elizabeth sayles illustration

Clever Maids & Grimm Brothers

2012-01-18T10:59:00.010-05:00

I just finished reading Clever Maids, The Secret History of the Grimm Fairy Tales," by Valerie Paradiz. It is the story of the iconic brothers who lived during the 18th C, a chaotic time filled with uprisings and revolutions. Germany was occupied by Napoleon, and war was constant. It was also a terrible time for women who had absolutely no rights and could own nothing. So when Father Grimm dies, according to the law, Mother Grimm loses everything. The Grimm family tumbles into poverty and Jacob is packed off to law school to make something of himself and save the family. Instead he discovers literature and resolves to uncover the folk/fairy tale legacy of his war-ravaged homeland.

Everywhere they go, Jacob and Wilhelm search for tales, and they gather most of them from women they meet along the way, although none of these women are credited in the final collection. They also befriend other soon-to-be famous authors, like Goethe, who is also interested in folk tales and eventually writes "Faust" incorporating the same theme as most of the fairy tales: women should be submissive, passive, pure or else very bad things will happen if they stray from the righteous path.

Before reading this I had only the Terry Gilliam film about the Brothers Grimm to go on, which is a lot of fun, but has nothing to do with reality since Jacob & Wilhelm did not make the stories up, they only copied them down.

Grimm's Fairy Tales, illustrated by Arthur Rackham
Grimm Fairy Tales

In With the Old

2011-12-28T08:53:00.008-05:00

This is a new piece for a book series I'm working on. This picture, called "In the Stranger's Palace," takes place in Persia in the 11th Century. It needs a bit more work, but I'm on a short deadline with another book, so I have to put it away for now. Thought I would post it anyway.

I've been reading a few interesting non-fiction books lately. One is "The History of the World in 100 Objects." It's written incredibly well by the head of the British Museum, who (as the title suggests) tells the history of civilization with 100 carefully chosen objects. One of the objects, a tiny gold cart with tiny gold horses and riders, let's us see how sophisticated Persia was 2500 years ago. In so many ways, we humans have not changed much, only our technology makes us think we have.

Happy New Year! Let's hope it's a good one.

Merry Wishes to all

2011-12-22T09:53:00.001-05:00

The merriest and brightest wishes to all for a wonder-filled holiday and New Year!

The Way We Were

2011-11-22T22:14:00.010-05:00

I've just been reading some books by the painter, Eric Sloane. He was even better with pen and ink. He illustrated and wrote a series of books about life in the 18th and19th C. that are full of beautiful diagrams of tools, machinery and trees. In "A Reverence for Wood" he explains the proper way to dismantle a barn... (don't just knock it down with a tractor !) He also writes about how back in the day, people knew how to get along with the environment so much better than we do now (even though we think we are so smart). They are great little books:
Once Upon a Time: The Way America Was
A Reverence for Wood
A Celebration of Bells
I just unearthed this painting I did a while ago, which also takes place in late early 1900s (and it involved a barn.) I like the way the colors came out.

Artists of Deception

2011-11-21T11:00:00.006-05:00

This book I designed and co-authored. It's based upon the exhibit I co-curated with Rick Beyer, who has been researching this unique WWII outfit for his documentary film, called "The Ghost Army." It will be released next year. My father was in this outfit, along with many other artists, including Bill Blass and Ellsworth Kelly. Three cartoonists: Victor Dowd, Bob Boyajian and Roy Harford, who worked worked on Captain Marvel and many other comics before and after the war, were also in this outfit.

"We were sleeping in hedgerows and foxholes, but nothing kept us from going someplace to do a watercolor" John Jarvie, 603rd

They were all sent to Europe armed with rubber tanks, phony artillery, and sound effects in order to deceive the enemy. They also brought along their sketchbooks and painted their way across Europe. This 48 page paperback, printed by Sotheby's, is jam packed with photos, drawings and stories of their unique adventure. For more info about the Ghost Army visit Ghostarmy.org. To see more pages and to order this book visit Amazon.

The Halloween Tree

2011-10-24T11:32:00.017-04:00

Sly does it, Tiptoe catspaws. Slide and creep.

But why? What for? How? Who? When!
Where did it all begin?
'You don't know, do you?'
asks Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud
climbing out under a pile of leaves under
the Halloween Tree.

'You don't REALLY know!'
The stars they turn, the candles burn
And the mouse-leaves scurry on the
cold wind borne,
And a mob of smiles shine down on thee
From the gourds hung high on the Halloween Tree.

