Summertime and fireflies

This little kitty is actually small part of the star gazing painting that I posted awhile back. I haven't had time to do anything new to post that's not under contract because I am working on so many deadlines but I like this kitty and I used to love catching fireflies so here it is...

Procrastination from work...

My husband and I went to Quebec City this past weekend for an award ceremony with his company. It was an AMAZING place to visit! I have SO many good pictures but I will just show some highlights. We stayed at a stunning hotel. It was called the FAIRMONT LE CHâTEAU FRONTENAC.

All the pictures are of the hotel except the window box which was in the town. The architecture was so beautiful. The city was filled with old homes and shops that were hundreds of years old. Quebec City is celebrating their 400th Anniversary this year so you can imagine. I may post a few of the beautiful town shots eventually as well.

I am now even further behind with my deadlines but I couldn't pass this trip up . I will eventually get my work done some way and on time. (Just in case any clients are visiting my blog ;o)) It may mean some long nights but it was worth seeing Quebec City!

I'm back...

Only one post in May...that's sad! I guess my excuse is that I've been swamped with work and then went on vacation. Here are a few pics from the cruise which ended up not being our best trip thus far. Our poor daughter got terribly sick on the third day and then was down for most of the remaining cruise. I think she was so worn down from her finals in college, etc. Oh well, I guess everyone needs a yucky vacation to appreciate the good ones.

Here's a pic from one of the night's our daughter actually felt good.



One of these days I might actually have some art to show. Everything I've been working on lately is under contract and I can't share anything here because of that. But soon, hopefully.

Animals

I really LOVE to create animals in my work but I'm finding that all the jobs I've been hired for lately don't have animals, just lots and lots of children and a few adults thrown in here and there.

My goal is to start working on some animal samples in my spare time. Ha! What's that?! But seriously, I really want to do more animal stories. Here are a couple animal pieces I did for Standard publishing way back in 2004. This was before I started experimenting with my acrylic style. These are digital watercolor.

From Koala Does His Best


and here's the cover for Lion Can Share



Here is another one that I created years ago just for fun.

Need your input please...

I did this piece awhile back and I'm not sure what I think of it. The theme of the piece is near and dear to my heart since it's one of my daughter and my favorite things to do so I am just wondering if that is clouding my judgement as to whether the piece is strong enough or not or where I could improve it.

Ok, I'm asking for honest opinions here guys...so don't just be nice.

More Jack and Jill

Here are a few more images of the new Jack and Jill that I did for the latest issue of Jack and Jill Magazine on the news stands for May/June. They are for Jack and Jill cut-ups. You know...like when you have all the characters where you can mix and match their outfits to make crazy combinations? I used to love to do those as a kid...still do! ;o)

These are just 4 out of the eight characters. To see them all, pick up an issue of Jack and Jill Magazine for May/June.

another character sketch

character sketches

Here's a peek at some character sketches I did for a new project I'm working on. I probably shouldn't give any more details until it is published.

Elephant Paints Self Portrait

I'm not sure what I think about this except it is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.

The "new" Jack and Jill

As a child, when I would go to the doctor's or dentist's office, I would often see Jack and Jill Magazine usually sitting along side Highlight's magazine on the nearby shelf.

A few months ago I was contacted by the art director at Jack and Jill Magazine. She wanted me to "update" the old Jack and Jill characters so they would look more like the kids of today. I have to admit this was a bit overwhelming at first. They wanted the new characters to have the same attributes as before, just in my style and more modern so kids today could relate to them a bit more.

They are slowly introducing the new characters over the next couple months so here is the first edition with the newer Jack and Jill to hit the stands. I'll share closer views of them from May/June edition once it comes out but thought I'd just show a little now.

Bunnies, bunnies everywhere!

HAPPY EASTER!

Here is another page from the Easter Book for Standard publishing that I did last year.

It feels like Spring!

It is supposed to be 70 degrees today! Yay! It has been a really looong winter and it's not over yet. We are supposed to get snow this weekend but Spring is poking it's little head out today! Along those lines I thought I'd share a spread I did for an Easter book for Standard Publishing.

Oh my!!

This illustration was actually done for a book my hubby is still working on...but it's been in the drawer for several years. Her expression is kind of how I am feeling at the moment. Insane deadlines make me crazy and stressed!! I gotta learn to just go with the flow but that's easier said than done.

Here's a movie trailer of our book!

I had a little time to play as I waited for the go ahead on a project so I had fun experimenting with iMovie and created a trailer for the book that my husband and I did together. Let me know what you think. It was my first time doing something like this so please be nice. ;o)

Cruisin'

We booked a cruise in May and I am so ready for it! We are taking our 21 year old daughter with us and it will be her first cruise. We have the most wonderful, perfect , fun-loving, did I mention perfect daughter in the whole wide world!! I'm so excited. I just thought I'd warm up a few folks out there if you live in cold climates like I do with this little piece I did for fun last year.

You make my day award!

Wow! Thank you Paige Keiser who has awarded my blog with the "You Make My Day Award" from over at the Fox in Socks blog. This is really quite an honor since Paige is the one who inspired me to begin blogging in the first place.

So to continue the trend, here are the details:

1. Write a post with links to 5 blogs that make me think and/or make my day.
2. Acknowledge the post of the award giver.
3. Display the “You Make my Day Award” logo
4. Tell the award winners that they have won by commenting on their blogs with the news.

And I have chosen the following artists to receive this award, because they brighten my days with their wisdom and talent and give me inspiration to continue the creative journey I'm on.

1. Stephanie Roth

2. Grace Lin

3. Eric Orchard

4. John Nez

5. Elizabeth Dulemba

Crazy busy

I'm busy, busy with deadlines but I got a decent job from Scholastic yesterday from this sample on TheIspot. Ya just never know--what may speak to one art director, may not at all to another...

High Five

Here's a piece I did last year for High Five, the new magazine that Highlights started for the younger audiences.

Fabrics in illustration

I have been playing around with fabrics in my work recently. I painted with acrylics and then scanned in fabrics and placed them digitally. That way if I didn't like the outcome, my painting would still be intact. Here's the original sketch and then the finished piece as well.

Happy New Year!

It's time to start a new year. I have deadlines looming but I thought I'd post a personal piece I did for a new dummy.