Grrraphics

Hibernate : : Illustration Friday

2011-10-03T17:17:00.002-04:00

Sure felt like hibernating yesterday.

Basically I did. Made stew. Made art. Read The Night Circus - what a wonderful book - one of those books that you want to read forever so I make myself stop so it will last longer. I'm a huge fan of anything old-time circus and magic.

Was going for a magical feel here, hope it works for you!

IF "Influence"

2011-08-24T18:18:00.002-04:00

When my friend Jen and I go shopping we are each a bad influence on each other.

"You deserve it"

"You need those"

"They're calling your name"

"It was meant to be"

"You've been working really hard on your _________, you should treat yourself"

Sorry 'bout your face Jennifer, sometimes I nail things, other times not so much!

Obsession

2011-08-02T16:04:00.003-04:00

Obsession on this week's Illustration Friday. I must have an obsession for crazy pink-haired women since I'm always drawing them. I definitely have an obsession with food, LOVE cooking. The eating part is fun too. And I'm kind of obsessed with doing a recipe for one of my favourite sites, They Draw and Cook. And now I'm on there, woot!!!!!

Perennial or Happy 39th Birthday! Again.

2011-07-27T17:06:00.002-04:00

This week's Illustration Friday topic is perennial. What could be more perennial than a birthday?

This will be my 8th year of being 39! Just kidding, age really doesn't bother me.

Stay

2011-07-13T14:44:00.002-04:00

It was soooooo difficult to stay on her diet...

Midsummer Night

2011-06-28T16:18:00.002-04:00

Not my favourite Illustration Friday topic by any stretch. So I just did a quick, disgruntled fairy.

Launch

2011-06-22T17:14:00.003-04:00

Have I said how much I love Illustration Friday? This week the topic is "launch". I wonder who the little wanker is going to launch those peas at...

A huge thank you to Christine; I won - yes, I know, I never win anything!!! - a copy of her book from her blog, and I am so excited because she is so talented. Now if the postal strike would end asap I can actually get the book.

Illustration Friday Swept

2011-06-16T17:33:00.001-04:00

Whew, just made it this week. Hope you like!

Shadow

2011-06-08T15:17:00.002-04:00

"Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you." Maori Proverb

Always liked that quote. I remember it as "Turn your face toward the sun and smile and all your shadows will fall behind you" which I like better but who am I to mess with Maori?

For this week's Illustration Friday; hope you like it.

Asleep

2011-05-28T20:24:00.002-04:00

This was for a children's book about a girl named Lily who was afraid to go to sleep. Seemed quite fitted to this week's Illustration Friday subject - asleep. Except, that well, she can't.

Illustration Friday "safari"

2011-05-17T15:05:00.004-04:00

Not your typical safari but then they aren't a typical couple.

Lesson...

2011-05-03T20:55:00.002-04:00

She never learned the lesson, if you want to stay up and party with the girls you still have to get up and work with the women.

Journey for Illustration Friday

2011-04-19T15:00:00.002-04:00

This week's word is 'journey" and I thought I could go all "life's a journey blah blah blah" but that isn't me so just this simple little illo of a conundrum...

Bottled...

2011-04-13T15:44:00.002-04:00

...for this week's Illustration Friday.

Toy for Illustration Friday

2011-03-27T16:41:00.002-04:00

Oh my god, where to start? More importantly where to finish?! I love toys. I have far too many, especially retro ones, robots, heck even hot wheels. These two pics were for a clown theme but they're still toys. I'm sure I'll have to do at least one new image before the week is out.

Cultivate

2011-03-21T13:13:00.002-04:00

What a perfect choice of topic for this week's Illustration Friday. Remember in grade one or two when you planted a seed in a plastic cup with a wet paper towel? It was so cool - magic even - to seem them start to sprout. I've been away for Illustration Friday for far too long so now I'm back!

They Draw and Cook

2010-06-11T17:15:00.007-04:00

I really, really, really want to do a recipe to submit to this fabulous project.

