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!

Harry & Gladys: Upstair Adventure - continued

Well last week I surprised you with yet another Harry & Gladys illustration and left you with a little "cliff hanger."  So here it is folks...this series has been a lot of fun and I hope everyone has enjoyed it.  I sure did and it was awesome to relive a lot of old memories that have been tucked away for quite some time.  For those of you wondering, the blonde cousin who has been in several of the H&G illustrations is also one of my BFF's, Dana.  Our friendship has truely spanned our lifetime.

Harry & Gladys: Upstairs Adventure

Harry & Gladys: Upstairs Adventure

Are you surprised?  I know you thought the Harry and Gladys series was done and so did I but it turns out I had one more story to tell.  It wasn't like I just thought of it, I actually had it on the original list of illustrations,  but when it came time to sketch for this series I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to illustrate this story and all it's parts.....so it got scratched from the list.

This is a story about all the fun we used to have in the upstairs of Harry and Gladys's house. This story had so many parts to it. Sure I could have illustrated one part of the story and blogged about the rest of it but what is the fun in that I ask. This illustration helped me stretch my creative muscle and I'm really happy with my solution.  Just like every good adventure story there is a "cliff hanger."  LOL  You will have to show up next week to hear the rest of the story.

Harry & Gladys: The School Yard

Harry & Gladys: The School Yard

This series would not be complete without the mention of the school yard, most famous for the landmark "giant rock."  Many, many days were spent playing there with my cousins, almost too many days to count really.

In this illustration I really wanted to include the large rock but honestly we probably spent more time on the playground equipment.  And then when my younger sister wrote down her school yard memory I knew I needed to show us coming down that slide without any "blood shed!"  You will understand if you just keep reading.

Janell's Memory

One of the best parts about going to grandma and grandpa's house was the fact that they lived one block away from the schoolyard. Now being the second youngest of the 19 grandchildren my memories are very limited as grandma and grandpa passed away when I was six. However, I do remember when we went to grandma and grandpa's we always used to get to walk down to the park. One time in particular my sister was in charge of watching me when I went to play and the instruction that was given was not to let me go down the "big" slide, to stay on the small slide.

Well, being the typical little sister I begged and being a good big sister she relented and let me go down the "big" slide. Needless to say I got scared and grabbed the side of the slide on my decent and cut my hand on a screw that was sticking out. It wasn't much of a cut but I was screaming so it was hard to hide from mom, dad, grandma and grandpa. While my poor sister was getting in trouble for letting me get hurt, grandma bandaged my hand, wrapping my whole arm in an ace bandage because I was fascinated with casts.

Thank you so much for following along in this series about my grandparents, it has been a fun trip!  If you missed any of it here are the links.  Enjoy!

Meet Harry and Gladys
Silver Dollar
Needle and Thread
Chocolate Cookies
Watermelon
Ice Cream Treat 

Harry & Gladys: Ice Cream Treat

Harry & Gladys: Ice Cream Treat

I remember spending most weekend evenings at the Mitchell house.  After the evening meal Harry would offer all his guest ice cream.  Each week there was always a different flavor but the one I remember most frequently was what I called "striped (Neapolitan) ice cream."

The truth is that Harry really didn't eat all that much ice cream, Gladys would always have to eat whatever was left in the ice cream carton, so as not to let it go bad.  I am not sure how much she even liked ice cream, but I think living through the Great Depression, Gladys could never let anything go to waste....she saved every twist-tie, bread wrapper, margarine tub, etc.  Now as soon as the ice cream caton was finished, Harry would go to the grocery store and buy more ice cream!!!  When I think about this little cycle it makes me laugh!

I asked Dana to share some memories about Grandpa.

Dana's Memories

My favorite childhood memories occurred at Grandma and Grandpa Mitchell's house. When Jolene asked some of the cousins to share memories, it was hard to pick just one. So I picked two.

Grandpa Harry was a jokester, as has been mentioned before, and I remember a running joke about a giant lollipop that went on for months. However, it was a more tranquil memory that I love the most.

Grandpa always had to have an evening snack before bed and having lived through the Great Depression it wasn't fancy. He would have either bread (or crackers) torn up in a glass of milk with salt and pepper. Whenever I spent the night, I loved sitting next to him on his couch (Grandma and Grandpa each had their own couch) and having my own "Grandpa snack" with him.

