IF: Crunchy

I was playing around and decided to make this seasonal piece.  I thought it fitting for the most current IF topic, "crunchy," and in this case, the sound of snow underfoot.

IF: Poise

I just finished my ad for Picture Book, and still had the idea of dress up on the brain, but this time in a calmer setting. For the newest IF theme, "Poise," I thought of the word in relation to my mom's mantra growing up. It was so important for my mom, to instill in my sister and I, that we be poised and graceful. Often times my mother made clothes for us (usually matching I might add), and when I was getting measured I would practice my poise. Can't say I was always successful at it.

IF: Legendary

The first thing that came to mind when I thought legendary was Myrna Loy. I'm embarrassed to admit she was a relatively new discovery for me. My husband and I watched every Thin Man movie over the past few months where she starred so perfectly alongside William Powell. She was so brilliant in those films I wanted to know more about her. I was amazed to discover that she dedicated her time as a full-time employee for the American Red Cross throughout WWII and only acted in one film in that time. So I wanted to illustrate Ms. Loy after this discovery. Her talent, beauty, and selfless dedication make her legendary.

Illustration Friday: Intricate

While I work on a new, very intricate illustration for my ad in Picture Book, I decided I'd take a break and play with the intricacies of a not-so-old-fashioned wedding dress.

Illustration Friday: Breezy

Actually, I had planned on posting this promotional piece before I noticed the new topic of Illustration Friday's weekly theme, breezy. I thought this one fit in perfectly. You know those breezy days that also happen to be rainy and just too windy to keep the umbrella in place? She seems to relish it.

IF: Instinct

I decided to be bold and feature a closeup, a remembrance if you will, of my sophomore year in high school. Unfortunately, aside from the stunning green eyes, all other details are quite accurate, including the very large pimple in the middle of my nose.

It was picture day—photos to be taken for our school ID cards, which we were to carry on our most self-conscious persons all year long, to compare and...contrast. Pinned to our white and blue uniforms were red name tags. Mine might as well have been a label announcing the 8th wonder of the world that existed on my nose.

What do you think my instinct was when I saw it that morning?

IF: Memories

I had scanned in this marble notebook for another project and thought I could apply it as a quick mixed media piece for the new Illustration Friday topic "Memories." That would be me in my uniform in a Catholic School in Baltimore. I look a bit sad there, but I was just a shy little lady. Ahh...the nostalgia.

IF: Seed

Like a seed that is planted in a farm, this is a sketch, the start of a finish, made about a farm designed for children's tableware. But unlike the seeds that grow to become a plant, vegetable or fruit, this one's a sketchy kernel rooted in cyberspace, only a semblance of a thought or approach to the final product. Oh, but don't you think the animals are fetching?

IF: Primitive

Originally created for one of my clients, these jungle animals are happily sitting primitive in the jungle. The final design was far removed from this one so I thought it appropriate to share it since these guys will never be seen as they are.

OPEN Preparation

My house is in disarray right now since my husband and I are finishing our basement to make room for a bigger, more open studio space. My matte cutter is also disassembled and there is hardly a surface free of dog hair that I could cut a clean matte on. So in the spirit of cool untidiness and that fashionable unkempt look, I decided to frame my "Open" entry in a shadowbox, preserving the raw edges of the piece with no matte and no tape, but a few silk pins in each corner of the original piece. I hope any potential buyer will see the same playfulness in its presentation that I do, otherwise, I will definitely enjoy the piece for myself should it not get sold.

Thanks for Voting!!!

To all those who voted for my entry for Illustration Friday's first ever "Open" show, whether you liked or enjoyed it, sensed an obligation to vote as a family member or friend, THANK YOU! Your votes paid off. My piece was one of 25 selected for the show. Yay! I'm happy to be among such talented individuals.

P.S. Thank you for all the kind comments about my piece! I'm very honored.

IF: Open

In the spirit of Halloween, and my previously obsessive attempts at house hunting all summer, I decided to create this piece: an open house to a somewhat creepy castle. The woman looks a little reticent about selling, but even in a soft real estate market, her castle stands apart. I'm sure she would get top dollar!

IF: The Blues

I decided to do this really experimental, free form "blues" piece last minute. When I think of the blues I think red, energetic, and soulful.

IF: Wedding!

I love weddings! Here's a card I made for my friend's wedding shower this past summer.

IF theme: Missing

I want to call this "Something Missing." I needed to play around and have some sort of creative release and then I came up with this creepy background and took a figure I had already illustrated and plopped her down. She seemed to fit...sort of. So she looks like a ghost, a person that will be missing or missed. Or it can be interpreted as, something is missing about this piece. Can you tell my brain is fried? Another something missing. The theme is like a plague.

IF Theme: Geeky

Everything about her screams geeky, despite her cute leggings.

Remember: Old Becomes New, Again

Two weekends ago, I was in Baltimore visiting my family. Before I got there, my parents took on the daunting task of cleaning out their basement after more than 20 years! So they handed me a very large, very heavy Rubbermaid bin filled with my old stuff dating back to when I was about 10 years old. I spent a whole afternoon sorting through treasure and trash. A good third of it went to the latter, but the rest was great for sentimental reasons. Among the loot I found a Hello Kitty journal, travel receipts and brochures from my first trip to New York, scrapbooks, and ten years of sketchpads. It was fascinating to decipher where I was in my life through pictures. One little treasure I was inspired by were a few quickly sketched fashion figures (from my 3rd semester in fashion design) inspired by Gustav Klimt. Who isn't inspired by the great Klimt? It's almost cliche to admit it.

So here it is. Thought I'd share it. Coincidentally, Illustration Friday's new theme is Remember. I know it's not a new piece, but I couldn't resist posting it.

RUN

In "King o' the Cats," cats ride foxes and hunt dogs. Run, dog, run!

IF: MATCH

Look, our headgear matches!

I played around with what I had lying around on my desk and came up with this strange, spontanious piece.

PLAY

This is from a book I illustrated called The Three Billygoats Gruff and Mean Calypso Joe.