Just browsing through the stuff already there is inspiring enough but I want to play too. So, this week I will make a recipe to submit. I swear. Here's a recipe I can't submit unless I make it in a different size. Plus they want spreads and all my recipes thus far are two-sided.

Now what to make...

The illos for the alphabet book are all finished with only 2 revisions out of 27 so I'm pretty happy 'bout that. I'll post some when I'm allowed - hush hush and all that.

I'll leave you with two little ATCs of the Boob Faerie. She visits girls in their early teens. She visited both my sisters and ran out by the time she got to me. As time goes by it looks like she visited my brother too!

Equipment

2010-05-16T20:13:00.002-04:00

This week's Illustration Friday topic is "equipment" so I of course thought dirty and a guy "checking his equipment"! This is actually an ATC (artist trading card) that was created for a swap with the theme blind-drawn faces. So this little dude's face was drawn with my eyes closed - can you tell???! LOL

I may do another equipment entry before friday if I can.

Focused

2010-02-03T07:26:00.003-05:00

This week's Illustration Friday theme is "focused" and I first thought of my eyeglasses which no doubt need to be made stronger and then I decided on yoga which requires a good bit of focus. I haven't been to a Bodyflow class in well over a month... maybe today?

Elephants Rule!

2010-01-23T10:31:00.003-05:00

I love elephants. Love drawing them. Love reading about them. Love watching them.

Proust Questionnaire #20

2010-01-19T21:52:00.003-05:00

I'm hosting a mail art project where the end product is a journal with illustrated pages of the ubiquitous Proust questionnaire made famous - infamous? - by Vanity Fair. It is 35 questions total so I've broken it down into 7 groups of 5 from which each participant illustrates one question in each group. In the end they will receive a coil-bound journal with the entire questionnaire, designed pages to answer the questions, doodle, pontificate etc as well as 7 incredibly illustrated pages from 7 incredibly talented illustrators! Don't worry if it doesn't make sense... I'll post more of the project as it progresses. This is my illustration for question # 20: "If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?"

I've been busy!

2009-11-09T12:24:00.003-05:00

Isn't it fun? I need another project like I need a hole in the head. So this is a cookie stand. Or appetizers, etc. The ceramic marker is baked on and it and the glue are actually dishwasher safe! Space is getting pretty full of products for the holidays. I'll post more soon. I'm not going to bother listing on etsy until after the Stitch and Kitsch show on December 5th.

If the Barbie shoe fits

2009-09-04T19:13:00.002-04:00

I honestly thought this would be easier. About a year ago I started looking for little Barbie-size pumps to use in altered art stuff. I have scoured Goodwill/Salvation Army/Vintage-ish stores, asked friends with daughters and even looked at Toy R "We... NO SHOES. Where the hell are the shoes? I find little parts of playmobile and lego everywhere in my house. I assumed it would be the same with Barbie shoes. Little things. They end up under beds, dressers, piles of laundry. But no.

I have finally ordered shoes from the Philippines. The seller has many, many, many, Barbie shoes. I don't need to check to know that there is a Mattel factory in the Philippines.

Playing with dolls

2009-06-10T14:51:00.007-04:00

I've been making these dolls to send to art directors. Just click on one to see it larger. They all have some method of hanging, mainly at the back and I'll attach bead chain, ribbon or something that coordinates with the theme. I'm not so sure about the ones with no arms. They look like, hmmmm, like they're missing something. I'm also in a few doll swaps with my mail art buds. Hope you like them. Have a favourite?

Contagious

2009-05-21T16:13:00.005-04:00

Click on the pic - there are 3 MORE kids!

My friend's son just had a bad case of chicken pox and it's one of those illnesses that rips through the school. Luckily mine have had them previously so they were safe.

This was drawn by hand and coloured digitally. I may add more in terms of shading and details but I really like it with just the three colours and their tones.

