My Postcard Design for CBIG

As a member of CBIG and one of its officer, I am  designing once again the official

 CBIG ( Children's Book Illustrators Group) postcard 2010.

The deadline for submissions of artwork was June 20 so I am busy working at it right now.

I used Indesign in creating the postcard ( front and back side)

This time, it will be in a bigger format of 8.5" x 5.5"

Formed since 1987, CBIG is a Children's Book Illustrator Group based in New York City.

Maria Madonna Davidoff in the New York Times

I was one of the artists featured today in the New York Times (Metropolitan Section) The article is  entitled  Summer Rituals, Painting in the Park

In the article, I was mentioned as a freelance childrens book illustrator who does plein-air painting in Central Park. In this online version,  a photo of my artwork is not shown but is shown in the printed version of the New York Times, June 20, 2010. To read about me, scroll down the link to about the middle of the article.

This is a  painting (watercolor and ink rendering) I did today in Central Park. 

Once again, I've included a Little Girl character by the Turtle Pond.

I used Central Park as a backdrop for a story that seems to be evolving visually in my head .

A little girl character keeps on appearing in my Central Park painting series.

Her name is Marilyn.

Below, just  resting after a few hours of painting:

Painting in Central Park, NYC

Here I am,  sketching in the Turtle Pond, Central Park NYC

I've always enjoyed painting outdoors especially during my travels and
I actually have a portable studio which I can easily carry with me wherever I go.
I found this artist traveling bag which holds a lot of things

 like brushes, watercolor pencils, mini sketch pad, etc:

Below is the artist travel pouch which I can tie around my waist and

inside this artist travel pouch are some tools and materials below:

Another view of the my artist travel pouch with some mini-sketch pad and watercolor papers:

Here is my favorite tool: a brush that you can put water inside
( no need to dip in water anymore)
I found this brush while traveling to Tokyo, Japan, but
some art stores now in th US carries them. 

Here is a really small and cute but handy material I have, the size of a business card:
A mini colored pencil case with its own miniature sharpener:

At the Turtle Pond, Central Park NYC

 Madonna Davidoff with their paintings

created in Turtle Pond, Central Park NYC

and below is my painting entitled" Little Girl in Central Park"

I used watercolor pencils and colored pencils to create this:

© Madonna Davidoff