I finished Dexter (here’s the sketch), and he turned out somewhat close to what I originally had in mind. I was hoping for more dramatic lighting, but that seemed to leave him too dark in the shadows, so I lightened him and the whole scene up a little. The glowing green and purple colors took some getting used to since most of what I do …
Graphic novelette available for preview
I’ve uploaded the short graphic novel Dead Line to the “Extras” page of the Hairy Eyeballs site. But to make it easier for you, I’m also embedding the whole thing below (yep, I understand laziness). Just click on the middle of the book to see it biggie-sized. The short originally printed in Seton Hill University‘s art and literary magazine, Eye …
New photography portfolio images
I’ve updated my photography portfolio with several more landscape images and photos from Banning No. 3 Mine. Click on “portfolio” and choose “photography.” These are all silver gelatin prints, made the old-fashioned way with film, chemicals, paper, dodging and burning. My portfolio site URL: http://www.norathompson.us Banning No. 3 Mine operated just outside Van Meter, PA and is off the Yough …
Rough sketch for kid’s illustration
I so lied about making you wait. Here’s the sketch of Dexter in the setting I came up with for him. He’s in just a little bit of trouble, but I think he’ll be O.K. His puppy’s name is Poindexter.
Sample short story now available
I’ve uploaded what might be considered the “title track” of the (as yet untitled) book on the official Hairy Eyeballs site. To make it simpler, I’ve also embedded it here so you don’t even have to leave this page. Just click in the middle of the book to see it full screen. Just a note: This is a very early rough …
New banner design for Etsy shop
Here’s a new banner I designed recently for The Dreaming Owl‘s Etsy shop, along with the matching identity icon. The Dreaming Owl sells handmade mittens, scarves, jewelry, bookmarks and purses, and requested a banner to reflect the shop’s personality. We went with this hand drawn and stylized owl and banner.
Sneak peek at a new sketch for a promo illustration
Everybody, meet Dexter. He got here because of a doodle that was originally meant just for me. I started drawing one night, and consciously convinced myself not to censor. I finished him and turned the page, but I found that I kept turning the pages back to take another look. I couldn’t figure out what it was, but he kept getting cuter every time, so I decided …
www.hairyeyeballs.com
/ The Hairy Eyeballs site is up and live! Right now it has a few pertinent pages: an about page, a link to this blog, and a link to an online store that currently has no merchandise (I’ve kind of been trying to spend my time putting the actual book together). I also have an extras page, and on it …
Lots (and lots) of snow
It must be February. Yesterday we got more snow in one snowfall than we’ve had in the last 17 years. The unofficial estimate in the backyard would be around 18 inches, but it snowed more after that. Earlier this winter, we had a January that didn’t get above freezing until late in the month, so the snow we were getting just kept …
Newsletter subscriptions to the Nora Thompson Illustrations Newsletter
I will be upgrading to a professional newsletter client prior to the next newsletter cycle, and I need current subscribers to re-submit their information. I don’t have access to email information, so I’m not able to transfer from one mailing list to another. And if you’re not yet a subscriber, feel free to jump in at any time! Newsletters are …
Electronic kid’s illustration portfolio
I’ve put together an electronic portfolio on issuu.com (relatively easy!) to send out to those great publishers who are looking to go green (way to go!). Issue makes your pdf look like you’re flipping through a portfolio (or magazine) right there on your computer screen.
Testophobia
One of the first shorts I finished for the book was “Testophobia.” I wrote the piece originally for the Writing Fiction class I mentioned in the last post. The prompt went like this: “Write a scene taken straight from a science-fiction, fantasy, or horror story, where a character is experiencing test-taking anxiety of a very creative kind.” (Again, I’ll have to …