Sooty Mask

MASK- Illustration Friday challenge for Friday December 8.

Sorry...I couldn't resist! Not a lot of time for colour or fine tuning. You'll have to settle for the rough drafts.

" Then there is weird Uncle Arthur...
...Unfortunately there was no stopping him creeping into some of the family photos!"

Quilted Northern Santa

"Quilted Northern Santa" The quicker picker upper...or maybe the quickest dropper offer! LOL!! I have been working on this and a couple other holiday pieces and finally finished this one.

Still have decorations to finish. It's hard to be the artist in the family and host Christmas dinner. Expectations are high. But I love the oohs and aaahhs (and the "you are sooo talented!") when it's all done, so I can't complain! I'll post photos of the highlights when I'm done.

The Season For Giving!

Mighty- Illustration Friday for December 1.
I chose to highlight the phrase "The pen is mightier than the sword!" in this week's challenge. If we all got our checkbooks and gave a little the world would be a better place to live! There are people and families and kids in need everywhere!

Even a little helps...a can of soup at a food drive, take a name off a tree at the mall or at work and buy a gift for a poor child...compliment the lady in front of you at the grocery store on her festive pin...give the kid at the home improvement store a tip for placing your Christmas tree in the back of your SUV! GIVE! I can tell you from experience it feels good and it's sooooo easy!
Here are a few things I did this year...

What have I been up to? WELL...the question should be...what haven't I been up to?! You can bid on a frame I designed to benefit children with aids here EBay's Mission Fish , or any other frames designed by artists from all over to benefit children with aids. Did you even realize there was such a programme on E-Bay? Check out more information here at Mission Fish. Also take the time to visit the website to learn more about the Children with Aids project. Tanya Weaver did a fantastic job of gathering artists for this task! She works tirelessly to think of ways to raise money for these kids. If you have any ideas or art you wish to contribute please e-mail her!! Tanya Weaver Executive Director. Next....

Build-A-Bear for charity! My partner and I along with everyone at her office at Tunnell Co.LP took on local children in needs project in not only buying a toy for a child but also gathering children's books and designing a bear for needy kids! Here are our bears...you can see the huge difference in our design styles. Mine is "Adventure Bear-complete with knapsack!" Hers is the Ice Skater Bear- complete with cell phone. LOL!!!

Year round we work with many charities. This year was our first Arthritis Walk, seventh for the Carey's for Cancer annual Golf Tournament, seventh for the FSMHA annual Golf event to raise scholarship money for local kids and the seventh MS Walk, and the 15Th annual Health Fair!

Take time to donate or volunteer this season. If not now make it a New Year's resolution!

Invention

Invention- Illustration Friday prompt for November 24.
"Because Mortimer was always inventing stories the woodland creatures always found it hard to believe anything he said. Until the day they all saw the sleigh pass through the air!"

Oh, yes, we have all heard "Neccesity is the Mother of invention" (I had a really neat illo in mind about 'Invention's' mom, Necessity, making him clean his room...but I didn't have time. LOL!) and I'm sure there will be a few machine creations this week. I chose to do the invention of the story itself. All of our storytelling started by word of mouth years ago. We gradually advanced to illustrations...and now look how far we have come with conveying stories!
So...here's to you whoever you are...you tellers of truth or tall tales. It was you who invented the wonder and awe in all of us and the hunger to read just one more story!

Interesting reads:

National Storytelling Network
Story Arts Online
My Merry Christmas Site
North Pole Official Website
Holland Ring/ History of Santa
Invention Convention

Thanksgiving Memories

Thanksgiving- Illustration Friday prompt for Nov. 17.

(Colored pencil )

When I saw that the prompt was "Thanksgiving" I have to admit I thought that there would be a million cornucopias and pilgrims. I couldn't imagine what I would do since I hate being repetitive. Then I remembered a conversation I had with my mother recently about the holidays and family. You see her mom and dad passed away some years back along with uncles and aunts, and the only sibling she had was killed in a fight. Her family is gone. She has a nephew living thousands of miles away with his family but they never visit. So the holidays are tough. I was telling her living seven hours away from my family wasn't easy either. Most of my friends live in other states and I don't get to see them either. Not that I could compare to what she must be feeling.

