Illustration Friday - "early"

The early bird gets the worm....sometimes.

What's On My Desk

Even though I'm not at liberty to announce what I'm currently working on I think it will be ok for me to post a few sketches from the project. These sketches are characters that will appear in a book I'm working on for Dutton. It's a really fun book and I can't wait to start painting it as soon as all my sketches are approved.

I still haven't figured out how to draw with my Wacom tablet - I can paint with it but I can't get the sensitivity I get with pencil and paper. Perhaps it's the lack of texture provided by the tablet - or the disconnect between my hand, eye, and computer monitor. I continue to force myself to practice it until frustration wins and I hit print and finish it on paper.

CTA Poster

I was asked to render art to celebrate California's "Day of the Teacher" celebration on May 12. I really enjoyed trying to incorporate multiple career choices into the city scape. I could play with those shapes all day! Thanks Jonathan for the great feedback and colaboration!

CTA POSTER from will terry on Vimeo.

Fat Guy on a Little Board

Sometimes you just have to get out of the studio and recharge...sometimes you have to do this daily - this is my routine...alas, there will only be a few more chances this year. I decided to film todays walk because I like making videos and....and...and...now you know that.

Fat Guy on a Little Board from will terry on Vimeo.

San Francisco School Visit

Two weeks ago I visited Buena Vista elementary in San Francisco to talk to students about the importance of reading. We read Armadilly Chili to the kids - as that is the book that the state of California picked as their Read Across America book for 2010-2011. I felt so honored to be part of their state wide celebration.

Here I am with David Sanchez (president of the CTA) and Dennis Kelly (president of the United Educators of San Francisco).

The kids were great! Kids are the same no matter where you go and it's always fun to share my art with them and listen in as they whisper to eachother. (psss - that artist must really like food) :)

Check out the video they shot during our visit:


Check out more about Read Across America in California

Painting Just For Because!!!

I love my work and I love the projects I'm working on right now but sometimes I get an urge to create something different and that feeling will naw at me until I stuff it with a free painting day.

This was a sketch I did while in church (of course I was listening - shut up)and I thought it would be fun to record it and set it to music - I've always loved this Tori Amos song. I'm still loving photoshop as well...now I want a bigger badder computer...and a cintique.

A Fairytale from will terry on Vimeo.

Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers

I'm posting this on my blog because this is such an awesome conference - the best one in the country according to several New York publishers I talked to at last years conference. Basically it's like this: If you want to get published all of your questions will be answered at this event. In addition, the wealth of information given will speed you on your way to your publishing goals. The list of authors and illustrators who first attended this conference and then went on to be published is as long as it is impressive.

From the Conference staff:

You can now register for The 2010 Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers Conference!

This year's conference will be held June 14-June 18, 2010, and promises to be an exciting week. Our new venue in Sandy, UT, is large and full of light. And we're working with the wonderful bookstore
The King's English! As usual, we have an amazing, award-winning faculty, too.

Our faculty includes:
Rick Walton and Cheri Earl--who will team-teach the Beginning Class www.rickwalton.com
Bonny Becker--who will teach a Picture Book class www.bonnybecker.com
Kristyn Crow--who will teach a Picture Book class www.kristyncrow.com
Mike Knudson--who will teach a Chapter Book class www.mikeknudson.com
Kevin Hawkes--who will teach the Illustration Class www.kevinhawkes.com
Emily Wing Smith--who will teach the Beginning Novel Class www.emilywingsmith.com
Ann Dee Ellis--who will teach the Contemporary Novel Class www.anndeeellis.com
Alane Ferguson--who will teach an Intermediate/Advanced Novel Class www.alaneferguson.com
Sara Zarr--who will teach an Intermediate/Advanced Novel Class www.sarazarr.com
Brandon Mull--who will teach a Fantasy Class www.brandonmull.com
Dave Wolverton (Dave Farland)--who will teach a Fantasy Class www.davidfarland.net

Editors and Agent:
Jennifer Hunt from Little, Brown
Kate Angelella from Simon and Schuster
Mary Kole from Andrea Brown Agency

Thursday Afternoon Presenter:
Mary E Pearson (The Miles Between, The Admiration of Jenna Fox, A Room on Lorelei Street, Scribbler of Dreams, David v. God)
www.marypearson.com


If you can't spend the whole day with us, look into attending the afternoon sessions.
Additional speakers will include Will Terry, Guy Francis, Ally Condie, Jennifer Grillone, Kirk Shaw, Matthew Kirby, Sydney Salter

For more information, and to register, please go to www.foryoungreaders.com

CTA Book Signing

Over the weekend I got to represent the California Teachers Association again with my Armadilly Chili Book. It was a blast and I even got to say a few words in front of the group.

