Tangled Duck

I recently completed a project for Utah-based Fish for Garbage, a nonprofit organization that mobilizes communities through waterway cleanups and watershed education. They commissioned me to create a series of illustrations for a children’s activity book.

This image was a small spot illustration. It was based on a previous illustration I created as a portfolio piece depicting a girl cutting a balloon string from a tangled duck. That’s the illustration that initially attracted the client to my work. In this case, the duck was drawn to be a mallard.

Remember, balloons are fun, but if they get out into the environment, they can be a deadly hazard to wildlife which may swallow or become entangled in them.

Squirrel Book 8 of 10

Chapter 7 has two illustrations. This one is when an owl scoops up one of the family dogs. Rocky runs out to make a loud commotion, which startles the owl into dropping the dog. The author says it’s a true story.

She paid for a half page illustration for this one. When designing the layout, I realized that the image would benefit from as much height as possible. I thought, well, it’s supposed to be a half page, but we didn’t specify which half. Usually half pages are landscape (horizontal) format top or bottom half pages. But a left or right half page would meet the requirements also. I was proud of how it turned out.

A cartoon illustration of an owl in mid-flight.  It's just dropped a white lapdog who is depicted in mid-fall and terrified.  Below them both on the ground is a squirrel chittering and waving its arms.  The scene includes a gravel driveway, bordered by grass going off into the distance.  There are trees and hills way off behind.  There are dandelions in the foreground grass.

Squirrel Book 7 of 10

This is Chapter 6. Sylvia was attacked by a big red squirrel when she was off on her own. Rocky is coming to help as fast as he can.

A cartoon illustration of a squirrel fight.  One squirrel is holding down another on a branch.  His hand is raised, poised to scratch.  The squirrel being held down is very angry and is holding an arm up to shield her face.  She's pushing her attacker away with her legs.  A third squirrel is running down a nearby branch, on his way to rescue his girlfriend.

Squirrel Book 2 of 10

Here’s the second illustration for Chapter 1. This illustrates where a thunderstorm knocks the terrified baby squirrel right out of his nice, warm nest. He’s young enough that his eyes aren’t open yet and the fur on his tail hasn’t grown out long yet. I was particularly proud of the lighting.

A cartoon illustration of a baby squirrel falling from a tree during a nighttime thunderstorm.  The view is from below looking up.  Lightning splits the sky and the lighting is backlit and dramatic.

Girl Rescuing Duck

a.k.a. Don’t litter the sky!

Here’s an illustration of a girl with a pocket knife preparing to cut a duck loose from a balloon string it’s tangled in.

When you release a helium balloon into the sky, you’re actually littering. That balloon has to come down somewhere and many times it causes trouble for wildlife when it does. Animals often try to eat it and can get choked or tangled in the process. It can kill them.

A girl kneels, preparing to cut a tangled balloon string off of a trapped duck with a pocket knife.

Inktober 2020 #26 – Hide

I don’t know how that got into his house, but I don’t blame him for hiding.

A boy hides behind a door as a tentacle reaches around it, searching for him.

Safety Book – Cover Image 1

I recently completed another coloring book for Positive Promotions.  This one is about teaching safety to kids.  I think it’s supposed to be handed out by the police and firefighters and such.  It’s about when to call 911, anti-bullying, crossing the street safely, anti-drug… things like that.

The cover has three color images showing different safety situations.  This first one shows a boy calling 911 for a house fire.

Safety Book - Cover Image 1