Monday, December 13, 2010

Hansel and Gretel WIP













updated 12/17





















updated 12/20





















updated 12/23





















I was working on this for Will Terry's blog challenge. The theme was Hansel and Gretel. It was due, last week on the 8th. I just couldn't find the time to finish it by the deadline. Bummer, but I thought it was worth finishing and I like to finish what I start when I am able, so I'm posting it. Which will further ensure that I take the time to finish it. I am only getting to work a little here and there right now, but Christmas break starts Friday. YAY!!! I am so looking forward to some free time. Although my stove is being replaced and I still have lots of Christmas baking to do I plan to spend a good part of my free time creating. So, while Myles naps I plan to draw, draw, draw and the baking will have to happen in between while my little helper is awake ; ).  Thanks for stopping by and especially for all the kind comments on my last post. You guys are great! I really appreciate it and love reading your comments. Happy Holidays!!!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

IF_Savor and They Draw and Cook!












Here are two of the illustrations I did for They Draw and Cook, the second one is for the Christmas Contest. I did the first one but it turned out to be not very Christmas-y.  I guess I wasn't in the Christmas mode yet.  The second one, I did in about three or four hours.  They were fun, but I will now savor the fact that they are done!  Thanks for stopping by and for taking the time to comment!!! It's beginning to feel a little like Christmas season now. : )

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

IF_Sneaky

So, I turned the illustration I was doing for my critique groups prompt into an illustration that would work for Illustration Friday, because I haven't done one in a while.  Wow, it feels so good to be creative again.  I'm planning on adding another squirrel on the bench, stealing her sandwich, but I don't have time right now,  so it's still a work in progress.  I want to spend the next couple of days working on an illustration for the new competition on the "They Draw and Cook" blog, and I really want to do Will Terry's Hansel and Gretel project. I'm having so much fun I may not want to cook Thanksgiving dinner. I'd like to do nothing but create.
LOL, but I don't think my family would be too happy about that idea.  Thanks for taking a look and for taking the time to let me know what you think.  Happy Thanksgiving if your celebrating it!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

A little time to breath again...

updated WIP pt 3
update WIP pt 2


Yay, it's officially Thanksgiving break and I can breath again.  So, this is an illustration that I had tried to work on for my critique group, but I couldn't find time to get beyond the sketch. The prompt was Cup.  So, I finally started painting it last night.  It's a work in progress. 

...and these are Maura's most recent pieces, from her drawing class, for her series on Asperger's. She is working on a really cool piece right now.  I can't wait to see it.  She described it to me and it sounds really great.  So this is what they mean, the one with sand is about the sensory issues she has. She hates the feeling of sand especially,  so it was really challenging for her to do this one. The one with the train is about obsessions and fixations.  She rocks often, even while she is driving or riding in the car.  As a child her spine was often bruised, because she rocked so much. But hey, she has some killer abs. The train is about her obsession with trains as a child and a fixation with the number 13.  She also loves circles and curves.































Saturday, October 23, 2010

Come One, Come All...

 
Welcome to the newest, revised version of Under the Circus Tent (or was it Beneath the Circus Tent? I can't remember, I should look, but I am too tired) Silly, I know. I am in a silly, happy mood! My daughter was invited to attend Oxford University for her graduate program in the fall!!! I didn't even know they did that. Because, she is in the top ten percent at the University she is attending, they asked if she would consider continuing her education there! See, I know she is amazing, but it's really cool when other people realize that she is amazing too. I've been doing a little happy dance for hours now. So, I'm full of silly exhaustion. I just can't help but brag, I seem to be doing that a lot lately.  I wanted to call everyone I know, but I didn't; I restrained myself and I only called half the people I know. So, now I'm blabbing about it to all of you!
Anyway, silliness and bragging aside, what do you think, is it better? too dark? too much? (Andrew, does the slight vignette shadowing work to replicate the curve of the flags in reverse?) I could add a row of lower lights, but this would cause a change in the lighting and shading. 
On another note, my blog was a year old in September and it has been a great year. I didn't even realize it had already been over a year until I was reading Andrew's and Amalia's blogs and realized we started blogging at about the same time. I won't name all of my lovely friends, you know who you are. I have enjoyed meeting all of you and getting to know you. It has been a year full of kindness and support. You have all helped me to grow as an artist. So, thanks for putting up with my bragging about my children. I appreciate all of your comments and input. You all are the best!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Finished work

Well, I finally had a chance to finish this piece. Do the flags add to it, or take away from it? I can't decide. I was thinking of using this piece as part of a promotional mailer, so let me know what you think. I'm also posting my daughters newest piece for her art class. Thanks for stopping by and thank you for taking the time to let me know what you think. I really appreciate it. Maura has enjoyed reading your comments about her pieces too. So, Thank You, Thank You!!!



