Pinocchio

I'm very behind with updates. This my contribution to Picture Book Report, a blog dedicated to beautiful stories and illustrations. It's run by the very talented Meg Hunt and it is certainly worth a visit. http://www.picturebookreport.com

Lieutenant Hamelin & his singing mouse

The Pied Piper of Hamelin was the first story I illustrated while I was in art school. The old version of the piper was a rather naive watercolour and will never appear on this blog, this is the new one I recently finished.
It's a contribution to a wonderful group project called Colonel Windpipe's Musical Brigade, run by the very nice and talented Lesley Barnes and Uberkraaft. (click on the names to visit their websites!) You can see some of the submissions to this project on the blog here and more recruits waiting for friday's inspection in the Flickr Group Pool here

It was a very fun illustration to work on and an extra push to step outside my comfort zone and create a "bad guy" for once. There are many textures and little details in this illustration, including a brand new set of brushes I made using some of my grandma's doilies (the veins around his eyes). Click on the full image to see a larger version.

Expressions

In between things, I'm working on new portfolio pieces to show more variety in expressions, ethnicity and age groups. These will be small spot illustrations rather than complex situations, although I have a couple of new pieces inspired by books and movies that are in the works too. I'm struggling to find the time to finish everything and have a regular life besides work. I will post the final coloured illustration soon, it will show the same two characters with 4 different expressions. ** Updated with Colour Version on 30/06/2010**

Harriet

A little preview of a picture book I just finished. It will be printed in September by french publisher Editions Lito and it's a rather large collection of stories (around 100 I think), done by 8 different illustrators. My main character was a little Princess named Harriet.
It was a very nice project, the graphic designer who followed my work was a pleasure to work with and it was nice to have permission to share a little sample on the blog. I really need to take another french class, though!

The Goldfish Adventure

Not a lot of time for blog updates lately. I'm working like crazy and I can't show anything yet. I did this little monster for Illustration Friday's "Clumsy", but forgot to post it. It's perfect to describe what happened last saturday. We had a little domestic tragedy when Elia woke up from his afternoon nap only to find his beloved goldfish floating belly up in its tank. I knew right from the start that a joke was not going to save me this time, plus his teacher says he's developing a rather unusual sense of humor and absurd (while his schoolmates were happily singing along a Christmas Carol, he was humming "Sabotage". Too much Beastie Boys? )
He was obviously heartbroken and confused. Is the fish sleeping? Maybe we should set an alarm-clock? I think one of the fins is still moving. Why... OOHH WHY are you throwing it in the TOILET?! At that point he was nearly hysterical. After a walk outside with his father he came home with a huge icecream spot on his jumper and a new goldfish. Problem solved, or so I hoped.

While I was fixing dinner the same night, he asked me why fishes die. Caught off-guard I said "death is part of life, every living creature lives and dies". I knew it was the wrong answer. A long silence followed and I hoped Agent Oso won his attention, but when I turned around he was in the doorway with that serious, surly expression on his face. When he looks at me like that, is as if he's wondering "are you qualified for this mother role? Because it seems to me that you are improvising most of the time" and has no idea how close to the truth he is!
The question he was going to pose was far worse, though. With a tiny little voice he asked "Mum, are people living creatures too?" Could not get away with a joke or a lie "Yes, they are". I tried to pretend that the usual cooking required a very complex performance, but it was not enough. "Mum, are you going to die too?" Lost for words, I gave the same answer I received from my mother when I was almost the same age "Yes, I will, but not for a long time. You'll be old and strong and will be just fine". It's not the honest truth, it's a half-truth or a half-lie. Anyway he seemed relieved, grabbed a toast and concluded "You know what? By then we will need a much bigger toilet!"

Elia is four, his teacher says that according to her manuals, kids don't understand irony or sarcasm, but I know he was smiling and walked away laughing to himself. I don't know if this means I passed along my wacky sense of humor, but if I did, he's my magnum opus and I will die happy!

A Wish

Luna Pernox is a regular presence in my sketchbook since my school days. She appears when I'm approaching the dreaded "low tide" of creativity we all experience every now and then. Therefore, she's never really welcome. Her name means "full moon" in latin and it's a nickname someone gave me a long time ago, due to my well-known moodiness. This is the first time I attempt to give her a little colour... She has a wish and I have one too.

On a more interesting note, this week I'm starting to work on a new editorial project. I'm very happy about this. I know it is something I'll greatly enjoy, it also has a nice layout. The graphic designer I'm working with is very helpful, friendly and willing to go over the many language barriers between us (huge plus!) I'll share more when I'll be allowed to.

Little red fox

A quick illo for this week's theme on Illustration Friday: wilderness.
I grew up in Sicily, where my parents moved when I was very little. Bright sunlight, colorful flowers and olive trees everywhere. And the sea, of course... As soon as I turned 16 I had permission to spend the summer holidays by myself and where I wanted. Ironically, the only place I wanted to be was the mountains, the woods and quiet landscapes of the Dolomites.
This week's "lucky fluke" is this incredible 4-texture combo I found for the background. I know I'll use this again. Sleepy Hollow comes to my mind. Staying up late sometimes leads to positive results!