Custom Tabbit Hoodie (for build-a-bears)

So one of my best friends' birthday is this week. She's very much into anthros and is a furry herself. As of right now she's still on a tour called the Soldier Show. The Soldier Show is a traveling performance that the army puts on. Soldiers try out and sing their way around the country as well as a foreign location. It ends in November; but due to the lack of closer locations and clashes with normal life requirements I wasn't able to see her perform (though according to what people have posted on youtube it's really good). Anyways... I wanted to do something UTTERLY amazing for her birthday... and during her tour she has been taking a panda build-a-bear around and taking pictures of it in different locations and in different costumes. I thought it would be a nifty project to try and make a new costume for her panda. Being that she's a furry what could be better?

A while back she was thinking of commissioning me to make cell phone cases for her and her boyfriend (a furry also). She wanted a tabbit for her phone (his character) and a panda-cat (her character) for his phone. So I thought it would be cute, since the bear is already a panda, to make a tabbit hoodie (tiger rabbit). I haven't seen the panda in a hoodie yet plus it's fall so hoodies will be worn. I'd never made a hoodie before this... I've never made a build-a-bear costume either so I definitely was up for the challenge.

So rather that actually going out and looking to see if there was a pattern like the goober I am... I took the harder route and decided to make it from scratch. I modeled a pattern by using a hoodie I had and my own build-a-bear (so I hope it fits hers). The hoodie is made from orange and white fleece. It has two front pockets like a normal hoodie and has a faux zipper (it has snaps for its closure). The hoodie is fully lined and is even finished with its own tag with my signature. It was super fun to make and only took about a week. Since I've never made a hoodie or a build-a-bear suit I'm REALLY stoked that it came out SOOOO great (especially since I've only been sewing for a year). They'd probably make cute hoodies for babies as well (just would need the size). I sort of now want to make one for my build-a-bear (probably a dragon or something)... hahahaha.

The Star Fairy is CANCELED

As many of you know I was working three months straight on a book in my time outside of work titled "The Star Fairy" by Chris Zuschlag. Well the finished illustrations were sent to him in August. In mid September I received an email about changes that he wanted, thinking that they were minor changes what he didn't think is even minor changes are DRASTIC in paintings. Some of the changes could have been asked for when I sent him the line drawings but I was told that they were great so I moved forward.

Now the author of the book actually wasn't a writer he was a landscaper and snowboard instructor. So honestly the book wasn't up to great par... it had some major flaws. Then because he didn't know much about publishing children's books he didn't actually know that illustrators have to be paid... >.<. Yeah... I know you're probably wondering why I even took the deal, huh? Well I wanted to be published before I was 25 (which is tomorrow so that won't happen) and I thought if I didn't take it I could lose my one shot. So I made an arrangement that he'd only have to reimburse me for my supplies along with some other demands. 

Anyways when I told him that I wouldn't make those changes, he told me then they won't go to print. When you've made a great deal like that with an artist (a $1000 dollar minimum job for $80.94)... do you really want to test them? No. First off he set a fast deadline for someone that actually has a day job to pay the bills. Then afterwards... he said they he had no deadline and you rather have it exactly how he'd like it. I'm sorry but I even dislike the book A LOT but it was a rushed job (there are some things I love which are the things he wanted changed) and time isn't endless for me when there isn't actual money coming in. So I wrote him a long letter of disapproval and advised him to find another generous illustrator because even if I redid the book I would not be doing the sequels that he's planned. So as of yesterday... the book is officially canceled.

The Oracle

This is a concept painting for one of my own children's books called Milo's Study. It's a mini series of 40-page children's books. The concept started with just doing 3 books (called Buttons, Bobbles, and Beads)... but it soon grew into this massive project that I'm in love with. I plan for it to be a book series of about 8... each having it's own mini adventure but they add up to being apart of one big one.

The idea behind them is for kids that aren't just yet into young reader's novels but ready to get out of the simpler children's books. It's based around teams of families that have discovered creatures of myth... so I'm intertwining it with some of my own creatures (like the oracle). Most of the creatures for the story will be from world myths such as the gnoll/ goblin, fairies/ pixies, kappa and inari, and so on. Each somewhat having a connection to the deadly sins (why... don't ask... it's a common theme used and I thought it would be fun to play with even though it's rather complex for kids). Some of the team members are on the good side... trying to protect the creatures, their treasures, or what they represent while others are corrupted by greed and are abusing those they once went in search for when they weren't tainted by their desires. I have the books scratched out so far but not to the point of fully explaining each of them.... or want to hahaha. All I can say is that I hope that it will be great... at least in my head it sounds like a rather enjoyable and profitable project.

As for the Oracle (from book one and possibly reoccurs in all of them)... I can at least explain her. An Oracle is generally one that can foresee what will be. I thought an octopus (being that it is a smart and nurturing creature that it would make a GREAT visionary (no the octopus can't talk))... she possesses a massive pearl (crystal ball idea) that can show hints and images. She grants use of it to one of the team members (Milo- the seen as "crazy" grandfather), who is sworn to protect it from all that is corrupt. It is one of the most powerful items of the bunch due to the fact that it can show you what you question about and even don't question about. When Milo comes up missing the granddaughters are able to use it. It is what is left in the picture.

Magnify

Illustration Friday

Sneak peek of "The Star Fairy"

In my kitchen

Website updating

Every year or so it's good to redesign your website. I haven't updated mine in a while... but I'm redoing it now. The changes haven't been uploaded yet.... but here are some screen shots of a few of the pages. All I have left to do is add the art for 3 of the categories (the digital page is done as you can see that it actually has roll over buttons). The theme I'm going with this time is letters and mailing since my updated logo is the wax seal. So the motif is feathers like quills and stamps. The stamps represent the portfolio categories and when you roll over them they will tell you which category each section is. Once one of them is clicked it will take you to that section of my portfolio. I'm pretty satisfied with how it's turning out. I like the crispness and the theme. It which makes it look more inviting. The size of the page is also larger which will work great since the minimum size of screens now are larger.

So what do you think... haha if you can actually see the little screen shots.