Illustration Friday "Cat"

I started with a pastel sketch from my “reject” files...opened in Photoshop to experiment with colors, filters, layer effects etc. Also, I copied one of my papercut designs onto a layer adding an interesting texture to the image. It's great to be able to create an image like this to use as a thumbnail for pastel, oil or watercolor painting.

Blind Contour Friday

Well, six more days ’til we move! Another one of those "I just can't get up off the bed" blind contour drawings. Looked to the right...there was the lamp and my watercolor brushes in a ceramic cup thing on the night stand. Looked to the left...there was the 4 shelf "tower" with a bud vase & silk flowers on top of the small TV on the top shelf...and the stereo receiver on the shelf under that. And I said to myself, “...gotta pack that, too.”

Strawberry Break

Taking a break from packing for our move to NY next week! Pastel sketch from one of Dad's photos. I added the berries for a splash of color.

Art Class

Insomnia attack. Couldn't sleep, so I scanned in a pastel sketch of dancers and mutilated it in illustrator & pshop. Now that I got that out of the way, I guess I'll go to bed.

Illustration Friday “E is for...”

Erika, my youngest of 3 daughters, who is a phenomenally talented artist. This is a pastel self portrait she did a couple of years ago (without any formal art training). After obsessing over possibilities for this week's illustration, I decided to go with the first thing that popped into my head. So, Erika, this “E” is for you.

BCFriday the 13th

Took time out from thinking about getting ready to move in a couple of weeks to blind contour draw Bubby on the bed. I'd just about rather do anything than get ready to move, much less think about it. Thank you for stopping by.

Gone Coastal

Two (watercolor + pastel) alternates for Illustration Friday "Sea".

North American Brown-Breasted Bushy Tail

Watercolor, a little pastel and X-acto blade scratching.

Illustration Friday “Sea”

Delicate balance.

Allie’s Story

I've been meaning to post this little series of photos for a long time. This is my daughter, Allison...about 20 years ago. If you scroll down several posts to "Christmas Eve", you can see that she survived my mothering.(click on image to enlarge)

My Brain

This is my EDM challenge entry for "something from the past year". It's something I discovered last year that changed my life: sketch-blogging. The words came to me in the middle of the night last night. Scary, but true.

Clover Dancers

Cutout dancers + clover pastel combined in Photoshop. Happy January!