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Welcome to my blog , The Hare Illustratère. I'll be posting about my art process and journey as an illustrator/author here.

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Tuesday, February 25, 2014

MATS - Cuckoo for Cell Phone Cover

Drum roll please and now for the reveal. Ta Dah! Here's my final Cuckoo cell phone cover design that I submitted to the MATS February Boot Camp Gallery.  You can view mine and my amazing class mates designs on the CLASS GALLERY. Please take a gander.
Cuckoo Cell Phone Cover Mock-up
Ink watercolor Photoshop
© Diana Ting Delosh
So what are my take aways from the class so far other than I have so much to learn and I should let loose more? Specifically:

JAZZ UP MY PRESENTATION:
To begin with I need a logo. I have an old logo from my ancient graphic design days that I have been using on my invoices etc. It looked fine on my invoices but when I put it on my mock-up page it looked so-o-o heavy & dated.  Did not match the breezy fun vibe I was aiming for. Even changing the colors to a current trendy palette did not help. As you can see I used my bird "ICON" as my logo. Will probably keep it as part of my logo but I need to work on the type. 

LOOSEN UP:
I think for March I'll doodle with my inking pens or markers from the beginning. This way I can just use it as an icon and not have to re-ink. Saves time and keeps the freshness of the original doodle.

There is no specific right way to design a cuckoo inspired cell phone cover but there are many interesting ways to do it.

To paraphrase Lilla Rogers: They Buy Your Joy!

You can view my warm-up doodles for this assignment on this previous post: MATS/February: Kookoo for Cuckoo Clocks 


Monday, February 24, 2014

Promo Postcard: Dancing!

Front & Back of 2014 Bear & Hare Dancing Postcard
Front & Back. all art © Diana Ting Delosh
Tah Dah! My first Promo postcard for 2014.  Here's my printed Bear & Hare Dancing Postcard, front & back, Freshly unpacked from the Vistaprint.com box.

For the front, I chose my current fave, an illo from my latest Picture book dummy.

For the back, I have all my contact info plus another illustration, just in case it lands on their desk face down, a sample of my hand lettering from the same book dummy. I don't always pick something from the same project, usually it's another illustration just for variety. There's plenty of space left for the address, stamp and even a bit of room if I need to write a short note.

Now off to update my promo list and get this round of Postcards off.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

MATS February: Kookoo for cuckoo clocks & Drawings 23 - 28

What have I been up to lately? I signed up for Lilla Rogers' Make Art That Sells Boot Camp. What attracted me to this e-course was Lilla's attitude and the "doability" factor. The course is structured as 1 assignment a month, starting in February, with April off and ending in July. 5 assignments designed to help build a more commercial illustration portfolio. Sounds like just what I need.

First day of class, Feb 3 the warm-up: Cuckoo Clocks. A prompt? But I don't know what the end use will be? Find it unsettling to not know what the end game is. We are told to just have fun. So I doodle away. I even make a horrific mess with dip pens and a bottle of ink.  Discover I'm not in love with Cuckoo clocks. I like the leaves, the bird, the pine cones, the rustic, folksey vibe but not the clock.

Feb 10th - The Assignment: design a cellphone cover. OK- Now I have my end use. More doodling - this time trying to think of how it will look on a cell phone cover.  BTW the assignment needs to be handed in by Feb 23, 3pm EST time - IF I want to be part of the MATS February Boot Camp Class Gallery.
#23 - Cuckoos - 2/3/14
© Diana Ting Delosh 

#24 - Our Cuckoo - 2/4/14
© Diana Ting Delosh

#25 - everything but the Cuckoo - 2/5/14
© Diana Ting Delosh

#26 - Squirrel Cuckoo - 2/10/14
© Diana Ting Delosh

#27 - Sunflower Cuckoo - 2/10/14
© Diana Ting Delosh

#28 - Bird Flower Cuckoo - 2/10/14
© Diana Ting Delosh
Having fun with this class, doodling Cuckoo clock cell phone cover ideas. Some of these doodles won't end up on my phone cover BUT I see lots of things I want to explore further. Lilla told us to think of icons. I'm not used to thinking this way. Also not used to doing a product mock up. Have lots to ponder and learn.

So did I finish? YES - and I'll show you in my next MATS post along with the link to the Bootcamp Gallery this Tuesday 2/25! I'm really excited about viewing all my class mates work on the gallery. Can't wait until it goes public.

