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Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · 4d

Happy little viewers like you

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Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · 8d

Like likes like 🐈‍⬛

Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · 8d

Eeep! Nearly missed October #kidlitartpostcard day. Can't pass up an excuse to put this #blackcat house goblin on my feed; he just so happens to rep my love of animal-centric #middlegrade #bookcovers. Enjoy the #Halloween vibes.

A mischievous black cat in a magical library chews up the pages of a book, surrounded by cat-caused chaos: an upended ink well and inky paw prints decorate the antique desk, while the background is littered with scattered books.

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Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · 18d

One of the first of many glorious rants on the brain today. #scrubs #tylenol

youtu.be/gD6olRJ8S3I?...

Tylenol

YouTube video by Mike Moore

youtu.be

Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · Sep 7

The first hour of the evening. 4pm is the last hour of the afternoon.
Source: Eastern European shopping experiences. Many stores close at four. The idea is that you do your shopping and chores during the day; 5 PM and after is for dinner and socializing.

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Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · Sep 4

Hi #kidlitartpostcard day. Since real life feels like a circus right now, have a little OG Roman circus action, courtesy of my love for animal-centric #historical #nonfiction. #Picturebooks and MG #bookcovers with a little #graphicnovel flavor.

A young charioteer waits in a hallway facing the racetrack of the Circus Maxima. He and his four horses watch nervously as an older charioteer in the background falls face-first into the dust.

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Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · Sep 2

The lesson I took from Tolkien is that these big bombastic villains are all toppled eventually by quiet, persistent, foolish little people. Have to hold on to that.

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Reposted by Elisabeth Craster Illustration

gamera obscura @ohrobin.bsky.social · Aug 26

DEER GAME!!!!

(picture of a lil fawn)

look at this deer

YOU WON!!!

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Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · Aug 21

Last evening of the summer.
Tenth year of teaching middle school.
And best believe I’m bummed and a little stressed, but I am not scared. And I am supremely lucky for that.

Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · Aug 20

I love the who, how, and why. Plus form=function. But I got the impression that most game art (where fantasy migrated?) doesn’t want a researched look, it wants sexy. And life before plumbing was not sexy.

What I’m saying is that if anyone knows where I can go to rant about wheel types on carts…

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Reposted by Elisabeth Craster Illustration

Aled Thompson @aledthompson.bsky.social · Aug 17

Ceffyl Dŵr - Water Horse from Welsh folklore that lures lost travellers on its back before diving underwater, never to be seen again.

A horse diving underwater among flowing underwater plants with its mane and tails flowing like the plants

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Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · Aug 11

End of summer vibes.
#blackcat #cat

A black house cat rolls over and yawns; the camera captures what looks like demonic possession.

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Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · Aug 11

Happy last minute #worldlionday post, #kidlit style.

An ethereal, glowing lion rears up to form the constellation Leo. The whispy ends of its mane resemble the colorful gasses in nebula.

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Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · Aug 8

Humor take. The photos of my cat, posted between postcards, get far more engagement anyway lol.

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Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · Aug 7

Hi #kidlitartpostcard day! I do #nonfiction animal-centric #picturebooks and #middlegrade #bookcovers. <3 history and animal science!

These #dolphins are giving this #shark the what-for. Probably for using obnoxious Chaloops type. Sharks aren't generally gifted at graphic design. He tried.

Impish dolphins harass an emotionally-devastated hammerhead shark on a postcard for ElisabethCraster.com

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Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · Jul 29

Sniff snarfin' for evidence. #sketch #sketchbook #kidlit #kidlitart #dog #drawing #illustration #characterart #animalart

Loose, whimsical sketch of a bloodhound pursuing a scent

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Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · Jul 28

Oh, like you would never. #artistproblems #weirdreferences #sketch

I thought my obsession with ankle booties was just a personal problem; from now on it's "research."

A truly excessive number of photographs of a boot at a particular angle dominate the screen in Photoshop next to a digital drawing of a shoe.

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Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · Jul 24

Indeed, mother, I require your undivided attention.

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Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · Jul 23

And now for a nice quiet afternoon of getting…things…done…? #cat #studio

A wild eyed black cat stands after landing on top of a paper, covered desk, intent on disrupting work productivity

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Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · Jul 23

Helped find too many runaway dogs; now I have no shame. I like screaming onomatopoeias like bang and whoosh so loudly that my neighbors can hear me over their backyard streamers and take the hint/become frightened. But you have to REALLY commit to the bit, and only on the 3rd or so night in a row.

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Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · Jul 15

Dolphins can be real jerks. And if you feel emotional affinity for this hammerhead...same. #kidlitart #kidlit #bookcoverdesign #bookcovers #middlegrade #nonfiction #illustration #dolphins #shark

A gang of cackling dolphins swim circles around and tease an alarmed and emotionally devastated hammerhead shark

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Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · Jul 15

Some assets for a portfolio #bookcoverdesign in progress.

Two graphite drawings—one of a mischievous dolphin cackling, another of a pod of dolphins emotionally devastating a sympathetic hammerhead shark. Dolphins are jerks.

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Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · Jul 1

Closing out #junicorn2025 today. My annual fantasy fix, with a heavy emphasis on #graphite this year (my first and forever love when it comes to medium).

Just a smattering here to keep my BSKY kidlit-oriented. Insta's got the unicorns @ecraster

#unicorn #fantasyart #fantasydrawing #conceptart

Graphite drawing of a forest. A unicorn and forest animals burst from a magical fire; the unicorn's horn is lit like a torch, implying some form of guardianship or control.

A magician and young student crouch behind tree roots, just out of sight from a wraith-like, ghostly unicorn. The magician's hand appears to incite a magical reaction as fiery lines begin criss-crossing the ground.

Graphite drawing: a magician holds a child student protectively, crouched close to the ground. Magic laces across the dirt in the foreground. Two fiery unicorns charge past, driving the threatening specter deeper into the forest.

A fiery, mischievous-looking unicorn stares out at the viewer next to a 20 prompt list for #junicorn. 1. Ride Now! 2. Visit the Zoo. 3. Into the Night. 4. Dance with the Devil. 5. Survive a Disaster 6. Unlock the Door. 7. Escape the Labyrinth. 8. First day of school. 9. Ignored the Warning. 10. (Don't) Look Under the Bed 11. Follow that Cat! 12. ...That's Not a Unicorn. 13. Discover a Library. 14. Steal a Little Magic. 15. Defying Orders. 16. Bridge the gap. 17. Lose the Map. 18. Take Revenge. 19. Make a Friend. 20. Light a Fire.

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Elisabeth Craster Illustration @ecraster.bsky.social · Jun 24

When the cat-shaped house goblin says you’re done being productive today. #cat

Black cat with golden eyes sprawled across a work desk

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Reposted by Elisabeth Craster Illustration

Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · Jun 21

Aaaaand guess what stage I'm at now....

Cartoon titled “The Four Stages of Writing” by Debbie Ridpath Ohi, showing a girl at a laptop experiencing a cycle of emotions. Panel 1: she looks frustrated, saying “Wow, I can’t believe I thought I could write.” Panel 2: she looks more hopeful, saying “Hey, I’m not so bad after all.” Panel 3: she raises her arms and smiles, saying “Wow, this writing is BRILLIANT! I ROCK!” Panel 4: she looks sad again, repeating “Wow, I can’t believe I thought I could write.”

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