12/4/13

Yellow Springs Brewery Exhibit of my Ohio Landscapes

My collage paintings of Ohio landscapes will be on display at the Yellow Springs Brewery in Yellow Springs, Ohio from Dec. 11th-Feb.2, 2014.

The Yellow Springs Brewery is a cool place to visit with cool people and cold fresh unique beer!
Owned and managed by my friends Lisa Wolters and Nate Cornett, YSB brews their signature beers with Jeffrey McElfresh, the lead brewer.

Thanks to Lisa for giving me a great place to show my work!

Lovely Lisa



10/2/13

New York Times Book Review!



My latest children's book "Farmer's Market Day" was reviewed by Sarah Harrison, the Children's Book Editor for the New York Times! (...and she liked it! Even better!)






From her review:

"Dippold’s illustrations tell a funny backstory of the havoc the little girl leaves behind as she unwittingly plucks plants from their pots, knocks over jars of honey, and overturns baskets of peaches and apples. But the farmers’ market is a relaxed and generous place, and none of the tumbles lead to trouble. Tolerance, plenty and a little red wagon to carry the shopping — or a tired toddler — who could ask for anything more?"

Thank You Sarah!

9/30/13

Artisan Showcase Saturday!


Spent this past Saturday at the Artisan Showcase at the New Bremen Pumpkinfest. It was a beautiful, blue sky day with plenty of good wine and dark beer, meeting and talking to other artists and art lovers and enjoying the fall weather.

These four paintings went home with new owners. A big thank you!

Open Hearted 2013 Collage on Canvas
Sunset Lullaby 2013 Collage on Canvas
Red Roof Farm 2013 Collage on Canvas

Summer Air Melody 2013 Collage on Canvas


9/4/13

Lilla Roger's Global Talent Search

“The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color.”      Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting


I LOVE this quote from the opening lines of Tuck Everlasting. It is exactly how I feel when summer is coming to an end. And like a kid I always feel a little sad when it does.
Hello September!



This journal cover image, inspired by the playground that is always waiting just outside, was my entry into the first round of Lilla Roger's Global Talent Search...an amazing contest full of talented artists competing for representation by Lilla Rogers

It will surely change the winning artist's life!  

8/29/13

New Chapter Book for Magic Wagon

I love to answer the door when a new box of my books arrives!

"The New Girl" is a chapter book for young girls that allows them to choose their own ending.
This is the first chapter book I have illustrated and I really enjoyed it!

Written by Anastasia Suen who is the author of 169 books for children and adults (wow!), "The New Girl" is published by Magic Wagon Books, a division of Abdo Publishing.



8/27/13

My Paintings at Beautiful Bear's Mill


My artwork will be on display at the gallery at Bear's Mill in Greenville, Ohio from August 30-September 22, 2013.  My work is paired with another artist, Jay Harrison, who creates incredibly cool industrial style lighting with antique beer bottles. 

Just east of Greenville, Bear's Mill is a treasure!  
If you have never been there, it is worth a country drive to see the mill, enjoy nature, shop in the mill store and check out the art in the gallery.



Don't ya love their old truck?

Bear's Mill, Greenville, Ohio









7/1/13

Make Art That Sells-Part A-Final Week!

Lilla Rogers: Make Art That Sells E-Course







I am currently being challenged (and getting my butt kicked!) in an online class with Lilla Rogers, an artist rep whose personal work and artists' work I have admired for a long time. These two collage paintings are my work from the 4th week of the class which covered "wall decor". So-o-o-o much fun, taking the collage techniques of my farm paintings and creating something new and fresh and using words for inspiration.

Through the class, which is on the last and final week of Part A, I have found Lilla to be an inspiring and thought provoking teacher and leader.  She understands artists because she is a very talented one first and foremost!  From my point of view, Lilla has inspired each artist to hold on to the part of themselves that is different from everyone else!  That is where your magic and uniqueness as an artist will come from.  The more personal you can make your work, the better to connect with an audience who appreciates it.


Join Part B of 
Make Art That Sells 
Oct.7-Nov. 10, 2013
-----via this link.
This five weeks of the class will cover the categories of Papergoods, Children's and Baby Apparel & Decor, Scrapbooking, Editorial, and Party Paper.

Each week has time for design research, inspiration, sketching, inspiration, painting, inspiration, interacting with other artists, a final assignment, and did I mention...INSPIRATION?!  

All in all, a great big creative brain wake up call!

6/14/13

I Love Green!

A new collage piece that started with my favorite color..uh, yeah...GREEN!
Without input from the other meddling members of my family, my whole house would be shades of green...


This color looks so good to me for a dining room.  Who knew I could have anything in common with George Washington (or maybe it was Martha doing the color picking)?  Lovely COLOR!

