tina kügler illustration blog

Science Rocks!

2012-01-24T17:52:00.002-06:00

New promo piece! And the scribble behind it. Click to enlarge.

Free printable valentines!

2012-01-22T20:40:00.002-06:00

On our fun illustration blog Between the End Pages, I uploaded a pdf file with 4 different school-size valentines. Print onto letter-size cardstock, cut apart & enjoy!
Here's the link. Pass it on!

Different kind of doodle

2012-01-21T18:58:00.001-06:00

A little Saturday afternoon tribute to one of my all-time faves. Done in my, ehh, pre-illustration-style style.

A little morning coffee scribble

2012-01-20T11:15:00.000-06:00

Illustration Friday- "Prepare"

2012-01-18T18:55:00.004-06:00

A quick scribble for Illustration Friday- "prepare." Won't Mother be surprised!

new hand-lettering design

2012-01-17T19:26:00.002-06:00

Saw this sentiment on a car in San Francisco. Wanted to buy it for myself, but only found icky generic-looking versions, so I made one!
I put it in my zazzle.com shop if you want it on a T-shirt, like me.

My favorite illustrator of all time...

2012-01-06T10:45:00.004-06:00

...is Wallace Tripp.
Do you know Wallace Tripp?
These three books are my FAVORITES. All, sadly, out of print (don't get me started), but available through used-book sites. His animal characters are so lively & wonderful, his linework is amazing, I just adore him.
Track down his books if you can, it's worth the effort!!

Here are some links for used books (try eBay too), if you are looking to pick them up:
http://www.alibris.com/booksearch?qwork=6106887&matches=32&keyword=tripp%2C+wallace&cm_sp=works*listing*title

http://product.half.ebay.com/The-Adventures-of-Mole-Troll-by-Tony-Johnston-1972-Hardcover-Illustrated/2141157&tg=info

http://www.abebooks.com/9780316852807/Great-Big-Ugly-Man-Came-0316852805/plp

SCBWI 2012 Tomie dePaola entry

2012-01-05T11:56:00.003-06:00

Here's my entry. Also check out Diandra Mae's totally awesome gallery of participants!!

OMG YOU GUYS

2012-01-04T21:13:00.002-06:00

I am deeply honored to be the SCBWI Featured Illustrator for January 2012! Wow!

This year's goals are 1. to find a good agent, and 2. get my NEW picture book dummy a) finished and b) submitted to publishers/agents, so this is quite the start!!

New Year's Resolution

2011-12-30T09:59:00.003-06:00

What a wonderful world we would have if everyone thought this way...

You can purchase a print on archival paper in my Zazzle shop, FrouFrau.

"A Christmas Carol"

2011-12-19T12:20:00.000-06:00

The rough & final color.
The Ghost of Christmas Present takes Scrooge out into the chilly night. In the book, he sprinkled incense from his torch that filled people’s hearts with feelings of goodwill.
Happy holidays, everyone!

Sneaky-peeky from my dummy book

2011-11-30T16:47:00.002-06:00

So I haven't been posting much here because I am working furiously on the dummy for my new picture book. This fellow is from my rough model sheet. I create a model sheet & size comp (like a line-up) for all the characters before I start drawing, like I used for drawing cartoon storyboards way back when.
That's all I can tell you. For now.

Illustration Friday- Stripes

2011-11-08T20:32:00.003-06:00

A scene from the Wind in the Willows, where Ratty (the water rat) takes Mole (who has just given up on spring cleaning) out on a boat for the first time. So Mole is all, "Wow! The river! Look at that! Holy cats!" and Ratty is all, "Ehh, it's cool, man."

Ratty is wearing a striped shirt, like a good water rat should...hence Illustration Friday.

new facebook page

2011-11-05T10:25:00.002-06:00

I finally got around to setting up a facebook page for my illustration work.
(You're on facebook, right?)
Find me here: www.facebook.com/tinakuglerstudio

A very Steven Spielberg Halloween

2011-11-01T10:50:00.004-06:00

So, our kids are really into "Indiana Jones." Obsessed, actually.
For Halloween, the middle one wanted to be Indy (he already had the hat, which he wears everywhere anyway). The little one was perfect for his sidekick Satipo (Alfred Molina), otherwise known as the guy covered in tarantulas. When I asked the oldest one who he wanted to be (I was silently planning a papier mache Mola Ram headdress), he answered without hesitation: Steven Spielberg.
How does one make a Steven Spielberg costume? He suggested a Blue Harvest hat, and we went from there.

