Juggling

When I first started as a freelance illustrator, I had an idea of myself working on one children's book after another in a quiet studio somewhere.  I have worked on many great children's books over the years, but instead of a manageable linear progression of books, my work looks more like a juggling act of several different types of projects at any one time.

On my plate most recently:
This past year I have been working on a science app with a local education engineer/programmer.  This has been an interesting job with lots of little illustrations.  I am currently painting a sun and have painted viruses, dna, and nebulas, among many other things.  Stay tuned for more on that.

  
I have just finished illustrating an educational reader about two Indonesian villages.


I completed sketches for another reader about tidal pools in Northern California a week ago.


I finally finished layout for a magazine I design, and have just turned it over to the printer.


When I have free time, I work on some of my own ideas for stories.

When working in a creative field, it is important to be flexible and see opportunity in all that you do.  In magazine layout, there is an opportunity to learn more about design.  In educational jobs, there is an opportunity to improve painting skills.  In app creation, there is an opportunity to learn about the subject you research and about technology. 

There's lots for me to learn, and I hope for continued opportunities to learn on the job in the future.