KEEP AT IT in 2012... a Giveaway!

Historically speaking, I've never been one to make extremely specific goals for the new year. It's because there are just so many variables in life that take the best-laid plans out at the knees without warning. And, I don't like to make promises I can't keep.

But... the truth is that life is all about having faith in what lies just around the corner, and totally working toward this—the things which you cannot see (yet) but still pour your everything into, anyway. This year has taught me a lot on the subject. If you believe in the possibility, you do the work, you are iron-clad committed, there is magic in that and it is possible to make your dreams happen. And to top it off, if all those boxes are checked, you really cannot ever lose faith or stop trying, either—it's just simply impossible to.

Lately this has been on my mind, and it's been the focus of a body of work I've just created. Movers & Shakers™ speaks directly to this mentality-shift. The art depicts some pretty cute, independence-minded characters who are earnestly working on their own goals, a peaceful palette created for calm focus, and inspirational sayings (written by me).

As a big "Thank You" to YOU for continually popping in and sticking around on my blog here as I continue on my own journey, I want to share some happiness and thanks with you to help ring in 2012! I'm giving away four packages of "Movers&Shakers: sunny side-up sentiments" art print postcards (four different prints per pack).

To enter ONCE...
just comment here (below).

To enter TWICE...tweet this post, then comment here letting me know you also tweeted it (please include your twitter handle in your comment).

To enter THREE times...
Share this post on Facebook + do the once and twice instructions (To do this, you can simply hit the Facebook "like" button at the very top of this post. Please mention in your blog comment that you FB "liked" this post).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Please leave your comment by Sunday, January 1 at midnight.
I will announce the winner here on Monday, January 2!
Thank you and good luck!! :D

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Happy Holidays 2011

Hey, are you as busy as I am lately? This holiday has thrown me for a loop-de-loop! I'm not kidding! I am looking forward to winding down a bit (just a bit, though! I'm not much good at "winding down") for the holiday weekend and enjoying some quiet time, after extended family time, Matt and I might even catch a movie (in an actual theater, no less) and/or spend a day just walking around and enjoying the city! That is the plan. I hope you have some relaxing holiday plans as well!

So here is my holiday greeting to you...

I wish you hot toddies (or hot chocolate, or hot cider, or hot holiday beverage of your choice), singing  carols by the fire (badly? no problem!) or having (or attending) a fabulous latke party... and, last but not least, I dare you to break out your FUNNEST, funniest hat and wear it all day long!!

~HAPPY HOLIDAYS & A MERRY NEW YEAR 2012~

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In-a-Nutshell Book Reviews

I was in the bookstore last weekend shopping for some last-minute gifts. For one reason or another, these following books caught my attention..




Hark A Vagrant: Excellent art! Thoroughly funny! Might need it.

Anticipated entertainment value: A

Awkward Family Pet Photos: Needs no explanation. Some sweet cats and dogs in here too. But it's the humans who are the punchline in this book (as it should be)!

Anticipated entertainment value: B

100 Secrets of Happy People: I love books like this. If that makes me a sap or a softy, be it. (Speaking of which, it does kind of remind me of ye olde Reader's Digest magazine a little.)
Entertainment value: B+. Yes, it's a bit didactic, but you know that going in. And it's formatted so you can read a bit of it quickly.

The Happiness Project: Read above. (Except for the last part.)

Anticipated entertainment value: B (The book is denser, and therefore you have to work harder for the entertainment value. That's why there's no + on that B.)

They Draw And Cook: Yay! Such a fan of this project, the site, the art. I flipped through it, and, no DOUBT, this book WILL be MINE! ALL MINE! Mua-ha-ha...(Rubbing hands together with one arched eyebrow and bad posture)

Anticipated entertainment value: A+

I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar, More Badder Grammar: I have to admit, dear reader, that I didn't even open this one. That's how much I dislike bad grammar. (Well, I also had some real shopping to do.. But I digress..) That said, I am guilty. I HAVE to admit to using text-speak on occasion, while texting ("u" for you, "r" for are, etc.) and I am not even a member of The New Power Generation. Seriously. Loaded topic! Now I need therapy!

Anticipated entertainment value: A

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Illustration Friday: Sink

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A Little Square

A drawing I did of a little town square, bustling with activity.

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Notebooks!

Lately, I've been experimenting with making these spiral-bound notebooks (or journals, or sketchbooks). It's so much fun to have a new, FUNCTIONAL way to share my art work! I've always wanted to have my art on note books and the like. So, while I work on finding a partner with larger manufacturing abilities than myself, with a wider distribution than I myself can provide, it's exciting to make it happen all by myself. I really love these books.



This one features bunches of pages of speckled paper alternating with bunches of pages of lavender paper. I also added several pages of 100# watercolor paper at the front of the book for extra variety! (Maybe I should add a lavender scent, too? Hmm...)



