Sometimes the spontaneous idea sketch becomes the best drawing after all. (In this case it is only a postcard size watercolor)

I did not simply read...I devoured A TALE MAGNOLIUS by Suzanne Nelson. A magical story that will stick with me for a long time. Suzanne Nelson Random House Children's Books

We Southern Californians just had a half minute or so of rolling, occasionally jerky bit of earthquake drama...so of course I had to draw the experience.

Sometimes I'll pull to the side of the road (or truck stop in this case) and break out the watercolors.

Working out a story for this guy...

Dragons killed my parents and then we killed dragons. We’ve all since paid and repaid an eye for an eye. Nobody’s satisfied, but all of us are a little blind. Someone used the word ‘forgiveness’ and I wanna puke. We’re way past that. At least I used to think so. #SCBWIFlashFic

It began with self-quarantine, then came the neighborhood watchers. Now they’re armed. Internet’s down and the tv only gets one channel. “It’s all temporary,” they say. My panniers are packed and I’ll mountain bike out at sunset. I have night vision goggles, too. #SCBWIFlashFic

Twitch the lovably chaotic squirrel and Sweetie the Library Rat accidentally make their stage debuts in SQUIRREL ON STAGE by Vivian Vande Velde and Steve Bjorkman, the followup to 8 Class Pets, out now! Read the whole series! #chapterbooks ow.ly/Hurq50Lt8w8

Visually brainstorming ways to make my character uncomfortable.

Hmmm. Liking how the story unfolds in version one, but love the voice of version two. The trick is to not lose either between pgs 5 and 32.

I'm not messy. I engage in creative chaos.

...and sometimes we play.

Just try stuff and play...sometimes it takes you places & sometimes it's just fun.

I find great pleasure in people watching & getting the attitude & personality down on paper. Best if not overthought or overworked.

A summer watercolor from the archives.

Reimagined one picture book idea today and brutally edited the rhyme of a different text. Now to pencil the illustrations I'm imagining.

I wonder how many different kinds of dragons we can imagine...

To work out an idea is to wrestle with scraps of imagination, intuition, play, sweat and heart.

Venturing into the unknown is risky. Staying in the harbor is deadly.

Though the bassist is riveted on the conductor, his fingers dance double quick time.