Thanks everyone for reading this week.  One more painting left in this series.

Harry & Gladys: Watermelon

Harry & Gladys: Watermelon

Each and every year, at the close of summer, the little town of Montrose, Iowa gathers together to worship celebrate watermelon.  It is the same today as it was when I was a small child.  Free watermelon, free entertainment, and to my memory the best little carnival ever!

Here is an interesting tidbit......Did you know that my Grandpa, Harry Mitchell was one of the Watermelon Festival Founders?  I did not know that until a couple of weeks ago, so you could imagine my excitement as I was painting my Grandpa in an illustration about the very festival he helped create!  I couldn't help but think how "tickled" he might have been to see himself in this painting.

The Watermelon Festival is so much more than just a time to eat all the free watermelon you can, but it is really more of a "homecoming".  The adults bring their lawn chairs and gather around the bandstand to listen to the free entertainment and just sit and visit with neighbors, friends, and old classmates. Meanwhile, the excitement of the carnival and all it has to offer,  has the children buzzing at a much higher frequency.

When we were kids, we would really looked forward to the watermelon festival.  We would plead with our parents to let us spend the night with Grandma and Grandpa so that we would be close to the festival. The Mitchell's house in fact was very close,  we would spend our day running back and forth, begging for money to purchase more ride tickets and "yummy" carnival treats.  Turns out this was part of their master strategy, give us just enough money, but not too much, so that we would need to check back in at the house frequently.  Too think all these years I just thought we were really good at begging for stuff!

Thanks for reading this week!

Harry & Gladys: Chocolate Cookies

This was painted as a full sized illustration but as I was preparing for this blog entry I couldn't help but think about how this would be more appropriate as a recipe card. Somehow I feel that Gladys would have loved to share her recipe with you.

I said the very first week in my introduction that Gladys was famous for her chocolate cookies.  Now honestly I have no clue if she was the creator of the recipe, but even if she was not, she made them her own by blessing her family with their tasty goodness over and over again!

Now with permission from my Mother I will reveal her secret ingredient........bacon drippings!  Yes, yes, you heard it here folks. Warning!  Please check with your cardiologist before beginning this recipe.   If you decide to err on the side of caution and use shortening,  you will still love their deliciousness.

This week my cousin Dana shares her memories of baking with Grandma.

Dana's Memories

My memory of Grandma involves baking.  Just like all my cousins, I make and love her chocolate cookies, but I was fascinated when she taught me to make a pie.  She let me cut shapes out of the extra dough and sprinkle sugar and cinnamon on them for a special treat just for us. Grandma had a way of making every grandchild feel special and as if we were the center of her universe. She was never to busy to give you a hug and a kiss-or teach you to make a baked treat.

Thanks again for reading this week.  My gift to you this week is a free recipe card download. Make sure after you download the pdf, you set the size as 100% or "actual size"  If you just click "print" it will print it at 155% so you might want to adjust the size according to your recipe box.  Enjoy!




Gma choc cookie recipe card

Harry & Gladys: Needle and Thread

Meet Harry & Gladys
Silver Dollar

Needle & Thread

Gladys always seemed to be keep her hands busy.  I loved watching her work and was especially fasinated with her hands.  The skin on the back of her hands looked almost translucent and were silky soft to the touch.  

She made all sorts of things but my memories are of baby doll quilts and doll clothes.  I still have my doll quilt that is pictured above.  My daughter used it with her baby dolls and maybe one day her daughters will also.

My sister Julie and cousin Dana share this week: 

Julie's Memories 

"Grandma Mitchell taught me the basics of sewing when I was nine years old. We gathered in her warm kitchen to construct a winter woolen cape with bright red braided trim. We recycled a worn out wool coat of Grandpas and fashioned it into a smaller outer garment for me. I watched mesmerized as she powered her treadle Singer and seams magically appeared. She patiently answered all my curious questions. 

Over the years, she gently instructed me in sewing on buttons, hand piecing scraps of fabrics, and the lost art of tatting with fine thread and shuttle. She also taught me hand embroidery and fundamentals of crochet. I never saw her without a project in her hands.

