Pink Ink and Jello- The Art of Ellen Dygert

More Moleskine Art

2011-11-10T22:32:00.003-05:00

Here are some of the latest pieces I did in the Moleskine exchange. I really enjoy the collaboration with Stephanie (The Tiger, wheat and Jupiter piece) this time around.

Moleskine Exchange III, Gretchen's Book

2011-07-26T13:20:00.002-04:00

These are the latest works I added to Gretchen's Moleskine being mailed next to an artist in NY.

Moleskine work

2010-08-29T18:01:00.004-04:00

This is a piece I did in collaboration with the previous artist in my Moleskine Exchange.

Paisley

2010-06-20T23:13:00.003-04:00

This Mexican art piece seemed appropriate for Paisley. It is called "Feathered Serpant." Done in pen and ink and watercolor for Moleskine Exchange.

2010-06-20T23:10:00.001-04:00

This is a piece I did for Moleskine Exchange. I am really loving my Prismacolor water color pencils!! There is also a touch of metallic pen in there.

Pioneer for Illustration Friday

2009-12-27T16:53:00.001-05:00

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

Strong

2009-09-08T20:33:00.004-04:00

"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

2009-09-01T21:39:00.006-04:00

"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

2009-08-21T18:31:00.003-04:00

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

2009-07-21T21:11:00.002-04:00

"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.

2009-05-02T22:58:00.002-04:00

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"

2009-04-21T22:07:00.002-04:00

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

2009-04-15T21:56:00.003-04:00

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

2009-04-09T23:12:00.002-04:00

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!

2009-03-22T20:11:00.007-04:00

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

2009-02-11T22:07:00.003-05:00

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

2009-02-03T14:42:00.002-05:00

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

2009-01-29T20:58:00.002-05:00

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

2009-01-07T20:13:00.004-05:00

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!

Clandestine

2008-12-27T20:36:00.004-05:00

Clandestine- Illustration Friday challenge for the last friday in 2008!
This would have been a "cake job" if Stanley didn't leave the dog bones sitting at home on the table!!

Voices

2008-12-26T10:47:00.003-05:00

Illustration Friday challenge for Friday December 21.Voices.

Rambunctious

2008-12-16T23:05:00.005-05:00

"Sally was a little more rambunctious in her plans for the day; that is, until her lack of sleep caught up with her!" This is for Illustration Friday's challenge- Rambunctious (12/12). I have to post this 'partially done' because I have been a tad busy lately. Just received the new book I have art in and it is just as exciting to see your work in print every time, it never gets old!

Similiar and Balloon

2008-12-09T23:01:00.004-05:00

Illustration Friday for both November 28 and December 5. "Balloon" and "Similiar" respectively.

This is the third idea I came up with for Balloon.

This is the second that came to mind.Sorry these took so long to upload. A lot has been going on in our lives - AND I ended up with three ideas for "Balloon" that I just HAD to finish. This is the first one.
Finally...the prompt for last Friday is "Similiar." This cartoon is based on our recent trip to Disney. The caption should be, "My grandson and I do NOT have similiar energy rates even in Disney! Did you notice the thought process for when we also bring our new granddaughter in a few years? (I added glasses because my eyesight just isn't the same as it use to be...and gray hair because I found a white hair the other day!)

Opinion

2008-11-22T22:23:00.002-05:00

Opinion- Topic for Illustration Friday 11/21. Oh, this was way too easy...I am tired of the Republican friends I have telling me how "sorry I will be" when Obama screws up the world. Hello? Can you say George Bush boys and girls?!
I mean really..."Talk to the hand, 'cause the rest of me don't care!"

Pretend

2008-11-16T11:52:00.003-05:00

Pretend- Illustation Friday prompt for 11/14.
I am "pretending" that this is what my future grandchild will look like when she pretends. We just had a baby shower for my step-daughter at her mother-in-law's house yesterday so I had little "Sarah Elizabeth" (due Feb. 26 I cannot wait!)on my mind all week end.

Wise

2008-11-13T18:19:00.002-05:00

Illustration Friday Prompt- November 7. Just in the Nick of time! WHEW!

Tom was WISE to have purchased those peacock feathers on Craig's List! He would be safe for yet another Thanksgiving!

Vacant

2008-11-05T20:55:00.002-05:00

Illustration Friday...Vacant, for Friday Nov. 1.
"Mildred had that vacant-deer in the headlights look. Could she blame it on sleep-eating again? Or had that excuse worn itself out?"
Sorry...an oldy but a goody. Almost figured out the scanner glitch. I actually had two political cartoons to add...one I see was the same idea of two others. The other was the same idea of one other entry. I thought for sure at least one would have been an original thought. Oh, well. Guess it's all in the difference of the art! I will post them when the scanner is up.
Meanwhile...I think Mildred here will do.

2008-10-29T22:40:00.004-04:00

Repair- Illustration Friday prompt for 10/24.
Well, I sincerely hope none of you get the flu I had for the past two days. Flat on my back for two days! When I wasn't wretching in the bathroom that is. I'm better now though my stomach is a mess still.
The two cartoons below came to me almost immediately after I thought about the word- repair. Upon researching I did come across a really awesome artist who does the skeletal structure of cartoon characters. Check out Michael Paulus.
Yes, I really did try to repair my own laptop and now it's dead. Well, until I take it in for repairs.

