What I'm working on.....

This is just a quick post to share what I've been working on. I know, this is a terrible sneak peak pic, but I have several paintings in the works, and it helps my momentum if I don't show too much yet. These pieces will be included in the works I'll be showing at Haiku: Poetic Food and Art in December. Some of the pieces will also be worked into some children's book promotions. There's been a lot of planning going on behind the scenes this year.

I've also been going through a life changing 13 week LZR7 Treatment program to eliminate my allergies & food intolerances, balance my hormones, and a ton of other stuff. I haven't been on allergy medication for months now, and besides eliminating my stomach pain, increasing my energy, and feeling overall better, this amazing thing happened.....I can see clearly now! I still need my contacts and glasses, but one day it was like I woke up with HD vision. The blurry haze I've had for the last 15 years has lifted, and everything is clean, sharp, defined, and colors seem more saturated. It's been a rather intense improvement that I'm grateful for everyday.

While most of the summer was spent drawing and detoxing every week during the treatments I did manage a little fun this summer. My friend, Bob and I went on an awesome open-air safari at The Wilds. I've always wanted to go on safari. I just never imagined it would be in Ohio! Located on nearly 10,000 acres, The Wilds is one of the largest wildlife conservation centers in the world. It is such an incredible place. I wish all animals had wide open spaces to roam.

I promise to post some better art pics soon. Now let the painting marathon begin....

robot whales

acrylic on wood 6" x 6"

This piece was a private commission I had a lot of fun painting.

 You can see the preliminary sketches over on Between the End Pages.

ISM: 10 year Anniversary Exhibition

naturalistic pantheism - acrylic on wood

I was honored to be invited to participate in the ISM- 10 year anniversary exhibition. Each artist was asked to illustrate a word ending in __ism, or to define our own __ism. I chose naturalistic pantheism, for it is the __ism I felt most connected to. The core of naturalistic pantheism is reverence and respect for nature and the wider universe.

_______ism will be on display at the ISM: 10 year celebration at Grand Central Art Center from Saturday, July 7 until Sunday, August 12.


Grand Central Art Center: 125 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Opening Reception: Saturday, July 7, 7:00pm until 10:00pm
Closing Reception: Saturday, August 4, 7:00pm until 10:00pm
The exhibition will be on display from Saturday, July 7 until Sunday, August 12. 

 

close-up

close-up

Andy, the furry art director, is unimpressed

work in progress

Happy Summer Solstice!

left behind - IF: lonely

acrylic on wood

acrylic on Arches hot press

I happened upon this blue-footed bird with the unfortunate name in an old calendar, and it inspired this little character. I'm working on a larger painting for a June show, so I used these little pieces to get my painting muscles warmed up. Feels great to be back in the studio again!

HARBINGER Art Gallery Opening!

Faye's Red-stained Hands - acrylic on wood

 

 

As part of my friend, Sara Wilson Etienne's, book launch she asked 25 artists and illustrators to create artwork inspired by Harbinger, her incredible debut novel. This Saturday, March 3rd there will be an opening at Hive Gallery in LA where all these works will be displayed.

I was quite excited to be asked to participate. I met Sara at my first big SCBWI conference in NY a few years ago. At the Summer conference last year she gave me an advanced copy of her book, and a project brief. Harbinger weaves intriguing mysteries, and I wanted to create a piece focusing on one of those quandaries. I enjoyed playing with textures and patterns for this painting. It's been wonderful watching everyone's pieces go up in the Holbrook Academy sketchbook, and it's been so fun celebrating Sara's success!

Sara also interviewed me over on her site here.

See the Harbinger book trailer here.

For those able to make it to LA this weekend:
The Hive Gallery and Studios

729 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA

 

• 6pm-8pm: Book selling and signing; pre-gallery opening hang-outs; and FREE ENTRY
• Starting at 8pm: COVER CHARGE of $8, music, bar, partytime!

A gift for penguin friends

acrylic on wood

 I'm a bit 'bah humbug' over Valentine's Day, but it has been a lovely day for these penguins. 

Happy Year of the Dragon!

Atelier Interactive Acrylic on Arches hot press watercolor paper

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Today, I planned to work on some other paintings, but I wanted to do a quick illustration in celebration of Chinese New Year. For, the year of the dragon is said to be the luckiest of them all!

I love working on wood, but I've been itching to play with a lighter, quick color technique, so I found my old Arches watercolor paper, and had some fun with this little painting.

Gung hay fat choy!

Illustration Friday: Prepare

Copic Multiliner pen with digital paint & textures

Prepare, what a great word to start off the year with as I've definitely been in preparation mode this January. This is the time of year I like to set a theme for the next 12 months. This year I'm not planning on attending any conferences. The SCBWI conferences have been like a type of grad school for me, full of information and inspiration, but now it's time to focus on producing the work.

I'm grateful to have been asked to do a 10-15 piece solo show at a restaurant in our local art's district, and although it won't open until December I'll be working on paintings throughout the year. I've chosen a them for the show, and have begun thumbnailing pieces based on a story that's been developing. I'm also considering printing an art book of the series. I'm quite excited to see where this story goes.

