Children's book out now!

I am excited to announce that the children's book I recently illustrated is out, and available for purchase!

A great story created to teach children about the importance of caring for the environment, and how to leave less of a footprint on the earth, it is a sweet, fun, educational read for children and adults alike. I was completely taken aback with awe when the first copies arrived to me. Seeing all the work I did in published form - hardcover with a dust-jacket and all - was quite a surreal feeling, and a great one. A big thanks to my client Holly Knight, who was a joy to work with throughout all the comps, edits, and press checks.

Purchase your copy online here!

Book signing events are in the works, and I will update everyone when those dates become available.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Clubhouse Conundrum
by Heather Meloche, Julie Angeli, Kathleen Pranger
Illustrated by Andrea Kowch

Children's book, 32 pp

The IHM Sisters use a story about building a clubhouse to teach children about environmental responsibility and the spirituality of sustainability.

The Clubhouse Conundrum, a 32-page, four-color, hardbound book tells the story of Monica and Gabe who want a clubhouse but disagree about whether to tear down the old fort and start over or to renovate what’s already there. When Monica’s Aunt Sarah, a nun, hears their debate, she takes them on a tour of her Motherhouse and show them how she and her 480 sisters resolved a similar problem.

During their amazing tour through the sisters’ earth-friendly home, Monica and Gabe learn about the sacredness of all creation, discover a little about post-modern nuns and find an answer to their problem.

Sneak Peek. . . Coming Soon!

Sneak Peek! Tons of new things from me are coming your way in the coming weeks and months. You probably already noticed the new imagery that graces the header above, as well as the image you see here. If you're wondering, "Hey! Are those the girls from the paintings?" you are correct! Stay tuned for an anthology I'll have coming out later in 2009 filled with past and present work, my personal writings about it, and recent photoshoots of me and my team in action. This is the first time I decided to go all out, leaving the quick reference shots that take place in my studio behind, and actually having my models get into character and go out with me on location. A sure treat for the eyes it will be, folks. In the meantime, think of this as a teaser.

Alongside this personal project, I'm illustrating a full-length children's picture book for the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Motherhouse in Monroe, MI, to be published this summer and due out Christmas 2009. Work has already commenced on it, and I'm excited to now be delving into the long-term project.

Along with that, pages are being filled with new sketches for paintings, canvases are being prepped, a group show is in the works, and new juried competitions will be entered. Lots to stay on top of, and I'll be keeping you all posted!

Time spent in a rural paradise. . .

Last week, friend and fellow painter Kaylen Conley and I spent a whole day catching up, painting en plein air and driving back roads seeking inspiration in Mother Nature. By now it's probably common sense that I frequent the countryside. But not until spending a day on and around Kaylen's farm was I able to thoroughly experience the beauty and solitude of life out in the country. Soft, rolling fields, the call of crows in the distance mingled with the quiet hush of insects in the tall, sweet-smelling grass, the warm sun on my back . . . everything that surrounded me was real, pure, and unmoved . . . and, as expected, it moved me, and confirmed all the thoughts and feelings I associate with it. The most touching moment for me was captured in the shot I took above, where we had to stop the car for the swarms of blackbirds engulfing every direction. It was as if I had stepped into Blackbirds Are Gathering. The weather on that warm autumn day was unmatched, and I was able to capture lots of new reference that will find its way into a couple of new paintings that I currently have in the works.

The above photo was where I sat and painted this quick pen and watercolor study:

And the scene also found its way into my latest sample of children's book work: