Art & Soul

Illustration Friday - Magic

Illustration Friday is such a cool way to build or update your portfolio. The feedback I got at SCBWI conferences this year was that my work is suitable for educational markets. This is fabulous; I've been enjoying the educational illustration projects I've been working on.

I'd really like to do books as well though. I illustrated a board book for Simon & Schuster this year and really had a blast doing it. I want more, so I'm working towards updating my portfolio with that in mind.

Merry Making Revisited

I finished the digital paintings of my friend and her little ones. I've printed them on canvas and will probably use fusible interfacing to iron them on to something stiffer and slightly more ornament-like.

I used a different brush in Painter, the captured bristle acrylic brush. I really enjoyed it and will use it again. I also experimented by painting on a black canvas surface.

Soul Food - Creative Habits Workshop

I just signed up for Anastasia Suen's new Creative Habits Workshop.

I've taken three of Anastasia's Picture Book writing workshops. Each one has been a tremendous learning and discovery experience.

This new workshop, which is multidisciplinary is all about building a creative habit and the creative process.

I'm very excited. The whole concept just fits so beautifully with my goals for the coming year.

Find more information here.

Illustration Friday - Home

I had really hoped to do a new illustration for Illustration Friday, I enjoyed the challenge last week. Home would be a fun theme to brainstorm too, but with deadlines and Christmas preparations, I wimped out and dug something out of the archives.

Every few years, I go through a short phase of wanting to work traditionally. This is from my foray into pastels four years ago.

After I enjoy the more tactile traditional mediums for a month or so, I usually end up back at the computer, translating everything I just learned into my digital comfort zone.

The pastel phase was a big exploration of color for me. When I look at the work I'm doing now, I see bits and pieces of technique and color mixing I discovered during that period.

What was I thinking with those pointy green plants though?!?!

Illustration Friday - Adoption

Congratulations E. Nolan and family!!

Post Cruise Blues

John and I just got back from our vacation yesterday.

We took a seven-night cruise to Key West, Costa Maya, and Cozumel. We had such a fabulous time, we've already booked the same cruise for next year.

We met some wonderful people, ate WAY too much food, and experienced some unbelievable entertainment. I did sketch a little bit on the cruise and may post one or two after I get settled in.

Merry Making

 

As of yesterday, I'm down to just one illustration project (a fifth grade language arts workbook). I can finally start giving some thought to Christmas gifts and activities.

Every year I do ornaments with portraits or cartoons of my friend and her kids (see three of last year's above).

I've done sculpey, paper and cafepress ornaments so far. I may try to make this year's coincide with Claire's Month of Softies theme for December, which is Holiday Hang-ups.

The problem is, I'm terrible at sewing. I need to find a no-sew method for making soft ornaments. That's it...I'll cheat!!

Illustration Friday - Bubble

Here's my first entry for Illustration Friday. The theme this week was "Bubble." This illustration was for an article titled, "Fun in the Tub."