So, this year will be about sinking into my own work, and thinking about my art in terms of a bigger picture. I'm enjoying the direction I'm going more than ever, so now it's time to have some fun! I'd also like to finally open my etsy shoppe. I'm now working on a couple mini paintings, and I'd like to get some prints made as well.

Merry Everything! & 6 year blogoversary!

Christmas Eve will mark my 6 year blogoversary! Woohoo! (insert flaying Kermit arms) This year has been filled with so many wonderful supportive friends that I end 2011 feeling so overjoyed. I mean, really, who would have thought a little isolated artist posting a few sketches would find the key to a whole art community of like-minded, amazing, incredible people? Hanging out on Skype, G+, and in person at conferences has been the icing on the cake!  Oh, and the dancing! There was crazy fun dancing! The kidlit SCBWI crew definitely knows how to get down and jump around!

Before I forget, I want to mention I was interviewed by the wonderful, Kathy Temean.
See the post here.

To see my Scroogebunny for our Christmas Carol theme check out Between the End Pages.

A fallen maple branch which budded out of season became my christmas tree this year.

I even found an LED crystal garland light string for it.

Found this great comic on procrastination to get me in gear for the New Year.

All I'm asking Santa for this year are opportunities. I'll take care of the rest.

See you in 2012!

2011 OAL Thumb Box Exhibition

These are my submissions for the annual OAL Thumb Box Exhibition where the only rule is the total art dimensions (including frame) must not exceed 6”x 6”x 6”. One of my rules is to have fun with this, and my subject matter tends to end up being completely random and unrelated.

 I brought these to my parent's house to finish them up during the Thanksgiving weekend. As you can see I had some help from Andy, the furry art director.

You see a better view of the Automated Bunnies over on our group blog here.

Happy Halloween from Penguin & Chicken!

I missed sketching penguin and chicken. When I picked up my sketchbook I found my avian friends dressing up as their favorite characters for Halloween. I plan to update this post with these guys colored up.

I also want to officially announce I've been asked to join a wonderful blog group, 'Between the End Pages'! I was so honored to be asked! I'll be posting more quick sketches over there, along with monthly themed illustrations for my portfolio. Please do stop by for a visit, and to also check out the fabulous work of my fellow blogmates, Jill Bergman, Brooke Boynton Hughes, Marsha Riti, and Tina Kugler!

See another penguin and chicken sketch I posted over on Between the End Pages here.

Happy Halloween!

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I've been working on a top secret painting which will be revealed sometime in the next few months. I don't even know exactly when yet, but I'll be sure to let you know when I do. Hope  you had a fun trick or treat day!

James and the Giant Peach

James and the insects flung all about inside the peach pit

These page spreads are for the Children's Book Rally contest over on Illustration Rally. The contest asked that we stick to a classic familiar story. I asked my twitter friends for story suggestions and Kim Fleming mentioned Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which got me me on the Roald Dahl track, and one of my all-time favorites, 'James and the Giant Peach'. (Kim also posted about the contest on her wonderful new Illustration Station blog that you should check out.)

They encounter sharks & escape by tying silkworm strings to a flock of seagulls

My 5th grade teacher read 'James and the Giant Peach' to us, and I was instantly fascinated by the pure imagination of it all. What's best of all is how the insects all look to James to come up with solutions to the dilemmas they face on their journey, and he ends up finding a family where he belongs, and is loved. What more could you ask for?

Painting insects seemed to make sense seeing how I've been photographing them in my garden all summer. I first encountered a baby grasshopper on the inside of my car windshield. He chewed on me.

He decided to stick around.

Isn't he cute? He's even smizing.

 Then he nibbled on my green pepper plant, which may explain the lack of peppers.

He ended up growing quite large, and protective of that 1 single pepper.

I also hosted another garden guest. For the first time ever  I spotted a praying mantis who stuck around for weeks. If I rustled some leaves his head would turn towards me in the most creepy way, but definitely cool.

With this project I finally had a use for these big reference books I had bought at Half Price Books back in my college days. Back in the time before google searches. I had to face some of my darkest fears though. Sharks give me nightmares, and there are swarms of scary insects in there. Even bugs, ya know, 'doing it'. Oh, my innocent eyes!

Ok, on to the process shots. I used very thin board this time since it would be more practical if I did a book in this technique. Thinner boards are much easier to cut.

The woodgrain on this board was just gorgeous. Check out those waves! This led to me to painting as thin as possible to let the grain show through, which was an extra challenge.

After the base 'stain' I sketched and shaded a bit. Then after several hours and many thin layers we have the finished paintings.

To wrap up, here's my usual sketching location on the couch. I used to only have a tiny table lamp, and found myself leaning over to it, so I found this lamp at Cost Plus which gave me great overhead light. It came with little oval oriental shades which I changed out with some grapevine balls I've had forever, and painted them white. The more natural rustic style feels more 'me'.

I then added rice paper to the inside. Someone told me the lamp looks a bit insect-like. See how this ties into the post now? Full circle