Thanks for our friend Vanessa (who also runs Klick Photographic) for the pics. That's her Captain Haddock in the background.

My first pattern!

2011-10-07T19:25:00.001-06:00

I created all the elements in Adobe Illustrator & followed this extremely helpful tutorial.

Zazzle.com shop is now up!

2011-10-04T16:58:00.001-06:00

Please check out my new shop on Zazzle.com at:
froufrau's Store at Zazzle

I will be transitioning from my Cafe Press to Zazzle as I have time to upload stuff.

Wynken, Blynken & Nod

2011-09-13T17:20:00.002-06:00

Illustration Friday- "Boundaries"

2011-09-13T17:10:00.003-06:00

I am pushing the boundaries of my illustration style by experimenting with hand-lettering the past couple of days. It is great fun, but I am intimidated by it at the same time.

New children's illustration blog!

2011-08-17T19:10:00.003-06:00

Please check out Between the End Pages, a new blog featuring three wonderful children's illustrators, Marsha Riti, Brooke Boynton Hughes, and Jill Bergman, and myself!
(Jill designed the cool header!)

Woo-hoo! Sputnikfest 2011 Poster!

2011-08-03T15:45:00.000-06:00

Yay! It's almost time for Sputnikfest 2011!!
This year's poster is an edition of 100, hand-screened in 4 colors, available for $25 + $10 shipping.
I will NOT be signing them in person this year, BUT if you pre-order from the Rahr-West Art Museum BEFORE August 19, 2011, I will be able to personalize a poster before they are shipped to Manitowoc. Call the Rahr-West at (920) 686-3090.

Illustration Friday- "Obsession"

2011-07-29T09:31:00.000-06:00

A portrait of Amy Winehouse for "Obsession." Felt compelled to do this- it's a nod to the famous image of Jane Avril by Toulouse-Lautrec, with the snake on her dress.

Illustration Friday- "Perennial"

2011-07-22T19:45:00.003-06:00

An elephant made of perennials, on a promo postcard I did a little while ago. Bottom banner had my old phone number.

garden harvest

2011-07-20T22:07:00.002-06:00

Illustration Friday- "Gesture"

2011-07-15T11:38:00.004-06:00

Pulling a goodie from the archives for this one- but it is topical for me at this point too: I love getting snail mail. A thoughtful letter is a such a sweet gesture!
Since recently moving away from my close friends, I've started writing letters (letters! on paper! with stamps!) to them, versus emails/Facebook. I love the leisurely practice of sitting down at the table with a cup of coffee, writing on paper, cool stationery, the whole process. I've been trying to get the kids to write their Wisconsin friends & relatives too, both for the writing practice & the thrill of getting a response.
Plus, it's so nice to get mail that's not a bill, isn't it?

promo postcard

2011-07-13T20:33:00.000-06:00

abandoned mermaid

2011-07-11T13:59:00.002-06:00

An unfinished concept for a print. Maybe at some point I'll refine it further.

Illustration Friday- "Stay"

2011-07-08T23:48:00.003-06:00

Multitasking

2011-07-08T11:56:00.000-06:00

Another quick scribble.

technology & parenting

2011-07-07T16:22:00.003-06:00

I read this article, it inspired the scribble above & made me really sad. And not just because I can't afford an iPad.

Illustration Friday- "Remedy"

2011-07-01T15:18:00.003-06:00

Click to enlarge. One of the best things about Illustration Friday is all of the thoughtful & encouraging comments I have gotten in the past. Thanks, guys!

Project for City of Pasadena Water & Power

2011-06-24T19:26:00.003-06:00

This is an illustration I did for an enormous poster for Pasadena schoolchildren showing the ways families can waste water. (But shouldn't!)
Click on the top (full) image to see it bigger!
Image is property of Pasadena Water & Power.

Illustration Friday- Midsummer Night

2011-06-24T19:11:00.002-06:00

An extremely quick scribble for Illustration Friday. Sorry I've been neglecting this poor blog, but I did just move across the country to (cough, cough) Los Angeles...I'll be back in the saddle soon enough.