She generously let me filter through her needles and hooks, threads, fabric and a fascinating button collection. She passed on both the love of sewing and the habit of always keeping my hands busy. Her patience fueled in me a passion for sewing and needlecraft. Little did I know at 9 years old she was giving me a gift that would span a lifetime."

Dana's Memories

"Grandma was fun to snuggle up with on her couch. She attempted to teach me how to embroider when I was older (it didn't take) and allowed me to play with the wrinkles on her hands when I was small-I loved to pinch her skin gently and was fascinated when it stayed that way."

Thank you for reading this week!

Harry & Gladys: Silver Dollar

Meet Harry and Gladys

Harry & Gladys: Silver Dollar

Can a silver dollar really buy you happiness?  I remember the days when it did.  Harry always seemed to have plenty of silver dollars jingling about in his pockets and he was always willing to hand them out to what ever grandchild might be visiting that day.

It was a great day when Grandpa would give us each a silver dollar and send us on our way to Smitty's to buy candy.  Smitty's was a little family owned grocery in Montrose.  They had an amazing assortment of "penny" candy.  I remember we would place our silver dollars on the counter with the cashier and then we would carefully select our candy piece by piece. The candy would then be placed in little brown paper bags and then we would be off and on our way.

The walk back to Grandma and Grandpa's always took a bit longer since we would have to stop several times to stuff candy in our mouths.  Once we arrived back at the house Grandpa would be at the picnic table waiting to see our sweet selections.  I think he really just enjoyed seeing our excited and extremely "sticky" faces.

Thanks for reading!

Fun Fact : Gladys had one of the prettiest and most fragrant yards in the neighborhood.  She had a long row of pink and white peony bushes that lined one side of her yard.  You can see them in the background of the "Silver Dollar" illustration.

Meet Harry and Gladys

Harry & Gladys Scrapbook Page

 

My grandparents, Harry and Gladys Mitchell,  lived in the small sleepy town of Montrose, Iowa just a few miles away from my Powdertown home.  For the first twelve years of my life, I don't think a single week ever passed with out seeing them.  In the pecking order, I am number thirteen of nineteen grandchildren.  Harry and Gladys were taken away from us the year I turned twelve.  Even though they have both been gone from my life for thirty-seven years, I have never stopped loving or thinking about them.


I will be telling their story, not just for me, but for all of us who loved them and called them Grandma and Grandpa.  I hope you will stick with me for the next several weeks as I tell the sweet "love story"
of grandparent and grandchild.
 

Thanks for reading!

Powdertown: The Road Home

Powdertown: The Road Home

The end of this road leads to home, just as this illustration leads to the completetion of this series on Powdertown.  It sounds so poetic and orchestrated.  I wish I could say I planned it, but it is kind of cool how it worked out just the same.

There was one road that went straight through the settlement. It was lined with houses and ended with beautiful Chatfield Park.  There was no "through way" traffic so the road was perfectly quiet except for the hum of the everyday comings and goings of the neighborhood. Here we are heading home from the direction of the lake, passing by the apple tree and garden on the left with our house just beyond it.

My favorite part of this painting would have to be our cute little yellow tabby cat named "Mr. Chips." Mr. Chips was given to us as a little kitten and I'm not sure who came up with the name, put I am sure we all agreed to it.  I think it came from us all owning a "chip" of him, meaning he belonged to all of us equally.  That being said I think someone in our family took to him a bit more and treated him like her own special "furry" baby.  I don't think he minded being carried around as much as he minded being dressed in doll clothes!

Thanks so much for visiting.  See you back here in a couple weeks for my new series titled "Harry & Gladys."

Powdertown: Our Garden

Powdertown: Our Garden

The only thing that was longer than our extensive clothes line was our huge vegetable garden.  The garden stretched out almost the length of our back lot and was located behind Dad's workshop and adjacent to the apple tree.  The garden was massive and full of a variety of vegetables including: corn on the cob, green beans, potatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, carrots, but best of all red, ripe, beautiful tomatoes!  One of my favorite things to do was to pick the tomato off the vine and eat it like one would eat an apple.  It was such a treat and so readily available.

