Saturday, December 21, 2013

DASHER, DANCER, RUDOLPH & VIXEN ,,, or is it Comet, Cupid, Donner & Blixen???

HoHoDooDa day ???.

I'm so crazy busy that there's been no time for sketching. But, I did put up wooden Christmas decorations yesterday that my son-in-law cut out and I designed and painted. A little creative holiday cheer. The only thing they need is snow on the ground!


Sunday, December 15, 2013

SILENT NIGHT... Day 12 HoHoDooDa

I have a baby in my life. Not MY baby, but close to it. His mom is my younger daughter Katy, so since she lives about 2 minutes drive from us I take possession of him often. I need to get my high of babydom (not in dictionary). The other high I get is watching his 11 year old big sister with him. As it nears the holidays it goes something like this .... 

... ALL IS CALM, ALL IS BRIGHT

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Thursday, December 12, 2013

MISSING PERSON

Another day of zero time for the HoHoDooDa sketch roll-out, soooo.... here they are again - my family cast of times gone by. (Dated by the old fashioned red looped mop!) Those were the days my friends — I thought they'd NEVER end!! A second  Christmas card to all our loved ones as a silent cry for help. TEENAGERS...! (Although, I have to confess ... the idea came to me through my own days as a testing teen ;o). 

 THE CHILDREN WERE NESTLED ALL SNUG IN THEIR BEDS


Tuesday, December 10, 2013

SEEING RUDOLPH

On Christmas Eve, when I was still a believer in "you know who", I was always sure I'd catch him flying across the sky if I stared up there long enough. 

On this Sketch Day 10 of HoHoDooDa I think it's time for his driver to have a part in this. An unexpected sight... like a dangling-from-the-rooftop reindeer peeking in at that curiously hopeful little girl.



Monday, December 9, 2013

It's a tough job .... but SOMEONE'S gotta do it!

HoHoDooDa Day 9.

Speaking of decorating the tree (still on the subject after 3 days ... sorry), I had zero time today to get to my HoHoDooDa sketch. So I thought I'd sort of cheat by putting up an illustration that fits the category, but that I did for our family Christmas card a few years ago. Some of the characters wish to remain anonymous due to feelings of shame that they now feel for being such self-involved rotten teenagers back then. And guess what? The guy reading the paper? Nothing's changed. The trees have only one decorator who cares. :o(



Saturday, December 7, 2013

IF TREES COULD TALK!

HoHoDooDa Day 7

True story. My Christmas tree's been up for a week. Should I feel guilty? 


Friday, December 6, 2013

Oh Christmas tree, OHHHHH CHRISTMAS TREE!

Day 6 out of 30 HoHoDooDa sketch-a-day event.

I'm klnd of into doing a play on words using Christmas song titles, so while thinking of possibilities this came to mind. It actually happened to me as I was feeding one of my grand babies! My back was to the decorated Christmas tree behind me when I noticed baby Caiden's eyes getting bigger and bigger as he looked past me, spoon entering his little mouth. I turned around and there was the tree in the midst of its great fall. No cat involved, but why not put one in?.... after all,  I'm my own boss here in this sketchy business! ;o) 


Oh Christmas tree ...... OHHHHHH, CHRISTMAS TREE!!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

SNEEK PEEK

Day 4 of HoHoDooDa .... a sketch a day for the month of December.

When I was only six years old I can remember clearly being bribed by my older brother & sister to sneak-open their wrapped Christmas presents that were hidden in my mother's closet (not the most original of hiding places). Why ME? Because they were 5 years older, and I was their patsie.  And so it was for the next several years - a tradition to open my presents not once... but twice.

It belongs in Day 4.



CHRISTMAS CAROL

This is Day 2 of the big sketch-off, HOHODOODA, originated by one very talented & WITTY illustrator, Linda Silvestri. You can tell how serious this is by the name. 

Basically, this goes on for the entire month of December, and so far, 16 of us have signed up. EVERY day a sketch is due .... or is it DOO?? The great thing about it is that there's no BOSS here. The only one you have to report to is yourself! How perfect is that?!! And the biggest incentive isn't a a gift card to Tiffany's at the end of the month.... it's GUILT if you miss a day!  — Even in this crazed, "Times running out to buy those gifts .... and to make those cookies.... and to put up the tree .... and to decorate the house... and to clean up the house so you can decorate the house... and to send out the Christmas cards (yeah.... not this year)." So, this will either put me in the holiday spirit, or turn me into a Crabby Patti with deadline after deadline after deadline of sketches due DAY ..... AFTER DAY.... AFTER DAY. 

