Bye bye 2010

2010. What can I say, but its been one of those years I'd rather move on from. Its been a year of change for sure. Shifts in both my personal life and career. But there were still so many wonderful things that happened.

2010 Year in review:

• Traveled to Tokyo and attended DesignFesta. Also finally got to meet a great online friend in real life.
• Attended the Highlights Illustrators party and finally got to meet Paula, Susan and Jenn from my critique group, Illustration for kids. These ladies have supported me from the very beginning!
• Traveled to Germany with my awesome girlfriends. Most memorable: riding bikes near the Baltic Sea.
• Books published: The Great Matzoh Hunt, and Halloween is Here
• worked on a cool iPhone app.
• Attended a great comic workshop and met some amazing local comic artists.
• Started the sketchbook project, writing in comic form.
• Was a speaker on a panel for a local arts conference.
• The end of this year marks the 5 year anniversary of me going out of my own as a freelancer.

Whew! Ok, so maybe I did more in this year than I thought. Its been a year of new experiences. I also feel like I'm at a crossroad both personally and career wise. For 2011, I plan to reinvent myself. Goals coming up in another post.

Happy New Year!

Painting with iPhone's Brushes App- Girl

I'm back from California where I spent a few days in warm weather, which was much needed. Sad to be back in the cold again but also happy to be back in the swing of things to get ready for the new year.

When traveling, I get plenty of time to play around with the brushes app on my iPhone, so here is a piece I did while on the plane.

Sketchbook Project 2011 Pages 60-63

This week's Sketchbook Project 2011 pages.  To read this story from the beginning, please visit my flickr set.

(please click to enlarge and read)

 

 *please come back every TUESDAY for a new post for this project!*

 I can't believe I'm up to 60 pages! Two more Tuesdays to go before I turn this book in :-)

Sketchbook Project 2011 Pages 56-59

This week's Sketchbook Project 2011 pages.  To read this story from the beginning, please visit my flickr set.

(please click to enlarge and read)

*please come back every TUESDAY for a new post for this project!*

 

There are 10 spreads left in my sketchbook and only less than a month away before I turn it in. I'm hoping to get lots of sketching done over holiday break. Merry Christmas and I'll see you next Tuesday.

Free App featuring Desktop Wallpapers

Freebies! I'm honored to be part of this free app called Galleries 1 by WingedChariot that features an international group of illustrators. You can download this image by yours truly as a desktop wallpaper for your iphone/ ipad/ ipod touch.

There are many more stunning work by various illustrators. Thanks to WingedChariot for having a spot for me. You may want to check out their adorable kids' book app called Scruffy Kitty, featuring the work of Michael Slack, who is definitely one of my favorite illustrators out there.

Sketchbook Project 2011 Pages 54-55

More about football in this week's Sketchbook Project 2011 pages.  To read this story from the beginning, please visit my flickr set.

(please click to enlarge and read)

*please come back every TUESDAY for a new post for this project!*

Sketchbook Project 2011 Pages 52-53

This week's Sketchbook Project 2011 pages.  To read this story from the beginning, please visit my flickr set.

(please click to enlarge and read)

 

  *please come back every TUESDAY for a new post for this project!*

 

So, notice there is only one spread this week. Even thought I still have quite alot of stories in my mind to tell, I've been getting a bit drained. Sigh! I still have a few more pages to go before I turn in this book before January 15th. Lets just hope I come up with a nice cover art for it. (still blank at the moment.)

My Website got a Face Lift!

My main website is revamped! Please go check it out.

I've been wanting to learn WordPress for sometime now, and thanks to Jonathan Woodward of Zero2illo and Tracy Bishop, I got the push I needed. I used Headway themes for the site and even though it was a struggle at first and bit of a learning curve, once I got the hang of it, it is very easy to use.

I still have this blog separately right now, but in the future I hope to merge it to my main site. I'm just a bit nervous about doing so. I've got to get some holiday postcards out the door, and some fun projects are coming in.

Let me know what you think of the new site!

