Erik Brooks's Blog, page 50

World Oceans Day!

Another image from the recently completed If I Where a Whale by Shelley Gill -- in celebration of World Oceans Day! Not too much is known about the beaked whales depicted above, but for air breathing mammals, they are impressive extreme divers -- with certain species diving to depths 3300 feet and staying under for up to an hour at a time.

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 166 - 6.7.16

Another card inspired by recent student submissions :) I love how this one puts a little twist on the traditional comic panel -- and such great expressions as you move clockwise through the disappointment of the too warm thunderstorm!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 165 - 6.6.16

Last Friday, about 35 kids at Methow Valley Elementary made their very own Polar Bear Post Cards. It was a part of my very first "Art as Activism" workshop for the annual Young Writer's Conference, and of course, the kids had awesome ideas! I mailed a batch to the President this afternoon, and I will mail a second packet later this week. One card in particular, caught my attention for its EXCELLENT channeling of something totally 5th & 6th grade friendly - like Minecraft and video gaming - and climate change. So yes indeed, it's time to LEVEL UP! people - on climate change and many other things. Excellent work Nathan D. and thanks for letting me reinterpret your idea! 

On My Drawing Table: Whales!

I've been scanning final art and color-correcting files this week for my first-ever board book project! If I Where a Whale by Shelley Gill will be published by the Little Bigfoot imprint of Sasquatch Books sometime in the not-too-distant future (I'm guessing early 2017). Marine mammals rock!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 164 - 6.2.16

One way or the other...

Harts Pass No. 301

Amazingly enough, it's graduation week again in Harts Pass country. Another year has flown the coop, and the world is wild with possibility. Intuition kiddos. Go fourth with your gut and be good!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 163 - 6.1.16

For my brother Ryan, who loves to ice climb, happy 42nd birthday! 

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 162 - 5.31.16

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 161 - 5.30.16

For Memorial Day 2016.

Later, Gator! In all of its hardcover, final-copy glory :)

A great weekend of coaching kids at the State track meet was made even better when I came home to find a few early author copies of LATER, GATOR! Its always fun to see the final product and Sterling did such a nice job with all of the little things like color corrections, spot varnish on the cover etc. Personally, I'm also  super happy about the patterned endpapers as well -- which extend the story just a bit in important ways for both the beginning and the end.

Give your local bookstore a call and give them a head's up for the July 19th pub date. They can place their order any time. Pre-orders are also available right now on Amazon and just about any place else that you could order online.

Ciao for now!