I am beyond excited!! The award winning comics company, Rocketship Entertainment, has teamed up with me to publish my book and manage the Kickstarter! Pre-ordering either paperback or hardcover editions is now available!! (Plus there are a bunch of other fun rewards)
“The Chum Brothers” is a graphic novel I am creating featuring…the Chum brothers: fish-headed, hybrid, twin teenagers who investigate mysteries in the town of Loreland.
This book will be rated M due to occasional human nudity, suggestive adult gnome situations, sprinklings of foul language, and explicit, geriatric activity.
If you’d like more info, visit www.thechumbrothers.com, and/or sign up to the Chum Brothers newsletter.
Thanks so much for following along!
~Jessica
If you like mysteries, mythical creatures, and fish-headed children, stay tuned for updates! I will be sharing pages from my graphic novel in progress.
Below is a finished black and white page (although the final art will be in color.)
Updates will also be shared on Instagram: @jessicawarrick
And welcome to the month of sparkles, gift socks, spiced egg drinks, and full figured jolliness. Or, if it’s not your favorite time, (the reality for many) I hope this month goes by quickly, yet brings you the maximum possible amount of comfort and/or coziness…and lots of Christmas tree shaped cookies that can be decorated as bloody spearheads instead.
Here are some new things I’ve been up to…
“Grandpa Kevin’s Three Billy Goats Gruff” by Missing Piece Press is fully illustrated and will be undergoing its final prep before being unleashed upon the world. There are lots of other reimagined children’s classics available now if you’re curious about this fun series.
Hi!
And Au revoir August!
As summer comes to a close, and we prepare for pumpkin and/or spice flavored goods, I would like to send a quick update about my latest projects.
As you may have seen on Instagram (if that’s your thing) I have been posting alien illustrations from a really fun scifi ABC book I’ve written. Take a peek at a few finished pages…
(I couldn’t resist adding the animated LED teeth)
L:
“Loblee, a lone, living, lunar lighthouse, helped light the way for lost ships, leading them to a landing location within his lips.”
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This is just a preview for my August newsletter! Wanna read the rest? Sign up below for some more alien shenanigans…
The time has come for a recap of what I’ve been up to. Take a look at some bits n pieces…
Gabriela the mer maid:
Emma Ray Rose:
Saving Santa:
And sign up to my regular monthly newsletter below:
Illustrating the children’s book Hammer and Nails was one of the most rewarding, memorable book projects of my career. What made it so important was the Flashlight Press art director/editor I had the pleasure of working with, Shari Dash Greenspan. I learned so much from this experience, and benefitted immensely from her patient vision, and keen eye for detail. I am proud to stand alongside so many talented illustrators and writers who have earned a spot on the Flashlight Press bookshelf, including the amazingly diverse, award winning Seattle artist Doug Keith.
I was recently asked to interview Doug about a new book he illustrated, Giant Island, written by widely celebrated author, Jane Yolen. Shari also joined in and shared some interesting insights about the making of this beautiful story:
Doug, let’s start with your career as an artist. How long have you been working?
After graduating art school in 1974, I worked at an ad agency in NYC doing some graphic design and production work. I moved on to similar positions in the NY/ NJ metro area until 1979. Then I was offered a full time position as an illustrator for an industrial design company, Walter Dorwin Teague Assoc., and relocated to Seattle, WA. Several years later I left Teague for a position as a graphic artist at a local television station KIRO TV (a CBS affiliate). In 1983, I started my career as a freelance artist, and the rest, as they say, is history!
What media do you work in? What are some of the unusual projects you’ve done?
I work in traditional medium, old school if you will, cause I'm old! Mostly gouache and colored pencil, as in Giant Island. I also use acrylics, oil, collage, scratchboard, clay, pencil, and pastels. As for unusual projects, I do occasional contract work for a local museum, MoPop, carving archival foam to fabricate custom mannequins and build mounts for their exhibits. I also did courtroom sketches for many years for KIRO TV news and other stations.
How did your move from the New York area to Seattle impact your art expression?
I found new inspiration from getting out to explore the region by hiking and camping, something I had not done to any great extent living in New Jersey!
What is your favorite way to connect with nature?
I bike on a daily basis, it's a great way to explore... and get some exercise!
I love the mythical creatures that so often appear in your work. I am also drawn to this theme. Since we are both Pacific Northwest artists, what do you think it is about this region that tends to inspire this kind of magic and folklore in our creativity?
The mountains, the coast lines, dramatic skies, even the rain (sometimes)! It was easy for me to envision hosts of mythical creatures that would thrive in an environment like this!
Do you have a favorite Pacific Northwest getaway spot that you feel is particularly magical and inspiring?
One of my favorites is the Oregon coast.
What is your favorite sea creature?
Well, let me say this, I was thrilled when the Kraken came to town!
I heard that Giant Island grew from a postcard series you created many years ago. What inspired you to create that series?
