Read a NEW Interview with Yours Truly!

I was interviewed by writer Karin Cameron over at her blog, "Karin Won't Stop Talking".  Go take a look and find out how I got my start as an artist and children's illustrator, and what advice I can give to others in the biz.  Be sure to leave a comment and tell Karin you stopped by.  She is a marvelous host and an awesome writer.

Here is a rough sketch I made for the upcoming book "Prairie Storms", due out in August 2011!

Illustration Friday - "Clandestine"

©Kathleen Rietz
I thought at first it might be a stretch, but I keep coming back to the same notion regarding this illustration: As much as I have chosen to be a designer and a children's book illustrator, late at night I revert back to my roots in a clandestine effort to nourish the parts of myself deep within my soul that will always be a fine artist.

You can see more of my work like this one on my Moleskine blog.

Illustration Friday - "Balloons"

I am busy working on the illustrations for a children's book this weekend, but I had this idea in my head and I wanted to see what it might look like on paper...

©Kathleen Rietz

Illustration Friday - "Vacant"

Jerry's mind was vacant and he knew he needed to fill it with the right knowledge and skills so he could get a job and marry Susan.

This is from a series of text book illustrations I made earlier this year. Not very creative, but it helps pay the mortgage.

Autumn Oak

©Kathleen Rietz
More therapeutic sketching between illustrating my children's books.

Glazed Bowl

©Kathleen Rietz
Hhhhmmmm....I'm thinking need to put these on a seperate "moleskine" blog....

A Lovely Pair

©Kathleen Rietz

Sketch Buddies

One of the last warm afternoons of September, my friend Joan and I took our sketchbooks to Starbucks and spent a couple of hours sketching and getting caffienated. Later that night I bought my first Moleskine, and what a difference (as you can see here)! Joan's drawing convinced me to give one a try. My sketchbook paper had too much "tooth". I was not very happy with my sketches during this session.


The pencil sharpeners are actually ones I still had from when I was in gradeschool!


Joan drew my purse. You can see more of her drawings here.

Leftovers

©Kathleen Rietz
..in my moleskine....I am finally "okay" with the fact that I am very VERY diverse as an artist. I enjoy a quiet evening lost in my new moleskine as much as I enjoy drawing whimsical images of children in my "children's book" style. I also enjoy cutting stained glass and grouting to create my own mosaic projects, primitive silversmithing, and creating textile patterns on my computer in Photoshop. Go figure. I always thought I had to pick one and skill/style and stick with it to create a "brand" for myself. But I don't care anymore, really. This blog is to showcase my creativity APART from my professional website, so this is what I drew last night and wanted to post today. : )

The Moleskine

©Kathleen Rietz
©Kathleen Rietz
©Kathleen Rietz

Fellow blogger and good friend Joan Yoshioka has been visiting from Hawaii and staying at my home in Chicagoland. We have so much to post about...it has been a vacation of sorts for us both. But tonite I am finishing up some sketches for the children's yoga book I am illustrating, so we are taking a little break from our adventures.

Today was grey and cold...the first real nip of autumn in the air. I bought this Moleskine sketchbook last night while we were out, and today we decided to have an afternoon of sketching at my kitchen table. Now I understand why artists become obsessed with their Moleskines....they are just so "different" from any other sketchbooks out there. It was nice just to do some sketching, free of deadlines and pressure. I guess there is still this fine artist living inside of me, set free on the pages of her new Moleskine.

Illustration Friday - "Packed"

Always good to read lables to see what kind of nutrients are packed into your food.
(This is another educational illustration I drew for a client earlier this year. About half of my work is this type. It certainly helps to pay the bills and I must admit that sometimes it is fun to work in graphite.)

Illustration Friday - "Clique" & "Little Black Ant" book cover!!!

Here are examples of "cliques"....these 3 pencil illustrations were educational illustrations I did for a publisher earlier this year.

