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Gretchen Ellen Powers

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Book Cover: Little Women

March 8, 2019

The month of March has me thinking of these strong, independent, and loving March sisters. I have and always will love Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel “Little Women”

So as the strong March winds blow, cuddle in with the March’s adventures and fall in love with their family, as I have.

p.s. It’s no surprise that Jo is my favorite. Hands down. No contest. Just saying.

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This being the month of March, I thought it was the perfect time to illustrate the famous March sisters of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel Little Women. This story has always been full of happy, fond memories for me, even as a little girl gathered around my grandmother’s living room, all of the women and even the little women of my happy family, watching the story unfold of the 1994 version.

Of course the book was always on the shelf as well, and waiting for me to grow and read it. Which I did as a young woman.

And yes, I do identify with Jo March the most. I do picture myself as her. And I’m not even going to hide that she is my favorite. I love Jo.

In Art & Illustration (mine) Tags louisa may alcott, alcott, little women, illustration, illo, illustrator, painting, art, artwork, book illustration, book cover, literature, classic, march, Jo March, Little Women, author, writer, sister, sisters, girl power, girl boss, March, kid lit, kid lit art, kidlit, kidlitart, Gretchen Ellen Powers, author illustrator, character design, graphic design, editorial illustration, typography, design, pink, pretty in pink, spring, girls, girl, women, woman, the future is female, sweet, pretty, feminine, mother, daughter, mother and daughter, family, friends, victorian, retro, vintage, classical, fashion, fashion illustration, fashion design, vintage clothing, clothing, ootd, outfit, dress, dresses, international women day, iwd, womens day, internartionalwomenday, internationalwomensday, IWD 2019, IWD2019
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Peter Pan: Book Cover & Interior Spot Illustration

May 20, 2018

Peter Pan: Book Cover & Interior Illustration   watercolor on paper

This story, these characters, and this world have all been favorites of mine since I was a little girl. And so since I have been illustrating some of my favorite classic book covers recently, I thought I would pay tribute to J.M. Barrie's immortal tale as well. 

“Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning! ” 

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In Art & Illustration (mine) Tags Peter Pan, J M Barrie, Barrie, James Matthew Barriw, James Matthew Barrie, J. M. Barrie, Book, books, book cover, illustration, book design, chidlren's book, kids book, kid lit, kid lit art, kidlit, kidlitart, children's book, children's books, children's literature, Children's Art, children's illustration, childrens art, childrens illustration, childrens book, read, reading, classic, story book, story, storybook, fairy, fairies, pixie, pixies, tinkerbell, Peter, Pan, fantasy, fantasy art, pirate, pirates, Captain, Pirate Captain, Captain Hook, Hook, James Hook, vintage, retro, illo, illustrator, characters, character design, cute, kids, children, nana, st bernard, dog, flying, magic, magical, whimsy, whimsical, charming, character, spot, spot illustration, fly, flight, fantasy illustration, watercolor, line work, linework, black and white
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Tribute: JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH - Book Cover

March 26, 2018

James & the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl - Book Cover Tribute

What happens when you combine an orphaned boy, a spider, centepeed, inch-worm, lady bird, glow worm, grasshopper, and one oversized fruit? Genius. 

This is another tribute book cover I did to one of my all time favorite adventures. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl (originally published in 1961 by Alfred A. Knopf)

You can bet his wicked old aunts are up in that rickety house planning some kind of no-good and mean schemes. But for me, that round fruit full of typography left me suddenly wishing for bowls full of peaches and cream.

