The Meet-up

{Watercolor, 2014}

This is a personal piece I just finished. I wanted to illustrate a town for my portfolio but then I couldn't help myself from adding a little bit of a story. One of these days I need to do a massive sketchbook post too. I have tons and tons of sketches that I will share soon. I think sketchbooks are the best thing about being an illustrator. 

Summer Camping

{Graphite on Watercolor Paper, 2012}
Click image to view larger.

This is the full illustration that surrounds the characters that I shared in my previous post. When I was a kid, I really looked forward to camping. Actually, if I get a chance, I still look forward to it! It is one of my favorite things about growing up in Michigan; the lake, the dunes, the campgrounds and the state parks. I am going to finish this in watercolor, and then I will share the final illustration!

Bears Sketch

{Sketch, 2012}

These bears are the main characters of a larger piece I am working on. Once I get it all drawn up, I plan to use watercolor as the coloring method. I love the life in the original sketch, so I thought I would share it. I love drawing bears!

Small Moleskine Watercolor

{Watercolor in Moleskine, 2011}

When I was visiting England last spring, I purchased a very small Moleskine watercolor journal. Its only about 3"x5" and its a very pleasing size to carry along in a purse or even a pocket. This is just a quick watercolor sketch. I was trying to convey how exciting getting some nice mail can be.

Busy, Busy, Busy!

{Watercolor and Pencil, 2010}

January has been full of anticipation! I have several projects in the works and am getting geared up for a very busy February. It seems that every year gets a little busier and feels a little more successful for me. I'm nowhere near where I want to be, but I feel like I am climbing towards a better career as an illustrator. I hope everyone else's 2010 is shaping up to be a success as well!

Work in Progress: Winter Scene

{Final Sketch on Illustration Board, 2009}

{Acrylic Layer to Seal Drawing, 2009}

I have a bunch of little things going on in my studio right now, but I have been working on this fairly large (18"x8.5") illustration for a week now. It took awhile to get the drawing right, plus it was a hectic week last week... and the "hectic" wasn't art related, just life. Nothing serious, but it prohibited me from spending much quality time in my studio. More than anything, I'm just glad to be back in my little space working away! I can't wait to get started on the oil portion of this piece and share the progress.

Work in Progress: Oil Painting

{Day One of Oil Illustration, 2009}

Today was the first day I've had to work on this illustration. I'm stoked that the theme for Illustration Friday this week is "Flying". I created this piece for Illustration Friday's theme of "Germs" last week. Its lucky to have a working illustration that fits in so well with two themes in a row! Before I started with the oil today, I had previously transferred the drawing onto the primed illustration board and sealed it with burnt sienna acrylic paint. (you can see a little peeking through in a few spots, specifically the buildings) I also built up some VERY general tones with the burnt sienna, which helps determine lighting. This piece is going pretty quickly, which pleases me! 

Harnessing the Butterflies

{Watercolor, 2009}

I finished painting this yesterday, and am excited to hand it off today. The client is someone I have known since kindergarten! This is a gift that she commissioned  from me for a family member that is having a baby girl soon. It is so crazy, because we are all grown up now, and our friends that are our own age are having kids of their own! I really hope the gift goes over well and that she is pleased with it! I posted the drawing not too long ago.

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! 

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.

Children's Menu Illustration

{Oil on Board, 2009}

This is the basic background image for a children's menu commissioned by three hotels in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Amway Grand Plaza, Courtyard by Marriott, and JW Marriott) The design work will be added by Plenty Creative as well as a connect-the-dots illustration that I completed digitally. Art Direction by Gwen O'Brien.

Poem Illustration

{Watercolor, 2009}

I just completed this illustration for Stories for Children Magazine, which is a digital children's e-zine. I am still working towards being in a print children's magazine this year. That is one of my main goals for 2009. Hopefully the promo I just sent out will help with that! I really enjoyed doing this illustration. Its for a poem about the middle child, entitled, "Between One and Three" by Lois Greene Stone. I have no idea what its like to be the middle child, because I was an only child, but I can only imagine the horrors...kidding!

Spring 2009 Promotional Illustration and an Interview

{Watercolor, 2009}

After starting over, I finally got this piece finished! I worked against myself to try to keep the atmospheric perspective, because I always want everything BRIGHT! I think the lighter background helps keep the foreground objects a.) in the foreground and b.) as the focal point. I will be putting the image on a postcard and sending it out to some places that I think might be interested in seeing more of my work! I will post a picture of the postcards once they have been printed.

Also, Des Moines Juice writer and fellow Des Moines artist, Brent Houzenga did a nice interview with me HERE. DM Juice is a young professional publication that is part of The Des Moines Register newspaper. Thanks Brent!

Illustration Friday - Instinct (Color Version)

{Watercolor, 2009}

I finished this watercolor spot illustration this morning. (I got up at 5 AM because I couldn't sleep. Grrrr!) I will add this to my small pile of watercolor illustrations in my portfolio. I don't know what it is, but unlike working in oil, watercolor is so addictive. Its less laborious for me, and I just love the way the water and the paint feel on the brush and when they touch the paper. I have a rough plan for a larger, more complex watercolor piece, but I may not be able to get to it for a few weeks yet.

Illustration Friday - Celebrate

{Sketchbook, 2009}

Celebrate friendship and diversity! I don't think I will be able to finish this before Friday, so I will just post the sketch. I want to add a background and clean up the sketch a bit more before I start a final illustration. I have several small freelance jobs converging right now, so its a bit tense trying to get leisure sketch time in!

Happy Valentines Day 2009!

{Sketchbook, 2009}

Happy Valentine's Day to all! This is one of my favorite holidays. I think its the colors, the imagery (I love vintage Valentine's Day cards), and of course, the concept of love and sweethearts. I drew these little fairies in my sketchbook and thought I would share them. I think, in the fairy world, little berries work just as well as paper cards or chocolates. Hmmm... maybe the berries are chocolate covered?!
Also, Diana Evans printed THIS out and had her son, Cole, color it. He did a great job with his color mixing and got really creative with it! Great Job Cole!

Illustration Friday- Wide

I originally did this just for Monday Artday's challenge of Japanese monster. But it works for Illustration Friday...and I only had time to do one oil painting this week. Alas, here is the wide beast confronted by a curious little puppy!
It is oil on a background of tape and gel medium on board. I wanted to try using a texture in the background. It looks pretty neat! And I felt like the painting went faster for some reason.
Oh...and yes, I have changed the background color of my blog...it seems I use a lot of blue in my paintings, and I feel like they often blend into the blue background I had chosen. I think white is better to show work against!

Illustration Friday- Save

"I would save my money if my darn piggy bank would stop running away from me"

I started this week's Illustration Friday from scratch! I did the sketch on Friday and worked on it until yesterday. I gave it last night to dry completely!
It's done in alkyd oils.

EDIT: If you arrived at this post because of a link on Illustration Friday for the week of August 28, there was a glitch and it is redirecting to this post, which is incorrect! If you wish to see my submission for magnify, please CLICK HERE! Thanks!

Illustration Friday 2- Horizon

I've posted this on my blog before as well, but I thought I should share it again...I think it fits great with Illustration Friday's theme this week too! This little girl is flying her kite as the crispy air and fall horizon surround her!

Illustration Friday-Backwards

The prompt for this week was "backwards". I immediately thought of dogs. Especially stubborn little terriers. I would know, I've owned two. You're on a walk and you think you have a plan for where to go, and all the sudden, something sparks the dog's interest, and "uh oh" you're getting pulled backwards..though in the dog's mind, I'm sure it's more like moving forwards! I love dogs...