And whats with the numbers? # 23 -28 refer to my personal drawing challenge of 365 drawings in 2014. Yup I'm falling behind. I admit it. But I think I'll continue to keep tabs for the hell of it. Who knows the year is young and I might just catch up still. On the other hand - theres' a lot of drawing I'm not counting because I'm not able to show them as I do them. So do I feel bad that I'm not current? Nah. 

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

365 Drawing 2014: No. 18 - 22, Kitties +

I find it best to sketch/doodle first thing in the morning while I'm having my  tea.  My preference is to sketch from life or to draw from my imagination. Although I do draw from photos from time to time as an exercise. It's a great warm up for other creative endeavors and it helps to set the tone for the day. No matter what happens afterwards at least I did this one thing that feels really, really good. Unfortunately my schedule doesn't always allow for AM doodling. A friend tells me to try getting up earlier. As a natural owl, I find it easier to stay up later. Perhaps I should work with my insomnia.
18 - Kitty Sleeping, Pencil
© Diana Ting Delosh
1/20/14
19 - Bottle, Ball point pen
© Diana Ting Delosh
1/19/14
20 - Me at 3, Ball point pen
© Diana Ting Delosh
2/2/14 
21 - Strawberries,  Ball point pen
© Diana Ting Delosh 2/2/14
22 - Kitty starting to nod while sitting. Ball point pen
© Diana Ting Delosh 2/4/14

Friday, January 24, 2014

365 Drawings in 2014: Sketches 16 &17 Nutcrackers & Orchid

2 quick Ball point pen sketches.
16 - Nutcrackers
© Diana Ting Delosh
1/17/14 
17 - Orchid
© Diana Ting Delosh
1/17/14
Been getting busier. Now comes the big test. Can I continue drawing, scanning , blogging, on a regular basis  even as my calendar fills up?  Hm-m-m-m.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

365 Drawings 2014: No. 15 - Peek-a-boo Skunk

Here's another peek at what's on the drawing board. A cart wheeling skunk.
Skunk
ink & watercolor
© Diana Ting Delosh
1/16/14
FYI - the sneak peeks are at a personal project. I would never allow a peek, sneaky or not, at a hush hush assignment.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

365 Drawings 2014 #14 Crab Sandwich #Twoodle

Drawing #14 & Twoodle - CRAB SANDWICH 
with words  brought to you by:
Crab - @aliciapadron
Sandwich - @Readitdadday
Feels good to twoodle again -haven't done this in a loooong time!
Crab Sandwich © Diana Ting Delosh
Ink & colored pencil twoodle
1/15/14
A twoodle is a doodle game on twitter. Use #twoodle to find out more.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

365 Drawings 2014 - # 8 - 13, Includes a Sneak Peek!

Getting the hang of it. Sketch, doodle, draw, ink, paint, then scan whatever in the morning. Here are 6 more - almost caught up! 

I find drawing for fun first thing in the morning is a very relaxing way to begin my day before the madness ensues. While doodling at night is a nice way to wind down. These am/pm drawings are usually not project driven, no planning, no angst, not even a finished piece at the end. Could be a drawing from life or my imagination.

Needless to say, drawing happens through out the day - but those usually have a purpose whether it's prep for a project or it is the project.
8 - SHRUBBERY
© Diana Ting Delosh
1/8/14
Ball point pen doodle

Inspired by prompt from the book, 642 Things to Draw, Chronicle Books

9 - Ball point pen Study of Skunk coloration for a current project. 
© Diana Ting Delosh
1/9/14

10 - BEAR - Sneak Peek at what's on my drawing board.
© Diana Ting Delosh
Ink & Watercolor
1/10/14

11 - CABIN
© Diana Ting Delosh
Ball Point Pen Doodle
1/13/14

Inspired by prompt from the book, 642 Things to Draw, Chronicle Books

12 - HEN© Diana Ting Delosh
Ball Point Pen Doodle
1/13/14

13 -  KITTY IN BED
© Diana Ting Delosh
Pencil from life
1/14/14

Monday, January 13, 2014

365 Drawings in 2014: # 2 - 7

I'm actually drawing on a regular basis what I seem to find more problematic is scanning and then posting them on a regular basis. Although I hope this will come easier once I fit it into my daily rhythm. At the moment I'm tripping all over my feet. Anyhow here are a clump of drawings. With more to come shortly.
Sketches numbered 2 through 7 were all done with a ballpoint pen.
2 - Eggs in a Glass Bowl 1/5/14
3 - Spent Tea Bag 1/6/14
© Diana Ting Delosh
 Sketches numbered 4 - 7 were all done on 1/7/14
4 - Rolling Pin Mice 
© Diana Ting Delosh
Inspired by the prompt, A ROLLING PIN, from 642 Things to Draw, Chronicle Books