I couldn't believe how they crammed more than a million people in the ballroom.

We SOLD OUT on Saturday afternoon - I couldn't believe it! over 500 books! They even made a plush out of Tex the tarantula - you can buy it here.

They took very good care of us - too good!

On Sunday we drove down to visit illustrator Steve Gray in Hermosa Beach. He's a great guy and a decorated illustrator - he won the Grand Canyon Reader award last year for his Coyote book.

Steve uses one of those nifty Cintiq Tablets to render his illustrations. He used to do quite a bit of advertising illustration back in the day and his studio walls are decorated with many impressive and recognizable work.

Pick up a copy and enjoy his wacky drawing and wonderful color and Jennifer Ward's great story.

You can't go all the way to the beach without actually getting your feet wet right?

I guess we weren't the only ones having a good weekend.

New Book Project

This is an image for a book project I'm currently working on and unless you just arrived on this planet you already know what the book is. I wanted to make an image that would bring a slight twist on this classic tale and I thought playing with the scale of the troll might make my piece more unique. Can you tell if I painted this traditionally or digitally?

I've always been puzzled when musicians re-make a well-known song yet fail to put their own artistry into the performance. I hope I can give this book freshness so that both adults and children can appreciate it.

Part of my process has always been to work from a warm tone over the entire surface - and then I add tone to the shadow areas.


I combined two sketches because I was having a hard time drawing the Troll where I wanted him in one sketch. I used photoshop to get it right...and the painting was also done in photoshop. - Brushes that never run out of paint! Undo! Copy Paste! Endless Adjustments! Speed! No Shipping Costs!

I'm Un-Represented Again

I’m now a free agent and in a position to negotiate my own contracts with my clients. It was a good ride with Shannon Associates but due to creative differences we have now parted ways. It was great to work with that company and we did many wonderful projects together. I’m now on my own again and embracing the freedom this affords me. If you have a project that you think might be a good match for me please call or email me direct – 801-368-7568.

Well I've been busy at night working on this painting trying to gain more control with photoshop and I'm happy with the results on this one. I'm still experimenting with the texture but I think in most parts of the painting it's working out. If you have my book The Frog with the Big Mouth you might recognize the little froggy in the lower right. I've always been jealous of digital painters for the ability to rip themselves off - now I get to do it!

This piece was a "just for fun" painting but now I feel I'm ready to send out digital art to my clients. So if you're a client and don't mind working with a new digital guy I'd love to chat. I love the ability it gives me to work on details and erase unwanted paint and the control over color and value are undeniable.

I.F. Wilderness

Did this one a way back when - for an ad agency.

Las Vegas CTA trip

It's never a good idea to send Wayne and I to Las Vegas. We went once before and it's the reason wayne is listed in the Guiness book of world records under human appendage modifications.

We walked around.

The California Teachers Association chose one of my books - Armadilly Chili for their Read Across America book for 2010 and 2011. What an incredible honor! They will bring me out two or three times this year and next year to sign my book at their conferences. It's was so fun to hang out with their committee members in Vegas.

We learned that the famous Faberge egg company just went out of business 3 weeks ago (don't know if this is true but the dealer made sure we knew that there is now a supply and demand issue) It would have been a good idea for us to have been rich before this trip.

I don't think he wanted his picture taken.

I.F. Confined

Here's a quick and dirty for IF - Just foolin with photo's and paint - I think more time thrown at it could produce something cool.

Loving Photoshop!

I have a new secret love affair and I'm pretty sure my wife will be down with it...until I spend too much time her. Her name is Photoshop and she's so cute! The way she responds to gentle clicking - her color - and those deep dark shadows! Her pixels drive me wild!

I wish I could take the credit but I must send a shout out to Jed Henry who wet nursed me through the process. Oh there were a few choice words at first - a tear here and there but in the end I'm so happy with the process he helped me with. Thanks Jed!

This was an old sketch I dug out to fool around with - he was originally sketched for a Rosa's restaurant painting I did 6 or 7 years ago. El Senior Monteban - quite dapper and oozing with confidence.

What do you think of my digital art?

