I never would have thought of doing a book on wheels. It something insignificant to me, yet what would we do without them? My friend Dianna thought up the concept. She sees things I don’t see, She thinks about things I don’t have time to think about. She finds the importance of small things most of us overlook. When she and I were first friends, we would go on long walks for what I thought was exercise. That wasn’t why Dianna walked. She walked to find things. She would find feathers, coins, buttons, seeds, plastic toys….to me, crap, to Dianna, little gifts. I still don’t think like her but she has helped me find wonder is small things.
This wheel is Training Wheel. I found a crackle agent I liked and used it for the background. In most of the pictures, there is some added texture for the backdrop of the image. None of the wheels have been properly scanned. I just took a digital picture. They aren’t sharp on here but I didn’t want to mess with it.
I used to play with these. They were hypnotic with their movement. Such a simple idea. This illustration is the third in a series of wheels.
I’m not in a very cheerful mood….and it’s showing in my work. I redid the wheel illustration and I’m still not sure it conveys the happy, cheerfulness of going to an amusement park and riding the ferris wheel. I personally never liked the ferris wheel. To me it was boring and slow but to a good friend of mine it is magical. I’m trying to find the magic but all I keep thinking about is carnies, and “Something Wicked This Way Comes”. I prefer Ray Bradbury’s depiction of a carnival, mysterious and creepy!
I decided to have the ferris wheel break the border. I really like when contained things leave the space.
Now on to a third panel. What wheel shall I paint now?
P.S. Erik, if you are reading this post.. I went back and made sure I only hand one space after a period. It doesn’t come natural but I will get it one day.
Finally finished this wheel after many repaints. Still not completely satisfied with it. I’m going to put it away for a spell. Hopefully time will give me fresh eyes.
I’m working on a new book. It’s a simple book, which makes it complicated for me. The pains of editing effect illustrators as much as writers. The theme is pretty basic ..yet extraordinary, so how do I portray these things in a way that also celebrates them? To simple, and they seem unimportant…to complex and the subject is lost. I’ve been thinking about this for a few weeks now. While on the bike, I thought I came up with something perfect. Adding a textured/crackled background would give it a very different look while keeping the subject from being overwhelmed. I usually use this really cool crackle stuff but of course, I was out. I couldn’t find the same product and decided to try a different one. The effect wasn’t the same. Instead of looking antiqued and aged, it looked run down and dumpy. I’m going to paint it again after I find the correct crackling agent. It’s so frustrating but I will get it right!!!
