IF - wrinkles

I actually posted this one before for IF, when the theme was "excess", but it's so perfect for this week's theme of "wrinkles", that I thought I'd post it again. I hope this isn't me in the future! I don't think there's even a chance of that, actually. I hate cigarettes, don't drink martinis and I would never wear red lipstick! Gray hair, wrinkles and glasses? yeah...I'll have those.

new art

(click on image for a larger view)

I finally had the time (and the inspiration!) to do a new piece of larger art. This one mesures 20" H x 36" W (unframed). It's a collage piece made with decorative papers, acrylic paint and some India ink. The photo (in my humble opinion) doesn't really do it justice. My crummy camera doesn't pick up the details too well.

I'm calling it "into the wind"... what do you think, is that a good name? I've made so many nature inspired pieces that I'm running out of ideas for names!

IF - primitive

Something a little different from me this week for the Illustration Friday challenge. I had this idea in my head, so I just went with it. I didn't even pick up a primitive pencil for this, it's all "modern"!

snow! in april!

I usally don't post about the weather...boring! But, come on people, SNOW in April in Seattle! You have GOT to be kidding me! Look at my poor tulips...anyway, enough about the weather. I'm hoping to have some art to show in a couple of days. I'm working hard on a couple of projects.

IF - fail

"Mia tried to look more grown-up by putting on her Mom's clothes and make-up, but failed! She still looked like a cute little girl".

This topic was a bit of a hard one for me. The idea of failure was not something I really wanted to illustrate. As an artist, I've seen my share of failure and rejection over the years, from those art school critiques (brutal!) up to today, trying to get work as a freelancer. It's part of an artist's life that isn't the fun part! So, I decided on a more light hearted, child-like approach to the theme.

new art

I've been a neglectful blogger lately...I've been busy, but not with much to post about, except this! I've been creating a piece of art similar to this one for the annual Art for Autism fundraiser, which benefits Northwest Behavioral Associates. The wonderful people there provide much needed therapy for many autistic children in the Seattle area. I'm happy to be the featured artist again this year. The theme is this year is Branching Out, so this piece was perfect for it, but I sold this one several years ago. The new one is similar in colors and style with a slightly different background pattern.

IF - save

click on image for a bigger view

For Illustration Friday this week - remember "saving seats" for your BFF's? Oh, yeah..those were the good times! All I gotta say about this one is: If you would have told me a couple of years ago that I would be drawing four kids sitting in chairs doing different things, I would have said " I can't draw people very well". It is truly amazing what we can do when we make decision to really try. Although I have still have a long way to go to do this comfortably, I am doing it! (insert big pat on the back here) and it's getting easier every time I try!

shipped!

Here's a snapshot of what I shipped today to Michelle to sell in her new store, Paper Tales in San Diego. Sweet little art prints and a few larger originals. It was a bit more work putting all these together than I thought it would be, but fun to see the results when I was finished. I hope they do well for her! If nothing else, they will be good eye candy for the store displays!

little prince

I couldn't do a Princess illo (for last week's IF challenge) without doing a Little Prince to go with her, so here he is. He'll be included in the prints I'll be selling at Paper Tales in San Diego. I almost have everything ready to ship! Yay! I wish I could ship myself down there with the prints. Sunshine and 80 degree weather sounds fine to me!

birds and trees

A little birds and trees illo to share with you today. This image will be part of a series of art prints that I will be selling at Paper Tales in San Diego, when it opens on May 1st! (More on this later when I have everything ready to go) It's a beautiful spring day here in Seattle, so this is perfect to post today! Tweet tweet!