Best recording of "Polly Wolly Doodle" EVER

2011-03-24T17:55:00.003-06:00

God bless the internet! I was looking for an online recording of a Cricket Records 78 I have of "Polly Wolly Doodle," which incidentally is the BEST VERSION EVER RECORDED, and I found it on this nice man's blog:
http://bobpurse.blogspot.com/2008/08/more-childrens-records.html
Thank you, nice internet man!
And if you only listen to one recording of "Polly Wolly Doodle" this week, listen to this one. That music box thing, it is beyond charming.

A budget Christmas, revisited

2010-11-25T14:31:00.002-06:00

i originally posted this for christmas 2007 (have i been broke that long? sheesh), but just revamped the art. for you!

okay! so for those of us on a budget this year, homemade hot cocoa mix (in a jar!) with a little package of homemade marshmallows is a fab gift idea. (homemade marshmallows are TOTALLY worth it over store-bought, don't fear the martha recipe, for reals.)
and as a gift to YOU, my invisible pretend internet pals, i give you this label design to slap on a jar (fits avery labels #8164) plus my OWN fabulous hot chocolate recipe. all i ask is that you link back to my blog or mention me frequently in conversation or send me good vibes or something.

tina's super rich homemade hot cocoa mix
4 cups nonfat dry milk powder
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 cup "best quality you can afford" unsweetened cocoa
(the dark chocolate kind is best)
1 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup powdered nondairy creamer
1 cup malt powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
dump it all in a big bowl and mix thoroughly. it's 1/2 cup mix (8 tablespoons) per one mug hot water. this makes about 9 cups mix, or enough to nearly fill 3 one-quart jars. i put the accompanying marshmallows in a small chinese takeout container, but a ziplock-type bag with a ribbon works too.
this also makes a very nice hostess gift.

also! here is last year's, a label & recipe for homemade dog treats!

Sputnikfest 2010!

2010-09-11T15:54:00.002-06:00

That's me with the blue wig....

It was AWESOME!! Sold a ton of posters, and a massive intergalactic THANK YOU to the Wisconsin Garrison of the 501st!

Sputnikfest 2010 Poster!!

2010-08-23T11:44:00.001-06:00

Yay! It's almost time for Sputnikfest 2010!!
This year's poster is an edition of 100, hand-screened in 4 colors, available for $20. I will be signing them on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010 at the Rahr-West Art Museum in Manitowoc, WI from noon-2pm. If you would like to order a poster from afar, please contact the Rahr-West directly at (920) 686-3090 (shipping is additional).

village map for textbook

2010-04-08T07:05:00.002-06:00

Here is another one I did for Teacher's Discovery, it's a map for a Spanish-language textbook where they label all of the buildings in, well, Spanish.

spread from my dummy book

2010-03-15T14:56:00.002-06:00

This is a spread from my picture book dummy, "Jo-Jo, a Cautionary Tale," that my glorious agent, James Proimos of Shiny Pear, is shopping around for me AS WE SPEAK.
If you are important & want to see it, please call him.

illustration friday- "brave"

2010-03-10T12:54:00.003-06:00

A super quick one (being incredibly busy) for Illustration Friday- an Indian brave! Actually, he is more of a traditional dancer, but whatever. We went to the Winter Powwow in Milwaukee this past weekend and the dancers' attire was fantastic. (And the music, and the fry bread, oh man, the fry bread.)

bunny bath

2010-02-03T14:04:00.003-06:00

(click to enlarge)

"Tina," I am sometimes asked, "why are you so tired?"
"The children," I say.
"Oh, but you need to enjoy them while they are young," they say. "Cherish those moments."
And then, I have to use every once of strength not to injure that person.
The end.

Kreativ Award

2010-02-01T15:34:00.002-06:00

Oh yes, I am lazy. Shockingly lazy. But sometimes I am so lazy, I will do things I have been meaning to do while I am actually putting off other things I have to do. In fact, that is how I accomplish anything.
So then, one of my favorite awesome blogs, No Smoking in the Skull Cave, gave me a big old blogger thumbs-up with the Kreativ Blogger award, so I have to spread around the blogger adoration. Despite my laziness. Which they totally KNOW ABOUT, somehow.
As a recipient of this award I now get to hand it out to 7 bloggers for their raging unbridled creativity:
1. Persimmons Gal (Hi Kim!)
2. Stickers & Stuff
3. Kristin Elder
4. Eric Barclay
5. Sheree Boyd
6. Pencil Pocket
7. Penguin & Fish

fancy new website

2010-02-01T13:06:00.001-06:00

Total overhaul for my portfolio site. Check it out:
http://www.tinakuglerstudio.com

Vagina Monologues poster

2010-02-01T13:02:00.002-06:00

At the Bubbler Theatre, Manitowoc. Go see it!
Also, by including the word "vagina" in a blog post, my blog is totally going to get like six million hits. Thanks, Eve Ensler!

house cutaway view for textbook

2010-01-22T12:30:00.002-06:00

Ever look at a house diagram in your foreign language textbook, with the rooms and furniture labeled, and wonder, "who draws that?"
I DO.

Textbook Señoritas

2010-01-14T14:22:00.005-06:00

Another job I finished awhile ago for Teacher's Discovery. 22 Señoritas! I am just posting three.

illustration friday- "confined"

2010-01-13T14:19:00.001-06:00

A quick one for Illustration Friday.

Bookmuncher

2010-01-09T18:51:00.001-06:00

A spot illo for the SCBWI Bulletin. I've been so busy I haven't had time to draw anything for myself!

another budget christmas idea/illustration friday "crunchy"

2009-11-28T09:36:00.007-06:00

My pal Jessica reminded me of a post from Christmas 2007 with a recipe for homemade hot cocoa mix (a fab budget Christmas idea), so here is another one just for dogs. (Also, a thoughtful hostess gift if your hostess has a pooch!)

Above is a label design (fits Avery 8164) to slap on a jar or brown paper lunch bag or whatever you choose to put them in. If you use it, all I ask is that you link back to my blog or mention me frequently in conversation or send me good vibes or something. (Or, you know, get me a book deal or something.)

Dog Treat Cookies
2 c all-purpose flour
1 c oats
1/2 c peanut butter
about 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 cups hot water
2 chicken bouillon cubes (dissolved in the water)

Preheat oven to 350.
Combine ingredients in a bowl, add enough water for a stiff but not too sticky batter.
With wet hands, roll each blob of dough into a 1-inch ball (or slightly larger), then mash flat with your hands. Place on a foil-lined cookie sheet.
(If you want to be fancy, you can roll em out & cut em with a cute bone cookie cutter, but seriously, who has time for that? Okay, well, maybe you do. Anyway, the dog isn't going to care.)
Bake for 40 minutes. Let cool on a rack before serving/packing. Makes about 2 dozen.

These have been approved by Harryhausen.

illustration friday- "unbalanced"

2009-11-18T09:12:00.002-06:00

experimenting with less linework...
p.s. thanks for all the comments! wow!

busy busy poster commissions!

2009-11-06T16:59:00.003-06:00

Here are two posters I did for the Holiday Hullabaloo indie art & craft fair (contact Kim at Persimmons if you want "in" as a vendor),
and one for the very new and very fantastic Bubbler Theatre (also home of the Babbling Bubblers improv group).
Yay art & theatre!!

Art opening Friday Nov. 6th!!

2009-10-27T08:17:00.004-06:00

7pm Friday, Nov. 6.
Featuring live music by Jeremiah Jams.
At Stumpjack Coffee Company, 1606 Washington St., Two Rivers.
Questions? Call Stumpjack at 553-JAVA.
All art will be for sale. Do all of your holiday shopping in one place!

The blurb:
The Portrait Show, a collection of invented portraits in graphite and watercolor by Wisconsin artists Carson and Tina Kugler. Best known for their work for Nickelodeon and Disney, the Kuglers are also accomplished illustrators and have had their work exhibited alongside Caldecott award winners. They also run a logo design company, Handmade Logo Design. In his spare time, Carson Kugler teaches high school art.

illustration friday- "frozen"

2009-10-21T13:07:00.002-06:00

you say "frozen," i say ICE CREAM!

Handmade Logo Design!