The smile of the Witch, and the smile of the Cat,
The smile of the Beast, the smile of the Bat,
The smile of the Reaper taking his fee,
All cut and glimmer on the Halloween Tree...

2011-10-03T17:38:00.001-04:00

In the Attic of the Museum

2011-10-03T13:08:00.012-04:00

Some of my earliest memories of jaw-dropping murals and paintings of the natural world are of visiting the dioramas at the Museum of Natural History in NYC. I always wanted to paint murals like that, although I never pursued it.

The Museum is currently refurbishing their Hall of Mammals, including all those beautiful dioramas that have inspired and enchanted so many of us. Last week we had a behind-the-scenes tour of the Mammal Department including the dioramas they are working on. With the glass removed, the animals seemed ready to pounce. The animals were getting their fur touched up, ears adjusted, noses re-glazed, and the plants were being being repainted in spots. We also went to the research offices and storage rooms where hallways are lined with skeletons of every kind of mammal on earth, from a tiny leaping fairy-size mammal (that I forgot the name of) to giant skulls of elephants that lined an attic room. I never realized how many species of animals there are. I also never realized how many artists work at the Museum. Next time I'm bringing my sketchbook.

Above is a book jacket I just finished, and at left is a luscious new book about the making of the ANMH dioramas, called Windows on Nature: The Great Habitat Dioramas of the American Museum of Natural Historyby Stephen Quinn, Senior Exhibition designer at AMNH. It's on my wish list!

Next in the Series

2011-09-13T13:52:00.009-04:00

My newest book has just been published: The Very Little Princess: Rose's Story (Random House). It is the second in the series about an uppity doll and the befuddled girl who befriends her. It's a wonderful story written by Newbery Honor author, Marion Dane Bauer.

For the Clouds

2011-09-11T11:50:00.002-04:00

5pm and I was stuck on the Palisades Parkway heading south in an attempt to pick up my husband who had walked and hitchhiked from midtown Manhattan to someplace in NJ. The two lane parkway had swelled to 4 lanes; 3 for traffic because the police had shut it down just ahead of me, and the 4th– the left shoulder– was for a steady stream of emergency vehicles. A fighter jet screamed overhead and "Hallelujah" came on the radio. I watched puffs of clouds float up the river on that cloudless day. They floated by and disappeared. All they were now–all those lives–just clouds. That morning, before the phone rang, I had started the final paintings for a book I was working on. A week or two later, when I went back to it, I could never get the girl to smile. She looks like she's crying through half the book. I guess I was.

"Go to war, bring back art"

2011-08-22T10:18:00.008-04:00

Did you know that the Army has an art curator, an artist-in-residence, and a stellar collection of over 12,000 paintings and drawings? Yup, it does.

Recently the curator of the Army Art Collection, Sarah Forgey, spoke at the Ghost Army Exhibit, in New City, NY about the Army's collection which includes works dating back to the Revolutionary War. Many are in the Smithsonian, and the rest are awaiting a permanent museum which is scheduled to open in 2015 in Fort Belvoir, VA. Some of the finest pieces are from WWI & WWII when the army actually commissioned artist/soldiers to go into battle armed with art supplies. Each painting is a personal insight into war and life as a soldier, but also is representative of the era in which it was created.

Currently the Army has one artist-in-residence, who also spoke at the Ghost Army Exhibit: MSg. Martin Cervantez, a self trained artist and member of the US Army for 25 years. He showed paintings of his tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. He thinks its quite exciting to be sketching in the midst of a gun battle.

Ms. Forgey said that the only art direction the Army ever gave to the artists (including one female soldier in Afghanistan who used tents in lieu of canvas) was "Go to war, bring back art." Huh, maybe that is the answer.

Here is a link to the artwork, some of which were printed in Life and Fortune magazines - army artists

This painting is called "Two Thousand Yard Stare" by Tom Lea

The Ghost Army Exhibit, curated by yours truly, will be on view through October 16, 2011. More info on the Ghost Army, a unique camouflage unit in WWII which included many artists, can be found at http://www.ghostarmy.org

Illustrator Victor Juhasz in Afghanistan.

Back to School time

2011-08-20T21:05:00.005-04:00

Spend Thursday evenings getting inspired. Polish up your portfolio, begin some new projects or finally work on that children's book that's in your sock drawer. This class is designed to help you achieve your personal goals. Color theory, composition, concept and technique are discussed, along with contracts, copyrights, and all aspects of the business of Illustration, as well as where to find clients in a difficult economy.
Illustration Portfolio
School of Visual Arts, NYC
Thursdays 6:30 - 9:30pm | 12 weeks beginning Sept 22 '11
Register for this class.

