7/31/23

Fun eye candy coming your way

Our artists are quirky, sweet, funny, touching, and their art reflects that. We hope you enjoy this selection of recent personal art.

 

Contact us to assign or license art. We’re happy to help you find the perfect artist or gorgeous images for your project!

 

Jenny Miriam
OK, we know it’s not Easter but HOW CUTE are these bunnies?

Available for licensing as of this writing.

 

Tisha Lee
Available for licensing as of this writing.
Katie Vernon
UFO rainbow dogs? Why not!

Available for licensing as of this writing.

Sarah Papworth
Anke Rega
Available for licensing as of this writing.

 

Trina Dalziel
We just love Trina’s delicate linework, perfect for this cozy scene.

Available for licensing as of this writing.

Charlotte Bruijn
Flora Waycott
Available for license as of this writing.
7/31/23

Take a deep dive into Brian Lambert’s recently released book.

We’re thrilled to announce the publication of Plants to the Rescue, illustrated by Brian Lambert, published by Neon Squid.

Read our interview with Brian, below.

Brian Lambert
Brian says:

This book was published by Neon Squid who mainly publish STEM-focused books.

It was written by the wonderful Dr. Vikram Baliga, who uses his social media following to teach people about plants, science, and conservation efforts.

I loved working on this book! Plants are just plain fun to draw and color, so getting to do a whole book of them was a blast!

Plants to the Rescue,illustrated by Brian Lambert, published by Neon Squid.

Buy it here.

“From climate change to plastic pollution, this book explores real issues facing the planet and how plants can contribute to solutions.”

Q. What did you learn from doing this project?

A. I learned a whole lot about plants, which you can too if you read the book! I have a whole arsenal of nifty facts that I can trot out at fancy dinner parties now.

Q. What did you love about the theme?

A. The book is about how plants can be used to solve some of our planet’s biggest issues, from huge scale things like global climate change to much smaller things like how you can use a banana peel to help with sunburns and bug bites! Science! It’s just fun to learn about all these kinds of things!

Q. How do you come up with your sketches? Do you do research?

A. For this project the publisher provided me with a very thorough brief and a rough sketch layout that I basically used to just fill in the blanks. So, you can kind of imagine getting a page with a bunch of boxes drawn in to indicate buildings and some little stick figures here and there and then the text is also roughed in so I know where I need to leave open space.

The brief would also have a description of what they want. For the city page they told me they wanted a rooftop garden, a skybridge, and a building that uses hydroponics, etc.
Sometimes I did do a little extra research. For example, I watched some YouTube videos about modern and future construction techniques and what kind of buildings they expected to be able to build in the future so that I felt I was drawing buildings that were at least somewhat plausible.
Q. How do you decide on color palettes?

A. The AD really wanted bright vibrant colors. I also knew I was going to need a lot of different types of greens as this was a book about plants.

The base colors were from a color palette that Lilla Rogers had provided in a class, but I then expanded it.

For each color, I made a lighter version by adding a tinge of yellow, and a darker version by adding a little blue. I’ve found this makes the colors more interesting.

I ended up with an amazing palette that is extremely versatile.

Q. Were there challenges on this project?

A. The biggest challenge came about halfway through the project when I got appendicitis! The publisher was very understanding about giving me more time but it was hard not to feel stressed about getting everything done in time after that.

Q. How long did you work on the book?

It took about 9 months from the first sketch to sending in the final illustrations.

 

Q. What medium did you use for the illustrations?

I use the Procreate app on a 12.9in iPad Pro from 2021, and I use some slightly altered pencil brushes from maxpacks.com.

Thanks so much Brian!

Plants to the Rescue is available now: Buy it here!

See more of Brian’s beautiful illustration work here.

7/20/23

See amazing books and products by our artists!

Outstanding books and products for you this month. Fancy learning Procreate? Need a stylish new tote or lunch satchel? We’ve got you covered.

 

Contact us to assign or license art. We’re happy to help you find the perfect artist or gorgeous images for your project!

 

Ruth Burrows
The one we’ve all been waiting for– Ruth Burrows’s Procreate Book!
Ruth writes: In this book, I would like to introduce you to the way I make my art and illustration using Procreate. It’s a “how-to” book, but it’s also a “how you might want to” guide.
The Illustrator’s Guide to Procreate (David & Charles)

Written and illustrated by Ruth Burrows.

Buy it here!

