Out on the Hill

If you have been following my blog for any amount of time, you know that I have occasionally made mention of a book that I have been working on and guess what......TA DA......IT IS HERE!!!  CAN YOU HEAR ME SQUEAL WITH EXCITEMENT?  I'M SURE OF IT! 

As you might imagine a project like this one doesn't just happen overnight. In fact many, many, many nights......too many to really count.  Mary Sue and Kay contacted me in the Spring of 2015 about taking on this project.  You see while this has been my "baby" for well over a year, it has been their "baby" for many years before.....collecting and writing down stories of their childhood for their family to pass down through the generations. 

Cover Design-the main cast of characters!

Even though this book is chocked full of art and stories about children, animals, and life on the farm, this is not a children's book but rather a book for all ages.  Mary Sue and Kay tell stories about what life was like on their grandparents farm during their childhood in the 1940-50's.  They describe this as a time when things were much simpler, a time when children didn't  have 24/7 access to TV and computers, "We made our own fun." 

Tree House

This book is special for me because it is also part of my history,  my Mom is the first cousin of the authors.  Some of their stories include her and her twin sister and of course they are my favorites!  

I love the tree house illustration and story because it is one that I have heard my Mom tell over the years.  I can still hear her laugh when she described the process of getting Grandma Birdie's china down from the tree house and how surprisingly nothing ever was broken!

I just wish my Mom could have been here to see the finished book.  She did get to hear the stories and see many of the sketches though, and during our daily phone calls she would talk about what life was like out on that hill, on her Grandparent's farm.

Kittens

I affectionately call this one "Milk and Cookies" cause Mary Sue is eating a cookie and the kitty is drinking a saucer of milk.  Do you think she was tempted to dunk her cookie in the milk? LOL Buy the book and find out!

Seriously, I just love this one.  It was one of the first ones to be sketched and the very first one to be painted.  I've loved it from start to finish and it helped set the overall style of the rest of the illustrations.

Christmas Package from Aunt Bea

Here is yet another one with my Mom and I could love it for that reason alone but there is another reason.  The story tells of the built up excitement for the Christmas package that Aunt Bea sent from California.

Here is my add on....Did you know that Aunt Bea continued on to send Christmas gift's to her Great Niece's and Nephew's many years later.  I remember she would send me a little ornament for the tree with a brand new crisp dollar bill inside.  

Sledding on a Scoop Shovel

"Sledding on a Scoop Shovel" is the first time ever painting a snow scene and it is the only winter illustration of the book.  I really loved the results and maybe need to try some more of them.  Again,  I love the story!  

I worked on this sketch over Christmas break last year and in my house I can always count on my daughter to take a real interest in whatever I am doing.  I really love that about her. Anyway, I read the story to her and then we talked about the drawing some, and then she left to go downstairs to watch a Christmas movie with her Dad, "It's a Wonderful Life."  All of a sudden she bursts back into my studio and tells me I need to come watch this scene from the movie.  They backed up the movie for me to watch children sledding on scoop shovel's.  Never knew that was a thing to do!  Next time you are watching that movie look for it, ok?

Grandpa Lou feeding Mama Cat

I never knew my great grandparent's, they both passed away when I was just a baby.  This book has allowed me to get to know them.  Like now I know how much Grandpa Lou loved the animals on the farm and this illustration shows him tending to the largest and the smallest on the farm.

Grandma ringing the dinner bell

I couldn't show you one of Grandpa without showing one of Grandma.  This is one of three spot illustrations for the story titled, "Oh, Lou."

Sunday Afternoon

Another cute one with the twin cousins.  I just think all four of them look so cute in their little Sunday dresses playing on their make shift swing set.

Thanks for letting me share my favorites with you.  This book has 24 short stories and 30 watercolor illustrations, and was very much a labor of love by both authors and illustrator.  

If you are interested in purchasing this book I am told that you could send Mary Sue a private message on FB and arrange a purchase.

Nursery Art

I have wanted to try my hand at Nursery Art for quite some time and with several new babies born to friends and family,  this year was to be the year for it.  This first one was made for one of my best friends who gave birth to her sixth daughter, yes I said six!  I wanted this to be very special, and what better way to welcome a new baby sister than a parade in her honor!

Parade for Rockie

Next up was for my nephews very first child, a very sweet little baby girl who has totally captured  this Great Auntie's heart!  Her parents posted pictures of her beautiful nursery on FB and I was able to gain my inspiration from classic pinks and whites and whimsical elephants.  This piece came together very quickly...don't you just love it when that happens.  My favorite part is the elephants pink toenails!