2009-10-20T12:01:00.006-06:00

Announcing Handmade Logo Design!
Just another, uh, handy service offered by your pal Tina (and also Carson, who is working on a really fab one right now)- we do logo design! Warm, homemade, hand drawn, homespun, organic charming logos! Not the slick cold corporate kind, the lovely handmade kind. Well, still on a computer, so you can actually use it.
We also design hand-drawn blog headers (like, um, mine that you see on this blog) and etsy shop headers.
Click here to see some of mine that I've posted on this blog.
Need a logo? Contact us at tinakuglerstudio (at)gmail(dot)com to discuss your project.

another logo design

2009-10-13T08:04:00.002-06:00

This one is for a nifty bag-making venture, with a ren faire theme. She makes fab dice bags too. As soon as she gets her website up I'll post a link!

Need a hand-drawn logo or business card design? Album cover? Contact me! tinakuglerstudio(at)gmail(dot)com

Upcoming Gallery Show!

2009-10-04T08:19:00.003-06:00

Hey kids!
We (as in myself & Carson, as opposed to the royal "we")
are having another gallery show at Stumpjack Coffee Company in Two Rivers, WI.
The opening will be Friday, November 6th. More details to come!

Sputnikfest 2009!

2009-09-13T08:14:00.005-06:00

Had a GREAT time at Sputnikfest 2009!
So nice to see so many friendly faces during the poster signing!!
There are some copies still available for purchase for $20 plus shipping from the Rahr-West, 920-683-4501, but quantities are limited!

P.S. Special thanks to my buddy John (pictured, above) and the Midwest Garrison for their appearance again this year. They were a huge hit!! Get ready for Sputnikfest 2010!

(me & my minions)

My car wash sign is up!!

2009-08-28T09:59:00.000-06:00

Get that car washed in style.

storytime helper

2009-08-27T08:31:00.001-06:00

from a book idea I'm working on...

Sputnikfest 2009!

2009-08-17T12:02:00.003-06:00

Saturday, September 12th! I will be signing my 2009 Sputnikfest poster- a hand-screened edition of 100, 1pm-3pm, at the Rahr-West Art Museum during Sputnikfest-
610 N. 8th St., Manitowoc, WI; ph 920-683-4501. Sorry, no reserves or presales! Please contact the Rahr-West with questions.

And- check this out! Mr. Mike Hynek of Appleton, WI liked the Sputnikgirl design so much he got a TATTOO of it! It was done by TJ Rappel at Oshkosh Tattoo and Good Girl Piercing. Fab!!

new portfolio website!

2009-08-04T12:56:00.003-06:00

My new portfolio website is here:
http://tinakuglerstudio.com

Which means this, that you are reading, right here, is now just my blog.

illustration friday- "modify"

2009-08-02T22:41:00.002-06:00

just did this lillie lemon gig poster for stumpjack coffee and since it features a modified lemon, thought i'd post it for illustration friday.
cheers.
p.s. why yes, i'll do CD covers too.

Editor's Choice! Me!

2009-07-21T19:52:00.003-06:00

Hooray, I was chosen as an EDITOR'S CHOICE & featured on the front page of the extremely cool Illustrationmundo.com with the big kids. I raise my cup of coffee in humble gratitude.

commissions! yes i can!

2009-05-14T07:29:00.003-06:00

a very thoughtful pal commissioned this piece for his lovely wife for mother's day.

wish you had thought of that? why yes, i can do one for you too- just email me at thetinashow(at)gmail(dot)com and i can whip up a custom piece of art! no job too small!

illustration friday- "parade"

2009-05-08T07:58:00.003-06:00

oooh, had this one done already and oh boy, it works with this week's illustration friday theme! nine am with one jelly donut down and i am SO productive already, look at me.

in which i am kind of a big deal

2009-04-20T08:42:00.002-06:00

(from "Ivan the Elf's Christmas Vacation" book pitch)

If you find yourself in the vicinity of Neenah, Wisconsin, please check out the children's book illustration show at the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum. It features the work of Gerald McDermott, Kevin Henkes, Arthur Geisert (whom you may note are all VERY BIG DEAL illustrators), AND (ahem) yours truly and her fantastic husband too!!
So please stop in and check it out! My work is being shown digitally (which is pretty cool) on a screen in the reception area. It will be on display until June. Along with the artwork of those other guys too.

