New Coloring Page...FREE!

Feel free to click the pic to download my latest Prairie Storms coloring page!  In this scene, we see a cougar taking refuge from a chilly, November hail storm.

"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!

Illustration Friday: "Gesture"

One of the best things about our dogs is that they are there with a friendly gesture when they know we are hurting....wonderful, even if their kisses smell like dog food.  :)  (Illustration taken from Champ's Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too!, published by Sylvan Dell.)

I received this review of my latest book, Prairie Storms, from Sylvan Dell last night, and wanted to share it with you:

PRAIRIE STORMS (reviewed on July 15, 2011)

A passel of prairie wildlife weathers a year of storms.

In February, “The hibernating ground hog stirs, awakes. It unplugs the door to its den and peers out. Soft billows of fog blot / out the sun.” June sees “Puffy morning clouds build and build all afternoon until thunder clouds tower high. Flash! Boom! The white tailed doe and fawn both flee, helter-skelter toward a tree.” Skunks endure dust storms. A cougar shelters from hail. A prairie chicken digs for roots after a blizzard. Each double-page spread presents a different prairie beast and a different weather event for each month. Pattison’s text is descriptive and refrains from anthropomorphizing; however, it ends abruptly, giving this more of the feel of a list than a cohesive tale. Rietz’s watercolors of realistic animals in various areas of the grassland habitat are a good match. Six pages of activities and quizzes on animals, weather, habitats and seasons follow December’s spread.

Best for classrooms or school libraries looking to plump their science collections. (Informational picture book. 6-10)

Here is an exciting sample of an illustration from the book...

Prairie Storms author, Darcy Pattison, is having a give-away over at Goodreads.  Enter between now and August 10th for your chance to win a free copy of our book.

You can also now follow both of these books on Facebook!


And finally...

Check out what's new over at my fine art blog, when you get a chance and are in the mood for something different.

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.)

Illustration Friday: "Midsummer Night"

Here is a preview illustration from my latest book, Prairie Storms, set for release in just a couple of weeks.  The book was written by Darcy Pattison, and published by Sylvan Dell.  We have a follow-up book, called Desert Baths, which will be coming in 2012.  It has been wonderful working with both Darcy and Sylvan Dell.  In this illustration, an earless lizard shimmies to find shelter from a dry, crackling lightning storm in the middle of an August night.  You can download a free coloring page version of this illustration here.

"Prairie Storms": New Book Release Coloring Pages!

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.

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".

"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.

Illustration Friday - "Breezy"

I will be so happy when I feel warm breezes on my face again. Winter in Chicago is much too long.
©KathleenRietz
©KathleenRietz
EDITOR'S NOTE: My latest illustrated children's book "The ABCs of Yoga for Kids" is now available for purchase! If you buy the book and want it SIGNED, pls specify in the comment box when you order that you were referred by me and that you would like the book signed. I will be signing books in L.A. at the end of March and your book will ship out then. Click the book icon on the upper right corner of my blog to order the book now. Thanks!!

Summer is a Memory...

© Kathleen Rietz

playing in the snow...

For all of you bloggers in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa...happy summer!

Winter Sketch

I really enjoyed the "21 Day Challenge" I participated in with fellow illustration bloggers earlier this year, and so tonite I decided to sketch in my sketchbook - a quickie....maybe 10 minutes while I talked with my sister on the phone. I hope to get back to another "21 Day Challenge" after the holidays. Anyone out there care to join me? (You can scroll down and click on the "21 Day Challenge" tag under the "View By Group" list on the right hand side of my blog to see drawings and paintings from the 21 Day Challenge). I also would like to work some of the sketches into paintings to add to my portfolio.

Illustration Friday - "Similar" #2

©KathleenRietz

Autumn Oak

©Kathleen Rietz
More therapeutic sketching between illustrating my children's books.

