sketchy notions

IF: Twirl!

2012-01-23T11:19:00.000-08:00

Okay! Getting to work, and playing around with my new little character, Lumen!
This little one is also for Illustration Friday's theme of the week: twirl!

Contemplating putting this piece for sale on my Etsy as well so keep an eye out for this little love!

The Adventures of Ross & Lola

2012-01-22T14:08:00.000-08:00

New blog look! It was time for a change...I'm test driving this new look for the time being and so far I love it!

I've been working on a new book, involving my little lovely round owl, who is now named Lumen! She will be joined by some friends as well...this book will be made specifically for turning into a real book using Blurb so hopefully I can get that written/illustrated/printed & up on Etsy really soon!

In the mean time, it's high time I uploaded my latest commission book. This book was written for one of my friends from Italy, about her two children Ross and Lola, and their lives living between Italy and the United States.

It was another really fun book to write and illustrate, especially since I know a lot of their family and have spent a lot of time with these kiddos. Unfortunately, I was unable to get to a scanner before I took off so some of the photos are a little crummy...

Vabbè! Here are the Adventures of Ross & Lola!

There once was two children

named Ross and Lola

who split their home

between the US and Italia.

School years in the states,

full of Texas sun and thrills.

Then off to Castiglion Fiorentino,

tucked into the Tuscan hills.

Between Italian and English,

they made friends far and wide.

In vineyards and bluebonnet fields,

under enormous star filled skies.

As they grew older,

the need to travel stayed strong.

Off they'd jet together,

into the wild unknown.

Lola, the sweet little girl,

with personality like no other,

would charge into the wilderness

carefully watched by big brother.

Ross was their brave leader,

across all continents he'd lead.

From Asia to Europe, Africa and beyond,

the Versari siblings, wild and free!

But the duo would always come home

to be with their mama and babbo.

Bacini for all, buona notte a tutti,

until the next adventure tomorrow.

24 in 2012

2012-01-13T17:56:00.000-08:00

Oh mama mia! 2011 was a blur! And with it being gone, changes need to start...yesterday!I've always had trouble with resolutions, so this year I've decided to wait until my birthday later this month to start my alternative...

Instead of resolutions I'm going to make a list of goals instead, 24 to be exact. 24 goals that I would like to accomplish before my next birthday (the big 25, eek!). I was inspired by Elsie's post over at her blog, A Beautiful Mess. Hopefully I'll have as much luck as she did with her goals this past year.

My plans have recently changed, resulting in me staying state side for a while so I hope this list of goals will keep me from going into a funk and finally make me get my act together for the first time since the adrenaline of school burned out. Andiamo!

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lovely [round] owl

2011-12-01T07:35:00.000-08:00

Long time, no Illustration Friday...this weeks theme was: round.

Couldn't resist a round little owl...inspired by the insanely cute video of lovely owl.

Getting close to finishing 'The Adventures of Ross & Lola!' Those will be up as soon as it's done....then on to Christmas books/pieces....

faythurs & tatuaggi...

2011-11-30T23:49:00.000-08:00

My first few tattoo tries....all on fake skin right now, but hopefully not for long!

The feather was my very first. I wasn't able to get the flower done that same day unfortunately.

And one of my braided creepies for the third! So happy! Used a shader for the first time on that one as well...

I'm also contemplating making a seperate blog for everything tattoo related...seems a little odd bunching cute children stuff with creepy tattoos....

mini sketches

2011-10-28T09:01:00.000-07:00

A few of the sketches from my mini sketchbooks lately. Definitely got tattoos on the brain....

The Magic Bus

2011-10-07T09:38:00.000-07:00

About a month back, I was asked to paint the inside of a friend's Volkswagen Westfalia. It was such a fun project! I was inspired by a mural that Brandon Boyd (the lead singer of Incubus) created for Hurley.

Unfortunately, this baby was sold before I had a chance to attack the outside but I'm really happy with how the inside came out. Pretty bummed that it sold too, it was nice daydreaming of roadtrips in this beast all across Europe!

Dear Little Aubrey

2011-10-06T06:08:00.000-07:00

Aubrey is completed! She is currently on her way to her new home in Nova Scotia. It's still a weird sensation putting one of these guys in mail, knowing I will likely never see this little creation ever again in person. Vabbe'.....

On to the story!

Dear Little Aubrey

Dear little Aubrey,

so big you have grown,

how sweet you have become,

all the promise you've shown.

But there’s so much more to do

and a lot more room to grow,

many great things for you to be

and grand places for you to go.

You could go abroad

and see everything far and wide!

Travel by plane, boat and caravan

with cousin Jesse, by your side.

You can see the world!

Oh, wouldn’t that be grand?

Aubrey, you can see it all,

from every ocean to far off land.

You two can be Prince and Princess

and travel all throughout the land,

make friends with all your people

but being sure to lend a hand.

You’ll fly with dragons, swim with mermaids,

ride horses ‘cross the plains;

and remember to write home

about all these places you have been.

And don’t forget my dear,

all the great things that you can be;

A great singer, artist or ballet dancer,

so many choices, don’t you see?

Or maybe be a teacher!

How proud your mom would be.

Miss Aubrey teaching her lessons,

how to count, one, two, three!

You are sure to be amazing

at whatever you choose to be.

Be it baking cakes or skydiving,

writing books or taming bees.

Maybe singing in an opera,

or making friends with Kings and Queens.

Who knows, maybe you’ll be an astronaut

all by the time you’re three!

And you won’t have to go very far

to find people who love and care.