5 - A Skunk or 2What is the black and white striped pattern on skunks? 
© Diana Ting Delosh
Inspired by the prompt, SKUNK, from 642 Things to Draw, Chronicle Books

6 - An Ottoman 
© Diana Ting Delosh
Inspired by the prompt, AN OTTOMAN, from 642 Things to Draw, Chronicle Books

7 - Sleeping Hubbie 
© Diana Ting Delosh
Note to friends and family NEVER dose off in front of an artist with sketchbook and pen in hand.


Friday, January 10, 2014

Sneeze - SCBWI Tomie Illo Contest

Elephant Sneeze © Diana Ting Delosh
Ink watercolor and a smidgen of Photoshop

I couldn't resist, I went for the funny with my illo.

However after Reading Tomie's comments I guess I should have followed my first instincts and gone for the sweet and cuddly.

Whatever  - I entered the contest for the fun of it and I must say painting this illo was a blast. Looking forward to more illustration contests for the challenge and of course the opportunities to show and be seen amongst my fellow illustrators. And I must say they are a very talented and awesome bunch and wonderful company to be amongst.

Saturday, January 4, 2014

365 DRAWINGS 2014: Hammock Lion #1

Happy 2014!
Here I go again with high hopes and big plans for the New Year! One of the things I'd like to do is just DRAW MORE in 2014 and get back into blogging. Planning on doing 365 Drawings* to be exact - one for each day of 2014 and posting about them.

Here's my debut Drawing,  Hammock Lion, Drawing  #1, Jan 2, 2014. My 1st with 364 more to go. Needless o say I may have to double up or quadruple a few here and there.
Hammock Lion © Diana Ting Delosh 1/2/14 Pencil Sketch
Inspired by the prompt, HAMMOCK in 642 Things to Draw, Chronicle Books 

*Rules for my personal challenge.
• Planning on doing 365 drawings and posting them on this blog. Meaning no work or other hush hush illos will be shown under the 365 Drawing header. The 365 will be additional drawings.

• May not draw or post daily BUT I will do: 31 drawings in Jan, 28 in Feb, 31 in March, etc.

• Drawing = sketch, finished illo, doodle, ink, etc. in any medium but must take some thought. No five second wonders to fill my monthly quota. And yes there may be different versions of a subject. Example: I may decide to do a finished version of my Hammock Lion - which would count as another "Drawing".

• All Drawings will be numbered and dated. And posted when I can.



Monday, December 23, 2013

Monday, November 4, 2013

It's PiBoIdMo time

It's November and PiBoIdMo Time once again. Or 30 Picture Book Ideas in 30 Days -November 2013. I swear to come up with at least 30 Picture book ideas during November 2013.

Yes you too can Officially Register for PiBoIdMo 2013.  Or Just read some inspiring and motivating posts about creating picture books at Tara Lazar'a blog .

FYI -PB generating Idea tip: Do NOT lay in bed and try and will yourself to have a PB idea before you fall asleep. You may have a dream that may be a good PB but if you're me you will have a bizarre operatic dream or two but they will not make good PBs. Do keep Pens and paper handy in case you do get a great PB idea in your sleep. I confess to date I only have 1 Picture book idea but after a couple of years of doing this excerise I know by the end of this month I WILL have 30 ideas.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Year of the Horse - Illustration Process

I'm working on a Year of the Horse card design for the upcoming, Chinese New Year. Before you know it, it will be January 30, 2014 and of course I need to have a Year of the Horse design. Thought I'd share my process.

My original thought was to do my version of The Running Horse -however that is an iconic asian horse image - and I thought I needed to come up with something more me. Then I thought of doing the Horse version of my Year of the Ox design. Somehow it seemed too simple and safe a solution.
OX! Happy Birthday card © Diana Ting Delosh
click on the above image to see more details -including what years are OX years. Click HERE to see more of my  Chinese Zodiac Animal Birthday Cards. To date I only have 6 out of the 12 animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake.   

