Love Birds

{Watercolor, 2012}

My brother-in-law is getting married this summer and all the new sister-in-laws are planning on throwing his fiancee a bridal shower. I was asked to do two love birds for the invitation and I tried to use some of the colors she has planned for her wedding. I love weddings and I can't wait to go to theirs in August!

Work in Progress

{Watercolor in Progress, 2012}

I've been taking a watercolor class on Tuesday afternoons and it has been really enjoyable. We still have several weeks left, which is good because I have only been working on this piece during the class time. If things settle down at my home studio I will plan on working on this more at home too. I plan to work up the foreground figure completely before I decide what to do to finish the background. I have a feeling I am going to need to tone down the three red poppies, but I won't know until I finish the figure. I've really enjoyed working on this piece so far!

Thinking About Spring

{graphite, 2012}

This is the drawing for the next piece I am going to work on in my Tuesday watercolor class. I'm still considering the background. I assume I will probably add something, but I still have to think about that. I feel like this drawing sort of morphed into the personification of Spring, so maybe I will add something that has to do with that. (Perhaps a little research is in order!) It is nice to be doing something a little more serious for my personal work. I have been doing a lot of freelance work lately, which I LOVE, but sometimes it's nice to switch things up!

Little Watercolors

{watercolor, 2012}

{watercolor, 2012}

I painted the little Valentine beaver in my watercolor class this afternoon. The flowers and plants are the product of spending a little free time experimenting with a slightly different style of painting. (and I would like to continue evolving this style!) I am really enjoying playing with watercolor and also learning more about it in my class from a more traditional standpoint.

Sweet Wedding Birds

{Prisma Pencil and Marker, 2011}

I finished coloring this today using Copic markers and Prisma pencils. In my previous post, I shared the black and white line work which has a certain beauty to it. I really love color though! For this piece the color gave the illustration more dimension, texture and mood. I really hope they like their gift! I'm excited for the wedding!

A Wedding Gift

{Prisma Pencil on Stonehenge Paper, 2011}

My cousin is getting married and I decided to make a gift for her to commemorate the day. This is just the line drawing. Once I get it colored, I'll share the final illustration!

Perennial Garden

{Digital, 2011}

{Digital with Labels, 2011}

This is the color version of my last post. Our internet has been down at our house for several days so I haven't been able to put it on this blog. (I'm borrowing my neighbor's connection for a few minutes!) The second image has little letters by each plant and the corresponding plant names are listed in order below:

A. Purple Coneflower

B. Daisy

C. Black Eyed Susan

D. Hosta

E. Pasqueflower

F. Forget-me-nots

Illustration Friday - Perennial (Uncolored Version)

{Ink on Paper, 2011}

I did a drawing of flowering plants that are perennials here in Iowa. I have each of these plants in my own garden. Can you guess what plants they are? I will be posting a digitally colored version later this week, as well as identifying what plants they are. Aside from illustration, gardening is one my my most favorite activities and I especially like when illustration is inspired by gardening!

Happy Easter!

{Watercolor, 2011}

Pen Sketches

{Pen in Sketchbook, 2011}

{Pen in Sketchbook, 2011}

It has been weeks since my last post, which is an eternity for this blog. At the moment I am very close to finishing paintings for my first book and ready to start painting the second book. These are a few sketches I did about a month ago when spring still seemed like it would never arrive. Now, while I spend my days painting I am configuring in my head which vegetables I will plant soon and how I will arrange them in my garden. Crocuses and daffodils are pushing up and even weeds are a pleasant sight at this early stage of spring!

Sketchbook Ramblings

{Sketchbook, 2011}

{Sketchbook, 2011}

You know how some writers do free-writing exercises to stay fresh and inspire new ideas? I like to do the same thing with drawing in my sketchbook. (I think a lot of illustrators/artists do!) Last night I did the top image in my sketchbook. When I ran out of room, I went to bed feeling satisfied that I had emptied my mind for the day. That is a typical looking page for night sketching. Its disorganized and random. However, the second image is a morning sketch with space to breathe and the items are related. This is typical of morning sketching. Is anyone else like this? Do you find the later in the day it gets, the more chaotic your sketchbook gets? I think its sort of amusing, and something I only just noticed about myself recently... even if I have been doing it for years!

