Happy Holidays

Just wishing everyone Happy Holidays. Enjoy the season.

I've been interviewed

It seems odd, but some one that I consider to be a great designer and illustrator has just interviewed me for his blog. You can find it at www.ekdblog.com/

Weekly Bow Tie Guy

Brain (brān)
I felt that this one would be appropriate for the upcoming holiday. Happy Halloween.

Weekly Bow Tie Guy

Tenebrous (ˈtenəbrəs)
Meaning dark, gloomy, shadowy, or obscure. This is the third assignment for one of the illustration classes I teach. These ameba like creatures have been dancing around in my head and sketch book for the past few years. I do not think it will be the last of them. I was happy to finally get something out there though. My classes comment on this was that I can't draw something that looks scary. I have to agree (I have been to greatly influenced by the muppets). I created it more as a mystery. What are these aliens doing? Are they abducting him or just helping him brush his teeth?

No Bow Tie Guy Week

This is the second assignment for one of my classes. I asked the class to illustrate “Hope.” They did a great job. My approach was to depict a child and how even in light of there being a small pool of water, he was looking forward to the rain that would create more.

Weekly Bow Tie Guy

Five (fīv)
This is an assignment I gave to one of my illustration classes. We were to illustrate the word five. I decided to depict the word by not depicting it.

Back to the Weekly Bow Tie Guy

Hippopotamus (ˌhipəˈpätəməs)
A word for water horse. Hippos have always been one of those animals that I loved. Again they are awkward. I've drawn them in the past, but this has been one I have been struggling with for what seems like years. Trying to draw it with a bow tie that can be seen was a challenge.

The Not So weekly Bow Tie Guy

Giraffe (jəˈraf)
This is the tallest living animal. In studying them, I realized how peculiar they are.

The Not So weekly Bow Tie Guy

Dragon (ˈdragən)
This is one I have been working on for a long time. I love drawing dragons. I've been drawing them for a long time. When I come to a blank page in my sketch book and I don't have any idea of what to draw, I draw a dragon. With this one I wanted to move away from my traditional approach. I mostly changed the head. Since the Freddy book and the theater posters I have been more comfortable with my use of color.

Book update

Fat Freddy's Afraid to Fall is now available to purchase. Before I got to look at my copy, my oldest daughter (9 yrs old) read through it and gave me a critique of my illustrations and what I needed to change. I wonder where she learned that from.

There have been some problems with the Barnes and Noble page so you can also purchase it at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Speak-Me-Freddys-Afraid-Fall/dp/0982156340/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1249014853&sr=8-6
I just checked and there are five more left. (they will get more though). If you like the book and the illustrations leave feedback.

The Not So weekly Bow Tie Guy

I just found out that the book I illustrated will be off the press tomorrow. In honor of that I am posting my frog bow tie guy. I am somewhat nervous to see the printed version of the book. I've never experienced this before.

The Wiz (IF Shades)

This is a repost of an Illustration created in 2009. Illustrating a poster for The Wiz has been a labor of love. Baum's Oz books and John R. Neil's illustrations have been such an influence on my life. I feel I finally have a unique version of the Scarecrow (a favorite of mine), that stands apart from Neil's version and I found a way to stick a bow-tie on him that works. I also had an opportunity to draw a bunch of people juken.

A Pirates Life For Me

Just finished the second poster for The Vermont Children's Theater production of A Pirates Life for Me. There were quite a few challenges. First and foremost is the realization that I am am out of practice with drawing people. On a high note, it did give me a good excuse to pull out all of my Howard Pyle and N.C. Wyeth books.

Androcles and the Lion Poster

Just finished the poster for the Vermont Children's Theater production of Androcles and the Lion. I wish I had a little more time on it but it was a fun project. I feel like I am getting better with my color sense. To bad the Romans didn't wear bow ties. I could figure out a way to sneak one in. I am now working on the posters for the other two shows.

Update to Web Page

I just updated my web page www.barclay-studio.com to include a few of the Illustrations from Fat Freddy’s Afraid to Fall. Again if you are interested in getting a copy you can preorder it at http://books.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=angela+holzer
I am now working on posters for the season of Vermont Children’s Theater, Androcles and the Lion, A Pirates Life, and The WIZ.

New Book

I am just putting the final touches on the book for Good Sound Publishing, Fat Freddy's Afraid to Fall. You can pre-order the book online at Barnes and Noble http://books.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=angela+holzer
It has been a fun project. I look forward to seeing it in print around the middle of July.

Theater

In 1998 I directed Our Town at StageRight TheaterCompany. I drew this up as a gift to the cast and crew. It's over 10 years old but I thought it depicted the idea of theater well. (I'm the choir leader at the top.)

Earth Day

This is a quick illustration I did for Lyndon State College's Earth Day 5x5 auction.

Weekly Bow Tie Guy, Fleeting

hummingbird (ˈhəmi ng ˌbərd)

They can fly backwards. What more can I say.

Weekly Bow Tie Guy

walrus (wôlrəs; wä-)
A massive marine animal known largely for it's size and tusks. Like elephants, they are somewhat awkward in appearance, which makes them a joy to draw.

Weekly Bow Tie Guy

Mushroom (mə sh roōm; -roŏm)

Your typical fun guy. They're great to cook with and go well on pizza (not the poisonous ones).

Weekly Bow Tie Guy

Tea Pot

Alice Carter, a great instructor, told me about the assignment to draw 50 teacups and teapots from different angels and compositions in order to practice ellipses. I thought I would put my spin on it and put a bow tie on the teapot.

Illustration Job

Last week I was asked to create illustrations for the Book Fat Freddy’s Afraid To Fall By Angela Holzer, MA. It is a part of a children's book series called Speak With Me that helps with speech development. They are published by Good Sound Publishing. For more information about the publisher and what they do you can go to: speakwithmebooks.web.officelive.com/bookseries.aspx
Above is my initial Character design of Freddy. I am looking forward to working on it within the next few months.