Little Deb's Doodlings

Craft pages

2012-01-31T15:03:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of craft ideas I illustrated as samples for a possible assignment. They're projects we made in preschool, so I thought I would share them. Enjoy.

IF: Twirl

2012-01-25T19:13:00.000-08:00

Quick little sketch for the Illustration Friday theme: Twirl. :)

Illustration Friday: "Prepare"

2012-01-18T18:19:00.000-08:00

Here are a few things you need to know when you prepare to learn the art of shoe tying . . .

Good luck! :)

Tangled up in books

2012-01-09T22:16:00.000-08:00

I spent the day drawing & watching movies on Netflix. My favorite was "Tangled". Here's a drawing I created while watching. I loved her hair - it had a life of it's own.

The Diabetic Camper

2012-01-08T13:41:00.000-08:00

I was recently asked to create a blog banner for The Diabetic Camper - a blog by our Boyscout Scoutmaster, Dave Hennesey. He wanted some type of camper made from either a insulin syringe/bottle or something diabetic-related. My sketch of the bottle guy looked more like a marshmallow on a stick (also very "camperish" but not diabetic). So, we came up with "Blood drop dude" who is happily camping in the woods. I gave him a beard to look like Dave, and then did a version of Dave with a normal head & healthy complexion - just in case the blood drop dude confused his blog readers.

Dave the blood drop dude won out. :)

Take a visit over there for all sorts of fun info. Dave's a hoot. :)

Tomie dePaola contest blog

2012-01-02T08:39:00.000-08:00

Some of my FB friends put together a blog with their entries into the Tomie dePaola contest I mentioned in my last post. I've heard there were over 300 entries this year (last year there were around 150), but here are some amazing illustrations from hardworking illustrators. I'm proud to be part of this group. Good luck everyone!! Winners will be announced soon. Click on the big acorn on the right side of my blog to get to the gallery.

SCBWI Tomie dePaola Contest

2011-12-16T05:52:00.000-08:00

The Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators has a contest from Tomie dePaola. Every year he gives an assignment from one scene of a classic picture book and we illustrate it with our own vision. The one who impresses him the most wins a trip to the NYC SCBWI winter conference! You better believe I was interested in that prize!

Here's the scene to illustrate:

So they went along and went along until they met Turkey Lurkey

“Good morning, Goosey Loosey, Ducky Daddles, Cocky Locky, Henny Penny,
and Chicken Licken,” said Turkey Lurkey, “where are you going?”
“Oh, Turkey Lurkey, the sky is falling and we are going to tell the King!”
“How do you know the sky is falling?” asked Turkey Lurkey.
“Ducky Daddles told me,” said Goosey Loosey.
“Cocky Locky told me,” said Ducky Daddles.
“Henny Penny told me,” said Cocky Locky.
“Chicken Licken told me,” said Henny Penny
“I saw it with my own eyes, I heard it with my own ears,
and a piece of it fell on my tail!” said Chicken Licken.
“Then I will go with you,” said Turkey Lurkey, “and we will tell the King!”

I had 2 ideas, but could only submit one. :( Here they are:

Idea #1 was a conversation on FB with Turkey Lurkey & all his pals. I loved it, but wasn't sure it was right for the job. I was worried it was too much of a one-panel cartoon, and didn't have enough story telling - what happened before & what could happen next. So, I went with my second idea:

Idea #2 has more story, and I like the wall & the fact that it's not just a scene with the farm animals and that it's wordless. I also like the little doggie sidekick who seems to be the only one noticing the king collie.

This was so much fun to participate in. I hope I win the trip! At the least I've created some nice illustrations for my portfolio. ^__^ Hope you enjoy them too.

New promo mailer

2011-11-30T11:35:00.000-08:00

Last summer, I was going to the SCBWI conference in LA, and decided to make a dummy book with the 3 little pigs story. I didn't like the violent endings for the wolf, so I decided to rewrite it and make it more preschool friendly. It's a fun new twist with lessons on bullying, sharing & treating folks with respect. (without being preachy) After another round of revisions, it's back on the drawing board & a new dummy will be finished soon & off to find a home with a publisher. (fingers crossed) I loved those little piggies so much that I decided to use them in my latest promo postcard.

Now, here's a little lesson for all my illustrator friends: Check, check & double check your files before sending them to a printer!! My computer is acting weird lately, and when I save a jpg for web, the colors are fine. If I export and save a high res jpg, the colors are faded. So, what do you think happened when I sent my file to print these postcards? Yep, the high res file is less saturated in color. I wasn't at all happy with it, and asked for a reprint, but I ended up 1,000 postcards that were not quite what I wanted. Oops. So frustrating. Printing is my least favorite. Hopefully the art directors will love my piggies in any shade of pink.

Web jpg

high res jpg

back of card

Challenges can be addicting

2011-11-25T19:40:00.000-08:00

I love to try new things . . . well, not exotic foods or learning skydiving or anything like that, I like to try new CRAFTY things. :) You know, those safe, colorful things that normal folks look at and say "Oh, you're so crafty. I can't even draw stick people. I could never do that." Frankly (Mr. Shankly), I think most people have it in them to do way more than they give themselves credit for. You never know what you're capable until you try.

Recently, I got the hankerin to learn how to crochet. I don't know why I wanted to learn. It's not like I don't have a bazillion other things that need to be done around her. I have material to make valances for my kitchen that I bought last summer. I have photos to put into albums. And don't get me started on the endless supply of laundry, dusting or dog hair tumbleweed clean up I need to tackle. I wanted to crochet. So sue me. Not only did I want to learn to crochet, but I wanted to make crochet critters! Yep, no potholders or baby blankets for this gal. (Did I mention I love a challenge??)

First I thought I should probably start off slow & make a hat. How hard could that be, right? Here is my first attempt:

I have no idea why it's so wavy, but if there is a market for crocheted coral, I'm ready.
So, I tried again:

Flatter, but still pretty sloppy. I could stop there and make a coaster. Too ordinary though.
Heck, why don't I just dive in and make a critter like I wanted to all along?? Don't I always hear people say "Only have work in your portfolio like the work you'd like to do?" So why am I making a hat? I don't like to mush down my hair anyways. By golly, I was going to make a monkey!!

One step at a time . . .

A monkey head - not quite as round as the pattern, but I was keeping the faith it would all work out in the end.

Shazaam! Behold the monkey noggin!

Voila! After a week of teaching myself with YouTube videos, reading the directions, and stitching/ripping/re-stitching . . . I created this cute little monkey with his favorite red shorts! We've named him Peanut. :) (Mostly because he's sort of shaped like one - his head's kinda pointy at the top)

I could have given up several times - especially after that curly hat incident, but I pushed on. Sometimes you just have to take one step at a time and have faith in yourself. Tell yourself this is what I want to do, and I'm going to do whatever it takes to achieve this goal. Peanut is my first monkey, but he won't be my last. I've learned a lot creating him. Each critter I make from here will be made better & will be easier to create.

So, don't be afraid to try new things. Don't give up when things are not working out on the first try - be patient. Keep working. You are totally capable of amazing yourself, ya know. Go for it! ^__^

IF: Silent

2011-11-15T17:48:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple little owls I did for the Illustration Friday theme "Silent". Moms know all too well that when your baby is sleeping, the world must remain silent!

I created this by sketching it with a #2 pencil, scanning it in and then adding color in Illustrator with different transperancy styles. Hoot! Hoot!