I did the postcard and several similar images for a local greeting card company. My inspiration was (and still is) the wondrous landscapes here in the North West! As a Jersey boy fresh to the Pacific Northwest, I was overwhelmed by the "gigantic" mountains all around me, and it was pretty easy to imagine them as sleeping giants! Same for the islands that drifted by as I took ferry rides across Puget Sound. This painting from years ago was inspired by a ferry boat ride. In fact, there is a ferry in the painting! And if you look closely in this image, Mt. Rainier can be seen in the background, and it too has a face!! This particular image was popular as a postcard and poster.
Shari: Many years ago, I received this postcard from Doug, promoting his artwork. I loved it, and replied telling him so. For years, it hung over my desk at Flashlight Press while Doug and I kept up an occasional email correspondence. Between 2015 and 2016, we tossed around possible storylines in which to include this island who is really a giant. In 2017, we starting trying to nail down a storyboard for a wordless picture book, and in 2018, we made the project official with a contract. Doug started painting, amid other projects that he was working on, and the wordless picture book started to take shape.
Doug, the grandpa in this book looks a bit like you. Tell me about that.
Well, I'll admit, it was easier and cheaper than hiring a model, LOL!
The kids in this story accompany Grandpa on a fishing trip. Did your grandfather take you fishing?
No, but my father did!
What techniques and/or processes did you use to create the art for the book?
I used traditional medium on Giant Island, Gouache and colored pencil on illustration board.
Shari: In late 2019, after most of Doug’s art for this wordless picture book was nearing completion, we had some concerns that the plot was not coming through clearly enough. I emailed the amazing writer and editor Jane Yolen for feedback. She replied that while the images were gorgeous, the book needed more structure, perhaps some text at the beginning and end, and kindly provided an example. That led me to ask Jane if she’d be willing to write a full text for Giant Island, and I’m thrilled that she agreed. Jane’s lyrical prose frames the story and helps direct the mystery and magic in Doug’s paintings, while leaving room for the reader to draw their own conclusions about this giant adventure on a tiny island.
Doug, once Jane’s text was added to the book, some changes had to be made to the art. Watercolor is not a forgiving medium when it comes to changes. How did you manage this?
For most of the revisions I was able to rework some of the original medium using Gesso to paint over the Gouache. There were however, several new illustrations needed and we re-negotiated my contract. 😊
It is often said about picture books that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts (words and pictures). Do you think this is true about Giant Island? What message do you hope readers will come away with?
I hope readers will spend some time looking for subtle things in the illustrations that are not so obvious. For example; the boy throws his hat in the water when he dives in. The hat appears on every page thereafter, and the giant hands it back to him at the end! Same for the walking sticks the kids use. Look closely at the background art as well, you might see a few of the giant's friends!
What are you working on now?
I started selling some of my illustrated guitars on Etsy, which has been a lot of fun.
Do you have any exciting art or illustration projects in the future you can share a little about?
I'm working on a new gargoyle sculpture for a client. A personal project tentatively titled "Legends" is a compilation of ideas/illustrations that I've collected over the years based on local landscapes. I'm hoping Giant Island does well so Shari will want to do a sequel!!!
Given your experience and success, what ingredients do you feel make a great illustrator?
"I've tried to be versatile. I enjoy graphic design, fine art, illustration, even sculpting. All of these things have helped me find work and come in handy when creating picture books!"
Anything else you want to talk about?
I will say this, working with Shari and Flashlight Press is one of the more enjoyable experiences I've had with a publisher!
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Couldn’t agree with you more, Doug! 🙌
A huge THANK YOU to Doug and Shari who so generously offered their time and behind the scenes info about this exciting book! Giant Island comes out August 1st 2022, but in the meantime you can check out the book trailer in the video below:
Dare to be different!
I didn’t even need to be imaginative for this one…this item was actually for sale at the grocery store. I just took a picture to remember it and drew it exactly as is, butterfly and all.
I have been loving drawing and writing these quick cartoons. They satisfy my need for immediate gratification since, so often, my usual illustration work takes quite awhile to finish…especially year long children’s books. Plus I get to NOT keep it clean :) I hope you enjoy these - I will continue adding to my cartoon collection regularly, and posting on social media too!!
Hi there!
I hope you are enjoying the first magical whispers of Autumn...or finding a way to cope with the gradual loss of nourishing sunlight. I am back in a northern climate and personally enjoying the changing of the seasons...especially after spending some time in the South and experiencing relentless face-melting heat that gave my skin an ever present sweaty sheen speckled with a graveyard of no-see-ums.
I have been very inspired by nature since relocating to Upstate NY, and all my art is pretty much reflecting that right now, with no signs of stopping.
I talked about my patterns in my last newsletter, and am very excited to share some new updates:
1. My woodland pattern is finished!
2. I paid homage to the united goldfish resistance:
3. I began work with an awesome wallpaper client! I get to create a cool design that celebrates the abundance of exotic flora and fauna. This is a very exciting project for me, as it matches my own vision for creating a new kind of pattern that can be used in home decor as more of a very detailed, fine art piece.
And here's a waffle!
I also wanted to share a mythical creature update. I am adding to my collection with a modern candy house in progress:
and some new fairy pieces in the works...this one will go nicely with Roxy the punk mermaid:
Lots more to come! (If you want to see more mythical creature stuff, you can follow along here)
Thanks for reading and enjoy your slightly colder week!