I will be speaking at the Illustration & Cartooning AND at the Professional Development Info Sessions @ SVA on Sept 6

More classes are here...

Falling for Hokusai

2011-07-18T08:00:00.002-04:00

I've been working on some new stuff, playing around with different media. I've been inspired by a couple of classes, mainly a watercolor class I'm teaching this summer at SUNY/Rockland, which prompted me to throw out my old beaten up brushes and buy some new ones. Here is an illustration for a book series I'm working on, a quick sketch with watercolor with some Photoshop layers for the background.

And I just got a great little book, called Hokusai, First Manga Master which is about the famed Japanese ukiyo-e master artist of the late 18th C. It features about 60 pages from the 15 volume Hokusai Manga in which the prolific and influential artist literally illustrated an encyclopedia of images initially for his students. They were eventually used by many others, including Degas and Monet.

Who's Afraid Of Ethanol?

2011-05-29T14:46:00.007-04:00

This headline on NPR website, and the accompanying photo, reminded me of an illustration I did a while ago. So here it is. And for the record, if I were a presidential candidate (which I'm not) I would not be in favor of corn subsidies. (nothing against corn, or anything...)

Summer School

2011-05-04T22:00:00.008-04:00

Illustration Portfolio
School of Visual Arts, NYC
Wednesdays 6:00 - 9:30pm | 10 weeks beginning June 8 '11

Spend Wednesday evenings this summer polishing your portfolio, beginnning new projects, working on that children's book idea and being inspired by your fellow students. This class is designed to support you and what your personal goals are. Color theory, composition, concept and technique are discussed, along with contracts, copyrights, and all aspects of the business of Illustration, as well as where to find clients in a difficult economy. Assignments vary each semester. Register for this class.

More classes are here...

Student Work:

"Heave" © 2011 Andi Jones
This piece by Andi Jones was created in the Spring '11 semester for a project called - Build Your Wings on the Way Down...

I wish...

2011-03-30T11:10:00.000-04:00

I have been reading Wishes, Lies and Dreams: Teaching Children to Write Poetry by Kenneth Koch. It's a book full of poems written in the 1960s by students of PS 61 in NYC. In each poem the wishes fluctuate between funny and profound, fantasy and yearning... .. " I wish I were a key... I wish the boys were pigs..." "I wish my little sister would find her nightgown..." "I wish the street was ice cream" ... "I wish my bedroom would stop shrieking.."
Here is mine (yes, be careful what you wish for...)
I wish books will never disappear.
I wish I had more time to read them.
I wish time wouldn't slip away like a lizard.

And here are a few of the books piled up next to my bed right now:
Magic in the Mirrorstone
The Very Best of Charles De Lint
Irish Fairy & Folk Tales by WB Yeats
Rose, Where Did You get that Red?
Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom
Drawing Words and Writing Pictures
The Great Oom: The Improbable Birth of Yoga in America

Re-Imagining Hopper & the Ghost Army

2011-03-28T11:12:00.004-04:00

I have always been influenced by the paintings of Edward Hopper. His sense of light & shadow and his colors. Many times when I am stuck for an idea, a look through a book of his work unsticks me. I grew up in his home town and I'm now a trustee and member of the Gallery Selection Committee of the Edward Hopper House in Nyack, NY.

I am thrilled that 3 of my former students at SVA – Rich Tu, Katherine Ramos and Andrea Kantrowitz – will be displaying paintings inspired by Hopper's paintings in our upcoming exhibit, entitled "Hopper Re-Imagined." Other artists in this invitational exhibit are Karen Finley, Vic Muniz, Glynis Sweeney and many others. April 2 - May 8, opening reception April 3, 3 - 5 pm.

And stay tuned for more info on an exhibit I am curating about the Ghost Army, a brigade of artists and actors who, during WWII used ingenuity, art and deception to trick the enemy, while painting their way across Europe. The Ghost Army Exhibit will be at the Historical Society of Rockland County May 1 - Oct. 16, opening reception May 1, 2 - 4 pm.

