Author

I’ve been wanting to do a book with Ryan Sias because his illustrations are so cartoony, bubbly and fun.  Ryan’s free weekly Sias Studios  emails feature creative worksheets with new characters I always want to call my own. But I can’t. They’re his. But they can be  YOURS, too, because anyone can receive his free  doodle and story pages by signing up at  SiasStudios.com. (A PIZZA SPACESHIP! Why didn’t I think of that??? ANCHOVY ALIENS! PEPPERONI FROM PLUTO!) Ryan’s new book SNIFF! SNIFF! just landed on my front porch and I could not resist this cuddly little doggie with the huge honker. How adorable! The bold, sketchy outlines and bright colors will attract the youngest readers with this tale of true friendship and love. The  curious star of the story  gets into all kinds of mischief with “SNIFF, SNIFF” being a recurring theme. Repetitive phrases  help  new readers recognize words…and also practice their onomatopoeia out loud. The story is told through action and play while also showing kids all about having a pet. (Not easy, but rewarding!) A really fun read-aloud with lots to look at! Hey, do you want to learn how to draw this cute fella? Well, do you, boy? Yes, you do! YES, YOU DO!!! Ryan, what were your thoughts behind the design of your dog and how did you accomplish them? For my Dog I wanted the design to be animated, super cute with a BIG NOSE (but not a gross nose). Originally he was more normal dog proportions, but the more I drew him, the bigger his head and nose got. When I create characters I draw them again and again and quicker each time, to get a loose and fluid design. Then “Ta da!” I end up with the final design! I wanted him to look like pure energy and love. To have tons of expression and while he was being bad, not look mean but full of curiosity and wonder. The dog doesn’t have a name in the book, but does he have a name in your head? In my head his name is Simon, which is the dog I dedicated the book to. He was my BFF and a golden retriever. He has the attitude of the dog in my book. Full of joy and love plus a destructive side. Here is a photo from ’95 of me and Simon. You offer fun weekly drawing lessons and creativity activities for kids, delivered via email. We all know art education is shrinking in some school districts. Why do you think art education is so important? To me art education is THE most important because it teaches abstract problem solving, and that is the key to a kid’s success in life. I