Giveaway at Allen Designs

2011-11-10T15:08:00.000-08:00

Have you heard? Michelle Allen is having a giveaway over at her blog, Close 2 my Art. I really, really, really LOVE her artwork. This clock would look fabulous in my studio, so I hope I win. :) However, I thought I'd share the news so you have a chance to win too. She is also picking 3 winners of some fabulous camera straps she created. Check out her site. Lots of very colorful & fun art that I know you'll love. Good luck!

IF: Stripes

2011-11-04T19:56:00.000-07:00

The Illustration Friday theme is "Stripes" this week, so here are some sketches of things that are stripey! ^__^

November is comin . . . PiBoIdMo time!

2011-10-24T08:23:00.000-07:00

What the heck is PiBoIdMo, you ask? Well it's a great way to get those creative juices flowing and push you to come up with 30 picture book ideas in 30 days. You don't have to write the whole manuscript for each, but you'll have 30 ideas to work from later. I admit that I tried this last year, and stalled out around 20 ideas. However, I've misplaced them, and will be searching my messy office for them today.

This is the year I focus on BOTH writing & illustrating. I took time to do each separately, and now I am driven to combine both passions and have my own picture book published. I can do this!!!

If you'd like to join in on the PiBoIdMo challenge, click on the icon to the right (with the cute little fireflys), and you'll find all the info you need. Good luck!

Constantly moving forward

2011-10-10T11:54:00.000-07:00

In honor of Columbus day, I'm reflecting on how far I've come in the world of children's illustration. I only really started drawing in 2004/2005 when I went back to school to get a degree in graphic design. Before that, I doodled on occasion, but never thought of a career in illustration - and had never, ever taken an art class of any kind (I always wanted to write). That first art class was a bit nerve wracking - that nice white sheet of paper, a brand new stick of black charcoal . . . that could only result in a huge mess, right?! Well, it wasn't until I started intro to computer illustration that I truly felt at home. I wasn't looked down on because I liked "illustration" (my fine art teacher said it like she was raised on filet mignon & I had just told her I loved Happy Meals!).

However, just like everything, you can't pick up a pencil (or stylus) and become good at drawing overnight. I have lots of sketchbooks filled with hideous drawings. Trying to find my style, figuring out what to draw, what kind of eyes I like, etc. It's been a journey, but I feel like I'm getting better & better every day. I also feel I am closer to the big dream of illustrating a picture book. Now the dream is that I marry my two passions and write & illustrate a picture book. I'm working on that now, and fingers crossed, I will find someone to publish them one day.

Last weekend, I had a portfolio review from Laurent Linn , AD from Simon & Schuster, and he had a lot of positive comments & encouragement for me. He also had a list of things to tweak to push my work that extra step. So, I encourage all my artist friends, when you attend conferences SIGN UP FOR A PORTFOLIO CRITIQUE! Budget for it, it's worth every penny. Good news or not so good, it's important to know what to do to make your work better and help you move forward.

And as much as it pains me . . . I'm inviting you to (quickly) check out the first post in this blog from 2005 and then look at the latest post. I personally think it's like day & night. I'm proud of how far I've come. Maybe it hasn't happened as fast as I'd like, but it's happening and that's all that matters. There's a plan in place, and I'm on the right track, baby.

Raising my Diet Dr. Pepper to salute all those who are boldly moving forward to new adventures, following their dreams, and making the future better because of it!!

IF: Ferocious

2011-09-26T06:19:00.000-07:00

Here's my dog, Buddy, and his "I'm gonna eat a squirrel today" ferocious spaz-out. They like to terrorize eachother on a daily basis. sigh.

IF: Mesmerizing

2011-09-17T10:29:00.000-07:00

Magicians always leave me mesmerized.

IF: Boundaries

2011-09-14T09:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes love knows no boundaries. ^__^

LA SCBWI conference 2011

2011-08-12T13:40:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of attending the LA SCBWI conference last week, and I'm still reeling from it. If you've ever thought of going, I'm here to tell you: YOU MUST! Get a roommate to share the expense, and make it a priority. You won't regret it!

I went to the NY conference in 2010, and enjoyed it, but this one was over the top awesomeness. Sure, it was the 40th birthday of SCBWI, so maybe they pulled out all the stops and brought in the big guns, but even so, I've heard it's amazing all years. All the speakers were entertaining, and there were a few I wasn't very familiar with - definitely have must deserved respect for them now. Gary Paulsen ("Hatchet") was probably my favorite speaker. He was hilarious, told us about his extremely rough childhood/life in general, and was so genuine. He looked & acted like your typical grouchy old grandpa. I loved him. :)

My favorite part of the conference was the illustrator intensive. This was an extra day, but more than worth it. We had 7 illustrators who had 1 hour each to talk, demonstrate & answer questions about their work. Gosh, that was epic. Paul Zelinsky, David Small, Jerry Pinkney, Kadir Nelson, Richard Jesse Watson, Marla Frazee & Denise Fleming. So cool!!!! I even won an original artwork by Richard Jesse Watson.

I had a portfolio review with Marla Frazee, and she was so sweet. She had lots of nice things to say about my work and was really encouraging. She also took the time to read my whole pb dummy and critique that too. Probably the most helpful critique I've ever had.

I really feel driven to do more. It has been my goal since childhood to have a book published. I'm determined to make that happen. I was always entertained/inspired as a child when I read picture books, and it's my duty to future generations to make that happen for them too. I'm goin for it!

How to make an illustrated nametag

2011-08-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

I love to go to SCBWI conferences, but I don't like the sticker nametags I get at local conferences. I figure since I'm an illustrator I should jazz it up a bit. Plus, if you're like me, you might need a conversation starter . . . illustrated nametags are perfect for that.

I recently updated my logo to reflect my current style, so I needed to make a new nametag. Here is a step-by-step tutorial, so you can make one too.

Here's all the supplies you will need. Printed illustration w/your name, cardboard to mount it to (baseball cards or those generic credit cards you get in the mail work too - don't use one that has real info on it, of course), spray adhesive, clear Contac paper, x-acto knife/ruler, big safety pin and a hot glue gun.

Once you have the cardboard or card size to fit your illustration, spray the back of the illo with adhesive and fold the paper down across the back (no one will really see this, but the sides need to be covered, so might as well make it look nice all over. You'll need to fold the corners like a package or cut triangles in them too lay nice. If you need to, use some clear tape to secure the sides down in the back. None of this should be visible from the front.

After the paper is secure onto the board, you'll need the clear contact paper to protect your design (you don't want to spill something on it and have to make another nametag). Start by just laying your tag on the contac paper face down. Then wrap like a package just like you did in the previous step. I think it works best with notched corners.

After the Contac paper has been smoothed down, it's time to glue on a pin. Pump out a bit of hot glue onto the back of the tag and hold a big safety pin in place til secure.

There it is - my new nametag. I'll be wearing it for the first time at the LA SCBWI conference this week! If you see me, please say Hello!

UPDATE: I wore my nametag during the entire LA SCBWI Conference and I wanted to let you know that this was one of my better ideas ever. So many people recognized me and came to talk to me because of it. It was also the perfect way to get my art out there in a quick way. I highly recommend making one for yourself.

IF: Shadows

2011-06-08T20:20:00.000-07:00

For Mother's Day, I traced silhouttes for 4 classes of kids at the preschool I work at. It looked a lot like this. I told the kids I was tracing their shadows because shadows don't get their picture drawn very often. I loved how they turned out. Some had really fun hair.

