Late

Just a quick little drawing this week. It was the first thing that popped into my head. Take from that what you will.

Strings

I'm so glad the topic of Illustration Friday is Strings. I've been working on a pillow in my spare time for the past couple weeks and just finished it. Naturally, I'm very excited to show it off. My mom gave me an used sewing machine for Christmas last year and I've been making small projects and fiddling around with it since. I made one pillow prior to this one and am now starting one with a giraffe on it. All the fabric I used I got as a white elephant present last Christmas. I think i was more excited to get a giant bag of fabric scraps than I was to get most of my other presents. I sill have enough to make at least ten or eleven pillows.

Turtle

Lady Aberdean

Lady Aberdean is pleased that I have moved my blog.



Prudence Petigrew is less than amused. She's always like that though.

I'm a Winner!

I just got home from the artist reception for the Grand Rapids Festival of Arts. It was nice and incredibly busy. I always love looking at other people's work. It inspires me to do more of my own and challenges me to do even better work.

When I went to pick up my name tag I noticed there was a little gold star on the corner. I asked the lady working the name tag table what made me so special. She told me I had won an award and handed me the award list. Sure enough I got a purchase award! Sure, it's not as prestigious as a juror award but I'll take it. It's always a great boost to my confidence to learn that someone likes my work enough to pay money for it. No matter how many paintings I sell I think I'll always be just a little surprised when someone wants one.

Accepted

I found out on Friday that one of my paintings was accepted in the Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts Competition. It will be on display at the old art museum during Festival June 6-8. Come on down, check it out and vote for it as peoples choice!

Festival

Every year Grand Rapids has the Festival of the Arts. There are bands, art displays, booth after booth of food venders and most notably an art competition. I've never entered it before. I'm not really sure why. It would be great exposure if one of my paintings were to win. I decided this year I'm going for it. I've got nothing to lose, really. Now I have to go through the hard decision of deciding what to enter. I went through all the art I've created in the last two years. I have three file folders full of things that are 8x10 or smaller and an entire portfolio dedicated to things that are larger than 8x10. It's a bit overwhelming. I have it narrowed down to about ten pieces right now. Wish me luck!

Lucy-Fur

For those of you who don't know my good friend, Karly, and I have been working on making our first batch of wine. It will be Pinot in about three weeks. We decided, after a rather unfortunate incident (don't worry the wine is fine) to name the wine after Karly's dog, Lucy. I did a little illustration of her for the wine labels and Karly will be laying out the text. I can't wait for it to be done!

Blog troubles

After hosting my blog on my own website for a while I;ve decided to move it back to blogger. I've had nothing but trouble wih my server. I'm going to move my favorite images from the past few months but the rest, alas, will be lost to cyberspace.

Camouflage

Even though bass are naturally camouflaged it can't save them from fishermen.

My second Illustration Friday post today. I'm trying to catch up and be inspired.

Rejection

Wanda would never be one of the flock.

I've missed Illustration Friday for far too long. I'm back now I promise.

It's been a while.

I'm back. I've been busy and have sadly neglected my blogging duties. I'm now working for a stamp company called My Favorite Things. I hope I'll be a bit better at keeping up with this blog and that I'll be more motivated to do more work. But now for your viewing pleasure I give you the first card I created with my new rubber stamps.

ghost

After her tragic death Margot chose to haunt Chanel hand bags.

Smitten

The down side of being smitten is that quite often you end up sitting with a pint of Ben n' Jerry's and a broken heart.

I've been a bit busy as of late. I gave a talk at my alma mater about illustration and greetings cards. Mostly the students asked a lot of questions about life after graduation. It was fun to be back in a classroom. The professor asked me to come do a demonstration of my painting technique next semester so I may do that. Other than that I've been working on cards, a commissioned drawing, I sold two paintings, and I may have another project coming up (cross my fingers). When it rains it pours and when it's dry it's a dessert. I'm just happy to be busy again.

Phobia

Irrational fear often has tragic consequences. Poor bulls run off a cliff by a small fluffy dog. I can't say I blame them though small fluffy dogs freak me out.


In other news my cards tested well and I will have my own small section of 12 cards next summer. They are through Recycled Paper Greetings and will be available nation wide. Look for them in a Target store near you!

Change

I have a new part time job now. I work at a retail shop that sells coffee and nuts. It's nice so far but there is always that lingering fear of CHANGE.

Bye Karl

So Karl has officially married and move to Florida. And I am officially looking for a part time job. Sad but art can't pay my bills right now.

Farm

Fun farm animal themed stamps I created in Illustrator.

Now For Sale

This image was comissioned by my mother-in-law. I think it says something about her sense of humor :)

In other news I now have my art for sale on etsy.com.

My Art Shop

safe

The mail man is safe on the other side of the glass for now.