There’s always Mom, Dad, Tucker,

Aunt Jill and Jesse, who will all be there.

But right now, dear Aubrey,

seeing as you’re only one,

just be sweet, grow up slowly,

be a good girl and have fun!

more photos...

Italia as of late....

2011-09-30T06:32:00.000-07:00

Fall has arrived to Italy! So far it's gorgeous, and still behaving summery farther south....so! I was able to snag a quick trip to southern Italy this past week. We stayed in San Agnello, a small town just north of Sorrento. On our last full day, the girls and I rented a boat for the day. It was incredible driving on the Mediterranean and cruising down the Amalfi coastline for the day. We stopped in Amalfi and in Positano to sketch during the day and also drove out to Capri. Great day!

View of the Sorrento harbor, and one of our potential boats!

Small town by Amalfi from the water....

Positano from the harbor

Earlier this week, my friend Hannah and I went over to Cortona for some lunch and sketching of the alleys.

In other news, Aubrey is nearly done! I'll post her on here as soon as I get her all scanned in and shipped off to Nova Scotia!

Little Aubrey peek!

2011-09-19T06:18:00.000-07:00

My first commission from Etsy is nearly complete! I'm completely smitten with one of the illustrations so I had to share it. And I think it's pretty applicable to Illustration Friday's theme this week: mesmerizing...
So! Here is a peek at "Dear Little Aubrey," while she is busy being an astronaut and charming bees.

treefort for vanessa

2011-09-11T05:36:00.000-07:00

I had a quick little commission from my good friend Vanessa Peters this week. I met Vanessa when she was my RC at Santa Chiara the first time I visited Italy, nearly 3 years ago. It's interesting how it's all come full circle with me becoming an RC at SC, thanks to plenty of help from her!
Vanessa asked for a treefort/house design for the t-shirts to promote her next album. She is also working on raising money to fund this next album/tour/adventure with a kickstarter. Take a minute to listen to some of her amazing music and help her out if you can, she's an amazing person and a wonderful musician that needs a little love to spread her music around the globe :)

In bookmaking news, I sold my first commission on my Etsy to wonderful woman in Canada! The book will be about her little niece Aubrey. So far, it's coming along great! I'm so happy to have such a wonderful (yet nearly a stranger) to collaborate with. Pictures of "Dear Little Aubrey" to come soon, she should be done within the next 2 weeks!

IF: Imperfect

2011-08-08T05:08:00.000-07:00

A quickie for Illustration Friday this week: imperfect.

Most people have probably encountered the perfectly, imperfect self-administered haircut at some point...

I have an image of a pixie cut little girl floating through my head these days...possibly a new book in the works soon...

Been very busy lately...too busy to do much of any art sadly. A new book commission in the works too. I've fallen behind on the old ones as well... oi vey.... vabbè, back to the drawing board.

IF: Gesture

2011-07-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

A little something for Illustration Fridays theme: gesture.

I've got tattoos on the brain....big time!
Big news!!! Starting in October, I will be taking a tattoo class in Arezzo that lasts for 6 months. So as of March of next year, I'll be certified to tattoo anywhere in Europe! 6 month ticket to freedom...

A Sister for Mongo

2011-06-15T08:05:00.000-07:00

Tyler's tale, A Sister for Mongo, is done and on its way to the states now!

I'm also using the first illustration for Illustration Friday's theme this week: sweep

(I'm thinking Mongo looks pretty swept up in the summer weather....just as I am here...)

A Sister for Mongo

Mongo was a happy dog, as happy as they come,

There's nothing he enjoyed more than laying in the sun

Or rolling in the grass, with Mom and Dad nearby,

Then lazily drifting away while watching clouds go by.

But as happy as he was, something was not right,

He'd toss and turn as he went to sleep at night.

Mongo loved his Mike and Erica, but something was not there,

He was sure of this, from his big wet nose to the last shiny tail hair.

He loved his furry friends but Mongo wanted someone new.

Someone kind, possibly his size, and to grow old with too.

Maybe throw a ball for him, the simple things he liked,

Someone to love and pet him, and sleep next to through the night.

Then, one joyful day, Mongo learned he'd get his wish!

Mom and Dad announced he would soon have a baby sis,

A sweet little girl to add to their happy family.

Mongo danced around and could hardly contain his glee.

Patiently he waited for the day she would come home.

Quietly he watched as Erica's belly continued to grow.

Day in and day out, Mongo sat cheerfully and dreamed,

Of his new little sister friend, how grand it all seemed.

Then on a beautiful summer day, Mongo got the call,

He barked and shared the news, with everyone and all.

"Her name is Tyler! She's coming home, it's time to behave my best

For my tired Mom and newborn sis need a quiet home to rest."

Mongo was so happy when he saw her tiny face,

Glowing and smiling, surrounded by delicate lace.

He was excited for the future and all the love they'd share;

Tyler's big brother, always by her side, to protect and to care.

the end

IF: soaked

2011-05-26T07:50:00.000-07:00

busyBusyBUSY week!

Forse invece dovrei dire "è una settimana intensa!"

This week is rather crazy here in Italy with the arrival of the new students...snuck in some time for a quick doodle for Illustration Friday this week: soaked!

Mi sento un po travolti ... l'invio di un messaggio in una bottiglia ...

Ruby's safari

2011-05-14T07:50:00.000-07:00

For this weeks Illustration Friday: safari!

By Wednesday they'd landed on a shore far away

and began to trek through the uncharted land.

They saw beasties and natives along the way,

who gladly joined in their caravan!