Hierarchy

2009-05-07T18:17:00.002-04:00

Slipping in at the last minute for this week's Illustration Friday topic. I didn't have time for a new piece but I thought that this coat/leash/whip (!?) hook was perfect for the topic! This one has sold but lots more goodies at my etsy shop - just click on the link over there -------->

2009-04-12T17:17:00.002-04:00

These were so much fun to make. They are for a small swap at a super-duper secret trading site. In my perfect world I would just be allowed to make stuff ALL day and get paid. I'm not greedy (well, yeah, I am) but just enough $$ to remain in the style to which I have become accustomed! And a wee bit more.

Instinct?

2009-02-26T11:07:00.003-05:00

The theme at Illustration Friday this week is "instinct". I think most of us have a certain amount of empathy and compassion - so more than others - and I also think that we instinctively want to help others if we see that they are in need. Also happening this week (and continuing ...) is a special etsy shop set up by compassionate artists to raise money to help people who lost their homes and so much more in the Aussie bush fires. Please visit the store here. All proceeds go to the Australian Red Cross. To date they have raised $15,000! All art is donated and all shipping costs paid by the donating artists so please check it out. An etsy team that I belong to - metsy, mixed media etsy artists - are donating houses that we decorate each in our own unique style.

The front is above. This is the back:

And this is a close-up:

C e l e b r a t e !!!

2009-02-18T16:00:00.003-05:00

I celebrate the fact that I get to do a lot of mostly fun stuff for my work. I work at home. I make my own schedule for the most part. Lucky me! Certain people can't understand that and just think that drawing and networking is playing. Hmphh!

Two weeks in a row, yikes!!!

2009-02-09T17:01:00.002-05:00

Okay, I need to build up my stock images so I've come back to Illustration Friday because having the topic every week helps me focus a bit better. So this week's theme is "time". Hope you like it!

I'm still here!

2009-02-05T13:37:00.006-05:00

I haven't participated in Illustration Friday in ages. Too busy doing stuff for Etsy and shows and of course my gripping addiction to ATCs and mail art!

This is for IF topic "Flawed". A flawed cupcake tastes just as good as a perfect cupcake!

Busy busy busy!

2008-08-02T14:24:00.003-04:00

So in addition to it being summer and kids at home I've been making stuff for a table we took at our Saturday morning Farmer's Market. I'm selling journal/notebooks that I make and journals that I make out of old hardcover books - I like Hardy Boys and Donna Parker books the best because I use the illustrations from the book and bind them in with the blank pages.

Also selling funky hooks and Lego earrings. Terry is selling our screen printed Ts as well as some thermal-print Ts with old B movie poster images etc. It's going well so far. Won't retire on it by any stretch!

Oh baby

2008-06-01T10:51:00.003-04:00

I finally am posting for Illustration Friday. It has been months. This week's keyword is "baby". The first pics were for a baby shower invite and the second is a "chunky 4" x 4" book page" for a mail art swap at ATCs for All. I am totally addicted to these trades! You can see all my pages in my flickr gallery. Hope they make you smile!

Leaping lizards!

2008-03-04T16:47:00.002-05:00

It has been a while since I've done an Illustration Friday. Too much fun on the trading cards and rolos these days. And work of course (HELLO, if you're a client). I don't really do frogs or lizards so I went with leaping girl instead. Hope you like it.

Little Pink Riding Hood

2008-01-29T17:49:00.000-05:00

I think it was time for Red to have a makeover.

Drastic times call for drastic measures!

2008-01-16T15:34:00.001-05:00

Who needs willpower when you can just sew your mouth closed?!

Well I posted this at Illo Friday for "Stitch" but or some reason my thumbnail didn't upload so no one will come see it :-(

Altered art

2007-12-17T11:06:00.000-05:00

A use for old CDs! These are some ornaments I've made out of CDs that would have gone in the garbage. Cool eh?

Excess

2007-12-02T15:03:00.000-05:00

Wow, I've been away from here forever. Too busy with work, life and ATCs. Yes, ATCs. Artist Trading Cards. I'm having a blast over here and making loads of new artist cyber buddies.

So, "excess" for Illustration Friday. Holiday time is full of excess isn't it? What could be more excessive than drinking like a fish whilst wearing yellow tights and having purple hair?

