Illustration Fri. 'wrapped'

'oranges in red netting', 8x10, color pencil

Here's my offering for IF's prompt this week - oranges 'wrapped' in netting. This is an older sketch of mine but I thought I'd share it as I came across this going through previous work the last couple of weeks. I'm trying to 'close the book' so to speak, on a few pieces, ie. ones that I left unfinished for whatever reason - I do remember that the netting on this seemed to take forever. Hoping to finish it up with a suitable mat & frame as I have an upcoming solo show locally. I'm trying to showcase pieces in all the various mediums I've worked in...

What a wondrous journey it has been these last few years...I have grown so much and I'm truly honored to have shared it with all of you lovely, creative and generous souls :)

Photoshop: Painting / Artwords #62 "Curl"

July 28, 2007 EDIT: My experimenting with Photoshop painting continues - more practice with skin tones and shading. Even though I haven't used my airbrush in awhile I'm finding it similar to that as far as building up layers goes, also I'm finally getting some real use out of my wacom tablet pen :) I want to work on the eyes more and start in on the hair next so will see if I can find any tutorials out there on that. Stay tuned....

mixed media 9x12, pen, photoshop

A quick line sketch in pen, then scanned into photoshop to add some color, everything but the dress and curls. I'm such an amateur and so very new to PS as far as creating art with it so recently starting scanning in sketches and experimenting. I also have Illustrator too but there's so much to learn, I'm thinking about taking some classes to really get into it but not sure I want my art to go that route just yet :)

However, I do know that I really like how easy it is to just UNDO something and change brushes and paints so easily. Plus I love how digital art has no mess to clean up and that I can just save what's up on the screen when 'life' calls!! :)

Illustration Friday - "Discovery"

moleskine, 'inchies', watercolor, colored pencil, japanese chiyogami paper

Okay so a bit of a stretch for discovery but it was a discovery for me recently when I came across a long forgotten stash of these lovely handmade papers! I've been creating 'inchies' for about a month now and I just love them - so fun and somewhat addicting :) Anyhow I cut the papers up into one inch squares and they looked like little presents and for some reason I thought of them tumbling into a big sack. Actually I've been working on a Christmas card line so maybe that's where I made the connection?!

EDM #50 - entryway

landscape hand*book journal, watercolor, cp

edm #50- draw your entryway, journal about it
I decided to sketch the back entrance to our home as I thought it would be easier to do than the front one :) I'ved always loved architecture even simple designs, however this angle ended up being a little tricky due to the perspective! A good likeness was achieved I think but I feel like I missed something. Oh well, the good thing about this is that I captured 'Annabelle' before the high winds and heavy rain got to her yesterday.

Illustration Friday - "Geeky" / Artwords #60 "Cube"

'Floral Cubes' - carbon paper ink, color pencil on isometric graph paper

EDIT: Okay so I did another one cause I really wanted to see it in a warmer palette and with more drawing than cubes. Also for Tanya who wanted to see more florals :)


"Geeky" for patterns, color and design in this construction of pure geometry and abstract form. This appealed to my true design geek sense of order, interaction of color and form! However, it was a test in patience as a bit of planning had to take place before the actual color work began ( I like to skip preliminaries and dive right in!)

design details: 6 colors paired in 2's, alternating rows diagonally, cube's pattern color determined by the color of the cube to its' left

I initially had more in mind for the floral drawing in the first one below, but scaled it down a bit when I contemplated the time involved. However, it was fun and almost zen-like working on this so I decided to do another one in an alternate color palette and with a bolder, large- scale drawing as shown.

More 'geeky'-ness here: how stuff works