Ginger Nielson ~ An Illustrator's Journal

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ BLUR

2009-11-08T15:43:00.003-05:00

Out of the night in a blur of speed, the hunt begins.

©Ginger Nielson 2009

Take a Break

2009-11-03T15:09:00.004-05:00

One thing about illustrators is that they often spend way too much time indoors not moving around much. At least not much more than those busy hands that hold the brush or pen. I have thought about getting an oven timer and just setting it for an hour to remind me to get up and out with Henry. He needs the walking as much as I do...and even without the sun, it is always refreshing to take a break and come back to work renewed.

The POSTER

2009-11-02T15:58:00.003-05:00

Recently I learned that Overnight prints was offering Poster prints at 11 X 17 inches. I decided to try this out and was rewarded with the most beautiful prints! The color is perfect and the effect is fantastic. Well worth the money spent and there are always coupons available for discounts. If you have a book to promote or artwork you want to sell as posters this might be right for you as well.

Since I photographed this in natural light in the studio, it may not be as vivid as it is in real life, but I am really happy with the quality.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ SKINNY

2009-11-01T15:31:00.002-05:00

©Ginger Nielson 2009

HAPPY HALLOWEEN~

2009-10-31T12:09:00.004-04:00

©Ginger Nielson

Another try for Harold

2009-10-28T16:22:00.004-04:00

Harold still hasn't gotten the ski thing figured out yet, but he did buy some new togs at the ski shop. They even had his size: Super-stretchy- 11XXX.

©Ginger Nielson 2009

The Secret

2009-10-26T14:46:00.006-04:00

It was one of the best kept secrets of the day. But Brookster knew there would be a pop quiz, and he told only his best friend, Louie. They would only have recess to prepare, but with that in mind, they scribbled some study notes and went out, not to play, but to study hard for 15 minutes. In their quiet corner of the playground they memorized the 6 Times Table to perfection.

Okay, quickly now, what is 13 X 6?

The answer is in the illustration if you need some clues.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ FAST

2009-10-23T09:46:00.007-04:00

I completed this illustration this week for part of a series I am working on. It seems to fit the subject rather nicely. Others in the series may pop up from time to time.

©Ginger Nielson 2009

For some added fun, here are some of the MANY pumpkins on display at the Keene, NH pumpkin festival.

If you want to see more of the pumpkin festival (which is HUGE) go to Youtube.com and type in Keene NH Pumpkin Festival. You will be amazed at the THOUSANDS!!! of pumpkins on display.

Do Bears Play Leap-Frog in the Snow?

2009-10-19T15:04:00.007-04:00

I don't know....

( Well, maybe, but just at parties!)

Are Leap-Frogs good at jumping rope?

NOPE!

©Ginger Nielson 2009

Just for fun...

2009-10-18T12:34:00.003-04:00

Character Studies

2009-10-17T10:46:00.003-04:00

A character studies for young boy and girl.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ FROZEN

2009-10-16T15:12:00.006-04:00

......with fear!

©Ginger Nielson 2009

The first snow....

2009-10-16T09:14:00.004-04:00

Our first snow began this morning and although it is mostly just a prolonged flurry it came before the leaves had all changed or fallen. Up here in the northeast we have a bush called the Burning Bush. This morning it cooled off a bit with a dusting of fresh snow.

Flying ~ A clever hoax

2009-10-10T14:19:00.007-04:00

©Ginger Nielson 2009

There has been a long held belief that the flying elephant fish is extinct. Of course that belief was recently tested when one was spotted flying over Loch Ness. Alas, it was simply a cleverly crafted hoax in the form of a balloon. That fact became quite obvious when the wings began to deflate. Knowing this, Nessie has no worries about any competition in the near future.

IF-FLYING through the Autumn Leaves

2009-10-08T10:45:00.003-04:00

Autumn leaves are brilliant waves of red and gold and brown.

I ride them on a gentle breeze from town to town to town.

I posted this a bit early but it fits the theme so well I wanted to offer this for Illustration Friday. It is a rework of an older Black and White image with the addition of a short poem.

Website update

2009-10-06T10:53:00.004-04:00

As with all things new replaces the old. I have updated the opening on my website using an older image with a new twist.