Olivia the Great

Numero three.....my sweet niece gave birth to another sweet angel who I absolutely adore,  a girl this time around and her nursery would rival the nursery of any "Royal."  I was totally inspired by the royal purple and canopied crib fit for any princess!  I just couldn't resist the take on the classic "Princess and the Pea."

Princess Ariah and the Pea

Well I do have one last one to finish but some things came up around the house that really needed to be taken care of but I hope to get it completed soon.  I will share that one with you as well,  so no worries! The best part of this next one is that the parents have no idea about it, so shhhhh!!    I think that has been the best part of this project is getting to surprise the families.

Also my book project got finished about a month ago and I simply can't wait to share some of my favorite illustrations from the book with you.  You need to wait just a little bit longer but I think it will be worth the wait!

Practice, Practice, Practice

"Duck, duck,.....Goose!"

I know that some of you are wondering why I would re-post this illustration from at least a year ago.  Well the answer is easy...I didn't.  

I am gearing up to start painting illustrations for a book that has been in the researching and sketching phase for quite sometime.  I thought since I haven't painted for a few months it might be time to shake out the cobwebs and also try out some new watercolor paper.  

I remember really loving the concept of this illustration but when it came time for the final painting I think it fell kind of flat for me, this happens sometimes....it's ok!  No need to take ourselves so serious!  

 I only reworked this sketch slightly, changing a few awkward and stiff areas and then started painting it out again.  You might notice that it is in the same color pallet as my two previous paintings.  Hey, so I was a little lazy  I mean the paint was already there.

You are probably wondering if I like it better the second time around and my answer is....yes, but only slightly!  Don't be surprised if you see this one again in the future.  Why not!  I mean musicians practice the same piece over and over again until it is just right!  

Practice,  practice,  practice! 

Call Me.......

Call Me....

Well I looked it up and push button dial phones were introduced in 1963.  My early childhood was in the mid to late 60's and we still had a rotary dial phone, very similar to this one.  When we would go to other peoples houses, and if they happen to have a push button phone I would think to myself, "Wow...they must me rich!"  I  remember at one point we even had a "party line."  I know it sounds like a fun time but it just means that we shared a phone line with a neighbor's house.

When my kids were just a few years younger than they are now they would ask me questions like,  " How old were you when you got your first cell phone?" and I would reply,  "I was in my 30's."  They gasp..."Why wouldn't your Mom and Dad let you get one when you were young?"  Hahaha.....because they didn't have one either, no one did!  

My children simply can't imagine a life without cell phones and internet.  I do remember life without it but I would be the first to admit how much I love my iphone and how I never go anywhere without it!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Critters

Collection of Critters

What would children's illustrations be without critters?  Well not nearly as "cute!" Here are some of my favorites over the past year and a half.  Happy Tuesday everyone!!

Little Blue

Little Blue

"Little Blue" is so very close to my heart!

I think in life we all bring our own unique influences and experiences to whatever we are doing.

In artwork,  these influences and experiences can be especially evident.

Take "Little Blue" for example,  now I believe that "red" is the standard color when it comes to little play wagons, but no, not for me, mine was a light blue Radio Flyer.   I don't even think I have ever seen another Radio Flyer Wagon in that color, have you?

 I can't bring myself to paint a little wagon any other color than blue...it just doesn't feel right.  LOL

My best guess is that my blue wagon was a Christmas gift from Santa in 1969.  Here we are on that very special day......

Clearly "Little Blue" was special to me because after completion of this illustration I realized that my wagon has been featured in not ONE, not TWO, and not even THREE, but rather FOUR of my illustrations.

If you have been following my blog for any amount of time I bet you can at least think of one them.

Here they are.....

........no "little red wagons" to be found.  

Work in Progress

Summer is over and Fall is here!  Kids are finally settled in school with busy schedules and the lazy days of summer are becoming just a fond memory.

Even though you have not been hearing from me here in the "blog-isphere," I promise you I have been keeping extremely busy.  My first and foremost priority has been working on a book filled with many, many short stories.  My authors have been emailing me new stories every few weeks and so my days are filled with researching and sketching these fun stories.  A little bit like I do for my blog sometimes but only better.....getting paid is always better!  LOL  I simply can't wait to share more of that project with you but that will come later.

I can share with you some other "work in progress."  I have decided to work on getting together an official website.  I am working on some spot illustrations specifically for this site.  Here is my work so far....

My daughter says the girl in the wagon looks like her.......not intentional, so I added some freckles and you know what......I think she is right!   Enjoy!