What's New?

{Sketch, 2012}

It's been well over a month since my last post, which is pretty unusual for this blog. A lot has been going on in the past few months. First, I found out my husband and I are expecting in December. My first trimester was a bit tough on me and needless to say, I got through it but didn't accomplish much work. I'm feeling much better now, thanks! Second, I signed a contract to do another book with Pelican Publishing. More on that later, but here is a tiny sneak peek of one of the spreads so far. I'm still in the sketching phase, but I have a lot of work to do before December comes on the calendar! Hoping to keep the blogging up, but with so much work and so little time, posts will probably be a little sparse for the next few months. I don't want to turn this into a baby blog either, but I might post a few cute little projects I work on for baby and a few little updates here and there. Good to be back!

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!

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!

By the Sea

{Photography, 2011}

Click image to enlarge!

I spent last week in California visiting a friend. We managed to squeeze Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, Sacramento, and a day by the sea into the week. Nothing calms me or inspires me as much as the ocean. I love all the wildlife, the seashells, the seaweed, the landscape, the smells, the tides going out and coming in; everything!

Canoe Explorers

{Graphite on Paper, 2011}

I'm planning on using oils to complete this illustration. It will be used for my portfolio. This piece was inspired by some of the hiking I did with my husband during the summer.

Illustration Friday - Obsession

{Graphite Sketch with Digital Color, 2011}

Mrs. B is obsessed with collecting nectar! You should see the bees in my garden right now! I love watching the bumble bees the most. If they didn't have a stinger, I would love to pet one. For an insect, they look like really cuddly creatures!

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 - Gesture

{Watercolor, Acrylic and Colored Pencil on Paper, 2011}

{Detail, 2011}

This started as a free form watercolor piece working wet into wet. As it was drying I pulled some of the color out where the face was and also added a few watercolor details where the eyes, nose and mouth are. I used a colored pencil to tighten the piece up and some white acrylic to add highlights. I love that this wild child started out as a gestural watercolor! (It sort of fits, considering my lack of planning in lieu of playing.) I wish I could have a crown of wildflowers and insect wings!

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".

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!

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.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

{Watercolor, 2010}

How does your container garden grow? Mine grows with several succulents and tropical plants all in a row! This piece is also listed in my Etsy shop for $18 and you can get an extra 15% off if you use the coupon code CIBLOGSALE now through December 24th, 2010!

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!

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.

Illustration Friday - Linked

{Graphite with Digital Color, 2010}

{Graphite in Sketchbook, 2010}

I imagine sharing a worm is the standard Northern Cardinal wedding procedure. (and it is such a happy occasion, unless you are the worm!) I think it is utterly romantic that Cardinals mate for life. I drew this in my Moleskine sketchbook and then colored it quickly in Photoshop.

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 - Welcome (color version)

{Watercolor, 2009}

I finished painting this today, and it is the colored version of THIS. It is a welcoming autumn forest scene depicting the American toad and an Isabella Tiger moth... as well as some early autumn mushrooms that I found growing in the woods behind my home.

Illustration Friday - Welcome

{Graphite on Watercolor Paper, 2009}

Welcome to autumn! I am definitely welcoming the change in the weather and the new colors of the trees! This little toad is just starting to think of burrowing into the ground for the cold, long winter months! American toads, like the one shown here, will burrow up to three feel in the ground. That is a lot of digging for such a little guy! I am in the process of painting this illustration right now, so I will post it as soon as it is done.

Experimentation Creation

{Watercolor and Stamping, 2009}

I spend a fair amount of time experimenting, so I have decided to start doing "Experimentation Creation" posts. This is my first official creation but if you read this blog regularly you have seen some of my other experimentations. I started with a blank piece of paper and just started adding watercolor elements to fill up the space. Then, I stamped in the words, "Bluebell" and "Poppy".
You can purchase this original piece, which is 4"x6", on Etsy for only $20.00! Thanks for stopping by!