Tag: for kids

Hidden Picture – River Bank

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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 is the second of two hidden picture puzzles. I saved this one until last because it’s my favorite. That’s the same duck from several pages ago. Having him visible both above and below the waterline really sold the idea that he was floating on the water and what was underneath was the underwater view. And just look at those duck feet! So cute!

I’m really not an expert at drawing fish, but I work from references and do my best. The client said the one brown trout I drew had a longer snout than the other, which is actually called a kype and is sought after by fishermen. I don’t really know enough about them to do that intentionally, but I’m so glad it turned out to be a feature and not a bug. Serendipity.

Can you find all 8 items? There’s a cigarette butt, a tin can, a plastic spoon, a plastic drinking straw, a deflated balloon, a deflated inner tube, a plastic bag, and a flip-flop sandal. The client said they find a surprising number of uninflated inner tubes at their cleanup events.

I will say that, between this one and the previous illustration, I spent SO much time drawing little circles for all that gravel. But it was worth it!

A hidden picture puzzle scene showing both underwater and above water views of a river bank.

Hidden Picture – Hiking Trail

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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 is the first of two a hidden picture puzzles. Can you find all 8 items? There’s a soda bottle, a drink cup, a flip-flop sandal, a chip bag, a soda can, a plastic fork, a deflated balloon, and a set of 6-pack rings. The hidden items were chosen because they’re items often found during the organization’s cleanup events.

This image is a version of the illustration that was used as the cover image. The cover image was in color and without the hidden items. But it still has the same expansive view and variety of wild animals.

Windy Picnic

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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 depicts four children on the shore of a river or lake. They were trying to have a picnic, but it’s too windy. The wind blows trash from their lunch along the shore. One boy chases a plastic bag. This illustration is meant to show another way that trash can get loose and into the environment. It was fun to draw all that mischief the wind got up to.

Two Children and a Dog

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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 introduces two characters that will appear in the next illustration. The characters ae both wearing Fish for Garbage hats, work gloves, and mesh bags for collecting garbage. The dog was an afterthought requested by the client to make the image wider to better fit the layout. The client told me that some participants have trained their dogs to find and fetch trash to help with collection during cleanup events.

Lunch in Reusable Containers

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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 depicting a metal lunchbox and reusable water bottle. The illustration is used to show an example of reusable containers for lunch that contribute to unnecessary trash in the environment. The water bottle has stickers for the Fish for Garbabe organization and a related fishing organization.

Overflowing Trash Bin

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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 depicting an overflowing trash bin. It will be used to illustrate one way trash can get into the environment unintentionally.

Tangled Duck

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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.

Fish for Garbage Project – Cover

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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, the only full-color illustration, was for the cover.

The Neighborhood’s Night – Page 15

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Page 14 doesn’t have an image, so we skip on to page 15 from The Neighborhood’s Night by Juliana Catherine. This is the last illustration and the end of the book.

It’s not a completely happy ending because, even though Leena’s back in her own home, Amaya’s family lost their house. This is supposed to be a “tough subjects” series, so a not entirely happy ending is appropriate. But it’s not all bad because Amaya has sent Leena a letter saying how they found a place to live and are doing okay. They even sent pictures.

I made sure it’s the same couch and wall as page 4 so it’s definitely the same house. It comes full circle.

An illustration for page 15 of The Neighborhood's Night by Juliana Catherine. A girl curled up on her couch leans back against her mother who is sitting beside her. The girl is reading a letter and the mother is looking at some photo prints. They are both smiling.

The Neighborhood’s Night – Page 12

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Here’s the 10th illustration for the book project I just finished for Learning A-Z. Page 12 of The Neighborhood’s Night by Juliana Catherine.

In the gym again, this time all crowded around a new character, Juana, who is covered in ash.

An illustration for page 12 of The Neighborhood's Night by Juliana Catherine. Everyone is crowded around Juana as she tells them the news of the wildfire.