Art With Heart
Posted by Jim Paillot at 3:15 pm on June 19th
"Blast Off!"- My page in the book asks the reader to create their self portrait as commander of this spaceship.
Art With Heart's mission is to empower kids in crisis through therapeutic books and programs that foster self-expression. "Magnificent, Marvelous Me!" is their newest book. It's filled with activities and artwork that will help children express what is in their minds and in their hearts. Mike Moran said it all so well in an earlier post (last week, I believe). They remind kids how important they are.
Last weekend, I was able to meet Steffanie Lorig, ace art director and all around good egg. She and her husband, Rick, were in town for another reason - to sign their books, "Such A Silly Baby!" It was good to catch up with them. Especially after working with them over the phone and via email on such a meaningful project.
To order a book or to learn more: www.artwithheart.org
Steffanie, Rick and Jim at Changing Hands Bookstore
Google Game
Posted by Jim Paillot at 11:30 am on June 13th
The Google Game
The best way for me to stay on my creative toes is to be working on all kinds of different illustration projects. Big, small and some in the middle. Here's a half page piece that was done for School Library Journal. Teachers are sometimes using a search game (usually on Google) to help the students become more efficient and smarter web users. Mark sent the article and said "have fun with it". I like Mark.
University of New Hampshire: We are getting closer to being able to use landfill run-off to power landfills.
I have been working with Valerie at the University of New Hampshire for a few years now. She is so wonderful. Again, she sends the articles, offers advice and her suggestions are always good ones.
University of New Hampshire: ecoli and meat...never a good idea.
Flip Books
Posted by Jim Paillot at 6:10 pm on May 20th
Cover art
Remember flip books? We used to make them at school when we should have been listening to the teacher. Michael Sherman and Klutz Publishing called and put me to work on "Quick Draw Flip Books". As always they are great to work with and the projects they send my way have just the right mix of useless fun and nice design.
Each flipbook has open area for the kids to draw on. The kids add their own splash on "CannonBull Dive".
"Dr. Pop" - the kids add their own bubble bad guy.
The book features 8 flip books and is a nice starter kit to teach kids how to make their own flip books.
Talk to the Hand
Posted by Jim Paillot at 1:30 am on April 30th
This box of goodies from Mr. UPS was a nice surprise today. I did this packaging artwork for Joshua McDonnell at Running Press last year. It's cool to see it all put together. The kit is for aspiring ventriloquists and for kids in general. My kids go crazy for stuff like this.
More is more
Posted by Jim Paillot at 10:52 am on April 24th
They asked for an underwater and a jungle picnic theme.
It took three trips to the drawing board for me to get it right. Dave and Julia at GoPicnic asked me to make these kids themed lunch pack illustrations "busy and fun". They said it clearly and sincerely. When I showed them the initial sketches they gently responded," we love it but add more ... a lot more". Eventually I realized that by "more" they meant "more". The English language can be tricky with all the subtle nuances and whatnot. They were a joy to work with and patient beyond words.
GoPicnic produces healthy lunch alternatives to airlines and school groups on field trips. It's all natural and full of all of the healthy things I managed to avoid as a kid. I wish they sold these in grocery stores because they are really good.
"We need a picnic happening somewhere in there, too!"
Feathered Friends
Posted by Jim Paillot at 12:05 pm on November 14th
J.D. King's heartfelt plea for our poultry pals reminded me of this recent job. In a previous book these three turkeys escaped the farm just before Thanksgiving. Whew! But in this more recent book, "The Amazing Turkey Rescue", they return to save the hens from the clutches of a visiting fox. And that is why turkeys are my heros.
These illustrations depict their madcap, springbreak-like lifestyle after they escaped from the farm.
Be A Hero
Posted by Jim Paillot at 11:31 am on November 6th
small graphic for the front of the tee
Here's a two color freebie job that was just used for a diabetes walk here in Arizona. I love it when I am forced to use less color.
Here's my pro bono pledge: "I promise to create simple, fun, memorable and on target artwork for you if you give me a little time and direction and let me do what I do best. Also, please let me know if it helped your cause."
Our friends that asked me to help on this project were model clients and adhered to the code of the fragile artist: heap on the praise... "This art rocks! You look great in those pants! After these tee shirts are printed Diabetes will be a thing of the past! Are you losing weight?" That sort of thing.
The back of the tee shirt. The shirt was a sort of dusty blue.
My Weird School again
Posted by Jim Paillot at 3:15 pm on October 19th
Book #18: "Mrs. Yonkers Is Bonkers!"
So after I created a new gallery for the "My Weird School" series I sat back and looked at all of the books I have done for that series. I never really lined them all up like this and took a retrospective look at it all. One thing was obvious. I gotta get out more! So, I am closing down the art cave for the weekend. I am going to swim with the kids, walk the dogs, sip wine and watch a movie this weekend. See you Monday.
My Weird School
Posted by Jim Paillot at 8:28 am on October 4th
A few years ago when I started doing book work all I wanted was a chance to do a series. I had always admired Lane Smith's incredible illustration and Ad McCauleys humorous and sophisticated, witty characters. Their work on the Time Warp Trio and now Brian Bigg's work on the Shredderman series is inspirational. I think early reader chapter books have been growing in popularity over the last decade for a few reasons. Better and quirkier stories and teachers are warming up to the sometimes non traditional characters and artwork.
Working on the My Weird School series with writer, Dan Gutman and Barb Fitszimmons and Joel Tipple at HarperCollins has been a blast. We started with the hopes of getting 5-6 books out there and now I am doing artwork for book 24. It's been a fun ride. I now drink champagne from high heeled shoes and light my fireplace with $100 bills.