Ruby's making a brief comeback! Still got a lot on my plate....Crooked Road, Livi & Grace, Tyler & Mongo (just wrote it today!) and possibly another one on the way....hooray for 2 weeks of vacation to get caught up on everything....

italian darkroom

2011-05-14T01:49:00.000-07:00

I've been able to make some photos in our darkroom during this last session...not as many as I'd hoped but I've got 2 rolls ready to be developed during this next summer session...

IF: Journey

2011-04-17T06:06:00.000-07:00

Aside from having Steve Perry's voice running through my head for this week's Illustration Friday prompt, I had images of hitch hikers and epic road trips... so here's a mini traveller in the making....

On another note...Liam is done! Livi and Grace are coming along...Dusty Road is coming along slowly...&! Another book commission in the making...this one for a little girl named Tyler...my May vacation is going to be a busy month, between catching up on illustrations, making another book, attempting to become fluent in Italian, preparing for the next session of kids....and possibly learning to play some guitar..... oh dio! Andiamo!

Liam's Adventures!

2011-04-14T03:16:00.000-07:00

At last! Liam is complete and ready to be shipped off to the states! I want to enjoy him for a little while longer before I may never see this little guy again. I've loved working on him but it is time to move on to other projects more in depth....So here is my latest little guy before he makes his next adventure to the states and then home to Australia!

Liam was a little lad who dreamed both far and wide,

to travel across all seven oceans and up great mountain sides.

He hoped to ride a camel 'cross the sparse Moroccan plains,

then traverse the African jungles in a jolly caravan.

After dining one night in Rome, with no less than the Pope,

Liam would then catch a flight to go ski an Alpine slope.

A quick trip to Paris, the lunch atop the Great Wall,

before a flight back west to see London's Royal Halls.

He'd then cruise South America aback a vintage motorbike,

being sure to make a stop for a brief Peruvian hike.

From San Francisco to New York, Madagascar to Tripoli,

there surely is no place too far for Liam's need to see.

After it all, he'd return safe to his cozy Australian home

and tell of all the places he was lucky enough to roam.

He'd chat all day with Annie and Lee then sleepily drift away,

back into his jet plane to explore all through the next day.

this and that....

2011-04-11T07:16:00.000-07:00

The last couple of months of non Italy/work sketches. An assortment of pencil sketches from source photos I found ages ago and doodles via inspiration from one of my art loves, Valentina Ramos.

primavera e spagna...

2011-04-09T07:50:00.000-07:00

Another sketchbook catch-up!

Here's a smattering of sketches from these past couple months and my most recent adventure to Spain!

Apollo and Daphne

Mimose from Festa delle Donne

Las Ramblas in Barcelona

La Sagrada Familia

Escriba...new favorite pastry shop...

Gaudi's Park Guell

La Sagrada Familia....

Livi & Grace...

2011-03-28T07:14:00.000-07:00

The little girlies! For the cover of Livi & Grace's story...

Just got back from a fantastic week in Spain... time to catch up on documenting commission progress and the sketchbook! All in due time...

Liam's Adventures

2011-03-04T00:21:00.000-08:00

Updates! Huzzah!

I now have a total of 4 projects going now! 2 illustration commissions for two wonderful women, my own little Italian Alfabeto book, and this little guy; Liam's Adventures!

I have already written his story and now he is bound. All he needs now is some illustrating and text and he is ready to be mailed back to the states...

Sunny's Garden

2011-02-27T05:48:00.000-08:00

Sunny! She's done! At last! (tis time to work on other, more pressing projects anyways)...

Still no scanner...I am in dire need of one, especially with Livi & Grace getting started and another commission, Liam's Adventures! Spring is getting busy...

But here she is! My lovely little Sunny, my first book made/written/illustrated entirely in Italy!

Sunny's Garden

Sunny was a flower picker, t'was a habit hard to ignore.

As soon as spring arrived each year, she'd sprint quickly out the door.

Behind the house was her love, a floral treasure trove.

She was quite sure it was a garden to behold.

Sunny truly had a green thumb; she was known far and wide,

By neighbors who gossiped of the garden with wonders inside.

There were daisies, roses, marigolds and more.

Irises and crocuses, colorful pansies galore.

Daffodils and tulips, and petunias too,

Many of which came in an assortment of hues.

She would pick and pluck from left row to right,

From sun up, all day, until the eve of night.

Sunny then hauled all her bouquets back inside,

Filled every single vase and inhaled, happily, with pride.

Livi & Grace

2011-02-25T06:33:00.000-08:00

I've been asked to illustrate the book of an amazing woman in Texas! It's based on her two young daughters and is for her non-profit. I am so excited to collaborate with her.

I was playing around with what the little girlies, Livi and Grace, would look like and trying to do this weeks Illustration Friday: layers. Alas, I am too late (again) to upload to IF. But here are the little ladies, bedecked in layers of aprons, much like me and my little sister used to do at our grandparents house when we were little...

braided creepies...

2011-02-16T08:35:00.000-08:00

I believe my subconcious is conciously making me create creepier things to counteract all the cuteness of children-ly illustrations.

This creepy little hair kick started mid fall session and has made a comeback these past few days. It's a nice mind-numbing break, doodling hair for an afternoon.

I also like the idea of braids and entangling...a kind of pretty parasitic dependency...

These little creepies are in chronological order...I'm rather fond of the latest...

oh home....

2011-02-08T07:07:00.000-08:00

Yes I am home...home is when ever I'm in Italia!

Time to catch up. I had a couple sketches from the very end of last session that didn't make it up here and then a few new ones as well... (sadly, there is still no scanner to access so crummy photos yet again)...

