They Draw and Cook, THE BOOK - book

I have not yet done a post about this, but I have spread the word around.  The website They Draw and Cook has come out with a printed book of over 100 illustrated recipes. They are all illustrated by different artist, and it looks INCREDIBLE! I am very lucky to be among these talented people. The book is available for pre-order over at Amazon. And you can also take a peek inside! I think this book is a must in anyone's kitchen who loves to cook, or just look at a terrific variety of art! Also lots of fun and easy to follow if you have kids that like to cook with you!

 

Yellow bird in a banana tree - paper

Custom Blue Jay on a Baseball - paper

a couple custom paper bird pieces I've done this past month. Most of the time people buy the ones I've already made, but I get really excited when they ask for something custom, Some great ideas, and variety for me! I love how both of these turned out.

Summer break business cards - digital design

It's the end of the school year, and to help keep my little one's social calendar full (and me sane) I've made these business cards for her. Now, I was a little reluctant at first, only because I don't want her info out there in the world, so I made an email account just for this purpose, instead of posting any other important info.

Hopefully this will help her keep in touch with her favorite people at her school this summer!

In the near future I think I will make more of these, some with photos, and some with illustrations for sale in my store.

Flying - digital and photograph

Just taking a minute from my work to do a doodle of the kids!

Hawkeye and Meadow - digital illustration

Here are two illustrations that I have just added as prints in my Etsy store. (The Golden I've posted before on this site, but the cat is new).  More importantly, I am also willing to make CUSTOM illustrations of your pet! Just send me an email with a photo of your pet attached and a couple words that describe them best and I will make it for you! AND you are not limited to cats and dogs,  I will do any little creature you desire :)

Just send me an email at celestegs@rogers.com

Canadian Wildlife Series - paper

I am very excited to introduce this new collection of paper animals. I am working with Canadian Wildlife to help the world see the beautiful diversity of animals we have here in Canada! I will be adding a new animal each month.  These three are available for purchase in my Etsy store.

These make great presents to yourself, or others ;) They are also great for children's rooms, especially baby rooms since babies are attracted to the contrasting colours as well as the textures in these pieces.

I am also available to do custom orders if you want families of these animals, or other variations!

World Ocean Day - paper

Hi! Here is a free card you can save to your desktop and send to your friends and family to remind them of World Ocean Day! Below is a desktop wallpaper for you too!(click on image to get a larger version, then save to your desktop)

Hi guys!

I decided to do something different today and post the process I went through on a recent (very quick) project I did for WWF Canada . It's WWF's 50th anniversary and in celebration of that, they wanted a birthday panda illustration for the front cover of their children's newsletter. I was excited and honored that they chose me to illustrate it for them.  As you know, I've done work with WWF Canada for the past 10 years (wow, didn't realize it was that long until I wrote it!)  So it was exciting for me to do this for them. 

I started with a concept. They wanted a Panda bear celebrating his birthday, something cute for the kids. So I started by coming up with a cute panda character design...

 

Then once I did that I made a list of friends that would celebrate with our Panda. Since this is for the Canadian newsletter, I choose Canadian wildlife, that is on the endagered or at risk list. Animals that I know WWF has programs set up for right now. Then I worked them into the composition. (doodle right of the panda designs)

Afterwards I worked on some roughs for the other animals to be placed in the illustration. 

 

Then I worked on laying them out, and creating a couple options for the editor at WWF.  

I tried to keep everything pretty natural, the decorations, the "table" even the candles ended up being bees wax lit by two very accommodating fireflies! Here is the final art (text and logo are part of the mock up, their in house designer lays it out, so the final print might be a little different then this one below).

  

 

As I said this was a very fast turn around project, I had 3 days from submission of roughs to final art.  So there are not as many revisions or steps that can happen in other projects, but this gives you a nice idea of how I work.  Thanks to WWF Canada again for the fun project! 

Check out their website for info on the animals in the illustration.

Woodland Caribou

Polar Bear

Vancouver Island Marmots

Black footed Ferret

Monarch butterfly

Burrowing owls

Northern leopard frog

Echo taking over - photo and digital illustration

So this is me, working on a Friday morning. Here I am thinking "this is going pretty good!" then Echo shows up, and starts to art direct me... eventually (probably when I get up to get some coffee) she takes over and "fixes" whatever it is I've been working on.   What a cat. 

(yes I am playing with an imaginary friend, but I am an illustrator, and therefore it is my right ;) Just one of the perks!)

 

Blue Jay on Baseball - paper art

Okay, so baseball season is in full swing, and as some of you know I love to watch baseball (and play!).  Now, I married a Boston Red Sox fan, so our family does a lot of cheering for them, but since I am

1. Canadian 

2. living in Toronto

we show our support to the Jays whenever they play! (and yes that means cheering for them instead of the Sox when they play against each other!)

Here is my little guy for this season, hopefully the Jays will go far this year!

(You can also purchase him in my Etsy store, or rather his brother, I might just keep this one for myself!)

Jasper - digital illustration

This is an illustration of my sisters cat with his favorite spring in his mouth, he is a little trouble maker but super cute!

Spring Echo Wallpaper - digital illustration

Here is a new desktop wallpaper for all you Echo fans. Her adventures with her favorite little mouse toy are still going strong!

Celeste

Maman Bear - paper

Maman Bear and her cubs adventuring! I made these especially for Mothers day (a little later then I would have liked but there you go!) You can custom order them by emailing me, and choose how many cubs you'd like to have in your illustration.  Selling them as original paper art, not prints, so each one will be slightly different. Check out my store for more details or feel free to contact me!

You must order before the 22nd of April if you want these delivered in time for Mothers Day. 


http://www.etsy.com/shop/CelesteGS

Baby Monkey - digital illustration

These are some baby monkey illustrations I did for a baby shower card (for my sister and brother in law) I think they capture the ups and downs of new parenthood quite nicely. I am currently experiencing the "great diaper escapes" with my son right now!

Echo Alphabet Blocks - paint, wood blocks

This is just a sneak peek of something I am working on, I started by painting these by hand, and they look great, BUT it takes a long time, and I won't be able to sell these this way (not at any reasonable cost to you wonderful people) so I've figured out others ways of doing it.

IT IS COMING SOON to my Etsy store! You will be able to buy them by the each OR as a complete set. It's going to be awesome. My kids won't leave my sample ones alone, which is a pain in the butt, but also a good sign!

Céleste xo

P.S.
You can also find myself (and Echo) on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CelesteGagnonIllustrations check it out, lots of fun freebies there, and possible a draw or two in the near future!

Fairy Tale Fabric Prints - fabric
Click on image for a larger view!

Here are some new fabric prints that will be going into my Spoonflower store (next week).  They are inspired by my kids and what they like right now. I have a few character ones, but also a few simpler ones, perfect for a themed quilt or other sewing project!

The blue castle print has been entered into the Project Selvage contest, fingers crossed! 

I will let you all know when they are in the store, and again, if you make something with them (since I sadly still don't know how to sew) let me know and I can post some photos of your handywork! (with permission of course!)

Céleste xo

 

Confused Crocuses - photo and photoshop

Having a little fun with winter making it's second (...or is it third now?) comeback.

Added the last one just now, really these flowers are exaggerating just a little...!