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Author, Illustrator, Creative Guy willstrong.art@gmail.com

Monday, May 31, 2010

A Job For BYU

I just finished up a job for LDS Philanthropies (located on BYU campus.)  It was a fun job.  Really nice people.  These are some of the illos for the job.



Friday, May 14, 2010

What Do T-Rex Kids Want to Be When They Grow Up?

Another sketch of the main character in my current Picture Book project.  Obviously, T-Rex kids want to be the only thing cooler than being an actual T-Rex:  a T-Rex with cardboard wings and horns.  Like So:


These quick Photoshop sketches are fun.  No pressure.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Fun With Kids and Books



On Saturday I'll be hanging out at the Provo City Public Library with a bunch of cool children's authors and illustrators (local and otherwise.)  There will be fun times for all.  Bring the kids.

Press Release Type Information Follows:


Saturday, May 15, 2010, 12 Noon - 5:00 pm at the Provo City Library
Featuring Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm, dynamic sister-and-brother superduo, author and illustrator of Babymouse.

Also including a host of activities for children and their families, with children's crafts, games, giveaways and prizes; visits from favorite characters like Clifford, Wild Thing, and Curious George; author presentations and signings, puppet shows, and a visit from the world-famous Infernal Twister, balloon-tying extraordinaire!

Food, beverages, and candy will be available for purchase.

EVERY child that attends gets a FREE book!

Also featuring local favorite authors and illustrators: Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, Brandon Sanderson, Mette Ivie Harrison, Clint Johnson, Dene Low, Randall Wright, Carla Morris, Kristyn Crow, Sharlee Glenn, Wendy Toliver, Kristin Chandler, Sara Zarr, Emily Wing Smith, Mike Knudson, Ann Dee Ellis, Maryn Roos, Guy Francis, Nathan Hale, Sherry Meidell, Julie Olson, J. Scott Savage, and Ann Bowen!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Grrr! Roar!

You probably can't tell from looking at my poor, barren blog, but I have been working a lot lately.  I've been busting out a dummy book for a picture book that I've been working on for about the last 4 years off and on (mostly off.)  The book is about this guy:



He's really very friendly.  I promise.  He wouldn't hurt a fly.  More sketches to come.  

Dang it feels good to post a drawing again.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Frank Passes On

I'm not sure to which afterlife he is headed (probably Valhalla) but Frank Frizetta passed away this afternoon.  His work was of mostly ridiculous things like barbarians fighting the undead, but what can I say?  I love the guy's work (mostly.)  He was dang good at what he did.



Bye Frank.  Say "hi" to Odin for me.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

First Graders are Fun

Since I graduated from BYU just a bit ago I've been trying to start up my illustration career.  But on the days that I don't have illustration jobs (which is quite a few because I don't have an art rep yet) I moonlight as substitute teacher.  Today I subbed for a class full of first graders which was really fun and way different than subbing for 5th and 6th graders.  

Throughout the day we read a bunch of different stories about space, astronauts and the solar system.  At the end of the day every kid got to make a planet of their very own and paint said planet with good ol' Crayola watercolors.  On the back of the planet each kid wrote a description of their planet.

Here's mine: