Summer Fun Coloring Page!

This is a coloring page I created for a coloring book I illustrated.  You can download yours for free!

"The Abcs of Yoga for Kids" November coloring page!

Here is the "The Abcs of Yoga for Kids"coloring page for November.  If you would like to view the entire line of products from "The Abcs of Yoga for Kids", or receive the FREE newsletter, click here.

"The ABCs of Yoga for Kids" September coloring page

Here is a free coloring page from the book I illustrated for Teresa Ann Power, "The ABCs of Yoga for Kids".  In yoga, focus on breathing is very important.

"Prairie Storms" book launch and GIVEAWAY!

Head over to the blog of well-respected children's book illustrator Elizabeth Dulemba for a chance to win a FREE copy of my new book, Prairie Storms.  Also, be sure to read the interview with the book's author, Darcy Pattison, and myself, about how the concept for the book and the illustrations all came together.  You can also watch a book trailer there, to preview this exciting new book!

NEW! Personalized Ballerina Print in my Etsy Shop!

Every little girl dreams of being a ballerina.  Choose your ballerina's nationality, hair and eye color, and personalize this print with her name.  Made to order, now in my Etsy shop.

Illustration Friday: "Stay"

True friends stay with you through life's ups and downs.

We all need encouragement to stay the course at times.  Find out how Champ's friends encourage her during her battle with cancer in the book I illustrated, Champ's Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too!, written by Sherry North and published by Sylvan Dell.  And watch for my latest book, Prairie Storms, to be released in August.  To see previews of the book, check out my website.

Video Preview of "Prairie Storms"

Watch this exciting book preview video of my new book, Prairie Storms, written by Darcy Pattison and illustrated by me.  The book is just weeks away from its release date.  I am so excited.  Watch the video HERE!  (Thanks to Darcy for putting together this video.)

"Prairie Storms": February coloring page

To help launch the August release of my new picture book "Prairie Storms", written by Darcy Pattison and published by Sylvan Dell Publishing, I will be making available FREE coloring pages drawn by me!  Each coloring page features a month with a scene which coordinates with a scene from the book.  Just click the image, then either download the coloring page, or drag and drop it to your desk top.   Be sure to print the image in a "landscape" format on your printer.   The image size is 8.5" X  11".  I would love to see your child's finished, colored page when they have finished coloring it.


This week I am featuring the coloring page for the month of February: a prairie dog peeks out of his snow-capped burrow on a foggy morning.  Will he see his shadow in the snow?

More Accolades for "The ABCs of Yoga for Kids"!

Check it out!  This video features the book I illustrated, The ABCs of Yoga for Kids, along with other great Parent-Tested/Parent-Approved products!

"Prairie Storms": August coloring page

To help launch the August release of my new picture book "Prairie Storms", written by Darcy Pattison and published by Sylvan Dell Publishing, I will be making available FREE coloring pages drawn by me!  Each coloring page features a month with a scene which coordinates with a scene from the book.  Just click the image, then either download the coloring page, or drag and drop it to your desk top.  Be sure to print the image in a "landscape" format on your printer.  The image size is 8.5" X  11".  I would love to see your child's finished, colored page when they have finished coloring it.

This week I am featuring the coloring page for the month of August: an earless lizard searches for shelter as the sky crackles with heat lightning.

Champ's Story book signing!

Thank you to Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Arlington Hts., IL, for hosting last night's event.  It was a great success!  If you would like to schedule a school visit or book signing for any of my books, please drop me an email.

Here I am explaining how a story becomes a book.  The original art for the cover of "Champ's Story" is framed and displayed on my table along with copies of the book.

Here I am with local authors Michael Bellito and Jackie Pilossoph, who were also signing their books.

Another shot of the original art and the book cover.

Become a fan of "Champ's Story" on Facebook!

You can now join the "Champ's Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too!" fan page on Facebook.  Just click HERE, and the click the "Like" button at the top of the fan page.  Post your stories about the book, photos of your child reading the book, your own stories about how cancer has touched the life of you, your child or a pet.  I hope you enjoy this new way to interact with the publisher, author Sherry North, illustrator (me), and other fans of the book.

Illustration Friday: "Chicken"

Two different illustrations for the topic "Chicken".  

The first illustration is for the current children's book I am illustrating for Sylvan Dell, titled "Prairie Storms" (2011).  It is a prairie chicken, also known as a prairie grouse.

The second is a coloring page I created, called"Chicken Dance".

Free SIGNED Book Plates for Gift-Giving!

Buy a copy of my children's book "Champ's Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too!" or "The ABCs of Yoga for Kids" from Amazon and I will send you a FREE SIGNED book plate that you can affix inside the book for gift-giving.  Just leave me a comment or send me a message, including the address you want the book plate sent to, and I will sign and send the book plate right out to you!

"Prairie Storms"

Finally!  I have been wanting to show you the cover of the latest book I am illustrating for Sylvan Dell, titled "Prairie Storms".  Here it is!  Ta-daaaaa!  It is due to be released in summer of 2011.  I am currently illustrating the inside spreads.  It has been such an interesting project to research.  This past weekend I went on a photo excursion at the Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary near my home to photograph prairie plants, trees, the sky, etc.  Each of the 12 spreads inside "Prairie Storms" will feature a different month, different animal, and different storm.

Order my Halloween art prints, cards, invitations and magnets on Etsy!

This is my best selling print ever!  Now you can buy a variety of items featuring my original Halloween art design at my Etsy shop online.

There are also fine art autumn giclees available of my watercolor art.  Go take a look.

Look, Fan Mail!

This is so cute, I just had to share it with you! It came today from a friend in Nebraska whose kids love my book "Little Black Ant on Park Street". I decided to surprise them with the book in the mail last week, and today I was surprised with this sweet thank you note from them. Click the image to read what it says...

Illustration Friday - "Focused"

©KathleenRietz
"Yoga keeps us focused and calm."

My 2009 illustrated book "The ABCs of Yoga for Kids" (written by Teresa Anne Power) has just won its 5th award,the Gold Medal in the Picture Book - Body, Mind & Spirit category in the 2010 Mom's Choice Awards!

You can also read a great review of the book here.

And order the book here.

If you've never tried yoga, it is a great exercise in strength, balance, focus, body awareness, and a great stress reliever. I always leave yoga class with a sense of calm and well-being, and ready for bed!

This post would not be complete without me mentioning one of my favorite sites to visit. It is the site of my friend Polly over at "Yoga is Yummy". Last year I designed a logo for her DVD. You can see her yoga demos, recipes, and even read snippets to nourish your spirit here.

What I'm Up To Now...

My latest children's book project is a book I am working on for Sylvan Dell Publishing, titled "Champ's Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too".

Below you can see the cover art. Champ and Cody are best friends, so I gave them both golden red hair. I used a combination of watercolors, gouache, oil pastels and pastel pencils for the art throughout the book:


And here was my pencil sketch for the cover. I wanted to show a deep, emotional connection and love between the main characters:


And here is a mock-up for the possible finished cover design by Sylvan Dell:


The book will be out sometime in 2010. The story is designed to help children with cancer understand and deal with their illness and treatments. But I also believe it is a great story for children dealing with the illness of a pet or a sibling or friend. I really think it is a great story, and I am honored to have been chosen for the project.

Illustration Friday - "Flying"

Flying... (I can't really write too much about this project yet....sshhh...)



But...here are some Sunday school learning materials I illustrated for LifeWay Christian Resources: