braceface

Yep, my daughter, Nikki, 13, has joined the braceface club and is not too happy about it, either. Here's our conversation on the way home from getting them put on.

Nikki: I hate these! I want them off now!
Me (comforting mom): I think they look cute!
Nikki: Now I have to start High School with these on!
Me (practical mom): Well, you won't be the only kid in High School with braces on.
Nikki: Well, I'm not going to be one of those kids that smiles with their mouth closed, that always looks so faky.
Me (wise mom): Yes, it is what it is and you can't hide them, so just embrace it.
Nikki: I'm going to have to go to 8th grade graduation with these on, too!
Me (no goood answer for this one mom): They'll go with your dress?

IF - worry

For Illustration Friday this week - theme word - worry. "These kids really do have something to worry about!" I first thought about doing someone worrying about typical things like bills or deadlines, but it was too real and absolutely no fun! So, I decided to do kids worried about monsters...way more fun! Enjoy!

IF - wide

For Illustration Friday this week - "open your heart wide"

more "fun" art

More "fun" art to share with you. 16" x 20" collage with acrylics on canvas paper. It's on it's way with the others to sell at Michelle's store, Paper Tales, in San Diego.

I know it's spring and this is a fall tree, but what can I say...I love the colors and it's my art, so I get to do what I want, right? Right!

IF - electricity

For Illustration Friday this week - "electricity". I've been having fun making collage houses lately, so I decided to keep doing them for this week's illo. This time, I scanned the paper houses into Photoshop and finished it digitally, rather than doing a full collage piece. It was a bit more time consuming than I thought it would be, but it turned out kind of fun.

fun art

More 16" x 20" collages to sell at Paper Tales in San Diego. I'm calling these smaller pieces that I'm doing "fun art", because they are fun to make, they are smaller than my usual work that I do for the gallery so they don't take so long to create, and the subject matter and styling of them is just more fun.

They are a little bit too big to fit on my scanner, so I had to take photos of them to share with you...so these aren't the best images, but since they are fun art and not so serious, it doesn't really matter!

These were all done on canvas paper with decorative papers, acrylic paint and PITT drawing pens. The last one is a mini version of the last large piece I did. I had so many wonderful comments about it, I thought it was worth exploring this look a little more.

IF - seed

"Feed them and they will grow." My entry for Illustration Friday this week with the theme word "seed". I can't decide if I like this the way it is with just line art, or if it would look better in full color. I'm thinking it's effective the way it is...what's your opinion? Feedback is greatly appreciated! (click on image for a larger view)

scout's honor

A Muse launched their new products for May today and this is my favorite image that I designed for it. He just cracks me up! On my honor, I will try...what's the rest of it? Something about being brave. I like the "I will try" part. If you like to stamp or create other paper crafting projects, you can view the new products right here.