A Journey into Ceramics

{Raku Clay, 2010}

{Raku Clay, 2010}

{Raku Clay, 2010}

I am currently taking a ceramics class at the Des Moines Art Center with Nancy Briggs. It has been nearly 10 years since I last touched clay and I was a little concerned that I wouldn't be able to remember anything! After a few classes, some things are starting to come back and I am enjoying myself. I thought I would post a few pictures of my first project before it is fired. (As much as you try, you never know what might happen between firings! That much I DO remember.) While I wait to bring this piece to the next stage, I am working on a cat mask. I would also like to try throwing on the wheel before the class finishes. Whenever I take a class that is a bit outside my discipline and comfort zone, I always find that it helps my drawing and opens up my view of the world just a little bit more.

Reading to Ladybugs

{Watercolor and Digital, 2010}

Just imagining what it would be like if fairies had libraries. I wonder if the smaller creatures might come together to hear a story or two. I drew this with prisma pencil and used watercolor to add some values. After I scanned it, I colored it digitally using Photoshop.

Summer Garland Sewing Project

{Garland Detail, 2010}

{Garland, 2010}

{Oliver smelling a flower, 2010}

I just finished a little sewing project that I started a week ago. I didn't sew it completely perfectly, but it is just as cute as I imagined it! I picked out fabric colors to compliment pink and green cushions that are on my front porch. I wanted something cheery to brighten up the space. The last picture is my sweet little kitty, Oliver. A few days ago he was exploring the gardens. A few seconds after I snapped this shot, he started chewing on that flower!

Illustration Friday - Paisley

{Pen and Markers in Sketchbook, 2010}
Click for a slightly larger view :)

The prompt for Illustration Friday this week is Paisley. I decided to do a free form drawing with little paisley birds hidden amid all the patterns. I used Copic markers and Le Pen drawing pens. This was a really fun sketchbook piece to do... I just relaxed while I let the drawing take me wherever it wanted! How many birds can you find?

Travel Journal: London

{Ink and Watercolor, 2010}

If you read my blog regularly, you know that I was traveling in England and Ireland between May 15-31. I brought a sketchbook with me, but between constantly driving from place to place and having a pretty full list of places to see, I was not able to sketch from life. Fortunately, I took about 2,000 pictures and had my eyes open to the flavor of what was around me. My mom (who was my travel partner) picked out a lot of unique places to go. Over the next few weeks, I will be doing sketches from my favorite places and possibly adding some found object elements like maps, ticket stubs, etc.

London was our first stop (we flew into Heathrow airport). I ADORE London. At first I wasn't sure I would like it, but by our third day I was definitely sad to leave. The sketches on this page were done with a micron pen and no This is my first entry in my Travel Journal. pre-sketched concept so that I could still keep a certain spontaneity to the drawings. I finished the page with some watercolor.

Special Illustration Friday - Ripple

{Watercolor, 2010}

SOLD

This card is available for a $10 donation.

This week's theme for Illustration Friday is "Ripple". Kelly Light suggested the theme and participants are donating art cards (a 2.5"x3.5" work of art) that will be sold for $10 to help aid the clean up of the Gulf Oil Spill. This is an excerpt from the Ripple Sketch Blog:

"Each sketchcard on this blog is $10.00. The $10.00 is a donation to help the animal victims of the Deep Water Horizon Gulf Oil Spill. Every penny is donated. The two Non-Profits that are benefitting are The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies and The International Bird Rescue Research Center. You can purchase a card if you donate directly to one of the non-profits and email me the confirmation and your address to ripplesketches@verizon.net. The artist will mail you the signed card."

The card I created is inspired by some of the reefs that can be seen in the Gulf of Mexico. I am not lucky enough to live near the ocean. (I hope to someday) However, I have been to several ocean beaches and a few years ago snorkeled in the Gulf of Mexico. It is sad to think that future generations may not be able to enjoy the beauty of these delicate ecosystems. Make sure you go over to the Ripple Sketches Blog and look at all the entries and consider making a small donation!

Windsor Heights 4th of July Poster

{Oil on Board, 2010}

This is a commissioned illustration/poster design for the City of Windsor Heights, Iowa. They have a lot of exciting things going on right now, including a brand new community center building. They wanted a poster that reflected community, fun and family. If you are in the area on the 4th of July, you might want to consider spending your day at Colby Park. Windsor Heights has a ton of wonderful activities going on!

Reading Buddies

{Watercolor, 2010}

Two unlikely buddies reading together! I used a black prisma pencil, black watercolor and some white acrylic ink to finish this illustration. I've been trying to get my creative groove back since returning from Europe. I might sound whiny, but traveling is tiring!

Illustration Friday - Slither

{Prisma Pencil, 2010}

I managed to participate in Illustration Friday this week! It's just a line drawing, but a drawing nonetheless! I will paint this with gray scale watercolors as soon as I get a chance. I love working in grays because I can devote all of my focus to texture and value structure. Plus, there is just something about black and white!

SCBWI Bulletin

{Watercolor, 2010}

{Watercolor, 2010}

I am officially back from my trip to England and Ireland. I will be sharing some experiences in later posts! Until then, I am pleased and excited to share that I had seven illustrations included in the May/June issue of the SCBWI Bulletin. The above images are a few of the illustrations chosen to appear.