Category: Kenny & The Dragon
April 25, 2008
Anybody remember a critter called the “Kenku” in the old AD&D Fiend Folio? I loved that guy! I think, because I liked the idea of an intelligent human-like animal adventuring in a fantastic setting. I have always wanted to draw him, so I doodled one out a couple of years back, here it is: That …
Continue reading “We Don’t Make Fuzzy-Bunny Books (part 3)”
April 20, 2008
Before I post more sketches of the characters and world I created for Kenny and the Dragon, I thought I would share some of the inspirational art that I looked at while writing the story. I started with the best known rabbit artist of all time, Beatrix Potter. Her technical skill and eye for detail …
Continue reading “We Don’t Make Fuzzy-Bunny Books (part 2)”
April 14, 2008
I am in the thick of finishing the 30+ illustrations for my upcoming chapter book, Kenny and the Dragon. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, it is inspired from Kenneth Grahame’s short story, The Reluctant Dragon, from his book Dream Days. Originally, my idea was to set this story in the 1950’s -very Americana, very …
Continue reading “We Don’t Make Fuzzy-Bunny Books (part 1)”
November 26, 2007
For my rendition of The Reluctant Dragon, I wanted to create a comfy, cozy world reminiscent of Wind in the Willows. My motto for it was “a warm cup of tea”. In other words, I wanted the mood of the book to evoke the comfortable feeling you get when you curl up with a warm …
Continue reading “Designing Dragons (the end…for now)”
November 17, 2007
So, as I mentioned in my last post, I am waist-deep in my new book project Kenny & The Dragon. It is a retelling of the Kenneth Grahame short story, The Reluctant Dragon, which was found in his book Dream Days published back in 1898. This is one of my favorite dragon stories that I …
Continue reading “Designing Dragons (Part 4 )”
November 3, 2007
I’m teaching a class tomorrow at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art on creating your own unique interpretation of known fantastical creatures. One of the several designs the students can choose from will be a dragon, so I’ve amassed a library of some of my favorite images to share. It seems the timing …
Continue reading “Designing Dragons (Favs)”
October 26, 2007
Early on, Holly and I thought it would be cool if the Spiderwick books slowly immersed the heroes into an entire world of fantasy. So, by the end of book 1, they finally see their house brownie, Thimbletack. By the climactic battle at the end of book 5, they are battling an evil ogre, his …
Continue reading “Designing Dragons: Spiderwick Dragons (Part 3)”
October 20, 2007
I first read Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonflight in late middle (or early high) school. It was after I had read The Hobbit, and before I plunged into Piers Anthony’s many Xanth novels. And, even though it had a female protagonist (and her dragon), I really enjoyed it. Since it took place on another planet, it reminded …
Continue reading “Designing Dragons: Space Dragons (Part 2)”
October 13, 2007
Despite all the fantasy stuff I’ve done in my career, I never get very excited about drawing dragons. Seriously. In fact, I kinda-sorta dread it. Dragons have to be the most overwrought, over-rendered, over-exposed creatures in modern fantasy today. They are found in video games, books, toys, television and movies as they are integrated into …
Continue reading “Designing Dragons (Intro & Part 1)”
Back to main news page
Menu
Connect
