Dani Jones

Dani Jones uses light, texture, great compositions and confident drawing in her lively children's and comic book images. Dramatic light often is the focusing element in each image, sometimes used interestingly from behind the characters, creating an almost silhouette effect, or used as a welcoming glow from a window.

Compositions on a slanted horizon are either used for fun (in the Mariachi image) or emphasizing disorientation (in the dark blue school girls image.) I especially like the witches image for its many hands and great fore-, middle- and background.

Each image has its own unifying color 'story' that feels complete; warms and cools feel balanced, sometimes very subtly so (as in the pie baking image).

Kelly Murphy

This Massachusetts native creates beautiful textured illustrations for children's books, editorial and educational clients. Her rich color palette is toned back and adds to the thoughtful, humble feeling in her work. Sweet characters with oversized heads and pointed toes fit well into lyrical environments and situations. Her gesso-stroked surfaces give the images a lively base to start from and use; color gets caught in the texture and gives the whole picture a rustic and shopworn look that is charming. A translucent paint layering technique, I believe, gives a beautiful glowing effect to the paintings. (Kelly Murphy's website)