Yeah, so I know I have a hard time keeping up with the blog on this site, and especially the art on this site. It’s not that I’m not creating. It’s just that I get more views and interaction on social media (hint @hummelillustration for my Instagram), and so the instant reward is greater there. But I know I need to keep updating this website. I would hope that this would one day become the go-to place where people come to look at my work and to hear the fabulous stories I tell, but I suppose generating a bit more consistency would be a good start.
That said, in case you forgot, I am primarily a children’s book illustrator with strengths in history and caricature. If you are a publisher looking for a seasoned illustrator who is easy to work with (no prima donnas here!) and who showcases a bit of wit and charm in his work, you’ve come to the right place.
Kid Lit
I have multiple styles. Here are the main ones. They are:
A. Mod-Narrative, a traditional painterly style, semi-realistic. This style lends itself very well for historic or more classically based books. “Lights On!” is among those.
B. I also have a killer pen and ink style. This is actually my stronger style, although the application is more limiting. However, lately I’ve been experimenting with layering it with pencil as well, to create a unique hybrid look. It also creates very rich illustrations. Examples come from some of YA illustrations I created for Terry Wolfe.
Caricature
My second area of expertise is the painted caricature. The painting style is exactly the same as the children’s book, and often times it subtly makes its way into my children’s illustrations as well. I’ve had the opportunity to paint the likenesses of several prominent celebrities and historical folk. I just recently finished Amelia Earhart.
I do have a lot of digital art in my portfolio, but I have found when showing my work around, people prefer my traditional art far more than the digital. However, it wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t show it off, and because digital is a much faster medium, I often offer it for budget friendly projects.
Finally, I will end this blog post by mentioning that my new style, er, self-title is: author.
Yes, yes, in fact, I’m writing a book. But more on that in the next blog.
