Circus posters

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Pete & Fremont and Pete's Disappearing Act are circus yarns spun by the incomparable Jenny Tripp.  Both stories are narrated by Pete the poodle and seen from the point of view of the animals in Circus Martinez. To promote these two titles,…

From the archives—Señor Don Gato

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Here's a book I did a while ago—Señor Don Gato. Due to a copyright dispute, it's no longer in print.  This project was a turning-point in my style.  I closely studied the work of Diego Velasquez: his palette, composition and lighting. …

Asterix le Gaulois is 50 years old!

Nous sommes en 50 avant Jèsus-Christ.  Toute la Gaule est occupèe par les Romains…Toute?  Non!  Un village peuple d'irrèductibles Gaulois rèsiste encore et toujours à l'envahisseur.  Et la vie n'est pas facile pour les garnisons de…

Storyboard

Leda writes:  “I'm curious, John, just how detailed your story boards are. Can you post a portion of one?” Here’s a complete storyboard for a coloring book idea I had to promote Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies.  This is only 12 pages;…

Model sheets

Before I start a new project, I read through the manuscript a few times.  My first step is to doodle some aimless drawings—to warm up, I guess—then I begin the serious business of drawing thumbnail sketches in the form of a storyboard. …

How To Become An Illustrator, Canto IV

Step Four.  Promote. Once you’ve got your portfolio together, you want people to see it—specifically people who can hire you. Let’s make this an assault on multiple fronts.  You young illustrators have many media available for self-promotion. The…

Pierre le chien

Besides picture books, I've done a couple of chapter books that were lots of fun for me.  Chapter books are for an older audience (9-12) and the ratio of words to pictures is very different!  There is typically one black & white image…

Welcome, Drawn! readers!

I guess I better change my shirt and sweep up around here.  Please make yourselves at home.

Prepare to repel boarders!

A pox on't! Henry & the Crazed Chicken Pirates is finally here!  Just click on the title to get a copy of your own. As Drake said to his men before Nombre de Dios in 1572, 'Blame nobody but yourselves if you go away empty!'

How To Become An Illustrator, Canto III

Anyone left in the room?  If you read Steps One and Two and you’re still here, you must really want to be an illustrator. Okay.  You have a day job, you’ve begun the process of organizing your business—now let’s move on to Step Three. …