Open

2007-10-09T20:41:00.001-04:00

I have been so absent from Illustration Friday. This week's topic is Open and all I could think of was open mouthes. I'd like to take this further and make a vertical illo with this at the bottom and McDonald's fries and other crap being offered from above... of course that would violate oodles of laws and would be for my viewing pleasure only so...

Hope you like it so far.

Alphabets

2007-09-05T07:53:00.001-04:00

My first Artist Trading Card! Because I need more things to do lol. I decided to combine the theme for Illo Friday (alphabets) with my first ATC swap "Witches". I've been wanting to do the swaps for a while now and I'm hoping to have lots of fun with it.

Here's another one

Visitors

2007-08-29T12:28:00.001-04:00

When I was little my parents entertained a lot. It was always so much fun to see them and their friends all dressed up and they'd serve fancy food and drinks. My sisters and I would dance to entertain them. Picture a 4-year-old with pink cat-eye glasses and Shirley Temple ringlets in a flannel nightie dancing on a big round orange nagahide footstool that twisted - good times! I'd kill for that footstool now.

I'm calling the couple on the left the Wallace-Scotts. I haven't decided on the right side couple... maybe they are on their first date - she's a divorcee and they are trying to fix the two of them up... what do you think?

GOSH

2007-08-22T18:01:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted in ages. So busy with work and all the summer kid stuff.

I honestly have no idea what the heck I was thinking here. I am a great cook. I'm obsessive about food a lot of the time but I am not a baker. I like to freestyle and create and baking is pretty rigid - leave out an ingredient and you end up with a flat cake etc. So yeah, that's what I was thinking. A new superhero to help those of us who don't bake cakes but who cringe at the thought of those grocery store birthday cakes!

Faster than a whisk, more powerful than a Kitchen Aid...

Really this was just an intentional escape from a lot of work that is dragging me down. Thanks for stopping by.

Freaky geek

2007-07-11T16:02:00.001-04:00

When I saw the IF topic for this week the first thing I thought of was circus geeks. In the old days the guys that would bite heads off live animals, hammer nails in their heads, swallow stuff. Ah, the good old days!

Twist?

2007-07-03T14:28:00.000-04:00

I think I mixed up my idioms. My first thought was "up the twist" meaning pregnant. But then I started to wonder, is it "up the spout" and "in a twist"? Oh well, her dog is all twisted around her and her shirt pattern is lemons and you can twist those. Oh and a snail is kind of twisted. Whew.

Camouflage

2007-06-25T15:08:00.000-04:00

I could really use that right now - a good book and a comfy couch. But alas, lots of work to do and the last week of school is always stuffed with activities and running around and all the crap they cart home that I have to sift through! This was a fun illustration to do so I hope you enjoy it.

And my book cover is finito and has been uploaded to the publisher - yippee!

Suit

2007-06-14T09:37:00.001-04:00

I haven't done an Illo Friday for a few weeks - too much else going on. So this is a quickie for this week's "Suit". Hope it makes you smile!

Sign

2007-05-20T11:30:00.000-04:00

And then - one day - she knew just what to do!

When in doubt, ask a bartender

2007-04-25T16:53:00.000-04:00

So I didn't know what to do for this week's Illustration Friday. The weather has been soooooo nice I didn't want to jinx it by doing something about cold climate. So I checked in with the bartender and sure enough, there is a Polar Bear cocktail!

3 oz Vodka
1/2 - 1 oz Blue Curacao
7-Up or Sprite

Mixing instructions:

Just blend with ice in a highball glass.

Sweet.

Miss Fortune

2007-04-18T15:07:00.000-04:00

I don't buy many lottery tickets but when I do I love thinking about what I'd do if I won... where I'd go, etc. So that is what Miss Fortune here is doing... that and letting me relive my punk days of the 80s!

It's not easy

2007-04-10T19:31:00.000-04:00

It's gym time; I've been working out like crazy...results are there but not stupendous - maybe I need some greens.

