Little Darlings

[rex]

Jon Foster tells me to post, and I say "How high?"

Here are 2 recent covers for middle grade (age 9-12) novels. The first is for LITTLE DARLINGS - A Very Good Book About Very Bad Children. The second is for the sequel, BAD BAD DARLINGS. One will be out this May, the other I don't know when. Both illustrations were rush jobs, though I have only myself to blame for that. Let me know what you think.

[el norteno]

these are great nice style good characterization. only crit i can think of is to darken the value in the background of the first one, behind the chef.... thanks for posting

[Bryceart]

Adam,
These are awesome, especially the close-up of the girls face. Acrylic-Oil?

Bryce

[Soultek]

Very nice, i was following along with these in the sketches section. I really like how they turned out in color!! good work!

[Elwell]

Two thumbs up! I'm a fan.
Composition is much stronger on the second one. I wish there were a little bit more atmospheric perspective on the plane, though.
Who are these for?

[dogfood]

I'm liking these characterizations more and more, but am with Elwell on how stark the plane stands out.

[duddlebug]

OMgollyGosh... These are just beautiful... I've used that word before on posts but i can't think of a better word and these have to be amongst the most beautiful images i've seen recently.

The antomy is great, the expressions, the painting technique... everything...

Wonderful...

Are they digital? Or reeeal paint?

[ChadTHX1138]

Awesome illustrations here. Full of character and nicely rendered...i could go on...

You have aquired a new follower.

[miracola]

Adam,

Brilliant as usual!! I have always been a fan of your work because I work in much the same way when I use oils. Your work always has such a sculptural quality that I love. My kids and I still get such a kick out of "The Dirty Cowboy" book you did. Awesome stuff.

Funny how you and I know all the same people (Tony D., Scott Fischer, etc), but I don't think we've ever met. Hopefully at some con one day.

I finally posted a few "just for fun" sketches. You'll see what I mean by being a fan of the loose, sculptural rendering with oils.

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=40566

Can't wait to see more work bro! I'm gonna add a link to your site from mine.

Jeff

[cotron]

these are hot! great stylization, color sense, and rendering...

[Matt Dixon]

I think I love you, Adam. These are lovely. Really lovely.

[rex]

Thanks, everyone. Most of my work ranges between this style and attempts at naturalism. It's really gratifying that this end of the spectrum, the "cartoon realism" sort of style, has your approval. I used to be afraid to do stuff like this.
In particular:

Bryceart - Mostly oils. I say "mostly" because to some degree each started as a digital print upon which I painted. The first was simply a print of my sketch with some sepia tones added in Photoshop. The second started as a print of my sketch with flat areas of color added in Photoshop, to cut down on painting time.

Elwell and dogfood - You're absolutely right about the plane. The client (Razorbill, a new division of Penguin Putnam) already has the work, but I plan to do some touch-ups at some point, so I'll fade the plane back a bit then. Now that you've made me notice it, I can't shake the feeling the the plane is very close and only a few feet long... By the way, Tristan, I've been a fan of yours for a long time without realizing it. A couple months ago I checked out your page at Shannon, and suddenly recognized all these covers I've admired before, never considering they might have been created by the same guy.

miracola - Thanks, Jeff! I love your stuff, and those short oil monster studies are a scream. I want one. Everyone should follow that link if they haven't already. Is is weird we don't really know each other--it seems like we were always working for the same clients. Anyway, I'm really glad your kids liked The Dirty Cowboy. I have another picture book coming out in a few weeks: Ste-e-e-e-eamboat A-Comin'! Hope you check it out.

Matt Dixon - Why, thank you, Matt. I love you too.

[Elwell]

Thanks for the kind words, Adam. If you don't mind talking shop, I've got some questions. What kind of printer, paper, etc. are you using? And how are you sealing and mounting the prints?

[atilla]

I love it ..everythign coliding onto them in the middle it looks amazing ..good style

[DSillustration]

rex,
i really love these... incredible charm.
i cant imagine were the type will go on the first one though.
its a shame to have it cover something up.
any interiors for the book?