Yay! Consumerist.com used my illustration!

2009-04-09T17:25:00.000-06:00

http://consumerist.com/5205528/5-tips-for-getting-unstuck-from-a-miserable-job

Check it out!

Gallery opening!

2009-03-24T11:28:00.003-06:00

Hey everybody! Come on down (err, over) to Two Rivers for our new gallery show at Stumpjack Coffee. The husband has been doing some really fantastic delicate surrealist watercolors, and I have a few pieces up too (see picture above for my stuff, we didn't photograph his paintings yet since we had to scramble to get 'em there on time).

Carson Kugler Gallery Opening
with live music by Joe LaForce & Mike Retzinger
Friday, March 27 at 7:00pm
Stumpjack Coffee Company
1606 Washington St.
Two Rivers, WI 54241
920-553-5282 (553-JAVA)
http://stumpjack.blogspot.com

preschool storytime

2009-02-22T15:31:00.001-06:00

first, the black & white spot illustration...

then, as a free printable coloring page! just click on the image & print it.

now, some REAL art

2009-02-11T19:12:00.005-06:00

okay, so my computer died, but duty (well, dave) called, so i did this quick one with actual paper and pigments and liquids. you can click on it for proof.
also, please go to the snorb! show at stumpjack for the best valentine's day ever. p.s. i am up & running again now, thanks for your concern.

illustration friday- "pale"

2009-01-21T09:16:00.001-06:00

an experiment for illustration friday: "pale"
an attempt without my usual outline.

Senorita Illustration

2009-01-14T10:32:00.002-06:00

For a Spanish textbook by Teacher's Discovery Publishing.

is it spring yet?

2009-01-14T10:04:00.002-06:00

first, the rough...

and the happy clean-up.
A header for the SCBWI-Wisconsin spring newsletter.

another book pitch

2008-12-01T12:42:00.001-06:00

from another book pitch i am working on for my fab agent and another fab author. cross everything for me.

working through the monkeys

2008-12-01T09:49:00.002-06:00

another scribbly one for SCBWI.
(this is what it feels like when i am trying to do ANYTHING.)
also, you can now buy this on a coffee mug at my cafe press shop.

fake CD cover art- illustration friday "vacant"

2008-11-05T13:01:00.003-06:00

a quick made-up CD cover featuring a made-up band for illustration friday, "vacant."
p.s. if you have a real band and want a cover illustration for your real CD, let me know!

more spot illos

2008-10-08T09:29:00.001-06:00

For upcoming SCBWI Bulletins...

sputnik ink

2008-10-01T08:00:00.003-06:00

here you go! it's the line art for my sputnikgirl, ready for your next tattoo! because what better way to deal with the financiapocolypse than to get another tattoo? seriously.
p.s. send me a pic if you get her inked & i'll post it. thetinashow(at)gmail(dot)com

Sputnikfest highlights

2008-09-08T12:45:00.002-06:00

my son & his new bodyguard

me & my pal Vader

saucermen! run for your lives!

a giant THANK YOU to kim from persimmons & barb & everyone at the rahr-west art museum for making it happen! it was SO much fun and i hope it becomes an annual tradition! also thank you to the fantastic people from the midwest garrison and everyone who made the event such a massive success!
(and thanks to everyone who bought a poster! i think the rahr-west still has a few if you didn't get yours yet!)

Spotnik for Sputnikfest!

2008-09-02T08:16:00.007-06:00

oh! and here's my rough:

Based on the gigantor demand for my Sputnikgirl poster (thanks everybody!), the Rahr-West Art Museum in Manitowoc commissioned me to do a poster just for them to sell for Sputnikfest! Spotnik the Atomic Wonder Dog is a 16x20 hand screenprinted poster, hand signed & numbered edition of 100, exclusively available through the Rahr-West (920-683-4501) for $20. And yes that is metallic silver!