Sketchbook Project 2011 Pages 48-51

I'm back with my Sketchbook Project 2011! Can you believe its up to page 51 now? To read this story from the beginning, please visit my flickr set.

(please click to enlarge and read)

 

 

 *please come back every TUESDAY for a new post for this project!*

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend. And thanks for everyone's understanding about my need for a break. (still feeling very guilty!) We drove from Ann Arbor to Philadelphia to visit family and finally got some time in between to put my pages in.

There are about 28 pages left in the sketchbook. I'm not quite sure how I will end this story, since I'm still in the midst of it. Its still a big "to be continued." But I'm happy to be putting my little snippets and thoughts of living here on paper. And to those of you who's been following this far- Thank you. :-)

Guest post + a Giveaway over at PiBoIdMo

I'm guest posting over at Tara Lazar's blog for PiBoIdMo today with this print as a giveaway. I hope this quote inspires you as it did me. Thanks again to Tara for letting me guest post. Head over there to enter!

No Sketchbook Project this week

Just a note here to say I'm taking a break from the Sketchbook project this week. I'm feeling a bit guilty but between client work, Thanksgiving, and a big book deadline around the corner, I need to concentrate on that instead. Although I'm pretty proud to say I've been doing this every Tuesday for the past 3 months! I will be back on track next week!

If you haven't gotten a chance to read this story from the beginning, please go to my flickr set.

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In other news, I will be guest posting over at Tara Lazar's blog for PiBoIdMo (which stands for Picture Book Idea Month) with a giveaway tomorrow (Wed, 11/24.) So please stay tuned. And happy Turkey week!

Christmas postcard

Just sent this off to the printers! This will be my Christmas postcard. I've been thinking about what I wanted to do for this year. Since I got so many nice comments about the animal ABCs, I wonder if I can continue it onto other themes.

There are some tricky letters but thats the fun part, figure it out. Even though I felt like I'm cheating a little with the letter Z being "zzzz," I'm pretty happy with the end result.

I'm already thinking about other themes already :-)

Fly Art Center Tote Design (and tees!)

I got an opportunity to design this tote bag for Fly Art Center, a local non-profit organization that gives art experiences for kids. I met the founder Ruth Marks, through a panel discussion I was on at the Convergence conference, about the publishing world. I love what she is doing! How can I not?!

There is something very free about working with just 2 colors. They will be screen printed and it will also be on t-shirts for kids. Its on pre-order now, so hopefully I can interest you in getting one and supporting them. Thank you.

Sketchbook Project 2011 Pages 44-47

Page 44-47 of my Sketchbook Project 2011. To read this story from the beginning, please visit my flickr set.

(please click to enlarge and read)

*please come back every TUESDAY for a new post for this project!*

 I've been taking a little artistic license with these pages. There isn't a World of Puff Superstore here in Ann Arbor but I sure did have a puffy coat issue and we were "snuggied." From the feedback I've received, alot of my stories are also related to my life as a freelancer...which, I know alot about too. There aren't alot of pages left in the sketchbook (wow) and I have so much more to say, so I think in the next few pages I will concentrate more on the Ann Arbor/ Michigan aspect of my experience.

Sketchbook Project 2011 Pages 40-43

Page 40-43 of my Sketchbook Project 2011. To read this story from the beginning, please visit here or my flickr set.

(please click to enlarge and read)

 

*please come back every TUESDAY for a new post for this project!*

Screen Printing Workshop

A few weekends ago, I took a silkscreening workshop over at Blue House Ann Arbor. The last time I did silk screening was in my art school days (and that was a long time ago.) And of course I had to be the idiot who pulled emulsion on the screen while it was laying flat and got it all over the table. Blah.

Anyways, it did turn out well, since I got my evil robot design onto a few tees and a few scraps of test fabric, which I'll hopefully turn into a tote bag.

Here is one of my tees, hanging to be dried. Apologies for the quality of these photos as I took these with my iphone in a dark room.

So what next? Do I want to start my silk screening empire? I actually have a basement in which I can set up shop. But who knows, I already have way too much on my plate. It will be on my list of many things I want to do. It is alot of fun.