First off! The final Firenze trip...which included another look at David and then a drink in the piazza in front of the Duomo.

A quick sketch at the Roma airport before going back to California for break.

Now to the newest....

Went to the Cassero tower in town a couple days ago and started this sketch. I'll probably go back and work on it some more...

Stopped to make this quick watercolor on my way back up to the tower the next day...another one I may work on more...

surrender...

2011-02-03T00:36:00.000-08:00

...to the wrath of the pillow fight!!!!

(sadly, the scanner I was using last semester no longer has a computer attached to it...so crummy photos will have to do for the time being...)

Been far too long since I've done an Illustration Friday. Back in Italy again so the time constraints are at an all time high...
I have 2 commissions to work on now too! And I've been working on Sunny again too! And will (hopefully) be making some prints and dark room photos in the coming months...pretty excited....
AND! Starting to brain storm for this summer's Il Madonnari at the Santa Barbara Mission! yay!!!

2011

2011-01-04T22:36:00.000-08:00

New Year!
Which means...new projects and plans...

First off: Etsy! I finally got an Etsy account and will hopefully finish some books using Blurb for my one of a kind children's books. I will likely post for sale some of the other handmade books I've made in editions. I'm still a little attached to my one of a kinders....

And! This year I hope to not only sell some of my books, but start sending some to publishers. Possibly/hopefully find an avenue for me and my little creations...

I would/should also become more active with both Illustration Friday, and Watercolor Wednesdays...

And on top of these plans, I'm heading back to Italy in a couple weeks! I still have some more updating of the sketchbook to do but my goal to fill an entire sketchbook with Italy/Europe sketches may be soon at hand...yay!

So! Here we go!
Etsy account, check! ( NotionalNotions )
Books to sell, in progress! ( Ruby, Sunny & Betsy )

Andiamo!

Savour the flowers...

2010-11-30T01:21:00.000-08:00

A rhyming catalyst finally came along...
I wrote another little short story, but took the name of previous little character I wanted to write about.
So this is the new and improved and repurposed Sunny! Her little story is Sunny's Garden. I have bound the book for her story and now I just have to finish illustrating, then write all the text inside...

This is the last image in the story. I thought it worked nicely with Illustration Friday's theme this week: savour.
So here is Sunny savouring the treasures from her garden....

Oh Toscana...

2010-11-16T07:08:00.000-08:00

Fall is nearly over. It's becoming harder to find free days of good weather sit outside long enough to get a good sketch. We've had a few in these past weeks that I was able to take advantage of.

I also found a bottle of brown India ink...that for some reason, looks purple on paper!
This one is from the courtyard here at Santa Chiara.

Every spring and fall semester, the RCs put together a memory book of photos of the students and their travels through Europe. Past memory books have all had the same cover, a photo of the courtyard years ago with the old oak tree in it. Well, the oak tree is long gone. So I made this watercolor for this years fall memory book.

Last week, I travelled with the Cal Poly students to visit San Gimignano. The town is known for its collection of medieval towers.

But also...for the views of the surrounding valleys...

Another 'brown' India ink painting....of Arezzo.

WCW - Children Playing

2010-11-16T06:49:00.000-08:00

This is my latest submission to Watercolor Wednesdays. The theme for this week was: Children playing.
It reminded me of how much I used to love playing with boxes and cardboard, and also how, as kids, we were always quarantined outside to play while the adults cooked our holiday dinners!

Alphabet...

2010-11-07T12:05:00.000-08:00

Design Sponge is hosting an Alphabet contest. I used to make up alphabets and typefaces when I was little, though I usually never finished all 26 letters...

l'autunno viaggia

2010-10-29T02:48:00.000-07:00

Fall break was wonderful! I was able to visit Venice again and see the Architecture Biennale. Had some more fantastic Italian food before flying off to Belgium! These first couple watercolors are from Venice, by the entrance to the Biennale and inside the Arsenalle by the old shipping docks.

I was not able to get a lot of sketching done in Belgium. It was far too amazing and time consuming being gloriously lazy at last, and too cold to stand outside for long periods of time! So while we lazed inside where it was warm, I sketched the living room of our hosts in Gent.

After Gent, I flew south...way south...to Sicily! We stayed in Palermo for 3 nights and explored around the city. We had some time to sketch at the Palermo Cathedral before venturing to the Cappuccini Catacombes....

(a crooked sketch of the Palermo Cathedral...)

One of the residents in the Professor section at the catacombs...

On our last day, Madalyn and I took a train to Cefalu, a tiny little beach town an hour away from Palermo. It was gorgeous and possibly one of my new favorite cities. We had a lot of time to kill waiting for restaurants to open for dinner so we hung out in this little archway and waited with a bottle of Sicilian wine...

Fall is almost gone back here in Toscana. I have a little over a month and a half left here before it is time to find new adventures in the states... I still have over 1/4 of my sketchbook to fill too. Time for lots of sketching! (maybe a trip to Spain to help fill it too)...

Racing through Gent

2010-10-29T01:55:00.000-07:00

I was able to spend 5 days during this past week in Belgium, where the main mode of transportation is with bikes! So regardless of how cold it was or how much it was raining, we were always racing around the city from one place to the next on our bikes...

Chocolate and Trees...

2010-10-18T11:26:00.000-07:00

An odd assortment of sketches before I leave on fall break. This next whirlwind of traveling will commence tomorrow morning with a trip to Venice. Thursday morning I head to Belgium to eat my weight in chocolate and waffles. Then Monday I fly to Sicily via Milan for 3 days in southern Italy! I am so excited to break out the backpack and explore again...and ofcourse, make some new sketches and watercolors...