Sales begin today, but!
Saturday, Sept 6th (during Sputnikfest!) I will be doing a poster signing at the Rahr from 2-4pm!
Here is how to get there (and consequently to Sputnikfest.)
Make sure you check out the totally fab Artta This World art fair that will be going on outside too! Plus there will be Star Wars dudes from the 501st Midwest Garrison roaming around! And all kinds of other crazy space stuff! If you are even still reading my post this point you should totally come to Sputnikfest. If Manitowoc was good enough for a chunk of Sputnik, isn't it good enough for you? They are dressing up the COW for pete's sake!

PS. David from Stumpjack took some pics (look at the end of the set) at my Sputnik Girl poster signing at Persimmons. Warning: I do not photograph well, which is most likely one of the reasons I am not a supermodel. Thanks David, uh, I guess...

for everyone who looked at a jackson pollock & said "i could do that"

2008-09-01T14:24:00.003-06:00

the husband showed me this cool link he found while prepping for classes:
http://jacksonpollock.org/
(just move your mouse over the screen & click to change paint color.)

then let your kid give it a shot. the 6-year old totally did a much better job than i did.

one- well, okay two for the show

2008-08-06T21:47:00.006-06:00

meet a couple of the girls for my upcoming tina show at persimmons...
note i am using actual watercolor instead of digital, and boy is my desk a disaster.

extra! extra!

2008-08-03T07:06:00.002-06:00

or something.
hey, i'm the paper today with my sputnik girl poster. read it here.
also, note the photo is me working on a different piece than described in the caption. and i am trying to suck in my stomach, which is my natural impulse when anyone is nearby with a camera. (isn't that what all successful illustrators are concerned with?)

in which i realize i've come a long way

2008-07-30T22:10:00.004-06:00

okay, so this is a piece i just finished...anyway, it's a re-working of an old piece (below) that i did in april 2007, which was my very first piece i did on my beloved cintiq with corel painter.
that's, uh, a little different.

My first solo show!

2008-07-18T20:38:00.005-06:00

Hey kids, your old pal Tina is having her VERY FIRST SOLO EXHIBITION (and sale) EVER so you had better show up if you know what's good for you. Or so I've heard. Anyway, it will also be the release party for my very fab Sputnik Girl poster (a silkscreened edition of 100, only $18 a pop, yes I will be signing them). There will also be original artwork for sale and seriously, most of my pieces will be recession-priced at $50 or less.
Friday, August 15th from 6 to 9pm at Persimmons Art & Vintage Gallery, 314 N. 8th St., Manitowoc, WI; phone 920-684-3006.

another sketchbook page

2008-07-13T21:20:00.001-06:00

stream-of-consciousness. or lack thereof. the baby is sleeping so i get a chance to draw. hence the emptying of the mental lint collector.

sketchbook page*

2008-07-13T20:46:00.001-06:00

*okay, i drew it on my tablet. so it's a hypothetical sketchbook page.

(drum roll)...Sputnikgirl poster!

2008-06-23T10:47:00.014-06:00

Click for a close-up! This is a limited-edition (of 100) hand-numbered silkscreened 13x20 poster (with metallic silver!) I will be selling for Sputnikfest. Want one? Friday, Aug. 15th I will be doing a poster signing from 6-9pm at P ersimmons in Manitowoc, and after that they will also be available at the Rahr-West Art Museum in Manitowoc and Stumpjack Coffee in Two Rivers.

UPDATED UPDATE: (as of 8/21) I am sold out of my personal stash! Please contact any of the above-listed businesses if you want one. They are going fast! (Yay!)

She is a refined version of an older concept I had- with the skirt of aluminum Christmas tree branches, made in Manitowoc.
Hey! Also! In other Sputnikfest news, calling all Star Wars fans! We are totally working on getting the Midwest Garrison of the 501st, a Star Wars costuming group (just click the dang link and look at the pictures, people!) to appear at the Rahr-West on Saturday, Sept 6th from 1:30-4pm. YAY!

promotional me

2008-06-23T08:26:00.003-06:00

a self-portrait for promotional purposes. this is me approximately 9-10 months out of the year. here is what i look like during the remaining 2-3 months.
(warning: link not for the faint-of-heart or during breakfast)

4, 3, 2, 1, Spotnik!

