Illustration Friday - Grounded

{Graphite with Digital Color, 2012}

{Graphite in Sketchbook, 2012}

It seems a little morbid, but a grave seemed like the most extreme example of being grounded. I did a graphite drawing in my sketchbook and scanned it into Photoshop to color it digitally.

Happy Halloween!

{Sketchbook with Digital Color, 2011}

Wishing you all a very Happy Halloween full of yummy candy, fun costumes and pretty pumpkins!

Sketch and Book Review

{Sketchbook, 2011}

I thought I would post the line drawing while I am still working on the digitally colored version. Halloween is just around the corner and I always look forward to carving pumpkins and watching the leaves turn. Of course, I always enjoy a festive cat too! On another note, my publisher sent me a link to THIS REVIEW of "The Twelve Days of Christmas -- In Texas, That Is". It happens to be a favorable review, which of course, makes me happy.

Illustration Friday - Disguise

{Graphite in Sketchbook, 2011}
Click image to view larger.

A disguise is absolutely necessary if you are going to spend your evening at a masquerade! Don't you think it would be fun to go to a masquerade and dress up in your finest? I love big lacy baroque-style dresses; so over the top!

Happy Halloween! 2010

{Candy Corn Costume, 2010}

Photo Credit: Metromix Des Moines

{Lego Man Costume, 2010}

Photo Credit: Metromix Des Moines

{Carved Pumpkins, 2010}

We always have fun making costumes. This year I sewed a candy corn costume using fleece and my husband, Ken, revamped his Lego costume from last year. To be fair, he was working on it until the last minute last year and only got to wear it to one party. This year he wore it all around Des Moines and got lots of laughs, smiles and nostalgic 20/30-somethings! In fact, he is in the running to win a local costume contest so I am going to shamelessly plug him! If you are so inclined, please vote for him until November 5, 2010 at THIS LINK. We would really appreciate it!

Halloween Kitty

{Drawing in Sketchbook with Digital Color, 2010}

A sweet little kitty to wish you all a happy Halloween! I will be posting a few pictures of the pumpkins I carved and my handmade costume later this week. I'm especially proud of my costume because this is the first time I have ever sewn a whole costume myself. Is anyone else dressing up for Halloween? If you are, what are you going to be?

Illustration Friday - Spooky (Color Version)

{Sketch with Digital Color, 2010}

I used Photoshop to color the sketch from my previous post. Click HERE to see the sketch. I think the addition of color gives the piece much more life. (Especially in this piece because of the glowing light coming from the witch's spooky potion!)

Illustration Friday - Spooky

{Graphite in Sketchbook, 2010}

This witch and her little pals are concocting on a spooky potion! I'm currently working on a digitally colored version that I will post in a day or so.

Halloween Digital Sketches

{Sketch with Digital Color, 2010}

{Sketch with Digital Color, 2010}

I always look forward to the spookiness of the Halloween season. I love that the movie channels on TV play scary movies and that the stores are full of costumes, candy and decorations. I also love the colors that this time of year brings. All of the decorations have been put up around the house and the magazines are full of pages of pumpkin colored decor, recipes and clothing. I thought I would add a little of that same flair to my blog and work on a few spot illustrations to share! What is your favorite thing about Halloween?

More Halloween Pictures!

{Pumpkins lit up, 2009}

{Costumes, 2009}

{Finished Makeup, 2009}

{Ken's Wonderful Costume, 2009}

I know this is generally an illustration blog, but I can't help but share more of our Halloween happenings! We spent so much creative energy on our pumpkins and Ken's costume that I think its totally legit to share it here! Ken came up with the idea of a Lego man costume. He did a scale drawing in AutoCAD and started to build the costume using cardboard and tons of other mundane materials. When he got to the final stages I helped sand parts of the costume and I painted the torso and areas of the face. The final product turned out fabulous and even won him $500 at a local radio/casino costume contest! I loved working on the project with him too. Its always such a wonderful bonding experience to work together on something creative... especially when the hard work pays off! (literally!) Hope everyone out there had a safe and happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween 2009!

{Digital Mixed Media, 2oo9}

{Oliver's Costume, 2009}

{Our Pumpkins, 2009}

{Close up of my Pumpkin, 2009}

{Close up of my Husband's Pumpkin, 2009}

{Oliver Helping, 2009}

I hope everyone has a wonderfully spooky Halloween! The pictures above are a sampling of how we get into the Halloween spirit here at the Camling household! As you can see, Oliver is a big part of it! I don't think he really appreciates the costume, but he was ALL ABOUT helping carve the pumpkins! Can't wait to post some costume pictures later. (not so much mine, but the costume my husband and I worked on for him!) Can you believe tomorrow is already November?!

More Halloween Etsy Updates

{Halloween Decoration, 2009}

{Mini Decorations, 2009}

{Halloween Decoration Detail, 2009}

{Halloween Decorations, 2009}

I've been working on these mixed media decorations, hoping to get them in my Etsy shop with enough time before Halloween. I still have a few to finish up, but they are all very similar. There are two sizes. The larger ones are $14.50 and the smaller are $7.50. Going to a Halloween party this year? Why not get one for the hostess as a special "thanks!"?

As always, thank you for stopping by, I love having visitors on my blog! 

Updated Etsy Shop: Buttons!

{pin back button set, 2009}

{pin back button set, 2009}

{new etsy banner, 2009}

My Etsy shop has been updated! I plan to have a few more goodies later this week, so please check back! There are a variety of new pin back buttons and a new banner for the fall. If you have a little one that has headed back to school, many of the buttons would look adorable on a backpack, lunchbox or lunch note!

Illustration Friday - Hollow

{Colored Pencil on Watercolor Paper, 2009}

I have time to do Illustration Friday this week! I will post the finished colored version tomorrow. I know its a little early for Halloween, but while I was home in Michigan, we drove past a pumpkin patch that had some burgeoning vines!

Happy Halloween 2008

Here is my little Halloween Treat to you: "Patches" the Halloween Cat! Watercolor on paper.

Every Halloween I pretty much carve the same cat pumpkin. I always think "hey, maybe I want to do something different this year..." but then I am so smitten with the kitten!

My husband's lovely front yard display. EH! Opposites attract I suppose!

Oliver is dressed up to be a "gentlekitty"...too bad he's still naughty...even with the bow tie!

Happy Halloween Everyone! Thanks for stopping by and visit again soon to see my Halloween costume!