On to the sketches!

This past week I was able to tag along with Cal Poly on their trip to Villa Lante, near Viterbo.

Overwhelmingly gorgeous garden with so many fountains and ancient trees...felt like something out of the Secret Garden....

Afterwards, we stopped by the outlet mall in Valdechiana....odd place that was very much like California outdoor malls. Complete with cute Italian children and a carousel.

Quick sketch in the dark during a classical guitar concert here at Santa Chiara.

The EuroChocolate Festival in Perugia! Delicious!!!

Time to pack! Until the next post of Venice, Belgium and Sicily!

A presto!

Fiat Cinque Cento

2010-10-14T06:17:00.000-07:00

The theme for this weeks Illustration Friday is: transportation.
Finally gave me a reason to sit down and stare at one of my favorite (and smallest) cars in Italy, the Fiat Cinque Cento.

Mercoledì di acquarello!

2010-10-10T14:15:00.000-07:00

Last week I was accepted to participate with the site Watercolor Wednesdays! This is my first attempt at their challenges. I am excited! It will be fun to illustrate more, both for Illustration Friday and Watercolor Wednesdays.
This first weeks challenge was: Bewitching Hour. I'm not quite ready to fully delve into Halloween yet but I am loving the fall weather here in Toscana!

Toscana nell'autunno

2010-10-07T09:03:00.000-07:00

The fall session is in full swing now, and so is the fall weather! I need to take the time to paint the vines growing in the courtyard before they lose their bright red color...

During the longer sessions at Santa Chiara, every Wednesday the schools go on field trips and the RCs can tag along if there's room. This week I went with Cal Poly to La Celle, a private collection or large scale, outdoor sculptures and installations. We also went to Pienza and Montepulciano. While they were in museums, I took some time to mosey around...

Pienza

Montepulciano (experimenting a little...)

Beneath...a fort!

2010-10-05T01:13:00.000-07:00

This weeks topic for Illustration Friday is Beneath.
It's starting to turn into fall here and all I'd love to do on these chilly days is curl up under a blanket or inside a fort for the afternoon....

Good Old-fashioned Lover Boy

2010-09-25T08:24:00.000-07:00

New goal! Actually submit to Illustration Friday more than 1 day before the deadline...
So! Here is my take on this weeks topic (a full 5 days sooner than usual): Old fashioned.

Besides giving me an intense craving to listen to my Queen vinyl, the topic reminded me of things you'd find buried in an old jewelry box or decorating a vanity...dainty and delicate and dear...like lockets and doilies.

firenze e la macchina

2010-09-24T09:13:00.000-07:00

In an effort to update more, I'm going to start posting sketches from my non-Italy sketchbook.

I have recently become obsessed with Florence and the Machine's song "Drumming," and their video for it. After spending a few hours in the office waiting and waiting and listening to the song on repeat via youtube, this little sketch occured....

Sunny

2010-09-23T01:32:00.000-07:00

The time has come the walrus said...
to start rhyming up a storm!
It is time to start creating another little children's story. I'm still in the process of writing and rhyming but, in the meantime, have decided on what my newest little one will look like. It's also high time I got back into participating for Illustration Friday. So....meet Sunny and after is my Illustration Friday interpretation for the week.

LITTLE Acrobat

Ora, la Francia!

2010-08-25T09:34:00.000-07:00

After traipsing around Italy (and a little of Switzerland), I hopped on a plane for Paris! Spent a couple of days seeing the museums and the sites there before I headed south via train for the French Riviera and Nice, then back on down to Florence and home!

First stop on Paris was, of course, the Louvre. It was great to see all the big pieces in history.

Winged Victory of Samothrace

Cupid and Psyche

Venus de Milo

After the Louvre, I hit most of the other big monuments in Paris; Notre Dame, Sainte Chapelle, Rodin Museum and of course...the biggie...

The Eiffel Tower!

The line was too long to climb it but it was lovely to sketch it finally.

The next day I hit Musee d'Orsay. Didn't sketch as much since it was mostly (epic) paintings but I did really like this one sculpture...

I didn't have a lot of time in Nice to sketch but I'll get some photos up eventually!

So, until next post...au revoir!

La mia vacanza! Primo, Italia!

2010-08-25T09:07:00.000-07:00

Time for another update...in fact, multiple updates! I have quite a lot of sketches to upload from this past month of vacationing. It's been a busy and amazing month. I'm very happy with a number of the sketches I've made. I'll put them into two posts: SC/Rome/Venice/Milan/Cinque Terre and France. So! Here comes Italy!!

This is one of the only pieces I was able to make her at Santa Chiara during the last session of students. Our courtyard gained a couple topiaries...

Roma!

I had some time to kill in Rome waiting for my friend to arrive from the states...so I spent a good amount of time around Vatican City and at St. Peters.

(This one is actually larger horizontally, but the scanner I can use has a small screen sadly).

This is one of my favorites of Bernini's angels on the Ponte San Angelo.

Venezia!

This was the view of the alley under our little patio at our hostel in Venice.

THE bridge of Venice.

A few of the locals in a quiet piazza.

Milan!

The train station in Milan is one of the most interesting stations I've come across...I'd still like to work on this one some more...

Cinque Terre!

The beach at Riomaggiore, a little bit cloudy that day.

Now, on to France!!!

Vino!