Decided to do a horse in a Mandarin style outfit but on all fours as opposed to being upright like the Ox and very anthropomorphic. Here's my final sketch.
Horse in a Mandarin suit - pencil sketch © Diana Ting Delosh
Here's the ink. I"ve inked in a geometric camelia pattern to the jacket with a Ying & Yang pattern on the cuffs. Originally I was going to do the pants too but it made me think of the pattern on a giraffe. FYI - I'm using double and triple zero radiograph pens on watercolor paper.
Horse in a Mandarin Suit -Ink © Diana Ting Delosh
Incidentally I always scan my inks -just in case I mess things up when I paint.  I'll be painting my horse in a bit and I'll share the finished version shortly.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Illustrator Intensive/Workshop/Day - Worth it?

Illustrator Intensives, Illustrator workshops or just plain Illustrator Day; by whatever name they go by,  are they worth it?

They all have basically the same format with a few variations:

• You get an illustration assignment from an Art Director (sometimes you can pick your AD sometimes you can't)

• You pick your assignment and do the sketch of the spread or whatever and e-mail it by the deadline. (time given varies)
Velveteen Rabbit story By Margery Williams.
Sketch for Scene where VR  first meets the wild rabbits.
Pencil Sketch © Diana Ting Delosh
• You get feedback from your AD (anywhere from a few words to paragraphs.)

• Using your feedback, you finish your art which you bring with you the day of the event.
The Velveteen Rabbit Meets the Wild Rabbits
Ink, Watercolor and Photoshop © Diana Ting Delosh 
• Depending on the specific format of your event, your work may be:


  1.  Reviewed in front of a group, along with everyone else's project. There is NO personal review or crit. You learn a lot from your fellow illustrators. You also get and inkling of your AD's tastes and their company preferences. I personally found this the least satisfying of the 3 formats.
  2. Reviewed in front of the group and the AD also gives a quick individual review and also views your portfolio. The best of both worlds. You learn from your colleagues and you get some valuable face time with the AD.
  3. Reviewed on an individual basis along with your portfolio. You really get a feel for whether the AD really likes your work or if you have a rapport with that person.
  4. Sometimes there is an Observer option. IE: you do not do the assignment but get to be the fly on the wall. While you may be perfectly happy that you didn't stress over an assignment - there maybe better ways to spend your time/money than being an invisible non-participant at an event. 

Needless to say, I would prefer to have Group AND Individual review. BUT if I could only pick Group OR Individual, I would always pick Individual.

So, Back to my original question are they worth it?

PRO: These events give you a  a chance to show your stuff, from sketch to final, to an AD and possibly make a good connection. Gone are the days of drop-offs and portfolio reviews and it's hard to stand out as 1 postcard amongst gazillion.

CON:

  1. They  can be costly. 
  2. Time consuming. Some of these events are 1 day of a weekend conference.
  3. Stressful. As a freelancer, no matter how well you planned, you may find it hard to give the assignment your all while in the midst of a killer deadline or 2.  I mean, Would you really turn down a gig because you signed-up to pay to do an assignment? Heck no, you need to take the gig so you can pay to do that assignment.

I have a few illustrator friends who swear by them. Personally, I can see their merits BUT I still wonder are they really really worth it.  Would I be better off working on my PB dummy and  signing up for an individual review with an AD?  I partook in 3 of these illustrator Days this year would I sign-up for another? Perhaps, if it was with an AD/publisher I was really interested in.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Fox Promo Postcard

Just sent out a batch of my latest postcard design. I actually had these printed up for me to hand out at the 2013 NJ SCBWI June Conference and at the 2013 July NY SCBWI Illustrator workshop* - so a few of you out there may be familiar with my Fox promo postcard already. This card features my current favorite ink and watercolor illustration. On the back I have a sample of my illustrated type something new that I've been exploring.

I chose the LARGE postcard size because the proportions of my illustration fit on the large card with very little cropping. As I was already splurging on the oversized postcard I decided to go cheap on the back and picked a line art image. I had ordered 250 Fox Promo cards, enough for handouts for both  events with enough leftover for my second mailing of 2013. I'm really happy with how the printing came out and the usual fast service at VistaPrint.com .
Front of postcard - Ink & watercolor © Diana Ting Delosh

Back of Postcard - hand inked decorative type © Diana Ting Delosh

Now that the Fox promo cards  have finally been sent out, I should start thinking of what will be on my next card. Better get cracking on new illos. Need a new darling - fast. Geez this promo thing never ends - just goes round and round.

