Next, I make lots of loose sketches in my favorite soft ebony pencils (which my kids are always taking!) until I'm happy. Then I clean up the lines with a marker.

Even though I do my artwork the old-fashioned way with ink and watercolor, the computer comes in handy for making a book dummy. A “dummy” is as close to a real book as I can make so that an editor can see how the book will read with the words and the pictures together. I scan in my sketches, add the text, and print the whole thing.

When it’s time for final art I transfer my sketches onto bristol board using graphite paper. I add shading and detail with my pencil. This makes it easier to ink. This is the fun part– it’s very relaxing! I use a fine-nibbed pen dipped in india ink to draw the illustrations.

I always let the ink dry at least overnight to prevent it from bleeding when I paint with watercolor. First I put down light washes then slowly build the colors in strength. I lose myself painting and time passes very quickly. The hardest part is knowing when to stop! Sometimes at the end of the day when I’m tired I’ll think a piece looks awful and it will have to be redone. Yet like magic it’s usually fine in the morning.

One thing I’ve learned is that the art never looks as good on paper as it does in my imagination. But then I remember that it’s all part of learning and growing. And hopefully that never ends!