Last-But-Not-Least LOLA Update!

I've been working hard on the drawings for a brand-new Last-But-Not-Least Lola book, this time she encounters – The Cupcake Queens! Author Christine Pakkala has written another charming and adventurous tale about Lola and her three friends.

There might or might not be a ghost in this one (you'll have to read to find out!), but the main story in all of these books are themes of friendship, jelaousy, and how to navigate them, while staying true to yourself.

As always, it's published by my awesome friends at Boyds Mills Press, and you can pre-order it now on Amazon or IndieBound. I've already gotten my advance readers copy, here's a look:

Last-But-Not-Least Lola Book 3, Advance Readers Copy! #ChristinePakkala #BoydsMills #kidlit #Illustration

A video posted by Paul Hoppe (@hoppeindustries) on Apr 6, 2015 at 12:07pm PDT

But not only do we have a new book coming out, also the previous volume, Last-But-Not-Least LOLA and the Wild Chicken comes out as paperback this fall! It even has some bonus material, and has a lower price point– if you missed it last year now is your chance! Some more pics from it are here.

We also received some very nice reviews for this one, a really nice one from School Library Journal and even a *starred* review from Booklist, who calls Lola the "the up-to-date heir of Beverly Cleary’s Ramona stories".

And finally, there's also news about the very first book: Last-But-Not-Least Lola Going Green received the "Green Prize" from the Santa Monica Public Library. Three cheers for LOLA!

A photo posted by Paul Hoppe (@hoppeindustries) on Dec 4, 2014 at 11:26am PST

Communication Arts 56

I'm proud to announce that my risographed covers for Tales To Behold 5 and 6 got into the Communication Arts 56th Annual Illustration!

Tales To Behold is a self-published comic zine featuring gonzo super-hero adventures with humor, old school vibe, lots of punching and unnecessary nudity. You can order the handmade, numbered books from BirdCageBottom Books or read them on my BEHOLDER Blog or tumblr.

These newest covers are two color risograph printed, with help from the awesome Kris Mukai.

This is a project that I do for fun and nothing else, so it makes me really happy to see it being recognized. Thanks so much to the judges!

Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream

I created this large sequential illustration for “Little Nemo– Dream Another Dream”, an anthology of tributes to Winsor McCay’s seminal strip by 118 contemporary artists.

I'm very proud to be part of this project, as this large book includes some of the finest artists working today, such as Paul Pope, Mike Allred, Yuko Shimizu, Andrea Tsurumi, Matty Hunh, Gregory Benton and so many more esteemed colleagues and friends.

It was  conceived and published by Locust Moon Press and is a beauty– the large proportions really allow to admire all the details of the fabulous pieces people created.

There will be a show of original artwork from the book at the Society of Illustrators from February 10th - March 28th, 2015.
The Opening Reception is on Wednesday, February 18th.
Hope to see you there!

Edit: The comic also just got accepted into the Society of Illustrators 2nd Comics and Cartoons Annual, whoo-hoo!

Within the context of the book, we decided to use an (almost) b/w version.
At the Society, you'll be able to see the actual original, warts and all.

3x3 Illustration Annual

Yay, my piece depicting the German House in NY from last year's show at the Consulate General got into the 3x3 Illustration Annual!

Here is the full list of all the winners. Congrats to everybody, and many thanks to all the judges and 3x3!

"Ruins Girl" selected into SILA 52

Another win for this piece: My "Ruins Girl" has been successful in the 52nd competition of the Society Of Illustrators of Los Angeles, woot!

Previously it has been judged into the 3x3 Illustration Annual, Communication Arts, and Chosen by American Illustration.

Thanks so much to the judges, and congrats to all the winners!

100 ILLUSTRATORS by Taschen

I'm extremely honored to be part of this beautiful book by Taschen: 100 Illustrators sets out to showcase […] today’s most successful and important illustrators from around the globe […], and along many of my heroes, it features a few spreads about me.

This massive 2-volume book in a slipcase is decorated with all the self-portraits by the artists on the outside. Mine is on the back of the slipcase.

The Huffington Post already wrote some very nice things about the book and included it in their list of Best Art-Books of 2013. You can find more reviews and info on the Taschen website, where you can also order it directly.

Many thanks again to editors Julius Wiedemann and Steve Heller for including me and for creating such a fantastic showcase for illustration.

Ruins Girl selected for 3x3 Illustration Annual

Well hello, my girl in the ruins has just been selected into the 3x3 Illustration Annual.

This lucky piece has also been awarded by Communication Arts, and Chosen by American Illustration. Many thanks to the judges! I know they have to look through a lot of stuff, and there is a lot of *good* stuff by talented people, so being acknowledged in any sort of way is an honor.

Congrats also to the other winning participants!

