2013 Illustrations

I just finished my project list for 2013, I think.  I have about 8 pieces outlined.  Subject to change of course.  Those of you who have been anxiously awaiting more Chronicles of Prydain will not be disappointed, I hope.  I've left a few slots for pieces from The Hobbit, too.

I'm going to push my portfolio to more middle-grade/young adult.  Also working on some more drawing centered pieces as well as black and white line-work for spot illustration samples.  We'll see how this all goes.

Prints are up in the store, if you're interested.  They're nice giclee prints on high quality cotton rag paper.

Happy New Year, everyone!

An Artist You Should Know About

William Russell Flint is an artist who worked in both watercolor and oil.  I LOVE his stuff.  There's no specific site I've found that has a good variety of his work, but you can start here. I've done a few posts on him before, as well.

Happy New Year!

"Gabriel was not very good at magic.  His parents told him and their friends that he was only "struggling a little".  His older brothers were more blunt (they usually were) and said that there hadn't been a Prendergast so uniformly bad at magic for ten generations."

Next piece in the works.  This is just a sketch - no his arms are not deformed, I just drew them poorly.

Stay tuned for a story summary!

An Artist You Should Know About

I'm mixing it up a bit with some dead guys, now.

John William Waterhouse (1849-1917) was an English oil painter. He was a part of the Pre-Raphaelite movement.  Which was basically a bunch of artists getting together and rejecting another artist so that they could have an excuse to make the kind of art they wanted and call it a movement.  Because that makes it legit.  But no matter how you look at it, Waterhouse is da'bomb.  Check out more of his work here.

An Artist You Should Know About

Edward Kinsella is a Missouri-based illustrator working in  . . . well, I think whatever the heck he wants to work in at the moment.  Check him out here at his website.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

A very merry Christmas and a warm holiday greeting to you and yours from the studio of Sara Silkwood. May your time this season be blessed and filled with hope.  

Here's the finished Christmas Spirit piece!

An Artist You Should Know About

So, this is Anne Yvonne Gilbert.  I just discovered her work myself via Tumblr.  There are days when Tumblr can be a gold mine.  And then there are days when it is definitely not a gold mine.  But that's neither here nor there.  

Gilbert is a British illustrator residing in Canada.  She  works mainly in colored pencil.  And she works with it really well - which is unusual.  A lot of colored pencilists are really bad.  I'd love to be able to see some of her works in person some day.  She works with publishers all over the world which I am very curious to know how she accomplished that, as well as how she managed the logistics.  

This is her home page, but you can also find her on Behance and here on the Good Illustration Agency page.   And here's an interview where she talks a little about her process as well as the publishing industry which I found interesting.  There are also a lot of little blurbs about her all over the internet: search for her on Google.  

Also, I have bought that version of Robin Hood up there (did you catch the homage in the second piece to N.C. Wyeth?  Though that painting was for The Black Arrow, if we're going to be accurate).  And The Wild Swans.  (The Wild Swans and East of the Sun, West of the Moon are my two favorite fairy tales.)  SO EXCITED.  But then I see that they're not getting here till January and I weep.  If I could find this version of Snow White I would be even more excited, but it was done for a Japanese publisher, I think.  If anyone finds it, please let me know!  

Actually, maybe you shouldn't.  I don't think I have any more room on my bookshelves . . . 

Merry Christmas, everyone!  God bless!