
Young Readers


(click on image for larger view)

from "Up, Up and a Ray" written by
Angela Johnson, published by Simon & Schuster Books for
Young Readers

(click on image for larger view)

from "Up, Up and a Ray" written by
Angela Johnson, published by Simon & Schuster Books for
Young Readers

(click on image for larger view)

Here are a couple random pages from my sketchbook. These show a few of my various ideas/thoughts and doodles I completed while developing "The Curious Demise of a Contrary Cat". The development and creation phase of a book is by far my favorite part. It relies less on technique and more on just plain ol' creativity... it's fun.

(click on image for larger view)

from the "Curious Demise of a Contrary Cat" written by
Lynne Berry, published by Simon & Schuster Books for
Young Readers 2006

(click on image for larger view)

from the "Curious Demise of a Contrary Cat" written by
Lynne Berry, published by Simon & Schuster Books for
Young Readers 2006

(click on image for larger view)

from the "Curious Demise of a Contrary Cat" written by
Lynne Berry, published by Simon & Schuster Books for
Young Readers 2006

(click on image for larger view)

from the "Curious Demise of a Contrary Cat" written by
Lynne Berry, published by Simon & Schuster Books for
Young Readers 2006

(click on image for larger view)

from the "Curious Demise of a Contrary Cat" written by
Lynne Berry, published by Simon & Schuster Books for
Young Readers 2006