Pioneer for Illustration Friday

I would have to say some of our ancestors would have said this was an important symbol of many pioneers to America!

Strong

"Strong" - Illustration Friday challenge for September 4.
The strongest animal on land in terms of absolute strength is likely the African Bush Elephant, whose weight can range up to 13 tons, and whose carrying capacity is at least 5 tons.
The strongest animal in general is the Blue Whale, weighing above 209 tons, with a length of 30 m (100 ft). It can travel up to 50 km/h (30 mph) in short bursts. The kinetic energy of a whale at such a speed probably outclasses any other animal by an order of magnitude.(source: wisegeek.com)

This is an older piece...but I found it was perfect for the theme!

Magnify

"Magnify" Illustration Friday challenge for August 28. A hawk's vision magnifies even the smallest mouse from high in the sky! Pen and ink...my favorite medium.

Back in the Saddle Again

I have been away far too long and am embarking on an anticipated awesome fall/winter season of art! So...watch for more upcoming creations.

What's new...let's see...our 9 yo Golden is getting surgery for Laryngiel Paralysis the second of September. We are scared out of our minds about it. We researched and researched, met with surgeons and talked to other LP dog owners and we are sure it is what he needs.

Our Granddaughter is growing leaps and bounds! She laughs, rolls over and sits now. We don't see her as much as we did our grandson when he was that little; however, we do make an impact when we to. Our grandson is going to play ice hockey. 6 years old and playing ice hockey. Last year he played on a roller hockey team and went from roller slates to roller blades in a matter of months. He is really into it.

My hunny and I celebrate 10 years this coming year! We will be celebrating with a cruise to the Bahamas. I can't wait!!!!

I haven't done much artwork since the last "Week of Shorts" came out. Still reveling in the feeling of being published! I did raise an amazing set of container gardens this year and "found" some great plants in my landscapeing. We were visited by baby bunnies, several baby birds, a tree frog, several toads and of course the mockingbird's- Fred and Ethel's grandchildren.
All in all it has been an action packed summer so far!

Tango

"Haven't you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?"
That phrase from Batman was what popped into my head immediatly after reading the prompt on Illustration Friday last week. The prompt? "Tango." Here is my submission...though not complete and hastily coloured, I think you will appreciate it all the same!

NaPiBoWriWee week Challenge.

http://paulayoo.com/content/natl-picture-book-writing-week-may-1-7-2009
I can't believe these ambitious people are attempting this. But, I have decided to commit myself to do it also. Crazy? Maybe. But, what have I got to lose? Besides It will get me back into writing...maybe then I can finish my YA book!
I will keep you posted on my progress!!

"Impossibility"

Sakura pen and ink in metallic colours on 9"x12" Bristol board.I still cannot find a way to get these colours to show up better on this scanner. Guess I will have to break down and actually BUY a new one! This is Illustration Friday's challenge for April 17...the word, Impossibility. This is the first time I have filled an entire piece with stippling. At first I thought it was an "impossibility" because it seemed like it would take way too much time.

Fleeting

Fleeting- Illustration Friday Prompt for April 10. For a fleeting moment in high school I thought of becoming a marine biologist. That is...until I learned about how deep some of the divers go!
Seems I have been working more and more on art and less and less on posting and blogging. I am hoping to be better in the coming months. Please also look at my other works below!

Talisman and Poise

Illustration Friday posed these challenges for the last two weeks. I have only just had a chance to upload my versions of these two words..."poise" and "talisman." As you can see it takes some amount of "poise" to be the Easter bunny in my first piece. The colours are no where near what it looks like in real life. I tried to adjust in the computer and no luck.
The second is a falcon in pen and ink. My talisman is a hawk. I absolutely love them; however, I could not find subject matter from which to reference in such a short time...so here you have another bird of prey.

I'm Back!

Subtract. Illustration Friday's prompt for March 20, 2009.
Ahhhh Spring! Focusing on one aspect of a sign of spring lead me to think about the bigger picture...subtract the robin, subtract the city, subtract the continent, subtract the planet...how small the first sign of spring seems now!
Don't forget to check out some of my "catch up" pieces below!

Breezy. I-Fri prompt for Feb. 27.
Intricate. I-Fri prompt for March 6. An intricate Aboriginal piece
Celebrate. I-Fri prompt for Feb. 13. We celebrated the birth of our new granddaughter...Sarah!
Sorry it took me so long to come back to the blogosphere, a lot has transpired in my life! I'll save you the details and tell you the most important part...we are grandparents again! Sarah Elizabeth was born 2-18. She is so adorable and VERY tiny. We are very excited and so is her big brother, Dylan!
So...here are some pieces I have been working on since the last post. More to follow!!

Time- Extinct Dodo

Illustration Friday- Challenge for 2/6/2009- "Time."
For my challenge I tried a little something different. I painted a piece of 20" x 24" slate (plaster cast) with acrylic Liquitex paint and then used Sakura archive ink to draw detail. This is the first in a series of slate pieces entitles "Extinct-guished." Here I reflect on the "time" that was taken from an entire species...The Dodo.
dodo n., an extinct flightless bird, once a native of the island of Mauritius. Discovered 1598, extinct by 1681.In the year 1598 AD, Portuguese sailors landing on the shores of the island of Mauritius discovered a previously unknown species of bird, the Dodo. Having been isolated by its island location from contact with humanity, the dodo greeted the new visitors with a child-like innocence. The sailors mistook the gentle spirit of the dodo, and its lack of fear of the new predators, as stupidity. They dubbed the bird "dodo" (meaning something similar to a simpleton in the Portuguese tongue). Many dodo were killed by the human visitors, and those that survived man had to face the introduced animals. Dogs and pigs soon became feral when introduced to the Mauritian eco-system. By the year 1681, the last dodo had died, and the world was left worse with its passing.

source: http://www.davidreilly.com/dodo/

Flawed

Illustration Friday challenge for January 30, 2009. "Though he definately had his flaws Henry still managed to blend in a crowd!"
I want to start a club..."Artists that have never been picked for Illustration Friday's 'Pick of the week!' 5 years now. Sad, I know. But, then again I usually don't win contests either! LOL!! Just thought I would post this for all you artists out there who say to yourself, "how come my work never gets picked?!" Feel better?!

Climbing

Illustration Friday prompt for Friday January 23, 2009- Climbing. Here I give you the male Parson's Chameleon. His nose might not be attractive but boy can he climb!! I actually have pics for the last two challenges but cannot post this evening...too tired! *yawn*

Resolve

Illustration Friday Challenge for Friday, January 2, 2009- "Resolve"
The lizard is an ancient heraldic symbol signifying good luck. With symbol meanings of renewal, vision, enlightenment, and rebirth I thought lizards were the perfect topic for "Resolve." I did them with my new gel pens in an Aboriginal art style. The other is more Mexican Folk Art called "huichol."
Of course the scan does not do it justice, as usual, so please feel free to double-click for detail!