Late

2008-10-23T15:00:00.006-04:00

Late- Prompt for Illustration Friday 10/17. "It's never too late to learn something new,like...GeoCaching or Letterboxing! Check out those sites to learn more. We just started last week end and we LOVE it!!!!
This is a pen and ink on collage of a hiker looking at her "cache find." I did it from a photograph. I think it came out pretty good since I haven't a lot of time this week. My parents are trekking down from NY to visit.

Strings

2008-10-11T22:24:00.005-04:00

Strings- Illustration Friday challenge October 10.
This one had me in many directions. I started researching and thought ...maybe the old fashioned string lights. Then I thought, maybe halloween string lights. Upon further research I stumbled on that string art we use to do as kids. So I googled String Art...and I found the most AMAZING art! It is string (and bead) art by the Huichol Indians in Mexico. Check it out here Huichol Art you won't be sorry!
Below is the my attempt at it with my prismacolours representing the string. As you can see I am having scanner issues again and had to photograph it instead. It really does NOT do all the work that went into it ANY justice. Trust me it is awesome in real life! (click on the pic to see detail)
Thanks for stopping by!!

Sugary

2008-10-07T16:47:00.002-04:00

Sugary- Prompt for Illustration Friday October 3.
Agatha wished she hadn't put so much eye of newt in that last potion. Now everything in the castle seemed to be enchanted. Take the tea pot, for instance...now there is a sugar goon living inside always putting too much sugar in her tea!

Packed

2008-09-29T17:21:00.006-04:00

Packed- Illustration Friday prompt for 9/26.
This year Agatha thought she would win the pumpkin contest for sure. She carefully packed her pumpkins on top of one another to make a giant pumpkin totem pole.
Just as she was putting the final touches on her creation the Wizard's owl flew in through the window and perched on the very top. The weight of the large bird was too much for the pumpkins and one by one they tumbled to the ground.
"Oh, Dear!" Said Agatha,"Now I will have to start from scratch and the contest starts in an hour! What will I do?!"

Island

2008-09-18T23:01:00.003-04:00

Illustration Friday prompt for Friday September 12- Island. I couldn't possibly let an awesome prompt go by even on vacation. This is a sketch of the Goddess Pele. Goddess of fire. This was inspired by my recent visit to the Enchanted Tiki Room at Disney World.

...and some more....

2008-09-18T17:02:00.006-04:00

...and even MORE pics!

2008-09-18T17:02:00.004-04:00

Disney Pics

2008-09-18T17:02:00.002-04:00

Dontcha' just love technology! We haven't even returned yet and I am sharing pics!

Off to Disney World!

2008-09-07T22:26:00.003-04:00

Well, we are off for our second trip (my second anyway and my grandson's first!)to Disney World this week!!!!! I can't wait! Have a great two weeks everyone! I'll miss I-Fri. I'll be sure to post photos when we are back!! Here are some neat ones I found on the web.

Award

2008-09-07T20:53:00.007-04:00

WOW! An award!! "You like me, you really like me!"Thank you very much Linda for the award! This really made my week!!!!!

Please place this award on your site;
Also, the rules for receiving this award include nominating 7 other blogs that you think are outstanding. So here are my picks:
(please visit these blogs)

Julie Knoblock
Matt Jones
Andrea
Nic Squirrel
Jim Brenneman
Irisz Agocs
Adrian Ropp
Okey dokey now it's your turn!
Have a great week!

Clutter

2008-09-05T21:38:00.003-04:00

Clutter- Illustration Friday prompt for Sept 5.In a "clutter-free world" we can appreciate nature and nature appreciates us!
Need to finish painting "memories" for last week and post. Getting ready to leave for Disney next week so this week's is an obg (oldie but a goodie)!

Routine

2008-08-22T18:47:00.002-04:00

Routine- Illustration Friday prompt for August 22, 2008. "Her routine was the same every year...collect nuts and fill the nest for winter; however, this year someone stole her entire stash. Now the snow is falling...'How will I feed my children?', Mrs. Squirrel thought."

Detach

2008-08-18T20:12:00.005-04:00

Illustration Friday prompt for August 15 was "Detach." The very first thing that came to mind was that bully in TOY STORY- Sid. You know, the kid next door that destroyed toys and made them into weird combinations then blew them up! Here is a possible one of Sid's concoctions...(Sorry that they are pencil sketches...haven't had time to finish yet.)
...But, I wasn't quite "feeling the word" was being represented in the way I wanted it to until I came accross this knitted tiger...can you believe someone actually KNITS gorey animals?!...
Yet, this somehow had the word expressed at the very core of it's essence..."That's it!" I thought!! So here you have my sketch...(BTW, I showed it to my 5 year old grandson and he thinks I'm really cool now because I drew a dinosaur actually ripping the leg off another dinosaur!

