Francesca's Treehouse sketch

This sketch is from Vanita's granddaughter, Sage was the inspiration for the book.

  Early character studies for Francesca.

 

 Francesca with a Frog. Digital.
Here she starts looking like the eventual character.

Mrs. Pinkler. Sort of an eccentric "hippy-like" neighbor with a green thumb and sage advice for Francesca.

  Digital sketch

She started out quite trim like a Katherine Hepburn type.

 Charcoal Sketch. Mr/ Pinkler thickens up her stature.

  Advising Francesca.

 

Final art. 

SNEAK PEAK AT FALL 2012 TITLES

"Vanita's book shows the resilience and strenght of the Haitian people, using one of the worst disasters to hit Haiti-the Gonaives floods of 2004.  The story of Moses portrays both the tragedies and the possibilities of Haiti, and shows how goodwill and benevolence can triumph over the most devastating odds.  Written in accessible, simple prose, this book will ring true to those from any part of the world who have had challenges to face in their lives."

  -Father Rick

 "I know Moses personally and was at the hospital when he arrived nameless from the floods.  His story was so precious that the only name that was right for him was "Moses."  He is now a gift to the other children at our orphanage with his humor and compassion.  Vanita captured well the suffering of the children of Haiti in the story of Moses.  No matter how often the people are knocked down by hurricanes, floods, violence, earthquakes, their resilience and faith pick them up over and over again."   -Sister Judy

Bath Country Journal

I Came From The Water

Here's a look at some additional color sketches. I'm seeing a little back and forth from darker brooding disaster scenes to more fruity colorful scenes when it's "happy."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
This one was in process yesterday. I added a shirt to Moses from the rough sketches.
I will probably  raise the type box up a little to show more basket and blanket at the bottom:

Now that this is sketched I think I'll be moving the text box up, and putting little Moses on the top.

Or I might make the building taller and leave the text panel close to where it is. It's hard to tell here, whether Moses is part of the panel or on the roof.  Might add more smaller houses in the distance:

I think a little more decorative vestment for Fr. Rick. (it'll look more like him). I'm thinking of swapping positions with the children and the text box.  They might look more connected to Fr. Rick if they are more upward in the picture:

I think the scenes at the left will have to tilt a little toward the right, With the rough color in place they seem to be sliding off the left a little.
Mostly I think it's the pyramids. They'll need straightened out a little:

 

-Mike

"Made in China" on the shelves of Barnes and Noble!

We found Made in China on the shelves of Barnes and Noble.  Vi was proud to pose with the book.

Art direction for spread three in Farfalla.

This is the cover sketched onto the linoleum
block.  My next step is to cut it out!!

This part way through the cut.

This is the inked block.

 This is the art direction for spread three in Farfalla.

 This is the start of the 3rd spread

 

 I have drawn the image on by block and am starting to cut.

 This is the final cut for spread three.

 This is a print off of spread 3.  I use this to transfer with pencil to the watercolor paper for painting.

 Color work on spread three.