*I've been meaning to write a blog post about my experiences at these two SCBWI events. I promise I'll get to it soon. Really.

Friday, July 12, 2013

The Happy Birthday Book & Three Blind Mice

I'm happy to belatedly announce that  2 e-book apps that I illustrated have been published by Farfaria

The Happy Birthday Book E-Book App written by Olivia Grey came out in April 2013. There are many ways to say happy birthday.  On each page of this book is a different country and how they say Happy birthday in that country. I chose to illustrate this book by picking a different animal to represent each country and wherever possible to show the special way that country celebrates birthdays. I was surprised to discover that some countries traditionally did not acknowledge individual birthdays but now have adopted many of our birthday customs.
The Happy Birthday Book
cover art
On page 4, for the country, China -  I chose to illustrate a Panda Bear standing in front of a bamboo forest, holding a plate piled high with the traditional chinese peach shaped birthday buns. The steamed buns are filled with sweet black bean paste - yum.
Page 4 - China
Three Blind Mice e-book app written by John W. Ivimey and illustrated by moi, Diana Ting Delosh was published by Farfaria in June 2013. Actually the art for this book was inked and watercolored in 2012, my Mother Goose year.
Three Blind Mice
book cover
 This is the complete tale of the Three Blind Mice, from the day they walk out of their front door on the search for adventure to the ill- fated meeting with the Farmer's wife and her kitchen knife and afterwards. Yes , there is a happy ending for the mice after all.
Page1

Friday, April 26, 2013

The Next Big Thing!

The Next Big Thing! Is a blog tour that gives authors and illustrators a chance to share their work, and then tag others to share theirs.  Each blogger answers the same ten questions. The tour started in Australia, and has spread worldwide.  I was ‘tagged’ by the wonderful illustrator, Nancy Donniger that I met through the CBIG.  Please check out her blog, http://www.donigerillustration.com/blog.  Her Next Big Thing! post is about her book, Lemonade: and Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Wordwritten by Bob Raczka that has recently come out in paperback. She painted the illustrations with black ink and wash accented with red watercolor wash.  At the end of this post, I will tag Children’s Book Illustrators/Writers: Ginger Nielson and Barbara DiLorenzo for your next stops on the tour.  And now, my answers to the ten questions!

1) What is the working title of your next book?
I am currently working on my picture book dummy, Robin.


2) Where did the idea come from for the book?

A few summers ago, my hubbie and I noticed a a robin fledgling with a hurt wing in our backyard. We watched it as it grew chubbier and hoped that the wing would heal naturally. After each summer storm we would look for the fledgling and usually we found it hopping and pecking underneath the azaleas. I was getting very attached to my baby bird. Unfortunately, towards the end of that summer we had a really nasty storm and the fledgling didn't make it. Cruel nature. My Robin story is my alternate ending to that summer.


3) What genre does your book fall under?
Fiction, picture book, animals.

4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

Actors for Voices: Someone young, not bratty voice that embodies the curious, smart, optimistic nature of Robin.

5) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

A young bird can't fly but figures out how to thrive and survive without flying south for the winter.

6) Who is publishing your book?

No one, yet. This is my current Work-in Progress, a story that I'm writing and illustrating. I am still working on the dummy art and tweaking the story. Currently the dummy consists of 2 finished illustrations and the rest are sketches. I'd like to have at least 2 more finished illustrations in it before it starts officially making the rounds.


7) How long did it take you to write and illustrate the first draft of the story?

Hard to say as it's been worked on between paying assignments and other projects - I'd say a few months - including incubation periods. My process involves switching between writing  and doodling, than revising and sketches etc. 


8) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I googled picture books with disabled main characters and most seemed to be about people with disabilities.  Main characters that are different just seemed too broad a category. Then I came across my kid's favorite book as a child, Leo the Lop by Stephen Cosgrove illustrated by Robin James, about a rabbit with extra long ears.

9) Who or what inspired you to write this book?

The original Robin. I've got a soft spot for underdogs. Please see my answer to question #2

10) What else about the book project might pique the reader's interest?

I'm hoping my ink & watercolor illustrations.


Next stops on this tour are:

Ginger Nielson
gingerpixels.blogspot.com

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Hoppy Easter

© Diana Ting Delosh
This ink & watercolor illo was originally created for the Year of the Hare but I think this white hare holding a magnolia branch as a staff can double as a Easter rabbit.
Wishing everyone a Happy Easter and  much spring hoppiness.