Of Kings & Eggs

2011-03-01T11:05:00.003-05:00

I'm reading a book written in the 10th Century by a Persian poet. It's an epic poem about the history of Persia. It begins, as they all do, at the beginning when everything is fine and good until one day the King of Evil shows up and messes everything up. He makes people greedy and mean, etc. Eventually the King of Evil tricks a gullible king into eating an egg, (prior to this people ate only plants and roots.) The gullible king is ecstatic and the next day the King of Evil (disguised as a lowly cook) roasts a chicken... then prepares lamb... then veal... Out of gratitude the gullible king grants a wish of the King of Evil, which is to kiss his shoulders. After he does, black serpents sprout from the gullible king's shoulders, and remain part of him for the rest of his life...

sneak peek

2011-02-16T13:14:00.001-05:00

Here is a peek at one of the illustrations for a book I just finished. It is the sequel to
"The Very Little Princess" (actually its the prequel, but you will have to drag any other
information out of me.) It should be published next spring!

Egypt at last

2011-02-11T15:49:00.003-05:00

It's exciting to be witness to a velvet revolution.
Godspeed to the Egyptian people, descendants of a very rich cultural past.

Bee Stings & Honey

2011-01-30T12:56:00.010-05:00

In the immortal words of late great Joe Strummer,

"If you're after getting the honey -
Then you don't go killing all the bees..."
from "Johnny Appleseed"

News stories about declining bee populations and the future promise of a bee sting serum have got me thinking about getting a bee hive (after the snow melts, of course.) Bees are very organized and single-minded, not at all freewheeling and flittery like butterflies. And after all, they do make honey. Butterflies...well, they just tell stories.

Snow Day

2011-01-05T10:28:00.003-05:00

This is the jacket illustration for the YA book, Running the Dogs, which is about a rare snow storm in the South. Most of the books I've illustrated about winter I've worked on in the summer, which can be disorienting at times. For my book Millions of Snowflakes, I dressed my little model in a snowsuit on a 90 degree day and blew bubbles so she would look up. She was so happy! Now I am working on a spring book... snow is on the way.

The Magic Ring

2010-12-13T11:48:00.005-05:00

It's always exciting to see the Big Apple Circus tent poking above the walls of Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center. Such a funny juxtaposition. A few years ago we were invited backstage at Cirque du Soliel. The performers were stretching and walking around, dodging racks of costumes and props. Everything looked different without the magic of the lights and the ring. Why is it that the simple act of dimming the lights, or pulling open a curtain changes the ordinary into the magical and allows for the suspension of disbelief?

Some of my favorite books are collections of circus posters. The artwork is really amazing. Here is one that I look at every so often: American Circus Posters. And this one is on my wish list Magic 1400s to 1950s.

This is a great doc on PBS: Circus

No assembly required

2010-11-22T10:03:00.006-05:00

Well, it's that time of year, folks... Here are some non-electronic gift ideas, no assembly required, completely wireless, no instructions and no costly contracts. Remember to order soon so the elves have enough time.

Many of the pieces from my books and on this site are available as archival prints, 8.5 x 11, 11x 17 or 13 x 19, framed or unframed. Check out my Prints page. Contact me for details, or for special requests. Also, visit my CafePress store for Tees & more. Oh.. and you can't go wrong with books.... !

Trapeze

2010-11-08T07:28:00.004-05:00

This new painting is the first part of a series of pieces for a project about the circus. This one was inspired by a sculpture currently on display at the Rockland Center for the Arts.

Trick or Treat?

2010-10-29T16:37:00.003-04:00

Moon Child is Launched

2010-10-13T07:58:00.017-04:00

Last fall when Otter, Raccoon and Owl first appeared in my studio, Raccoon immediately began chewing on my pastels while Otter (who was a bit soggy) lumbered about, dragging some slimy kelp. Owl, for her part, settled onto a stack of old sketches and soon fell asleep. Obviously I had to put them in a book, and the result, Moon Child, was officially published yesterday. It already has a great review in Kirkus and is featured in Parenting Magazine. Moon Child is written by Nadia Krilanovich & published by Tricycle Press|Random House.

"... Sayles’s pastel-and-acrylic illustrations beautifully capture the sense of wonder the young animals have for the luminous full moon. Her night is a place of magic where water holds stars and anything is possible. " (Picture book. 2-6) --Kirkus Review
Order from Amazon

Another Little Princess

2010-10-04T13:11:00.007-04:00

Here is a detail of the jacket for the next "The Very Little Princess" book featuring the further adventures of Regina, a doll who, under the right set of circumstances, comes to life. (Written by Marion Dane Bauer & published by Random House.) I just finished all the sketches for the interior pages. There is a little more action in this one and some new characters, all of which have been so much fun to draw. Finished art due in January!