Ladybug Lawnmower

2011-06-06T17:02:00.000-07:00

Quick little sketch I created today before I set out into the hot sun to mow the lawn. Think of how difficult that task would be if you were a ladybug. Those blades of grass would be enormous!!

IF: Asleep

2011-06-01T14:42:00.000-07:00

A lot of change goes on while a caterpillar is asleep in his cocoon!

Colored in Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator using Live Trace Feature

Original sketch

Which do you prefer?

IF: Soaked

2011-05-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

Here's a little sketch I did for the Illustration Friday theme "Soaked". What is it with clowns & seltzer bottles?

Bottled

2011-04-18T09:19:00.000-07:00

I like to sketch with the Illustration Friday themes as a springboard for ideas. I sketched this last week during naptime in my 3yr old class (keep in mind that it's fairly dark in the room, and we only have about 30 minutes of "me time" - which is usually interrupted repeatedly - while the kids are resting on the floor next to us). That explains why the genie's fist has a thumb where his pinkie finger should be! Oops! :) (I thought that looked weird!) My scanner was being irritable, so I didn't post it in time for that week's theme. Thought I would share it with you now.

IF: Stir

2011-03-16T20:33:00.000-07:00

Here's a sketch I did while watching American Idol tonight. The Illustration Friday theme this week is stir, so here's a little doggie stirring in the ingredients for a batch of dog bone cookies.

And the winner is . . .

2011-02-15T20:06:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the release of my 4th coloring book with Warner Press, I held a drawing for all 4 books.

Friends who commented on my blog or Facebook post were added to the list of possible winners.

Names were placed in a valentine bag and a winner was drawn at random.
And the winner is . . . .

My Beachbody Buddy, Liana Garza! Congrats, Liana! Send me your address and I'll mail them out ASAP. Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Coloring too! ^_^

IF: Sweater

2011-02-11T14:52:00.000-08:00

This was done a while back for the "flawed" theme, but it fits sweater too, so it's coming back for an encore.

IF: Reverse

2011-02-04T15:45:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you wish you could reverse the damage you've done. Ctrl z (or I guess it's command z for you Mac people) would be awesome in real life, wouldn't it?!

Quick sketch while watching tv today.

Coloring Book Giveaway!

2011-02-02T13:10:00.000-08:00

I've been blessed to win a few giveaways in the past few months, so I thought I would pay it forward and have one myself. To celebrate my 4th coloring book with Warner Press, I'm giving away 1 copy of each (shown here) to 1 lucky winner. All you have to do is post a comment here or on my Facebook page. On February 14th, I'll put all the names in a hat and pick a winner. Easy, right?! Thanks for the support! Good luck.

Entries must be received by Feb. 13th at the latest.

sleepy kitty kitty

2011-01-31T15:45:00.000-08:00

It's a chilly day in Texas today, so it's a good time to snuggle up and take a nap. :)

I won!

2011-01-26T16:21:00.000-08:00

Look what I just won from Will Terry via Angela Matteson's blog. So incredibly cool. I love Will's artwork - the lighting is fabulous. I had the pleasure to see his original artwork in person a few years ago. The best job ever - I was working at a local graphic design firm on a project with Harcourt School Publishers. My job was to hire illustrators, send them manuscripts/studio sketches and then receive their final art and get it ready for the publisher. I'll never forget the amazing work Will created. The story was about a fox with a stinky, rotten fish. So funny!

And as if that wasn't enough to win in one day, I also won a portfolio critique with David Diaz at the Austin SCBWI Conference in February through The Texas Sweethearts and Scoundrels. Sa-weet! Update: I also won a spot at the illustrator intensive with Julian Hector at the Austin SCBWI conference through Mark Mitchell's blog! Extra Sa-Weet!!!

IF: Chickens

2011-01-20T20:35:00.000-08:00

Here's a sketch for the illustration Friday theme of Chickens. I love Jannie Ho's artwork, and since she suggested the theme, I really wanted to create something too. No time for color this week, but here are my baseball fans gearing up for spring training. Let's Go (Free) Rangers!!! ^_^

And since we're on the chicken theme, here's my Halloween costume from last year. It was fun to be a chicken for a day! (The costume is made from white paper napkins hot glued onto shorts & long sleeve t-shirt) BAWK! BAWK!

Team Coco

2011-01-06T21:26:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple sketches of Conan O'Brien. I love watching his new show, and I'm happy that he won a People's Choice Award last night. He makes me laugh. :) Go Team Coco!

My Gameplan for 2011

2011-01-02T13:47:00.000-08:00

I've got a big list of plans for 2011, so I think I will try to summarize them here to prevent boredom from anyone even remotely interested. Here goes:

1. Surround myself with more positive/motivated people. Whether it's in illustration or fitness, I NEED to be around those who are jumping in with both feet and rockin' it out. It does make a big difference in life.

2. Create more art. Whether for IF, jobs, or portfolio, I want to create more, and post on this blog more too.
2.5 Create an art licensing portfolio. I feel really drawn to this side of the art world. This is the year I create collections and get to know the art licensing world. I'd also love to go to Surtex and see what's up.

3.Attend more SCBWI/art licensing events/conferences/Beachbody events. This pretty much goes along with 1&2 above.

4.Learn more. I want to add more texture into my work. I think I will need to know more about Photoshop to make that happen. Taking time to learn & play is key.

5.Write! I grew up with dreams of being a writer, but pushed that aside to pursue illustration. I'd love to work on that more and create both.

6. Help others make health & fitness a priority. In addition to illustration, I'm also a Beachbody coach. I know that it has made a huge difference in my physical & emotional health by eating right & exercising daily. I'd love to help people understand that feeling and incorporate it into their daily lives as well. With good health & fitness, anything is possible. Maybe start up a fit club in my area.

7. Work with art reps. I know that the economy & the publishing world are both recovering still, so there may or may not be an opportunity open to actually sign on with an art rep. However, I have worked with a couple on a per job basis, and loved it. So, under contract or not, I want to work with an art rep. It has been a very joyful experience for me.

8. Be more organized. Yes, the office is a bit cluttered, and it's tough to juggle illustration, Beachbody, my job as a preschool aide, and family life, but I'm determined. I want to make sure there isn't time being wasted (very often).

9. Home improvement projects for 2011. I always have several - painting, garden/sitting area in backyard, new curtains, carpet, etc. I would also like to get someone to widen the closet in my office so it will be easily accessible. (wide closet + only 1 door = I can't reach all the way in to the ends.)

10.Travel. This world is amazing. I want to see more of it up close. I'm putting it out there in the universe. I want to go to England. (An invite to the Royal Wedding would be lovely.) I am also determined to attend the SCBWI conference in LA this summer, which I've never been to so that qualifies in several categories of my 2011 gameplan.

2010 Recap

2010-12-31T15:18:00.000-08:00

Little Deb in the Big City!

