IF # 25: TRAIN

I didn't manage to post the piece I worked on for this weeks Illustration Friday on time, but here it is. My thinking... you must TRAIN your eye to become an artist.

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© Cheryl Kirk Noll, watercolor and colored pencil

I started this some time ago, but I reformatted it, reworked the main character and added some details. It is for a project I'm working on with my friend Linda. The story takes place in France in the 1880's.

Illustration Friday #24: WILD

This week I was doing what turned out to be a color study for a story about my "wild" hedgehog, Henry, who just does NOT want to go to bed! I don't know why, in a cozy bedroom like this one.

I haven't gotten it quite the way I want it yet, but, if at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

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© Cheryl Kirk Noll, 2013

Tooting My Own Horn, and Introducing Henry!

Henry especially likes juicy berries. ©Cheryl Kirk Noll

On September 29, 2012, I was featured on Kathy Teamen's blog,

Writing and Illustrating

. She has a regular feature, "Illustrator Saturday," with extensive interviews of dozens of fabulous illustrators, from Dan Santat to Brian Lies to Susan Jeffers, and many, many more.  I'm honored to be included in this treasure trove of information about the lives and creative process of childr

en's book illustrators.

To read my interview, which includes lots of information about my student days at RISD, and my illustration process, go to:

http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2012/09/29/illustrator-saturday-cheryl-kirk-noll/

Kathy was on a retreat when she put up the information, and had a hard time with a bad internet connection. Consequently, you'll find several things repeated, and she wasn't able to put up my new  work, so...

 I want to introduce my latest project, a picture book dummy about a vivacious hedgehog named Henry. Working on Henry has been such fun that I wanted to share him.

There is never enough time in the day for Henry. ©Cheryl Kirk Noll

As I mentioned in the interview, I've been writing up a storm.  I dummied up this story, (that means I made a prototype of the book, with sketches, words in place, and a few finished illustrations) and it  is currently being considered by a few publishers.  I have my fingers crossed.

Henry loves to swim, and fish, and chase after whirlwinds. ©Cheryl Kirk Noll

Henry is always on the lookout for slimy slugs and chewy grubs. YUM! ©Cheryl Kirk Noll

Occasionally Henry likes to rest, but only if it's outside. ©Cheryl Kirk Noll

Illustration Friday # 20: RETURN (of spring)

We New Englander's long for the RETURN of spring, even when the winter is mild, as it was this year. So for this week's Illustration Friday prompt word, RETURN, I reveled in the RETURN of spring.

 I've worked in the garden several times this week, enjoying the seasonably cool weather, and marveling at how everything is several weeks ahead of the normal schedule for bloom-time!

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For this illustration, I used a friend's daughter as a model, and had spring on my mind.

Here are a few photos of my spring garden from other years. The tulips haven't quite popped yet this year.

Illustration Friday # 19: SWAMP

© Cheryl Kirk Noll,  Harriet Tubman escapes slavery

I've been SWAMPed this week with a wonderful weekend conference, a niece getting married, and family visiting from the other coast. So here is an older piece, done for a set of story cards for Graphic Learning, a Divison of Abrams & Co.,  many years ago, illustrating Harriet Tubman escaping from slavery through a SWAMP in Maryland.

Illustration Friday # 18: SHADES (of spring)

Shades of Spring © Cheryl Kirk Noll

I did a new piece this week, loosely using my niece's husband and son as models. The prompt word is shades, so I'm calling it "Shades of Spring." I did it with my "new style," hand-painted figures done in watercolor,  and photographs manipulated in Photoshop.

It's been a glorious week here in New England... maybe even a bit too hot yesterday. Daffodils are up, and the ones in the illustration are from my garden (but not this year.)

Hope everyone is enjoying the early spring. We can cross our fingers and hope we don't get frost next week.