I'm going a little drama-girl here. It's gonna be fun .... here's my 2nd one. 
           Carol loves dressing up for the annual Christmas party!

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Twas the first week of December when all through the house, not a creature was stirring .... except for this mouse.


(OK, OK! I know there are two MICE, but the title had to rhyme!)

This is my first sketch for the Hohodooda holiday sketch-a-thon! Two frustrated mice trying to squeeze the bulky Christmas tree through their limited mouse hole space. This is just the step one .... next, let the decorating BEGIN!

It's not so great, but it's late, I'm tired, and it's a start!

Thursday, November 14, 2013

HOME OFFICE CASUAL FRIDAY ... at the computer.

For those of you who work from your home I'm pretty sure most of you can relate to this latest wall art piece. I admit it's pretty much a self portrait for me!! (Yeah.... SCARY!) As a matter of fact, if you could see me now you'd be seeing the same image - typing away like I just rolled out of bed. But I'm cozy. And I love that no one can see me. And I love that there's no one around me to cause possible stress ... well, maybe my husband, but he knows to leave me to my focus on my work self. How many of you see yourselves in this picture? I need a good laugh, so please post a comment here about YOUR day at work!



Monday, November 4, 2013

DISTRACTIONS WITH THE MANTRA

With the holiday gift giving time swiftly approaching I'm in acceleration mode to line up some humorous wall art pieces! Ideas are already scribbled down on my "funny art to do" list ... and now I'm putting my pen point to the paper to get them done. The first idea came the other morning as I was trying to quiet my mind with meditationIn Yoga sitting position (it's stressful enough getting my legs crossed), with angelic background music that could calm Daffy Duck, eyes closed in transendental state, barely whispering my mantra ....... "OMmmmmm," everything I've ever had on my mind starts talking to me! And I try again... and again... and again! DAMN! How does Deepak DO it??! 

                                     

Friday, October 4, 2013

UNDERWATER WITH SANTA

Illustration Friday is a fun site for illustrators to show off their stuff. The idea is to submit a piece of art that relates to the topic given. This week it's Underwater. Since I don't have time to come up with something new, I've submitted a picture I created several years ago for a greeting card company, CardMakers, that I freelanced for during the holiday seasons. I really had fun with this one of Santa handing out fish treats! Loved using the bright colors.


Monday, September 30, 2013

CALLING ALL LITTLE BALLERINAS!

I've never been one to leave anyone out. Here they finally are, the Little Ballerinas and Their First Audience in their very own colors. This is just a sneak preview — see each of them in full view. Begin by clicking here.






Thursday, August 22, 2013

Saturday, August 17, 2013

BEGINNER BALLERINA .... IN ALL HER GRACE

Since my three year old grand daughter, Delaney, has started taking ballet classes my heart has moved its passion specifically to the tiny ballerina. My drawing table is covered with photos of innocent, dreamful awkwardness, and I can't wait to transfer their little gestures to paper! Every time I watch those dainty princesses in their untied ballet shoes with their tiny little backsides covered in spandex, tummies pronounced, I get the urge to create.

This is my first attempt. So far I've only finished the main character - but the pose is over-used, so there's more to the picture. The frosting on the cake is in the works.

Stay tuned to the finale .... and be sure to scroll down ~


MINIATURE ENSEMBLE of GRACEFULNESS




Thursday, August 15, 2013

NEW PAGE FOR THE CHILDREN'S BOOK

Here's the hungry little four year old - showing how he loves his mom's southern cooking and has every intention of eating every bite! My taste buds acted up just drawing that piece of fried chicken! ;o)

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Children's Picture Book.... onto Page Two

Lots of interruptions since my last post. .... if you consider a newborn baby in the mix! Welcome Dax Scott Harris ... baby #2 from my second daughter, Katy, and my beloved son-in-law, Scott. This was the BEST interruption EVER, and after hours of sleep deprivation I welcomed getting back to the drawing board. How fortunate am I to have illustration work as my day job?!! 

Would love to hear your comments :o). And if you're not "following" PLEASE do!


Friday, June 14, 2013

ILLUSTRATING A NEW CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK .... GOING SOUTH

Just when I'm in the middle of putting on a new hat — as my brain makes a hard left turn away from Creativity Blvd, a new project comes up and I find myself making a U turn to get back into the right-hand lane! Simply put... I'm going from making calls marketing my Just...in case Emergency I.D. product, to illustrating a children's picture book. Two very different hats! Sort of like comparing a solid black helmet to a wildly colorful headdress with feathers and rhinestones! Being the salesman that I'm NOT, I prefer the latter. So, when I was contacted by the author of this book, with questions and details of her project, that heavy helmet started slowly sliding over, making room for the feathery new one.