2008-06-15T08:08:00.002-06:00

Coming to a T-shirt near you, it's my Spotnik design for Sputnikfest!
You ARE coming to Sputnikfest, right?

the horror of running errands

2008-06-03T11:43:00.001-06:00

a rough & the color version...

gig poster

2008-05-22T13:59:00.003-06:00

here is a gig poster i did for a july show at stumpjack for a band called them damn kids (out of chicago).
what's that, bunky? you need an artist for a gig poster too? or a CD cover illustration? well, i need to buy diapers, so email me!
thetinashow (at) gmail (dot) com

portfolio study- kindergarten class picture

2008-05-18T14:35:00.002-06:00

and here is the pencil rough:
I found this great link about building a better illustration portfolio, so I did a study from an old photo (my kindergarten class picture). I'm the one in the glasses.
Also, the girl with the missing front teeth and the ripped tights & band-aid is real.

from The Scroobious Pip

2008-05-15T13:35:00.002-06:00

These are from a dummy book i am working on, illustrating the Edward Lear poem The Scroobious Pip (which is one of my all-time faves).
Also, in unrelated Tina news, I am mulling over returning to school to finish my degree. Unfortunately I would have to take Pre-Calc, and all of this gestating & birthing business has reduced my brain to marmalade, so I'm not so sure...

in which i draw myself as a teen-ager, as instructed

2008-05-12T20:42:00.003-06:00

and an homage to frida kahlo's the two fridas. i was OBSESSED with frida in high school.
this was inspired by the "draw yourself as a teenager" meme, i saw my flickr pal (aka imaginary friend) john martz's take on it & was duly inspired.
technically, this level of self-ridicule belongs on my other blog, but i couldn't resist doing it as a painting.

illo for logo! (say that twelve times fast)

2008-05-07T07:50:00.007-06:00

An illustration for a new logo for the completely wonderful webstore, ThePortableBaby.com.
Check out their fab baby (and toddler) gear. Seriously, I will take one of everything.
Also, thank you Dominic for the referral!

See below for roughs, etc. if you care about that sort of thing.A "final rough" before full color:
A different design rough:
Another different design rough:
Oh! And Ms. Laura (my lovely client) just wrote a really funny post (which is quite flattering, thanks) on her own funny mom blog about her attempts to have said logo redesigned in the first place.

In closing, yes folks, I am available for hire! No job too small! Contact me at thetinashow(at)gmail(dot)com.

the book pitch

2008-04-26T20:57:00.004-06:00

Here are a couple images from the book pitch I am working on with my fabulous agent and a fabulous author. It is about an elf that goes on vacation.

illustration friday- "primitive"

2008-04-22T09:51:00.005-06:00

Wouldn't she make a fab tattoo?
An experiment in a more primitive style...for illustration friday.com, "primitive."
Also a plug for Manitowoc's Sputnikfest this September! (A piece of Sputnik 4 landed in Manitowoc, WI in 1962, so we are having a big crazy festival...)
(A nod to Lebowski's valkryie with Sputniks instead of bowling balls...and her pose with the two guns is inspired by a Gail Davis Annie Oakley pic above my computer...)
Note also her skirt is made of fantastic aluminum Christmas tree branches (which were also made in Manitowoc- did you know that?)
Update:
I was screwing around in Photoshop and made a screen-print version:

Can't decide which version I like better.

it's promo time again

2008-04-17T11:16:00.006-06:00

my latest promo postcard. (phone number goes in blank spot. not putting phone number on blog. no offense, weirdos.)
also, here is what i'm working on that i couldn't post. so everyone out there cross your fingers & whatnot for me...
and get off my back about updating my blogs! ha.

a story

2008-04-04T09:25:00.006-06:00

hi. i'm tired and i have some little things i'm working on that i can't post. (this is good, actually.)
anyhoo, in the meantime, my pal kim (hi kim) tagged me awhile back. (like at the end of february.)
so rather than list a bunch of stuff about myself, i will tell you one story. it is a true story.
are you ready? good.
we used to live in los angeles, and went back there when our son was about 18 months old to visit friends. we went to the birthday party of a friend of a friend. there was a guy there with an unusual voice who kept teasing our sweet, adorable, wide-eyed toddler ("look at those blue eyes!" "show me your belly!" etc). he was vaguely familiar. once we got back to the car we talked with our friends and discovered it was the actor who played BUFFALO BILL FROM SILENCE OF THE LAMBS.
the end.