I spy

2007-03-27T16:15:00.000-04:00

So I did this version and then I added a little ditty...

It certainly has more resale value without. God knows that there must be legions of art directors out there searching in vain for flying pig images. I think I have found my niche.

Finally!

2007-03-06T17:28:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted in so long!!!!!!!!!!!! I live in a major summer theatre town so this time of year is INSANE with work. But I had to do this week's Illo Friday because:

a) I haven't done IF in a month and as creative (lucky me) as I get to be in my work; it is still work.
b) I need to share my amazing hot-off-the-presses news...

I'm illustrating a book cover!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not sure how much I can tell darnit - contract hasn't been received yet but it came right out of the blue. From here folks. Someone visited my blog and voila - book cover job. Needless to say I AM THRILLED.

Happy, happy, happy.
Busy, busy, busy.

Stuff

2007-02-10T19:13:00.000-05:00

Apparently I have been tagged by my longtime illo buddy Maggie. I need to state 6 weird things about myself. Should be easy.

1. For at least 3 years now at some point in the day I look at the clock at 11:11 or 1:11. AM or PM. Doesn't matter. It always takes me by surprise. If I look at the clock and it's 11:10 I will not look again and just like that I either look by accident at 1:11 or the next 11:11. One day I missed and the next I was replying to an email that came the previous day at - you guessed it - 11:11.

2. I have 18 clocks in my house. Not counting watches. I don't wear a watch. I do have 2 in my bag/purse tho.

3. I have watched Coronation Street since I was a kid - that means for over 30 years. Not weird I think, but I do watch every weeknight at 7 if possible and then again on Sunday at 7:30am all over again in case I missed something. Really just an excuse to lounge in bed with mags and sketchbook every Sunday morning.

4. I like to sit in the shower. If it's morning with a coffee. At night, a glass of wine.

5. I collect toys. I don't let my kids play with them.

Okay the last wasn't that weird. So now I'm tagging:

another Julie

Diane

Michelle

Pickledog

Jennifer

Claudine

Okeedokee. So you have to answer the same questions and respond with your answers and send to six more, you know the drill. This was WAAAYYYYY easier that that 100 question one that went around!

Crud...

2007-01-30T22:33:00.000-05:00

I really wanted to finish this...I really wanted to post something the past two weeks...I hate pressure and boy am I under it lately. I want to add snowflakes to this at the top and decorative graphic stuff at the bottom...so it's here, it's kind of red, there are more important things in the world but I didn't finish, but it's good...right - darned stress.

The girls had a good buzz on at the costume party

2007-01-10T21:40:00.000-05:00

A bit of a quickie this week. I am soooooooo swamped in the next few weeks it's going to be crazy. And I was asked - heck everyone on SFG probably was - but I'm still flattered to do an interview on this blog. And first real silkscreening jobs are coming in... and the autism boy's therapy is stepping up... who needs sleep!

Fast Food

2007-01-05T16:43:00.000-05:00

For the Sugar Frosted Goodness "fast Food" challenge. I think all the nitrates are making hot dog go rabid.

Cheers!

Glen Campbell

2006-12-31T13:03:00.000-05:00

Ah yes, good ole Glen. You can never forget (believe me, I've tried!) Rhinestone Cowboy as well as the little ditty above. Happy New Year everyone!

Peace and happiness

2006-12-26T16:58:00.000-05:00

This week's Illustration Friday topic is peace. I've missed the past 2 or 3 as it has been anything BUT peaceful around here! One of the few places I can escape is in the shower. For someone who hates swimming and getting wet in public, I LOVE a long hot shower. I take my coffee in there with me. If I could I'd have a little chair - seriously! I know someone who just lays down in the tub and lets the shower go... it's soothing. And in my house, the only place I can go and lock the door and be alone. Although my kids have been known to hang around outside the door talking, begging for things, fighting etc! I'm thinking I'll get a stereo system and a TV in there as well as the chair. Or just start wearing the ipod in there - do they make a waterproof ipod yet? Hope everyone is having the happiest of holidays.