Also, I’d love to hear from you and get your comments or questions…
Until next time,
-Jessica
Happy Saturday! I have my first little illustration completed for my woodland pattern:
I have developed a bit of a mushroom obsession over the years and felt compelled to write a bit more than usual about this fascinating life form.
I love Amanita mushrooms…and all mushrooms…but especially the “no no” varieties that have historically aided humans through their medicinal and shamanistic uses.
Although there is debate about the Amanita’s psychoactive range in North America, they definitely have held a special place in our collective human experience as the most cliché, recognizable spotty shroom symbolizing opening doors of perception via wavy tie-dyed trippydom and stoned caterpillars.
Ancient Siberian shamans seemed to have loved this mushroom, using it for for a variety of practical applications such as lucid dreaming, sexy visualization, disease diagnosis, the retrieval of lost souls, demon slaying, future seeing, lost object finding, and general other-worldly perceiving.
Apparently, the effects of the Amanita do not deteriorate through the body’s digestive process, remaining potent in pee. This laced Siberian urine was saved and drunk again and again, and appreciated by those who couldn’t afford to buy their own pre peed shrooms. I would love to try one of the old tincture recipes involving alcohol extraction and experience this mushroom myself. I have also heard they can be delicious when prepared properly.
But please don’t go out and eat them without researching thoroughly…improper preparation and a disrespectful approach might prove to be hard on the body with a nasty hangover, and the somewhat similar looking angel of death mushroom will kill you. BUT I would like to leave you with this profound quote by a research scientist who studied the Amanitas effects through his own ingesting experience:
“It seemed to me that 100 years would not be sufficient to describe the fullness of experience of a single minute.” - Dr R. Gelpecke
I don’t know why patterns excite me so much. I am fascinated by their perfect interlocking pieces, and perhaps for this reason, I love the challenge in designing them. I also love the excuse to draw a variety of my favorite little things and showcase them all together in one art piece that can be extended out into infinity, thus wallpapering the entire planet and beyond if I see fit.
I am working on creating what I feel will be a really stunning collection of patterns to be used for wall art, and a variety of home decor products. Some are quite detailed and elaborate, and finding time to complete them has been a challenge with all the changes in my life this past year, and client work. But as my technical education and art skills have been leveling up, my pattern making skills are evolving as well, thus allowing me to do some really cool stuff I think you might really like…whoever you are reading this…
I am so eager to share these completed pieces, but I’ll have to be satisfied sharing my progress for now. I’ll continue posting updates on this blog and on Instagram as well: @jessicawarrick
Here are some sneak peeks, redesigns, and sketches…
Woodland sketch
Unwanted Cans Updated Pattern
Updated Pink Pie Pattern
Pond Pattern with unfinished sections
Shrimp and White Wine sketch (inspired by The Beaver Boys of the Tim and Eric Awesome Show…great job)
Breakfast sketch
Ode to Meat Eating Plants sketch
I look forward to posting updates! Thanks for checking em out! 🙏 And if you’d like to get on my newsletter for other project announcements and discount codes etc, please…get on there:)
I’d love to get your comments or questions!
Until next time,
🐈🐉Jessica
What a great interview hosted by Elizabeth Dulemba! Thank you so much for the feature, and letting me talk about the book’s inspiration, and creative process. Check out the article on her blog!
I was soooo very honored to have been mentioned alongside many other talented artists in the Badass Lady Creatives Blog. Here are a few blurbs below, but you can read the entire article here!
“Family Portrait”
Jessica Warrick is an illustrator and cartoonist who specializes in illustrations for children’s books. I saw the half-fish Chum Brothers in her “Family Portrait” illustration (above) and knew I had to share her humor.
Jessica’s brand of humor is great because it subverts characters or scenes that are typically pretty, sweet, or cute. Her characters often have heavy-handed personalities, and an air of over-eagerness makes them both funny and sympathetic. Case in point, this mermaid:
From “Mermaids”
I am very honored to have worked on this fun book project with talented author, Kelly McMahon. We have been very proud to see our book celebrated through a variety of media coverage.
OK! Magazine: "Look who stopped by OK! HQ--It's Nip/Tuck star Julian McMahon and his gorgeous wife Kelly! Kelly wrote an incredible new book you all need to check out called Bedtime For Sarah Sullivan--you can download it on Google Play now and iTunes by the end of the week! Let that imagination run wild"
TV interviews about Bedtime For Sarah Sullivan:
Other mentions and awards:
Hello You Entertainment has featured our book!
Bedtime for Sarah Sullivan’ Wins Coveted Royal Dragonfly Book Awards
“CHANDLER, AZ (November 27, 2012) – The judges of the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards contest, which recognizes excellence in literature, have spoken, and Bedtime for Sarah Sullivan by Kelly Paniagua, won Second Place in the Children's eBook Category 5+, Second Place in the Children's eBook Category 6+, Second Place in Children's Poetry for eBooks, and Honorable Mention in the Children's Picture Book category.”