Sunday, October 10, 2010

Sooooo last minute!

I'm soooooo last minute! I have been meaning to do an illustration for the website They Draw and Cook since they first started it. It's such a great site with recipes from artists all over the world. Well, I had done this overly complicated, way too realistic layout and I just didn't like it, so I started from scratch. Thank goodness I found out Friday night that the deadline was today!  I didn't even have time to start on it until yesterday afternoon, so I worked feverishly to complete it on time. I saw that Linda Silvestri on her Sketched Out blog had finished hers today too so, I don't feel too, too bad.  I don't know Linda so I hope she doesn't mind my mention of her.  I just love her work. It's always so much fun and her recipe looks great.

While I am confessing to my last minute, procrastinating nature let me give a shout out to Ces and to Marion. They have both given me awards and poor Ces, I have been so busy that I haven't even posted about it and it's been a while. Amalia did the sweetest acceptance for it and I wish I had time to do something equally as sweet and clever, but alas, I only have time to post about them both for now. I will post them in my side bar, but I will have to get back to the passing it along part later ladies.  So,  thank you Ces and Marion you are both too sweet and I appreciate the awards and kind words.

Thanks for stopping by and for your kind comments. You all are great!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

IF_Beneath


 Illustration Fridays prompt this week is Beneath. I started this one for last weeks prompt, but I didn't get it finished in time. I decided to add some things and now it is Beneath the Circus Tent. It's still a work in progress, but I may not get much more done before the end of the week, so I decided to go ahead and link it. I just haven't had time to participate lately and I'm trying to get back to it. Thanks for stopping by and for taking the time to comment!

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Maura's second project

Ok this is my daughters second project for her drawing class. Both of these pieces are about dealing with Aspergers. Like me she is a typical procrastinator sometimes. But, in her defense she works two jobs and goes to school full time, so when she told me she had a week long project due today and she didn't start until last night I really wasn't surprised.  I think she did a wonderful job especially considering that she did it in a few hours after a very long, full day. Like me she is her own worst critic though and she is quite concerned about it. Especially since the professor said that he expected it to look like she put a week into it. I guess he had a very good idea that she hadn't started yet. She made an A on the first project and says she wishes she hadn't because now she won't feel as good about it if she gets a lower grade. He said it was the only A he gave on the last project, so even more pressure! She is very grade oriented, anything lower than an A and she is very displeased with herself. She just called me to let me know that she was nominated for the Honor Society at George Mason! Yes, I know I'm bragging, but I'm just so darn proud!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

finally some new work

updated 9/29
  updated 10/1
updated 10/4 
updated 10/5
Well, I finally got to work a little today, well tonight anyway. Yay! I feel so much better now and I am posting this because I am more likely to get back to it and get it done if I do! I am working on this for Illustration Friday this week. The prompt this week is old fashioned and I'm thinking it's an old fashioned thing to want to run off and join the circus. Thanks for stopping by and baring with me while I have been preoccupied with other things. Your visits and comments mean so much to me!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

my daughters drawing

My daughter is taking a drawing class this semester, so I thought I would post one of her drawings. She's majoring in Political Science and minoring in Chinese, so it's just the one class, but I love to see her drawing. She is a very dedicated student, goes to school full-time and works two jobs. She's pretty amazing; I don't know how she does it all and she does it all very well! Yep, I'm proud.  Thanks for visiting, especially to those of you checking in even though I haven't been posting as often. Sorry, I'm still getting used to high school work again! It's 6:00 pm and I am still sitting here working on prep for tomorrows work. It get's better, I just have to get back into the swing of things. In the mean time I am missing my Wacom!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Something new


My friend Clau had a birthday in August and I did this picture of her daughter for her.  I am working on one of her son too.  I haven't been able to get anything done since last week, so I thought I'd post this. It's just been busy. My husband was home for the holiday weekend. The 4th was my mother-in-laws birthday so we cooked her a big birthday dinner, the kind that takes all day to cook. Then today my husband left town to go on a last minute business trip, I had to take my grandson to the Center for the Visually Impaired for class, which is in Atlanta and it was my son's first day of high school! We home school,  so we didn't get finished today until 5:00pm.  It all made for a really long day, after a long busy weekend. Now, I am looking forward to a little slower pace and a little time to paint : )

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Cinderella

So, I think I am done with this one. At least for tonight I am.  Thanks for stopping by and let me know what you think! I do appreciate what you have to say.  : )

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

WIP_Cinderella pt 2

...still working on this one. I'm thinking of adding the glass slipper because, after all, what is Cinderella without her glass slipper. I still have to decide how to handle the face of the clock too. I'm still not in love with the carriage though, I was hoping once I had more done that I would like it better. I just didn't put enough time into the design of it, but I can always go back to it later. It won't stand out quite so much when the clock face is no longer stark white though, so I am going to wait on that one. 

