A Walk in the Park

I should be finishing up some Christmas stuff, but no, I would rather paint.

Here is another illustration for The Quiet Bear by Gretchen Leary.  Coming next year!
If you look really hard, you can see a little family walking on the bridge, and if you look even harder, there is a reflection in the water of a little girl peering over the bridge.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Artwork

I still have holiday art pins for sale at Gallery Calapooia in Albany, OR  Only $8.00  each!

There are snowmen and Santa and even an angel or two.

My holiday show is also still going strong at Sybaris in Albany, OR.  Sybaris is just down the street from the gallery.  Lots of fun paintings to brighten up your home or a friends!

I hope you all have a happy holiday and that it's filled with wonder.

Something New

I'm busy working on a Christmas present for a cousin.  Our family has a name drawing at Thanksgiving and I got the name of one of my girl cousins.  I can't say who it is, but she likes pink! At least, I think she does.   Anyway, here is something new...in pink.

I think it will look nice when it's framed.

Another Year Older

Where does the time go?  Another Birthday to celebrate,  I hope I get lots and lots more!

Cup cake anyone?

Sybaris

Here is one, sort of good photo I took of my Holiday Show at Sybaris in Albany OR.
I guess I need to go back and take some more photos.  But, you can kind of see how fun it looks.

If you live in or near Albany, I hope you can come by and take a peek.  The show will run through December, and all paintings are for sale!

and the Holiday Show goes Up !!!

For the past 4 years I have shown a holiday show at Sybaris restaurant in downtown Albany.  It's a really fancy pants restaurant.  Anyway, this is my 5th year, and maybe my best so far.  It turns out, that it's a pretty fun little art show (I guess it's not that little, I painted 60 paintings) and it decorates the restaurant for the season.  I also sell a lot, go figure?  So, here is a little peak into this years show.

All of these paintings are done in acrylic paint on canvas.
Hope you enjoy!

Gobble, gobble, gobble

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I am looking forward to time spent with my family. Our son will be home and our daughter and her husband are coming for a visit.  She is expecting her first baby in May, so we (my husband and I) are looking forward to being grandparents.

I have so much to be thankful for, I hope I always remember to count my blessings.

See you all in December!

Just because...

I just ordered more watercolor paper from my favorite place to order art supplies from, Dick Blick.

Dick Blick has always treated me well.

Even though I have been posting mostly cut paper illustrations of late.  I do still paint with my watercolors.  In fact, I just finished illustrating a book called Detective Punybutmighty written by Chari Partain and published by Red Heart Books out of Portland Oregon.  All the illustrations for Detective Punybutmighty are done in watercolor and ink.

Next up is an independent project by Gretchen Leary called The Quiet Bear also all done in watercolor.
I will let you all know when these two books will be available for purchase.

So anyway, I ordered more watercolor paper and the Dick Blick people asked me to enter a contest.  Which I promptly did.  The prize is $100.00 in art supplies.  Who wouldn't want that?  You have to post artwork that says something about what you are thankful for.  I am always thankful for a nice cup of tea with a friend.  So, here is what I submitted.

Hope I win!

One more !

I forgot to show this one.  So busy.  Isn't cut paper artwork fun?  I love it.

He's got a pretty big nose, but who cares?

Having a little fun

In between running back and forth to the hospital, ( my mom was sick. She is home and getting better, I hope.) I managed to sneak in a little fun.  I know it's too early for Christmas, but that's what I'm doing with my 20 minutes of free time.

These are two christmas cards done in cut paper.  These cards will be for sale at Gallery Calapooia in Albany, OR.

Gretchen, if you are reading this, please don't worry.  I'm almost finished with Detective Punybutmighty, and The Quiet Bear is next.  I promise!

Working, working, working

Gosh, I'm lucky.  I get to do what I love for a living.

Today, I'm working on the line drawings for "Detective Punybutmighty"  by Cheri Partain.  Red Heart Books is publishing.

So, here is a little look at the work in progress, along with a picture of my guard dog Lois who keeps watch at the door, so no one bothers me while I'm working.  Lois takes her job very seriously.  She's an excellent assistant.  If I do say so myself.

Progress

I'm making a little progress with "The Quiet Bear".  Here is an illustration I just finished. This illustration is showing the day that the family arrives in the big city.  The little girl is peeking out the taxi window.
I have a lot more to do, but at least I'm making progress.

Coming Soon

Here is one illustration from the new book from Red Heart Books called... Detective Punybutmighty, written by, Cheri Partain and illustrated by me... Melissa Saylor!

Fall is in the Air!

Just a little cut paper artwork, to welcome Fall.

Truthfully, it's going to be very hot in Albany this weekend.  Not really looking forward to the heat.  But, autumn is right around the corner.  Maybe, my favorite time of year.

First Day of School

It's that time of year again!  The first day of school.

I used to love the first day of school, a new fresh start, new clothes, new school supplies.  Seeing all my friends after a long fun summer.

I also loved the first day, when my own children went off with their little backpacks and lunch sacks.  As soon as they were safely inside the school, I would run as fast as I could to the local coffee house to celebrate with the other mothers.   Summer was fun, but it was also really nice to see the kids go back to school!

Happy First Day everyone!

Detective Update

Here is a little sneak peek at an idea for the cover of "Detective Punybutmighty"  Don't know if this is what they will go with yet.  Just quick sketch of an idea.

Ready to start on the final artwork.  Detective Punybutmighty is being published by Red Heart Books they are shooting for November as a publishing date.  Yikes!!!!

On another note....
I came across this lovely photo of Albany, Oregon taken from a hot air balloon, I think.  My little town is quite pretty from any view, in my opinion.

Coming Soon!

