Flavor -First half. (They go together -not two seperate.)

OK. This all started last week when I saw a bumper sticker on a truck that said," There's room for all God's creatures...right next to the mashed potatoes!" When I heard the word was "Flavor" this cartoon idea was the first thing I thought of!!! Happy New Year! AND thanks for all your kind comments.

Flavor -Second half.

"Snowman Holiday"-Illustration Friday

Here it is...Partially done. I collect snowmen, I guess it's from growing up near Canada and having so much snow. I live where we rarely get any now. Anyhoo, this is one of my favourites in my collection. We have 20 people coming for dinner Sunday and there is still much to be done, so....I'll post this as a finished piece after the holiday!
Happy KwanzChrisMakah!

Imagine Nation

Imagine- Illustration Friday.
This came from my favourite saying..."Visualize Whirled Peas." This is my first attempt(see second below).

Imagine Peace

Imagine- Illustration Friday. This is the second attempt. I'm not a materialistic person (except for art supplies) so if I were to imagine it would be for world peace.

Surprise

Surprise-Illustration Friday. OK...This is by far only ONE of the many surprising things our daughter has done over the years; but, it was fairly big to us!
This is part of her rebellious peer pressure days at Smith College in Massachusetts. I use to do a comic panel once a month while she was there. It helped us cope. LOL

Blue Iguana

Blue Iguana- Illustration Friday.
This took about eight or so hours as well. Pen and ink with colored pencil added after.
First, I have been extremely ill with the flu and now viral infection on top of that...and there seems to be no end in sight yet. So I had lots of time.(We are supposed to get several inches of snow tomorrow so that will incapacitate the state for a day...I need one to rest).
Second, when I researched "blue" I was amazed to find there are blue starfish, cats, dogs, goldfish and more out there, who knew?! This one just struck me. I like lizards for some reason.

Small Bird- Completed

Here it is... the finished product! Total work time: 8 hours-ish. Done on acid-free paper with my favourite pens...Pigma-Micron by Sakura (.20mm,.30mm and .50mm line width).
PS: Thank you very much for the lovely compliments...they are GREATLY appreciated!!!

Small Bird

Small- Illustration Friday. This is a sneak preview of this year's Christmas card I'll be sending out. I took this photo of a favorite ornament and now re-creating it in pen and ink.
On the side...I saw "Rent" this evening. AWESOME MOVIE!!
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Free-"Santa-Matic"

Free- "Santa-matic" (freedom of speech).
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Because of the changing times even malls have become more politically aware of other religions and cultures especially at holiday time. First it was the addition of a menorrah and now the "Santa-matic!" Now children of all cultures can choose which Santa to meet with at the mall and rest assured their wish is in the right hands! >wink,wink<

Strength- Illustration Friday. You can imagine what strength it takes for some kids to eat something they don't like.
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Night- "Ode to Schim Schimmel"

Night- Illustration Friday. Schimmmel is a favorite artist of mine.(I taught environmental ed) This is my "Ode to Schimmel" I always wanted to do a piece similiar to his style. I admit this was done quickly...I always try to post by Sunday evening since my weeks are so busy. This was sketched with pencil and done over in ink. I added some colour after it was scanned. I am sure this will be re-done in the future. I already have an order for another white tiger piece!!!

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Broken- I had a few other ideas before this hit me. When I had thought of the story of the broken sand dollar I knew I had to do it immediatly. It really is true, too. Five white doves EVERY time you break open one!!!
(The writing says,: Now break the center open and here you will release, the five white doves awaiting to spread good will and peace!)
This is in graphite, then watercolour pencils, then sakura ink.

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20 Random Things

Ok...TFrizzy has tagged me.:) So here are 20 random things you don't know about me.

1. I was teaching theatre adjunct at a college at 18.
2. I LOVE aquamarines and teals.
3. I drive around fuzzy catapillers trying to cross the road in the fall. Plus I step around worms when it's raining.
4. I hate being barefoot in the house but love to be outside.
5. I wear shorts long after everyone else puts them away.
6. My dog Rusty is my most trusted friend.
7. People always guess I am younger than I am.
8. I almost always have to have an Arizona Ginseng tea and a Mountain Dew Amp to start my day.
9. I drive over 500 miles a week for my job.
10. I adore Barbara Streisand.
11. I was a stand up comic in NY for a while.
12. I am a grandmother but never had children.
13. I taught Mime for 20 years.
14. Marcel Marceau and I corresponded for years.
15. My cat needs me to pet him then sit next to him while he eats.
16. I love being an artists but hate to sell my art!
17. I can't stand arrogance in people.
18. Not big on smokers
19. I love to colour.

and...OMG I made it to 20... I refuse to learn to knit!

"Remote II"-( I coloured the one below and it took a lot of detail so here it the original in graphite and ink) Illustration Friday challenge. "The King will not be happy when he finds out he needs to re-moat again!" Jasper, the royal dog knew he shouldn't have done it, but he couldn't help himself...he simply HAD to dig! Something, something smelled good and he had to find it!



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"Remote"-Illustration Friday challenge. "The King will not be happy when he finds out he needs to re-moat again!" Jasper, the royal dog knew he shouldn't have done it, but he couldn't help himself...he simply HAD to dig! Something, something smelled good and he had to find it!

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Disaster Relief! - Cold.

Cold- Illustration Friday.
O.K. I did this a while back. Hope you don't mind. I'm busy packing up summer getting ready for winter! LOL "Bruce just wasn't prepared to melt just yet ...'Indian Winters' were a myth in his circles!"

