A Crazy Past Few Months!

Well the past few months have been jam packed with projects! I did 24 paintings in 35 days!(as I heave over panting like I just finished a race but give you all two thumbs up!!)  I can hardly believe it myself! I received my first job with my agent, which was such a fun project. I was asked to do a short story reader about Dr. Dolittle. This was also exciting because I had the perfect job to ask my soon to be hubby to put his modeling skills to the test.

 copyright 2015 Seed Media

While completing that I had to finish my paintings for my new book coming out this summer called I Want to be a Bald Eagle. I am very happy with the way both jobs came out, and so were the clients… "fabulous" was one of the words they used (awesome!!!). The publisher that I did Dolittle for even asked me later that night to do another reader for them, this time about a murder mystery…something totally different than I have ever done before. I'm also planning to have a big release party for the Eagle book some time this Fall.

copyright Capstone Publishing 2015

And today I finished a book cover I've been working on for a self publisher. I still have to do 5 black and white interior half pages for her.

copyright Ty Davis 2015

Also it looks like I'll be starting my own sip wine and paint workshop at the restaurant that I work. Still coming up with names, so stay tuned on that!

New Publishing Contract!

I received some very exciting news this week! I was emailed by the senior designer of Capstone Publishing to illustrate a new title due out in both the educational and trade markets Fall of 2015!  I was excited to hear that they found me on childrensillustrators.com. It's crazy how I have been advertising on that site for about 5 years, even taking a two year hiatus at one point, but then thought to give it another try since some other people have had some success. The price to renew went up $150 but there must have been a reason because I received a job from Heinemann Publishing and now this one from Capstone this year. I guess I made the right decision to give it another try! Keep checking back for updates!

and another..

and another...

Some new things I'm working on.

I've been working on my advertising page for the Directory of Illustration. I decided to do all new art work…here's one of the paintings I finished for the directory. 

Talking to the Students at Rosenower Elementary

Last month, a friend of mine asked if I would come into his school for their reading arts day. This is a day where people come in from all different types of professions and talk to the students about what they do at work every day. They had police officers, fire fighters, seeing eye dogs, and all sorts of interesting career spokesman at the school. I came in and was able to talk to three fifth grade classes and one fourth grade class about being an artist. I told the kids how I had gotten started on my path of being an illustrator. I have done so many different kinds of jobs from being a scenic painter and painting large scale sculptures to recently illustrating a children's book. I explained the process of creating a book and passed around my book dummy. It was just so amazing to see the look on the kids faces and how intrigued they were. My favorite moment was when I asked one class if they had any questions and one freckle faced little boy stuck his hand in the air and asked "Are you related to A Rod?" After smiling and responding a quick "No," I was still asked to sign his baseball cap. This proceeded to a wave of flailing raised hands in which I had to go around the room and sign my autograph to pencil cases, folders, and ripped pieces of looseleaf. It was an amazing day and one I will never forget. The look on their faces is what makes it all worth it, and I love my job.

Specultation Cover

I painted this illustration as a speculation for a publisher. They asked for the cover in color and a sketch for one of the spreads. Well, they decided to go with a different artist....bummer:( Hopefully my day will come soon, I am just so antsy to get my first children's book with all the promos I send out and all. I just get so frustrated sometimes because everyone has different tastes, which I suppose is a good thing, except when one publisher says I am too cartoony and then another one says I should rely less on reference because they look too much like photos. And so continues the never ending battle of finding some happy medium between cartoon world and realism to please all.....




....I changed the title and also added a cute caterpillar for fun.

Character's Contest Winner's Issue Cover

I just completed the cover to what will be the contest's winners issue of Character's Magazine. I am excited to see it all printed up and I hope the kids will get a kick out of it!

New Postcard