Illustration Update and More

Well, I dragged myself into the studio this morning.  Too much sugar I suspect.  At any rate, here is the finished illustration of the reading girl.  I placed her in front of a cafe/book store. 
So, not the best photo.  Sorry about that.  I was in such a rush to get it framed and ready for the gallery that I forgot to take a picture before framing.  Again,  I think I may have had a bit too much sugar over the past few days.  That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it.

Hopefully, you can see it well enough.  I think it turned out pretty good.

Below is a picture of me and my grandson Phillip.  We got to babysit while his parents went to a movie the day after Christmas.

I think we are bonded for life.  At least I hope so!
Happy New Year everyone!

Fun with Scissors

Just sneaking in a little time with my paper and scissors before heading home to finish up my wrapping and maybe bake some cookies.

I wonder what this little lady is reading?  I hope to be doing a little reading myself in the coming days.

 This is a detail of the sketch I started out with.  You can see, it has changed a bit.

Now, I just need to figure out her surroundings.  Well, at least I know she enjoys a hot beverage.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope each and every one of you has a peaceful holiday filled with joy!

New Holiday Art

Just a quick post, to show you a few new things for the holidays.  I also updated my header!  I guess I'm ready for winter to show up. 
All of these lovely art items are available at Gallery Calapooia in Albany OR.  Plus a lot more!

 These are little handmade lapel pins to wear.  Some are drawings and some are cut paper.

This is a cut paper portrait of Santa.  Yes, I know it looks a lot like my husband Steve.  Kind of nice to have my own personal Santa.  Lucky me!
Now, I really need to wrap some gifts or bake some cookies.  Lots of things to do! 
But, mostly I need to count my blessings this holiday season.  I hope you all do the same.  Cheers!

Just Around the Corner!

Well, you know it's almost Christmas when I hall out the glitter!  I don't know why I do it?  I can't help myself!  I tried not to over do it.  So, it's just on the wreath Santa is marching off with.

Hope everyone is enjoying the season!  Now, go get your glitter!

My Entry

Well, it's been a long time since my last post.  Those of you who know me, know that my mother recently passed away.   My mother was a huge supporter of the arts and of me.  I was so lucky to get her for my Mom. 
So, in honor of you Mom, here is my entry in the Tomie dePaola contest.  Done in cut paper with a lino cut background.  I actually did this piece back in October.  Thank goodness I did this artwork early.  I don't think I could have pull it off in November. 

Here's to following your dreams!

There is a Fairy in the Garden!

One of my favorite things to draw are fairies.  My Mom used to send me outside to look for the fairies when I was little.  I was always sure I would spy one.   So, here is a piece with a little garden fairy flying by to check on the flowers, done in cut paper.

First the sketch.

Next, I did a watercolor background on watercolor paper, of coarse!  My new favorite skill is linocut. So, I made some leaves and stamped them in the background.  Then I start cutting up colored paper and gluing them down.

Here is my hand gluing a flower in place.  These flowers were kind of thick with layers so, I really had to hold them down for awhile.  Just a minute or two.

And the finished illustration!  Notice I changed her back wing.  They are both done with tracing paper now.  Looks better I think.

I hope she is happy in her little garden home.  I sure had fun making it for her.

Working on New Things

I went recently to an illustration retreat.  It was held at Silver Falls State Park. Very nice.  The retreat was put on by SCBWI Oregon/Washington groups.  So, a lot of people attended.  Forty eight illustrators to be exact and two instructors.  LeUyen Pham and Caldecott winning illustrator Eric Rohmann.  I was star struck to say the least.

I learned so much, my head can't hold all the information.  I had a great time.
Eric Rohmann had us play with some lino cut.  I had never done that before.  Didn't really know what I was doing.  But, have been playing with it since I got home.

Here is a wee angel I made.  I think I'll make some Christmas cards with her.

Then, I thought...hey why don't I do lino cut artwork for the background of some of my cut paper art?
Might be interesting.  It turns out it was interesting to me.  Yay!

Here is the beginning of a new piece.

And the finished work.  Lino cut for the background town and trees. I printed the town and colored it with colored pencil, then cut it out.  Cut paper for the boy on the bike and the street.  The background map is just that, a paper map.

 Thanks for visiting my blog.  Whoever you are.