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Lost- Illustration Friday. Henrietta was a good fairy that had a difficult time finding her niche. One day she met a little boy with a loose tooth and her life changed forever!

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Here's my witch for Pen.

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Float II - My first idea is below. This one just came afterword. Which do you like better?

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Rhino Float

"Float" (This week's Illustration Friday challenge.) "Walt knew if he tried hard enough he could find a way to escape the zoo and see the world!"

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FRESH - Pencils

Pencils. It is always pleasurable to get a fresh, new pack of coloured pencils or likewise. This set I got in Disneyworld on my vacation to Florida last week. It was refreshing and inspiring to get away.

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Escape

"Escape... to Disney!"I am early because I am off to Florida for vacation at Disney World. I have never been. Everyone can't wait to see my reaction because I am a little kid in a 40 year old outfit!

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Mouse

Maurice knew moving from the church to the library would be difficult; but, he had no idea the DEPTH of the situation!

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Native American "Roots" -Illustration Friday

Native American "Roots" - Illustration Friday Challenge. Well it is getting close to the next week's challenge and I have been working on this dilligently since last week. This started out reflecting all of my heritage including flags from England, France, Germany, Scotland and Ireland. There was to be a Mayflower ship and a pilgrim in amongst the roots as well. But when it came right down to it. The peoples that deserved the credit the most were the peoples who's life blood is in the soil here. The soil and land that we took away from them...Native Americans. And since I can proudle say I have quite a bit of Native American blood in me that's who I chose to represent in this challenge..."Roots." It has taken me about six hours of work so far and I know it will be a few more before it's done. So...here it is...you get the idea.

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"Edmund Dreams"

Dreams...Illustration Friday. "Edmund learned quickly that dreams aren't always good when they come true!"

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"Reflection"- Illustration Friday

Reflection- Illustration Friday. This is a watercolour I did some time ago. Sorry, the scanner does not do it justice. "She was so fixated on herself she didn't even notice the beauty around her."

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"Wisdom" -Illustration Friday. Wisdom is getting through the difficulty that is finding balance and harmony in our lives. Then sharing it with others.

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"Bird Sleep." Ok, I think I have the hang of it now. I am really starting to like these watercolour pencils!!! Of course that's about the only medium that doesn't scan very well...:)

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"The Cheese Stands Alone...wait a minute!" This is me playing with my watercolour pencils.

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Empty- Illustration Friday

Empty- Illustration Friday. Empty is what mailboxes have become since the dawn of E-Mail! I have to admit...this word sparked five pieces. I chose two to show you. Take a look at the one below also!!!

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Empty Without You! Illo Friday

Empty Without You! This is the second piece I did. You will have to forgive the crude colour fill in...I am still expecting my new technology to arrive and can't do programme downloads until then.

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Aging Ford- Illustration Friday #80

Aging Ford- Illustration Friday. This is coloured pencil and graphite. I knew everyone would choose old people as their subject and I really wanted to do a "rite of passage" but I got this book about painting weathered textures and wanted to try to get the same effect in pencil. I have yet to try my new watercolour pencils...anyone use them yet? How are they to work with.

Tranquility in Pink- Illustration Friday Part II. I'm still working on my web page...here's another addition. 

Karma Miranda- Illustration Friday

Karma-Illustration Friday. A Little known fact about Brazillian dancer/singer Karma Miranda was that when she wasn't doing shows she liked to hang out at the markets and predict which fruit had good karma! I know this would look better in paintshop or illustrator...truth is I am in flux with computers right now. I use my work computer and my home computer is in storage. I work from home...so why have two hooked up?! Now we are switching to laptops and I am waiting for those to come in before I switch everything back over. Soooo forvive the crudeness of the drawing...the copier does not do some of the detail justice!

Metropolitan-Illustration Friday. Stumped by my own word. AND two of the sketches I came up with were done similiarly so I set them aside. 

Sport- Illo Friday. "Obviously Harold knew the stakes in this newly invented "Extreme Sport;"but, had he anticipated the cat?!" 

Illustration Friday - "OOOOh, Sparky the Firedog...our Heeerooo!"

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Illustration Friday

Black and White- Marcel and Mime. I performed stage and street mime for years. I had met Mr. Marceau in 1983 when he did a show in Syracuse, NY. His inspiration was my reason for choosing this unusual vocation. I became quite popular in my day. I also was a clown and toured with several children's theatre shows.
This old fashioned hand dotted pen and ink. Double click on picture for larger view.

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Summer- Rehoboth Beach. Summer, to me, is Dolle's Salt Water Taffy on the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk in Delaware. OK...the Thrasher's fries are better but go straight to the arteries! LOL!

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Digital- Illo Friday 6-3. I'm getting there. I have to hook up and un hook up equipment now so the Wacom has been down. I bought a new digital camera...besides the digital camera I use for work that I need every day. Plus the new scanner/fax/printer. It's getting very crowded! So...please tell me what you think!

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Envy-Illustration Friday

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Aquatic II. 

"Aquatic-King Neptune" Illustration Friday 5/27

Aquatic-"King Neptune." This is a pen and ink I did in 1992. I was sooooo excited when this topic came up! I LOVE working with sealife and all things "aquatic!" I have been expiramenting with adding colour to some of my pen and inks. Do you think it adds or takes away when color is added to pen and ink pictures?