Look Again

I visited the nature sanctuary again today, probably for the final time this year. These critters camouflaged themselves so well....I would have completely missed the praying mantis if it had not scurried as I walked past it. We seemed to have startled each other.


praying mantis (the colors are amazing!) The praying mantis was about 5 or 6 inches (approx. 13-15 cm) long.



grasshopper (I see you!)

It was nice to break away for a little while....I took Leon with me after hitting the gym. I am working at home on the children's book illustrations and a small side project this weekend. I am hoping to find a little bit of time to draw in my Moleskine tomorrow. My growing interest in nature photography and my new Moleskine have been great outlets to help me to relax lately.

Autumn's Treats

Today's weather was so beautiful, you'd have to be inspired. It actually got my mind off the world's gloom-&-doom economic crisis, the sadness of the war, the upcoming election and my shrinking investments and how I am going to pay to heat my home this winter....I forgot about all of that for about 5 seconds.

I finally captured this spider with my camera today, something I have been trying to do for about 2 weeks. It lives in a peach tree near my house. It usually comes out after dark, but today when I was out walking, I spotted it having lunch. It eventually dragged the morsel back up its web and retreated into the leaves where it spends most of its time.



I also saw these interesting berries....which I am beginning to think may actually be related to some sort of peppers.


Love the textures of the berries and leaves against the fence.


I saw beetles...


and bees.


I even took Sunshine so that she could enjoy the warm autumn air. There were all kinds of good smells out there today.


And when I returned home, the postman had delivered a package for me today....these Halloween cards and envelopes arrived fresh from the printer!


All of that autumn air has me feeling generous. Leave me a comment on this post, and on October 13th I will draw 3 names. Each name I draw will win a free Halloween card with envelope!

These cards (and 8x10" prints) are also available and on sale through the end of the month at my online shop. If you buy any 8x10" print, you will also receive a free card with envelope while supplies last!

Ghoul'ed luck!

The Moleskine

©Kathleen Rietz
©Kathleen Rietz
©Kathleen Rietz

Fellow blogger and good friend Joan Yoshioka has been visiting from Hawaii and staying at my home in Chicagoland. We have so much to post about...it has been a vacation of sorts for us both. But tonite I am finishing up some sketches for the children's yoga book I am illustrating, so we are taking a little break from our adventures.

Today was grey and cold...the first real nip of autumn in the air. I bought this Moleskine sketchbook last night while we were out, and today we decided to have an afternoon of sketching at my kitchen table. Now I understand why artists become obsessed with their Moleskines....they are just so "different" from any other sketchbooks out there. It was nice just to do some sketching, free of deadlines and pressure. I guess there is still this fine artist living inside of me, set free on the pages of her new Moleskine.

Fly Free, Little Hatchling!

Anyone who regularly visits my blog has figured out by now that I love nature's little wonders...


...which is perfect since the book I am currently illustrating for Soundprints is all about the life of a little black ant.


I can't show you any illustrations for the book yet...


...so I'll continue to post photos from my yard instead.

Gardening Pal

Today while I was pulling weeds I spotted this little guy keeping watch over my garden.

©Kathleen Rietz

That inspired me to add this fine art print "Symphony In The Pond" to my growing online shop. You can see all of my designs available by going to my website and clicking on my shop page.

©Kathleen Rietz

Jim Flora and July Flowers

On Sunday I met Andi Butler and her son Owen for brunch and then a drive out to The Lake County Discovery Museum for a Jim Flora exhibit. So cool!

Here is Andi taking some photos of the artwork while something in another room has caught Owen's eye.


I loved Jim Flora's fun designs. Many of his works were inked by hand.


But for me, it was the beauty I saw in the fields outside of the gallery which drew me outward for some amazing photos.


I love Black-Eyed Susans...


This little guy appeared to be doing push-ups! : )


Nature has created the most incredible designs....



This busy bumblebee was hard at work


And I loved the beetle sunning herself on a snowy bed of Queen Ann's Lace.


A perfect ending to the weekend...