The Puffer Forum

Hi all,

First off, HOW VERY VERY COOL that this forum exists!

I'm a full-time children's book writer and illustrator. I've provided illustrations for a bunch of children's books, including some books by Judy Blume and Michael Ian Black. I work with Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins and Random House.

Right now, one of my children's book projects is called SEA-MONKEY AND BOB, which is written by Aaron Reynolds and will be illustrated by yours truly, coming out from Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers in Fall 2015. It stars a sea-monkey named Sea-Monkey, and a puffer fish named Bob.

I've been madly researching pufferfish and just came across The Puffer Forum today.

I look forward to learning about puffers from you all!

Debbie

How cool! Feel free to check out our images in the Pufferpedia. I hope you'll share your pufferillistrations with us here!

Thank you!

I've already started checking through images in your wonderful Pufferpedia.

I'm in early sketch phase right now. I'm leaning toward choosing the Porcupine Puffer as my model for Bob since he'll looking entertaining (for young readers) in his puffed-up state (and because there are so much photo ref online of this puffer in different positions), but I'm also going to send my publishers some proposed sketches of a Sharpnose puffer character as well.

You wouldn't have any suggestions for other saltwater puffers that would make cute main characters for a picture book?

Debbie

Welcome!

Puffers have to be the perfect fish to illustrate. Look forward to seeing your work.

Hi DMD123 -- Thanks for the welcome! And yes, I'm having SO MUCH FUN with the sketches. I'll post some as soon as I'm allowed to. Just in the early stages now, though.

welcome DebbieOhi!
looking forward to seeing your sketches (and book)

Welcome! My first choice for cute saltwater puffer would also be a porcupine, but it seems they're overused in the media. I think an Arothron reticularis (reticulated puffer) is an interesting looking puffer that might make a cool character (sketching it could be difficult though, not sure... I'm not much of an artist lol).

Welcome! Feel free to check out my Green Spotted Puffers. They are quite comical.
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Welcome

Thanks, eieio!

Debbie

eieio wrote:welcome DebbieOhi!
looking forward to seeing your sketches (and book)

Thanks for the welcome, GSP Freak!

And I agree that the porcupine puffer is the main puffer in the media. I did investigate other types of puffers, but I need a puffer that kids will be more likely to recognize as a puffer fish AND a puffer that has plenty of online reference videos and images online I can use as reference as I'm sketching. Also, the porcupine is so visually entertaining (and fun to draw) when puffed up!

However, I do plan on building up some bonus material (http://debbieohi.com/seamonkey) about both Sea-Monkeys and puffer fish, where young readers can find out more information, and I definitely plan to talk about different puffer fish (and will include The Puffer Forum as a valuable resource, of course). I've already learned so much about puffer fish than I did before, just by browsing the forums here!

Thanks again,

Debbie

G S P Freak wrote:Welcome! My first choice for cute saltwater puffer would also be a porcupine, but it seems they're overused in the media. I think an Arothron reticularis (reticulated puffer) is an interesting looking puffer that might make a cool character (sketching it could be difficult though, not sure... I'm not much of an artist lol).

Thanks, sgtmyers88!

And thanks also for posting the links to your Green Spotted Puffers! I love the markings. And wow, those are great photos! Are you a professional photographer? Also, what camera did you use?

Debbie

sgtmyers88 wrote:Welcome! Feel free to check out my Green Spotted Puffers. They are quite comical.
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=33719
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=31384

Thanks for the welcome, Bertie!

Debbie

bertie 83 wrote:Welcome

DebbieOhi wrote:Thanks, sgtmyers88!

And thanks also for posting the links to your Green Spotted Puffers! I love the markings. And wow, those are great photos! Are you a professional photographer? Also, what camera did you use?

Debbie

Thank you! Although for me "professional" is a loose term since I do not make much money on a regular basis doing it. hahaha

I use a Canon EOS 7D with a 28-105mm lens for those macro shots. I do a lot of weather and landscape photography too.
My page is here: https://www.facebook.com/StormdragonWeather