Sail- Illustration Friday

2008-08-10T22:27:00.005-04:00

Sail- Illustration Friday prompt for August 8.
I had several ideas that came to mind for this topic, especially living by the ocean. In the end this funny piece won out.
"Spike decided he had had enough of Sabastian's antics!"

"P.O.O.F."

2008-08-01T22:33:00.008-04:00

Illustration Friday's Prompt for August 1, 2008..."poof."
Now how could I possibly do the obvious choices when there are so many OBSCURE possibilities; like the underground society of the "Proboscis Of the Olfactoriously Famous! Or P.O.O.F.!" Here are some of their charter members...
(Admittadly this is a quick sketch. I could have spent more time on it but wanted to save time to look at other artist's work for a change!) Thanks so much for your wonderful comments!
The nose knows...true trivia!
Sneezes travel out of your mouth at over 100mph!
Most humans can tell the difference between 10000 different odours!
Sheepdogs can smell 44 times better than humans.
An Elephant's trunk can smell water 3 miles away.
Also....
Check this site out (I couldn't resist!)..."What is a Booger made of?"

Canned Tuna

2008-07-26T23:05:00.003-04:00

Illustration Friday theme for July 25,2008? "Canned."
The first idea that came to mind...canned tuna, good ol' "Chicken of the Sea!" (as seen in this photo).

Which is now also in pouches (as seen in this photo). I knew I definately had to draw a mermaid.
But the clincher was when I received an e-mail about dolphins getting caught in tuna nets. Then I read on the "Chicken of the Sea" website that they are "dolphin safe since 1990." So, from "canned tuna" to a dolphin safe "chicken of the sea" mermaid comes the illo below.

Check out the site...http://www.chickenofthesea.com/...and join the mermaid club! I liked this site also... http://www.mermaidsonparade.com/...which I found in my mermaid research.

Enough!!

2008-07-24T23:39:00.003-04:00

Remember this guy? This is what prompted my cartoon below!

Enough-Illustration Friday's prompt for July 18.
A little late...but just under the gun! Sorry such a quick little sketch...lots of trips to the hospital and not much sleep.
Have a great week end everyone!
PS My mother-in-law is doing better today, YEAH!

Check out my Slide Show!

2008-07-17T20:51:00.000-04:00

I-Fri Catch-up

2008-07-14T22:37:00.006-04:00

Illustration Friday- July 11. Prompt- "Foggy."
Believe it or not they actually close the schools here because of fog! When I moved down here 10 years or so ago that was one of the things that tickled my funny bone. Of course, being from WAY upstate NY, it had to be VERY blizzardy with accumulations in excess of 12 inches to get a day off! If they hear they will get even 1 inch of snow here they wipe out the bread and milk in the stores!

Illustration Friday Catch-up! This was for "Punchline" which was the prompt two weeks ago. Sorry these are soooo late. A friend took his life last week and my Mother-in-Law is very ill and in the hospital. She has been in there for two weeks and still isn't getting better. So my plate is VERY full!!! Yet, I still find time to come up with a drawing for Illustration Friday. This little weekly challenge really has enriched my life so much. It is a welcome few hours of solace some days.

Illustration Friday- Sour. I didthis pic when I heard Bozo the Clown died, in tribute. I call it..."Bozo and the amazing flying pickles!"

When Food Goes Bad!

2008-07-01T22:06:00.001-04:00

This was a cartoon I did for a prompt a few weeks back.

Little Dedo - Definately not "FIERCE"

2008-07-01T21:58:00.003-04:00

The "Legend" of Dedo

Illustration Friday Prompt for June 27- "Fierce"
This is the story of a Gargoyle that was created NOT to look "fierce" like the other gargoyles...

"It all began in Paris when the Notre Dame Cathedral was being built, rising majestically stone by stone towards the heavens. It was custom to top each structure with a menacing gargoyle, who protected the cathedral by warding off evil spirits.

Marie Therese, a nun from a tiny convent in Provence, disliked the evil-looking gargoyles on the new cathedral, sitting so close to the heavens.

Disguised as a man, she trekked on foot to Paris, entered the work site, and quickly carved a small block into a lovable, protective creature. She placed her creature, with its pointy ears and human-like feet, on the highest roof, visible only to God Himself.

It was undiscovered for centuries until a small boy, lost in the labyrinthine structure, stumbled off a ledge and rolled down a roof into the arms of the littlest gargoyle, perched quietly on a ledge. Since that time, Marie Therese's creature was affectionately known as Little Dedo, the gargoyle with the crossed toes."

Baby/Worry

2008-06-03T21:05:00.002-04:00

I kinda' like doing "catch up" sometimes on Illustration Friday. I worked for a long time on "worry" and didn't want to miss posting it. I am also posting and old pic for "baby" because I did work on "worry" so long AND my parents are coming to visit! YEAH!! I haven't seen them in a while so I am excited that they are coming!!

Mouth Wide Open!

2008-05-19T21:42:00.005-04:00

Wide- Illustration Friday prompt for Friday May 16.
"Sally was glad she remembered her jet pack AND that the tiger had a hairball!"

