A busy spring = little time to create blog posts…  Here’s what’s happening in all things creative since my last post ~

ART ~ Once again, two of my favorite clients have come to my rescue, providing me with varied and interesting subject matter.  I will have an Extra! Magazine cover coming out in the next few days, so I’ll be able to include it in the next post, but here are three pieces I created for Seven Days (Mar/April/May.)

I am also pleased to announce the Grand Opening of my Etsy store – kbalzART where I am selling limited edition prints as well as original renderings.

WORDS ~ I received the unfortunate news that the agent I was hoping would take me on as a client, passed on my manuscript.  Sigh… Such is life.  So, looks like my summer will consist of sending out queries for HALF-PATCH BLUE, work on edits for THE RAT CHILDREN, and continue writing the first draft of FORT NOX.

Until next time ~

ART ~ My year started out with a few unexpected commissions.  The first was for The Progressive for an article on School Reform.

Flunking School Reform

And the magazine tear-sheet ~

I was thrilled starting out the year with the piece in The Progressive, but then I received an email from one of my favorites, Extra! Magazine to do their Fear and Favor issue.  This year’s topic was the buying force behind the media.  Here is the piece with text:

& without:

Extra! Magazine February Cover

WORDS ~ I had an exciting start to the year with my writing as well.  I had a full manuscript request from a top notch agency!  I should get word in the next week or so on if it’s a yay, or a nay.  I’m hoping it’s the former.

I’m also knee deep in edits of a middle grade novel about what happened to the children the Pied Piper led away, and have begun outlining another new story that I hope to start in the next few weeks.  2013 has been productive the first six weeks.  I plan to keep the momentum moving forward.

~ Believe.

WORDS ~ With a week of gray days behind me, I have decided to write a little pick me up.  A ditty of hope and perseverance if you will.

As some of you may know, I was let go by my editorial agent last week.  With a move to a new agency, I just wasn’t on the top of her list to bring along.  It happens.  It wasn’t personal.   Our relationship just hadn’t culminated into that happily-ever-after connection we were hoping for.  Deep down I knew it was coming, but that realization did not make the ultimate rejection any easier to swallow.  I’ve never been thick skinned. I wear my heart on my sleeve. I consider these to be pure and true qualities and over the years have learned to embrace them.   Still, I was not a fun person to be around the last seven days.  (However, reading blog posts like this one, certainly helped! http://www.writersrelief.com/blog/2011/07/famous-author-rejection-letters/)

But, another trait of mine that I hold a bit higher than the others is my won’t stay down for long attitude, a.k.a. perseverance.  I’ve never been a quitter.  A reinventer, yes.  A chameleon starting fresh, yes, but not a quitter.

So, with my now edited manuscript in hand, the search for representation begins anew.  And with the exciting, fresh perspective of the possibilities that are still out there for me, I embrace this opportunity and look forward to what the future holds ~

ART ~ I can always count on Diane Sullivan and Seven Days to keep me working on tongue in cheek projects that keep me entertained and loving what I do from beginning to end.

Here’s the latest Seven Days cover:

I love, love, love Seven Days alt weekly in VT who have been a faithful client of mine for years!  Never one to disappoint with fast turn-arounds and delightful material, here’s my latest piece: an interior illustration of former VT Blue Cross CEO William Milnes, Jr. ~

Sketch was in on Saturday, final due Monday morning.  Now, what can I do for you?

I know I’ve been slacking on my 2012 blog posts, and I don’t have much of an excuse – except – that I’ve really been working non-stop on illustrations or my novels since the beginning of the year.  So with no delay, (and with much thanks to Seven Days Alt Weekly in VT and Extra! Magazine for sending me a steady stream of awesome projects,) here are my pieces since last time I blogged:

January, 2012 ~ Extra! Magazine Cover –

February 2012 ~ Seven Days, Interior piece on food bank supply shortages.

February 2012 ~ Seven Days Valentine’s Day Cover

March, 2012 ~ A crazy, fun, seven piece set for Seven Days (Cover & Interior)

END ~ Part 1 . . . To be continued . . .

So I slacked on my blog posts a bit at the end of 2011.  I really have no excuse, (though I was dragging by the end of the year for sure!)  To make amends, one of my 2012 resolutions was to at least attempt a monthly blog post.  As of today, I am going strong for the year!  Haha!!!

