In the Fall I went to a charter school in the area and participated in a charity gift basket and art auction night (all the proceeds going directly to the school). I started and finished a small set of fairies for the auction in the 2 1/2 hour night. Here are some photos from it. The piece did sell and for a respectable price. It's always nice donate to good caus...
Coming June 2010
I just got the pdf proof of the catalog in which my first illustrated chapter book appears (well, not MY book alone...the wonderfully talented Ann Cannon wrote it, I just did the pictures). It's a GREAT story full of mystery, pre-teen "romance", and of course, chihuahuas! Watch for ...
Finished Another Job
Well I finally finished illustrating the Fairy Garden book. Even though I had less time in months to work on this book, I think it especially felt like a long job because there were more than the usual number of illustrations for it and a lot of changes during the process. It's always nice to finish a job though. Even if you love the book, you need some space from it before you like seeing it again. On that note, I was happy to receive an advanced readers copy of the chapter book I illustrated,...
"Fairy-ly" Done
I've been working on this fairy picture book for months now and it's been a LONG process. I have a lot of stories to tell associated with the work on this book, but those aren't for sharing on a blog. The good news is that I'm almost finished. Here's some of the work in progress. I paint by hand with watercolor and then scan in the painting and add textures and do more painting digitally. (Ann, you'll...
Fun activity
In preparation for another school visit, I thought I'd let the kiddos learn how to draw my latest picture book character...Gus. The book I wrote and illustrated (my first publication as an author) comes out in Spring of 2010 with Marshall Cavendish. I wanted to get the kids excited for it's arrival so I made up this little "how-to." You are welcome to print it for your own self or children, or even...
Finished two, one more on the tables
Well, I just finished the interior illustrations for a chapter book I've been working on for Farrar, Strauss and Giroux by A.E. Cannon called "Chihuahua Chase". It was fun to see it come together but kind of "pull-my hair out" in the process at times. But that's how great creative work comes to be, right? In addition, I finished and turned in the illustrations for the book I wrote, "Tickle, Tickle! Itch, Twitch!" coming out in Spring 2010. I love finishing projects. I just don't love the in between...
Didn't get the job...Again
Amongst all the books I'm illustrating right now, I was asked to RE-do some character submissions in another style for a client. They were revisiting the project, apparently, because they still hadn't settled on an illustrator. I had submitted some samples previously but they came back a while later and asked for ones done in this style. So I did them, but once again, I didn't end up getting the job....
Too busy...that's good, right?
Well, I've been really busy illustrating 3 books this summer. I haven't had time for any recreational drawing unbelievably. Hence my posts have been non-existent. I apologize. I'm not supposed to share things that are in current progress really but here's one sneak peak at an illustration from the book I wrote myself contracted by Marshall Cavendish Publishing. I'm painting like a madwoman to finish...
BYU Writing for Young Readers Conference
I was able to spend the past 5 days at a writing conference. I assisted author, Dandi Mackall, throughout the conference. I learned so much from her and was fairly productive as well. I edited down (with the class's help) one picture book manuscript, and wrote an entirely new picture book manuscript (which still needs revising). I also finished 20 sets of sketches for a chapter book I'm illustrating....
Book Signing at The Purple Cow
For anyone living close to the little town of Toole, come on down...I and the author of "The Happiest Mommy Ever!" will be signing at The Purple Cow Bookstore (992 North Main Street) from 2-4 pm Saturday May 2nd. And they are even having a cake contest. See the flyer below...
Book Promotion : Good to See
So I got my Deseret Book Catalog in the mail this month and was pleased to see the mother's day book I illustrated has an entire 1/2 page ad. It's nice to see your books getting promoted. It was a little funny when a young man at church (since this book is with a religious publisher many people I know at my church get the catalog) came up to me and said, "I didn't know you were famous." I replied,...
NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED
My newly designed website went live tonight. I'm so excited. It looks much better than my old site but you do have to have flash installed on your computer to view it. The opening page gives you the option to download it if needed. I bought the template from bludomain.com and customized it to my needs. I still need to add some things in the "fun" section, but the main site is fully functional. Check it out... MY NEW SITE... then let me know what you think...especially if anything bugs y...
Book Signing 1
I did my first book signing for "The Happiest Mommy Ever!" one week ago at Seagull Book in Spanish Fork, UT. I will be doing another signing tonight (April 4th) at Deseret Bookstore in University Mall in Orem, Utah (the mall is on the corner of State Street and University Parkway). I'll be there signing from 6-8pm. The store is having 20% off everything so don't miss out! Here are pics from last week...
Portrait 1
I don't usually do portraits except for family members as gifts...it's been a while. Portraits are hard, especially when you know the person you are drawing. You know if you haven't captured that glint of mischief in their eye or that smirk they always make. But my hairstylist asked me to do some trade work...she does my hair (multiple times) and I draw portraits of her 2 kids. We worked out the monetary...
Happiest Mommy Ever! Mother's Day Signings
I just thought I'd let everyone know, I'll be signing my latest book (that I illustrated) "The Happiest Mommy Ever!" (written by Alice Furniss and published by Deseret Book) at many locations in the next month before Mother's Day. It's the perfect gift for any mom out there...young or old. I had so much fun illustrating it and was able to put in a lot of personal things...I used my daughter as a model,...
School Visits and Literacy Day
As I've said before, part of the job of being a book illustrator, is that you get to go out and present what you do and how you do it to kids, adults, writers, artists. Well this Friday, the 27th, I'm going to speak at Daybreak Elementary School out near Kearns, UT from 2-4pm. So if any of you live close by, feel free to come heckle me.In addition, I'll be presenting (about illustrating children's books) at the Spanish Fork City Library's Literacy Day on Saturday, February 28th from 2-4pm. It's...
Book Dummy Redo
Sorry I'm not posting regularly...I've been really busy finishing up stages of jobs. And two minutes ago, I finished the final layout and redo of my book dummy for "Tickle, Tickle! Itch, Twitch!" a book I wrote as well as illustrated. Marshall Cavendish publishing acquired the book last fall and I've been working on revisions with them. But LONG ago I came up with the idea of writing a story about...
A Little Press
So, after nearly 8 years on the market, the first picture book I illustrated got some major TV publicity just last week. Our local morning TV talkshow featured it for a few seconds. If you skip ahead to the 3 minute 11 second mark, you can see the little blurb. I didn't see the show that day, but plenty of friend have told me about it. So I had to share! (too bad they don't mention the illustrator...oh well, this will sell books anyway). You have to wait through the short commercial first though.Or...
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- Julie Olson
- I'm a freelance illustrator working in the children's book industry. I love kids and raising my own 4 children. They are the inspiration and the passion behind all I do in art and in life. See my website at JulieOlsonbooks.com