MODELS USED IN A FEW OF MY ASSIGNMENTS
Some of you may know that I love to paint portraits. I used to do commissions years ago but it got too complicated. Bald men wanted hair, heavy people wanted pounds painted away and older people wanted to look younger! I decided that I would still be able to paint portraits if I incorporated them into my assignments or books!
To begin with I do a series of rough sketches as I design the illustration. I pick the layout I like best and start searching for a model. I have an idea of the person I'm looking for and I look everywhere. I call it shopping for models! I ask friends and family for recommendations. When I'm out and about I look in grocery stores, gas stations, hardware stores etc. Wherever I wander I keep my eyes open for the perfect face.
I thought you might like to see some of the photos I used for various projects alongside the finished art!
I have included a sampling below along with a little info.
Some of you may know that I love to paint portraits. I used to do commissions years ago but it got too complicated. Bald men wanted hair, heavy people wanted pounds painted away and older people wanted to look younger! I decided that I would still be able to paint portraits if I incorporated them into my assignments or books!
To begin with I do a series of rough sketches as I design the illustration. I pick the layout I like best and start searching for a model. I have an idea of the person I'm looking for and I look everywhere. I call it shopping for models! I ask friends and family for recommendations. When I'm out and about I look in grocery stores, gas stations, hardware stores etc. Wherever I wander I keep my eyes open for the perfect face.
I thought you might like to see some of the photos I used for various projects alongside the finished art!
I have included a sampling below along with a little info.
INDIGO ANGEL CARDS
The Indigo Angel card I created for Doreen Virtue/Hay House alongside the photo/model I used for the illustration.
The Indigo Angel card I created for Doreen Virtue/Hay House alongside the photo/model I used for the illustration.
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BLACK BEAUTY
In BLACK BEAUTY there is a scene of a farrier making a new horseshoe. I went to a local barn and took photos of their farrier at work. I did a compilation of reference to create the final illustration.
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ROBIN HOOD
This is my favorite story and my most "famous"! How I found the perfect model for the main character in my picture book Robin Hood.
This is my favorite story and my most "famous"! How I found the perfect model for the main character in my picture book Robin Hood.
I'd finished my sketches for ROBIN HOOD and they had been approved by the publisher. I was ready to paint. Usually I'm able to find a model right away but this time I had a specific look I was going for and couldn't find anyone that suited.
I "shopped" everywhere and asked everyone I knew but had no luck. Then, the night before I was supposed to start working on the picture book we ordered pizza. The guy who came to the door WAS Robin Hood. He was about six foot two, had long dark hair and the perfect face!
He delivered the pizza and as he was leaving I grabbed a few of my books and rushed out after him. I showed him my work and asked if he would mind modeling for my next book. He agreed!
I arranged for him and some of my other models to meet at a nearby park. A couple of local newspapers covered the shoot. We all ate pizza and had a wonderful time!
I've posted a few photos from the shoot below, including the cover with an insert of the picture I used.
So, ever since that day, I've told everyone, that Robin Hood was my pizza delivery guy!
Below are some of Robin's Men watching as Robin has been knocked down by King Richard. The king is the one wearing a green hood. He worked behind the counter at the local Post Office! The rest of the band includes friends and relatives.
Below, in the photo on the left, Robin is watching Friar Tuck approaching. In the photo on the right Robin is cautioning one of his new men. Behind them you can see one the photographers from the local newspaper taking photos for her article.
HANK ZIPZER
Below is one of ten covers I designed for the Hank Zipzer series written by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver for Penguin's Young Readers Group.
"Hank" is my nephew/godson Chase. He was a great model and we had a lot of fun doing the series.
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