The book practically speaks to me with a Southern accent, since the manuscript is targeted to parents of little boys living in the South. The author is a dream client - almost too good to be true, which makes the drive I'm on more of a joy ride than being in a traffic jam on the Brooklyn Bridge. We'll see how it goes.  Stay tuned.

And so it begins ...





Tuesday, May 28, 2013

THIRD BALLERINA IN

I showed this sketch to my Laney last night when she graced me with her company, and it got her little stamp of approval! Then I got news from her mom that starting late June she'll be taking her first ballet class. Can't wait!! I'm thinking I'll do another series - but this time of tiny ballerinas. I love their tenacious little ways of trying soooo hard to get it right - without losing their balance! 




Wednesday, May 22, 2013

THE GRACEFUL ART OF LITTLE BALLERINAS



I raised two daughters ... and granted it had it's emotional downpours from the typical stuff girls are made of, but it's all I really knew. I knew Barbie dolls and puppet shows and the giggles of girlie things. But years later, when my firstborn had her firstborn - a son .... then another son.... and then another, life became an explosion of wrestling and loud video games and "men". You know, Spider Man, The Hulk, Darth Vader .... on the opposite spectrum of The Barbie, Cabbage Patch, and Strawberry Shortcake. And my drawings reflected it. Monkeys, bears - no flowers, no frills.

Then along came Delaney. A very, very Girlie-girl, gifted by my second-born daughter. A child who glided across the floor post-first steps, delicately carrying her little purse inside the crook of her elbow. Not a Spider Man bone in her body. And then one day, not long after her 2nd birthday, her mother introduced her to ballet, the Nutcracker, at our local theater. And that's all she wrote! The living room ottoman is her "stage", as she appears ballet'd up in her pink dance slippers and sparkly blue dress, doing her miniature contortions with the grand finale of a tiny graceful bow.
    
Now THAT'S inspiration for some fun stuff! - Wall Art for the little ballerina's room. 

First stage, pencil sketches ... more to come:



P.S. If you're with children who do ballet, I'd love to hear your feedback!


Delaney ... choreographer, dancer.















Tuesday, March 19, 2013

BACK TO LOGO MAKING

Creating logos hasn't always been my favorite type of work. They're often serious and technical ... but not this last one that I just finished. It helped that the person who hired me was on the same wave length as I - wanting to incorporate humor. Sometimes goofy is good, and in this case I'm thinking the look pops in a way that will draw attention to his new business. It's always such a rewarding feeling to give my artwork a good home where it's especially appreciated. I wish this entrepreneur the best - it's a dynamite idea for a business!


Tuesday, February 5, 2013

THE ART OF MONKEYS

I have to say that the animal that I've always had the least amount of desire to draw has been the monkey. I'm not sure why, but it's just never appealed to me.  How Murphy's Law'ish that I was asked for a picture featuring not one, but THREE monkeys as a piece of wall art. Enter: PROCRASTINATION... and finally SUB... quiver,quiver ...MISSION.

The good thing about this piece is the fun I had with it - having just added soft pastel pencils to my art medium list. What a difference in confidence while painting a flat dark colored base for the characters! Since the chalky pastels do wonders for highlighting - and can be worked with, I had no anxiety of putting down the darkest color brown for my first monkey attempt. . . I knew I could work with it without feeling "stuck" with the flat color. Such a great discovery for future projects!
HEAR NO EVIL, SEE NO EVIL, SPEAK NO EVIL


Tuesday, January 22, 2013

GETTING OLDer IN THE EYES OF AN ARTIST

Turning 70 isn't funny to most people, but it could be - especially when a new member of the 7th decade gets a picture for their birthday that brings out some funny stuff about them.

I've been hired to do just this a couple of times this year, and have done others through the years as my own "Thank you" gift created for special friends. It helps that I have a personality that has a strong propensity to tease. And really, that's basically what these kinds of pictures are all about. A sense of humor by the receiver is a MUST!

In this case, the gal who hired me (the daughter-in-law of the target character) emailed me photos of all the visuals and a list of the person's "likes" - including food and drink. She even sent me images of the shopping logos!! A dream client!! Everything you see in this picture has meaning. I had so much fun with this!! The trick is to integrate the "list" into a theme that makes sense. In this case, a shopping spree with a broken grocery bag where her favorite foods have fallen for easy viewing.

The finished picture:
CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

And some images I was sent for referral: