"A walk in nature brings the soul back home." -Mary Davis
Biography
Edward Boyd is an award-winning American illustrator and Author. Edward graduated Highschool with an emphasis in visual arts and went on to do independent studies at the Ringling School of Art and Design. He has written several children's books that feature a classic style of whimsical hand drawn artwork. Inspired by his "1980s" childhood, Edward sought to create books that captured the visual style of that time. His books have a lot of color, heart, and inclusivity. When he isn't hiking, Edward can often be found sketching new ideas in his sketchbook while his miniature schnauzer (Ellie) tries to steal his colored pencils.
Meet the Author Edward Boyd
Bart is a tiny bat with one tiny tooth. He sets out on an unexpected adventure and gets stuck in a strange and scary place that seems to be inhabited by giants! All he wants to do is return home, but he may need help from one of the giants to do so.
BOOKS
Bookography
Ms. Witch Chronicles
Madam Hitch's School for Witches
Poor Ms. Witch. She had failed again. Failed at the simplest of evil tasks! She failed at casting spells. Failed enchantments. She even failed at taking over a kingdom. There was only one thing left to do now. Go back to school.
Children's Literature Award Winner
In with the old
Illustration Process
In doing research for illustration, I found it made me kind of sad. Growing up in the 80's had given me a wealth of fun books and my favorite part was always the illustration. Fast forward and everything has become neatly and expertly computer animated. It was very infrequent if at all I found something drawn freehand or hand drawn. I wanted to throw it back with illustration and came up with a fun mixed media process of using mostly hand drawn color pencil drawings and doing a layup of layers similar to the classic style used in early animation. I hope it will inspire kids and adults to still enjoy old school drawing and think outside of their creative box.
The Ms. Witch Chronicles
New Projects
Ms. Witch Chronicles
The Wonderful World of Ms. Witch
It became clear to me early on that that Ms. Witch was a character that people seemed to really love. The idea of failure and what happens to villains when they fail became the idea for her and her journey. That is how the book Madam Hitch's School for Witches was inspired. I got such wonderful early feedback from the book that a series was born. The first book Madam Hitch's School for Witches will be released Tuesday October 1st, and I am hard at work on the two follow up books.
Original Art
Sunset at McConnel's Mills
An original art piece was selected by the Hoyt Art Center for their regional art exhibition. The piece selected was a color pencil landscape titled Sunset at MeConnels Mills. This was a landscape of the mill found at McConnels Mill State Park found in Portersville Pennsylvania.
Writer's Blog
Writing is something that I think takes time, and effort just like drawing or painting. Each draft or each word you add on a blank canvas eventually becomes a work of art. Something you look at in your hands and hold and say ok, I think I have something here.
The Canary that wouldn’t sing
The blue and tan station wagon rolled up to the peak of Universal Road with as much energy as it could muster and sailed down the sharp left incline knocking me into my sister. I shoved her away and another sharp turn sent her even closer. I went to shove her even harder when I had the sense I was being watched. My survival instincts were correct. My dad’s eyes flashed in the rearview mirror staring at me to see what my next move was. The best option for me was to look out the window. I saw we were almost to the pet shop. The station wagon rolled into a spot and stopped a little too abruptly for my dad’s liking. He made a point to curse the god-damn brakes.
We exited the old wagon and ran into the pet shop leaving our dad in the dust. My two sisters frantically ran to the hamster cages. I looked back to watch my dad enter the store. My dad was a good six foot three inches tall and reminded me of John Wayne. He was the type of man you did not want to mess with. I heard him say once I don’t have a short temper, I have a quick reaction to bullshit. He had the habit of calling men chief and seemed to always catch the eyes of women wherever we went. I also happened to see that the shopkeeper noticed my dad enter and made a very clear grimace and look of disdain.
My father considered himself to be a connoisseur of canaries. He walked over to the bird cages and slowly took inventory. After we all explored the shop, my sisters made a plea for a rabbit they didn’t just want but needed!! They both scrunched their little faces up widening their eyes to create a joint image of desperation. Their performance did not deter my dad from his initial goal of buying bird food, and bird food only. We all walked up to the counter and my dad laid the bird food down. The shopkeeper who was built like a little plum ran over and flipped the countertop up and laid it back down as he arranged himself at the register. He looked up and when he saw it was my dad his initial grimace returned and morphed into a devilish smile.
“I know you,” he said in a low even voice. My dad just looked at him. “You bought one of my canaries.” My dad’s face started to mirror the man’s grimace. “Is that right chief?” my dad replied. “Oh yes, it was a beautiful male canary.” the shop keeper seemed to whisper. My dad’s face started to redden. “I believe you returned it and said that it would not sing for you.” My dad’s face was now turning purple. “Listen chief all I need is that bird food. Ring it up.” My dad pushed the bird food forward. “Well, I think you should know that my bird you returned sang for me.” The shop keeper said leaning forward his voice raising. “Sang like a CHAMP!” My dad exploded. “You fat son-of-a-bitch!” My dad tried to lift the flip top counter and the plump little man held it down with all he had and started screaming. Not able to successfully get the counter-top open my dad went over the counter. The shopkeeper screamed in terror and scrambled to the phone. “I am calling the cops” he screeched. My dad seemed to come back down to reality. “Run kids!” he yelled,” throwing himself back over the counter as we all fled the shop.
We all bolted to the station wagon, jumped in, and my dad threw it into drive as we rocketed out the parking lot. The station wagons engine screamed in protest as we zoomed around the bend. My sister flew into me, and I didn’t even think about pushing her back. After we returned home when I felt it was safe, I said, “Dad, are you ok?” He was sitting at the table and had just lit a cigarette. I gulped and said, “You seemed really upset.” My dad exhaled a small puff of smoke and said “Son, I lost my temper. I also lost the chance to pop the fat son-of-a-bitch in the face.”
Edward Boyd
BOOK REVIEWS
Contributor: B. Booktrib
"Monstrous Tales provides three enchanting journeys for children facing issues of inclusion and acceptance, helping them discover who they are and being at peace and comfort with it. It’s a book that is sure to both captivate and educate children at the same time – one that is worthy of consideration on your child’s bookshelf."