Thursday, November 15, 2012

Michigan State Bird

I am embarassed to say this is a present for my mother-in-law for Christmas last year!  Just finished it this week which might explain why the Sweet Square challenge has fallen by the wayside (where did that phrase originate from I'll look it up when I have time, I'll post it in a year)  Check out my group blog Smells Like Crayons to see another painting I recently finished.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Sweet Squares 7 and 8


Last night I made about three different squares that did not make it into the blog.  Tonight I tried to be quicker but these little pictures can suck you in!  We went trick or treating tonight, new neighborhood, much candy.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Sweet Square 6

Week two of SSC and I decided that weekends off is a necessity because they can be crazy.
The grouping of 5 this week will be people.  This person didn't feel great today and enjoyed playing Playmobil on the rug.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Sweet square 4

Okay I have lost the spontaneity of Sweet square 1 which I posted on Smells Like Crayons four days ago.  There are too many things that bother me about this square to mention but tomorrow is another day.  Let's hear it for Sweet square 5!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Sweet Square 3

Sweet Square 3...it occurred to me that if there are rules to this challenge I may not be following them.  I can't remember when I first heard about it if there was a time limit or not.  The way I see it I am inspired to paint daily which can be challenging with all the other have-tos.  I take as long on a piece as I feel it needs, some may be minutes (not yet) and some may be over an hour (also not yet).  I  am unofficially breaking the 30 pieces up into categories.  As you may have guessed we are in animal week.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Sweet Square 2

Sweet squares are fun, I may not say that on number 29, but I am enjoying it now.  I am taking the Sweet Square challenge inspired by Melissa Sweet.  The challenge is to do a 3"x3" piece of art every day for 30 days.  Originally I was going to do each piece in a different medium and even made a list of ones to use, but last night when I sat down to paint it was relaxing.  If I started melting wax or involving sharp needles it may not have the same effect.  I am not saying that collage and printmaking and some other surprises wont come into play but I am not going to be governed by my crazy list.  And yes I misspell gouache almost every time I write it.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

block print progress

I am working a block print for a non-fiction book that I have been thinking about for a long time now.  I need to marry the words and pictures and I am having a hard time figuring out the illustrations, I will post the print soon!

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Some birds for some birds

I recently finished a painting for a very nice woman as a barter for two real birds.  The painting is of some that she owns and we got the two soceity finches in trade.  We love our new pets!

Friday, July 6, 2012

I am not married to my ideas and images like I used to be and love feedback from friends and colleagues.  Today it was suggested that the beginning of my countdown board book have a new beginning so I tried out a couple.  I do realize there are not ten stairs there, they are just a couple of rough sketches I am playing around with, who knows it could change the whole story.  I am perfectly okay with that.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Illustration Friday: hurry!

I had to "hurry!" to get this in before the next Illustration Friday rolls around.  I had every intention of going back and doing more to it but the time slipped away. 

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

technique take two

I am still working on what technique I am going to use for the space countdown board book.  I like the fluidity of the India ink.  I am still not there yet!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Summer Reading Poster

This poster is part of some work I am doing for the summer reading program at the William Fogg Library in Eliot, Maine. 

Sunday, May 6, 2012

sweet sleep

Thank you Kelly Light (Character Design 101 at the SCBWI New England Conference) for getting me gesture drawing again,  my sketches are usually pretty sketchy at first but gesture drawing is liberating.  The more loose lines the better because somewhere in there is the pose you are looking for.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Not quite there yet!

Since I came back from the 2012 SCBWI New England Conference I have been excited to try this technique I heard about at a peer portfolio review.  I am still working out the kinks.  For another example check out my post on the Smells Like Crayons blog.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Illustration Friday: Jump!

I am jumping right in, and I really cannot remember why I stopped blogging in the first place.  Look for me also over at Smells Like Crayons!