Jennifer DesAutels Illustrator

Inspired by the kids

2012-02-14T09:59:00.004-05:00

Inspired by a request for crafters at http://childsown.wordpress.com/ I'm showing you some of the toys I've made in the past few years. The designs come from the girls. Sometimes their drawings are so cute that I want them to become a stuffed animal. My skills are not as developed as Child's Own Studio but some day if I practice enough they will be. =)

Original cat drawings

Pink Cat: Now I can play with you!

Pineapple Alien Monster!

This pink cat is also a hand puppet (copied from a commercial product that had a book attached). We decided it would be fun to dress alike.

IF: Popularity

2012-02-13T17:05:00.003-05:00

Tomie dePaola Award submission

2011-12-15T13:24:00.001-05:00

Just sent in my entry! Good luck everyone! =)

Getting ready for Children's Art Showcase 2012!

2011-12-09T00:06:00.000-05:00

Once again we will exhibit artwork from Medford's 3rd and 7th graders. Hopefully we will be able to also reach out to Medford High School too.

The kids have been so excited to see their work displayed in the show. It has grown from 50 to more than 250 participants and the upcoming exhibit will hopefully include even more kids.

If you wish to support this project, I've created a supply list on the Dick Blick art supply website. We've already received a $10 donation! Thanks for supporting the arts in Medford.
http://share.dickblick.com/KvrD63L
www.dickblick.com

You can view a slideshow of the 2011 Children's Art Showcase here:
http://jenn-art.blogspot.com/2011/04/childrens-art-showcase-2011.html

Signed on for PiBoIdMo!

2011-10-24T16:33:00.004-04:00

Banner courtesy of illustrator Bonnie Adamson.

You can do it too!

IF: Soaked and forsythia blossoms

2011-05-19T19:57:00.001-04:00

Children's Art Showcase 2011

2011-04-11T23:30:00.003-04:00

This is a much-delayed post of photos the 2011 Children's Art Showcase, which happened in February. Thank you to the Friends of the Medford Family Network, Medford Arts Council, McGlynn Middle School, Medford Arts Center, Inc. and Meadow Glen Mall for assistance with this project. The teachers contributed outstanding and creative work done by Medford 3rd and 7th graders at Columbus ES, Brooks ES, and McGlynn MS.

UPDATE: we now have a Facebook page! Check out the progress of the 2012 Exhibit, which will happen in March.

IF: Winter

2010-12-27T12:24:00.001-05:00

Ok I know this looks a little scary but I hope it looks funny, too.

IF: Racing!

2010-10-25T22:10:00.002-04:00

What an awesome coincidence: the Kindergarten class has voted to name themselves the "Racing Class"! So I kicked myself into 1st gear to get this in. Sorry for the long hiatus. Happy Halloween!

P.S. Is it just me or has Halloween become a weeklong race from one event to another???

P.P.S. Michelle, I give you credit for the inspiration behind making this into an activity for my daughter's Kindergarten class! And there's nothing like a potential audience to spur a better performance. =)

IF: "Brave"

2010-03-11T01:17:00.001-05:00

It is much easier to be brave when you are not alone.

Thanks for visiting! =)

Gong xi gong xi!!

2010-02-14T22:01:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends,

Happy Chinese New Year!!

Love,

Jenn.

IF: Adrift

2010-02-12T15:31:00.000-05:00

Wheee!!

IF: "Focused" Happy Groundhog Day!

2010-02-02T00:13:00.001-05:00

So I know this isn't such an original idea but I love drawing rodents! Especially chubby sleepy ones. Maybe this little guy won't be focused enough to see a shadow...

Stay warm everybody!

Just Add Water

2010-01-11T22:59:00.000-05:00

So this is the result after I used my brush on the watercolor pencil. The colors really brightened up. It was such fun - reminds me of those magic paint coloring books!

belated IF: Crunchy

2009-12-27T01:17:00.001-05:00

Haven't been getting these out every week... Better late than never!

IF: Unbalanced

2009-11-14T15:04:00.000-05:00

This is for a card I'm making for my cousin's family. It fits the IF topic too I think!

Fall Laundry Take Two!

2009-11-12T23:43:00.000-05:00

The foliage scene needed something and I based this on Ann Marie's suggestion. The colors on the (big) little one are a little off and I need some more references to get it right but this is the general idea.

Fall laundry

2009-10-26T22:10:00.000-04:00

I have been wanting to paint the gorgeous foliage for a while. After my crit meeting yesterday afternoon I was finally inspired to get out there and do it. It has been so long since I did a painting. My older daughter was watching me and running around the yard, then decided she should be in the painting. I still think it needs something... What do you think?

IF sketches - frozen

2009-10-20T10:55:00.000-04:00

Some ideas... the top one is supposed to be a representation of writer's block. Feedback and suggestions welcome! I'll do finishes in color.

