Loving County, Texas: The Least Populated County in America

For several years I've wanted to create a cartoon map of the lowest population county in the United States. Why? Good question.

I found the lowest population county in Loving County, Texas. So the other day I decided to create the map and use if as the header for my new Facebook fan page. Then, after I'd finished the art, I realized that I'd made a mistake. In drawing the map, I didn't allow for the picture and other windows that are a part of the Facebook header. These would cover up much of the text that I had hand-lettered on the map. So now what do I do? I decided for now to just drop it onto my blog, for your cartographic viewing enjoyment.

Fast Food

I've used my Skagway toad character many times over the years. I still use him often in my school appearances. In this case I used him for some greeting card art. I drew this several years ago, back in my pre-Photoshop days, when I was using markers and Prisma colors.

My other blog: trowbridgechronicles.blogspot.com

Sir Francis Drake's Ship in Combat

Over the years I've illustrated over three dozen books for the Teaching and Learning Company. One of my favorite books in that series is called Explorers of the New World Timeline. In researching for the illustrations I learned a lot about those explorers who first sailed to the New World. The ship that I illustrated above was captained by Sir Francis Drake.

Have you seen my other blog: The Trowbridge Chronicles.

The Crab that Got Away

This is a thumbnail sketch that I drew for my Monster Safari kids book. This was my original idea for the Snaggle-Tooth Crab, but I ruled it out because of its menacing appearance. When you're working with a G-rated audience, you don't want to get too menacing. I wouldn't want young children to have nightmares about a "scorpiocrab" hiding in their bed sheets at night. So this is the crab that got away. You'll only see it here, not in the book.

My new Monster Safari kids book will be out within two to three weeks. I'll keep you posted.

My other blog is called The Trowbridge Chronicles.

Last Page - Monster Safari Book

The last two pages of my Monster Safari book are instructional, with advice on drawing and shading. The above illustration gives tips about pencil shading. 

The book is now complete. One more final read-through and it's ready to send out. Monster Safari will soon be available for purchase. I'll keep you posted.

Monster Safari - Title Page

This may be the last image that I will post from my Monster Safari kids book. I discovered yesterday that I had overlooked the title page, so I banged this out today. Everything is hand lettered. I think all of the pages are written, lettered and drawn now. From here on out it will be final proofing the book, the dull but necessary part of producing a book.

This creature is a cousin to the Eelops, which is one of the how-to-draw monsters in the book. He has a Velcro tongue that captures prey with the flick of his tongue, but I didn't feel at liberty to draw a terrified little fishy struggling to break free from the hairy tongue. I have no idea how many moms would be upset if they were to see the ghastly image of a dismembered little sea creature on the end of the Sea Beastie's tongue. There is a price to be paid for working in the kids' market. Everything you draw and write needs to be G-rated.

Back Cover - Monster Safari

I'm really on the home stretch now. This is the final art for the back cover for my Monster Safari kids book. With the exception of the last two pages, the entire book is hand-scribed, as you see above. The book should be out in a couple weeks or so, depending on my deadlines. The empty spot in the lower right corner is where the bar code and ISBN number will go.