Saturday, August 28, 2010

WIP_Cinderella

This is what I am working on this weekend. I did the sketch months ago, but never got back to it.  I can't decide if I like it yet. Maybe its the carriage, it's not shaped right or something. Anyway, thanks for stopping by to have a look.  I really appreciate it and the comments too! You are all great! Have a good weekend.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

IF_ Atmosphere

















The prompt for Illustration Friday is Atmosphere this week. I kept envisioning atmospheric effects, but I had already been working on this piece for another project and wanted to use it for Watercolor Wednesdays  for ocean.  I just hadn't gotten around to posting it yet.  I decided it would work for both.  I also love the ocean.  I guess you could say it's the atmosphere, the feel of the air with the ocean mist that clings to it.  The constant breeze and the soothing sounds of waves and birds.  It's such a healing place.  Thanks for stopping by and for taking the time to comment. I appreciate every one of them.  


P.S.  I added the definitions for fun, not because I think any of you needs to know the definition of Atmosphere.  My daughter used to play a game with the dictionary, she even liked to read the dictionary, she always read everything.  I guess I am just missing her, as well as the ocean and wishing they were both closer to home. : )


at·mos·phere [ átmə sfr ] (plural at·mos·pheres)


noun 

Definition:
1. gas around astronomical object: the mixture of gases that surrounds an astronomical object such as the Earth
2. air or climate: the air or climate in a given place
3. mood or tone: a prevailing emotional tone or attitude, especially one associated with a specific place or time
4. mood or tone of artwork: the prevailing tone or mood of a work of art
5. interesting mood of place: an interesting or exciting mood characteristic of a place
ie. a jazz club with lots of atmosphere
6. physics unit of pressure: a unit of pressure defined as the pressure that will support a 760 mm column of mercury at 0°C at sea level, equal to 1.01325 x 105 newtons per square meter
[Mid-17th century. < modern Latin atmosphaera "sphere of vapor" < Greek atmos (see atmo-) + Latin sphaera (see sphere)]

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

IF_Star Gazing

This is my illustration for Illustration Friday's prompt Star Gazing. It needs more work, but I thought I'd go ahead and post it anyway, I haven't been posting on Illustration Friday as much as I would like lately. I'm not liking the way his face turned out so I may go back and rework him. Anyway, thanks for all the well wishes and prayers. My back is getting a little better each day. You are all wonderful. Thanks for stopping by and for taking the time to leave such kind and thoughtful comments. You make my day! or night ; )

 and here is the amended version, what do you think? better or  worse?

I'm going to have to let it marinate before I decide...

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Birthdays!

Well, I hurt my back last week and I haven't been able to do a thing. I mean nothing. My husband was out of town and I had my grandson for a few days, so I had to have my mother in law come and help me out.  I don't like taking medicine any more than is absolutely necessary. I just hate the way it makes me feel, even more muddled than usual. I had to take anti-inflammatories  and muscle relaxers and they relaxed my brain as well as every inch of my body.   I was a total slug,  but I am much better this weekend, so hopefully the worst is over.

August is a big birthday month in our family. A great nieces birthday, then my oldest daughters birthday,  followed by my son's birthday, then my sisters birthday and my friend Clau has a birthday too.  I had so many  things I wanted to do for everyone and I haven't been able to make a single cake or do anything special for anyone.  I just hate having a bad back, it puts such a damper on things! and don't you just hate it when you hurt yourself?!!!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Finishing Up Just for Fun

I was doing this one for Illustration Friday several weeks back for the prompt Paisley, but life got in the way, so I finished it up today, mostly anyway. Just trying to make myself go back and at least take things to a level of finished that I can be happy with. It's great practice and a promise I made to myself to try and not leave things half done. I may keep playing with her tonight, I had initially intended on using her in a retro school or library setting.

...and again Jack has saved me from a lack of creativity and time, so thanks Jack, again!  I am using this for Illustration Friday's prompt Artificial, looking at the world through rose colored glasses doesn't seem to have improved her disposition, but it works for the prompt I think, no time for something new and I was totally stumped on something different for this one...

Monday, July 26, 2010

Watercolor Wednesdays Birthday

Watercolor Wednesdays is two years old this August. Stop by and check it out.  It's one of the group blogs that I take part in when I am able to find the time, which isn't as often as I would like.
I hope that everyone is having a great week!
I'm suffering from Sudafed balloon head myself. I don't know which is worse, congested muddled head or balloon head muddled-ness!  
ha, ha, ha...