2010 was filled with me checking off things on my goal list. I truly loved 2010!!! Here are the highlights:

*Ski trip with my family & Boyscout Troop 496 to Red River, NM (not a fan of skiing, but it was fun to spend time with my boys and have meals made by the troop.) I love that my sons & husband are so involved with Boyscouts. They are truly growing up to be amazing men - husband included. Super proud of my boys. :)
*Attended the National SCBWI Conference in NYC for the first time!! Actually, this was my first time in New York. (That has been a big goal for a few years now, and I really loved it.)
*Had fun playing in the snow & building a snowman with my boys. (Seriously, this was a big snow for us in North Texas!!)
*Learned a ton from Kelly Rae Roberts in her Flying Lessons class online.
*Built a huge retaining wall on the side of our house all with the help of my teenage boys. (another goal for a few years) Very proud of how it turned out! (flexing muscles over here) ^_^
*Worked with 2 different art reps on awesome projects. (Definitely made me want a rep even more)
*Finished my 4th coloring book that will come out this February, mostly while enjoying the lake & trees in Michigan during a family vacation. (God bless the person who invented the laptop!)
*Participated in Ripple, Kelly Light's genius idea that raised almost $11,000 to help the gulf coast animals after the oil spill. (You rock, Kelly!)
*Joined Beachbody as a coach and made my health & fitness a priority. (Lost weight, gained muscle, and feel better than I have in years! Gotta love that! Wait, let me flex my muscles one more time.)
*Made lots of great new friends on Facebook & Twitter (and in real life).
*Saw Zig Ziglar on stage at the Get Motivated Seminar in Dallas (with some of my new Beachbody buds). I love Zig Ziglar, and it has been on my goal list for several years to see him in person. Didn't get to meet him, but it was great to be in the same room listening to him speak. It's a geeky thing, but that's me.
*Had my t-shirt design highlighted on my favorite band's website (I love Keane!!!)
*And probably the biggest excitement of my year, which has nothing to do with art, but makes me giddy just remembering it . . . in July I went to see Keane in concert at a small venue in Dallas. I was so close to the stage, it was amazing. Got loads of great pictures, had the time of my life, and afterward got to meet the band & have pictures taken with all 4 members! That was another goal I've had for a few years, even though I still can't believe it came true. You write down "See Keane in concert & meet the band" and it sounds like an impossible dream. Well, I say nothing is impossible!

Here I am with Tom Chaplin, lead singer from Keane.

So, 2011 is almost here. Write down your goals, your impossible dreams, and believe in them. They can all happen. Tomorrow, I'll share with you what my 2011 goals are. Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T10:32:00.000-08:00

I hope you're all having a wonderful Christmas. Here is my new promo piece/Christmas card for 2010. I think it depicts the typical Christmas morning pretty well. Of course, there's always that big black garbage bag to collect all the wrappings - at least in my house (my husband scurries about throwing the mess away before you've even had a chance to decide if you like your gift or not!). May you have many blessings & good memories this Christmas.

Holli Conger's illustration Tips in December

2010-12-15T13:48:00.000-08:00

Hey, have you been to Holli Conger's blog lately? She's offering illustration tips EVERY DAY in December. That gal is really rockin' it in the illustration world, and I really appreciate that she's sharing her knowledge with us. Plus, she's even having a give-away for a 3-month marketing consultation with her. Wow! (That's under tip #15) So, my tip to you . . . get to Holli's site now!

IF: Prehistoric

2010-12-09T05:29:00.000-08:00

A little prehistoric scene I created while trying out ways to add more texture with scanned in papers/paint swatches.

IF: Afterwards

2010-11-08T18:10:00.000-08:00

This week's Illustration Friday theme is "afterwards". Here's a quick little sketch I made while watching "House" tonight. :) Humpty Dumpty went on the famous Teacup Ride at Disneyworld. Afterwards, he was pretty scrambled. heee heee heee

IF: Spooky

2010-10-16T16:25:00.000-07:00

I'm reusing this one again, because it's a favorite and it rarely gets used - not like I can have this in my children's illustration portfolio, ya know. I had a ton of fun illustrating this. I love Sweeney Todd, especially the movie with Johnny Depp. I suppose it's spooky, but I love the music, the characters, and the insanity of it all.
click to enlarge.

IF: Transportation

2010-10-08T11:59:00.000-07:00

Here's one I did a while back when I was playing around with the brushes in Adobe Illustrator. I can't help think of the Wiggles song "Big Red Car" when I look at this silly fish. :) I'll see what type of new transportation illo I can come up and repost later in the week.

Sending out some love

2010-09-15T20:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was full of excitement for me. If you follow me on Facebook, you already know that I'm utterly coo-coo crazy about the British band, Keane. I was blessed to see them in concert in July and even got to meet them after the concert. Major joy & happiness. Recently, they posted information about a T-shirt competition they are holding until the end of September. The winner receives 5 T-shirts of their design, a framed autographed print of the design, and a gift card for their web store. Naturally, I created a design and sent it in. Well! Yesterday they posted some of the entries on the site and mine was used at the top of the header, and on the icon for their Facebook post. So incredibly exciting!!

It's a simple design, but the requirements were no more than 3 colors. Plus, it's based on their song Clear Skies, and the fact that listening to Keane makes my days sunny - my happy place. :) I can't wait to see if I win, but this was pretty darn awesome! Feelin' the love and sendin' it right back at them too.

Later in the day, I also found out that I won a copy of Roz Fulcher's new book, Science Around The House! I love her work, and was super excited to win the drawing and happy for her too. Way to go, Roz! Check it out:

The Universe has been smiling on me lately. Love it!

IF: Proverb

2010-09-12T21:27:00.000-07:00

Here's some silliness for the Illustration Friday theme of proverb. "Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days." Not a particularly nice sentiment, but it made me laugh anyway. If regular guests smell stinky like a fish after 3 days, think of how stinky it would be to have an actual fish as a guest!! Yikes! No amount of air freshener would work on that. This was a fun opportunity to play around with textures. I enjoyed it. Hopefully any house guests I have in the future would think it's funny too. Well, it's not like I'm going to frame it and hang it in the spare bedroom. (Not until the morning of the 3rd day, that is.) :) Just kidding.

IF: Dessert

2010-09-09T17:40:00.000-07:00

Here's a quickie for the Illustration Friday theme, Dessert. I love cherry pie!

Hello, friends!

2010-09-08T20:51:00.000-07:00

Gosh, I've been a bad blogger. Summer was pretty busy for me. I worked on a new coloring book, a preschool progress report, a logo for a client, and built a retaining wall in my backyard. Add in a 2 week vacation up north, and that didn't leave much time for blogging. And now school is back in session. Wow. Where did the summer go??? I'm looking forward to getting back into the routine, and posting more often. I'd like to spend some time working on illustrations for Illustration Friday too. I'll check it out on Friday and give it a go. In the meantime, thanks for checking in. Here's a little peek at the coloring book art I just turned in. It will be released in February.

Michelle My Belle!

2010-08-09T20:58:00.000-07:00

Gosh, I just love Michelle's artwork! And look . . . she's having a giant giveaway!! Go to her blog, and her website and thoroughly check out her work. I know you'll love it! So colorful and fun. I've got a wish list a mile long!!

Ripple

2010-06-21T09:44:00.000-07:00

Here's an illustration I created for Ripple. It's the blog that artist, Kelly Light, created to raise money for the animals affected by the oil spill in the gulf. Each ATC is only $10, and she's already raised over $4,000!! Way to go, Kelly!! Check it out, there are some amazing artists contributing.

It's so sad what these animals are going through. I wish we could hurry and (stop the oil leak), clean up the water, and then give them each a nice bubble bath/spa day. Sponsor a bubble bath by buying an ATC at Ripple today! :)

I'm a Beachbody Coach!

2010-06-07T12:50:00.000-07:00

I wanted to let you know about my latest adventure. I'm a Coach for Beachbody. I'm actually more of a fitness motivator because I don't actually train people how to workout - a coach sounds like I should be making people run laps while I blow my whistle at them. I just like to motivate and share great products.

I've been using BB products for a few months now. I started with Turbo Jam (LOVE it!) and then started Chalean Extreme too, which is all about lifting weights and building muscle. (Did you know that lack of muscle is the reason your metabolism slows - not aging?!!) I've also added Shakeology which is a meal replacement shake. It's nothing like Slimfast - Shakeology actually tastes great, is very filling, and has so many great things in it that it's like going to the salad bar 5 times in one drink! Can't beat that!

I'm an illustrator, so why am I promoting all this healthy/fitness stuff? Well, this year I lost 2 friends from cancer. One was a highschool friend who was 42, and the other was a friend for the past 12 years who was only 40. I saw so much courage and positive attitudes from them. Just incredible spirit. I started to be even more grateful for my good health & my family. God gave me this healthy body, and I shouldn't just sit around and complain about my flabby waist or that I was tired all the time . . . year after year. Shame on me! I needed to get off my duff and move! Each day I exercise I'm honoring those who aren't able to (and we know there are plenty who wish they could). When I do the cool down, I thank God for this gift. It makes me feel amazing.

I have to tell ya, since I've been exercising & drinking Shakeology, I have had a ton more energy. I typically wake up at 6am and start exercising by 6:30am. I look forward to my workouts because Chalene Johnson (the trainer in both DVDs) is so much fun. Turbo Jam truly is like a party in a box. I have a delicious chocolate Shakeology for breakfast and start my day off right. No excuses. Are you tired of making excuses or tired of being unhappy with how you feel? Check out my Beachbody page. Look at the videos, see what workout programs excites you (P90X is the #1 fitness DVD in the country for 3 years in a row!), and shoot me and email if you have any questions. If you just need some motivation, email me. I enjoy motivating people to reach their goals whether it's with their art career or fitness goals.

You know, you have the power inside you to accomplish whatever you set your mind to! Go for it!!

Taking Flight: I ROCK!

2010-06-04T08:43:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, I started flight lessons with Kelly Rae Roberts. No, I'm not a pilot. It's an ecourse that's helping me spread my creative wings and fly in my own way. We're a fun online community of artists who are all working through issues together. So far, we're tackling fears, issues over self-worth, childhood baggage, etc. Things that make you feel stuck. One of the exercises was to declare proudly to the world who you are. Kelly suggested writing it on your body, but I decided to take a t-shirt and write it out. (I added a few more after the picture was taken - you know, I've always got to nit-pick until I think it's finished.) I have a tendancy to have what I call "Chronic Eyeore Syndrome". That's when I start getting down on myself and pile on the negativity. My friend, Sylvia, calls me on it all the time. "Oh, there's Eyeore again." I've gotta stop that "Stinkin' Thinkin'!!" So, I'm going to use this shirt when I workout, when I'm feeling down, and when Eyeore pops in to spoil the party. Take that, Eyeore!!

IF: Expired

2010-03-19T10:16:00.001-07:00

This is an old illustration, and was used in IF already (years back), but it fit the bill for "expired". I'm hoping to make some time this weekend to create something new for the theme - got some ideas bouncing around in my brain. It's such a beautiful spring day today that it's hard to sit still and actually do the work. :)

RIP Andrew

2010-03-18T12:55:00.001-07:00

copyright Debbie Meyer

This one is a little different than my usual work. It was created for myself to work through the grief of my young neighbor's death. It's been a month since he committed suicide, and although I am still moving back & forth between the 7 stages of grief, I choose to not dwell on what happened, how it happened or why (I can't change any of that), but to be comforted by the fact that Andrew is now with God, in His loving arms and free of whatever pain he was feeling here on earth. From the cloud of despair & pain, he has flown into the glow of love, and joy. Those that are left behind, are still in pain over his death, but Andrew is not. My heart aches for his family and friends, but now when I think of this young man, I know he is where he was destined for - just sooner than any of us had imagined. I wish he hadn't taken his own life. I wish he had talked to someone about this or known what it was like to lose a loved one - he wouldn't have put others in this pain if he had known. For his soul, I am truly happy that he is experiencing the wonderful joy of God's eternal love.

Recap: SCBWI Winter Conference 2010

2010-02-09T21:13:00.001-08:00

Okay, I've been back from the conference for about a week and a half now, so I figured it was about time I do a little recap of my experience at the big conference. First off, I'm really excited that I was able to go. It's one of those "realizing your goals" moments. I have said that was a goal for years, so it feels good to know I was there & it felt right.

I went to the illustrator's intensive on Friday, which I completely recommend if you're an illustrator. Paul Zelinsky spoke to us and showed examples of his amazing work, Lisa Desimini did the same but also had given us an assignment (see the Snow White illustration I posted earlier). It was very interesting to see everyone's take on the subject. Lots of talent in that room, folks! Kevin Hawkes also gave us an assignment after his presentation. It involved lots of paper & glue, and not at all what I normally use to create art (except for art in my preschool class). The whole intensive really helped me realize I need to stretch out of my comfort zone more often and try new ways to tackle my illustrations.

I was pretty excited about the portfolio viewing Friday night. I have no idea how many or which art directors or publishing folks came by to see our work. Afterward we were able to view the portfolios too. Again, lots of talent to be seen! I heard some illustrators say this made them feel a little overwhelmed by the volume of illustrators trying to make it in this business, but I don't feel that way. I understand there are many styles, interests, and even attitudes that will determine what illustrator is used. Perserverance, and a positive attitude goes a long way.

Saturday & Sunday had a good mix of authors and illustrators speaking to us. I absolutely love Libba Bray, so she was a great speaker to have at the start on Saturday. That gal sure has spunk!! Amazing writer, and super terrific speaker!! I can't wait to get some time to read her latest book, "Going Bovine" (which she autographed for me on Sunday. YES!) The other author that I couldn't get enough of was Jacqueline Woodson. She recited some of her works to us, (she didn't read them, she knew the words by heart and really had a lot of feeling when she spoke) - not a dry eye in the house. I felt like I had witnessed a divine intervention. My first thought was, "Damn! This girl is a writer!!" No doubt about it, she is blessed! Both left me so inspired to sit down and write, even though I know I am lightyears away from having talent like they have. Don't knock the inspiration, though!

Laurent Linn from Simon & Schuester had some great examples of illustrations that set the tone of the book, and carried the reader along. Peter Sis had some really fun stories about his life as an illustrator, and I learned more about good page turns with Allyn Johnston from Beach Lane Books. However, my favorite illustrator presentation was Jim Benton. What a hilarious guy!!! He is the genius behind the Happy Bunny art licensing character, and also the writer/illustrator of "Frannie K. Stein" books. I love his work, and was thoroughly entertained, and, yes, once again inspired to draw!! I doodled out some art licensing ideas on my flight back home!

Someone once told me that the national conference is something that we should all do once, but that the local conferences are just as good and less expensive. I definitely agree that the local conferences I've been to have been really great, and way less expensive, but I don't think they are fair to compare with a national conference. This was 2 1/2 days PACKED FULL of information and inspiration. Opportunities to see illustrator's portfolios from all over the US (and maybe even the world), to learn, network, and grow as illustrators. I really loved every moment of it, and plan on attending every chance I can. Everyone did a great job putting this conference together.

