Here’s a new illustration I just finished last night. It makes me nostalgic for India. I imagine this is somewhere in Rajasthan, maybe Pushkar or Jodhpur (hence the blue buildings!) I just love how full of color and life India is. Where else would you find a bus that was so elaborately decorated? It’s a pretty incredible place!

Last weekend I packed my bags and hopped on a plane to Carlsbad, California for a gathering of fellow illustrators. It was an incredibly inspiring weekend with some amazing artists, and from looking at old sketches and learning new techniques to demonstrating our processes and talking about the pros and cons of an agent, we covered the gamut of illustration topics. I think we spent the majority of the time either lounging by the fireplace with various beverages and snacks or hanging out on the beach (It’s a hard life, I know.) But in addition to illustration, another main theme of the weekend was food. Delicious food. There seemed to always be something cooking in the kitchen, whether it be popovers, pumpkin pie, perfectly seared steak, German pancakes, delicious salads, or something that I have decided can only be called the “heavenly fluffy Italian cheesy dish.”

To commemorate all the deliciousness that happened last weekend, I present to you with no further ado, the enthusiastic chef:

Hi there! I’ve been a negligent blogger lately, but in my absence I did manage to pull together a show of originals, prints, and books, which opened on Sunday. It will be up all November! And without further ado, some pictures:

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I’ll have to admit, I was pretty excited when I opened the package from Shen’s containing 20 copies of the book. It’s been the better part of a year since the project began, and the final product is the culmination of many hours of thinking, researching, doodling, sketching, and of course painting. I spent most of my work day today just showing it off to co-workers, which was probably not the best use of my employer’s time, but hey, how often do you publish a book? I nestled it in with my other books on my bookshelf. I took photos of it. I put it on my desk. I read it about sixteen times. Good thing it’s only 32 pages.

But how exciting is this really? After all, I have technically been on my own bookshelf nearly two decades, if we are to count the great and magnificent “Skeleton Dog,” which I penned (and penciled) in 1992.

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This is page 31 from the upcoming book, Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth (to be released in May.) I thought it was appropriate for this week’s Illustration Friday theme of “Journey.” Read more about the book at www.shens.com! Here’s an excerpt from the publisher’s website:

“Ji-su’s mother has been chosen by the Korean king to be a seamstress at the palace and sew bojagi, or wrapping cloths, for the royal household. It is a great honor, but to Ji-su it means saying good-bye to her mother. The only way for them to be reunited, Ji-su realizes, is for her to become a seamstress just as talented and be chosen to serve the king.

Through the changing seasons, Ji-su sews, learning the craft from her great-aunt and practicing her stitches tirelessly. One day, she finally has the chance to show her work to the palace Sanguiwon master, who has the power to bring her to her mother or to dash her hopes of being reunited. Is her sewing fine enough for the king?

Joan Schoettler’s warm text brings the landscape and culture ancient Korea and to life. Together with illustrator Jessica Lanan’s breathtaking depictions of Korea through the seasons, Ji-su’s story of longing and determination will capture the hearts of readers of all ages.”

The book is also available for pre-order on Amazon. (Click here!)