DAY 58 - Do you have Swimmers Ear? You must have heard of the New Book Release for 2012.

Here's a glimpse of the Cover Design for the upcoming 2012 Picture Book.

Author Dana Evans, who's a Swimming Instructor,  intends to release a series of books which relate to Swimming Lessons.

All of the illustrations for the book are done with Digital Oil Pastels. The medium blends so beautifully to create a smooth wave of colorful blues. 

The Little Boy captures how proud he is of learning to Swim.

DAY 56 - How many different Swim Strokes can you name?

DAY 56- How many different Swim Strokes can you name?

While sketching illustrations for "The Pool is Cool Series" it brought back memories of Swim Lessons and Life Guard Training in Girl Scouts but it was eons ago. Honestly, I was only able to name two (Butterfly and Breast Stroke).

Were you able to guess all of these Swim Strokes?

Crawl
Butterfly
Breast Stroke
Sculling

DAY 54 - Continuation to Day 53 Tour with Illustrator Dawn Phillips

Relating to Illustrating? Most ideas come from memories and occurrences.

"Hat Occasions" children story has a page where a little girl is feeding Farm Animals. How else will these animals behave? Like Children.

You'll find a Goat who feels he should no longer be feed by a bottle, Chicken who's a picky eater, One Egg who doesn't want to be the little girls meal, and finally the rabbit an innocent observer or is he just taking a mental note for ideas.

I hope you enjoy a good laugh.

Day 53 Pet Ducks +Spoiled = Act like Kids.

First Snow for Iowa in 2011, Photo by Roy O Phillips

How does this relate to illustrating? First, let me explain the story behind why Ducks act like kids. Never had pet ducks, Quakers (white duck) and Daffy (mallard), before but got attached thanks to my son. Yesterday, Quakers was getting feed and played with and Daffy decided to grab he's neck with his beck. So, he got gently smacked and he turned and grabbed my hair. But, then Quakers came to my defense and grabbed his tail. Finally, it came down to me grabbing Daffy's beck and scolding him for biting. Like a kid, he ran around in circles quacking (complaining) and ran to his kennel (bedroom) to pout.

Now, to find out the answer to how this relates to illustrating follow me into Day 54.

Day 52- How often does this happen at the beach?

Unfortunately, it's this time of the year where summer's officially over and colder weather arrives. 

It's time to recall those happy memories. Here's one of my creative memories of summer on the beach. Not to panic! It really didn't happen but hope it made you laugh. 

"Hat Occasions" Author Jillena Levine and Illustration Dawn Phillips

DAY 51 - Coming Soon the Book "Hat Occasions" by Jillena Levine.

Here's the finished illustration to the sketch posted on Day 39.

How many different types of hats can you name?
I know this story will have 20 different hats.

Who put the FIRE OUT? DAY 49 - Illustrator Tour with Dawn Phillips

An illustration from "Hat Occasions" which will be available in November for Purchase as an E-book.

Who put the FIRE OUT? An extinguisher can't put out this FIRE but it's adorable to watch her try.

Did you catch the facial expression on the FIRE TRUCK? It's very slight but a personal touch which will not distract you from the visual point of view (Building Fire and the Girl wearing a Fire Hat).

It was exciting to experiment with many combination's of colors and utilizing the right amount of mixture of dark and light colors to balance the image.




Here's some "Fun Facts" to know. When you watch a Fire burning the following colors represent a certain chemical component.

Red Strontium Chloride
Orange Calcium Chloride (a bleaching powder)
Yellow Sodium Chloride (table salt)
or Sodium Carbonate

Honestly, I know very little about Chemistry and Science. So, if you're searching for additional information on Chloride do what I do Google it.

Remember October is also FIRE SAFETY Month.

Day 48 - October Newsletter 3 of 3 Pages by Illustrator Dawn Phillips

DAY 48 - 2 of 3 October Newsletter by Illustrator Dawn Phillips

Day 48 - October 2011 Newsletter - Page 1 by Illustrator Dawn Phillips - www.rdchildrensbooks.com

DAY 47 "Hat Occasions" Jillena Ilene Levine. The Cowgirl Hat is on, let's ride! My horse is faster than yours.

DAY 46- It's Time to put the FIRE OUT! Illustrator Tour

DAY 46 Illustration Sketch for Jillena Ilene Levine, "Hat Occasions".

It's time to put the FIRE OUT! Sketching this illustration today I learned what PASS means with a Fire Extinguisher. Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep.

I enjoy researching ideas and learning about items or subjects sketched.

Anxious to color this illustration, it will be bold, bright, and full of shadows.

DAY 44 Illustrator Tour with Dawn Phillips- Swimming Lessons

What a "Rainy Weekend". Although, I did accomplish a few Sketches for book project which relates to swimming lessons.

Enjoy!

Day 43 Illustrator Tour with Dawn- Just Horsing Around on a Friday!

