Petting Dragon

Just a quick painting from a sketch, experimenting with mask medium. Still not exactly what I am going for, but good experiment.

dalai lama visit

I saw the Dalai Lama today, here is a collage sketch of the event.
He keeps things simple, and says "Enjoy life and help others". His laugh is infectious.

Playing with Media

I recently discovered these Derwent Inktense Ink Pencils much like watercolor pencils but more brilliant and bright! :




all artwork ©Heather Soodak 2009

This girl is done with soft pastels during a late night art party. Soft pastel drawings do not scan well.

vampire owls

© Heather Soodak

thinking of a piece for the halloween art show.. this is what i have so far.. (rough sketch idea)

Balloon Mice

Balloon Mice
ink and watercolor 6"x8"

I have been meeting with members of SCBWI- local children's book illustrators which by the way the new issue of the SCBWI magazine features a really cool illustrator on the cover, David Ercolini (http://davidercolini.com/index.html) and from his site

I found an inspiring illustrator named Eric Losh (http://www.elosh.com/) who appreciates animals as I do. His awareness of the environment and his nature-messages are what I incorporate in my children's books.

The recent assignment at the illustrator schmooze was to draw an animal doing something so here is the new sketch that I worked on last week. I have always had this scenario in my sketches but have never solidified it in a finished piece. Shown below is some of the process of the reference drawings and Cinderella mice studies and the ink sketch. Any feedback is helpful!

More New Sketches

I love sketching from animal pictures. The book I was looking at today was a book about african animals. Take a look!

some new sketches

I just got a tombo pen and was giving it a try. I am really beginning to love this pen combined with color ink. I will roll with it.