The cover and back are a very rigid, acid-free matte board in purple. On the front and back cover, I adhered my art prints, printed on an acid- free 100# fine invitation paper.




The place holder ribbon is recycled - cute, eh? I originally received it from my pet-art buddy Christine Throckmorton of I Heart Dogs Studio. (We did a custom pet portrait trade awhile back, and I did her doggie Rosie. Check out all the process posts here.)

 I've been using them and it is SO MUCH FUN for me. I'm a notebook-a-holic and sketch book-a-holic, and I have been wanting to make them for such a long time, so I can't get enough of them. I'm experimenting with different ways to add variety, embellishments, separators, and different papers within the books. I hope you like them!  Once I have the time to really get into it, I will be creating some to sell in my Etsy shop. As always, if you feel so inclined, I'd love to hear what you think. :)

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A card for Ruby

 On Saturday, I thought a lot about what I could to mark the moment of Ruby's passing, and to help honor her memory in some way. Finally, I decided to create a card that we could send out to all of her family, friends and caretakers. So on Sunday, I did just that. It was hard to do. There is no question about that. A few times, I even thought "I'm not ready for this". But, I was. And in the end, the process was way, WAY more healing than it was hard. In illustrating the card, it not only accomplished all that other stuff, but it also has helped us to heal more. And the process of going through making the cards, deciding on the (small) list of recipients, addressing the cards, and writing some of them out.. it has been extremely beneficial. Plus, I know that Ruby would be so proud to be honored in this way. For being the unassuming, sweet little dog that she was, she truly was the most physically affectionate, huggy little dog I've ever known. So this is also another way of giving more love back to her.

I did pet portraits for five years— so many intimately studied portrayals of other people's dear dogs and cats, but I'd never done my own little Ruby. I've drawn her hundreds of times in a more simple, caricature-like style—so many paintings and illustrations featuring her and Daisy. But to capture a true likeness steeped with the affection, emotion and unconditional love I had for this little pug, now that is something I hadn't done. So, that is what I set out to do with this card.

Her likeness in the card illustration is a little looser in style than the style in which I did pet portraits back in "ye olde pet portraiture" days, but I love how it came out. It's so Ruby. For all it's looser qualities, there is no less purity, impact and spirit in it. It's innocent, unstudied, and delicate— just like her. It also showcases her physical likeness—her quirky little body, her extra tiny, cute little head... Boy, do I miss her.

I made postcard-style cards, as well as full greeting cards in a vertical format. I love the quote "All dogs go to heaven". Religious reference aside, I just think it paints such a broad, true stroke in just a few well-chosen words. I used it for the front of the greeting card as well as for the flip-side of the postcard-style card. I designed it with Ruby in mind—Ruby was baby pink, sweet and innocent. She just was. I know that many pet parents project their own taste upon their dogs, but I absolutely channeled Ruby for this one. She would have loved this.This is who she was, our baby girl.
All dogs go to heaven.

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"Romantic" color stories

The Art of Romance: Harlequin Mills & Boon Cover Designs
By Joanna Bowring, Margaret O'Brien

I discovered this great book at Amazon, while I was looking for something else. Lucky find!

The cover art from romance books fills me with nostalgia. My grandma would read them and

she unloaded bags upon bags of them on my mom. I was drawn to the art on the covers then,

and I still am today. The color stories used in the cover art can be a great jumping-off point.

I use this book in that way—as an inspirational tool for color palette experimentation.

It's also cool to see how the color palettes change through the decades.

This one from the early 60's above, feels very very late 50's, just as

I understand the early sixties were (thank you, Mad Men!)

These from the mid-sixties are stylistically more textured, more
painterly, looser and the palette features more citrusy acid brights.

Turning over again, from one decades' styles to the next...

There are some marked differences style, color and hues in just five years!

I'm really digging the palette from The Wolf Man. It is from '82

but to me, the palette feels like a throwback to the late sixties. I think
the art and palette on The Pagan Island are right on-trend for '72, though.

You can try this method with any picture-heavy book.
Hey, maybe you already do it, but without the colored circles!

What is your favorite book to look at for color inspiration?

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Sweet Ruby, Rest In Peace

Ruby was a big, huge, bright light in our lives.
Ruby and her sister Daisy were completely attached at the hip,
ever since we brought them home together at eight weeks old.

Daisy might have been the alpha, but Ruby was the brave one.

For a dog who was dealt some tough physical challenges in her life,
she was a very athletic, tough little pug.

She was also the sweetest, most loving, most huggy dog I've ever known.
In fact, I know she would have been thrilled if I wore her in a Baby Bjorn 24/7/365.

She was really our sweet little girl, a true innocent.

Words cannot express how deeply and how greatly we will miss her.

Rest in peace, little angel Ruby.

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