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. 

Something Different

{Watercolor, 2012}

{Watercolor, 2012}

Mr friend Sara and I signed up to take a watercolor class taught by Melinda Kabel at the Des Moines Art Center. This is a landscape exercise I completed. I did the small sepia studies first and I was supposed to choose one to do in full color but ended up deciding to do all three because I liked the way they looked arranged on the page. The finished color versions are only slightly bigger than the sepia studies. As the class progresses I plan to share any other projects!

Watercolor Class

{Watercolor on Aquaboard, 2011}

I'm in the midst of taking an experimental watercolor class taught by Kathy Glenn at the Des Moines Art Center. We've tried a lot of different types of materials so far and I hope to post more of the projects soon. This is the first thing I have finished but I have several things started that could turn out interesting. I started this painting yesterday, but woke up really wanting to get it done this morning. It's 6"x6".

Faces and Places

{Watercolor and Prisma Pencil, 2010}

{Watercolor and Ink, 2010}

These are some recent watercolor sketches. I really love drawing faces so the top was a free-for-all. I started with a bunch of skin toned swatches and then sat in front of the TV while I made up random people. The piece below was a quick demo for a painting and drawing class I taught. Also, I wanted to share that I will have a few pieces of exciting news in a future post so make sure you check back soon!

300th Post Giveaway!

{Oil on Canvas, 2009}

I am working on some smaller paintings to sell at Market Day in Des Moines on October 24th. This painting measures 4"x12" and will be put up for sale. I will post more as I finish them!

NOW, FOR THE EXCITING NEWS!

This post represents my 300th post on this blog! In honor of this post, I am going to be giving away an original mini painting of which the winner will choose the subject matter. Here is a concise list of the details:

1. To enter, you simply need to leave a comment. In that comment, you MUST include at least your FIRST NAME and a current E-MAIL address. (A link to your blog or something that I can contact you with works too!)
2. YOU CAN ONLY ENTER ONCE. Additional comments will be discarded before the drawing.
3. Contest closes on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at Noon Central: UTC-6/DST-5.

4. One winner chosen at random will win a custom painted mini canvas (4"x4").
5. Once chosen, the winner will be notified and they will choose the subject matter of their painting!
6. The painting will be completed and posted on this blog for all the world to see!

* EDIT: The contest is NOW CLOSED. Thanks for all of you who participated! I will post the winner before 4pm today! Thanks!!*

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- Island

This is a little oil painting I did (only 6"x8") of a beautiful park in Marquette, Michigan. I thought it would fit the theme because of the island of rocks. I worked on this from a photo I took during my one semester at Northern Michigan University. I think it also evokes an island because it is so desolate and cut off from civilization...but what a beautiful place.

I'll be posting some more fun, whimsical stuff soon. I've been hard at work on several projects, all going at once!

Alzheimer's Association of Greater Iowa

The Alzheimer's Association of Greater Iowa is putting on a charity auction of altered and art mirrors called "An Evening of Reflections" I had previously posted a sketch of some birds that I intended to use for my mirror. I ended up etching one of the bird sketches in the mirror, and then painting the frame. I am pretty happy with it because it turned out as something I would hang in my own house, and hopefully someone else will donate a good sum of money to have it hang in theirs. I have to drop it off today, and I am sad to see it go, it's been a pleasure to work on.
The frame is done in oil with a Gamblin Galkyd glaze and some stamping. It measures 14"x14".

Dedicated to my husband's late father Robert F. Camling, who passed away from the effects of Alzheimer's Disease before I ever got to meet him.

P.S. It's hard to photograph a mirror without including yourself in your PJ's!