Illustration Friday - Surrender

{Graphite in Sketchbook, 2011}

When I saw the word for Illustration Friday this week I immediately thought of doing a drawing of Jesus. Drawing this was a way of reminding myself that I can surrender my fears and worries to Christ instead of trying to take the world on all by myself. I'm also working on illustrating a story for a Catholic Publisher so iconography has been circulating in my mind lately. I loved drawing this!

Tote Bag

{Tote Bag, 2011}

{Detail, 2011}

{Lotta Jansdotter Pattern Book, Amazon}

I made this tote over a few days this week. You know, an hour here and hour there. I think it turned out pretty and its perfect for going to the library with! I shared a little more information about it on my 7 Years Back Blog.

David Diaz at the Joslyn Art Museum

{Me and David Diaz, 2011}

{"Me, Frida", David's Newest Book, 2011}

{David Showing Sketches, Process, Promotional Materials, 2011}

{One Area of the Exhibit, Joslyn Art Museum, 2011}

I had a wonderful opportunity to see Caldecott winning illustrator David Diaz speak at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska a little over a week ago. He was very funny and very open about his process and how he approaches illustrating books. He showed sketches and promotional materials for his most current book entitled, "Me, Frida". I had my picture taken with him and asked him to sign my sketchbook... which ended in 6 pages of sharpie sketches! My friend and fellow illustrator, Erin Taylor, was able to coordinate this event with the Golden Kite Awards exhibit that was curated by Diaz and is now showing at the Joslyn Art Museum. It was overwhelming to see so many original illustrations from the best in the industry dating back to the 1970's. Illustrators included Melissa Sweet, Tomie de Paola, Trina Schart Hyman, David Shannon, and so many more! The Golden Kite Awards show is a traveling exhibit so if it comes to your area, I highly recommend seeing it!

Bird Feeder Sketch

{Sketchbook, 2011}

This is a warm-up sketch I did this morning. My art desk faces the window and I look out at our bird feeder and birdhouse. There is also a very pretty park across the street. I used a sharpie and some other markers to do this sketch.

Illustration Friday - Chicken

{Sketchbook with Digital Color, 2011}

Portrait of Mrs. Chicken. I drew her in my sketchbook and then colored her in Photoshop. I've always wanted to own chickens so I can just have them roaming around in my yard. I guess the fresh eggs would be pretty nice too!

Recent ACEOs

{ACEO Cards, 2011}

{ACEO Cards, 2011}

{ACEO Cards, 2011}

I've been loving my Faber-Castell Pitt Brush pens. I use them in my sketchbook a lot but I thought they would be fun with some Artist's Trading Cards. I'll be adding these to my Etsy shop whenever I get the time to list them. In the meantime, let me know if you are interested in one of them. They are $3.00 each and you can e-mail me at candartist@aol.com telling me which one(s) you want and to arrange payment.

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!

Coffee House Art Show

{Artwork Hanging at Friedrich's Coffee Shop, 2011}

{The Snowy Location of my Artwork, 2011}

{My Current Palette, 2011}

If you live in Des Moines and enjoy a nice cup of coffee, you can stop by Friedrich's between now and the end of March 2011 and see my artwork. My work is at the location on University and 42nd Street. I also included a picture of my palette, since I can't share the illustrations I am working on right now. Palettes always looks like an abstract piece of art to me. Sometimes I even hesitate to throw it away, but I do! (mostly due to the fact that I watch "Hoarders" on A&E!) Also, my illustration of a little artist is featured on the Neglected Princess blog in a post called "Sweet Brown Girls on Etsy". See if you can pick mine out! Hint: It's credited to my etsy shop: PinwheelArt

Pretty Paper Pinwheels

{Crepe Paper Pinwheel, 2011}

{Crepe Paper Pinwheel, 2011}

{Crepe Paper Pinwheels, 2011}

I made these paper crafts for a friend's baby shower and saved them after the festivities were done so I could decorate for Valentine's Day. I watched and read about a lot of tutorials on crepe paper crafts and flowers and I didn't find anything that I especially liked. After experimenting with a few ideas of my own, I came up with these little pinwheel shapes by creasing the crepe paper and forming circles. I used a craft punch to make the center shape of the pinwheel and taped them together. Paper crafting is one of my favorite activities and I had fun creating these.

Crafty Projects: Teacups and Scarves

{Teacup with Pilea Plant, 2011}

{Pilea Plant Care Guide, 2011}

{Teacups with Pilea Plant, 2011}

{Teacup with Pilea Plant, 2011}

I planted several Pilea plants in vintage teacups as Christmas presents for friends this year. Pilea plants have tiny leaves and are really easy to grow. I used a Martha Stewart craft punch to make the rabbit shapes and glued them onto toothpicks (added eyes and rosy cheeks with a marker too!). I made a little care guide to go with the plants, wrapped them up and sent them on their happy little way! The care guide was made using watercolor images that I Photoshopped together. Maybe you'll recognize the imagery from this post!

{Infinity Scarf, 2011}

{Infinity Scarf, 2011}

My other recent project, that I made last night, was an infinity scarf. If you have followed this blog for awhile, you know I dabble in sewing. I really like the satisfaction of making something useful with my own hands. Part of the reason I made this is due to my New Year's resolution. For the year of 2011 I vow to not buy any new clothing. I also started a new blog to chronicle my year of handmade, upcycling and coping with not shopping. (Many of my blog friends don't know this, but I LOVE shopping! This is going to be hard.) If you want to read more about my year without new clothes you can visit it at 7YearsBack. I'll be sharing more writing and projects for handmade living over there. Of course anything creative, such as this infinity scarf, will always have a mention on this blog. Though, probably with less explanation! In general, I like this blog to be less wordy and more image focused.

2011: The Year of the Rabbit

{Sketchbook with Digital Color, 2010}

Happy New Year from me to you! I hope 2011 is everything you could ever wish for and more. I am excited that this is the year of the rabbit in the Chinese Zodiac because I always find myself being attracted to rabbits as a major motif for decorating my home. I also draw a lot of them, and started to draw this New Year's rabbit before I even knew it was the animal of the year! Anyways, its also time to get in gear and try to keep all those resolutions that were easy to make, but will be much harder to keep! I have several resolutions floating in my head; both personal and professional and I am going to try my hardest to be a good girl!