About “Crazy Tootz” Publishing…
Between the years 1940-1945 the word “toots,” derived from the word “tootsie” (meaning sweetheart or darling), became commonplace. Toots was eventually recorded into the English dictionary and took on an affectionate or familiar term of address akin to “honey” or “baby.”
HB Wallen, a talented author, artist, and the original founder of Crazy Tootz Publishing, took on the nickname of “Crazy Toots” from her family throughout her childhood years, and this has ultimately led to the creation of “Crazy Tootz Publishing.”
Which Came First, the Story or the Art?…
HB Wallen: Storyteller & Illustrator…
HB Wallen, as an artist, has been doodling and painting since childhood. In those years, she created and sold numerous painted canvases, farm art on whatever, and cover art for books. Twenty years ago, she started writing. HB Wallen just adores the glorious fib, the art of storytelling, spinning darker fantasy narratives of legends, myths, and lore. She has written eight books, all in the fantasy genre, all a bit dark. What took so long to finalize and move to publishing? They are all illustrated with her original art.
HB Wallen’s Studio…
Where the Crazy Happens
HB has spent 15-plus years playing with art digitally. Among the current and perhaps better-known apps, she has used Adobe Photoshop, Publisher, and Dreamweaver—and may we never forget the imaginative and golden days of Flash on the internet. Toss Corel Painter into the bucket of apps along with Paint Shop Pro. Since its launch, her favorite apps of use for art and book design on her 24” Wacom Pro are Affinity Photo and Publisher—but that’s today. You never know what direction the future will steer her…
Free Hand of Imagination
- In the end, there is nothing better than a pencil in a free-hand!
- Draw it
- Scan it
- Paint it digitally
- Her “morgue file” is stuffed