Munchkin Bears

First time I'm posting one of my characters. My "Munchkin Bears" They're cute and always happy.

Illustration Friday

My contribution to

http://www.illustrationfriday.com

Naming a collection

I've finished my animals and cute cups collection. This one was fun to do. Now to figure out a name for it.

Working hard on portfolio

I'm sooo focused on working on my portfolio. Although on the side I'm doing t-shirt designs and started sketching on the next book I'll be working on.
Don't want to make excuses, but that's why my portfolio isn't enough. Have to do seasonal designs as well. Didn't realize how much work it takes to build-up a portfolio for licensing. I'm getting there though.

I love books

I did this cute little guy coz I wanted to have artworks for bookmarks.

Newest News

It's been a while since I posted. I was busy with my brand new facebook page http://www.facebook.com/cecilcastillopaplinskiedesigns. I'm happy that I am being supported by some facebook friends and some new friends.
I have good news as well that is under wraps. I have been approached by a new company they want to showcase my work, am thinking about it. Have a lot to consider. I know things will work out always for the best.

I have lots of ideas and sketches done.I feel good about that. I sketched robots, liked the look of it, now I will have to draw them doing birthday stuff.

Also started sketching kitties. I love drawing cats, have already done a lot. So happy my brain is working with me. Now what I call the time consuming part which is the rendering of colors.

"April Showers"

This is the second drawing, April showers. I'm working on my third.

Doing some surfing on the web and came across this site. I enjoyed reading it and there are links to a couple of blogs that are really helpful like Joan Bereiger. Her blog is great for information.
http://www.artsyshark.com/2010/06/15/how-to-license-art-to-manufacturers/

New Design

"Star Student"

More Info

For those interested in licensing their art, http://www.artpromote.com/licenseart.shtml I have been researching non-stop, I have made a bunch of designs, but not enough. Hoping I will be ready in a few months. I'm a part of a licensing group in yahoo and most members are well established artists. From what I read, you pretty much got to have tons of designs to consider yourself ready.

Illustration Friday

"Duets" for Illustration Friday

Just to show how I love school plays. It's not a duet, but a group of singing children and their pets.

Facebook Page finally up and running.

Created my own page on facebook, http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Cecil-Castillo-Paplinskie/169236169787081 I'm happy about that. I've been wanting to do that for months, but didn't, so glad I did now, have to spend a few minutes a day on it.

Also today's my birthday, so happy because so many friends on facebook gave me a shout out.

Style Change

As I've posted, I'm trying my hand at doing designs for licensing. I used to design for manufacturing companies but that was 10 years ago. So I'm trying to catch up on what might work in todays market and that's why I'm doing different styles. When illustrating books, I'm used to doing realistic but it seems that todays style is asking for more cartoony style and if one want to do realistic art it has to be in painting style and I really don't have the patience for that. Still trying to do different characters. I like my pigtales design, I'm already working on boxes that have this art. I'm thinking of plushies as well. I do a little bit of sculpting, so I'm working on that as well for little jewelry that has a 3 dimensional look. I wo'nt want to work on casting just because the chemicals is not good for me right now, but if I have a ready cast, probaby working with resin won't be good for me as well. So i  guess I'll just stick to polymer clay.

More Pigtales

I love the direction my art is going. I love using words as much as drawing the pictures. This drawings I can use for cards as well as notebook covers and stationary.

10 secrets to success in art licensing

http://artbistro.monster.com/benefits/articles/12022-10-secrets-to-success-in-art-licensing?page=1

Pigtales

I made a line called pigtales. They are cute girls in pigtails and there is a story in every illustration of them I make.

Pattern

My daughter loves owl, I find this actually fun to draw and color, so many styles to make. I picked a more subdued color as overall but will make one that is brighter.

New Artwork Style

"The Owl and the Pussycat"

I've decided to change my style a little, I'm really not sure what it's called but I've decided to simplify. My style usually takes forever to do and it works well for children's book illustration. However, I don't think it works as well for licensing art, so I'm kinda experimenting. I did less shading, more colors and details and outline. I realize that the outlines help especially when I print stuff. It makes the subject stand out. 

Illustration Friday

"Chicken" This weeks topic on illustration Friday.

I love watching school plays, the costumes and the little ones so happy and proud to be a part of the play.