"Just One More Book" Podcast Interview

{Screenshot of JOMB, 2009}

I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Just One More Book. They had a call for entries awhile back for a new logo and I decided to enter an idea. They have been gradually interviewing the people that submitted entries and mine has finally popped up! My little bookworm is shown in the screenshot above. You can go HERE to listen to the podcast!

Shiny New Twitter Background

{Custom Twitter Background, 2009}

*Click on Image for a better view!*

I can't tell you how proud I am that I created my own twitter background! I used scanned in felt and some simple photoshop techniques to dress it up a bit! You can learn more about the dimensions and making your own HERE. I found this site VERY useful when setting up my document. My uploaded document was 72 dpi and it loads fairly quickly and still looks good. I still had to play with placement a bit, but overall, it was easy! Wanna follow me on twitter and be the first to know about blog updates and what is going on in my art world? CLICK CLICK and you will be directed to my page!

Back to School Sketches

{pencil and marker in sketchbook, 2009}

Even though I don't have to go back to school anymore, I still remember how excited I was! I LOVED the first weeks of school. Everything was new, and every year felt like a fresh start! When I started Kindergarten I was so excited to ride the bus. My mom even took a picture of me getting on. I hope I have a child one day and I can snap a picture of them on their very first day of school! To all the kids out there, I hope you are enjoying your first few days of your new grade.

Illustration Friday - Caution (Colored Version)

{watercolor, 2009}

The book had a disclaimer on the cover. It read, "Caution: opening this book may have unexpected results!" Timmy shrugged to himself, "what harm ever came from reading a book?" 

I watercolored the drawing that I had previously posted for this weeks Illustration Friday theme of Caution. I painted this using only three primary colors. Usually I use a double primary color system, but I found some watercolors from my time in college, and I thought I would try a more simplistic color palette. The three colors I used were all Holbein watercolors. They were Aureolin (the yellow), Cobalt (the blue), and Permanent Rose (the red). I think this specific palette really lends itself to illustrating for children! 

A Fun Creative Website

{My Wordle.net Creation, 2009}

I was snooping around one of my fellow Iowa illustrator's blog, Claudia McGehee, and she had made a really cool piece of word art on a website called wordle.net. I decided to go and try it myself! You can choose whatever text you want to create the word art. I chose to use my bio from my Children's Illustrators profile. Now, YOU go try it, it literally takes a minute or two!

Illustration Friday - Caution

{Colored Pencil, 2009}

The book had a disclaimer on the cover. It read, "Caution: opening this book may have unexpected results!" Timmy shrugged to himself, "what harm ever came from reading a book?" Come back later to see the colored version! Happy Friday!

Experimentation Creation

{Watercolor and Stamping, 2009}

I spend a fair amount of time experimenting, so I have decided to start doing "Experimentation Creation" posts. This is my first official creation but if you read this blog regularly you have seen some of my other experimentations. I started with a blank piece of paper and just started adding watercolor elements to fill up the space. Then, I stamped in the words, "Bluebell" and "Poppy".
You can purchase this original piece, which is 4"x6", on Etsy for only $20.00! Thanks for stopping by!

Illustration Friday - Wrapped

{Colored Pencil on Wood Panel, 2009}

This is a symbolism painting that I am working on. I decided to wrap the young woman in a flowing dress with peonies around it. Peonies, which are my absolute favorite flower, symbolize dignity, healing and glory and are often referred to as "roses without thorns". The deer represents purity, regeneration, creativity and spirituality. I'm working on the painting portion right now, so I will have it posted in a few days.

Iowa State Fair Fine Arts Show

{Posing With My Painting, 2009}

I am pleased to announce that I have two pieces showing in the Iowa State Fair 2009 Juried Fine Art Exhibition. I am even more excited to say that one of my pieces, "Rhinestone Treasures" won 3rd prize for Best Overall. 

{Ribbon With Painting, 2009}

Here is a list of the other winners:

Best in show: Kathleen Rivera, oil painting

1st prize Best Overall: Nancy Thompson, pastel

2nd Best Overall: Jessie Larson, jewelry

3rd Best Overall: Candace Camling, oil painting

Merit Awards: Ben Harle, pottery

   Richard Hasen, watercolor

   Jane Baty, mixed media

   Nancy Briggs, pottery

   Victor McCullough, acrylic/tempera

   Eric Neuman, drawing

Oil Media Award: Leslie Leavenworth

Acrylic/Tempera Media Award: Jill Anderson

Watercolor Media Award: Scott Stouffer

Drawing Media Award: Joylynn Andersen

Pastel Media Award: Susan Hansen

Mixed Media Award: Nichole Tolson

Prints Media Award: Ann Klingensmith

Pottery Media Award: Dennis Ferns

Sculpture Media Award: Judy Veeder

Jewelry Media Award: Abigail West

Art Glass Media Award: Rosemary Fee

Fibers Media Award: Helen Degner

Adult Honorable Mention Awards: Dennis Schmoker, Sculpture

John Brommel, Sculpture

Ann Klingensmith, Print

Chris Vanderhaar, Pastel

Sean Herman, Pastel

                

{Video from 2008 Fine Arts Festival}

This is a video from the Iowa State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition. You can see the camera scan by THIS piece at 0:10. I discovered this video today while searching for information. It was produced by Iowa Public Television and does a nice job of explaining the mission of the Iowa State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition.

Sneak Peek!

{Sketchbook, 2009}

This is part of a sketch for a piece I need to get done in the next few days. There is a group show coming up that I am part of. More info later, and I will post the final piece when I finish it!

Illustration Friday - Impatience

{Watercolor, 2009}

{Watercolor, 2009}

This is an illustration that I just finished today for My Light Magazine. I thought it fit perfectly with the theme! I can't imagine spending any amount of time in the hospital without feeling a little impatient about going home. The second illustration is a little spot piece that goes with the story. 

Illustration Friday - Modify (Color Version)

{Watercolor, 2009}

Looks like Little Bear has a few ideas to modify her party dress! Mama Bear better get to work before the party! This is the watercolored version of the drawing I posted yesterday. I love the final detail stages of an illustration! (like the details on the dresses and the little tufts of fur.) Gosh, I just LOVE illustration!

Illustration Friday - Modify

{Prisma Pencil, 2009}

The theme for Illustration Friday this week is "modify". My concept was a little bear that wants her mama bear to modify her party dress. The little bear has little plans drawn up and everything! I'm going to get this painted tomorrow and post the finished illustration.

Ocean Life Watercolor Sketch

{watercolor and ink, 2009}

*Click* for a larger view.

I did these as a warm-up in my watercolor Moleskine this morning. I am currently teaching some classes at the Des Moines art center, and I have been getting some projects together for the Iowa State Fair. What a busy summer it has been! I miss drawing and using color in a 2 dimensional way, so I had to get something down on paper! Look for my Illustration Friday entry later this week too.