IF: "Flying"

2009-10-09T22:43:00.001-04:00

In the glow of the stage Chevalier saw that the organ bellows were stuck open. She knew she had to do something fast or the audience would get a blast! She dug her claws into the side of the balcony and clambered up. She didn't think about being scared of flying. With a deep breath, she leaped toward the bellows with her eyes wide open.

Sketch doodles and head-on squirrrel (day 7!!!)

2009-09-23T23:43:00.004-04:00

Hi guys,
Thank you so much for your feedback!! (You can click them to see larger images)
-Jenn.

Character sketch 6

2009-09-22T18:58:00.001-04:00

I want to submit this... brutally honest feedback requested!! Thanks guys!!!

IF - Infinite/Character sketch day 5

2009-09-21T22:55:00.004-04:00

Isn't Photoshop great? This was just a fun concept. I had a few different ideas for the IlloFriday topic but since this one involved a squirrel I liked it the best.

Character Sketch Day 4

2009-09-18T22:32:00.002-04:00

Character sketch day 3

2009-09-17T15:28:00.003-04:00

I am working on a head-on view of the squirrel's face without making it look angry or cartoonish. Getting there...!

Character sketch day 2

2009-09-13T23:52:00.001-04:00

Hmmm what have we here?

A Strong Squirrel

2009-09-10T23:51:00.003-04:00

Here's my flying squirrel character sketch for today.

Lubec, Maine

2009-08-26T09:46:00.007-04:00

I hope this doesn't sound too corny but I wanted to dedicate this painted sketch to Ann Marie!

Here's the long-winded story: While camping over the border on our beloved Campobello Island, NB we often cross back into the States to enjoy an awesome playground at the local school. One evening we decided to do that and I volunteered to pick up pizza. Faced with the customary 15 minute loiter in the parking lot, an idea suddenly coalesced from these elements: (a) 15 minutes + (b) all to myself + (c) with my paints in the car + (d) in the middle of a picturesque coastal village = a painted sketch of the house across the street from Kippy's Restaurant! AM, your 21-day challenges prepared me for this moment! =)

An Award

2009-08-26T00:21:00.005-04:00

Thank you so much, Ann Marie for giving me a Bella Sinclair Award. I am honored beyond words to be part of such a beautiful group of talented, witty, inspiring and dear creative friends. Please learn more about this award created by Ces in honor of Bella Sinclair.

Some very deserving friends who should receive the Bella Award:
May's artwork is so uplifting and filled with love!
Jim who finds all kinds of creative ways to get those sketches done!
Melonie spotlights inspirational mamas weekly and launched an awesome drama camp for kids!

I know you already got the award but Ann Marie and Michelle, you would have been on my list too!

3 week challenge: week 3, sketches 1

2009-08-03T22:48:00.003-04:00

I copied Jim and took to the patio while the girls played outside!

Week...2??: some more sketches

2009-07-31T00:19:00.003-04:00

Hi guys,

These sketches are inspired by our trip to see "Seussical" with some friends at a lovely theatre in the round. The theatre allowed us to keep the toddlers in their strollers which was great!

Afterwards we were picnicking outside and the older girls peeked inside one of the windows into what turned out to be the costume storage area!

I'm bummed that I've been unable to do finishes... I guess I'll have to apply for an extension! We were getting ready to go camping for a week and then the baby came down with a cold, which triggered some asthma... so that's on hold too. Oy!

3 week challenge: week 2, sketches 1-2

2009-07-27T23:32:00.002-04:00

3 week challenge: week 1, sketches 1

2009-07-23T00:37:00.003-04:00

Here are some Very Rough thumbnails (note the use of Crayola on recycled paper) for a flying squirrel encountering a small instrument similar to an accordion.

A cool place for creative mamas

2009-07-22T09:50:00.006-04:00

So I was googling "illustrator mama" in search of some inspiration/support/kindred spirits and came across this wonderful site showcasing a creative mama every week! Well, after oohing and aahing over the work of some of her spotlighted mamas, I told her how much I liked her site and she offered to feature me! I am so humbled by the kind words that Ms. Melonie has written about my work!

And, that is not all she does! I have also learned that she followed her dream and launched an awesome drama camp for PreK-K and K-5 kids in Grayslake, Illinois. You go, girlfriend!

IlloFriday: "Hollow"; (Un)painted sketch 13/21

2009-07-16T01:09:00.004-04:00

Chevalier the flying squirrel is surveying the hollow theatre organ pipes where he lives.