This was a piece I did a LONG TIME AGO. I cleaned it up and look at it now! (below)

Electric Eel Jammies

2008-05-14T22:00:00.002-04:00

Electricity- Illustration Friday prompt for May 9.
"Mortimer Lizard had impeccible taste. He liked modern style decoration, a three martini lunch and he adored his electric eel jammies!"
I will add colour to this later. Migraines from sinus infection are limiting my art time lately.

Seeds

2008-05-08T22:50:00.005-04:00

"From seeds...a multitude of Life."-Ellen Dygert 2008
It happened again...all my work washed out completely by the scanner. Sad, really because I really worked hard on this one. I use to teach a class on environmental education with special attention to the rain forests. This piece encompasses many of the facts I emphasized in that class.
On another note...finally had the kayak in the water a couple of times now! I LOVE kayaking!!!

Hillary vs Obama Cartoon

2008-05-08T22:47:00.003-04:00

I couldn't help doing this "scribble" at lunch today.

Wrinkle

2008-05-01T20:03:00.003-04:00

Wrinkle- Illustration Friday...April 25, 2008.
"Though her flaws were many she hadn't a wrinkle to speak of!" This is an old one. I hope you don't mind. I have had a bit of a tough week with my Fibromyalgia, Carpel Tunnel and allergies. Hopefully this week end I will feel better so I can get my kayak in the water!

Primitive Art- Aboriginal Crab

2008-04-21T21:43:00.003-04:00

Illustration Friday prompt for 4/18- Primative. Primative Aboriginal crab.
Trust me when I tell you this is so much more vibrant in person. I worked so hard on it and the scanner doesn't even come close to doing this piece justice. What I wanted to do is create a traditional Aboriginal art piece as they did years ago. I love this style and have been looking for the perfect word to practice on.

Fail

2008-04-12T23:18:00.003-04:00

Fail- Illustration Friday prompt for April 11.
"Rocky and Henrietta were so busy arguing about where to take the kids on spring break they failed to notice that they ended up with Momma Duck's children instead of their own!"

"HI Everybody! Thanks for stopping by the ol' sketchbook! I really appreciate all those fantastic comments you leave on my work! I will leave you this week with a resounding 'HAPPY SPRING!' and this piece of advice: If you take risks, you may fail. But if you don't take risks, you will surely fail. The greatest risk of all is to do nothing. — Robert Goizueta"

Also, check out this site about scientist turned artist Dr. Ann Adams. http://www.boingboing.net/2008/04/08/rare-brain-disease-g.html

Dr Adams was a Canadian scientist who died of a rare brain disease -- frontotemporal dementia -- which caused her to give up her lab and engage in an ecstasy of creative effort (and an agony of frustration as her mathematical ability slipped away), mostly centered on Ravel's Bolero, a composition he wrote in the throes of the same disease.

At the end don't forget to click on the link to see more of her amazing work!!!!

Safe

2008-04-05T22:37:00.003-04:00

Safe- Illustration Friday. This is and old one, but I thought it fit perfectly!

The baby sea turtle is not safe until it reaches the water. After hatching from their eggs they must make their way to the shore as fast as they can so they don't get eaten by predators! As young sea turtles (regardless of the species) they go off to the sea and no one knows where they spend the first year of their lives, or "the lost year." Many biologists speculate that they float in and among rafts of sargassum weed, feeding on the rich variety of small creatures that seek refuge in it. Only a small percentage of baby turtles will survive to become adult animals and make their homeward journey to perpetuate their kind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9qip2uJDn0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7KINM5LL1g&feature=related

"HOMAGE" Illustration Friday

2008-03-30T20:19:00.005-04:00

This is an "homage" within an "homage!" I am paying homage to our very nice, new neighbor who promptly put out a bird feeder after she moved in to pay homage to the birds and nature. Funny thing is...she mostly gets crows, starlings and grackles. P.S. That is her dog, Maisey.

Pet Peeves

2008-03-23T21:05:00.004-04:00

Illustration Friday for last week- "Heavy." Last week, the one that started out being St. Patty's Day had 1st day of spring in the middle and ended with Easter, was tough to decorate for. The weight of pressure of what decorations to put out was astounding. Some of my neighbors gave up completely I see. So here is my compromise...

Illustration Friday....March 21...."Pet Peeve." My biggest pet peeve about my pet is when he poops the first part of the walk and I get stuck 'holding the bag' as he continues to sniff every rock, tree and bush. I imagine the critters that live in the neighborhood have a pet peeve about my dog interrupting their day. Of course I have to laugh because he manages to miss finding them most of the time. I see them looking hoping he doesn't see them...he must need glasses!"

Happy Easter! Happy Spring!!!

Garden Home

2008-03-11T21:02:00.003-04:00

Illustration Friday Prompt..."Garden." This is a birdhouse I wanted to buy for my garden. Somehow the colours don't quite translate. It really came out much better.