Snow White & the 7 Dwarves

2010-02-07T12:07:00.001-08:00

Here is an illustration I created for the illustrator's intensive workshop at the SCBWI NY Conference. The assignment was to create a birthday party scene and work with perspective and added elements. I like how it turned out, but I really want to play with perspective a lot more. This isn't much different than some of my other pieces, as far as that goes. I need to try new angles and viewpoints. I did have a lot of fun interpreting what each dwarf should look like. That was fun. I also enjoyed seeing what other illustrators came up with for this assignment.

New Year . . . New Opportunities

2010-01-05T06:32:00.000-08:00

I am a big believer in setting goals and checking off the things on the list to make these dreams a reality. I make weekly goals and big long-term goals. Here are my goals for 2010:

*Sign with an art rep. I know the economy isn't great, but I still believe that signing with a rep is my best shot at getting consistent illustration jobs.

*Set up a better website. In my previous post, I explained why this is necessary. Now I just need to figure out how to build a creative website - the freebie sites are so business-like and don't allow me to design it how I want to.

*Connect with more illustrators & ADs. If you are either of the two . . . please add me to your LinkedIn connections, and add my blog link to your blog roll. I will do the same for you!

*Create some art for licensing opportunities. I didn't understand the whole art licening thing at the beginning of 2009, but now I think that would be so awesome. Eager to get my art to the masses!

*Learn new techniques in Illustrator & Photoshop. I'd really like to know how to add more texture to my work. So much I've probably not even tapped into with those programs!

*Make time to write. This has always been a passion of mine, but I put it aside to focus on illustration. I'd love to be able to do both. I will need to schedule some time to write, even if it's weekly and not daily.

*Organize my day more efficiently. Balancing work with family is a challenge for everyone, of course. I want to be sure I'm there for my kids, while still being there for me. Knowing how to do that takes planning.

*Live a healthier lifestyle. What goal list would be complete without a eat better/exercise more section?? When I get busy, I tend to make bad food choices and skip the exercise. In the long run, that doesn't help me out in all the other areas of my life, so why do I do it? Still haven't come to the root of why I eat what I eat and whatever emotions that's from, but this year I plan on getting a little exercise each day and portion control when it's time to eat. That's do-able.

*Prepare for the NY SCBWI Conference at the end of January. That's a short-term goal since it's at the end of this month. I've got lots to do to be ready, including an assignment to finish for the illustrator's intensive workshop. Totally excited about the whole trip!!!

May you have a very blessed, joyful, healthy, prosperous and extremely happy 2010! Take time each day to be grateful for your life, health & the possibilities that tomorrow brings!!

Promo lesson learned

2009-12-15T06:24:00.001-08:00

I sent out Christmas postcards at the beginning of December, and I really liked how they turned out. However, I'm worried that they aren't able to do what they're meant to do! I have my illustrations on www.childrensillustrators.com instead of my own personal website. Big mistake. I like their site, but the mistake is to have my work ONLY on this site and not have both CI & my personal website. Apparently, CI's site has been hijacked (in November), and it has been down ever since. (I was just told yesterday.) So, all those postcards I sent will not direct anyone to my portfolio - just a message that they are unable to access my page. Oh great! All those opportunities missed. I hope that whoever may have taken the time to view my portfolio will go back later to check again instead of giving up on me. So frustrating!!

Christmas Postcard

2009-12-06T16:45:00.001-08:00

I mailed out my Christmas promo cards last week. The front has the gingerbread men, and the back is Santa. I ordered them from Overnightprints.com, and I like how they turned out. My favorite part is the silly gingerbread man who is enjoying a hot tub of warm milk left for Santa.

Snowman

2009-12-06T16:37:00.001-08:00

I got out my paints this week to give my wooden snowman a makeover. I made him in 1998, but he was looking ratty, and didn't reflect my art style anymore. We don't get enough snow in North Texas to build a real snowman, so I put out the wooden guy each year. He's looking much happier now that he has a little birdie friend. They're standing next to the ridiculous Charlie Brown tree in my backyard. Maybe the little tree needed a friend too. :)

SCBWI Winter Conference 2010

2009-10-27T13:07:00.000-07:00

For two years, I have had a goal of going to the SCBWI Winter Conference in New York City. I imagine it must be like Woodstock for writers & illustrators. :) Yes, I'm a picture book geek, and I rarely ever read anything older than YA. So, the excitement is beginning because registration begins tomorrow . . . and . . . I . . will . . . be . . . registering!!!!!!! YIPPPPEE!! I'm saving my pennies, polishing my portfolio, and heading out from suburbia to the big city! I'm going to have to pace myself. The conference is 3 months away - if I stay this pumped, I just might crash into a weepy mess when I walk through the conference doors. (I'm practicing my "fanning myself while crying like Miss America" face) Let me know if you'll be attending. I'm anxious to meet my cyber illustration buddies. Conga line to NYC!!

My Fall Mailer

2009-10-20T05:55:00.000-07:00

Here's my fall mailer. I love fall. I love all the colors, the crunchy leaves, the pumpkins, and the cooler temperatures. It's all good! Living in Texas, fall isn't quite the same as when I grew up in Michigan. We don't get a real fall - leaves don't change until late November. Kind of a bummer, actually. I'm not a cold weather person though, so if I could have spring, summer & fall only that would be awesome!!

Tin Man Pumpkin Junkin!

2009-10-13T10:07:00.001-07:00

It's that time of year again, folks! Time to junk your pumpkin! This is my third year to participate in Holli Conger's Pumpkin Junkin exhibit & contest. It's always fun and helps fill the creative well. You'll never look at pumpkins the same way again!

This year I decided to go with the Tin Man since I have lots of tin "junk" around the house. Then I grabbed a photo online and added a yellow brick road & apples in Adobe Illustrator. He's just waiting for Dorothy & Scarecrow to swing by on their way to see the Wizard.

UPDATE: My pumpkin is runner-up in this year's Pumpkin Junkin!! SQUEEEE!! How exciting! I always have such a fun time junking a pumpkin. What a fun way to spark some creativity! If you haven't tried it yet, be sure to plan on it next year. You'll have so much fun!! Thanks, Holli!! :)

Art Licensing

2009-10-08T12:36:00.000-07:00

This year, I've been interested to learn more about art licensing. If you'd like to learn more, go to Tara Reed's site. She has some awesome e-books that will teach you all you need to know. I've also listened in to several of Tara's phone calls with experts, and taken her Goal Wheel study. Very cool to get info like this from home. You can even get copies of past calls at her site - so don't feel bummed that you missed it! Tara's latest tool for you is Product Mock-up Magic - a tutorial for learning how to mock up your art onto products in Photoshop. I absolutely love to have a guided tutorial that I can refer back to over & over again. I have a big binder full of Tara's ebooks including an awesome pattern ebook. (Remember my Christmas pattern? Learned it from Tara!) Product Mock-up Magic will be a great addition!

Check it all out . . . you'll be glad you did!

Oh, I'm also supposed to mention that if you click on these links and purchase the products, I will get a small percentage of the sale. Legal stuff, so I have to tell ya this. However, I think you'll enjoy the products or I wouldn't have told you about them in the first place (commission or not!).

Digital Jesus

2009-10-07T14:38:00.001-07:00

Here's a digital version of my mural I did over the summer. It's one of my favorites of the 5 murals.

As always, please, do not copy or take any images from this site. Thank you.

Christmas paper

2009-09-13T15:45:00.001-07:00

I'm excited to learn more about the world of art licensing. Here's my first attempt at a repeat pattern that could be used for wrapping paper. Fun stuff!

