Monday, October 13, 2014

Highlights Magazine "Draw with a Purpose" illustrators retreat






Luciana Illustration was invited to a fantastic weekend in Boyds Mills, Pennsylvania by Highlights Magazine at the end of September. About 30 illustrators from around the US and Canada all converged to the beautiful (and Fall-colored) headquarters of Highlights Foundation to learn more about the history of this amazing publisher and company. We also learned great tips about Hidden Pictures by master illustrator Tim Davis who has done more than 550 hidden pictures illustrations for them. Getting to know and hanging out with all these immensely talented illustrators and a lot of the Highlights staff was the icing on the cake. The food was all local and delicious, the grounds and lodging comfortable and charming, and the opportunity to spend a weekend with peers was just priceless. Illustration is such a lonely endeavor that we sometimes forget that there are others out there just like us - it was such a treat to share portfolios and tips and techniques with all the group (there was even an illustration celebrity among us, the great Robert Neubecker) not to mention how fun it was to chat with the folks from Highlights and get to hear their stories. Here are some photos from this unforgettable "Draw with a Purpose" weekend!

Friday, August 29, 2014

Story Time this morning at the New Children's Museum San Diego

Always a good time at one of my favorites story time venues! It was a great turn-out, a total of 66 toddler/preschoolers/parents today! I read Colorosaurus, Countasaurus and Shapeasaurus with the help of some very bright kids, and then we moved to our art making session. Favorite coloring technique of the day, by a cute preschooler named Amayah: "making gum" - just jam those crayons on the paper as hard as you can, and the colorful-waxy-dots will be "gum". Artist kids never cease to amaze me! Special guests: Tessa and her grandparents, and Ana and her cute Valentina!




Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Cover art for the September issue of Ladybug Magazine!


Sample-happy week at Luciana Illustration's headquarters! Fresh from the mail box: my first appearance at Ladybug Mag - art cover for the September issue!

Back to School!


Where did summer go? We are all super excited to go back to school at Luciana Illustration's headquarters! I worked on over a hundred illustrated activity cards for McGraw-Hill Everyday Mathematics last year, and I just got samples in the mail! These cards will be used by second-graders all over the country. It was a long but rewarding project with the always great-to-work with designer team at McGraw-Hill!

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Luciana Illustration's first appearance in Highlights Magazine!

Keep your eyes peeled for the June 2014 issue, page 24... and August will bring more!

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Mother's Day is just around the corner!

Sometimes you think your mom is more than just a mom... well... you are right! Get this soon-to-be-classic for that special juggler in your life!
http://www.amazon.com/My-Mom-Is-Best-Circus/dp/0307931439/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399487363&sr=8-1&keywords=my+mom+is+the+best+circus


Friday, March 21, 2014

Special Guests from Canada at the New Children's Museum reading today

My readings for the Toddler Program at the New Children's Museum www.thinkplaycreate.org are always fun, but today it was thrice-special! After reading I set up the art-making time, and this adorable family stood out because their 3 year-old boy is ambidextrous and was coloring with both hands - at the same time! He was so excited that he couldn't decide which hand to choose, so he went with both! Then the lovely mom told me that they actually have my whole Dino book series at their home - which is in Calgary, Canada, where I lived as a teenager! It was so lovely to meet them all, they made a very rewarding reading even more special!

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

New Year, New Puzzle!

Luciana Illustration starts 2014 with a brand new mini-puzzle from Crocodile Creek! For bug lovers, puzzle lovers and everyone in between!
http://store.crocodilecreek.com/p/ladybug-mini-shaped-box-floor-puzzle?pp=12