"Multiple Friends" Illustration Friday

2008-03-06T17:13:00.004-05:00

"Leap" Illustration Friday's prompt for Feb. 29. This is a rendition of my son-in-law doing one of his favourite things...snowboarding. Many leaps in this sport for sure!
"Can you see the chipmunk in the window of the door? He is sad. Until he looks out and sees all his friends that have come to cheer him up!"
"Multiple" was the prompt for Illustration Friday two weeks ago. I am not 100% complete yet...but when I am I will re-post it here.
Thank-You for looking and commenting. As always click on the pic to enlarge for detail!

I-Fri Catch Up AGAIN!!!

2008-02-14T20:54:00.003-05:00

"Choose Change"
"Blanket" Dylan and Nonny frequently tie blankets around their necks and play 'superhero!'
"Tales and Legends" Spot told Mazy the story of 'Underdog' and how children everywhere watched the cartoon religiously years ago. Mazy was astonished!

Plain Plane

2008-01-25T05:28:00.000-05:00

Plain- Illustration Friday prompt for January 18. Vincent was excited to see his cat in his new aeroplane. He didn't even know cats knew how to fly!

It is also plain to see my scanner is still not hooked up to my new PC! Darn Vista!

Illustration Friday Catch up

2008-01-14T15:28:00.000-05:00

Stitch- Illustration Friday. Sally was sad when her favourite telling time pillow lost one of it's numbers, but grandma knew just what to do. She grabbed her sewing kid and told Sally..."don't worry, Sally, grandma will sew this nine back on in no time! Besides, everyone knows a stitch in time saves 9!"
Horizon and Soar- Illustration Friday. Felix was having the best of days!
My new Ott Light! Thank You Santa!!!! 100% (Fruit Juice)-Illustration Friday. Jim knew that apple juice came from a tree, he just couldn't figure out how to get it in the glass!

What's on the art table right now. Fine tuning the CD cover for "Cartwheels at Midnight." You will find more information over at Blog Me Till Midnight.

Excess

2007-12-02T22:37:00.000-05:00

Excessive- Illustration Friday 11/28.

EXCESSIVE amounts of candy canes make elves do crazy things like EXTREME snow sculpture!

Artists notes:

I really, really enjoyed making this picture! The various "thug snowmen" were a challenge but creating different personalities was fun. Sorry, no colour until I get my new 'puter hooked up and get the hang of Adobe Photo shop and my Wacom.

Zoo Doo- Unique Holiday Gifts

2007-11-24T23:53:00.000-05:00

The Zoo - Prompt from Illustration Friday for November 23. So you say you have no idea what to get Aunt Matilda for Christmas. She has EVERYTHING...well, I'm betting she doesn't have this...it's Zoo Doo or Poo Pets. Endangered Feces.They are animal feces that have been heat treated (so there is no smell at all) and formed into animals. You set them in your houseplants and water over them. They slowly dissolve and provide your plants with a fertilizer that will enhance the health of your plants!

I still can't imagine the guy that comes home after landing the job at the "Zoo Doo" plant. "What is it you do again, honey?" "I do doo. I sculpt doo doo into animals!" "Really...and they pay you for that?!"

Other Poop-ular sites:

Poo Pets

Ranger Rick Article (includes Moose Poop earrings)

Doody-Heads at Woodland Park Zoo

"Fall Fecal Fest" Zoo Doo Drawing Contest- Sorry you missed it!

Super-stitious or just a little-stitious?

2007-11-22T22:15:00.000-05:00

"Andrea didn't really believe herself to be superstitious by nature; but, if she didn't start her holiday shopping on 'Black Friday' she felt she would have bad luck the rest of the season!"
Superstition- Illustration Friday prompt for November 16.

Scales

2007-11-09T11:01:00.000-05:00

Scales- Prompt for Illustration Friday, November 9, 2007.

I did this for a prompt in 2005 for I-Fri. I can't believe I have been with this site that long. Actually since the beginning of I-Fri in 2004. WOW! I have NEVER gone as far as I have with my art until Penelope started this site. Well, being out of work for eight weeks and finding "HysterSisters.com" also helped. Thank You Penelope...you have my vote for the patron saint of online artists for sure!!!!!

Hats

2007-11-05T23:45:00.000-05:00

"Harold was always prepared for his cases right down to picking the 'winning' tie; however, he had the worst luck with picking out 'winning' hats!

Trick or Treat- Illustration Friday

2007-11-01T11:31:00.000-04:00

"Trick-o-Treat" - Illustration Friday's prompt for Oct. 26, 2007.
Since I dedicated the prompt "Extreme" to Trick or Treating two weeks ago...I thought I would finish this fall piece I started last week.
Hope you had a Happy Halloween!

Grow- Illustration Friday

2007-10-23T22:34:00.000-04:00

Grow- Illustration Friday challenge for Oct. 19, 2007.
I was walking with my dog gathering fall leaves to put on my art table for inspiration when I decided to paint this leaf. I wanted to "immortalize" it's beauty for all to see. To me Fall is celebration of growth.