Sadly

2006-12-04T22:10:00.000-05:00

...Cilla realized it might be time to diet. A quick and simple Illo Friday this week as I am swamped with Christmas and birthday prep...I had 5 people cleaning my house today while I sat here and worked-I simply can't keep up anymore and N's service model (he's autistic) allows for cleaning in addition to therapy so I thought I'd use it. It was weird. It smells ike a chemical dump. Next time they must use eco-friendly stuff.

Thank you for stopping by and commenting - I try to comment back to all.

Great Canadian Inventions

2006-11-29T14:33:00.000-05:00

Just a few great Canadian inventions in this illo - instant mashed potatoes (a guilty pleasure of mine!), five-pin bowling, the zipper, electric range, the Wonderbra (she's wearing one, I drew it, really)...what you can't see is her pacemaker, the insulin she takes, the paint roller off to the side - that wallpaper has got to go!

Want more Great Canadian inventions? Check this out.

Hmmmmm

2006-11-19T12:44:00.000-05:00

I can't decide between using them for ornaments or necklaces...

Remember that dream?

2006-11-14T13:34:00.000-05:00

The one where you were at school and realized you were either still in your PJs or worse yet just your underwear? And even worse still for this poor girl - what if it was Thursday??????

Stuff

2006-11-10T15:12:00.000-05:00

I'm making some jewellery

And these hooks

And I bought the coolest cowboy Santa

Ahhhh yes

2006-11-08T13:14:00.000-05:00

They always tasted better if you were sneaking them didn't they? Just like now - I'm sneaking time away from a job for an extremely evil client to do my Illustration Friday in order to retain my sanity!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for all the comments last week.

Wind!

2006-11-01T16:54:00.000-05:00

I have been SO, SO, SO busy the past few weeks that I have had no time for Illustration Friday. I really missed not having that let-loose-because-it's-not-for-a-client feeling of yummy goodness that today I said, "Shag it, I'm going to take time out to do this week!" I still want to add a house blowing by in the upper-left corner but now I have to go make healthy food for sugar-hyped children.

Hope everyone had a great Halloween.

Smitten

2006-10-16T13:14:00.000-04:00

This one is pushing my limits of "cuteness" but kids and kittens are cute darn it! We got a kitten on the weekend; his name is Dude. I did not choose the name. Anyway, the kids are 'smitten" with him so this is my illo for Friday.

Welcome Dude

2006-10-15T12:04:00.000-04:00

The newest edition to the family - Dude. So far his likes are sleeping, eating and exploring. He's a great little kitty. Thanks Mindy!

Trouble

2006-10-09T17:22:00.000-04:00

Sure, Mary had a bit of trouble with the vino, but she had nooooo trouble creating magnificent molds - or is that moulds? - or both? - in her spiffy new gas-powered kitchen!

I had wanted to do something with pop-o-matic Trouble cos I LOVE that game - pop a six and you move twice - and that bubble with the dice - nothing like it since...ahhhh, I am stuck in my childhood. But thank gawd my mom never made these scary meat mold things or if she did it will come out in therapy. Hey, maybe that's why I collect old cookbooks, hmmmm.

Quiet

2006-10-03T20:48:00.000-04:00

I remember my mom saying "children should be seen and not heard". While I accepted the premise behind that I still thought it was funny. And of course, my sisters and my brother and I WERE heard. And in reading Amy Vanderbilt's rules (in the background of this illo) I see that we were darned well behaved children - something I knew anyway after seeing the crap my friends got away with - I do my best to have my children be the same - autism is a blessing in this case - rules are meant to be followed - so quite often my autistic son is the best mannered child at gatherings because he knows how to follow rules. Last night I attended a focus group for parents of older children with autism with regards to future programming - the meeting was great, the bed at the hotel they booked me was AMAZING and talk about - quiet OMG!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, this "button-your-lip" illo is for Illustration Friday "Quiet".

Thanks to all who stop by and comment - much appreciated.