First Review

2010-09-07T20:37:00.012-04:00

MOON CHILD
By Nadia Krilanovich; Illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles
Tricycle Press | Random House
"This charming bedtime lullaby gives readers a new way of looking at the moon as they follow a raccoon, an owl and an otter in their nighttime rambles ... Sayles’s pastel-and-acrylic illustrations beautifully capture the sense of wonder the young animals have for the luminous full moon. Her night is a place of magic where water holds stars and anything is possible. Krilanovich’s striking debut will have youngsters peering out the window to see if the moon is in fact watching over them...and very likely reaching out to give it a hug." (Picture book. 2-6)
--Kirkus Review
September 15, 2010
Pre-order Moon Child

Sprout wings and fly

2010-08-06T19:03:00.007-04:00

This is one of the classes I am teaching this fall:
ILLUSTRATION PORTFOLIO
School of Visual Arts, NYC
Sept 22 - Dec 15, 2010
Wednesdays 6:30-9:30 pm
Dust off your portfolio and spruce it up. Stretch out and try something new. Or work on that children's book you've been dreaming of. This class is centered around each individual student's needs. Assignments vary each semester. Also covered are all aspects of the business of illustration, from copyrights & contracts to self promotion & marketing. For more info & to register Click Here

Back from Pasadena

2010-07-19T22:48:00.004-04:00

Just returned from attending ICON 6: The Illustration Conference.
It will take a while to process everything that was thrown at us in 4 days of workshops, roundtable discussions and presentations. Many of the talks and discussions were filmed by Escape from Illustration Island and will be posted on their site, which is a good thing because every now and then I snuck outside to clear my head in the California sunshine.

Music in the Night Garden

2010-07-07T14:17:00.000-04:00

New CD art.

The Secret of the Tomb

2010-06-15T07:30:00.005-04:00

The final art, finally. It's for a mystery that takes place in Egypt. I'm in awe of the beautiful and whimsical carvings, friezes and paintings of ancient Egypt, some over 4000 years old, that I discovered while researching this project.
Interesting Reads: The Secrets of Tomb 10A , Cleopatra, A Life, Egyptology

Isis and the Dove

2010-06-10T21:06:00.009-04:00

This is a detail from a larger piece I am working on. It's nearly done and I'll post the entire piece then. It's for a mystery that takes place in Egypt. I'm in awe of the beautiful and whimsical carvings, friezes and paintings of ancient Egypt, some over 4000 years old, that I discovered while researching this project.

Sneak preview

2010-05-24T11:00:00.004-04:00

I donated a version of this piece to the Association of Booksellers for Children's "Not a dinner and (Mostly) Silent Auction." I will be dusting myself off and getting dressed up to attend the party Tuesday night. This is a spread from "Moon Child" being published by Tricycle Press this fall.

Back from Michigan

2010-04-26T07:35:00.002-04:00

Got home last night after a whirlwind trip to Ann Arbor where I did a Picturebook Workshop for a full house at the Ann Arbor District Library and viewed the Ghost Army Exhibit at the Univ. of Mich. Along the way I met a whole lot of great people and was introduced to a wonderful little corner of the world. Special thanks to Ieva Bates, the Extraordinary Youth Services Librarian at Ann Arbor Library, and everyone else at the library who made it happen, including Nicola of Nicola's Books. Hugs to the Magical Mary Spence who connected the dots and pulled all the strings! It was also so nice to meet Karen Jordan, the Wizard behind the Hatcher Library's exhibits and Ruta from Border's. It was a fun outing, and it is SO very nice to be home!

The Little Explorer

2010-04-19T16:21:00.002-04:00

I have been interested in time, lately, as an intangible thing. Maybe because it slips away so quickly (except in waiting rooms...) I just sent this off to a client, so thought I would post it here as well.

Animation and me...

2010-04-08T09:29:00.012-04:00

The infamous John Culhane, chronicler of Studio Disney and author of Fantasia 2000: Visions of Hope, among others, has asked me to teach his class "The History of Animation" at Mercy College while he recovers from an operation. Luckily all the little creatures are still running around in his head, but the class will be challenging for me. Last night I watched Willie the Whale and a few Daffy Ducks to get up to speed. Its very exciting that an animator just won the Pulitzer Prize: http://www.markfiore.com/pulitzer/

2010-04-02T14:05:00.012-04:00

Just received a gold certificate in the mail and the news that The Very Little Princess has been named "A Junior Library Guild Selection." Meanwhile, I am preparing for a trip to Michigan to sign books and give a picturebook workshop at the Ann Arbor district library. Will have to squish all my stuff into one carry-on and one checked bag. I am looking forward to seeing the Ghost Army Exhibit at University of Michigan's Hatcher Library, and to meeting everyone who I've been corresponding with in Ann Arbor.

