Monday, May 20, 2013

Illustration Friday: Liquid


Liquid Not Included


I went to dinner a few weeks ago at a beautiful restaurant at the top of the hill with a commanding view of the Pacific ocean.   There was a mass of miniature rowboats tacked up on the wall, and I thought, 'Wow, that's really neat.  I wonder where they are floating to, all going upward like that.'  

Oh, look, there's another dead fish in my drawing.  Why the preoccupation with dead fish, I wonder?  I blame Ted Blackman.

I'm closing up shop for a few months to work on a project and spend time with family and friends.  Have a wonderful summer (or winter)!  See you later, alligator!



Making Peace with the Monster Within

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Illustration Friday: Farewell

Too Little Too Late



What I want to write has nothing to do with that picture.  That picture is kind of sad.  Originally, the fish had no eyeball, but my younger daughter was horrified and upset with me, so I relented.  

Forget about the picture.  What I really want to write is Thank You.  Thank you for visiting and leaving  encouraging words.  Thank you for not throwing in the towel, like I so often want to do when things get me down.  Traveling around the world through the interweb and seeing the unflagging hope and cheer and happiness and humor in your posts and artwork were exactly what I needed to get that ol' merry-making machine cranking again.  She just needed a little grease, that's all.  :)

And while I'm at it, I also want to salute and thank all the men and women in uniform, overseas and here at home, all the first responders and spontaneous helpers who risk their lives and rush into dangerous situations to help people in need.  Too often, they are unsung and under-appreciated.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Farewell and thank you, too, to Penelope of Illustration Friday.  Thank you for creating an amazingly nurturing and inspiring community of artists.  Some of the people I hold dearest I have met through IF.

Good grief, this is starting to sound like a retirement speech at a work party.

Oh, before I go, I wanted to share with you pictures of a photo album that Ana of Albumes Artesanales Y más created for a special young client.  Her craftsmanship is fantastic!  You can see more of her gorgeous albums at http://albumesartesanalesymas.blogspot.com/.  Thanks, Ana!



(photos courtesy of Ana)


I hope you have a beautiful and energizing and mind-bogglingly amazing weekend!

*EDIT:  Just to be clear, I'm not retiring.  You can't get rid of me that easily.  :)

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Illustration Friday: Wild



There was supposed to be some accompanying story here.  Something about a little girl who accidentally fell from a passing cloud and was rescued by a giant bat who adopted her.  It was supposed to be a happy story, but then this week happened and all the happiness in me has shriveled up.  My internal merrymaking machine is broken.

What a tragic week for America.  Cowards planting deadly bombs, someone mailing poison,  a Justice of the Peace murdering people for retaliation, first responders and dozens of citizens dying in a horrific explosion in Texas, and a Senate refusing to listen to the people because of selfishness and cowardice.

I have never been an activist.  I don't even like to ask people to buy things for my kids' fundraisers.  But when it comes to the safety of my family, I will do what it takes.  As you probably know, the Senate yesterday voted down a proposal to expand background checks on gun purchases, even though numerous polls show that around 90% of Americans support it.  We can sit here and blame our politicians, but we should also be blaming ourselves.  Their inaction is due to our inaction.  If you are unhappy with the way your state's Senators voted yesterday, please take a few minutes to contact them via email or phone to let them know your disappointment.  If you do not know how your Senators voted, please click here.  Senators are not mind readers.  They need to know where their constituents stand.  One bee buzzing alone can be ignored.  The buzzing of a thousand little bees can resonate like thunder.  I have been contacting my Senators and showing my support.  I urge you to let your voice be heard too.

I wish someone could just wrap their arms around me and tell me that everything will be okay.  Maybe I need to go find myself a giant mama bat.  Now excuse me.  I need to find some spare parts to fix my merrymaking machine.  It is seriously broken.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Illustration Friday: Urban


I remember walking down to the liquor store on Melrose Avenue with my sister and some of the neighborhood kids, tightly clutching my coins and planning out just how I'd spend them.  Oh, the candy selection!  It was probably just a couple of low shelves in front of the cash register, but to a little kid with money to burn it was a wall of brightly colored, sugary goodness.  My favorites were the long, long, long sticks of gum that came in green apple or watermelon flavor and Abba Zabas.  And Fruit Stripe gum, the one with the zebra in the commercial.  Those were fun.  Remember those wax tubes filled with sugar water?  Or the candy cigarettes that really tasted like chalk?  Yep, just a bunch of urban kids enjoying their sugar high.  Good times.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Illustration Friday: Swim


Omg.  Axolotl.  Lol.




For the one who has been circling my head.  xoxo


Thursday, March 7, 2013

Illustration Friday: Talent


It takes a lot of talent to walk on water with a human on your back.  You betcha.  

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Illustration Friday: Wool

Baa.
That's as close as I get to drawing a neck.



OMG, something swallowed my squeaky toy!






Emmy & 9 take Frog Hollow by storm with their rousing rendition of Wooly Bully.
Rock on, sistahs.

Good night, everybody!  Drive safe and remember to tip your waiter!