Sketchbook Project 2011 Pages 36-39

Page 36-39 of my Sketchbook Project 2011. To read this story from the beginning, please visit here or my flickr set.

(please click to enlarge and read)

I swear this will be the last time I talk about bullet proof glass, or the lack thereof. There are much more fascinating things I've experienced since I've been here, and I hope I get to everything since I'm at the half way point in the sketchbook!

 

Also I'm scanning these pages at a better quality, to look like more of the original. The pages for these are so thin that the other side shows through, but it doesn't bother me much anymore.

*please come back every TUESDAY for a new post for this project!*

Illustration for Kids- Fall Mailer

Its that time of year again when we do a fall promo over at Illustration for Kids.

Stay tuned for my post tomorrow on my sketchook project!

Evolution of a Halloween Book Cover

It is fun to show the process of a cover-from sketches to the end product. I did this with The Great Matzoh Hunt, and now I thought I would show it for Halloween is Here, a sticker book I illustrated that was recently released.

 

1st Sketch: All 4 of the main characters were featured. It is a bit too crowded for the cover.

 

Revised Sketch

Color Art

With Type and at the stores! (took this pic at Borders)

Hope you'll get a chance to pick Halloween is Here up at your local bookstores. Happy Halloween!

Toy Story PixArt

I recently contributed a piece of PixArt over at The Pixar Times to celebrate the release of Toy Story 3 on DVD and blu-ray. Check it out here. Who doesn't love Pixar? They do make the best films! Thanks to Jerrod Maruyama for the invitation. And if you like cute stuff, go check out his store, Casa Kawaii. Enough said :-)

Sketchbook Project 2011 Pages 32-35

Page 32-35 of my Sketchbook Project 2011. To read this story from the beginning, please visit here or my flickr set.

(please click to enlarge and read)

Wow, its been almost two months now since I've been keeping up with this comics story every week. I still can't believe it! Ideas are brewing as to how I can continue to keep this up after the sketchbook ends.

*please come back every TUESDAY for a new post for this project!*

Chickengirl Comics Presents...A Halloween Special (+IF: Spooky)

 

I was going to wait and post these on Tuesday instead of pages from my sketchbook project. But since this week's illustration friday topic is "spooky," and I haven't participated in IF in a very very long time, I thought I would post it now. Plus, I am eager to get these pages out there :-)

This was fun and a good exercise since I hardly ever touch photoshop and this is definitely a different technique than what I'm use to. I'm also happy to write a little story for Chicken Girl and Rooster Boy that is more fictional rather than based on real life. I hope I've got more stories like this in me.

Sketchbook Project Page 28-31

Page 28-31 of my Sketchbook Project 2011. To read this story from the beginning, please visit here or my flickr set.

(please click to enlarge and read)

Its getting harder and harder to do these pages every week, but looking through my sketchbook so far-its nice to see it getting filled up!

*please come back every TUESDAY for a new post for this project!*

Chicken Girl for President

I made these badges and wore them at the Highlight Illustrators Party a few weeks ago. The theme was "silly." I have no idea how this came to mind. It was fun making them though.

The Sketchables Interview

What do you sketch on and where?

There is a fun interview of me over at The Sketchables where I answered all the questions in sketches. Thanks to Heather Powers and the rest of the ladies over there for letting me have yet another excuse to draw more chickens.

Sketchbook Project 2011 Pages 24-27

I finally go to jewelry class and it gets pathetic. Page 24-27 of my Sketchbook Project 2011.

To read this story from the beginning, please visit here or my flickr set.

(please click to enlarge and read)

 

Whew! I barely finished on time for this week's post. I crammed all the sketching up to the last possible moment. Thank you again to those of you who are keeping up with this story, it truly motivates me every week!

*please come back every TUESDAY for a new post for this project!*

Chicken Girl Design Digistamps- October and Final Collection

 

This is the October and yes, final collection of the Chicken Girl Design Digistamps. I want to thank the awesome ladies of the design team who makes gorgeous cards with my images month after month: Loretta, Lori, Tammy, Michele, Laura, Christy and Judy. Its been very interesting to see how they use these images with fresh new colors. Its been very inspiring.

