Another spec piece

I was asked to do another spec piece for Brown Books. I didn't get the job, so you get to see it. This doesn't have the typical colors I like to do since I was asked to make it look as much as I could like the photo I was given.

A logo

A good friend asked me to create a logo for her business. Here's the final product. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. In so many ways, logos are easier than picture books. It was a bit tricky for me to figure out how to manipulate the text just so, but I learned from the experience, and that's what counts, isn't it?

Stories for Children - Last Issue

A few years ago (about when I started this blog) I began participating in illustrating for Stories for Children Magazine. Next month will be their last issue (perhaps indefinitely?) and I chose to participate. It's been a great way for me to have a reason to illustrate, and I have certainly seen some growth as a result. Here's the illo, and if you're intrigued, look for Molly and the Watering Can in March.

I think, were I to repaint this, I would make the watering can silver (or gold, maybe?). Otherwise, I'm pretty satisfied with the finished product.

my latest work

OK, so this is more boring than what I usually do, but since I did it I'll show it. We'll be moving whenever we can sell our house and my husband wants a website to showcase our townhome. He thought a couple of watercolors might help it stand out and enlisted yours truly to do them. I have to admit that making something this realistic isn't as much fun for me to do, but the final product is satisfying. And now I have a portrait of our first home.

sketching

I made a goal to do a bit more sketching this year, something that is actually much easier for me than it is to create something from my own imagination (although not as much fun). I can easily go on auto-pilot and think about or listen to something else while I do it. In this case, I was listening to a basketball game.

Brothers

I'm not sure if I'll actually put color on this (too many things I'd need to work out that I'm not wanting to do right now), but I love the story. My oldest son really likes playing with kids (as opposed to me) and is always trying to get my youngest to do something with him. After dancing together last Sunday, the youngest decided he was done and lugged his stool to the window to look at the snow. My oldest said, "OK, now we can look at the snow!" He went over to my youngest and tenderly put his hand on the small of his brother's back. My youngest wasn't so sure about the whole thing, but it certainly filled me up with warm joy!

Hello Again!

OK, so I know I haven't been around for a while, but I just realized that it's been since JULY since I last posted! Ahem.

Watercolor Wednesdays has already seen this illo, but some of you have not. I created this for a children's book I wrote many years ago that I hope to one day publish.

Speaking of books, I finished my very first for Brown Books (an "all-purpose" publishing house - they help people self-publish books). The way it worked was they asked me to submit a spec piece (like the one below) for an author to look at. The author liked my style and chose me to illustrate the story. It was nice to get paid (howbeit a bit meager), to add to my portfolio, and to compliment my resume. Once the book is published (March-ish?) I can share illo's.

My tendonitis has much improved, thanks to a nifty personal ultrasound machine I purchased. It is SOOO nice to be able to do things without being in pain (or, worse, feeling like I'm only making things worse)!