I finished up 2011 with a few more commissions.  One of my favorites, if not the favorite piece I did this past year is the “Media Monopoly Octopus” for the October issue of Extra! Magazine.  Sometimes, a piece really comes together from conception through the final product and this illustration was one of them.

I must have been on a role, because right after this, came another 2011 favorite, this time a piece commissioned for MovieMaker Magazine.  This was the second piece from them this year, and like usual, the theme was a blast and so much fun to work on.  This commission was to accompany an article called, “Look Good in Your Shorts.”

I was thrilled to do a six piece series for Philadelphia Weekly’s Better Than Best issue, though the three day turn around nearly broke me.

I finished out the year with another cover from Extra! on Steve Jobs.

In between creating these pieces, I was also diligently working on Lavender’s Blue chapter revisions under the direction of my agent, Erin Harris.  Erin is helping tweak and mold my novel so that it reaches its fullest potential, and I am grateful for the tremendous amount of time and effort she’s poured into it since May.

The New Year is already starting off at a breakneck pace.  While I wait to receive my next set of revision notes from Erin, Iv’e already begun the February Cover Art for Extra!  (If I stick to my resolution, it will be unveiled in next month’s posting.)  I’m also working on a proposal for what could potentially be my largest illustration job to date.  So, fingers crossed I have good news to announce next month.  I’ll keep you posted.

Best wishes for a healthy & prosperous New Year!!!!

I couldn’t wait to share this piece with everyone!

It had been some time since I worked with Jenn over at MovieMaker, so it was a happy surprise when she wrote to commission me for an interior piece in their August issue.  As usual, the subject matter was juicy and had a sense of humor – perfect for my art.

Stage 2 ~ The rendering from my photosketch

Stage 3 ~ The Final Product

Go & get your copy today ~

On the Word Side ~ I made a map!

I can’t remember ever making a map before, but had I known it was this much fun I would have created one long before now!  For my beta’s who’ve read LAVENDER’S BLUE, here’s a bit of visual aid.  Hope you like it 🙂

Hi All ~

On the Art Side ~ My June Extra! cover is at your local Borders or Barnes & Noble Booksellers, so stop by and pick up a copy.

I was quite pleased with how this piece came out, even though my blacks didn’t print as dark as I’d hoped.  Something happens between my final and the printed piece that I need to ask about next time around.  Nothing major, just not as crisp as I’d like it to be.

I’ll be sending out an emailer with it as soon as I get back from vacationing with the folks next week in the hopes of garnering some new work.  I’d love to get a brand spanking new client this year…

What a whirlwind these last couple of weeks have been!  I haven’t had a moment to breath, which is good I suppose.  The day job has been hopping with many projects and committees and all that fun stuff, leaving me exhausted most nights to really put my heart and sould into my creative projects.  I guess I must really love um though, ’cause I do it anyway.

I’ve really been trying hard to finish up some sketches for Lavender’s Blue on top of final edits before the YALITCHAT query contest winners are announced.  I managed to whittle it down about 30K words to fit in the middle grade genre where it fits much better than in young adult as I had originally intended.  One Sunday afternoon perusing the stacks at my local Borders convinced me that I made the right choice.

I need this novel to be perfect and am content to wait until January to start querying agents.  First impressions account for everything in this biz, so until it’s shiny and pretty it’s not going anywhere.  Some of my beta’s are trickling in and the feedback is encouraging.  What I really need to do however, is reach out and get some unbiased opinions.  I think I’ll put some feelers out to see if I can’t hook one tomorrow.

On the art front, I’m putting the final touches on another piece for Extra! Magazine that’s due in the morning.  It’s been an interesting to watch how my work has evolved this year to an entirely digital canvas.  My Wacom is my best friend in this regard.  I need to upgrade at home.  If you knew me back in college as I fumbles to find the ‘on’ button, (thanks Chris & Kyle!)  you’d be amazed at how far I’ve come.

The Flower Mound piece above was recently commissioned by Fort Worth Weekly and another favorite client.  I feel so blessed that in this year of working on my novel, my go to guys in the art world really came through for me.  I didn’t put much out in the way of self-promotion, so it’s good to know I’m dependable and consistent enough to garner some repeat business and I’m grateful.

I leave you with many thanks and good vibes for a brand new year ~