Creating Awe and Wonder

One Illustration at a time.

Paige and Webb Revisted
Picture Books Pamela Hanks Picture Books Pamela Hanks

Paige and Webb Revisted

When I think of what I want to say with my illustrations, Paige and Webb come to mind. The last time I worked on my stories around Paige and Webb, it was 2020 — about 18 months ago. This week I started a new story. If you like the beginnings of the making of the book and lots of rough sketches, you’ll love this blog post.

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Mini Alien Paintings
Pamela Hanks Pamela Hanks

Mini Alien Paintings

New in 2022: Daily Painting…ok, 151 days of daily painting! You can own this and future 4x6” alien paintings.

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My One Thing for 2022
Pamela Hanks Pamela Hanks

My One Thing for 2022

What is the One Thing that I can do In 2022 that will make everything else easier or unnecessary>

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What do Aliens Do?
Alien Monsters Pamela Hanks Alien Monsters Pamela Hanks

What do Aliens Do?

And then I asked the question, what if the number of eyes equals the age of the alien? I sketched and sketched ideas in thumbnails. I had lots of thumbnails but only room in the exhibit and time for 3 paintings.

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Puzzling over Products (Part 1)
Puzzles, Products Pamela Hanks Puzzles, Products Pamela Hanks

Puzzling over Products (Part 1)

What I like about the adult puzzle is it is really hard. The picture has lots of variations of the same or similar blue. It is kind of fun to put a puzzle together of a painting that you did. I had flash backs of: “oh, that’s got to be where he is standing because I went a little more green in that blue there” moments. You know?

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Reference Photos
Pamela Hanks Pamela Hanks

Reference Photos

What does a giraffe look like? I need an apple for a practice technique. What kinds of coral are in the ocean and which shapes do I like best? These are just some of the times in the recent past I’ve searched for reference photos on Google.

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Color Science (Part 1)
Painting, Color Pamela Hanks Painting, Color Pamela Hanks

Color Science (Part 1)

Maybe there was a chart of some kind that told you what colors were warm and which were cool and that everyone else had just been taught to memorize a list—like memorizing your times tables—-so they just knew and they didn’t have to figure it out every single time they reached for a tube of paint.

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