2010-07-31T09:31:00.000-07:00

I was starting to get a booking making itch...it has been nearly three months since I finished school and all my projects so I was due for another book! Since I'm in a tiny town in Italy, supplies can be tricky to come by sometimes. Luckily, there's quite a lot of art stuff left behind by past students and a surprisingly well stocked hardware store in town!

For this book, I wanted to use as many found materials as I could...wine in particular. I saved a leftover bottle of Chianti and had some fun dying some paper from an old sketchbook. Combined with some watercolor boards, twine and some handmade paper and Voila!

I made up the stitch by doodling prior to sewing but it's kind of a hybrid of the Caterpillar stitch I used on my 7 Deadly Sins books.

I'm really pleased with how it came out. I think I'm going to continue making books with this process while I'm here, ie trying to use as many found materials as possible. Maybe even let the wine dying crossover into some clothes tie-dye!

The book consists of 9 signatures of 2 folios each. It was fun ordering them and seeing how the different patterns that were created looking with eachother.

Ciao Roma!

2010-07-21T01:36:00.000-07:00

Inbetween the sessions of students, the RC's get to travel...where ever!
Because our last break was so brief I didn't get to go anywhere too far away but I did get a chance to go back to Rome! I had some time to mosey around the city before I caught up with my friend Sarah.

I stayed mostly in the Piazza Navona area, which is home to one of Bernini's fountains, the Spanish steps, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain. Last year I didn't get a chance to sketch these places but I made a point to this time around!

The Pantheon

The Trevi Fountain

Quick sketch of the Colosseum

Even quicker sketch of part of Bernini's fountain in Piazza Navona.

Next break...CROATIA!! And hopefully Paris...

2nd 'Homes'

2010-06-28T02:58:00.000-07:00

While here in Italy, the majority of my time will be spent in two places: the kitchen and the bar at Santa Chiara. I thought it would be interesting to draw both of these spots considering how much time is spent in either of these spaces and how they'll be 2nd ~~homes~~ niches during my time here.

View from behind our bar, In Bocca al Lupo (In the mouth of the wolf).

The kitchen! Where tasty food is made, and testaquadras congregate!

So far, it is going pretty well here. The first batch of kids leave this week. Then we have a week off before the next group arrives! During this first break I think I'm going to head to Rome and southern Italy. Possibly, (hopefully!) search for a beach to sleep on and sketch!

I've also been trying to spend as much time out in the courtyard. There was one particular day during our mellow week (all the Universities were on trips) that is was very picturesque in the afternoon, prompting a watercolor postcard :)

Also in our bar, we have this big chalk board. It has always had an awesome drawing of the She-Wolf but it sadly got erased on accident one night. So I drew something new on the board...

So, until...the next time I get around the updating this thing...a presto!

sketch sketch sketch

2010-06-14T03:38:00.000-07:00

Alrighty. I've been here nearly a month now, it is time to put up some sketches! It has been very busy so far but it is also very good. Slowly finding some time to get lost in town again and find some sketches.

From the plane ride over. Met two really awesome people. An Iranian man from LA named Ali on my way to North Carolina. And then a ceramicist that teaches at Trinity on the flight to Rome.

First sketch in Italy! A few of us went to Arezzo for our first day in Italy.

The courtyard at Santa Chiara, where I spend the majority of my free time.

A little alley I stumbled upon yesterday. I was wandering along and found a very friendly cat who wanted to pose for a bit.

I'll get some more sketches up as soon as I can. Possibly just a post of photos soon too.

A presto!

Practical Magic...

2010-05-25T03:17:00.000-07:00

First post from Italy! But not new Italy art sadly, still catching up on posting all the work I made this semester. So, andiamo!!!

For our Artist's Books collaboration this last semester we chose the theme 'Spell Book.' We all interpreted it our own way then made enough mini books for everyone in the class to have one of ours and vice versa (ie- 14 mini books!).

I have these two Foxfire books from my grandpa. They're basically manly men guides to living and surviving in the wilderness. Everything from the art of moonshining to bear hunting to log cabin building is in described within them. Including natural, alledged remedies for common ailments....

All of them!

Each book has four herbal 'remedies' with the ingredients needed in order to administer the cure...

13 year old boy from the 70's

2010-05-17T22:54:00.000-07:00

This semester was my last time in Advanced Lithography. Before the semester started, I stumbled upon my grandfathers portfolio of photos from his stunt projects from the 60's onwards. That was the main inspiration behind the series of prints I made for the final semester, with the addition of samplings from posters from the iconic car movies from that era as well. So the majority of the semester I felt like I was drawing like a 13 year old boy in the 70's...

The Ward Kurtis

KITT from Knight Rider

Every semester the Advanced class makes a book. Our theme this semester was "Centerfold."

This last one was for out Litho trade. It's based off a photo I took while on the set of Tarentino's "Death Proof."

daisy chain

2010-04-08T18:16:00.000-07:00

It has been far too long since I last updated. The semester has been pretty intense and is nearly over.
And it's only going to get crazier after that! I got offered an internship at the facility I stayed at last summer while studying abroad in Italy. So I will be skipping my college graduation and opting for a plane ride to Rome! So, come May 21st, expect more posts of drawings from my sketchbook!

Now, on to the latest work! For Artist's Books I was assigned to make an edition of five and this is what happened. This project really came to fruition as I was making it. It was mainly inspired by a quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise.

For this is wisdom, to love and live.

To take what fate or the God's may give.

To ask no question, to make no prayer.

To kiss the lips and caress the hair.

Speed passion's ebb as we greet it's flow.

To have and to hold, and, in time, let go.