Painted sketch 12/21: "Shaky cat, wobbly baby"

2009-07-07T00:21:00.001-04:00

Our old cat is getting shakier while the baby gains steadiness... But they are best friends all the same!

painted sketches 10-11/21: "Critique" & "Tenting"

2009-06-22T23:51:00.005-04:00

My 4yo came with me to critique this month! =) And we also set up our monstrous tent in the family room to air out for our trip to Maine.

painted sketch 9/21

2009-06-19T21:34:00.003-04:00

painted sketch 8/21

2009-06-18T23:53:00.001-04:00

Doesn't this look like she's going to eat the flower?

painted sketch 7/21

2009-06-18T09:35:00.002-04:00

Zoo trip today!

IlloFriday: "Unfold"

2009-06-17T00:38:00.002-04:00

painted sketch 6/21: "Library Baby"

2009-06-16T22:38:00.001-04:00

Here we are in the library again... and black and white...again...

painted sketches 5/21

2009-06-16T01:11:00.003-04:00

Venturing into technicolor...This took me a lot longer than 15 minutes (more like 2:15) - gotta loosen up next time!

painted sketches 4/21

2009-06-15T22:55:00.002-04:00

painting 3/21

2009-06-13T22:52:00.003-04:00

I hope working ahead is OK (did this yesterday, but nothing today)! =)

painting 2/21

2009-06-13T16:24:00.001-04:00

Not sure what to call this one. Just some random pretend play going on here. =)

painting 1/21: "Piano Baby"

2009-06-12T00:10:00.002-04:00

OK, after a few warmups that didn't look so hot, here's one that came out pretty decent. So it took more like 1.5 hours...

21/21

2009-06-10T22:47:00.002-04:00

A scene I hope to see this summer when we all go camping on Campobello Island, NB.

AND this is sketch #21 which means...I actually finished something I started!! Thanks so much for cheering me on guys, especially Ann Marie!!

20/21: Huggy Bear ("Craving")

2009-06-09T23:24:00.002-04:00

A pencil sketch for a change. Who wouldn't crave a hug?

18-19/21: daily sketches...

2009-06-09T22:50:00.006-04:00

Shopping for a birthday present...

All partied out...

Catching up on posting... takes a darn 15 extra minutes to get the things scanned and cleaned up ya know!!

MFN 15 Year logo?

2009-06-06T11:42:00.003-04:00

First draft of the anniversary logo. MFN's tagline is "A Friend to Know...A Place to Grow" so I may add that on somewhere.

17/21: "Climbing!?!"

2009-06-05T23:37:00.005-04:00

My younger daughter started up the stairs and luckily I noticed before she went too far. She got all the way to the top pretty easily but hasn't quite figured out how to get down yet, just like a cat up a tree.

As you can probably tell I'm shamelessly using the 21 day challenge as my chance to journal my kids because other than the times when the camera comes out there's practically no record of their daily activities and even fewer words written about them. As I know now from the first one if I don't do this then it will all fly out of "the transom of my mind." =O

Chasing Butterflies (16/21)

2009-06-04T23:09:00.002-04:00

21 days sketch 15/21

2009-06-03T23:30:00.006-04:00

21 Days sketch 14/21: "Wagon Riders II"

2009-06-02T14:17:00.001-04:00

21 days sketch 13/21: "Lola's Birthday"

2009-06-02T00:13:00.002-04:00

Happy 15th to a Very Good Cat!! Meow!!

21 days sketch 12/21: "Wagon Riders"

2009-05-31T21:52:00.003-04:00

21 Days sketch 11/21: "Lost Kite"

2009-05-30T21:51:00.001-04:00

My daughter's poor friend lost his kite over the ocean today!

21 Days sketch 10/21: "Baby Drawing"

2009-05-30T13:41:00.001-04:00

21 Days Sketch 9/21: "Aliens"

2009-05-28T22:55:00.004-04:00

Here's something that I'm working on for the Medford Family Network. I'm thinking of having an alien family in a similar style to their logo (at the bottom), with a tagline something like "15 years in Medford and beyond!" Or something to that effect. This is a really rough couple of sketches (I'm wiped out tonight) but I'd still welcome suggestions.

21 Days Sketch 8/21

2009-05-28T15:48:00.001-04:00

This one didn't get posted yesterday but I did it yesterday, honest! =)

21 Days Sketches 7/21: "Balloon-happy" and "Snack"

2009-05-26T22:25:00.004-04:00

Two for today!

21 Days Sketch 7/21: "Playing"

2009-05-25T23:10:00.004-04:00

So I was trying to draw my younger daughter but every time I tried to do her face she would come over and try to get my pen! So I had to do her while she was busy and couldn't see me =). Here she is rummaging through the cupboards. Fortunately I got some photos of her too so I'll be able to sketch her face some day!

IlloFriday/21 Days Sketch 6/21: "Cracked"

2009-05-24T22:42:00.001-04:00

Multitasking again... forgive me.