 

Sarah Walsh
Tara Lilly
Who doesn’t want bags like these?
Mushroom Tote by Sarah Walsh (Blue Q)

Buy it here.

Floral Lunch satchel by Tara Lilly

(The Somewhere Co.)

Buy it here.

 

Åsa Gilland
Introducing the third title in Terra Babies at Home, a board book series that presents plants, animals, and the environment to early readers from the intimacy of their home and helps them connect to the natural world.

Selected by the American Library Association’s Sustainablity Roundtable as one of the top ten sustainability-themed children’s books in 2022!

Published by Duopress.

Buy it here!

 

Janie Secker
Fabulous portrait of Dolly Parton, as part of Rebel Girls Rock: 25 Tales of Women in Music (Rebel Girls)

Buy it here.

 

Maruga Koops
Congrats to Maruga for the US release of her picture book Hip Hip Hooray! (Clavis Publishing)

Buy it here.

 

Maria Gabriela Gama
Erin

Vanessa

Cottage Door Press

Buy it here.

Yeehoo Press

Buy it here.

7/12/23

Gorgeous personal work by our artists

See below for our artists’ gorgeous personal work–we hope it inspires you.

Contact us to assign or license art. We’re happy to help you find the perfect artist or gorgeous images for your project!

Kendra Binney
Available for licensing as of this writing.

 

Rebecca Jones
Available for licensing as of this writing.

 

Kim Fleming
Available for licensing as of this writing.

 

Julia Christians
Available for licensing as of this writing.

 

Clairice Gifford
Available for licensing as of this writing.

 

Erica Root
Available for license as of this writing.
This Week’s Featured Toy Pitch
Our Toy and Games Agent Riley Wilkinson has been working with our artists on some fabulous toy concepts for you. Feast your eyes!
Munch by Mara Penny
This beautifully illustrated card game by Mara Penny is a fresh take on the classic game of War.

The fast-paced game play features educational facts about the ecosystem and food chain.

Contact us for more information about this fantastic toy pitch.

See more toy concepts–ready to license–here.

7/11/23

GIANT NEWS! We have taken on a NEW ARTIST!

Yup, you read that right. We’ve taken on a new artist!
When I teach over at Make Art That Sells, I have the enviable job of watching students grow into incredible artists, and there are always many I swoon over.
However, we just couldn’t resist the work of Fay Ford. Fay comes from a background as a textile designer at the renowned Designers Guild and brings her magical watercolor finesse to all the illustrations she creates.
Contact us to assign or license art. We’re happy to help you find the perfect artist or gorgeous images for your project!

Fay Ford
Oxfordshire, UK
What medium do you use?
I trained as a textile designer when traditional painting was the only way! I still love to paint and draw by hand, and I use pretty much everything, gouache, watercolour, inks, acrylics and colour pencils, for my artwork and then use digital to finish things off.
Click here to read more of Fay’s Q&A.
We’re delighted to welcome Fay Ford to our group!
Fay lives in the UK with her husband, two Labradoodles, and, when they’re home from Uni, two sons. She splits her time between the quiet green countryside of Oxfordshire and the beautiful open skies of the Cornish coast.
Fay studied Printed Textile Design at Central St Martin’s School of Art and Design in London and worked for many years in-house as a textile designer at both Designers Guild and Diane Harrison Designs.
See her portfolio here.
6/22/23

Spotlight on Sarah Walsh’s Goddess book

We’re thrilled to announce the US publication of Goddess: 50 Goddesses, Spirits, Saints, and Other Female Figures Who Have Shaped Belief, published by Nosy Crow, in partnership with the British Museum, stunningly illustrated by LRS artist Sarah Walsh. Read our interview with Sarah below.

Contact us to assign or license art. We’re happy to help you find the perfect artist or gorgeous images for your project!