Anyway, I got to thinking...Thanksgiving can be about memories of loved ones passed on as well as those who are over seas serving in Iraq or even friends and family in other states. So to you Mom, all my friends and family I have lost over the years, and to my friends and family who are too far to see this holiday season...Thanks for giving me the memories of a lifetime!

Clearly A Blue Christmas

Clear- Illustration Friday prompt for Nov.10. "Are you sure this will help me with my bi partisanship, Sam?" "Yes Sir, oh we'll also need to do something about that suit...something between red and blue...mauve maybe!"

Oh Well, as you can see...My politics definately lean toward the blue and not the red! But, all politics aside...this was a piece that came to me instantly. It was clear what I would do as soon as I saw the prompt! This is in pen and ink with a touch of Prismacolour and watercolour. Re-creating the White House was no easy task let me tell you!

My cold has sunk into my chest. Gross. If I can just hang on five more days...I get a four day holiday! Yea Turkey Day!
Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate all your comments!!!!!

Ghinko

One of my favourite trees in the world..Ginkgo! I discovered this newly planted tree in our community while walking the dog this morning...I was very excited! Did you know they are the oldest living trees in the world? Oh, the stories they must tell their grandchildren! LOL! (p.s. I know I spelled it wrong on the picture...woops!)

Smoke

Here is the revised version of Santa...I can't wait to post for Illustration Friday's newest prompt..."clear!"
P.S. A big "Thank YouI!" to one of my biggest fans, Leigh! "Hope you like the finished product...and can't wait to send the other ideas when they are complete."
Smoke- I-Fri challenge for November 3 (is it November already?!!!!). Ok...it's a stretch, but Santa IS smoking! Besides I have a cold...I hate being sick.
I am working on a Christmas card for our communities. This is one of the ones I have so far. It's not complete...but, I was sooo late posting last week! Here it is...Santa "Pot Nets" (That stands for...eel POTS and fishing NETS) style!
We all get around in golf carts here. They even have golf cart parades, races and hopefully soon...drive in movies!

Wind

Illustration Friday's challenge for Oct.27 was wind. This reminded me of several things...but one of my favourite books when I was young was "The Wind in The Willows." (1908) A classic children's fantasy by the British writer Kenneth Grahame. Originally intended only as bedtime stories for his son, this idyllic tale of the English countryside and river banks chronicles the adventures of Mr. Toad, Mole, Rat, and their friend, Badger.

The frog and toad series that followed here in the U.S. were also in my list of top ten. (Though nothing could top "Harold and the Purple Crayon!")
I give you my version of a scene from The Wind in The Willows. My rat does look a lot like a field mouse and this is a frog not a toad but you get the point!

All in one this time..first sketched in pencil, then inked over on the same paper, then erased all graphite and added colour with my new Prismacolours and a little help from Crayola coloured pencils!

Hoppy and George

Here are two more additions to my work with black paper and Prismacolor. I actually started out (not on these two) working with the "Walnut Hallow" Oil pencils. They are far more soft in colour and not as vibrant as the Prismacolors. I got a great tip on some other types of pens from Andrea over at "Colouring Outside the Lines". I am really enjoying this new direction!
"George didn't mind being a frog. He knew that sooner or later a princess just HAD to come along!"
"Hoppy couldn't wait to break in his new gloves!"

Ghost

Ghost- Illustration Friday challenge for Oct.20. Another little known fact. "Not too many people know that death also enjoys the first snowfall!"

White on Black

INBETWEEN IFS... I have decided to try and do a little more posting as my early New Year's resolution! These are pieces I did with oil pencils and my new Prismacolours. I really like the look of the black background.
This was inspired by Andrea over at Colouring Outside The Lines After viewing her work on black paper and looking at Hundertwasser's site (WOW! These places actually exist!) I had to get a Strathmore Artagain Black art pad and try for myself!!! I'm hooked!!

Smitten

Smitten- Illustration Friday Challenge. AND "who" was more smitten than the owl with the kitten? I ask you?! LOL!
My grandmother used to recite this to me when I was young. Watercolour pencils with ink detail.

And here is their child! LOL

The Owl and the Pussycat poem
The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
"O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are, you are, you are,
What a beautiful Pussy you are."
Pussy said to the Owl "You elegant fowl,
How charmingly sweet you sing.
O let us be married, too long we have tarried;
But what shall we do for a ring?"
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the Bong-tree grows,
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose, his nose, his nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.
"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling your ring?"
Said the Piggy, "I will"
So they took it away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon.
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand.
They danced by the light of the moon, the moon, the moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.