Mt. Vernon Breakfast Room

6/10/13

Winning at Wassenberg

These two collage paintings of mine were accepted in the juried Wassenberg Art Center, 57th Annual June Art Exhibit in Van Wert, Ohio. Both paintings depict barns, but I think in both cases the sky stole the show.
Sinking Sun  12x12"  Collage on Canvas

North Star Schoolhouse  14x18"  Collage on Canvas
North Star Schoolhouse won the Douglas Edward Koch Memorial Award. I was very excited about that and able to enjoy a very nice evening at the Wassenberg Art Center with music, great food, and my favorite, lots of art! Thank You!

If you would like to visit the exhibit in Van Wert, Ohio, the dates are June 8-28 from 1-5, Tuesday through Sunday.  The Art Center is closed on Mondays.

5/9/13

New Collage Painting

North Star Schoolhouse 2013 - Collage on Canvas

“Earth's crammed with heaven...
But only he who sees, takes off his shoes.” 

-Elizabeth Barrett Browning

3/28/13

The Next Big Thing-A Global Blog Tour

I was tagged by my PBAA pal and amazing talent, John Nez, to participate in The Next Big Thing, a global blog tour that started in Australia and brings awareness to authors and illustrators and their newest published work. You can read his blog post from last week for The Next Big Thing right here.

I'll let you in on the creation of my illustrations for my newest book, Farmers' Market Day, released this month and published by Tigertales. Written by Shanda Trent this book follows an enthusiastic little girl through a day at a farmers' market.

At the end of my post, I will also tag one of my favorite artists, Deborah Zemke
and two Ohio authors with new books, Dandi Daley Mackall and Tricia Springstubb.





So here goes!


Where did the idea for the book come from?
The story came from the author of the book, Shanda Trent. I am so happy to be the artist for her first published picture book, Farmers' Market Day.
What genre does the book fall under?
Ages 3-7 picture book
What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
An enthusiastic and slightly clumsy little girl takes a trip through a farmer's market in search of the perfect prize.
Who is publishing your book?
Tiger Tales
How long did it take you to illustrate the book?
From beginning sketches to final art, around 7 months.


color sketch

What inspired you in illustrating this book?
I was inspired by my own experience of taking my kids to a farmer's market when they were very young and intent on touching (and tasting) everything! Specifically Findlay Market in Cincinnati - Ohio's oldest continuously operated public market located in Over The Rhine.

So I created a very curious little girl who along the way as she travels through the market leaves some messes in her wake!


rough sketch

finished spread with changes and color

What else about the book might pique the reader's interest?
I promise this book will make your kids love fruits and vegetables. Promise. 
Well maybe not...

rough sketch
finished art

Well I hope you enjoyed my blog post.
Thanks for stopping by!
Now's my chance to tag a few authors and illustrators to create their own The Next Big Thing post on April 4th.
Stop by their blogs next week!!


An artist whose work I LOVE - fresh and funny!





An extraordinary Ohio author with a zillion books to her credit. Well...almost a zillion! 
I was lucky enough to illustrate three of them.






Another very talented Ohio author who has a brand new book with Candlewick Press!  
Congrats to Tricia!



3/11/13

School Day!

Signing my new book, Farmers' Market Day, for my buddy Nolan at Creative Discovery Preschool in Celina, Ohio.
What a great day! Parents, grandparents, and lots of kids!

I was seated next to Cookie Monster, Elmo and Dora - and although many kids were a bit reluctant to give these characters a hug, they did get brave enough for a high five or two.
Thanks Creative Discovery!

3/10/13

My New Book

My new book!
Farmers' Market Day
-published by Tiger Tales Publishers.

Found hanging out at Target with some of my other favorite children's book characters.
Yay!

This part of creating
art for children's books never gets old.

This is author Shanda Trents's first picture book. I am happy to bring her words to life!





2/14/13

Happy Valentine's Day


Will 
you 
be 
mine?

pretty pleeeeee-ase?







All you need is love.

But a little chocolate
now and then
doesn't hurt.

-Charles Schulz








2/11/13

Almost Done


Finished the interior art for a middle grade reader for
called
"The New Girl" 
written by Anastasia Suen

The book is a choose-your-own-ending story that teaches girls good choices about friendship and the acceptance of others.
It's a tough world for kids...every little bit helps!

My best friend is the one that brings out the best in me.
                                               ---Henry Ford

2/6/13

Farmers' Market Day is Here!


Ding Dong!
Hello UPS man.

Here's a good reason to open the front door on a cold February day...
new book samples!

Coming out March 1st!


written by Shanda Trent
illustrated by...uh...me!
published by


It's a good day.










1/18/13

Under the Sea

My underwater themed puzzle page in the February 2013 issue of Ladybug Magazine.  Find the matching hearts.

Didn't you know that starfish have smiles?

Well, at least mine always do.