 

Sarah Writes:
This book is the last in a series with Nosy Crow. (Herstory, Wildlives, Youthquake and now Goddess).
It stemmed from a partnership with the British Museum. It was created to be a companion for their Goddess exhibition.
The book was originally released in February 2022 in the UK only. But a very exciting development recently occurred…. Goddess will be published in the US this Fall!
50 Goddesses, Spirits, Saints, and Other Female Figures Who Have Shaped Belief
Written by Dr Janina Ramirez Illustrated by Sarah Walsh
Published by Nosy Crow.
Out September 5th, 2023.
“This amazing book contains goddesses, guides, spirits, saints, witches, demons, and many more female figures that have played an important role in shaping belief today. This incredible introduction to goddesses throughout history will entertain, engage, and empower readers everywhere.”
Why was this a favorite project?
Because the research part of it was fascinating, there was lots of creative freedom and I got to draw mythological figures, animals and powerful women!
What did you learn from doing this project?
It affirmed my love for mythology, folklore and all things magical. I also learned about SO MANY different cultures and new figures in folklore history that I had never heard of before which was thrilling to say the least.
What do you love about this project?
I wish I had this book when I was a kid. It definitely would’ve been one of my favorite’s because of the bright color, the powerful feminine energy, the mystery, the stories and all the symbolism.
Where did you find inspiration for this project?
Nosy Crow and the British Museum provided some reference for each Goddess/Spirit/saint but I did a lot of digging on my own as well. I created a Pinterest board and collected images inspired by each figure. Then I would do a doodle page while looking over all the research.
During the process I would take notes and call out interesting things that inspired me. Then the designer would go over my doodles and pluck things out that caught her eye as well so it was a very collaborative process.
What did you love about the characters, story or theme?
I’m a big fan of fantasy, folklore and magical things. And of course feminine power.
This book project weaved them together to make a very special concept. I have a little boy and we watch a lot of dude superhero movies. While working on this book, it struck me that the mythological gods, goddesses, spirits and saints might have been perceived as feminine superheroes back in the day. They all had an origin story and although most of them were flawed like humans, they all had different powers and strengths beyond anyone’s imagination. I think that’s all incredibly cool. :)
What medium did you use for the illustrations?
Acrylic gouache, water-based gouache and colored pencil.
How long did you work on illustrating this book?
There are 50 detailed full bodied portraits and about 3-5 spot illustrations on each page so it took a while, from approximately the Fall of 2019 through late Summer of 2021. I basically worked on Goddess almost all of Covid and it was definitely a bright spot.
Thanks so much Sarah!
Goddess is available for pre-order now. It releases September 5, 2023
in the US.
See more of Sarah’s amazing work here.
6/15/23

We’ve got lots of new products and books to show you

Beautiful books, gorgeous greeting cards, a classy calendar, it’s all here for your viewing pleasure!

Contact us to assign or license art. We’re happy to help you find the perfect artist or gorgeous images for your project!

 

Tequitia Andrews
Happy Juneteenth! (a bit early)

This ecard available at bluemountain.com (American Greetings)

 

Charlotte Bruijn
“The King Without Muscles” (Van Holkema & Warendorf)

Buy it here.

 

Åsa Gilland
My First Book of House Pets is a beautiful introduction to the world of furry, fluffy, and all-around adorable pets for babies and toddlers.

Published by Duopress.

Buy it here.

Available for licensing as of this writing.

 

Jenny Miriam
Climate : Our Changing World. (Albert Whitman)

192 pages on climate change beautifully illustrated by

Jenny Miriam!

Buy it here.

 

Flora Waycott
Flora’s illustration for the lovely Frankie Magazine.
Tara Lilly
Check out this rug made by hand from one of Tara Lilly’s illustrations!

Gorgeous!

(Wool song)

This Week’s Featured Toy Pitch
Our Toy and Games Agent Riley Wilkinson has been working with our artists on some fabulous toy concepts for you. Feast your eyes!
My English Tea Room by Trina Dalziel
This collection of pretend play toys could transform a child’s room into a proper dining experience complete with table numbers, a cash register, and a gramophone. Children will take a leisurely stroll back in time as they imagine themselves dining or serving one another.
Contact us for more information about this fantastic toy pitch.

See more toy concepts–ready to license–here.

6/6/23

Let’s celebrate Pride Month!

It’s Pride Month! Scroll down to see our artists’ images celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. Plus lots of rainbows.

 

Contact us to assign or license art. We’re happy to help you find the perfect artist or gorgeous images for your project!

Sarah Papworth
Rainbow Revolutionaries: Fifty LGBTQ+ People Who Made History(HarperCollins)

Fabulously illustrated by Sarah Papworth.

Internal illustration of Pauli Murray below.

Buy it here.

 

Tequitia Andrews
From Reading Adventure: 100 Books To Try Before You’re 12 (DK Books)

Buy it here.

