FAREWELL, TROWBRIDGE?

I thought I would let you all know that it appears that The Trowbridge Chronicles will be frozen in time on Saturday. As many of you know, there has been announcements of FTP changes that will be take place on Saturday, May 1. That's just two days away.

All those involved have been informed that they should make the necessary changes before then. Since I'm still a relative neophyte when it comes to computer technology, I'm not up to speed on what I would need to do to make the change over.

It's my understanding that my Trowbridge blog won't disappear. I just won't be able to make any new posts on the blog after May 1. So that's why I say that it will be frozen in time, at least for the time being.

If anyone has any brilliant ideas on what I might do about the situation, I'm wide open for suggestions.

Auntie Mabel Coming to a store near You

Hello Everyone,
Just wanted to share some great news. I just finished a book
that I wrote called, "Don't Let Auntie Mabel Bless the Table"
I thought that it would be out around Thanksgiving this year, but
I found out that it is going to be released on my Husbands
birthday! July 28,2010. We are so excited! This was in the makings for
well over 15 years. I thought that my mom would be around to
see all of this, but sadly is gone, but never forgotten.
This has been a real journey for me as I tried to back
out of doing it. Every story about putting a children' book
together isn't a pretty or happy one. This one wasn't!! Lots
of days of wanting to just walk away from the project and
scrapping the whole thing. I worked with my agent on the
book who talked me out of jumping off the roof many
times while working on it. Blue Apple Books and Chronicle Books
are the magnificent publishers of the book. Watch for it
July 28th 2010.
Thanks

Something Nice Happened

I have the pleasure and honor of being featured in the "Spotlight" on the Hire An Illustrator portfolio website.  Since joining HAI I have found the site to be most supportive of the artists and illustrators that it represents.  Take a peek if you have time and visit the other fine illustrators that are on the site. Joining is easy and there are fee options that are inviting.

Daisy Chain

My 25th

Today I celebrate my silver anniversary of freelancing. On April 9, 1985 I began working full-time as a freelancer with little more than a drawing table, a sketch pad, some paint, a couple of brushes, pens and pencils, and a few sheets of illustration board. Freelance life wasn't as complicated back then -- no computer, no cell phone, less competition. My first real assignment was cover art for The Pennywhistle Press, a children's Sunday newspaper supplement published by the Gannett Company.

It hasn't been easy and I haven't made a whole lot of money, but I've sure had a lot of fun creating stuff over the years. And I'm very grateful for my wonderful wife and daughter and all the friends who have been so supportive over the years. So here's to twenty-five more years (I'll need at least that many before I can afford to retire!)

Back in 1985...

* All art samples were sent by "snail" mail. At 22 cents, first-class stamps were a bargain.
* There were no color copiers so you had to send original art, slides or photographs as samples.
* At about $10,000, a "graphics" computer was out of the question for a starving artist.
* Fax machines and mobile phones existed, but were also prohibitively expensive.
* I often worked in black and white for many assignments because color was too expensive to print for many companies. And when color was indicated, it was often just spot color and had to be separated by hand using Rubylith.

Visit my website to see some of the artwork I've created over the years.

Simple isn't so simple.

Been working on a series of very simple cartoons. The plan-- crank out a bunch each day for an upcoming venture. Problem, sometimes drawing simple isn't so simple for me. I'd much rather add lots of detail then have my line work do the talking for me. Anyone else have this problem?

Character Study ~ Meet Orin

In a dimly lighted room,     In a scruffy beat up chair,

Orin sat amongst the memories…. and wished that she was there.

This is a character that I've been working on. He comes complete with his own poem!

stay tuned…..

Many Hoppy Returns ~

Pen, ink, watercolor

Happy Easter

Happy Easter Picture Bookies!

Drum City Coming to a City Near You!

Hello Picture- Bookies!!
I just wanted to tell everyone about the surprise I got in the mail yesterday.
Over a year ago I got to work on a wonderful book written by Thea Guildone.
It's was her very first book called "Drum City."
Tricycle Press sent me a copy and I was so happy with how it came out. I had such fun with this
book. I got to do pretty much what I wanted to do which is very rare in picture books.
What happens when a boy is over heard playing his homemade drum in his back yard? A bunch of
kids get inspired and want to join in!!! The whole city becomes a drum of sorts. I got to do collage
in this book which is my favorite. The book has a retro feel and has so many fabulous characters
in it. I come from a very multicultural back ground so it shows up in my illustrations.
The book is due in stores in June 2010.
Have a great weekend everyone!