Tony DiTerlizzi, Never Abandon Imagination

October 31, 2008 Posted by Tony D in Friday Fan Art, Musings, Spider & Fly

Halloweeny Fan Art!

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Considering the auspicious nature of the day, I thought it would be great to share this awesome handbag made by the very talented Margaret a few years back. I think it would make a great trick or treating bag- after all, spiderwebs and treat bags are both made to fill with sweet delicious things in tidy wrappings.

Thanks for the purse Margaret, it is the only one I proudly own. Happy Halloween sweet creatures!

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October 24, 2008 Posted by Tony D in Friday Fan Art, Musings

Friday Fan Art!

Here’s a great dragon from a young fan, Alex. I really like the scale diagram. There are lots of cool details in the description as well, for instance you can see the extra sharp claws on the front and back, so he can climb easily both ways – nice touch!

Keep drawin!

September 27, 2008 Posted by Tony D in Friday Fan Art, Musings

Friday Fan Art!

Leigh has been a fan here on the blog for some time now, and it was great to get a chance to meet her and her sis, Ysabel, in person last month at the Decatur Book Festival.

Leigh sent us these awesome first fan-art drawings of Kenny and Grahame from my new book, Kenny and the Dragon!

…and Ysabel sent us her rendition of on of my favorite dragons, Smaug.

Thanks for these sketches ladies, keep on drawin!

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September 19, 2008 Posted by Tony D in Friday Fan Art, Musings, Spiderwick Stuff

Friday Fan Art- Manga Madness

This week we received quite a treat: this amazing Spiderwick manga by our old friend Annie!

We try to feature young artists only once, (so that everyone gets a chance), but this was just so cool, such a labor of love, that we couldn’t keep it to ourselves!

It would be great to post all 70 pages, but I’d never get time to respond to all the fantastic fan mail that’s been arriving, so here’s just a sample from chapter four:

Keep drawing Annie! Keep your eyes peeled, we are going to send you something VERY special for this fabulous piece of fan work!

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September 12, 2008 Posted by Tony D in Friday Fan Art, Musings

Friday Fan Art!

I’ve been traveling for the past few weeks hence the lack of FFA, but now that I am back in the studio, there is much to share!

Angela received this cool note from our new favorite felt-master, Andrea Graham:

I enjoyed reading the Spiderwick Chronicles aloud to my three boys and looked forward to the illustrations as we turned each page. I am an artist as well, a feltmaker. While all my work is original, I was moved to create a likeness of Thimbletack. I have attached 2 images of the piece. He is entirely sculpted from wool, no sewing, no painting. I hope you enjoy seeing him.

We totally do Andrea! He is really neat! Thanks for sending him along (remember, he likes just a bit of milk at night – otherwise he gets…moody). Keep up the fantastic fiber art.

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August 15, 2008 Posted by Tony D in Friday Fan Art, Musings

Friday Fan Art - Hobgoblin Field Guide

Our friend Margaret is working on a nifty field guide to Hobgoblins, which not only describes the various subspecies, but also details their living habits and even emotions- here are just a few of our favorite images. I hope it inspires you as much as it did me!

Keep on drawin’!

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August 8, 2008 Posted by Tony D in Friday Fan Art, Musings

Friday Fan Art

This week we thought we’d share these three great Spiderwick inspired creatures, a “Rain Forest Sprite” by Cassidy, a “Sea Nymph” (with beta fish) by Mark, and a great yellow Goblin by Kendall! Keep on drawin’ everybody!

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August 1, 2008 Posted by Tony D in Contests, Friday Fan Art, Kenny & The Dragon, Musings

Design Your Dragon! Contest WINNERS!

Wow! All I can say to you all is WOW! Everyone really did a phenomenal job for this contest!

All of us here at DiTerlizzi studio tonight were BLOWN AWAY by the menagerie of dragons that danced upon my computer screen and on the flat files and floor. We received entries from all over the world, in all age groups, and in all sorts of mediums.

Judging was tough. We discussed all of the entrant’s work at length – looking for that great combination of story, character and design. I even invited John Lind, a designer buddy of mine (and his loverly wife), to come and help Angela, Will and I with the decision-making – it was that tough for us.

Everyone agreed there should be more than three winners – so we doubled it and chose six.

But, before you read on, check out Joe Sutphin’s amazing entry. Joe sent me a note saying he just enjoyed being a part of the contest, and wanted someone else to take the prize. Nonetheless, I thought you all would enjoy his “Stilted Atlantic Wyvern” or “Crab Hawk”.

Thanks for being a part of this Joe, I just know you’ll go on to influence others with your imaginative art… Now, onto our WINNERS!

8-year old Ben from Bishop, California sent us this fun drawing of “The Western Dook Dragon”.
“…Who loves flying everywhere. It eats mushrooms, potatoes and other things. It swims in duck ponds and plays with ducks.”

Next, the judges couldn’t agree whose piece they liked more from brother and sister artistic duo, Gracie and Isaac – so we decided to award a prize signed to both of them.

Gracie’s (age 7) dragon is named “Tutu the Dancing Dragon”.
“She likes to dance. She likes to boogie. She wears this outfit all the time. She dances for the king of TwinkleLand. Tutu dazzles with her dancing tricks.”

While Isaac’s dragon is called “Pistachio”.
“He throws the parties at home in his castle, and everyone is invited. He likes cotton candy, and he enjoys both giving and getting presents.”

Meanwhile, we were all blown away by 15-year old Nancy’s depiction of “Xarpho”.
“…who has been known to snack on trolls and stray vagabonds every now and then. Nowadays she lives a solitary life in high mountains, collecting four-leaf clovers, maple keys, and things alike.”

From Wilton, New Hampshire came “Horace”, a Greater Mangrove Drake, colorfully rendered by Sara.
“He’s a semi-aquatic dragon with a fondness for terrapin soup and mint tea. He loves poetry but unfortunately prefers to have it read to him, as the pages get soggy underwater.”

Next, from HangZhou, near ShangHai China, comes “Big Cyan” a self-portrait by Qing.
“He loves watching movies and playing basketball. He is a pacifist. He hates environment pollution, especially automobiles polluting the air over the street. So he likes to wear a mask when he riding a bike on the street.”

..and last (but certainly not least) is our GRAND PRIZE WINNER Adam! Everyone just loved the originality and magic in this illustration and description:
“This is my dragon Furwyrm. In this picture you can find him on his usual early evening activity, hunting Glowdoves. A tasty morsel indeed, providing not only nurishment, but the special life essence called Esporia. The Furwyrm’s huge eyes allow them to spot these mystic creatures from miles away. Usually keeping to the misty rocky cliffs near the Outer Lakes, Furwyrms have been also known to have an affection for waterfalls. They will use it as a giant shower and an easy way to keep their long bodies clean.”

For your extra cool image Adam, I will send you the signed/drawn book AND a copy of the Kenny and the Dragon audio book read by Alan Cumming!

Dear readers, I hope you were as inspired by these majestic drawings as much as we were. Thank you all so much for participating (especially those who had also entered the Spiderwick drawing contest), I was truly touched by the amount and quality of work that came in – you all have inspired me.

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Friday Fan Art- Manga Madness

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Friday Fan Art - Hobgoblin Field Guide

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Design Your Dragon! Contest WINNERS!