In Art & Illustration (mine) Tags knopf, a a knopf, alfred a knopf, publisher, publishing, James and the Giant Peach, James & the giant peach, Roald Dahl, childrens book, children's book, kid lit art, kid lit, kidlit, kidlitart, peach, peaches, classic, storybook, book, books, children's books, children's classic book, fairytale, fairy tlae, fairy tale, illustrator, illustration, watercolor, typography, book cover, book cover design, hand lettering, graphic design, creative, drawing, painting, art, artwork, children, kids, elementary, fiction, insects, fruit, 1960s, calligraphy, house, dark, spooky, book covers, tribute, fan art, fanart, designs, pink, coral
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Charlotte's Web: Then & Now

March 13, 2018
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This cherished copy of Charlotte's Web was a surprise present from my parents when I was just eight years old. I'm so over-the-moon-happy to have this first edition copy of E. B. White's classic from 1952 by Harper Collins. 

You're never too old to enjoy reading a children's book, and trust me, they only get better the older you get. They really do improve with age!

Here's my well loved copy, next to my book cover tribute to this favorite story of mine!

In Art & Illustration (mine) Tags Charlotte's web, painting, illustration, illustrator, e b white, harper collins, 1950s, book, books, classic, literature, nature, farm, farmer, farming, country, country living, spring, children's book, children's illustration, Children's Art, kid lit, kid lit art, kidlit, kidlitart, Gretchen Ellen Powers, story, storybook, elementary, middle grade, middle grade reader, mgr, drawing, watercolor, artist, art, artwork, graphic design, characters, character design, book cover, fan art, original art, book cover design, design, creative, wilbur, charlotte, spider, pig, font, typography, calligraphy, lettering, hand lettering, review, book review, book shelf, book nerd, bibliophile
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Tribute: CHARLOTTE'S WEB - Book Cover

March 8, 2018

"CHARLOTTE'S WEB" by E. B. White - Book Cover

My favorite place to sift through books is- and always has been- in the children's book section of any library or bookstore I stumble into. Last summer my sweet mother started re-reading E. B. White's classic story of Charlotte's Web aloud to my family (my dad, my brother and I) Other than be the luckiest to have that sort of tradition with my family still going on - especially in this digital day and age. I have fallen, once again for Wilbur and Mr. White's world.

Originally published in 1952 by Harper & Row (now Harper Collins) It is still just as sweet, enduring, timeless, and beloved today.

This book cover is my tribute to the talented author and his immortal characters. 

In Art & Illustration (mine) Tags Charlotte's web, e b white, e. b. white, classic, classic book, book, books, bookshelf, kid lit, kid lit art, nature, pig, farm, farming, farmer, country, novel, spider, web, wilbur, some pig, hog, piglet, cute, whimsy, whimsical, literature, literary, story, storybook, children's book, kid's book, children's books, children's literature, children's illustration, art, artwork, watercolor, watercolors, watercolor painting, illustration, illustrator, pink, book cover, cover, cover art, book cover design, design, graphic design, character, characters, character design, typography, lettering, type, font, calligraphy, hand lettering, hand painted, sweet, fictional, fairy tale, book art, book covers, traditional, traditional media, paint, painting, tribute, fan art, fanart, original art, original, writer, author, children's author, children's writer, charlotte, salutations, country life, country living, farm life, classic story, classic movie, film, chapter book, middle grade, middle grade reader, elementary, elementary school, read, reading, reader, book worm, book nerd, bookstore, book store, book shop, book club, happy, spring, Springtime, Gretchen Ellen Powers, Harper Collins, publisher, harper collins, timeless

The Boxcar Children: 75th Anniversary, Fully Illustrated Edition

September 18, 2017

So excited to announce that I was chosen to illustrate the first ever fully illustrated edition of The Boxcar Children for the 75th anniversary of its release!! I painted over 30 interior illustrations for this book, and every single one of them was a wonderful adventure and joy for me to work on! The cover art was painted by the talented Anne Yvonne Gilbert.

Thank you ever so much to the lovely folks at Albert Whitman & Co. it was a joy working with you during this project, and to my sweet agent Nicole of T2 Illustrators & Authors (you're a superhero!!) And so thankful to my parents and brother Seth, you guys are my best friends!! And above all thanks to my Heavenly Father for blessing me always and in all things!