And a special thank you to Kate over at I {heart} Papers for the opportunity to make this happen. I'm happy I got a chance to get a glimpse of the crafting world. Thank you very much, Kate.

Never fear, the polymer and digistamps will continue to be for sale over at I {heart} Papers, along with alot of other fun crafting materials (which I learned alot about at CHA this summer...wow). So go check it out, alright?

Hooray for Halloween Book Giveaway Winner

Using random.org, the winner is Nina Seven! Congratulations, Nina! 

Thanks to everyone who entered the book giveaway, and the tips for chicken costumes. I ended up  sewing chicken and rooster hats out of felt I had around the house. More on that later.

And it seems like alot of folks are into Reeses peanut butter cups and M&Ms! Will probably pick some up to hand out to the trick or treaters. Happy Halloween! It is one of the best holidays, isn't it?

Top Ten things Illustrators can do to make Highlights Happy

At the Highlights Illustrators party, there was a seminar with a panel of Highlights' editors and art directors. There was a list of "Top Ten Things Illustrators can do to Make Highlights Happy" - (a la Letterman style). Thought I would share it here:

     10- Bring your unique style.

       9- Read the story, have details reflected in the art.

       8- Read the art notes.

       7- Do your homework, research details. (even cartoony spiders have 8 legs.)

       6- Leave room for caption, art should fit in space.

       5- Remember the age group.

       4- Be responsive to sketch revisions. Re-compose the layout if necessary.

       3- Remember the Highlights statement. (They are fun, but not sassy...)

       2- Meet the deadlines.

       1- Humor them. (Put seat belts on aliens in spaceships, life vests on
           Canoeing raccoons!)

Highlights Illustrators Party 2010

Outside of the Highlights Office

This past weekend, I was at the Highlights Illustrators party in Honesdale, PA. An opportunity to get out my studio and talk with...other people! And illustrators at that! This time was extra special since 4 out of 7 of us in our Illustration for Kids group got to get together (Paula, Susan, Jenn, and I).These ladies have been with me at the very beginning of my illustration career and its amazing that 4 years later we get to meet in person.

And I also got to meet alot of other great illustrators, alot of them in which I've gotten to know from online- Jennifer Thermes, Karen Lee, Julie Fortenberry, Liz Dubois, Barry Gott, Jim Paillot, Mike Moran, Brian White (and so many others to mention! Forgive me its been a long weekend.)

Portfolio Sharing

There was an illustrators seminar (which I will do another post on) and portfolio sharing afterwards. 

My Portfolio, books, and cards

There were silly costumes and square dancing. They know how to throw a good party! Thank you so much to all the folks over at Highlights. Hope to see you all next year.

Sketchbook Project 2011 Pages 20-23

More talks about my favorite subject, food. Page 20-23 of my Sketchbook Project 2011.

To read this story from the beginning, please visit here or my flickr set.

(please click to enlarge and read)

*please come back every TUESDAY for a new post for this project!*

This week was a tough week to get these done-I was at the annual Highlights Illustrators party all weekend (will do a post about it soon.) But committing to a Tuesday posting really pushed me to finish it.

And a quick reminder: I am hosting a giveaway of my Halloween is Here sticker book- you can still enter. Check it out on my previous post. Good luck!

Halloween is Here Sticker Book Giveaway!!!

I'm finally hosting a giveaway! I'm giving away a copy this Halloween is Here sticker book I illustrated, published by Running Press Kids-which was just recently released. There is a story plus plenty of stickers to put into the scenes. Yay, stickers!!!

TO ENTER:

-Please leave me a comment and let me know what your favorite candy is when trick or treating. (mine = Twix!!)

-If you are on Twitter, please follow me at @JannieHo. If you could retweet about this giveaway, it would be greatly appreciated. Please include @JannieHo in your tweet.


**I will randomly pick a winner next Friday, October 8th.** Good luck!

P.S.-Anyone know where I can get a cheap chicken costume? Why are they so expensive?