Up until now I've only fooled around with painting in photoshop. I started painting backgrounds for my paintings in photoshop due to the advice of Jim Madsen(represented by Shannon Associates) but never really tried to fully render a sketch. The day after Christmas was a day for putting together toys, searching for more batteries, playing Acquire, watching Avatar, and squeezing in a little time to experiment with photoshop. This is what I came up with.

I made this sketch for a book that got canceled (bummer) but since I liked it I decided it would be the guinea pig.

So, I'm looking for your opinion - what do you guys think I could do to make this a better piece? Thanks in advance for you input!

Merry Christmas

Here's an image I did a few years ago but I just came across it...too bad I didn't find it a week ago huh? This was used for packaging and posters for the Yankee Candle company. It was a really fun project to work on and I liked how it turned out.

I'm Not Worthy!!!

10 min Frog from will terry on Vimeo.

You’re probably thinking that I’m going to apologies for my content drought since July…I think we’re way beyond that don’t you? I mean it’s obvious that I’m not worthy right? But every good slacker has a “good” excuse right? So here’s mine:

The sun was in my eyes…my alarm clock didn’t go off…my dog chewed my power cord…how bout this one: I suck.

The truth is I’ve had 2 books cancel and one postponed for a year due to the economy – very frustrating. I’ve been working on a bunch of book covers for Element but they prefer I don’t share that work until after they’ve been published. So I’ve been in an art funk since August.

I’ve been filling the rest of my time with a few new money making ventures. Of all things I’ve started stock trading with a great new system I recently found. I never thought I’d become a trader (not traitor haha) but this system was designed for morons so I easily qualified. Also, I’m working with a non-profit company that not only helps people get out of debt – they also help you increase your monthly income. I won’t cross-pollinate this blog by giving the details here but if anyone is interested call me at 801-368-7568.

So what’s up with this video? I finally felt the art deprivation bug chewing on the back of my neck so I decided to do something purely for fun. This photoshop painting was done in just over 10 min. I paint characters like this for my school visits and project them on a movie screen for assemblies. I like to give kids a taste of what my paintings are like and they seem to like it. I love how quiet a few hundred 2nd and 3rd graders become when I start painting my little frog, gator or boar with my Wacom tablet.

Shameless plug alert: I could come to a school near you to paint this lil fella if you want – just put me in touch with your librarian or media specialist.

ALA Chicago Trip

So.....I'm not going to apologize for not posting for such a long time - I've been busy - and again, my clients won't let me show the stuff I've been working on until it's published. I just got back from Chicago - Rick Walton, Guy Francis and I drove to the American Library Association Conference back there. We went to promote ourselves to librarians since they recommend books for awards and consumers. It's an amazing conference/Expo - anything and everything that is used in a library is being pitched, sold, recommended, hucked, and pushed. From furniture to books it's all there - and so were we.

We stayed with Eric Rohmann and Candy Fleming in the suburbs the first night - thanks guys for being such wonderful hosts - they invited publicists, editors, authors, librarians, and a few illustrators to a party - Rick gave schmoozing demos.

Rick put Eric's Caldecott to good use - it was just collecting dust after all.

The view from our hotel - thank you Albert Whitman for putting us up.

We found Laura Seeger signing her books.

My cat allergy wasn't that bad in Chicago.

Guy finally found a hat that fit.

Rick was almost arrested for public intoxication - we convinced the authorities he was writting a book about poles - sequel to Holes.

I got to sign in the Albert Whitman booth.

We found Kristyn's book and took a really stupid picture with it - I don't really know what the purpose was other than to look really stupid - sorry Kristyn - we un-cooled your cool book.

If your in Chicago go here - you can start out your day feeling like you just had breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Why did we go here on a Sunday? and stand infront of this sign? and get our picture taken?

We needed women in our group! WHY OH WHY WEREN'T THERE WOMEN WITH US?!!??!!

I got to sign again at a party.

At the Caldecott banquet we heard from Beth Krommes and Neil Gaimon - great speaches on their medals.

Me and Beth - She asked me what I thought of her limited palette - WOW - she....asked me!

Neil was very excited to have yet another photo taken with two strangers - PUT UP WITH IT NEIL!!! HAHA.

Me and uri shulevitz....WOW!

We came, we conquered, ....we stopped for nothing!!! NOTHING I TELL YOU!!! (It's 1:30 AM)

We thought we had seen it all - then on the drive home.......