IF: Magnify

2009-08-31T16:21:00.001-07:00

Ever wonder what those pesky fleas are doing when they're not bouncing around on your dog's back? Reading a good book, of course!

Last 2 murals

2009-08-24T12:31:00.001-07:00

Front view of Noah's ark. I decided to paint a dog, because I love them, and I'm convinced God would have put them at the top of the list to save. :)

Noah's ark had to wrap around the corner. There's doggie #2!

I really love how this one turned out. I think it might be my favorite of the 5, although I really like Daniel. Hmmm. When in doubt, pick Jesus.

I had so much fun painting these. I haven't painted in soooooo long, and was a little nervous at first. By the 2nd mural, I was lovin' it and plan on painting more soon. I'm actually thinking of setting up an etsy shop and selling a few paintings. I have plans to paint another "Jesus and the little children" on canvas. First one's mine, and then I'll be interested in selling others. This assignment really unlocked a creative side to me I had forgotten about. Hurray!

new doodle

2009-08-11T17:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a little sketch I did last night. It's a little different than my usual stuff. This is as close to realistic as I ever get. :)

Adam, Eve, and Daniel

2009-08-02T17:32:00.000-07:00

I just finished two more murals: Adam & Eve, and Daniel in the lion's den. I think Daniel is my favorite so far. Gotta love a guy with that much faith!!

IF: Idle

2009-07-28T20:49:00.001-07:00

Lately, I haven't been slowing down enough to idle. I've been busy painting murals at the preschool, and also remodeling my kitchen walls. (removed the wallpaper, trowled on plaster for a stucco-like texture, primed, painted 2 coats, and finally did a faux finish on top. WHEW!) It's been a very busy month! I've been wanting to get back to IF though, so when I was taking a break the other day, I sat down and sketched a couple of things that remind me of the word idle. There I am relaxing and watching TV, and then there is the Tin Man when he rusted out in the rain. He was definitely in idle mode there. I doubt I'll even get a chance to finish these off in color before Friday, but soon. Taking a moment out to idle sounds awfully nice right now!

Zaccheaus

2009-07-20T13:40:00.001-07:00

Like I said in my previous post, I'm painting murals for the preschool I work at. Here is the first one, Zaccheaus. It's been fun getting out of my digital illustration comfort zone and working with acrylics. I'm definitely going to do more of this in the future - other than the 4 other murals I need to complete before September 5th, that is. Right now I'm working on Adam & Eve. I'll post more pictures as they're completed. Enjoy!

Christian Preschool murals - sketches

2009-07-13T06:32:00.001-07:00

This summer I've been commissioned, by the preschool I work at, to paint small murals in 5 of the classrooms. It's a Christian preschool, so we're thinking Bible stories. Here are the sketches I've come up with. Wallspace is tight, so they won't take up the whole wall, just a rectangle. They might end up being a little skinnier. Enjoy and have a blessed day!

Worm farm

2009-07-06T13:43:00.001-07:00

Here's a spot illustration for an article I wrote and illustrated. It's all about the benefit of composting and having a worm farm. Interesting stuff! Check it out online at Red River Kids Magazine.

random sketches

2009-07-01T09:20:00.001-07:00

Here's some random silliness from my sketchpad today. You'll probably see more sloths in the future. I'm doing a lot of research on them - I think they're fascinating critters.

New sketches

2009-06-18T12:08:00.001-07:00

This should finish up my 21 days of sketches, even though I was pretty sporadic with it. I sketched a lot last night. I seem to come up with the same ideas: crazy dogs, and kids with books or art supplies! That's me in a nutshell. 3 of my favorites!

Deb's learning a thang or two

2009-06-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

Howdy Hi, kiddiewinkies. I've been a slug about posting, but really I have been pretty busy. I'm working on a couple new illustration jobs, and also taking some online classes. Today I took a class from David Billings AKA "Sparkyfirepants". What a riot that man is! I'd definitely recommend his course if you are new to vector illustration and interested in learning your way around Adobe Illustrator. I work in Illustrator all the time, but even I learned quite a lot from Mr. Sparkyfirepants. :) I'm going to add a button to the side of my blog, so you too can sign up for his classes, but until then, check it out here.

I'm also taking part in a teleseminar with Tara Reed (the artist, not the actress) on Tuesday, June 9th. It's called "The Goal Wheel For Artists". Check it out. She has a lot of awesome information about licensing on her blog too.

School's out as of today, but I plan on spending my summer learning new illustration techniques to improve my work. This is the fun stuff to learn, I'm thankful it doesn't involve math. (It doesn't involve math, does it???)

Challenge Day 19 - Mother's Day

2009-05-06T12:50:00.001-07:00

In preschool today, we had our "Mother's Day Tea". It got me all nostalgic about when my boys were little. It's kind of sad, actually. Time flies by way too quickly. Happy Mother's Day, ya'll!

Challenge Day 18

2009-04-30T06:55:00.001-07:00

Here's a very sketchy sketch I did last night while listening to my favorite band, Keane. That's me in the middle. I love Keane. sigh. :) The guy standing up was supposed to be the lead singer, Tom Chaplin, but this sketch doesn't do him justice. Who knows who that other guy is. Bit of a love triangle, me thinks.

Challenge Day 17 (or something along those lines)

2009-04-29T16:01:00.001-07:00

Sorta got off track on my sketch a day challenge. Been busy. Anyway, here is a sketch I did yesterday while watching TV. It's a messy sketch, but I think he's kinda cute just the same. Enjoy.

Challenge Day 16

2009-04-17T20:43:00.000-07:00

I sketched this while watching a "Biggest Loser" marathon on TV. They were all old episodes, but still fun to watch. Actually, the IF theme came to mind while watching it: Impossibility. It must seem like an impossible dream for those contestants sometimes. I'm always inspired by watching them (and feeling guilty when I hear Bob & Jillian's voice ringing in my ears when I'm eating cookies!). Their exercise routine looks grueling. I'm still stuck at whether or not I'll be able to jump rope for more than a minute at a time. That alone is exhausting!!

Challenge Day 15

2009-04-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

I saw something similar to this on the side of a pair of small pink Converse sneakers yesterday. It was at a fancy children's boutique and was way over-priced. (2 year olds don't need $80 shoes, do they?) Anyway, I love all the tattoo inspired tops & sneakers and thought to myself "How hard could it be to recreate this design myself?" This was done from memory, so I'm not sure how close I got it. Not sure I'll paint up my own Converse anytime soon though - I love those shoes!! :)

Challenge Day 14

2009-04-14T13:27:00.000-07:00

Gosh, this was fun. A quick, scribbly marker-type drawing of a happy little fish driving a red car. Sometimes you never know what the ol' brain will come up with. :) It brought me joy, anyway. Frankly, I think it would make a perfectly wonderful picture book.

Challenge: day 13

2009-04-12T20:14:00.001-07:00

Here's a 5 minute sketch in honor of the Easter Bunny. He must be dead tired from his busy day today. We appreciate all your hard work, little guy! Go get some rest. :)

IF: Fleeting

2009-04-11T16:21:00.001-07:00

What could be more fleeting than time & money? I created this about 3 years ago, for someone who was complaining that their employees were "eating time & money" by slacking off at work. It was just a sketch that never went past the drawing stage, until today when I finished it off in Illustrator.