Here we are with my little blue wagon, the real "work horse" of my childhood.  The wagon was not only good for playing and for walks to the lake, but also for helping out with chores.  "Little Blue" was small enough to fit between the garden rows and large enough to carry the daily yield of veggies.  Once the harvesting of vegetables was done, my Mom would start the laborious task of "canning."

Dad worked that garden after working long hot days in a factory and Mom would stand over a steaming pot for days "canning" veggies in a non air-conditioned small house. They didn't have to do this, they just did it!  I feel immensely blessed to have grown up in my family.  My parents always provided for us, taught us about hard work, and most importantly,  how to enjoy the simple things in life.

Thanks for stopping by this week!

Powdertown: Wash Day

Powdertown:
Wash Day

Just like any growing family there were always heaps of laundry to be done, so really just about every day was considered "wash day."  Upon the early years in Powdertown, Dad made us a long clothesline that stretched the length of our side yard.  If the sun was out then so was our laundry! Part of our chores growing up was to hang out, take down, fold, and put away the laundry. That clothesline became the backdrop of my childhood! 

This was an ordinary, uneventful, routine part of our everyday,  so why even write about it?  Because there is something very special and precious about the ordinary routine of everyday life.  It is comforting to a child and reassures them that everything is right in their world, ask any parent.   I can remember it like it was yesterday..... a bright sunny afternoon, the cat is napping on the warm sidewalk,  kids are playing throughout the settlement, and I can hear the sheets on the clothesline flapping in the gentle breeze.  Yes, everything is as it should be!  Who knew you could pin fresh laundry and "contentedness" on your clothesline?

I think my Mom liked hanging out laundry because it is what her Mom did as well as many generations before. I'm sad to say that with my generation, the convenience of the dryer has made this tradition fade away.  I did have my Dad build me a clothes line when I moved into my own house,  but unfortunately it doesn't get used very often.   Sometimes when it is a sunny summer day and the mood strikes me,  I like to hang out a load of laundry and when I breathe in the fresh linen scent,  I can't help but think of Powdertown.

Would you like to read about more of my Powdertown memories?

• Feeding the Ducks (Chatfield Park)
• Fowler's Apple Tree
• Our Brown Chair

Powdertown: Brown Chair

Well this week marks the third week of my Powdertown Series and that means we are half way through the series.  Hopefully you have been following along and didn't miss out on Chatfield Park or Fowler's Apple Tree.  If you did go ahead and take the time and get caught up.

There is nothing that feels quite like home so much as a comfortable arm chair.  It welcomes you with soft silent strength and then quietly whispers, "home, home at last!"  Like any other home, we would have chairs "wear out",  and then they would be replaced. In my life there has been a parade of chairs,  and for what ever reason this "brown chair" has parked itself in my memory banks.

Powdertown Series:
Brown Chair

I remember every thing about it.  It's wide flat side arms that could serve as extra seating, the raised diamond textured pattern, the soft extra wide cushion that could fit two or three of us kids.  I remember curling up on it with pillow and blanket for afternoon naps while Mom would watch her "stories."  But perhaps my favorite would be throwing a quilt over the top and creating a tent which would mean hours upon hours of fun!  Tell me why everything became more fun under that tent.

During this series I have really only talked about imagery, and have not said much about my process, so let's talk "color schemes".   I wanted these six illustrations to have some unifying elements that would help say, "hey, we belong together" and I felt the best way to create that is through a color scheme. So before I started to paint, I went shopping for a color scheme.  Now I had to take a few things into consideration such as what colors needed to be represented,  I needed to include a coral for the drapery, brown for the arm chair,  a teal blue (you will see why in a few weeks), and a nice green for all of the outdoor scenes.  

Now you can shop for color schemes in many places,  a favorite painting, a photograph, or fabric.  My favorite place would have to be Adobe Kuler.  Kuler is an awesome site where you can can find thousands of color palettes or just simply create your own to use in your next design project.  Best part is that you can upload any color palette into your Adobe Creative Software and it will become part of your color swatch library...how cool is that I ask?  However, since my illustrations were not done digitally, I simply took a screen shot of my color palette and printed it off.  I kept it at my art table as a reference while mixing my pools of paint.  The color palette I chose is called "Everyday Veggies", look it up if you like.

Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule.....I really do appreciate it. Take care until next week.