This is my journey in creating concepts, writing, illustrating, finding a literary agent, and becoming a published children's book author and illustrator for the picture book genre.

Friday, February 28, 2014

New illustration!

This is a sketch of my dog as I found her in the shelter. I call this piece "For the love of Grendel: a shelter dog's wish". It is a charcoal piece and slightly edited to help give that picture book look. I can't wait to make some more of my little pooch and her story of how she found her forever home.

Sometimes, looking at it makes me realize that something is missing. Below is the revised copy. I think that this illustration conveys the story a bit better. Can you spot the difference? By this addition, I believe it conveys the desperation that I want this to illustrate. Rescue and give that little soul their forever home.


Thursday, February 27, 2014

a quick sketch...

Sometimes inspiration takes over. While on the phone with my husband who is at a conference in Florida, I made a quick illustrative sketch. I try to start with a preliminary sketch and re create it a couple times to really fine tune and tighten the illustration. This is my preliminary sketch of a little girl who belongs to a friend of mine. This little girl embraces childhood differently from the mainstream Disney princess girl. Her mom posts that most amazing pictures of her running about in ladybug wings building fairy houses. She has inspired a story that I am working on. Here is the sketch of her that one of the pictures her mom posted inspired today.
 

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Planning ahead...

I am trying to add more illustrations to my portfolio. I have a few sketches in the works. I have finished the latest Krumpy illustration. The image still needs a couple of tweeks, but it is pretty cute. I want to expand my portfolio by a few more illustrations before submitting my work in for the Don freeman award. Unlike last year, this year I am going to submit as an illustrator. Last year I submitted a book dummy.  This year I hope to showcase my work and the diversity I bring to it. Here is the latest:

Monday, February 17, 2014

Winter Storm Craziness and more painting!

Sorry that i have been away. I have been in Virginia helping out my parents. Unfortunately, the storm caught me by surprise and dumped 24 inches of snow in a 24 hour period in a place that is void of snow supplies. My wrist was strained by snow shoveling, but luckily that was the only casualty from the event. I have submitted 3 works into the conrad scholarship for the SCBWI conference. It is a long shot as this award is for three states, but someone will win. It could be me. I fear that I will not be able to afford to go to this event if I don't win. Scholastic will be there and I am vying for the opportunity to show them my work. I like to think it is age appropriate for their target audience. The next award that i am applying for is the Don Freeman "work in progress" award that is a national illustrative award for an unpublished illustrator through SCBWI. I submitted last year, but I believe my work is now far superior to the humbling beginnings of last year. I will need to submit 10 works (at least 8 color) to enter. Time to create and choose my favorites. I am only as good as my worst piece in my portfolio, so make it the best I can present! Here is a creation that i am working on now. I have sketched out a few faery pieces to add to my portfolio. This is all watercolor right now.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Working hard

Every dream requires a degree of work. Well, I am constantly working towards this goal. I think you have to. One artist reminded me not to be perfect. Draw, paint, create without hinderance of perfection. So, I sketch. I sketch something every day. Some days are just throw away days. Somedays,drawing a circle is just to complicated to try. Then there are other days where inspiration vibrates like electricity through metal. It zips about and lines flow! Here is the newest sketch that I will add to my illustrative collections when it is completed. 

I am excited to announce that the majority of my application is complete and I will submit it to SCBWI southern breeze tonight. Part of the application process required me to write a bio about myself and my education. Well, I don't think they were really looking to hear about my nursing background. I reached out to a friend of mine who is a designer for a toy company. I asked him for some advice and what caught his attention when sorting through illustrative cards and artist statements. He offered words that will forever warm my heart.  This is how he described my work, "you have a unique voice and your art is identifiably your own. Take pride in your uniqueness. You are pursuing this field because you want to tell stories that children will remember all their lives and will want to share with their children." 
Art can make a person lack a sense of confidence. He continued to identify the strengths in my art and what separated it from the usual applicants. It is lovely to hear words that inspire from someone you admire. He is also a dad and part of my target audience. 
I found my words and illustrative voice that i wish to communicate. I really don't know what my chances are at winning this award, but I like to think that they are as good as any other applicant- may be a bit better because of how different it is from what is the trend right now. Thank you for following me on my journey. Your feedback that I receive here and on my facebook page helps to validate my efforts that I put into this dear aspiration of mine. You can also follow me on twitter @cdunbridge. I post updates there when I make a new blog post!

Always Aspiring,
C. Dunbridge

Saturday, February 1, 2014

help me decide!

I am trying to decide which illustration cover pieces I should submit for a scholarship award. Please take a look at my portfolio and leave me a comment on which 3 pieces you really like!

http://cdunbridge.blogspot.com/p/illustrations.html


Thank you for your help!!! Bacon and Eggs also thank you!