Did I mention I'm working on two books?  Yep, that's me.  It never rains but it pours.  I'm very thankful, this is a dream come true for me.  So, stay tuned.  Detective Punybutmighty will be published in November 2014 from Red Heart Books.

Research Material

Just an update on the book I'm working on..."The Quiet Bear".
Here is a sketch from the book.  It is showing a moving day.

My son Todd was nice enough to let me take pictures of him for my research.  He is posing as the moving man.  I'm not sure if people know that artists' use models when they work on projects.  But, we do.

Should have made him wear pants and boots.  Oh,well.

Vacation Pictures

Here are some photos of my trip to South Carolina.
These are all taken at Botany Bay.
This first one is the long, long path to Botany Bay.  It is a mile walk.  But, I did it...and it was worth it.
We were there in May 2014.

Then we got to the beach!  Very interesting.

Here I am with a huge shell I found.  They are all over the place.  But, you aren't allowed to take them home.  Darn.  I really wanted this one.  But, I'm afraid of going to jail.  So, I didn't take it.

I found lots and lots of other shells at another beach.  Got to keep those.  So, don't feel too bad for me.
But, I sure wanted this one.  For those of you who don't know me well.  I love sea shells.  Crazy for them.

Still Painting...

Yet, another small painting finished.  Well, I have about 10 finished little paintings and also some larger pieces too.  For this upcoming show I have 5 new cut paper designs all finished and framed and ready to sell.  I hope they sell.
Here is one I just completed today.  Two more paintings to finish and then I'm going throw in the towel.
Have to get back to working on the book illustrations.  That's what I really want to be doing.  Note to self.  Don't say you'll do any more shows for a while.

New Watercolors

Today, I have been working on some new watercolor paintings for my August 15th Art Show at Gallery Calapooia in Albany Oregon.
Here is a small piece I just finished.

First Illustration

Here is the very first illustration for "The Quiet Bear by Gretchen Leary.  Isn't she sweet.
Can't show you everything, if you want to see all the artwork, you'll have to buy the book.  Well, when it's finished, that is.
But, for now, a little peek.

A Fun Trip

I'm home from my quilting trip to Sisters Oregon.  What fun.
We took our bikes with us this year and tooled around Sisters like we knew what we where doing.
Didn't take a class this year, because we didn't get into the one we really wanted.  So, we worked on our own projects this year.

 Here we are posing in front of The Stichin Post, on our bikes.  From left to right are: Julie Jackson, Hannah Jackson (middle) and me.  I know, I don't have a cute basket on the front like my girls.  Maybe next year.

I was surprised to find a quilt made with my Linden fabric (P&B Textiles) hanging our in front of The Stichin Post.  Nice.  My hair looks blue in this picture, but trust me, it's grey.

A good time was had by all.  The only low point was, my daughter Meg normally comes along and she couldn't come this year.  We carried on as best we could without her.

I'm already looking forward to next year!

Julie and Hannah being silly.

Off on a Sewing Trip

Well, I'm off to my yearly retreat with my friend Julie and her daughter Hannah.  We go every year to Sisters Oregon for the Quilt Show.  Normally, my daughter Meg goes too.  But, this year she had to choose between our sewing trip and a family trip with her husband.  She chose the family trip.  Can't say that I blame her.  She's a good girl.
Anyway, there are classes all week long and then on Saturday the towns people hang the most fabulous quilts all over town.  On buildings, in windows, if there is a place to hang a quilt, they do it.

I sincerely hope this is not me at the sewing machine.  But, maybe.

Main street in Sisters Oregon.

And here are the Three Sisters Mountains that the town gets its name from.

If I create anything wonderful, I'll show it here.  If I create something not so wonderful...well, I'm not showing that.

New Art Supplies!

Well,  I'm all set now with art supplies.  New paper, new brushes (got those a few months ago) and now new paints.  Look out world, I'm getting ready to paint!

Feeling very satisfied.

Here comes the Sun

Just a little cut paper sunshine to brighten your day, I hope.

New Cards for the Gallery

Here are the newest cards I created for Gallery Calapooia.

A Sly Cat

In between working on two children's books and filling greeting card orders, I also am working on new artwork for an upcoming show at Gallery Calapooia in Albany, Oregon.

Oh, and we're (me and my family) going to paint the house this summer too!  I better go take my vitamins!

I took this picture with my phone, so not that clear.

Something New

Here are a few new cut paper cards I whipped up for the gallery.  These don't take very long and they seem to sell well at our little co-op gallery.

I'm still working on a cut paper portfolio.  Once I have enough new pieces I'll post them on my web site.

 Birds wishing you a Happy Birthday.

 Dancing or twirling Princess.

Cup Cake anyone?

Little Peek

Here is another little peek into the workings of a lovely book I'm working on with author Gretchen Leary.  As I've said before, it's called The Quiet Bear.  Sketches are complete, now to start painting!

Fairy Garden in Cut Paper

Here is my rendition of my fairy garden made with cut paper.  I think it turned out pretty good.
There is even a small fairy doing some yard work.  I sure wish I could fly around my yard and get the yard work done.

This piece of art was created on 140 lb. watercolor paper that I painted the background with acrylic paint to give it a nice rich feeling.  Then just cut paper glued on top.  What fun!

Poppies

I got so much work done yesterday, that I treated myself to making some cut paper artwork.

I can't get enough of this medium.  But, I do need to start working larger.  This piece is only 5x7.  I thought it might be a card I could sell at the gallery, but I spent too much time on it.  So, maybe I'll frame it and sell it in the gallery.  I'll have to think about it.

Have a nice weekend everyone!

This reminds me a little of the artwork of one of my heros, Lois Ehlert.  She makes lovely cut paper illustrations.  Really lovely.