 

Hsinping Pan
Ruth Burrows
Available for licensingas of this writing.
American Greetings

 

Zoë Ingram
Katie Vernon
Available for licensing as of this writing.

 

Albert Arrayás
Available for license as of this writing.

 

This Week’s Featured Toy Pitch
Our Toy and Games Agent Riley Wilkinson has been working with our artists on some fabulous toy concepts for you. Feast your eyes!
Moon Town by Erin Vanessa
Artist Erin Vanessa has created this imaginative playset where characters live in self-contained biomes on the moon.

Erin has handcrafted a galactic concept prototype that’s sure to become the center of any child’s universe.

Suit up and lift off!

Contact us for more information about this fantastic toy pitch.

See more toy concepts–ready to license–here.

5/26/23

Fresh new artwork from our artists!

Below, see some of our artists’ fresh new work!

Contact us to assign or license art. We’re happy to help you find the perfect artist or gorgeous images for your project.

Rebecca Jones
Old Meow card game (Mudpuppy)

Buy it here.

 

Tisha Lee
Spread from “A Pinch Of Love” (Quarto)

Buy it here.

 

Sarah Papworth
Available for licensing as of this writing.

 

Brian Lambert
Available for licensing as of this writing.

 

Lydia Graves
Available for licensing as of this writing.

 

Erin Vanessa
Cover Art for a songbookErin writes: Bonjour mes amis!! It’s so cool to see my artwork as an album cover on Spotify! Madame B’s incredible album La vie est belle is now available for kids (and adults) learning French. Her beautiful, happy songs (not to mention her killer bass ukulele playing skills) take me back to my days as a kid growing up in Montreal.

Buy it here.

 

This Week’s Featured Toy Pitch
Our Toy and Games Agent Riley Wilkinson has been working with our artists on some fabulous toy concepts for you. Feast your eyes!
Woodland Magic Matching Game byBambi Ramsey
This mystical, magical cast of characters will delight children! Kids will sharpen their visual memory skills as they search for Bambi Ramsey’s beautiful animal pairs. Can you spot the paper hat?
Contact us for more information about this fantastic toy pitch.

See more toy concepts–ready to license–here.

5/16/23

Our Residency and gorgeous art!

Our annual LRS Residency started yesterday!
One of my most favorite things in the world is to help top artists make even more brilliant work, develop their unique gifts, and broaden their career opportunities. So, with that in mind, we are incredibly excited to offer our LRS Residency again in 2023 to our artists, focusing on illustrated non-fiction books, a.k.a. arty books.
Editors and art directors, we’ll be in touch when our artists’ brilliant pitches are ready, but as always, don’t hesitate to give us a shout should you like to see what we’ve been up to.
Last year, we focused on author/illustrated children’s picture books. Many of the pitches have been picked up by top publishers!
2022 Author/Illustrator Residency Zoom
Below is some of the work from previous Residencies for you to enjoy.
Kendra’s tender and imaginative story of two children, one who is afraid of the ground, and one who is afraid of the sky. Through visually gorgeous illustrations of steampunk-style Rube Goldberg-type contraptions, they find a way to connect.
Contact us to learn more!
Through nature and a new friendship with a caterpillar, a busy pony who thinks being alone is boring, learns how to enjoy her own company.
Contact us to learn more!
A bat that’s afraid of the dark? Meet Fergus, a lovable scaredy-bat!
With compassionate help from three nocturnal friends, Fergus finds the confidence to fly at night, but will he be brave enough when confronted with the gloomiest, spookiest depths of the forest?
Contact us to learn more!
This heartwarming story is a fresh take on anxiety. Frankie Fox present shops for her best friend’s birthday. She falls in love with each cool toy she picks, but then quickly questions each one and gets discouraged. She ultimately pivots to create her own toy that reflects their friendship.
Contact us to learn more!
What I love about Mara’s pitch is her ability to tell a laugh-out-loud story about an insecure snail in a cool way that imparts lots of nutty snail factoids. This book celebrates mucous and other gross features such as the dung beetle’s poop.
Contact us to learn more!
starts May 29th!
My Kid Book Pitch, my one-of-a-kind picture book writing course is specially designed for creative people just like you!
Magic Cards (pictured above) are my secret weapon for helping you to unlock your magic imagination and come up with unique characters and a dreamy story idea.
By the end of this incredible four week course, you could have your own children’s book pitch ready to send (along with suggestions on who to send it to).