American Illustration Chosen

This piece was Chosen in the latest competition of American Illustration– it will not appear in the book but on their website. The competition is a tough one, so this is still a great honor. Thanks to the jury!

Ruins Girl has also won in the Annual Communication Arts competition, it's very nice that my personal work has met with such enthusiasm.

Communication Arts Illustration Annual

Woo-hoo, I got a piece into the Communication Arts Annual, my Ruins Girl did it! It's been a while since i got a piece in there, so it means a lot to be back. Or perhaps I never left?

THE WOODS accolades

Some nice news for THE WOODS, some of you might already have heard them on my facebook page.

First of all, the Texas Library Association has selected my book for the 2012 2x2 Reading List. Each year, the 2X2 Committee selects a list of 20 recommended books for children, age two to grade two. It's exciting that my book will be read by many children across Texas.

Furthermore, THE WOODS made it into the Scholastic Book Club. I'm thrilled and very much looking forward to seeing their version!

Two other new editions of THE WOODS are also in the works: Chinese rights have been aquired by Hsiao Lu Publishing. THE WOODS will be published both in simple and complex characters. Many thanks also to Chronicle for arranging this! Hsiao Lu have also published the Chinese edition of HAT.

And finally, here is a very nice review on the blog Creating A Reader– from New Zealand! It's exciting to hear about kids' reactions to the book, especially from the other side of the world!

Journey Into American Illustration

Good news, my hand-printed covers for Journey Into Misery #1 and Tales To Behold #1 were Chosen in the 30th American Illustration competition. While they will be not in the Annual, they will be displayed on their website.

It means a lot that this very personal work that I do simply for my own enjoyment was successful in this prestigious competition. You can see a temporary slideshow of all the Selected and Chosen works here. Thanks very much to the jury!

Annual Society Of Illustrators Show

This Friday is the opening reception for the Advertising and Institutional part of the Annual Society of Illustrators Exhibit, and I feel very fortunate to be part of it. Please come and celebrate with us! Many amazing artists will be present, and you'll get to see some of the finest work up close!

llustrators 53: Advertising and Institutional Exhibit
Feb 23, 2011 - Mar 19, 2011
Opening Reception:
March 04, 2011 6:00 pm
More info here. Hope to see you there!

Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles

Good news! Rabid Rabbits over Brooklyn is a winner in the SILA (Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles) competition, along with my comic Ferry Tales from RR#11. Many thanks to the Jury!
These pieces have been making the rounds! RR over Brooklyn was also juried into the Society of Illustrators show here in New York, is included in the current 3x3 Illustration Annual and was Chosen by American Illustration. Ferry Tales is also included in the 3x3 Illustration Annual.

Society of Illustrators

I'm proud to say that my Rabid Rabbits over Brooklyn image was selected by the Society of Illustrators' jury to b included into their 53rd Annual Book and Exhibition, in the Advertising category. Thanks very much to the jury!

3x3 Annual

Another piece of good news, I got several pieces into this year's 3x3 competition. I'm particularly thrilled that some of my sequential work has been selected. Above is my two-pager from Rabid Rabbit 11, below is the first page of my Coney Island comic for Syncopated, plus my Rabid Rabbit poster has been selected in the Promotional category. Many thanks to the jury!

Synocpated Nominated for Eisner Award

Another piece of news that I forgot to post: Syncopated – A collection of Non-Fiction Picto-Essays, to which I contributed a story about Coney Island, is up for an Eisner Award! Congrats to Brendan Burford, who has been editing and art-directing Syncopated for a couple of years now and works so hard to make it the beautiful book it is, and congrats to all other artists who contributed. Especially Nick Bertozzi, whose contribution "Why and How to Bale Hay" was also nominated for another Eisner, for best short story.

SILA 48 Website

The Illustration West 48 Competition results by the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles are now online, you can see them here. My Snowplow illustration was selected in the Unpublished / Promotional section (you have to scroll down a bit to find the thumbnail). Thanks again to SILA and the jury!

American Illustration

Good news! My promotional image for the Rabid Rabbit Show was Chosen by American Illustration 29. It will be displayed on their website later this year. This marks the 6th year that I'm part of the AI competition, including both Selected and Chosen images. And every year I'm very grateful to be included alongside my idols. Thanks to all the judges!

Communication Arts and Society LA Honors

My "Winter" piece was selected by the juries of the Communication Arts Illustration Competition and by the Society of Illustrators of LA (SI-LA). Yay! The Communication Arts Annual will be out later this year, and the Society of LA will have a big show, I'll post updates here. Thanks to all the judges!

Metal Man in "Best of" List

Metal Man made it into The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 2008-2009 List of Best Gift Books:

http://bccb.lis.illinois.edu/gb2/index.html
The Bulletin has been very kind to Metal Man. Last year the book was featured on their cover and received a Starred Review. Thanks for all the love!