Sketchbook Pages

{Cats and Plants, Sketchbook, 2010}

{People at the Car Dealership, Items, Sketchbook, 2010}

{Home, Sketchbook, 2010}

{Home, Sketchbook, 2010}

{Creative Rambling Page, Sketchbook, 2010}

After spending a lot of each day working on a children's book project, I have found that it helps to clear my mind and settle down by drawing in my sketchbook. Its sort of like stretching after you complete a hard workout. These are a few of my pages from the last few weeks.

Illustrating My Name

{Black Prisma and Watercolor, 2010}

{Black Prisma and Watercolor, 2010}

These illustrations were created as examples for the current project I am teaching in my Introduction to Illustration Class at the Des Moines Art Center. Its a really fun project but it also makes you think outside the box and decide how abstract you can make your letters while still making the piece legible. The top piece is garden objects and the second is inspired by different animals (and a ladybug!) Its addicting to turn words into shapes... so beware if you decide to do this project. You may not get anything else done the rest of the day!

Altered Book Project

{Altered Book Cover, 2010}

{Altered Book: Favorite Color, 2010}

{Altered Book: Favorite Books, 2010}

{Altered Book: Travel, 2010}

{Altered Book: Gardening, 2010}

{Altered Book: Ocean, 2010}

I am currently teaching a Mixed Media class for 9-12 year olds at the Des Moines Art Center. Our first project is an Altered Book and so this past week I have been filling up my demonstration book with examples of collage and ideas. I love the tactile experience of collage and altered books. (during and after the processes of making them) I still have several pages to fill, but I plan to finish the book. It can be pretty cool to have a visual record of what you were into at the time... like 2010 in this instance! For this altered book I went to the local thrift store and purchased a board book. The pages are generally pretty thick and shiny with UV coating to resist things that babies do (ie drool, food, puke). While its nice to have a thick board book, the shine can interfere with paint chipping off so I recommend sanding the book and adding one layer of gesso to the covers and each page before beginning.

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.

Sketchbook- The May Garden

{Sketchbook, 2010}

I spent a little time drawing my world this evening. There are plenty of lovely spring blossoms to choose from between my shade and sun gardens. My favorite spring flower is definitely the Lily of the Valley. It has the most intoxicating fragrance! Aside from drawing plants, I also noticed some kids flying a kite in the park across from my house and some Turkey Vultures circling around the woods.

Honey Bear

{Oil on Board, 2010}

I finally finished this yesterday. It had been sitting untouched on my art desk for a week. The simple shapes and heavier acrylic underpainting made this a quicker piece than most. Painting in oil has been a journey since college and I am always trying to find ways to make it more efficient... because, hey, time is money. My favorite part of this piece is the fur on the bees' bodies.

The Promise of Spring!

{Watercolor, 2010}

Last night I wandered around the front yard garden and sketched some of the flowers that are blooming. I also did some small drawings of the little comforts that we offer in order to attract birds (and by birds I also mean: squirrels, raccoons, feral cats and chipmunks.) I really love our yard, and this time of year it is hard to sit in my studio and work when all I want to do is dig in the dirt and monitor the progression and growth of my plants. I am especially in awe of God's great work during this time of year! Below are some pictures I took while I was outside last night.

{Adder's-Tongues, 2010}

These lovely little bulbs multiply like crazy. We live at the edge of a woodland and these grow in our lawn. You can imagine my delight when I discovered these during my first spring living in our home!

{English Daisies, 2010}

I planted these at the base of the birdbath and right in front of my studio window. They are so cute!

{Oliver and Moss, 2010)

Oliver loves to rub his paws on the moss that is growing on some rotting wood!

{Lichen on a Mulberry tree, 2010}

Ok, so this isn't exactly a flower, but its beautiful! It looks like some miniature coral!

{Bluebells, 2010}

I transplanted a few of these from the abundance in the woods behind the house. They are native to Iowa and do well in our shady back yard.

{Ferns, 2010}

The way ferns unfurl as they come out of the ground is so magical. I love having ferns in my yard.

Dreaming of Spring

{Sketchbook, 2010}

All of our local stores have their seed packets available for the 2010 growing season. I am planning on growing some vegetables this year and am super excited to go get some seeds of my own. Every year when I garden I always dream of the possibilities and look forward to seeing the first seedlings come up out of the earth!

A New Year

{Sketchbook, 2010}

I love a fresh start. So full of possibilities and hope! Here's to a fabulous 2010!