I've Moved!

Hello all,

This message is to let you know that this blog has moved to http://www.christianelden.com/category/blog. While I haven't kept this one current as of late, it's my hope that the swanky new blog locale will provide the inspiration to keep it fresh. If you're a follower of Child's Play, I hope that you'll continue to follow me in the future, as I plan on posting some cool new stuff soon.

As always, thanks for reading, and I hope you'll stop by the new digs.

-Christian

Illustration Friday: FROZEN

Maybe it's just me, but this lil' fella looks like he's tired of being frozen.

Laptop Chic

This sassy lass is just a piece of an identity re-design I recently finished up.

More Playin'

Long Live the King

Playing with a lil' looser line style than I'm used to. What do you guys think?

Lil' Footballer

Black History Month Portraits

I just finished up a series of portraits that will be used in a Black History Month product line next year. I did them on 80 lb. medium surface drawing paper with regular 2B & 3B pencils. Featured are Marian Anderson (singer), Mary Church Terrell (writer/civil rights activist), Kenneth Clark (psychologist), Paul Robeson (athlete/actor), and Martin Luther King, Jr.

[NOTE]: I thought these would work for the "time" theme at Illustration Friday, not only because these individuals forged new paths for equality during a time when support for their cause was limited, but their accomplishments also broke new ground for the basic rights of everyone, and put simply, affected history.

New Stuff

Here's some new stuff from a recent activity book project. I felt like I had to put something new up... the goods were gettin' stale around here!

Illustration Friday: VOICES

Whipped this up for my sis-in-law (who volunteers with YoungLife) to give to her girls. I'm guessing you can imagine why I thought this might work for IF's "voices".... a mess of teen girls on one page -- you do the math. I need earmuffs just looking at it. :)

Illustration Friday: RAMBUNCTIOUS

This was an idea I'd started for my holiday cards this year, but never had time to finish it. He fits the "rambunctious" title though, methinks.

Cut It Out!

Anyone remember your old-school Sunday school teacher telling Bible stories with those little paper cutouts on a felt board? Well... here are a few drawings that are soon to be those very cutouts. They're all Jesus in varying states of consciousness/mood, except for the two groups of His disciples (freaking out while Jesus slept peacefully on a boat about to be ravaged by an incoming storm). More to come...

Jesus, meet Nicodemus

Here are a couple finished characters (Jesus & Nicodemus) that will be used separately in a new project... actually only the outlines were needed, but I couldn't NOT color them. :) Then I dropped them into a recycled background, and voila! The story's from John 3:1-21, where Nicodemus goes to Jesus at night & is taught about the concept of being "born again."

3...2...1...

Here's another cover concept I finished recently for a new teacher resource book. It's by the same author as Beakers, Bubbles & the Bible, so the artwork needed to follow suit.

Mmmmm. Jelly Beans.

I was recently given the challenge of creating an interesting cover for a jelly bean-inspired kids' activity book. How does one make jelly beans interesting? Well I don't know how YOU do it, but I give 'em all crazy faces. Works like a charm.

New Stuff

I recently finished this cover illustration for an activity/coloring book about some of the Bible's most famous stories. Know which three I worked into the cover?

Baby, Baby

Here are some cutesy baby animals I developed for a "baby congratulations" card set (yes, I made the elephant pink on purpose). :)

Early Bird Special

This was done for the quasi-weekly theme draw over at Honor Roll Artworks. I do believe I was the earliest early bird this week.

SFG Blank Book Project

I just wrapped up my installment of the Sugar Frosted Goodness Blank Book project. For those unaware, it's a traveling sketchbook that, when complete, will have skipped all over the world. It was a lot of fun & I was happy to be part of it. Can't wait to see the finished product!

Here are a couple "teaser shots" from my sketchbook pages... I won't reveal all & spoil the surprise. ;)

Illustration Friday: GARDEN

This is a slightly less-leafy alternative, but every garden I've ever been involved with seemed to have equal parts leaves, equal parts these. Maybe I need to watch more HGTV...?

Beakers, Bubbles & Bibles.... Oh my!

The latest project I designed/illustrated is now available for purchase. It's a Sunday school teacher's resource book that uses science experiments to illustrate Bible lessons and make 'em loads of fun. You can check it out under my "Published Works" section to the right.