Illustration Friday - "Worry"

These top four sketches are from my sketchbook this week. I'd like to add a "Sketches" section to my website portfolio. Which ones do you think I should use? I have lots more sketches to choose from too; these were just the ones that I felt went with the Illustration Friday topic, "Worry."

I sketched these two, cute brothers in the subway station in New York. The smaller one kept trying to pull his older brother away from the yellow line that he's not supposed to touch while waiting for the subway. He was sooo worried that his brother would fall in. I think I captured the older brother's attitude pretty well here.

Illustration Friday - "Wide"

A wide chasm to leap across!

I created this piece this morning for my chapter book/middle grade novel portfolio. I'd like to make this into a cover illustration sample by adding a made-up title. Any good ideas for a title?

Illustration Friday - "Electricity"

"The front of the black rock glowed as Bryce picked it up. Odd."

This is another sample illustration with a made-up caption for my chapter book/middle grade portfolio. It goes with the b&w illustrations a few posts ago. I'd love to illustrate some adventure books for trade publishers.

I just finished reading Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson. That would have been a fun book to illustrate (hint: Scholastic, if you'd like b&w illustrations in the next printing, please hire me).

Orphan Works Bill

Have you heard about the Orphan Works Bill that has been proposed? It could devastate artists' careers by allowing anyone to use our artwork and claim that they can't find the copyright holder of that piece of art. Our paintings or photographs can easily be labeled "orphan" and are then open to anyone to use. If we find someone using our work, we need to take them to court, prove that we own the copyright to the image, and then we'll only be compensated a "reasonable" amount for use of that piece of artwork because the infringer did nothing wrong if they claim they couldn't find the copyright owner. It puts the burden on the artist instead of on the infringer. The infringer will have no reason to try to find a copyright holder. It's just wrong.

Illustrators Partnership has set up a website where you can email your Senators and Representatives about this bill with just one click: http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home

If you're a visual artist, please become educated on this issue and take action.