Sketchitysketchsketch-sketchums!

 

Pingo!

Here's a spread from Pingo.  You can see another on my site.  It hits bookstores the first week of August!  

Sketchy-Doodle

Haleakala

My wife and I visited Maui's Mt. Haleakala yesterday.  Pretty sweet view. . . . 

Later! 

Nothing In Particular

This wasn't for anything in particular.  I started three cone shapes and a couple hours later . . . whala!  This is what came out.

Later!

Quick Study

Here's a 15 minute study I did to loosen up.  It's crazy how stuff like this helps.  Kinda like warming up before playing basket ball (though, I will admit I paint better than I can play ball).

Later!

Few Updates

Just made a few updates to my site.  Not a major change, but a few newer projects and a hint at my picture book coming out for Christmas. Yeah!

Later!

PINGO!

The last few months have been super busy.  One of the books I finished up and am excited about is Pingo .  I teamed up with Brandon Mull on this one.  It's a funny story about a boy who tries to ditch is imaginary friend as he gets older.  However, this imaginary friend won't go quietly. 

I think it releases in August.  Here's a link to pre-order. :)

Last week the awesome people at Deseret Book sent over the proofs.  It's always fun to see this stage of whole process. 

I'll post some of the spreads as it gets closer to the release date.

Later!

Sketching Around

Here is a little piece I sketched up while trying to break in a new Photoshop brush.  Later!

Bedroom Walls

Back in High School I loved to make images, and nothing has changed.  I asked my parents if I could spray paint my bedroom.  To my surprise they said "yes."  I just about passed out from the fumes.

I did hundreds of drawings at this little table sitting on two kiddy chairs stacked on top of each other.  It's crazy to see what can happen in ten years. 

                       

I got my hands on a airbrush and went to town.  

                                  

Later!

FABLEHAVEN 4 Interior

Just a look at one of the Chapter Heads I did for the 4th Fablehaven book.

Goosebumps Horrorland

Thought I would post a few of the covers I've done for the new Goosebumps Horrorland series.  

Later!

  

      

Another Experiment

A little sparkle to the day

Just got a note from Igrid Law, the brilliant author of Savvy, that the cover of Savvy was voted  "favorite book jacket of 2008" by Publisher's Weekly!  It always adds a little sparkle to the day when there's fun news like this.  

Just as a heads up, I'm currently working on the jacket art for the sequel to Savvy.  Hopefully it will compliment the awesome story once agian.

Later!

Dooooodle

Isn't doodling just the best thing ever?  

FABLEHAVEN 4

In an attempt to help get the word out about book 4 in the Fablehaven series, I thought I'd post the cover.  Though there are a lot of dragons in the book, we went with this huge hydra on the cover.  It was a blast to paint!  I think it releases in March.  

P is for Pirate

It's about time I posted something, huh?

Did this as I was exploring a new set of characters for a pirate story.  Done in Photoshop.  

Later!

A Good Look

Be Glad your Nose is on your Face

Here's a plug for my latest book I did with Jack Prelutsky.  It officially was released in bookstores today (though I think it has been out in some for a week or so).  

My illustrations aside, this truly is a great book.  Jack's poems are fantastic.  Much of his greatest poetry can be found here.  One of my favorites is The Frummick and the Frelly.  

One thing that most don't know; while Jack and I were doing a joint presentation in Seattle last year, I got up and drew a picture based on what the children there described.  While I was up scribbling away, Jack sat back and wrote a short poem about the weird looking creature.  You can find The Zubble on page 92. 

Here's a link to order on Amazon.

Enjoy! 

AL

FARWORLD

I want to give a shout out for J. Scott Savage's new release FAR WORLD. 

I was privileged to illustrate the jacket art and interiors.  This is definitely going to be a series to keep tabs on as there will be 5 books in all.  

  

Snorer

 

Pete

 

Football Is Coming!

Though a fan of most sports, I would have to say football season is my favorite.  And living near Seattle for most of my life, I proudly proclaim my allegiance to the Seahawks.  I consider myself one of  the many "12th men", even if most of my contribution comes from my own TV room.  

First preseason game is coming up in about a week!  

 

Choir Boy

I thought this choir boy had a cool look. . . . 
 

Gramps

Who wouldn't want a trunk instead of a nose?!

Trunkboy

What if we were born with elephant trunks instead of noses??  

Lil' Study

Sneak Peak

Like I promised, here are a few spreads from BE GLAD YOUR NOSE IS ON YOUR FACE.  The 200 pager I worked on with Jack Prelutsky.  

  

The OK

I received the ok to post some of the work I did for BE GLAD YOUR NOSE IS ON YOUR FACE!  I should post it shortly.  In the mean time here are a few sketches I've doodled out this last week.  

Later!