Child's Play | An Illustration Blog by Christian Elden

I've Moved!

noreply@blogger.com (Christian) — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 04:25:00 +0000

Hello all,

This message is to let you know that this blog has moved to http://www.christianelden.com/category/blog. While I haven't kept this one current as of late, it's my hope that the swanky new blog locale will provide the inspiration to keep it fresh. If you're a follower of Child's Play, I hope that you'll continue to follow me in the future, as I plan on posting some cool new stuff soon.

As always, thanks for reading, and I hope you'll stop by the new digs.

-Christian

Illustration Friday: FROZEN

noreply@blogger.com (Christian) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:59:00 +0000

Maybe it's just me, but this lil' fella looks like he's tired of being frozen.

Laptop Chic

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:34:00 +0000

This sassy lass is just a piece of an identity re-design I recently finished up.

More Playin'

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:37:00 +0000

Long Live the King

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:26:00 +0000

Playing with a lil' looser line style than I'm used to. What do you guys think?

Lil' Footballer

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:46:00 +0000

Black History Month Portraits

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:52:00 +0000

I just finished up a series of portraits that will be used in a Black History Month product line next year. I did them on 80 lb. medium surface drawing paper with regular 2B & 3B pencils. Featured are Marian Anderson (singer), Mary Church Terrell (writer/civil rights activist), Kenneth Clark (psychologist), Paul Robeson (athlete/actor), and Martin Luther King, Jr.

[NOTE]: I thought these would work for the "time" theme at Illustration Friday, not only because these individuals forged new paths for equality during a time when support for their cause was limited, but their accomplishments also broke new ground for the basic rights of everyone, and put simply, affected history.

New Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:16:00 +0000

Here's some new stuff from a recent activity book project. I felt like I had to put something new up... the goods were gettin' stale around here!

Illustration Friday: VOICES

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:45:00 +0000

Whipped this up for my sis-in-law (who volunteers with YoungLife) to give to her girls. I'm guessing you can imagine why I thought this might work for IF's "voices".... a mess of teen girls on one page -- you do the math. I need earmuffs just looking at it. :)

Illustration Friday: RAMBUNCTIOUS

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:57:00 +0000

This was an idea I'd started for my holiday cards this year, but never had time to finish it. He fits the "rambunctious" title though, methinks.

Cut It Out!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:46:00 +0000

Anyone remember your old-school Sunday school teacher telling Bible stories with those little paper cutouts on a felt board? Well... here are a few drawings that are soon to be those very cutouts. They're all Jesus in varying states of consciousness/mood, except for the two groups of His disciples (freaking out while Jesus slept peacefully on a boat about to be ravaged by an incoming storm). More to come...

Jesus, meet Nicodemus

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:56:00 +0000

Here are a couple finished characters (Jesus & Nicodemus) that will be used separately in a new project... actually only the outlines were needed, but I couldn't NOT color them. :) Then I dropped them into a recycled background, and voila! The story's from John 3:1-21, where Nicodemus goes to Jesus at night & is taught about the concept of being "born again."

3...2...1...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:28:00 +0000

Here's another cover concept I finished recently for a new teacher resource book. It's by the same author as Beakers, Bubbles & the Bible, so the artwork needed to follow suit.

Mmmmm. Jelly Beans.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 21:41:00 +0000

I was recently given the challenge of creating an interesting cover for a jelly bean-inspired kids' activity book. How does one make jelly beans interesting? Well I don't know how YOU do it, but I give 'em all crazy faces. Works like a charm.

New Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:19:00 +0000

I recently finished this cover illustration for an activity/coloring book about some of the Bible's most famous stories. Know which three I worked into the cover?

Baby, Baby

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:57:00 +0000

Here are some cutesy baby animals I developed for a "baby congratulations" card set (yes, I made the elephant pink on purpose). :)

Early Bird Special

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:21:00 +0000

This was done for the quasi-weekly theme draw over at Honor Roll Artworks. I do believe I was the earliest early bird this week.

SFG Blank Book Project

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:48:00 +0000

I just wrapped up my installment of the Sugar Frosted Goodness Blank Book project. For those unaware, it's a traveling sketchbook that, when complete, will have skipped all over the world. It was a lot of fun & I was happy to be part of it. Can't wait to see the finished product!

Here are a couple "teaser shots" from my sketchbook pages... I won't reveal all & spoil the surprise. ;)

Illustration Friday: GARDEN

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:36:00 +0000

This is a slightly less-leafy alternative, but every garden I've ever been involved with seemed to have equal parts leaves, equal parts these. Maybe I need to watch more HGTV...?

Beakers, Bubbles & Bibles.... Oh my!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:13:00 +0000

The latest project I designed/illustrated is now available for purchase. It's a Sunday school teacher's resource book that uses science experiments to illustrate Bible lessons and make 'em loads of fun. You can check it out under my "Published Works" section to the right.

I want to ride my bicycle

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:24:00 +0000

Just finished these guys last night. They're a father/son duo, and they bike across the country just for kicks.

Be Mine

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:04:00 +0000

I whipped up a homemade valentine this year for the wife (scoreboard!) that included this little diddy:

"I'm sure there were a lot of guys
that coulda brought you joy...
but out of all the dudes around,
you picked this tall white boy!"

Gold. Solid gold.

Steve Johnson Advertising

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:50:00 +0000

Well, Steve Johnson (my uncle) is finally online -- he's one of the most artistically talented men I know, and I'm glad to have helped him establish a presence on the web. If you want to see an example of a very talented muralist & sign painter, go check him out.

My uncle Steve was one of the primary influences in my early interest of art -- he'd draw pictures for me to color & got me all kinds of art stuff for birthdays & Christmases. I guess it could be said I owe a lot of what I am today to him.

Illustration Friday: BLANKET

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 20:51:00 +0000

Weren't dryer-warmed blankets the best?!

When we were kids, Mom used to put our towels in the dryer while we were in the tub so they'd be all toasty-warm when we got out. Same principle. I'd do it now, but the shower's upstairs and the dryer's in the basement.... I don't think our neighbors would appreciate all the nude towel-fetching.

That reminds me -- I need to get some blinds.

Divalicious

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:08:00 +0000

Just wrapped on this logo for a digital scrapbooking website.