The Little Red Hen

"Not I, said the cat!"

I'm trying to include more children's art in my portfolio. Here's a little red hen spread.

I always hated the ending to this story. Her friends weren't helpful, but maybe she should give them another chance.

Here's a look at the preliminary drawing:

I also thought that the cat would make a good card:

It's available on Etsy here.

Arthur Conan Doyle SCBWI Conference Homework

I had the opportunity to take a workshop about references from the wonderful Barbara McClintock and Eric Velasquez at the winter SCBWI conference.

The homework prompt was about a young Arthur Conan Doyle. The part of the prompt I focused on was that his first story was about a man eating tiger.

Here's a look at the preliminary drawing:

Missing Dinosaur Books

Here's an illustration I included in my portfolio for the SCBWI conference. It's a completed version of an illustration I worked on back in September.

To see the preliminary drawing, plus two other drawings from this story, check out this blog post.

BIlly Goats Gruff

Billy Goats Gruff, watercolor, gouache, and pencil on Rives BFK, 11x14", 2018.

I'm going to the SCBWI conference next month!

One of the workshops is about learning where your art fits in. There's an assignment where you have to depict a villain from children's literature. I had a hard time choosing what to do. In the end I decided to stick with my strengths, and illustrate a story that has animals.

This is kind of a funny version of the Billy Goats Gruff. Poor troll!

I posted a bunch of in progress shots on Instagram:

🐐🐐🐐Super rough beginnings. I've been working on one of the assignments for the #scbwi conference next month. It's to depict a classic children's book villain. I have to much left to do!! . . . . #ny18scbwi #billygoatsgruff #goats #ogre #kidlitart #illustration #illustrator #art #sketchbook #sketch #drawing #portfolio

A post shared by Sarah Ryan (@sarahryandraws) on Jan 6, 2018 at 2:07pm PST

🐐🐐🐐 This has become the drawing that never ends 😭. I should have been done ages ago. At least I'm ready to transfer to good paper and do the color version now. . . . . . #sketchbook #sketch #ny18scbwi #scbwi #kidlitart #childrensillustration #billygoatsgruff #goats #pencil #drawing #art #illustration #illustrator

A post shared by Sarah Ryan (@sarahryandraws) on Jan 12, 2018 at 2:20pm PST

What are the weirdest colors I could use?? K, I'm doing that. . . . . . #wip #gouache #illustration #illustrator #art #drawing #watercolor #gouache #scbwi #process #kidlitart #childrensillustration

A post shared by Sarah Ryan (@sarahryandraws) on Jan 13, 2018 at 5:57pm PST

Narrative Art

Earlier this fall, I started an entry for a children's illustration contest. Unfortunately, I never had the time to finish; I was pretty disappointed.

The them was mystery, and you had to tell a story in three illustrations. I chose to tell a story about missing dinosaur books.

I will revisit these at some point, but I think I need to give myself some more time and distance from them.

Teapot Deer

Teapot Deer, watercolor & graphite on Rives BFK, 8 x 10", 2015.

Hello again!

I hope everyone's had a great start to your new year!

I finally finished artwork for my niece's nursery. This little fawn goes with the hedgehog in a teacup I posted last year.

If you would like your own copy, they are available as 5x7" prints in my Etsy store.

I hope you enjoy this little bit of spring in January!

Hedgehog Tea Party

Hedgehog Tea Party, watercolor and graphite on Rives BFK, 8x10", 2014.

I'm going to be an aunt (again!). I already have two wonderful nephews, now I'm going to have a niece! I just went to my younger sister's baby show, and gave this illustration as a gift. There will be a matching one soon, so stay tuned.

Library Tigers

Remember when I actually updated this blog consistently?

Anyway... if you follow this blog you know I draw, but you may not know that I also work in a public library. My library is about to roll out a HUGE early literacy program called "1000 B 4 K". It will encourage parents to read 1000 books to their preschoolers before they start kindergarten. It's an important step for kindergarten preparedness.

In preparation for this program, I was asked to create a mascot, preferably a cute animal. I drew the tiger on the left holding a library card as a kind of logo that appears on all of our literature and publicity for the program. The drawing on the right is for the reading log where parents will record the books they've read to their children.

There will be more tiger drawings soon. Stay tuned!

Illustration Friday: Creature

Marco, watercolor & graphite on Rives BFK, 16 x 20", 2013.

I wasn't planning on posting an Illustration Friday this week, but then I saw the theme! I've been working on a ton of stuff for a show called "Creature Comforts" at The Art Dept. gallery here in Philadelphia. The show opens Friday!

This is the biggest piece in the show, and I finally got it scanned! Thanks to Zack all of the pieces got put together in Photoshop.

If you want more details on the show look here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/208473656000483

Preliminary Drawing: Thumbelina

Preliminary Drawing, graphite on bristol, 11 x 14", 2013.

Here's the start of a new illustration I've been working on.  I don't have enough on my portfolio website; I'm hoping that when this is finished it'll be good enough to add.

I hope everyone is having a good weekend!!

Illustration Friday: Wool



Squirrel, watercolor, graphite & colored pencil on watercolor paper, 5 x 7", 2013.

 This little squirrel is wearing a nice wool scarf to keep warm. I'll be drawing lots and lots of squirrels pretty soon!

I recently downloaded the Vine app, and took a short video of my process:



Does anyone else have Vine? I'd love to see some great illustration profiles! I'm registered under my name, "Sarah Ryan".

Three Little Birds

Goldfinch, Sparrow, & Cardinal, watercolor and graphite on Rives BFK, each 5 x 7", 2013.

I've been drawing lots of backyard birds... here are three!

I'll post more up soon.

In Progress: Baba Yaga

I have been working on the Children's Book Rally for Illustration Rally. The challenge is to complete two double page spreads for a children's story by the end of September. I'm going to have to work like crazy because I'll be away for the last week of September.

This is a peek at my preliminary drawing for one of the spreads. You could either choose to illustrate a classic or an original story; I'm illustrating a traditional Russian Baba Yaga story. The crows will look better in the final... they were a last minute addition.

I have so much to do...yikes!!!