I loved working on these super fun cartoon spots for Owl Magazines Summer 2022 issue! I did the line art background, too. I think the kids must be laughing at the silly choices of occupations they have come up with here! Below are some samples of the layout and spots!
Owl Magazine--April 2022 Issue: "Fooled You!" Spot Illustration Cartoons
Something New! High Five Magazine Spread -- "Dragon Moves"
It was really fun to illustrate this dance like a dragon interactive spread for the January 2022 issue of Highlights for Children’s High Five magazine. Thank you, High FIve! I Hope the kids get a good bit of exercise as they groove to dragon’s moves!
Something New! Highlights Magazine Puzzle--Mitten Match!
I had the pleasure (and fun!) to illustrate this puzzle for the January 2022 issue of Highlights magazine, depicting a VERY busy village with several people missing their mittens. Kids are supposed to find the mitten in the scene and figure out who’s mitten it is. Below is some samples of these project. Thanks for stopping by!
Something New! January 2022 High Five Cover!
It’s been a while since I posted as I’ve been quite busy with several fun projects, both for clients and for myself! Happy New Year! It’s time to catch up and post some items that have finally come out in print! This cover for the January ‘22 issue of High Five magazine was working on over a year ago. Seems like forever but here it is on the cover. I had a fun time working on it, and I appreciate the opportunity to start the new year with such a nice item to post about. Below I have pics of the cover, and the original illustration before it got pared down and changed a bit. I also included some early sketches I sent to the client.
Something New! "That's Silly!" Puzzle Spead-Hardware Store Scene
Wow, what a challenging and fun illustration to do for High Five magazine’s March ‘21 issue! A “That’s Silly!” that’s featured in a hardware store made for some really fun—and silly!—things to show. I am including the sketch here, as some things changed a little for the final (The baking bear replaced the grandmother). Other things adjusted along as I got to the final art, too, as it usually does. Anyway, I hope the kids enjoyed the scene and had a good laugh here and there! Thanks, Five High /Highlights, for this fun project!
Something New! Highlights Hidden Picture for Christmas!
I was also asked to create this inside illustration for the same Hidden Picture book! Such fun to work on these elves as they decorate a Christmas tree. See if you can find the hidden pictures that are on the list! Have fun!
(C) Highlights for Children
Something New! Highlights Hidden Picture Cover & Puzzle!
I love all the projects I do for Highlights for Children, and this time, I had the opportunity to do a little something different—a reverse hidden picture, which would also be used for the cover! This is a Christmas holiday themed book so Santa in his sleigh being pulled by reindeer was the theme! It was a bit novel to do this in reverse, but I think it turned out well. There are many other illustrators who contributed their talents to the book as well! This is an item any child would enjoy, I am sure! Maybe even adults! Thanks again, Highlights!
Something New! High Five Magazine Spread: "School Supplies"!
It’’s always special to do anything for Highlights For Children, and when the art director asked me to create an illustration spread for the September 2020 issue of High Five magazine, I of course said yes! This is for their “That’s Silly!” segment in each magazine, where kids find as many “silly” items in the scene as they can. It is a good educational tool which is fun and humorous as well! Below are samples of the spread as well as closeups. I hope the kids had a few laughs as they looked over this scene! I know it was pretty fun to create!
Something New! Magzine Spot Illustrations/Cartoons -- The Great Bear Rainforest!
It’s always a pleasure to work with Owlkids Publishing and Owl magazine on their many educational projects. This time, I did a spot illustration/cartoon & map for an article about The Great Bear Rainforest, located in British Columbia, Canada. It looks like a wonderful place to check out and perhaps hike and enjoy other activities. Someday I will go! In the meantime, I hope the kids enjoy learning about this place, and that the bear cartoon and map add to their fun of learning! Samples are below. The second bear was one of the sketches I sent to see what would be best to put in that spot. The bear sitting up was chosen, but the other is just too cute to not include! And please check out Owlkids and all the books and magazines they have to offer! Your kids will be glad you did!
Something New! High Five Magazine "That's Silly!" Spash Park Spread Illustration
It’s always a treat and blessing to do work for Highlights and High Five magazine! This “That’s Silly!” spread is for the June 2020 issue, and features a splash park full of kids keeping cool—along with unusual and “silly things. See if you can find the “sillies” yourself! Below are close-ups of the illustration to make it easier to see. Have fun and have a happy, cool, safe summer! And be sure and check out High Five and Highlights magazines and books. They care about your kids and do a wonderful job of making it fun to learn—or just plain have fun!
Something New! "It's An Animal News Flash!" Spot Illustrations/Cartoons!
I created a few spot illustration/cartoons for the May 2020 issue of Owl Magazine’s “Incredible!” section, which is always so fun—and so informative! Presently, we’re living with the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and they aren’t sending sample copies at this time, so I have the spots mocked up in the spread. Sometimes the final changes a little, and certainly the designer makes it more sharp, clean, & clear, so thank you for overlooking these flaws on my samples!. : )
(c) Owl Magazine/Paula J. Becker 2020