Art All Over

2010-03-27T10:27:00.012-04:00

Maurice Sendak's "Wild Things" ambushed me as I turned a corner at last night's opening of the Neo-Integrity exhibit at MoCCA. What a great show! I am so happy to be a part of it. Floor-to-ceiling art. Gems tucked into corners and wrapped around columns, animations playing continuously and wine... who could ask for more. Original ink drawings from "Peanuts" complete with zip-a-tone. Jules Feiffer's cartoons for the Village Voice... This show requires a few visits, preferably without a lot of other people standing around chatting... ha! Keep an eye out for the catalog – can't miss it at about 4 inches thick. Kudos to Keith, Grace and the volunteers and staff at MoCCA.

The Goat-man

2010-03-20T12:47:00.001-04:00

Neo-Integrity: Comics Edition

March 12 – May 30

This piece is the fourth piece from the fairy-tale Gold on view now at the Museum of Comic & Cartoon Art (MOCCA), along with the work of many others illustrators & cartoonists. "It is a super-salon show... a "King Solomon's Mines" ... a spectacular experience for all. A floor-to-ceiling, frame-to-frame salon-style show! Imagine the salons of the 1800's, and you'll get the idea." Some of the artists are... Maurice Sendak, Peter Arno, Isabella Bannerman, Julie Doucet, Jules Feiffer, Tomer + Asaf Hanuka... and me! Curated by Keith Mayerson

MoCCA

594 Broadway, Suite 401, New York, NY 10012

Full Moon Rising

2010-03-03T08:46:00.006-05:00

It has been a week of blizzards and ice storms here, but the clouds finally cleared away Monday night and revealed a beautiful full moon. How appropriate on that night a "Moon Child" should arrive on my doorstep! The final proofs look great. Here is an uncorrected version of the jacket. The book comes out this fall from Tricycle Press / Random House.

2010-02-14T10:44:00.002-05:00

The Lady of Shallott, a love story with strings.

Mad

2010-01-25T12:54:00.005-05:00

Reality crashes down on Zoey and she finally gets mad.

From The Very Little Princess.

Out with the old!

2010-01-01T14:38:00.002-05:00

The Kiss

2009-11-18T15:36:00.002-05:00

just a bird

2009-10-21T10:13:00.001-04:00

While working on the sketches for Jeoffry's Halloween, my editor hinted that "nothing is what it seems to be on halloween." I really liked that, and it helped me interpret the text which was very poetic and enigmatic.

Coulda, shoulda...

2009-10-09T11:37:00.007-04:00

and wish he woulda.... turned sixty-nine today.

Watching Mars

2009-10-07T10:31:00.000-04:00

Illustration for "The Night of Pomegranates"

Beyond the Milky Way

2009-10-07T00:23:00.000-04:00

From "Night of Pomegranates"

Toast

2009-10-01T08:08:00.003-04:00

An interior illustration from "The Very Little Princess," coming this spring from Random House.

Traveling on

2009-09-16T16:40:00.005-04:00

Amelia

2009-09-07T08:06:00.000-04:00

I am re-posting this image, because I have been too busy to upload anything new, and I can't show the projects I am working on yet because of client confidentiality... (although my students have seen some of them in progress.) So here is Amelia, a dreamer and adventurer.

Stories in the Stars

2009-08-12T10:36:00.001-04:00

These are two from of a series of illustrations I did for National Geographic about stories ancient people told about the constellations. Just a few stars would become dragons eating the sun, scorpions chasing Orion, bears chased by hunters or hounds chasing Lepus the rabbit. Perhaps its the city lights that keep us from seeing those stories in the night sky, or maybe its this flickering screen distracting us and muddling our imagination...

The Letter

2009-07-28T12:22:00.002-04:00

Piglet writes a letter. This was for Disney Products for a line of stationery. I did 2 paintings for them, one of Piglet and one of Pooh. They never actually used any of the art, and I'm not sure the stationery was ever produced, but it was a fun gig anyway.

2009-07-13T14:36:00.000-04:00

Wish I was there...

2009-06-30T08:10:00.001-04:00

For a short story called "Where's Father?"