Challenge Day 12

2009-04-11T14:38:00.001-07:00

Here's a picture of Jonathan (a high school friend's son). It's a little portrait I said I would do for him. My friend, John, is in the Army and will be shipping out overseas soon, so I'm also doing a special illustration for his family while he's away. He's a great guy, and I really do appreciate what he's sacrificing in order to protect our country.

Challenge Day 11 - another digital sketch

2009-04-10T15:28:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick sketch I did using the paintbrush tool in Illustrator. I like how he turned out. This could be a new way for me to work a little quicker. I'm enjoying this challenge & the experiments. It's good to play around with all that Illustrator has to offer!

Challenge Day 10 - Digital Webelo Scout

2009-04-09T17:53:00.001-07:00

I decided to try my hand at sketching digitally. It's not as easy as it sounds. For me, anyway. I'm still trying to figure out what tool I like best. I want to have a thick/thin line, so I don't like the pencil tool, but the paintbrushes are all a big weird. It's something I'd like to work on a little more. A challenge within a challenge!

Challenge Day 9

2009-04-09T16:45:00.000-07:00

I sketched this little bunny while I was waiting at an appointment yesterday. Just a quick pen sketch.

Challenge Day 8

2009-04-07T14:30:00.001-07:00

Challenge Day 6 & 7

2009-04-06T20:14:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I'm doing really well about sketching every day, but bad about posting them. I sketched this yesterday while watching Shrek:

And today's sketch is for Sylvia and all those springbreakers:

Challenge Day 5

2009-04-05T12:27:00.001-07:00

Challenge Day 4

2009-04-03T18:16:00.001-07:00

Something a little different than my typical style. I was drawing while watching "Wife Swap", so there ya go. :)

Challenge Day 3

2009-04-02T20:49:00.000-07:00

Told ya I'd have a sketch to post today. I drew this while waiting for my son's baseball game to start. Sometimes it's tricky to come up with something to draw out of the blue. Now that I think of it, I think this might have been the same type of subject from my first challenge on day 3. Weird. Must be all the time I spend with 3 year olds. I've got block building on the brain! :)

Challenge Day 2

2009-04-02T12:48:00.000-07:00

I completely missed posting a sketch yesterday, but frankly, they were all pretty scribbly and I'm sure you don't want to see those. Some are designs for new portfolio pieces, so I'm not ready to reveal those anyway. I'll add today's sketch, but to make up for yesterday's lack of posting, I leave you with this cute little squirrel. He's hanging out next to my Hawaiian bird house that I painted a few years ago. I wish it was big enough that he could get in there away from the wind. I can see him outside my window - enjoying the yard while the dogs are inside the house!

Another 21 day challenge! Day 1

2009-03-31T11:57:00.001-07:00

I've decided to start another 21 day challenge to keep me sketching every day. Here's today's entry. Tune in tomorrow to see where I go from here. :)

Keane aliens

2009-03-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

Some little aliens inspired by one of my favorite Keane songs, "Somewhere Only We Know". In the video, these cute little aliens go through the forest to see Keane playing.

Bella & Buddy painting

2009-03-25T17:27:00.001-07:00

Inspired by Anne Leuck Feldhaus and her amazing doggie illustrations, I decided to get out the paints & canvas and create a portrait of Bella & Buddy. I had a lot of fun, but still feel more comfortable with my computer than my paintbrush!

IF: Legendary

2009-03-14T07:27:00.000-07:00

Huzzah! Here's the little bunny in color! I used some of the fancy tools & effects in Adobe Illustrator. I had loads of fun with this guy. I think he'll need to be featured again soon.

The gian'ts garden holds many surprises. Here's my take on Jack and the beanstalk. Actually, I think I'll save the details and make my own picture book out of it. :) It's sure to be legendary! Hoping to get this one in color before the end of the week.

Happy Heart Give-Away!

2009-02-15T06:28:00.001-08:00

I love dogs, and I love brightly colored art, so you can imagine how nutty-coo-coo I am over the work of Anne Leuck Feldhaus. I also love the doggies with the big eyes. So cool! Guess what else . . . she's having a give-away and you can win all that you see in this picture. Sweet!! Check it out here.

After I'm finished with the project I'm working on right now, I'm hoping to break out the paints and create a picture of Buddy & Bella. I always want to do that (I have several paintings half finished covered in dust), but I get a bit stressed about moving beyond my computer art comfort zone, spending time on something other than art for my portfolio or promo work, and blocking off time to paint since it's more involved than sitting down at the computer for a few minutes at a time. I have to admit though, when my preschool class paints on the easel, I am SOOOO jealous! I want a turn too.

Kreativ Blogger Award

2009-02-03T08:21:00.000-08:00

Thank you, Andi for such a great honor. I've been a big fan of Andi's extrodinary creativity for years. Okay, so now I need to list 7 things I love, and tag my own favorite bloggers. Of course, I love my family & friends, but, in addition to those, here are my favorites:

1)The British band Keane. If you're on Facebook with me, you've seen a million of their videos already (or read about my obsession). If not, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmXY2MSrguE
I LOVE KEANE!!

2)Dogs. You just can't have a bad day if you have a dog in your life. Unless they chew up something you love, but then it was your own fault for not putting it away in the first place!! My dogs bring me happiness every day.

3)A brand new box of Crayola Crayons. The smell, the colors, the creativity . . . gosh, they're perfect! I once saw a video on making Crayolas. It was on Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. (another one of my favorites!!) Maybe that's why I work with preschoolers.

4)My purple & green office. After living in beige world for a few years, it was fantastic to take the spare bedroom and paint it purple and lime green and turn it into my office. I have lots of toys, stuffed animals, and silliness on every wall. It's my own little happy place. If only it had a mini fridge - I might never leave. (well, there's a bathroom right next to my office, so technically I would have to leave at some point, but not for long.)

5)Converse High-tops! I have 3 pair. The red, and white pairs are from high school, but I mostly wear the black high-tops I got a year ago. Recently, I was on the Dart railway and there was a little Hispanic boy sitting next to me with the same shoes. (I think he was 3 years old) I said, "Hey! Nice shoes!" He turned his head and avoided me the rest of the trip. sigh.

6)Cookies. I have a severe weakness for cookies. I have been known to eat an entire box of Thin Mints. It will all come back to haunt me during swimsuit season.

7)Accents. My favorite is an English accent. Not the proper royalty type, the Cockney accents. I'm putty. I also adore Australian accents, and French accents too. My own accent is kind of nasally. No fun. I have, however, gotten very good at my version of a Texas accent. Ya'll have a great day.

My Kreativ Blogger award goes out to: Eric , Steffane , Bobbie, Tricia and June. I love reading other artist's blogs. Ya'll rock!

IF: Flawed

2009-01-31T18:26:00.001-08:00

This poor boy received a hand-made turtle neck sweater. It's always those well-meaning aunties who think that everyone loves a knitted sweater. In addition to being ill-fitting, I imagine this thing is also wool & itches like the dickens. Major flaws in this sweater!

IF: Pale

2009-01-21T22:14:00.001-08:00

Call me crazy, but when I saw the theme for Illustration Friday was "Pale" all I could think of was my favorite musical "Sweeney Todd". There are a lot of pale-looking folks in that movie.(Especially those who visit Mr. Todd for a shave!) I really enjoyed working on this one, it gave me a good excuse to watch the DVD again while I was drawing (LOVE IT). Plus, it's fun to do something a bit different than my usual dogs and children. How 'bout a shave, my friend?