Just returned from China where I was giving a series of workshops at the Shanghai Suzhou International School. I talked to about a thousand kids over the week! Here's the poster for my visit. I'll post more pics later but you can see some pics of Neil Flambe in and around China on the Neil Flambe website.

Needed a lift

I had a great visit today to Whiteoaks school. Ms. McGibbon (the awesome librarian) got all the kids to watch the "how to draw Neil Flambe" video on the neilflambe.com website... then they drew DOZENS of Neil pics for my arrival! WOW!

City Love...

That was the topic this week at Blown Covers. I'm one of the runner-ups. :)

Blown Covers submission

The topic was the Trayvon Martin shooting in trigger-happy Florida.

Inspirations (many seem to go by initials)

I've had a few readers (and bloggers here!) ask me about my "inspirations". There are many, many. As a writer, nothing wrong with FW. Dixon, JK Rowling, E Colfer... and I aspire to approach the elegance of an FS Fitzgerald or G Green. Sick of the initials yet?)

As an illustrator there's Ronald Searle, Charles Schulz, Aubrey Beardsley, and above them all EH Shepard. All my books have maps at the beginning and end. Look familiar?

And if you've ever attended one of my drawing classes... you might see some similarities in my style and the far superior Shepard.

I love the active lines, the sketchiness that doesn't look accidental. The energy of the lines contrasted with the tranquility or maybe silence of the scene... wow.

Someday, if I work hard enough....

KS Sylvester