Trouble

Desperate Trouble- Viola! Last step. This is where I print out the piece I coloured on the computer and add detail and clean up blank areas. I still have a lot more I could do but this gives you the idea of what's in my head!
"Sally liked to dress up like a witch two weeks before Halloween. Then she would visit all her neighbors asking for a cup of 'eye of newt!' She found this kept all her neighbors on Wysteria Lane at bay all the rest of the year!!!!"
Desperate Trouble- Step three. This is what I get after scanning the black outline into the computer and add a few colours. I also erase things I might have added when I inked that I didn't like. (I know I'm not yet very good at the dpi stuff.)


Desperate Trouble- Step two. Trace over the lines I like in permanent ink.


Desperate Trouble- Step one. Rough sketch in graphite.

Quiet I and II

Quiet II
YEAH! I finished it! "Jack-O-Lynn and Sabastian were enjoying a QUIET evening at home when along came a spider!"
I started this piece originally to enter for the "Black and Orange Contest" but decided it was better for "Quiet."
I started it as a sketch in graphite...copied over with ink...added colour on the computer...added more colour with coloured pencils and viola!
BTW there is another Halloween art contest with AWESOME prizes over at Renderosity.com check it out!


Quiet I
Quiet as a mouse...of course!
My parents drove the seven hours south to visit us last week end. They live up near Canada. A great time was had by all. Needless to say my entry this week is not quite done so this one will have to do until the other is finished. This was done in watercolour pencils and touched up on the computer.

Phobia

Bogyphobia- Fear of Bogeymen!AND...... Opthalmophobia- Fear of opening one's eyes!
Artists Notes: These pieces are both inspired by my last trip to Disney World. I found this beautiful statue (bottom)in a hide away corner in Epcot in one of the countries while chasing a lizard. The piece is done pen and ink and took many hours to complete. Unfortunately my carpel tunnel pain is now affecting my work...there are a few abnormal dots in my stippling. Surgery is slated for January.
The top piece was a statue discovered on my way to a Luau. It is done in pencil, then inked over and colored with Crayola colored pencils!! Thanks for looking and as always...double click for detail!Most of the people in the world have a fear of one kind or another. While most people suffer from pathophobia (fear of disease), monophobia (fear of being alone), glossophobia (fear of public speaking), algophobia (fear of pain), taphephobia (fear of being buried alive), and many more, there are also some less popular phobias. At the end of this essay, there is a compiled a list of the phobias that you will find amusing...go to ISalvo to read more about phobias!

Change...is good!

Change- Second piece for I-Fri challenge. "A little known fact that Jack ( of Jack in the beanstalk fame) actually grew up to be a talented horticulturist! He is best known now for his money tree. 'You have to know the proper change to feed it.' He says."

Change- Illustration Friday's weekly challenge. The first thing I thought of was a flounder and what a fascinating change they go through in life. Did you realize that they are born with an eye on either side of their heads? Just like other fish? AND that the right eye actually MIGRATES slowly to the left side of the fish over time?

Farm Ants

Farm- Illustration Friday Challenge.
(Originally outlined in Micron pen then coloured with colour pencils.)
This week I had several ideas on what to do for the challenge; however, when my partner mentioned the symbiosis or mutualism between an ant and an aphid I knew which direction I was headed!
Seems that ants have a sweet tooth and aphids produce a "honeydew" type of secretion that the ants like. So...the ants protect the aphids and in return they allow them to "milk" them for the "honeydew!" I am a big nature buff and that was new to me. Hope you learned something new as well! Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "Can't we all just get along?!"
Thanks for all your comments!
More information on Ants and Aphids here.

Safe

Harold new he had found the spot and he could finally stop running. Everyone knows there's safety in numbers!

Run

Run - Illustration Friday. Of course as long as the fan was running Sabastian was safe...but what he didn't know was there was suppose to be a storm that evening and the power will likely go out!
I started these two a long time ago and now have a reason to finish them! Here is the preliminary inked piece before I add colour.

You can run but you can't hide from LOVE! This one is in honor of my seven year anniversary today!