I used my purple and white handmade paper finally too. Each little 'daisy chain' flower book is housed in a drop spine box. I had to make up a stitch for the pages since they were irregular and needed to behave more as a hinge. So this is what happened!

Here are all 5 of my little lovelies!

Dear Little Robert

2010-02-26T13:08:00.000-08:00

My first commission!

This was a book for my aunt. Her good friend is having a baby soon so she asked me to make a book about their soon to be son, Robert!

For this one, I covered davies board in handmade paper to make the pages stronger so the book will hopefully last a long time.

I really enjoyed making this book. Just a strange feeling knowing I will most likely never see this book again. But now, on to detail photos and the story!

Dear Little Robert

Oh, dear little Robert,

I can't wait for you to see

all the places we will go.

Oh! The things that you could be!

Little Robert the fireman,

the engineer or even the doctor.

Who knows, my little one,

maybe a yoga instructor!

Be brave little Robert,

all the things we could do!

Ride horses, go boating,

it will all be so new!

Oh my little Robert,

all the people you will meet.

I know they'll all love you,

from your head to your tiny feet.

Our sweet little Robert,

all the love we will share.

Visiting family and friends,

to love and to care.

Oh, dear little Robert,

so grand this all must seem.

But, right now, close your eyes.

Goodnight and sweet dreams

Ruby's Week

2010-02-18T17:14:00.000-08:00

She's done!

Here is my latest little love in her entirety.

After the jump I'll have some photos of the actual book but first, the images and the story.

Ruby's Week

The clock ticked down as Ruby squirmed.

Soon, she would be free!

The bell then rang and off she ran

screaming, "SUMMER," filled with glee!

Her bag was packed up with supplies

everything she may need.

A kiss to mom then off she'd go

on over to her favorite tree.

By Monday evening, the tree transformed

into a raft for Teddy and Ruby.

Down they'd float into the unknown,

two renegades, wild and free!

On Tuesday, you'd come to find,

the tree had changed again!

There stood Captain Ruby at her ship's helm

battling nine pirates, maybe ten!

By Wednesday they'd landed on a shore far away

and began to trek through the uncharted land.

They saw beasties and natives along the way

who gladly joined in their caravan.

On Thursday they had a hot air balloon

because Ruby wanted a better view.

They rose through the clouds and saw far and wide

over oceans and seas, towards home they flew.

While flying on Friday, they made a quick stop

on a giant cloud that floated and swayed.

They hid and seeked among the fluffy peaks

'til it came time again to fly away.

Saturday they landed on solid ground

right by a small shack by the sea.

They surfed for the day and fished 'til sundown

then dined by the waves and toasted, "To WE!"

By Sunday, poor Ruby and Teddy collapsed

and spent the day napping, quite relaxed.

Ruby held Teddy and, after humming a tune,

said, "Tommorrow, I think, we'll go to the moon!"

Okay! Now on to the actual book!

Ruby Adrift

2010-02-12T17:51:00.000-08:00

Another little sneak peak at Ruby and her adventures & my submission to this weeks Illustration Friday theme: Adrift.

Ruby is also nearly complete! So I will possibly be putting up photos of the whole, completed book sometime next week!

Introducing Ruby!

2010-02-04T21:02:00.000-08:00

This is my newest little character, Little Ruby!

I'm in the process of illustrating her story still but I wanted to submit this page for this week's Illustration Friday theme: focused.

Little Betsy

2010-01-18T19:32:00.000-08:00

And finally! Little Betsy! I did my best to take some good photos of the pages since a scanner has not been helpful!
I'm also submitting the final image to Illustration Friday's 'Wilderness' topic!
Photos of the entire book can be seen in a past post here: little-betsy

Little Betsy

Little Betsy would rise very early

when the winter months arrived.

She'd then don her warmer clothing

before venturing outside.

Upon seeing Betsy's mess of hair,

her mother would chide,

"Please make sure you fix

it before you go outside."

But Betsy would just stress-

"It's just the way I like it."

Trudging down the sidewalk thru

snow nearly tall as her head,

her neighbors would worry

and fill with such a dread.

But Betsy reassured them-

"It's just the way I like it."

She reached the edge of the woods

and came upon a man

who wondered for her safety

on her solo trekking plan.

But Betsy just smiled on her way-

"It's just the way I like it."

Betsy marched ant trudged

and slipped and fell,

deep into the forest and

past snow filled dells.

She skipped and frolicked

and was quite cheery

as she drew closer and closer

to her favorite clearing.

Upon arrival she went to

her favorite spot,

the same day after day,

she never forgot.

Satisfied at last,

she exclaimed to the woods-

"This is exactly how I like it!"

The End

Christmas gifts

2010-01-16T12:16:00.000-08:00

Funds for this past Christmas were rather small so I ended up making sewing and painting most of my gifts.

My mum wanted an enlarged painting from my Italy sketchbook. This was the view out of the studio we used while staying in Castiglion Fiorentino.

At Christmas my family uses a draw for anyone who is 21 or over.... this year was my first year in the draw. I got my cousin-in-law Jessica, who was just married this past summer.

She also graduated from the University of West Virginia. So I made her this little creeple.

sketchiness

2010-01-10T18:49:00.000-08:00

Tis time for another sketchbook posting! These are few sketches and watercolors I've made since returning from Italy last summer.

California:

Home! 01/10/10 at 1:10 in Los Olivos, CA

My littlest sister Sofia swinging while I was house sitting in Los Olivos.

Pulled over for a sketch break along the 101 South.