Feeling so thankful and blessed for the opportunity! 

Happy 75th Anniversary Boxcar Children!!

In Art & Illustration (mine) Tags Boxcar, The Boxcar Children, Boxcar Children, kid lit, kid lit art, literature, book, middle grade, middle grade reader, mgr, albert whitman, albert whitman & co, Anne Yvonne Gilbert, Gretchen Ellen Powers, Gertrude Chandler Warner, retro, vintage, classic, classic book, story, books, literary, classic story, story book, storybook, kids, children, siblings, orphans, childrens illustration, children's book, children's art, t2, t2 illustrators, agent, agency, Tugeau2, Nicole Tugeau, anniversary, edition, special edition, news, publishing, publisher, fully illustrated, illustrated, illustration, painting, art, artwork, watercolor, watercolour, watercolors, aquarelle, 1940s, history, historical, historical fiction, fiction, thanks, thankful, happy, illustrator, artist, artsy, creative, i love my job, workflow, work flow, work, best job ever, book cover, cover, cover art, blessed

Book Cover: WIP #3

March 10, 2017

Almost done with this project, and I am very much loving the mice! I'll be posting the finished illustration for this fun book cover tomorrow!

In Art & Illustration (mine) Tags illustration, art, painting, mice, mouse, woodland, nature, surreal, anthro, anthropomorphic, whimsy, whimsical, artwork, artist, illustrator, kid lit, kidlit, kid lit art, kidlitart, school, children, kids, Children's Art, children's illustration, graphic design, design, characters, animals, Animals In Clothes, sweet, cute, friends, education, editorial, editorial illustration, vintage, rustic, snake, python, computer, computer language, book, books, book cover, cover, cover art, study, wip, paint, watercolor, watercolour, water color, ink, drawing, sneak peek, process, palette, friend, school house, back to school, tree, apple tree, apples, photo, photography, school books, educational, learning, computer programming, how to, non fiction, non-fiction, nonfiction, commission, forest, retro, old fashioned, house, home
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Book Cover: WIP #2

March 9, 2017

The first soft, barely-there layers of color. I love this stage of the painting process!

In Art & Illustration (mine) Tags python, python snake, book cover, book, literary, literature, cover, cover art, illustration, mice, paint, watercolor, watercolour, painting, brush, palette, wip, sneak peek, process, progress, studio, art, artwork, illustrator, computer, programming, language, languages, tech, techie, artist, mouse, children, school, animals, Animals In Clothes, anthro, anthropomorphic, nature, forest, wildlife, woodland, drawing, ink, kid lit, kidlit, kid lit art, kidlitart, surreal, animals in clothes, rustic, cute, sweet, whimsy, whimsical, charming, happy, editorial
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Book Cover: WIP #1

March 8, 2017

The beginnings of a fun project I am working on. Painting mice and a friendly snake, for a book cover on Python computer programming! 

More sneaky peeks coming soon!

In Art & Illustration (mine) Tags python, computer, programming, programming language, computer language, book, book cover, cover, cover art, illustration, illo, illustrator, painting, mouse, watercolor, watercolour, ink, pen and ink, artwork, mousemice, school, school house, snake, python snake, mice, children, kids, photo, photography, nature, wildlife, woodland, literature, kid lit, kid lit art, publishing, book worm, book art, linework, graphic design, design, character, characters, friends, vintage, whimsy, anthro, anthropomorphic, school mouse, field mouse, naturalist, animals, animals in clothes, surreal, whimsical, children's illustration, non-fiction, nonfiction, non fiction, books, wip, sneak peek, work in progress, glimpse, progress, process, painting process, bell, school bell, kindergarten, back to school, learning, lunch pail, rustic, school books, homework, home work, friendship, happy, sweet, cute, forest, charming, photograph, picture, picture book, pen, drawing, draw, doodle, sketch, sketchbook, black & white, b & w, grey, gray, gray scale, grey scale
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