[tldenmark]

amazing work!

The people who are nitpicking are smoking crack. These are perfect. You know that Mona Lisa painting? Yeah, she's not smiling enough, I mean it's not clear whether she's happy or sad. Could you fix that Mr. Da Vinci?

[nicolas]

wow. really cool works! I especially like the first one. great characterization. I love that realisticly painted "cartoony" look.....sweet.

[ColdKodiak]

I love the aligators in the ocean. That's class.

hahah. Good stuff.
Not sure where to critique that hasn't already been touched. Nice works, really liking this.

[foster]

hey adam, these are wonderful and thanks so much for the detail shots.

so much to like about these, such as the electrified granny or the little old dude in the detail. he is just perfect! no wait, the teddy bear is perfect! they are both perfect!

i just wish o wish i had you color sense!

[rex]

Elwell - I'm not printing these out myself, so I don't know much about the materials. I have them printed from CD at an agency here in Philadelphia--the stock is glossy and maybe 90 lb., and it's done on a copier I believe, not an inkjet. I'm assured the materials are all archival, but of course that could easily prove untrue in time.
I mount the prints onto illustration board or 300lb. watercolor paper with acrylic matte medium, really bray it down, and wait for it to dry. Then 2 or 3 coats of medium over the top does it. No problems yet.

DSillustration - funny you should mention that...the first book was originally to have 2 covers: an outer, die-cut cover showing 3 picture frames on a tasteful wall. Through the die-cut frames you could see each of the 3 kids, then you open it to reveal the perilous scene above. So the type, anyway, was going to be on the outer cover, under the frames. Then money got in the way, and they dropped the outer cover. They found a way to put type on the painting that's neither great nor terrible. By the second cover, I knew to basically design the layout for them, and leave a muted area for type.

[JoshuaTheJames]

Nice work!

That 2nd one is super duper solid!

-Joshua James

[Irene Gallo]

Super great work!
I'll be on the look out for them in the stores. (I love seeing illustration in context.)

That's a funny story about the dropping die-cut cover. I'm impressed that they went with the plane, after 911. We once had a cover on press that showed kids with laser guns...then Columbine happened. We had to stop the press and redo everything, fast!

Irene

[rex]

Originally Posted by Irene Gallo

That's a funny story about the dropping die-cut cover. I'm impressed that they went with the plane, after 911. We once had a cover on press that showed kids with laser guns...then Columbine happened. We had to stop the press and redo everything, fast!

Irene

That's interesting. This might highlight the difference between living in NY and living just 100 miles away, in Philadelphia. As hyper-sensitive as I still am about 911, the connection didn't even occur to me. I was only thinking of the context of the plane in the story itself.

In the week 911 happened, however, I was by chance working on an illustration of people trapped in a burning building--one of the worst jobs I ever turned in.

[Gwynafay]

That book looks really interesting. Of course, I could be fooled because I tend to buy books based on the artwork in the front (old habits die hard...that's how I ended up with a bunch of horrible books with Larry Elmore's work on the cover)...

I like that first picture. I like to read alot of children's books and that picture will definately catch everyone's eyes. The kids look a little wicked, but you're not sure whether it's your imagination or not.

Very cool. Please let us know when the book does come out!

[gruve24]

These are great ! You've got an awesome style

[stoph]

very nice for "rushed jobs", hehe. the children somehow remind me of those in the movie of "Lemony Snicket", especially the girl in the middle (first image). still, though, love it all over

[cuzzo]

I like this. It reminds me of that Limeny Snickets movie.... the one with Jim Carrey

[Gezstar]

Haha, wicked stuff. I like the kids' facial expressions - like they're thinking "This is bullshit."

[PhilHolland]

Excellent work Adam. Nothing negative to say at all.

[FatMike]

Ahhh, the work of a fellow U of A grad, Christiana would be proud. Very nice work.