Blog

Book Break - Rest & Renewal

4/27/2020

Hi there!

I will be taking a needed extended break so I can come back to the book refreshed and passionate! The last five years have been very busy with the Wonderful World Collection and the Wonderful World Book. Plus lots of life events taking place.

I need to get back into balance and give myself some rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. My plan is in May I will be back on the book full time.

I will continue to update the home page with uplifting videos and poems during this pandemic. Take care and God's blessings!

Book - Page spread step-by-step

3/12/2020

Here is a step-by-step for how each page spread is done and an image sample.

Book - Chapter 4 - Title Page

2/3/2020

Finally finished this! Wow, they sure take a while but fun to do! Next up is Frogs & Toads.

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE STEP-BY-STEP:

Type out chapter title.
Make it white with a drop shadow.
Outline text and then set a scribble effect. Place behind text.
Type out chapter number, place underneath title.
Find 52-58 silhouette images.
Import them into Adobe Illustrator.
Arrange them on page; small, medium & large.
Make some images compound paths, such as the sea jelly. (Any images with shapes within their body.)
Fill with scribble effect.
Make all images a compound path and fill with color!
Go through all images and tweak feet, flippers, fins. Anything that is smushed together needs to be fixed.
Use same background for all chapter titles. (a 5 step process).

Book Questions and Answers

1/26/2016

Hi there. Thought I would gather all the Q & A together in one spot. So here ya go!

Book Mascot

1/11/2016

Here's Sophie with an updated look. I had to show the amazing geometric design of the seahorse! Romans 1:20.

This is Sophie, the mascot that I'll use throughout the book. Still a work-in-progress so the look may change! I'll have different viewpoints also so it's not the same one on each page. Once the book is finished, I'll figure out the final mascot image and place her throughout the pages.

Bit O Book 2

6/5/2015

Rough (ROUGH) Page Sample for Book

3/16/2015

This is truly a rough idea page sample. I am working! I'm in discussion with another printer who may be able to give me a better price...and then I have to pick a printer!

I'll be self-publishing so I need to eventually purchase an ISBN # and do all the copyright stuff.
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UPDATE: I found a new printer who is less than 1/2 the cost of the original printer I was going to use...Praise God! I'll be using Bethany Press to print the book and I will do short runs of 250 books each time as I have to pre-pay each time. The cost is $4000 which includes purchasing the ISBN# and Copyright. My long-term goal is to publish this book into as many languages as possible.

If you feel led in helping with the images, so this book can be published sooner and if you are proficient in Photoshop CS5 and Illustrator CS5 please do email me. Unfortunately, as this is pretty much a not-for-profit book, I could not pay you at this time. Perhaps in the future?

Book Update

2/3/2015

Hi there. I spent the last several weeks working on 16 different styles on 3 sample images. I then showed the images to 2 different groups (one for adults and one for kids), and this is the final tally for the sample images. I'll now get a sample page ready for the Printer to make sure everything's working okay. I'll then continue working on the book. All of these images are done in Photoshop with numerous steps to achieve the final image. As always, if you have any questions, please email me.

Working on the book and painting...

1/25/2015

I thought I better update for those who are following my blog for updates on the book. Preparation is important before the actual book.

I have been working hard on coming up with a final 'illustration look' for the book images. I've narrowed it down to 4 choices and I'm showing the choices to 2 different focus groups. Then I need to pick a final image idea and apply that to all the images in the book (around 2000+). I will post a page once I've finalized it.

I did update the book cover. It may not be the final look but please drop me a line and let me know what you do or don't like about it. I would love to partner with each and everyone of you which will only help make this book better!

"What a Wonderful World" Book

11/13/2014

Select image to enlarge

•••THE NAME WAS CHANGED TO "WONDERFUL WORLD"***
Updates on the book "What a Wonderful World" and the "Peaceable Kingdom" painting will be coming around the 1st of the year.

“What a Wonderful World” will be an Illustrated, Non-Fiction book.
This book will reveal a small part of our diverse and intricate world through pictures and facts.

Guesstimated Plan: 200+ pages. 2,000+ illustrations.
Estimated Completion: 3 years
Printing Cost: Lots of $$. I will be printing 250 books at a time. Sales of prints and artwork go toward printing cost.

• Incredible ant physics.
• Why is the protein, fiber, carbs, vitamins and minerals needed for our bodies perfectly packaged among the following? Beans, Fruits & Veggies, Meats & Dairy, Nuts, Grains & Seeds,Herbs & Spices
• How can our eyes distinguish 7,000,000 colors?
• How does the hummingbird hover, fly forward, backwards, sideways and upside-down?
• What do all the 100,000,000,000,000 cells in our body do?
• Why do many things in nature and our universe have a mathematical pattern? ...and much, much more!

Book Sample Image

10/13/2014

This is a sample of a small part of what will be in the book, "What a Wonderful World". I hope to start in earnest in January! Still busy making prints from the Wonderful World Collection that was at St. Cloud Hospital in September 2014. I also am organizing my studio, office and doing inventory on my artwork. Please come back and visit. Sign up to the right to follow these blogs which will have the book updates and my next painting, "Peaceable Kingdom". Thanks!