The Very Little Princess

2009-06-15T10:41:00.016-04:00

This is the jacket art I recently finished for "The Very Little Princess" a chapter book about a girl named Zoey who, one morning finds out she has a grandmother named Hazel (isn’t that a witch’s name?) She also finds out that friends sometimes come in unexpected sizes, and maybe with a little attitude. I also illustrated 22 interior pictures for the book. It was fun drawing Zoey's curly out of control hair, and the princess's snooty attitude. Written by Newbery Honor-winning author, Marion Dane Bauer.
Pub date: February 23, 2010
PreOrder

Back to Brooklyn

2009-05-26T06:44:00.003-04:00

Looking forward to Friday night and the ABC gala– where? ... really? Brooklyn USA!!! Well, its nice to have an excuse to dress up & visit my old hometown.
Art from "The Very Little Princess" (Random House / Feb '10)

2009-05-08T17:56:00.003-04:00

Molly and the Prince

2009-05-03T16:02:00.005-04:00

From Molly and the Prince, a book by Mary Pope Osborne that I illustrated a while ago. Sometimes its nice to revisit the back catalog.

2009-03-26T13:35:00.006-04:00

This was for a collection of lullabies for Sony/BMG music. Art direction by Gina Bello of Bello Design.

2009-03-08T13:14:00.001-04:00

2009-01-19T20:41:00.005-05:00

For Inauguration Day!

Running the Dogs

2009-01-05T10:31:00.001-05:00

This is a book jacket I illustrated for Farrar, Straus & Giroux last year and now the book is in stores. It was written by Thomas Cochran and is a beautiful coming of age novel. It takes place in Louisiana during a rare (and inconvenient) white Christmas. The snow challenges the story's young hero to confront his morals and fears as he "...learns that even though life doesn’t always follow your plans, things still sometimes turn out in a way that makes you glad to be in this world." -FSG
Running the Dogs by Thomas Cochran (FSG 2007)

2008-12-26T15:00:00.002-05:00

Soap & Bubbles

2008-11-30T07:11:00.001-05:00

This is another piece from "The Soap & Bubble Factory" series.

for Mumbai

2008-11-29T19:12:00.013-05:00

One of my students called me from Mumbai on Thanksgiving to let me know that she and her family were alright. That they were under siege, but ok. She called again this morning to say that it was all over, that the Indian military had prevailed. She said Mumbai will gather up the fragments that remain, not all will be lost.

2008-09-30T20:26:00.006-04:00

"The Steady Investor" is the name of the cover story that I recently did for T. Rowe Price. There are 4 illustrations about how to stay the course when investing (if you have anything left to invest, that is....) It was a fun job that required delving into fairy tales for material and characters. The main character is a mash up of Red Riding Hood and Dorothy. She meets the Wolf, of course, and the Goose with the Golden Egg, a Witch, a Pig and a Bear... You can see more on my Directory of Illustration page.

2008-09-06T09:43:00.000-04:00

It seems as though it has been raining everywhere lately, including my porch, so I am posting this image from The Sleeping Porchby Karen Ackerman which I illustrated a while ago. It takes place on a hot, stormy summer night, in a big old house with a very leaky roof.

August

2008-08-06T09:59:00.005-04:00

Hasbro & Toys for Tots

2008-07-24T10:28:00.006-04:00

Pre-order the season's hot new toys from Hasbro now through August 2 and for every participating toy purchased, Hasbro will donate a toy to the Toys for Tots campaign.

ICON Roadshow

2008-07-03T18:36:00.018-04:00

Under sparkling chandeliers in the Grand Ballroom of the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan on Wednesday evening gathered a stellar group of illustrators who, in lieu of sleep, had spent the night before polishing up their portfolios and urging their printers to spin out more and more sample cards and giveaways. It was the kick off event to Illustration Conference #5--the Roadshow Salon. And the amazing thing was that, in this age of the internet, so many art buyers flew in from around the country just to meet with 100 illustrators at this 3 hour long event! I actually met - in person- clients I have been working with for years and never met before! There were also clients and friends (fellow illustrators) who I haven't seen in awhile and was able to catch up with, including my table mate, Nicole Schooley, a former SVA student of mine, who was excellent at scoring an icy bottle of Pinot Grigio with 2 glasses just in the nick of time. Thanks to everyone who made the Roadshow happen, to the art directors, editors and art buyers who took the time to come (on the eve of the July 4th weekend) and especially to Mark Heflin and the Roadshow team.

Wave jumping

2008-06-10T07:59:00.006-04:00

This is a spread from I Already Know I Love Youwhich was written by Billy Crystal. For reference I used a photo of my father and my daughter at the beach in East Hampton. I am posting this in honor of our record breaking heat wave... maybe it will cool off a bit tonight.

