Creativity seeks constant inspiration to feed its insatiable appetite. One of the methods I use is the brilliance of friends and colleagues. I am a member of a great organization, the Picture Book Artist's Association which is not only a web-site of some fabulous children's picture book art but also an informative list serv that discusses all aspects of creating books for children, from agents to art directories to publishers, editors and art directors.
However, drawing, sketching and doodling is vital to any artist's career, the more the better. An informal group that have recently joined is Drawer Geeks.
The many cartoonists, animators and illustrators in this contingent meet together biweekly on a particular theme. To see the innovative ways that each artist handles the subject is awesome. I've posted a few of my own. Ever seen this cat on the right while browsing through the rain forest?
Or what about the other fellow. Ever walk into one of these on your midnight rambles?

Well you can see 'em all at drawer geeks!

I am in the final stages of illustrating Pokiri Parrot and the Magic Pearl. Reorganizing the page layout and reviewing the book in Adobe InDesign gives me a good sense of how the book will fit together and flow from one page to the next. I am pasting in some of the final illustrations. Also I have joined a very creative group of artists. Check it out at :
http://www.drawergeeks.com/

Deadlines can be fun too. Realizing that I have much more work than I have available time has meant less time wasted in sleep, more coffee filtering through the bodum and alot more time spent in front of my watercolour table. And you know what? I'm having fun.
I'm posting some of the recent images completed for Pokiri Parrot. The fish-eye scene is a curvilinear 1-pt. perspective...and no, that is not a fish flying away in the distance. It is the Terrible Ojha and he has taken off once again with Pokiri Parrot. Well, the good news is that the temple bull comes to the rescue, at least by providing transportation to Rajkumari who will take any excuse to fly through the air!

OK, so Pokiri Parrot has once again taken over my life, both on my watercolour table and the Wacom tablet.
After leaving the Himalayas where the Terrible Ojha has scooped Pokiri out of the snow and carried him to off the Sundarbans, Bhima the eagle comes to help Rajkumari with a magic Guava fruit. Where will RK end up next?
Stay tuned to this blog for an exciting new trip in the next few days...if you can pull yourself away from Torino!

Best!