Rabbi Benjamin's Buttons

Taaaa... Daaaaa...

Here's the cover for "Rabbi Benjamin's Buttons". 

Written by Alice B. McGinty and published by Charlesbridge Publishing. 

It's now available for pre-order and will be in hand in August!

Poodle Love

Have a very happy one!!!!

xoxoxo

Illustrated Me

I just hung my "illustrated me" doorknob hanger on the door to my studio.

This week, fellow illustrator Claudia McGehee and I did a presentation at the Iowa City Public Library. We spoke about what it's like to be freelance illustrators and did this craft with the kids. 

There were an awful lot of talented young illustrators in attendance!

This is Oliver, our big poodle. He wasn't at the Library, but he's often in my studio. 

"Draw the Corgi..."

I mentioned to my friend, Claudia, a very talented illustrator (check out her blog, here), that a friend brought over their new Corgi puppy to meet our poodle (and us) last night. 

This morning I awoke to a text from her, "Draw the Corgi when you have time". 

Of course, one never has time, one must make time, so here are a few little sketches from memory that I did before I set to work on my book deadline today. 

I was struck by her funny proportions.

What a regal cutie!

Puppy love!!!!! xo

Voices in my head...

The illustration above is one that I did for a calendar a while back. Recently, an art director pointed to the watercolor on the dog's back and said, "You know what?... this is... act-tualllly... a raaaaather... sophisticated... little... illustration?"
The surprised tone of her voice inferred that I had mistakenly made something good. And, that nothing else she had seen of my work had been blessed by the same naive error.

And now, even though time has passed, each time I paint the spot on the dog's back in the book that I'm currently illustrating I hear that voice. "You know what???...."

Here's a big hug to all of us who hear voices in our heads. I hope that we all continue working happily until the good words are shouting waaaayyy louder than the whispers of snarky critics and reviewers!

Finding Friends

I know...

I've been quiet.

But I'm here, having fun, searching for friends on my blank pages. I just love honing an expression, a gesture, and trying to bring my vision of a character to life.

I'm working on a picture book by Alice McGinty, to be published by Charlesbridge Publishing in 2014.

So don't worry if you don't hear from me quite as often for a bit.

I'm happy.

I'm drawing.

I'm doing what I love.

And I hope you are, too!

Place

My parents just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary! As a gift to them, my brother (who is a writer) and I made them a book. I combined some illustrations with some black and white photos. My brother wrote the beautiful narrative. He focused on 'place'.

The land that my parent's home is built on, has been in my family since the 1950's. My grandmother always admired the hill between her family home, and their new house 'in town', and so my grandfather bought the land for her as a gift.

Our book was hit...

These are some little paintings I did from old photos of my parents as kids. I thought it was neat that they were probably about the same age in the pictures.

I'm such a pushover for old photos. And old family photos? What could be better?!

Embroidered Oliver

This is Oliver. 

He is our big, goofy, white, Standard Poodle.

  This is his portrait which looks just like him, done in fabric and stitchery by the very talented artists at Home ec. in Iowa City.

 

Not only does it look like him, they've really captured his personality. 

Love it!!!!!!!!

 

They're Ba-aaa-ack!

 For me, it's kind of like seeing an old friend again!

I illustrated these calendars for several years (1993-2005?). Sellers Publishing has brought them back again for 2012!

 

These are 12" x 12" wall calendars with 12 different funny illustrations and captions on each page. 

So, if you know someone who loves their cat or dog too much, these make great gifts!

Available at your local bookshop, mall kiosk, or online at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Shhhhhhhhh...

Shhhhhhhhhhh...

Can you hear that?

Listen.

 Carefully.

 

It's quiet...

 Back to work.

Back to work.

Animal Lovers

 Just added some cat card bundles to my etsy shop.

Not a feline fancier? More a lab lover?

Some puppy packs, too.

This Busy Time...

Oh aren't we all just crazy busy?

Decking the halls and fa-la-la-la-la-ing?

I have artwork due and have been spending a lot of time in my studio. At least I'm not alone. Here's a picture of my assistant. It is his job to follow me to the studio, curl up like a large, puffy kitten, and sleep on his bed under my board. After all, he's very tired after a long morning of resting.

More soon, but for now I'm trying to...

Slow down.

Remember.

Enjoy.

It is what it is.

Sweet Potatoes, Russians, and Cats, and Dogs

While perusing the internet,  I was attacked by a Russian Spy hiding in a sweet potato recipe. It is rather ironic, isn't it, to get a "root kit virus" from a root veggie recipe? So I have been off-line until my brilliant and amazing husband sent that nasty spy packing.

At my etsy shop, Jennifer Black Reinhardt Illustrations, I now have some lovely art prints. It has taken me until now to find a paper that I'm happy with. It's a very heavy weight, museum quality, archival, water-colored textured paper. I also will be listing some fun new card bundles--- a dog lover's one, and a cat fancier package.

Snuggling in and trying to get caught up from my unexpected abduction. Hope you're all enjoying this festive time of year!

Oh and never did find that elusive recipe. I beg you not to Google search it--- lest the Russians invade you, too--- but if anyone knows this one??? Sweet potatoes, onions, and cheese with kind of bread underneath? 

Let's all hum a little Peter Gunn ditty here...

An Age Before Beauty Alphabet...

A is for Antique Ambrotype.

B is for Black Cameo.

C is for a Curious Comb.

D is for a Darling Dog.

E is for an Enchanted Evening.

F is for Fabulous Flowers.

G is for Gorgeous Garnets.

H is for Happy...

Happy,

Holidays.

at Age Before Beauty.

Unexpected

A very antique bit of Victorian trim.

On one side of the trim is soft, soft fur--- On the other side, a tintype. A dapper dude in a dashing chapeau.

Hand carved mother of pearl buttons, chunks of autumn-hued gemstones, and sparkly rhinestone beads.

A sweet celluloid puppy dog at the very end. 

All so lovely,

so unusual,

so unexpected.

Age Before Beauty.

Hat Head

Today I wore my illustration hat for a while.

I don't look good in hats. I have kind of big, curly hair and if I wear a hat I feel like I have a pea head. If it is a big enough hat that I don't feel like a pea head, then I suffer hat head when the hat is removed.  I also am never fully relaxed and comfortable wearing a hat. I feel very aware of it and rather conspicuous. "Look at Jennifer, wearing a hat", is what everyone is saying and thinking--- and if they aren't, they should be.

Above is a rough "ruff" sketch I did while wearing my il-lusty hat today. It's a card commission for a client that I will then have for sale at  my etsy shop.

To be wearing so many hats can be troubling... especially when one doesn't look good in them.

Gathering

 Each morning I fight the urge to slip back under the warm covers.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

The kids walk to the bus stop in the dark. Jackets, hats, and gloves are resurected from the bowels of the hall closet. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nature is slowing down, getting ready to go to sleep. 

 Poodles, however, are another story.