2008-05-23T22:32:00.002-04:00

Two images from The Goldfish Yawned. A dreamy night time journey for the pre-school and emerging reader set. "The clock tick-tocked, the nightlight hummed... On the rug a ship set sail..."
A Bank Street College Best Book. Order from Amazon

2008-05-18T23:27:00.000-04:00

This is another one from Mother's Song.Its another piece featuring water which I love to paint.

2008-03-16T09:10:00.000-04:00

American Girl

2008-02-16T10:45:00.000-05:00

Last Summer I was commissioned by American Girl to paint a snowy landscape with a frozen pond in the foreground. It is for one side of a playset (Mia's Ice Rink) for the new 2008 doll. The finished art was over 5' x 3' and was a lot of fun to paint. I was trying to scan it all before the fedex guy came to take it away, but couldn't get it all... See it now in the new AG catalog and on line at american girl.com Here are two details from it.

Skateboard Deck Art

2007-11-07T07:58:00.000-05:00

Like many of my cohorts in the arts, I am asked to contribute a piece of art, or maybe books or sketches to this or that institution to be auctioned off. This despite the fact that artists are usually the ones most in need of funding themselves. In any case we are a bunch of softies and usually say "YES!" (and then later on ask ourselves "why did I agree to do this?") But sometimes it is also a very creative outlet, such as the Snowflakes for Robert's Snow Auction for Cancer's Cure. And last month, in the middle of a lot of mundane (but paying) jobs, I was asked by Rockland Center for the Arts to decorate a skateboard deck (What?) After finding out that a deck is just the skateboard w/o wheels, I said the usual YES! (And at 2 in the mornng "Why.....") But anyway it was a lot of fun. I didn't plan it very much, just let the paint brush do the work. It will be up for auction, along with 24 other decks, from Nov. 11- Dec. 16, to benefit Rockland Center for the Arts - 27 South Greenbush Road, West Nyack, NY 10994

What Characters

2007-11-05T08:19:00.000-05:00

I am honored to have some pieces of my work in the collection of Mark and Dana Susson. They are huge fans of children's book illustration and have literally covered the walls of their home (really, I have seen it!) with original art. They also happen to be a wonderful couple. I first met them, at a book signing at Chemers Gallery in Tustin, CA, when they took all of us to dinner and then to their house, where they complained of not having enough walls to hang their collection on. American Style Magazine has just featured the Sussons and their home filled with art, in the latest edition. One of my pieces from "Five Little Kittens" is seen hanging in one of the bedrooms.

The Snowflakes are Coming!

2007-11-04T19:49:00.000-05:00

Titania's Flowery Bed

The 2007 Robert's Snow Auction for Cancer's Cure is back!
Since 2004 it has raised over $200,000 for the Dana-Farber Institute. The snowflakes have all been created by children's book illustrators and will be on view and up for bidding online.

My Snowflake was inspired by a book that I just illustrated called "Mother's Song." It is a Victorian lullaby and many fairies have found their way into the art. Some are fishing for pearls, or dancing on a spider's thread, or escorting the Queen over the River bridge. By the end of the lullaby, however, many, like Titania, are asleep.

"Mother's Song," which was adapted by Ellin Green, will be published in Spring '08 by Clarion Books.

The Snowflakes will be on auction from November through December '07.
Bid early and often!

2007-09-12T20:12:00.000-04:00

This spread from "The Little Black Truck" was inspired by
Garth Williams' illustrations for "Stuart Little" ... my favorite book.

Many of the pictures were also inspired by the rolling
landscapes of Thomas Hart Benton.

The Ghost Army

2007-03-08T15:47:00.000-05:00

No its not a Halloween story... It is a story of deception, showmanship, art and ingenuity kept secret for nearly 50 years. And it is the story of what my father, Bill Sayles, and hundreds of other artists including Bill Blass, Ellsworth Kelley and Arthur Singer did during WW2.

In June of 1944, an exceptional U.S. Army unit went into action in Normandy. Its weapons included hundreds of inflatable tanks and a one-of-a-kind collection of sound effects records, and it carried out its battlefield mission without firing a shot. The unit was officially called the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, but it was known to its men as The Ghost Army.

Many of the men were artists recruited from New York art schools such as Cooper Union and Pratt. The army recruited them into the unit when it's main mission was conceived as camouflage and visual deception.

The unit became an incubator for young artists who literally sketched and painted their way through Europe. More than 60 years later, their artworks, and the stories behind them, offer a unique and highly personal perspective on one of the most crucial chapters of American history: the 1944-45 invasion of Europe.

Find out about the documentary being made about the Ghost Army at www.ghostarmy.org