HORSING AROUND on a Friday, "Hat Occasions" Story Illustration Sketch. Does anyone recall the first horse to be animated into a cartoon? Well here's an interesting fact about the first cartoon released with a Horse.

Originally released in May 1942 (and there was a "Bundles For Bluejackets" campaign on "the home front" to send knitted clothing, cigarettes and the like to our Armed Forces at war). The horse was previously seen in Jones' "Porky's Prize Pony" and "Saddle Silly" (1941). "4-F" was the standard classification for those the Army rejected for service in World War II. But "44-F"? That obviously meant, "We DON'T want YOU, so SCRAM!!!".

A Chuck Jones cartoon by Warner Bros, with Mel Blanc providing the voices.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uuCta4wyP4

Day 42 Illustrator Tour with Dawn Phillips

"Hat Occasions" She's visiting the library wearing her "Thinking Hat". Who would of thought of a balloon hat to be a creative idea for a thinking hat. Your welcome to visit my website at www.rdchildrensbooks.com for several new updates to the art gallery, coloring pages, new releases, and services.

Day 40- Illustrator Tour with Dawn Phillips

I love it when sketches clean up so nicely. Yet, it still needs the color and detail to actually say it's finished.

Illustration for "Hat Occasions" by Jillena Levine.

Day 39 - Illustrator Tour with Dawn Phillips

Do you recall your early years as a child with the Easter Bunny or have those photos to remind you of later? She is very questionable of this bunny, which represents her "Springtime Hat". I love playing with humor with animated stories.

It's only a sketch, but I'll be sure to share the final illustration with all of the detailed glory.

Day 38 - Illustrator Tour with Dawn Phillips - "Jognau, The Dreamer" New Release

"Jognau, the Dreamer"

Author Sylvia Rouss & Ambassador Asher Naim
Illustrator Dawn Phillips

Sylvia Rouss is privileged to write this story with Ambassador Asher Naim and to donate this story to support the work of the Scholarship Fund for Ethiopian Jews. She is the award winning author of the Sammy Spider series and an early childhood education teacher. Sylvia received the National Jewish Book award for the Littlest Pair and Sydney Taylor awards for Tali's Jerusalem Scrapbook, Sammy Spider's First Shavuot, and Sammy Spider's First Trip to Israel. With over 35 books in print, Sylvia Rouss is featured author and lecturer at book fairs throughout the United States and Israel.





You can learn more about Sylvia by visiting http://www.sylviarouss.com/?page_id=1517.

"Operation Solomon" was a secret rescue operation to bring Ethiopian Jews to Israel. In 1991, the Ethiopian government was close to being toppled in a civil war that threatened the well-being of the sizable population of Ethiopian Jews. The operation set a world record for single-flight passenger load on May 24, 1991 and two babies were born during the flight.

Discover how Jognau's dreams reflect the choices his family make. If his family stays, with the hyena, they would live as outcasts in Ethiopia. If his family chose the gazelle, they would travel to other countries and never settle. If his family decides to fly with the eagle they would return to Israel, the place that is truly home.







Why was Jognau such a dreamer? Where did he dream? Who does he share his dreams with and how does it impact there lives?


You can find all the answers to these questions by visiting this website
http://www.sylviarouss.com/?page_id=1517

HERE YOU CAN VIEW THE VIDEO NARRATION OF THE STORY WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY DAWN PHILLIPS PLUS YOU CAN GET THE BOOK AND COLORING BOOK DOWNLOADED FOR FREE.

We'd love to hear from you. Happy Reading!

Day 37 Illustrator Tour with Dawn Phillips

"The Adventures of Daniel and Christen"

http://www.amazon.com/ADVENTURES-DANIEL-CHRISTEN-ebook/dp/B005I5LJC0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1314623545&sr=1-1
...
When you think of an adventure with pirates. You think it’ll be SCARY! Don’t worry there’s nothing scary in this children’s story. Author Delaine Taylor doesn’t have you walking the plank of a pirates ship or being eaten by a scary sea monster.

Instead, you’re laughing at the polka dotted snake and sea monster, fascinated by the adventure with the pirates, and applauding the safe return home of the boys with a treasure.

Free Coloring Page

Day 35 -Illustrator Tour with Dawn Phillips

It's been a busy week! I've been formatting e-books for publishing as an Illustrator and Publisher. Finished "The Adventures of Daniel and Christen" by Author Delaine Taylor and Cameron Taylor. Available for $2.99 in the Amazon Kindle Bookstore in all languages.



Watch for an interview with the Author to post this weekend and Free coloring pages for the youngsters.

Another two e-books for Ralph the Dragon will be ready soon!!! Also, teacher packages, so be watching.

Also, my pencil will get a work out next week sketching illustrations for "Hat Occasion" by Author Jillena Levine.

Not to mention, www.rdchildrensbooks.com website canvas will get a brush over.