Austin, Texas:

View off my deck

Cloud watching break at UT

Epoch Coffee House in Austin

Another view of Epoch Coffee House

Kanab, Utah:

Sunrise at my grandparent's house up Johnson Canyon

Fishing in Johnson Canyon

Happily, the Really After

2010-01-06T10:34:00.000-08:00

Seeing as the new year has arrived, I should probably catch up on updating the blog with my older work.
So! This is another children(ish) book I made. This one is from my first semester of artist's books. I decided to revise a selection of fairy tales and make them less idyllic and more realistic. I made a drop spine box to house the accordian book of the tales the watercolor illustrations.
Hopefully they are still readable from the scans. If they are not, let me know.

These are a couple of photos of the actual book.

This is the drop spine box.

This the accordian folio.

This is the interior of the box with the pages in their place.

prints and prints and more prints

2009-12-15T10:12:00.000-08:00

These are some of my prints that I made this semester in my Advanced Lithography and Intaglio printmaking studios. All of the warm toned/ black and white ones are Intaglio etchings based on my sketches I made while studying in Italy this past summer. The indoor scenes with people are from my litho class. All of the original Italy sketches are from this post: here-goes-nothing-here-comes-everything

Alley in Tuscany

(etching with aqua tints on chine colle)

The courtyard at Santa Chiara

(etching with aqua tints)

The Loggia in Castiglione Fiorentino

(etching with aqua tints)

"Friday Night In"

This was for our end of the semester Litho trade portfolio

(Four color runs with xerox transfers)

(3 color runs)

This one still needs work but this print was made on a copper plate that I purchased this summer at Zecchi's Art Store in Florence.

7 Deadly Sins

2009-11-28T21:48:00.000-08:00

This semester in my Artist's Books class I was assigned to make an edition of 5 books. I decided to use my prints I made of the Seven Deadly Sins that I used in another book project (this one needs to be properly documented still)...

But here they are! And ofcourse, my camera's batteries died during all my excitement... so as soon as I get new batteries I'll properly document and post photos. These are just teaser photos I guess...

I used a Caterpillar stitch (but I think it resembles a Centipede more)...

This is my little 'Greed'

children, beasties and sad little flowers

2009-11-11T21:10:00.000-08:00

Every semester in Lithography we have a themed book project. Last semesters was "Phobiology" (I used Cyprianophobia- fear of hookers). As fun as that was, this semester I was a little more PG. The semester's theme was "Opposology." My contributions to the book were these little prints...

The first two are imaginary versus reality... little imaginary beasties and their child actualities...the little beasties were my favorite to make.

Both the kids and creatures are 3 runs of blend rolls.

These next ones were more of a Yes/No...

"He loves me..."

And it's sad opposite...

These last two were inspired by this quote I stumbled upon...

"You put so much pressure on the even-numbered petalled flowers. It's not their fault he doesn't love you."

[last semester's book prints after the jump]

The End!

[bad pun, yes I know]

anche più Italia!

2009-11-10T20:11:00.000-08:00

The end of the semester craziness has arrived! Hopefully I'll get some scans of my stuff when it lets up a bit...
Until then, here's some more of my sketches from this summer in Italy...

8 hour layover in Canada!

Word nonsense, 1st cappucino and a brick tunnel

View from our studio

[more after the jump]

Our medieval tower atop the hill in town

Tuscan house

Our bar

Flowers in Cortona

Park in Florence

David!

Between this post and the last one of sketches, I think the majority of my favorites have been uploaded...so yeah, there's my summer via sketches!

photo nonsense

2009-11-07T17:37:00.000-08:00

Since I am currently unable to access a scanner to get decent pictures of my recent and older book project and prints I figured I'd put up some of my photography. Some are rather old and some a rather recent...regardless, they're already on my computer and therefore get put up!

A few are from when I took darkroom photography.

Lola

The cousin and the sister.

The grandparents

Lorainne's beach

The Ward Kurtis

Around Austin

Italy

a little of Little Betsy

2009-11-06T07:19:00.000-08:00

Little Betsy is a book project I've been working on this project for almost a year now. And it is finally finished. I'm absolutely in love with her and this book. It has taken soooo many hours to complete and get just right...

The book pages stack up neatly when folded up right and fit into a little box. Finally got to use my blue denim paper.

[more photos and inside the box after the jump...]

When it's unfolded....

It looks like this!

I had to make up a stitch that would allow the pages to be hinged together and still fold up like an accordian (a slightly deranged accordian) into a stack to fit into the box....

Backside of the unfolded book

It has been a challenge getting scans of the actual text and illustrations...as soon as I can access a scanner that works I'll put some of the illustrations up...

here goes nothing (here comes everything!)

2009-11-05T22:29:00.000-08:00

Ok. Here it goes.

I've been plotting getting a blog for my artwork for quite some time...and now I've finally gotten around to making it happen! So we shall see how this endeavor goes...especially since I have no real experience with blogging...oi vey...

On to business!

This past summer I was able to spend 6 weeks studying art in Italy. During my time there I worked on making as many sketches and watercolors as I could. These are some of my favorite ones...

View of Florence from San Miniato

Part of our courtyard at our home in Castiglion Fiorentino

Inside our classroom and the alley outside our studio

[more sketches after the jump]

Poppies

A monastery in Florence

Ivy in our courtyard

View of the main center of town

The cathedral's tower

The Roman Forum

The local cathedral

Bernini's Apollo and Daphne

An alley around town

Up at the Loggia in town

Our courtyard at Santa Chiara

Another alley around town

There's a lot more than these few...they may show up on here some time soon....

So that is that. More coming soon! Ciao.