Here's another version of a previous sketch. Doing these daily sketches and paintings has been a good way for me to try out different things and experiment with my technique. I'm always trying to push myself to get better at what I do. Onward and hopefully upward. Have a great weekend. Continue reading

Louis dreamed of becoming an Abraham Lincoln impersonator when he grew up. I'm pretty sure that's a pretty good career choice. Have an Abe-tastic weekend. Don't do anything Abe wouldn't do. Continue reading

Today's sketch painting was inspired by this weeks Illustration Friday topic MYSTERIOUS. Thanks for looking. Continue reading

The Wolf had no idea that Red was a decendent of Medusa. Continue reading

Happy Tuesday everyone. Today I'm going with a classic. I think on most days this is how I am. I just walk through life oblivious to what's happening around me. It's a happy sense of denial. We'll see what happens tomorrow. Continue reading

Continuing with the Mary Poppins theme I bring you Bert. Continue reading

Okay, I lied. I couldn't stop. I hit a wall with my revisions and I had a weird need to paint Mary Poppins. What does it all mean? Should I seek immediate therapy? Continue reading

It looks like today's sketch painting will be my last for a little while. I've got to go into writing mode and work out a story idea that's come into my noggin. I've also got some revisions to make on two picture book dummys. Have a great week. Continue reading

Happy Monday everyone! Here's the latest sketch painting. and here is the initial rough sketch. Have a great week. Continue reading

It looks like Mitchel has discovered life on the Red planet. Not sure what that thing is, but it looks kinda scary. Happy Friday! And here is the initial sketch. Continue reading

Today we're leaving the ball park behind and traveling out of this world. Mitchel and his dog are exploring the red planet. And here is the initial rough sketch. Continue reading

Today's sketch was sort of inspired by my wife. She told me that when she played baseball as a kid she'd spend her time in the outfield looking at ladybugs. Since I had already done the little girl looking at a flower I had to alter it a bit. This one is my favorite so far. Enjoy. Continue reading

I'm feeling better about today's sketch. It's definitly closer to the look I'm going for. Enjoy. Continue reading

Doing a bit of experimenting today. Trying out something different. Not sure if I'm getting too far away from my style or the way I normally do things but it's nice to try new things. Happy Monday. Continue reading

Here is the first of some baseball themed sketches. Enjoy. Continue reading

Today's sketch was a request from Ken who asked if I could do something with a monkey. Hope you like it. Tomorrow I'm changing the sketch theme to baseball. Continue reading

Today's sketch takes us to the Zambezi river where Harriet is competing in the West African Wildlife Water Sports Championships. Continue reading

Here's todays sketch of the day. I'm still on the theme of Animals in motion. I've had one request for a monkey so that may be up in a couple days. Enjoy. Continue reading

I recently bought an iPad and I've been sketching on it using a Wacom Bamboo Stylus and Sketchbook Pro. The theme for the sketches below is animals in motion. A lofty goal would be to post a new sketch every day but that may be just too crazy. I'll try and post sketches as often as I complete them and they're acceptable for ocular viewing. Enjoy. Continue reading

Here's another piece from the princess book I'm working on. About half way through with coloring the book. Then I'll be jumping back onto the Monstore and revising the rough pages based on the publishers notes. Enjoy. Continue reading

Here's a peak at the current project I'm working on. I'm having a lot of fun bringing this character and her world to life. Enjoy. Continue reading

Tomorrow I'm off for five days of fun and excitement at the San Diego Comic Con. I'll be exhibiting at table E1 at the end of row 700 with Dan Santat and Kyle Neswald. I'll be selling copies of Gabby and Gator, Gabby Recycle or Die re-usable totes... and these awesome Gator Pouches that my wife made. I'll try and post some updates from San Diego. If not I'll be back with stories to tell on Monday. Continue reading

I'm excited to announce that I'm illustrating a book for Hallmark! Here's the announcement from Publishers Marketplace. "James Burks's illustrations for PRINCESS MILLIE'S MAGIC WAND, about a little girl who finds a magic wand, to Hallmark, in a nice deal, by Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (world)." - Publishers Marketplace Continue reading

Here's another one from the land of cast-off designs. I designed this one for a project but decided that he wasn't right and never sent him in. Now, I've given him a new name and posted him here for your viewing pleasure. In other news. I've started working on the interior spreads for The Monstore by Tara Lazar. The designs were approved earlier this week and now I'm working on bringing the Monstore world to life. I'll try and post some samples if I can. I've got some other big things in the works too, but I can't say anything... Continue reading

Rain Boots bring a certain level of sophistication to any ensemble. Don't you think? Continue reading