Illustrating a children’s book

Final layer of paint on a preliminary cover for an upcoming children's bookLast month while selling a couple of paintings to an acquaintance, I was asked to illustrate his children’s book to help it get published. I am so honored to be asked but feeling a bit guilty for starting later than I’d promised.

Here, I’ve sketched a cover composition, where a child’s hands are holding a magnolia blossom in front of the jar on her window. It’s dark outside but the stars are lighting the tree leaves and sparkling brightly.

Painting a night scene is new for me and I’m enjoying the challenge. Balancing the indoor light from the glowing blossom on the child’s hands with the starry sky is my next task.

This may be the final painting. I need a bright sunny day to take the photo so the colors come through.