So Jack made me realize this would work for Illustration Friday too! Thanks Jack, I love it when that happens, especially when it is already Wednesday and I haven't started another illo yet!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

IF_Breakfast

Just a quick one for Illustration Friday's prompt breakfast. I was already doing this one and lost all the work except for the beginning of the doughnut and had to mostly start over, so it's messy and even quicker than I had intended, oh well. Another ant, I must have ants on the brain or something. Anyway, here he is the giant, he-man, doughnut steeling ant.  Hope every one is having a great summer. Thanks for stopping by!  and thanks for taking the time to comment! and Andrew, I am working on pickle ant, I really am! ; )

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Version 2 of Picnic Ants

Thanks to my wonderful critique group I have redone this illustration. With their excellent advice I think the improvements so far have made this a much stronger piece. The ant carrying the watermelon still doesn't read as well as I would like, so I am still working on an effective solution for that problem without doing a complete redo by repositioning him. I'd like this to be a portfolio piece, so I am really trying to make it stand out. Things I am playing with are taking the whole watermelon out completely, putting the whole watermelon in shadow so that it recedes, maybe adding an ant to the top of the jar trying to pull out a pickle... still playing around before making any further permanent physical changes.  So, let me know what you think, I am always open to suggestions for improvement. Thanks for stopping by and for taking the time to let me know what you think!




















 *watermelon darkened

Friday, July 9, 2010

WIP finished

Ok, I think I am finally done. Too late for Illustration Friday since today is Friday and a new word. The ants were little buggers and took longer to do than I had imagined they would, but I am pretty happy with the outcome, even though I think I could keep working on it if I wanted to. I am making myself stop for now. The ants remind me a little of the dancing, singing Raisins form some old commercial, but they are pretty cute. Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment if you have time, because I love to read them!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

WIP_Picnic

This is what I am working on this week.  Just a fun piece that will work for more than one theme.  I hope to use it for several prompts and for my portfolio. I'd like to do more, but just in case I run out of time I tried to make it work for more than one. I haven't had time to participate as much as I like to. I am also working on some older pieces, finishing those up and reworking a couple of others.  Maybe I can finish this one up tomorrow.  Thanks for stopping by. You all are wonderful and I really appreciate your comments!

*updated 7/7

Thursday, July 1, 2010

IF_ Satellite

Here is the finished version of Satellite for Illustration Friday. I'm headed to bed for some much needed sleep now. Thanks for visiting! Comments are appreciated.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

IF Satellite WIP

This is what I am working on, today anyway. It is for Illustration Friday's prompt Satellite. I am still working on Paisley from last week also along with some sketches for another project. I thought that by now I would have more time to get the things I wanted to do done, but that hasn't happened yet. Maybe July will be better : ) no promises though, I just seem to be consistently inconsistent right now. But seriously I will try to start posting more often again.
I'm actually doing an under painting for this one which I tend to do when working traditionally but rarely do when working digitally. I think this one will benefit from the added step though. I am also in the process of redoing the Strange Pets piece with changes from the suggestions I received for it.  I hope to get it done pretty soon. It's time to finish up stray pieces and post the results. That's my goal for the next few weeks anyway. Thanks for visiting and leaving so many wonderful and kind comments. I really appreciate the support.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Ripple

I seem to be getting everything done late, lately. This is what I was working on for Illustration Friday last week. It's also my submission for Kelly Light's Ripple blog. But I got it done, so better late than never. I'm practicing working in a less realistic style. I'm not comfortable with it and it shows. I have to fight myself to not try to paint everything the way I think it is supposed to be. I feel like my imagination is stifled and everything comes with difficulty. That's why I am making myself do it more and possibly/most likely, why everything is taking me so much longer. Maybe I will even find time to do Illustration Friday this week! There are so many possibilities with the word Paisley. Thanks for stopping by and for taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate your comments so much. You all are so supportive that you give the courage to try and work out of my comfort zone and actually post it for all to see!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Strange Pets



Watercolor Wednesdays theme this week is strange pets. I think this one qualifies. I'm still crazy busy, but finding a little more time to take a break and play. Thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment! You are all so supportive and awesome!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

IF_Trail

This is my entry for this weeks prompt Trail for Illustration Friday.  I'm not loving it and I'm not sure what it is I don't like about it, but I haven't gotten to participate in several weeks now, so I'm posting it anyway. I had every intention of doing a completely new illustration tonight after I put my grandson to bed. Instead, I had surprise company and had to make an impromptu dinner for the unexpected guests. Now it is getting late, so I guess I am stuck with this one. I keep waiting for things to slow down and  looking forward to having time to do multiple illustrations, get caught up, touch base with friends and try some new things, but I'm still not there yet. Maybe next week!
Thanks for visiting! Comments are welcome and appreciated!