Extreme...Trick-or-Treating

2007-10-18T19:09:00.000-04:00

Extreme- Illustration Friday prompt for October 12. Whew! My computer has been acting up and I almost didn't get this in on time. Frustrating when you have it done days earlier!
"Tommy invented "Extreme Trick-or-Treating" last year when he got that new camera with the zoom lens for his birthday. He shows up the day before Halloween and extorts candy from his neighbors!"

Open...Canvas

2007-10-06T12:50:00.000-04:00

"Open" -Illustration Friday prompt for October 5th (My daddy's birthday! Happy Birthday Dad!)....as you can see this is a culmination of four year's worth of Illustration Friday's. I call it "Open Canvas." All my characters from past pieces are lobbying for "lead role" in my next Illustration Friday entry. I will be adding colour to this later.
Thanks for looking...you art voyer you! ;)

Blue- Illustration Friday

2007-10-03T10:38:00.000-04:00

The Blues- Illustration Friday prompt for Sept. 28,2007.
Harold was anxious to get home. He was going to get his telescope out to look at the blue moon. Being the only kid in his class who was born to smurfs, he was the only blue child in the whole school. Most of the time he was picked on because of his blue colour. But, tonight would be different.
He was convinced that anything was possible under a blue moon... and this evening he would test that theory!
Artist's note:
Not happy with this piece. I should have left it with out colour and added it in the computer. However; thanks to a dear friend I now have Adobe Photoshop 7.0 to go with my Wacom tablet! Yesterday, after reading Wynlan's "The Giraffe has Five Legs" newsletter I have hooked up to Mike Tackett's tutorial on using layers effective in Photoshop and Painter. I hope to have something I'll be more proud to show next week...that is if my scanner starts working properly again!

Juggle

2007-09-25T23:31:00.000-04:00

Juggle... Illustration Friday challenge for Sept. 21.
A dedication to an old friend....Rest in Peace Marcel...rest in peace.

Alpha-Bets Illustration Friday

2007-09-03T21:23:00.000-04:00

Alpha-Bets- Illustration Friday challenge for Friday August 31, 2007.

As you can see there are simple ways to look at these challenges and then there is my way of looking at them.

Sorry I have been away for so long. Another wedding in the family, several yearly committments and some new ones have all taken some of my time. I think I will hang around for a while now that it is fall again! I am excited to say a recent project I have an illustration in is now published!!! My book that I am writing and illustrating is coming along, and the CD album cover is near completion. There have been other arty stops along the way and I will share at a later date. I miss I-Fri and am glad to be back!

Geeky for I-Fri and Introducing Kristen Smith

2007-07-11T10:53:00.000-04:00

Illustration Friday Challenge- Geeky.

Geek- geek (gēk) Slang.n.
A person regarded as foolish, inept, or clumsy.
A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept.
A carnival performer whose show consists of bizarre acts, such as biting the head off a live chicken.tr.v., geeked, -ing, geeks.

Keeping this in mind I was going to draw a bunch of "nerds of the animal world" with glasses and pocket protectors... when I came accross this animal and figured he needed no modification at all. He must have been treated like a" geek" by other monkeys! LOL!!

I travel a lot going from store to store checking my company's product and setting displays. Occassionally I am in the right place at the right time and I find/meet a gem. Last week that gem was a young lady named Kristen Smith of Maryland. While sitting and chatting I discovered we both have art in common. Right away I asked if she knew about "Illustration Friday" and she said she did but was committed to Deviant Art. We chatted about art while and looked at my art that comes up on the screensaver of my laptop. She asked for a pen and paper and proceeded to draw this picture...which she gave to me. (This will be framed and hanging in my new studio as I love to have other artist's work hanging to inspire me!) I was so impressed with her talent I thought I would share with you. Please stop by her site and give her encouragement! http://nightshade-lacrimosa.deviantart.com/

Camouflage- Illustration Friday

2007-06-26T10:31:00.000-04:00

Illustration Friday Challenge- Camouflage.
Margaret was very proud of her new line of clothing. She called it..."Camouflage for the Urban Jungle!"
I'll add colour later...getting ready to drive 7 hours North this week end to my nephew Mike's graduation Luau in NY!! I don't think we'll be wearing any of Margaret's clothing line though! LOL!!

Rejection- Illustration Friday

2007-06-19T12:04:00.000-04:00

"Mildred probably shouldn't have eaten the entire cake. She could see how her daughter had rejected her decision. But, there would be no more making comments about her daughter's eating habits from here on out! That's for sure!!!"

Catchup!

2007-06-13T22:25:00.000-04:00

OK , So I have been slacking in the art department lately...but our daughter is getting married again, my nephew graduates this year and my four year old grandson seems to need more attention than he did when he was three for some reason. But I have still been sketching out each word as they come along in Illustration Friday. So that has to count for something. Right? Crude as they are here are some of the past few prompts Citrus and Car along with the current one- Suit.

Since the popularity polls have the President at an all time low in relation to the War in Iraq he decided to try alternate methods of trying to find a solution about what to do.
"Oh great one......I'm in need of your wisdom....I'm needing help with my Iraq situation.....I'm needing a sign of which direction to head....I'm...I'm...I'm...Peach? OW!"

