The Wizard of OZ

There are very few stories that are as well-known and beloved as L. Frank Baum's Wizard of OZ. The biggest challenge was choosing which scene to illustrate. I've always liked the Tin Woodsman, so his introduction seemed to be the best choice. Besides, once the Cowardly Lion joins the group, there are just too many characters hanging around.

The character design was kept very close to the original Pinocchio's marionettes. Despite appearances, every character was drawn on a separate piece of paper and composed in Photoshop.

Pinocchio

Pinocchio's Marionette Theater was named after, obviously, the little puppet that came to life and wished to be a real boy. My illustration focuses on a key moment in the story when Pinocchio is faced with temptation and encouraged towards a bad decision by the fox and cat. I had no reference photos for the puppets of the fox and cat, nor did I use the original appearance of Pinocchio in this image. Instead, I kept the look of the theater's mascot puppet and invented my own rogues. Cricket the dog is the only character that resembles what she looked like in the play.

Hansel and Gretel

As most schoolkids know, Hansel and Gretel were two German siblings who got lost in the woods and stumbled upon a remote cottage built entirely from edible gingerbread. However, the cottage was owned by a particularly nasty witch who, in response to the children's consumption of her home, wished to eat the children. Good clean family fun.

At Pinocchio's, "Hansel and Gretel" was one of the first marionette shows presented. The character design was a little stiff and awkward, without the wonderfully caricatured proportions that developed over the years. Rather than using the original designs to illustrate the story, I adapted the Witch design from Pinocchio's version of the Wizard of OZ. Hansel was modified from the lead of Jack and the Beanstalk and Gretel was pulled from my imagination. I did try to keep the children's wardrobe as accurate from the original puppets as possible.

As a technical note, I drew the Witch on one page, the children on another, and the background on yet one more, scanned them in separately, then merged and rendered them in Photoshop.

Stories and Shows from Pinocchio's

Hey all. Here is the cover of the book project on which I've been working. Inside, there are nine different scripts of shows, including Hansel and Gretel, Rumplestiltskin, and, of course, Pinocchio, all of which have been performed for live audiences at Pinocchio's Marionette Theater in Winter Park, Florida, with one exception. The poor economy closed the doors of this wonderful theater before Snow White was staged. With luck and support, Pinocchio's can re-open in its new location at the Altamonte Mall. For more information, contact Dave at davideaton@earthlink.net.

More illustrations will be posted as we get closer to the release date of the book. I'll let you know.

I'm not dead yet!

Hey all.
I just wanted to assure everyone that despite all appearances to the contrary, I haven't given up art or blogging. I've been busy working my fingers to the bone with a book project. Only one more illustration to go and it should be out for a Christmas release. Once I get permission, I'll post the pages here. Promise.