IF: storm

It has been ages since I last sketched. The last time was probably when I was still working on/in Terzo. I've sketched for projects and commissions of course, but it's been awhile since I just sketched for myself and for the fun of it. I took a little time today to make a quick illustration for the Illustration Friday theme this week: storm. A play on the saying 'storm in a teacup,' now it's 'storm and a sea-monster in a teacup!'

I took a photo with Instacrack before I added color. Cant' decide which I like more. Either way, I'm pleased with this quickie illustration. 

There's a lot happening these days. Some fun commissions have come my way so I'm working on those, and trying to tackle/stay on top of my lessons. There's also a HUGE project in the works...like, life changing huge. Can't give any real details until it's all set in motion but this is looking to be a very good year! 

Illustration Friday: burst

A little illustration for Illustration Friday's theme this week: burst
Fingers crossed her little bubble doesn't burst! 

Other news...dropped off some watercolors to be made into prints yesterday! Mailing to publishers is getting closer and closer...

IF: imagination!

A little illustration for Illustration Friday's theme this week: imagination! My favorite! 

Or as my mum and I were jokingly referring to it as: "My horse is a broom, your argument is invalid." Or, "Cleaning? With my broom? Why?"

I really loved this week's theme. And brooms. Love brooms! Especially when you give them to children because, like cardboard boxes, there's really no limit to what they can do with them. 

On another SUPER STOKED happy note, one month exactly until I leave for Italy. SIIIIIII!!!!!! One month til my espresso addiction, lengthy meals, rolling hills, long walks and late talks loves are satiated. 

IF: teacher

An image from one of my favorite little tales, Dear Little Aubrey, of a sweet little girl teaching her stuffed friends! For Illustration Friday's theme this week: teacher!

IF: shiny!

A quickie for Illustration Friday's theme this week: SHINY!

Sparkly jewels! And an excuse to use my fountain pen some more...

IF: faded + NEWS!

A quickie for Illustration Friday's theme this week: faded. Instantly reminded me of my faded and destroyed favorite pair of jeans. I swear I'm going to wear them to shreds. 

And big happy news! My Pearl Snap Earrings are now in an actual store! HOORAY!! They're now at the cute new store in Los Olivos, California: the General Store. I'll snap a picture of it sometime this week. 

Anyways, here's the quickly illo of my favorite faded blue jeans! (I keep struggling with our scanner...it kills the blues then saturates everything else and I can't seem to find a digital way to remedy this....che palle...)

IF: kernel

A quickie for Illustration Friday's theme this week: kernel!
Strange topic, but I rather like the result of it, and the results of the kernels themselves.

Art tangent. I miss location drawing. A lot. I was contemplating editing some scanned line drawings from my Euro sketchbook, printing them out on watercolor paper then watercoloring on top of them... an odd process for me since I like to only draw on site (art snobbery but too bad!). But since I can't get back to Europe at the moment, reliving my favorite places and drawing moments may be the closest I can get for the time being...we'll see how this experiment goes...

IF: swamp

Quick little illustration for Illustration Friday's theme this week: swamp!

IF: Twirl!

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!

lovely [round] owl

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....

Little Aubrey peek!

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.

IF: Imperfect

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

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

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

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

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....

IF: Journey

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!

Livi & Grace

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...

surrender...

...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!!!

Savour the flowers...

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....