Remembering Neighbors

2007-05-10T23:01:00.000-04:00

Remember/Neighbor- Illustration Friday challenge for 4/27 and 5/4.

When we were young we did a lot with our neighbor's the Pierce family and the boy down the street Randy Hess. Wayne, Betty, Tammy and Doreen were the Pierce kids. What I loved were the shows we had in the back yard for all the neighbors to see, playing baseball in the side yard, selling mud pies door to door and of course the "Fleming Flop" club house. It didn't look exactly like this but you get the idea!!

OK...this is the past two Illustration Fridays combined. I have been busy on a few projects. One is a book I am working on that I can't wait to share with you all soon. Another is described, somewhat, below. Apologies about the roughness of the pic. I'll finish and post another day.

Cartwheeling Kids

2007-05-10T22:45:00.000-04:00

I have been holed up working on a challenging project for some time now. You would think it would be easy..."draw kids cartwheeling." Right? Well this turned out to be a bit more of challenge as you can see in these drawings.

You can see the actual evolution of this project in the sketches I share here.

Running, hopping, maybe even swinging from the trees I could handle. This cartwheeling thing had me for a while.

Polar

2007-04-26T10:39:00.000-04:00

"Next on Montel...the confusion BI-Polar Bears face and how global warming effects them in their decisions."
Sorry about the photo but I'm still in Philly. The Tut exhibit was out of this world awesome! I am going to look at dinos this afternoon.

Green Fortune

2007-04-16T12:35:00.000-04:00

"Now that the fad of the Eastern art of Feng Shui is fading there are more and more of out of work three legged frogs in western civiliazation that are not native to this area!"

FENG SHUI WEALTH CURES
The Art of Feng Shui involves the placement of sacred objects in relationship to our surroundings - in particular our home and business. In Asia, a Feng Shui Master will even be consulted by the Architect n the planning of the relationships of rooms, doorways and windows to themselves and the forces of nature. It is truly believed that the proper, or improper, positioning and association of all these elements will have a dramatic impact on your life. Here we offer the sacred objects with their meanings for your own Feng Shui collection.
Depite being an au courant fad, feng shui -- pronounced "fung shway" -- is nothing new to the Chinese. In fact, feng shui is a millennia-old practice.
The Chinese have long believed that if a home or business had a harmonious and positive flow of ch'i, which refers to cosmic breath or energy, those living and working there would benefit, thus enjoying health, happiness and prosperity. Palaces, farmhouses, temples and even entire cities were laid according to feng shui's precepts. One element of Feng Shui is placing certain objects in "key" corners of the room like the "Three-legged Money Frog."

THREE LEGGED FROG WITH A COIN IN ITS MOUTH, or, MONEY FROG - Named Chachu will attract plenty of wealth into your home using three-legged Frogs with a coin in its mouth! This auspicious creature attracts good fortune into your home. Place the frog in any of the corners diagonally opposite you front door for best effect. At the very least, you should have one frog facing out to collect the money and one facing in to bring the money back into the house. You can also place him in view of your front door. Every morning turn him towards the exterior. Turn him towards the interior in the evening to prevent him from becoming exhausted, or, letting your money escape. Keep you frogs below the table, behind the couch or in other discreet areas of your home. Some people keep theirs on top of my computer at night facing into the room and facing toward the window beside their computer during the day.

Angel's Tattoo

2007-04-09T20:05:00.000-04:00

This is a tattoo I just finished for someone who is about to be married in Key West. Good luck to the happy couple!!!!

Snappy Soup

2007-04-04T10:14:00.000-04:00

Ok...though my computer ink crapped out on me on the print out...here is the cleaned up version!

"Snip, Snap, Snoop! There are turtles in my soup!!

Snap- Illustration Friday prompt for March 31.

I had several sketches for this idea. All different. The one I am sharing is my favourite. I kind of "threw" colour in there so excuse the primativeness of the piece. I have been very busy on other projects!!

We have several little boys coming over to the house Saturday for an Easter Egg Hunt so that will keep me busy as well.

Oh, if anyone has an idea on how to get a robin to stop ramming into my window PLEASE let me know. It has been two days and lots of noise! I put a sun catcher in the window and that didn't help. My cat , Casper, is loving it of course! No, the cat doesn't stop him either. HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!!

I Spy...I-Fri!

2007-03-29T01:48:00.000-04:00

OK...here are a few pieces I just did for a couple of stories TBA.

I spy a frog, a worm with teeth, a turtle, a ladybug, a dragonfly, a grasshopper, a squirrell, a slug, a bird, a boat, a blob, several hearts and seagulls. Can you find them all?

Llama Llama

2007-03-20T11:58:00.000-04:00

Llama,Llama...This is done with watercolour pencils- LOVE THEM! I did this when a friend of ours gave our grandson a book called Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney . It is a very cute book.

My partner and I were toying with the idea of raising llamas.

Totally Wired/Totally Jungle!