21 Days Sketch 5/21: "Petals"

2009-05-23T23:41:00.003-04:00

21 Days Sketch 4/21: "Walking"

2009-05-22T23:10:00.004-04:00

21 Days Sketch 3/21: "Stampede"

2009-05-21T22:28:00.004-04:00

BTW Thanks to Ann Marie for telling me about this challenge. =)

21 Days sketch 2/21: "Sisters"

2009-05-20T23:36:00.002-04:00

IF: "Contagious"

2009-05-19T22:48:00.005-04:00

This sketch is doing double duty as my 1/21 sketch (a 15-minute sketch a day for 21 days).

IlloFriday: "Poise"

2009-03-29T22:37:00.001-04:00

Another quick one...

IlloFriday: "Subtract"

2009-03-21T02:12:00.003-04:00

IlloFriday: Flawed

2009-02-04T23:39:00.007-05:00

Looking back, I realized our plan for indoor soccer in the living room was slightly flawed!

Note: The second image is a revision of a previous one, posted for the "Pale" IlloFriday prompt. I submitted both to a New England competition on Monday. Cross your fingers for me! =)

For Marie...

2009-01-26T17:59:00.001-05:00

Here's the sketch! Thanks for considering it!
-Jenn.

Broken Vase

2009-01-19T16:21:00.005-05:00

Based on a true story! (Thanks Mel)

Billy paled as he saw the Volvo full of groceries pulling in...

Garden Seals

2009-01-19T15:43:00.004-05:00

Yup, you read that right!

IlloFriday: Contained

2009-01-13T20:25:00.002-05:00

Let's see, what does this steamer contain? Chinese buns containing a delicious red bean or savory filling. Those dumplings and those spring rolls contain yummy surprises too. And of course a red envelope containing good luck money! Happy Chinese New Year!

Swan Boat

2008-12-20T00:10:00.002-05:00

Now for something a little different... Some Fine Art! (gouache, 10x14)

IlloFriday: Similar

2008-12-09T18:48:00.002-05:00

IlloFriday: "Opinion"

2008-11-26T01:24:00.001-05:00

IlloFriday: "Pretend"

2008-11-14T14:00:00.002-05:00

My 3yo very graciously allowed me to complete this portrait of her and her friend so I let her paste a felt heart on it... Hope you like!

IlloFriday: "Wise"

2008-11-13T01:03:00.003-05:00

Kinda different... I think it could be a cool T-shirt!

IlloFriday: "Vacant"

2008-11-03T22:59:00.002-05:00

A quick one for this week!

IlloFriday: "Late"

2008-10-21T05:05:00.007-04:00

Final, colored with gouache!

Pen and ink rendering...

Here's my preliminary sketch for this topic...

...Thanks for visiting!

IlloFriday: "Sugary"

2008-10-03T23:58:00.002-04:00

I prepped for this one by eating a very sugary piece of apple cake! Don't get me wrong, I am quite fond of Hello Kitty. One doodle just led to another... Happy Halloween!

IlloFriday: "Packed"

2008-10-03T00:38:00.001-04:00

IlloFriday: "Sail"

2008-08-10T23:20:00.006-04:00

This is a painting I did last summer using acrylic as watercolor on wood.
Approx. 5"x 12"

IlloFriday: "Hoard"

2008-06-21T11:51:00.004-04:00

Please forgive me but this is a "previously done" illo. I'll be back on track soon! Thanks for viewing my link.

IlloFriday: "Baby"

2008-05-31T18:31:00.004-04:00

I would love any constructive criticism on the background in this image. This topic was a joy to illustrate! I'm even having visions of developing it into a full-fledged picture book so any suggestions that could make the image stronger are welcome.

IlloFriday: "Wide"

2008-05-18T22:45:00.001-04:00

This one is for Dad!

IlloFriday: "Electricity"

2008-05-12T16:59:00.008-04:00

IlloFriday: "Seed"

2008-05-08T23:54:00.004-04:00

Just under the wire!

Another (belated) attempt.

IlloFriday: "Wrinkles"

2008-04-26T14:34:00.002-04:00

IlloFriday: "Primitive"

2008-04-26T14:33:00.000-04:00

IlloFriday: "Fail"

2008-04-12T11:54:00.000-04:00

IlloFriday: "Pet Peeve"

2008-04-12T11:52:00.003-04:00

Critique welcome, especially on the cars - they don't seem quite right to me... Too generalized, perhaps.

IlloFriday: "Heavy"

2008-04-12T11:51:00.001-04:00

IlloFriday: "Garden"

2008-04-12T11:50:00.000-04:00

IlloFriday: "Leap"

2008-04-12T11:45:00.004-04:00

IlloFriday: "Multiple"

2008-04-12T11:31:00.005-04:00