Please also take a look at the last illustration...I just recieved this catalog image sample of the book cover I illustrated for the Soundprints book "Little Black Ant on Park Street"!!! This is the book that will be sold through the Smithsonian Institution. I am thrilled. I worked all weekend on the thumbnails for the inside illustrations. I am trying to get a file of the entire cover layout, since the illustration actually wraps around the front and back cover.

All of these illustrations showcase my "soft realistic" style. I am also working on a book in my "whimsical" style, which many of you are probably more familiar with. I will post illustratiosn from that upcoming book, too, as soon as I am able.





"Little Black Ant on Park Street" will be released in the spring of 2009, published by Soundprints.

A Fabulous Friday

Hello Everyone! I miss being able to post sketches, so here is a little morsel for you.

In about 12 hours from now, my blogger buddy and fellow artist Joan Yoshioka will be landing at O'Hare airport and staying with me for a while. So hopefully I will have some photos to post from our excursions, and maybe even some sketches if we get a chance to sketch together.

I was recently given this award by the queen of virtual cupcakes, Diana Evans! Thanks Diana! Be sure to pop by her blog for some no calorie sweetness.



Happy Friday everyone!

Illustration Friday - "Clutter"

Here is an illustration I drew for a classroom textbook assignment earlier this year.

If you haven't read my new article in the SCBWI-IL's The Prairie Wind, click here. It's all about surviving the dreaded professional "dry spell" freelancers face. I am now officially a regular contributor to "Illustrator Tips".

Illustration Friday - "Memories"

©Kathleen Rietz
(sorry...having to recycle my artwork again this week)

This Little Piggy

I couldn't help myself. I haven't sketched anything lately that isn't related to the books I am illustrating. I sort of miss doing a sketch a day, like I did last winter. Last night I was thinking about babies and how soft and sweet their little bedclothes and toys are. And so I started wanting to do some doodles of plush baby toys and clothes. I think there is a part of my brain that also misses being a product developer/designer, which I have done for nearly 20 years. So I thought I would grab a moment and allow myself to doodle a little plush piggy. Just wanted to share.

Illustration Friday - "Detach"

Shawna was detached from reality on weekends when she found solace in food and television.
(Sorry about the big "©" symbols on the illustration, but this illustration is one in an educational series I did for a publisher earlier this year and is copyright protected.)
I am working on illustrating 2 picture books now (yay!) and writing my 3rd article for the SCBWI-IL e-newsletter, so I haven't been blogging much nor visiting my favorite blogs like I would like to be able to do. I miss everyone! I promise I will post updates and artwork from the books as I am able.

studies of a young boy & Goldilocks

©Kathleen Rietz©Kathleen Rietz
Samples for a possible new client©Kathleen Rietz

Illustration Friday - "Poof!"

©Kathleen Rietz
->POOF!<- Bugsy was ready for a big date with that special ladybug in his life, thanks to the help of his loyal friends!

With my current workload taking up all of my time, I thought I would pull out an oldie, which is one of my favorite illustrations actually. I have never missed so many weeks of Illustration Friday...it feels good to have something to post and share with you.

Update: Look! It's a photo of Bugsy's lady friend...

Picnic in the Woods

©Kathleen Rietz
I believe a picnic is in order on this lovely day in July.
I am honored to have been awarded The Brilliante Weblog Award by 4 wonderful creative bloggers whose work I so admire:
Fannie Narte
Messy Jessie
Ryan Loghry
Edrian Thomidis
In turn, I am renominating these 4 talented bloggers (you do not have to repost), and adding 3 others. It is really hard to choose because there are so many talented people out there deserving of this award, but here goes:
Joan Yoshioka
Teresa Sheeley
Sparkyfirepants

If you decide to participate, the rules of accepting are as follows:-
1) Put the logo on your blog.
2) Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4) Add links to those blogs on yours.
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

Have a great day everyone. The truth is, I am grateful for everyone who pops by my blog, especially those who comment. You all deserve an award. And a picinc. : )