2007-03-18T17:38:00.000-04:00

Totally Jungle! Illustration Friday's challenge for March 16 (my birthday), 2007. I give you a totally new look in watercolour. The colours are so washed out with scanning, but you get the idea!
"Frankie convinced everyone last year that pet dogfish and pet catfish would be very popular; however, this year he would have a hard time convincing fish that he could harness electricity by being wired to an electric eel and talk in a little hand held device to other fish wired to eels all over the ocean!"
Totally Wired! OK...so this is the week before's prompt (wired- Mar. 9) but by the time I finished the piece the second word was out!

Hidden Treasures

2007-03-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

Art of Bev Doolittle: Check out her site and see how many hidden images you can find in her work!! http://www.bevdoolittle.net/

"Though he had many treasures Tommy was always saving to buy more. He kept his money in a treasure chest his grandmother gave him hidden under the bed."

Hide- Illustration Friday prompt for March 2.

Of course one of my favourite artists is Bev Doolittle. http://www.bevdoolittle.net/ She likes to "hide" images within her art. So do I, many of my pen and inks have hearts in them.

Gravity of Communication

2007-02-23T10:09:00.000-05:00

Gravity- Illustration Friday prompt for February 16. Yup...late. But with good reason...the displays I have been working with at work this week (and last) are extremely heavy and my body is taking quite a beating! I am sure I took at least ten years off my life these last two weeks! Thank GOD for Hydrocodone/APAP!!!! Don't miss "Communication" below!!

Communication- Illustration Friday prompt for Friday February 23, 2007. (I can't believe I have been doing this every week for almost three years!)

What else would a fossil collector/hunter choose for communication? This is "Our Ancient Earth" done in old fashioned pen and ink. I just love that fossils communicate the past to the future. Often times I wonder what will be fossilized for people 1,000 years from now to find.

Crash

2007-02-12T18:38:00.000-05:00

"Stanley was sure he could pin this on Sabastian but just then Mr. and Mrs. Jones came home....earlier than expected!"
"Crash"- Illustration Friday challenge for February 9, 2007.
Artist notes. This scanned horribly...But I did enjoy working on this topic. My first idea was a four year old crashed out on his bed with toys everywhere but someone else did a kid on a bed. Can't help wanting to be unique...that's what I do best.
Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Stay warm!!!

Sprout

2007-02-08T22:38:00.000-05:00

Illustration Friday Challenge for Friday February2- Sprout.
Better late than never I say!
"The problem with turtles planting gardens is...they move so slow everything has sprouted by the time it's done!"

Red Faced

2007-02-01T13:16:00.000-05:00

Illustration Friday prompt for January 26- Red

Harold was sure the bean borrito was out of his system before his date with Lola!

(Read with lots of sarcasm and a Mae West accent)---->" Oh lover boy! I see "LOVE" is in the air...lucky me!"

Artist's notes:

This was drawn in pen and ink then scanned and more ink was added via the computer. Later detail was added with more pen and ink, oil pencils and coloured pencil. "I enjoy adding detail to a piece. Such as the dead fish, tiny bird in the distance, ant on a leaf and the dragonfly (my favourite)! This was after the audience has enjoyed the laugh they can further enjoy finding something new in the piece!!"

Post Script: Can you find the five hearts in this piece?

SuperHero

2007-01-22T23:04:00.000-05:00

"Felix was the type of friend every cat wished to have. He was kind of a superhero of sorts!"

Illustration Friday challenge for January 19- Superhero.

Well we finally got our first snowfall! We tend to get a lot of ice and freezing rain with it. It was all gone by mid afternoon.

Hope you are staying warm this week wherever you are!!!!

Awesome Site

2007-01-18T10:32:00.000-05:00

A group of us just formed a new club for would-be writers. This is a site one of the members shared with us :
http://write4kids.com/
It's really a cool site...check it out!

Eight-Ts

2007-01-16T23:56:00.000-05:00

Illustration Friday challenge for January 12? Why "Eighties" of course! LOL!! I also have one I did with eight cats teasing a dog...get it? Eight-tease? Ok...Ok, Just a little taste of my twisted thinking. ;)
I am busy doing a few projects. Some short stories and a cd cover that I will tell you more about later...Oh, and transforming one of the guest rooms into a full fledged studio!!!
Thanks for visiting!!!!

Buzz-Ard Vegans

2007-01-10T23:27:00.000-05:00

"Oh, you are NOT a vegetarian! Who ever heard of a vegetarian Buzzard?! How ridiculous! Now get over here with your brother and eat your dinner!"

Illustration Friday Challenge word for January 5, 2007...BUZZ!

I don't know why I have been doing a lot of pictures of birds lately...weird! I chose buzzards because here on the peninsula we have TONS of buzzards. There are about ten that hang out in the dead tree at the end of our street. They fascinate me. They are VERY large and much like a graceful eagle in flight!

Polly Pheonix

2007-01-03T13:13:00.000-05:00

Polly Phoenix and Sebastian.

Phoenix- Illustration Friday prompt for Dec. 29.

I had plans to do a nice neat pen and ink with my new pens...but, for some reason my sub-conscious wanted to be funny. So here's to the New Year...full of re-birth and re-newel and toasty fried parrots for every kitty!