Lizards on leaves ~ revisited

2009-10-04T18:28:00.004-04:00

In addition to reposting a new version of the lizards I wanted to mention that one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me is sitting on the sidebar of this blog off to the right. When I was one of the many contributing graphic artists on AOL I had my own little "space" in the family computing department. We created games, puzzles, who done it mysteries, craft ideas, homework help, photo libraries, mazes and more and uploaded other people's art work and as we worked together many of us became friends.

In those early days of AOL we also held community leader conferences where we could actually meet one another face to face. One of my friends created the arrangement to "Puttin' On the Ritz" that you will hear if you click on the slider on the side bar. My friend "Pablo" ( Paul Perez) created this version and it has always made me smile. You will too, if you care to listen.

This is another version of Lizards on leaves. By using the Pattern Emboss feature in Painter X, I was able to create an interesting relief under the lizards. These are the same guys I used for a card a while back.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ GERMS

2009-10-02T11:38:00.003-04:00

©Ginger Nielson 2009

I would guess it all depends upon how you look at this.

Germs? Love? Both?

We love our pets as part of our family. They are the most trusting members who give

us unconditional love 24/7. This illustration is dedicated to my friend

Sherry who lost her beloved dog and trusting friend, LUKE this past week.

In the Library

2009-09-29T11:22:00.003-04:00

© Ginger Nielson
I have a fondness for this illustration. Maybe because two people who never knew each other, might be about to meet. But on what terms? Under what circumstances?

An image from a current project

2009-09-28T16:42:00.003-04:00

©Ginger Nielson 2009

Asleep on an island in the middle of the sea.... or is it an island?

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ PATTERN

2009-09-25T11:42:00.004-04:00

(you will need to click on the image to see the whole spread)

I enjoy making patterns for my illustrations and for my characters. Here is an illo from a book I am S T I L L creating with the pattern on the woman's dress added in a separate image.

Continuing with the Fold out book

2009-09-22T12:25:00.007-04:00

Sometimes we may take on a project that expands in ways we didn't realize beforehand.

At any rate, I will continue with my revision of the original story about the little elephant. As a fold out the number of illustrations has MushROOMEd from 34 pages (including the front and back covers) to around 44 with all the flaps and fold outs. It is fun, and I know I will be happy with the end result.

It is also a LOT of work.

On the bright side, if there is one, *:) work is so slow right now that I have time to give this project my full attention and as I do things are looking better.

Here are some examples of the older version and the newer version. It is a bit softer, more tuned to the youngest market and hopefully more interactive with the fold out surprises I have introduced.

This is the older half finished version.

This is the newer sketch

And this is the newer finished painting.

Although you may not see much difference ... the changes are there. Lighter water with more sparkle and different ears that look more like a real baby elephant's ears. Also I simplified the background. This is actually only one half of a full page spread.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE 9-21-09

2009-09-21T10:00:00.007-04:00

The International Day of Peace has great meaning for our planet.

I first became involved with the movement for Peace on Earth through the first book I illustrated , One Day in Peace, January 1,2000. It was later renamed, Peace Day and then redone with new illustrations I created and has been translated into over 18 languages and is available to read online.

We also collaborated on a small book titled, The Department of Peace and is available as a Two in One Book.

The project was done as a no fee project by the two authors and myself for the benefit of the children of the world.

As today is International Day of Peace, please take ONE minute out of your day today, to say a prayer for Peace.

"Once upon a time there were some kids who had a Dream.

Their Dream was that for just One Day there would be peace on earth."

slightly corrected ~ a question of semantics

2009-09-19T16:03:00.004-04:00

My latest project to produce a dummy for a lift the flap book, seems to be misnamed.

Actually it is a FOLD OUT book. Now that I have that settled I will continue with my dummy and the knowledge that there is a name for what I am trying to create.

The whole idea behind this new direction comes from the fact that I want to create some surprises in my story and also have room for more of the characters and the adventure. I am creating the first dummy in 10x8 landscape orientation, but may change the size downward since I now have the added space on the fold out sections. Another alternative is to add a PULL OUT page here and there, but I am not sure if it will fit the story. If it does that is one more challenge that I would love to embrace.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ INFINITE

2009-09-18T16:52:00.006-04:00

"To infinity and beyond!"