Don't be this hamster. DO YOUR BACKUPS.

Art Video: My Morning Coffee Doodle

I'm teaching myself Adobe Premiere Pro and used this short video as an exercise.

How I created it:

I shot the video on my iPhone with the Hyperlapse app. To hold the iPhone above my desk, I use this flexible iPhone stand with clip, which I found on Amazon a few years ago. Doesn't look as if it's available anymore, but there are MANY similar stands available.

I imported the video into Adobe Premiere Pro. Main purpose of this exercise was to figure out how to convert the portrait size video from Hyperlapse into a square format. This was more complicated than I expected, and involved creating a new sequence with the right aspect ratio, scaling up the video size (I may opt for a non-Hyperlapse process next time), figuring out how to export.

If there is enough interest (especially from you illustrators out there) and I can find some time (HA), I will put together a blog post with more details.

Comic: When Writers Date

Comic: Bad Dog

“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” - Stephen King

My biggest piece of creativity advice for aspiring writers & illustrators (all ages): make time to PLAY.

Any one else purposely slow down near the end of a really good book because they DON'T WANT IT TO END?

Comic: A Taste For Picture Books

Comic: Scrabble Addict

Advice For Young Illustrators: Three Questions With Children's Book Illustrator Ana Aranda

I met the delightful Ana Aranda through the SCBWI Illustration Mentorship program, when she was selected for the program in 2014. I love Ana's positive outlook, enthusiasm and good humor....and I especially love her ART! Ana was born and raised in Mexico City, she currently lives in San Francisco. You can find her work in picture books, art exhibitions and murals in the US and abroad. Ana’s biggest inspirations are her childhood memories, the vibrant colors of Mexico, and music. You can find Ana at her website, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and her blog.

Click to read more ...

Comic: Restaurant Sign Snob

Comic: The Rejection

Grammar is important. :-)

Comic: Squirrel Writers

Advice For Young Illustrators, Storytelling Art and more: Three Questions With Children's Book Illustrator Ana Aranda

I met the delightful Ana Aranda through the SCBWI Illustration Mentorship program, when she was selected for the program in 2014. I love Ana's positive outlook, enthusiasm and good humor....and I especially love her ART! Ana was born and raised in Mexico City, she currently lives in San Francisco. You can find her work in picture books, art exhibitions and murals in the US and abroad. Ana’s biggest inspirations are her childhood memories, the vibrant colors of Mexico, and music. You can find Ana at her website, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and her blog.

The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra was written by Marc Tyler Nobleman, illustrated by Ana Aranda, published by Nancy Paulsen Books in March 2017. 

SYNOPSIS: "Like most goats, Jayna, Bumsie, and Pep’s greatest fear is being eaten for dinner by the legendary chupacabra—it’s common knowledge that goats are a chupacabra’s favorite food! One night, tired of living in fear, the impetuous goats whip out their trusty candelabra and head off to find the beast and scare it away before it can find them. Little do they know that candelabras are the chupacabra’s third-favorite food . . . and he isn’t about to stop there. This chupacabra has quite the appetite, and the goats are in for a big surprise!"

Thanks so much to Ana for answering THREE QUESTIONS for Inkygirl readers today:

Q. Could you please take a photo of something in your office and tell us the story behind it?

This is a Kamishibai that I found in a bookstore in France a few years ago. I have always loved the format and the story behind it, in which theatre and picture books intersect in this beautiful work of storytelling art. I also have it as a reminder to think about the different ways in which you can experiment on the book as an object. The image is from the book "Il Faudra" , written by Thierry Lenain and illustrated by Olivier Tallec ( Éditions Callicéphale, 2007).

Q. What advice do you have for young illustrators?

My advice for young illustrators would be to play and have as much fun as you can with your art! Experiment, search outside your comfort zone and most of all have a big smile every day because you are creating! I also recommend to look for inspiration everywhere: museums, libraries, films, nature, etc. Make it part of your day/week to look for one thing that inspires you and feed that curiosity constantly.

Q. What are you excited about right now?

I am very excited about this year’s release of the first picture book that I have illustrated in the U.S. “The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra” written by the incomparable Marc Tyler Nobleman! This book has been very fun to create because it talks about a monster that I have heard of all of my life, the Chupacabra, and I feel very honored to have illustrated this very fun and colorful story! I am also very excited about many more projects that I’ve been dreaming to work on for a long time which are now a reality. One of these is my first author/illustrator picture book about the Day of the Dead celebration which will be published by Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books in 2019!

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For more interviews, see my Inkygirl Interview Archive.

Comic: Punctuation breakup!!!

Happy Canada Day, eh? I encourage non-Canadians out there to embrace your inner U!

Comic: The Plot Hole

Writers: Develop a thick hide. If you can't take criticism, then don't play in this playground. - Jennifer Fallon

Thanks to Writer's Digest for including my site in their 101 Best Websites For Writers list!

Thanks to Writer's Digest for including Inkygirl.com in their annual list of best websites for writers again! So honored. What they said:

"Artist and children's book author Debbie Ridpath Ohi is perhaps best known for illustrating award-winning children's books (including several for Judy Blume), but her online presence is equally vibrant. At Inkygirl, she couples writerly inspiration with adorably endearing doodles - you can spend hours browsing without even realizing it."

Thanks also to Dee Romito for the heads-up in her Twitter feed at @writeforapples; I had missed seeing this news!

Writers: take regular breaks away from the keyboard. Here's why.