Phobia

2006-09-26T12:08:00.000-04:00

I combined my phobias for this week's Illustration Friday - mice and heights. I have a fear of wallpaper too but I left that out! Right now my 9 year-old is petrified of birds. He hates walking down the path to school because they fly in and out of the hedges that line it. So we're trying all sorts of things to make him tolerant and so he doesn't freak out when a seagull is casing the grocery store parking lot looking for goodies. Any suggestions are welcome!

Talk about a change

2006-09-21T09:33:00.000-04:00

Two days ago relaxing in the sun with a 3 euro litre and a half bottle of Greek wine and now shivering away back home with a mug of coffee! Our vacation in Greece was FANTASTIC and it is quite a change to return to the old routine. I'm having a heck of a time getting back into working... hopefully doing this little illo will jumpstart me.

The good ol days

2006-08-22T13:07:00.000-04:00

My brother had a matchbook collection. It was an old suitcase full. I used to love going through them. The coolest ones were from cocktail lounges. I must ask him if he still has them.

Coasters

2006-08-20T17:20:00.000-04:00

I think I'd go braindead if I didn't have at least 4-5 projects on the go. And that's in addition to juggling client work and two kids. I'm not sure if I will survive the trip to Greece! I am not good at relaxing. So when we get back I am definitely starting a Cafe Press shop in addition to the secret project we are working on.

PLAY

2006-08-14T07:36:00.000-04:00

Great topic this week for Illustration Friday. I did this a week weeks ago to put on the ugly grey brick wall in our family room. Unfortunately it makes the wall even duller looking in comparison! It's on wood with letters, jacks, monkeys, and other bits attached. I hope it doesn't make my kids afraid of clowns!

Thanks for stopping by.

Sorry Jen, couldn't resist!

2006-08-13T16:16:00.000-04:00

2006-08-12T17:13:00.000-04:00

Ooooh, I'm on a roll now!

That was fun!

2006-08-11T17:03:00.000-04:00

I LOVE Claudine Hellmuth's work so I decided to give collage a whirl. I think I've got the bug now. Like I need another project - Yikes!!!!

Capture

2006-08-10T12:09:00.000-04:00

Boy where did the week go? I just dashed off this quickie for "capture". I have a good marriage - this was just the first thing I thought of doing!

Clean?

2006-08-01T18:05:00.000-04:00

Well right now the Ontario government is telling me not to clean because it uses energy so I'm not! I think everyone has their own cleaning style–I can't stand dirty counters, clutter (unless I've "arranged" it thus making it a "collection"!)–basically I like clean and tidy surfaces but I can live with only cleaning my fridge when my mother-in-law is coming once a year, ditto the freezer. I HATE dusting but I like vaccuuming, and I'll sweep because if I don't it's revolting but I can't stand mopping. Hmmm, thank god for cleaning ladies.

I also have one child who is super clean with his person not his room and one who could care less. Lesser than less really. Bathtime is a HUGE struggle. Sitting in the water is great but actually washing? We have to make it a game, a bribe, a threat. Fun stuff!

Anyway, enough about me, suffice it to say, it is not me in this illustration although I do have a swiffer...

Oh boy

2006-07-25T17:20:00.000-04:00

Talk about crazy days lately. My hard drive died. Just up and died with not much warning so I managed to back-up current client work but nothing else. I would not wish it on my worst enemy. So I've missed some Illustration Friday but I'm back now! This week is "Opposites" and for some reason I was having an awful time coming up with anything I wanted to do. So I went to my trusty old retro cookbooks (I collect them - fun stuff!) and found some cool ice cream recipes and that was it.The background is a scan of the recipes and this is the yummy photo!

Sticky

2006-07-04T10:16:00.000-04:00

What could be stickier than candy? This is for my son's birthday party this week. His idea - the boy takes after his mom. So party guests will receive a t-shirt with this on it and a bag of sticky goodies! Thankfully there are only 5 kids coming, I'm not THAT crazy.

Rain rain go away

2006-06-28T12:23:00.000-04:00

Imagine, never having to cancel an outdoor event ever again!

Illustration Friday - Dance

2006-06-22T17:53:00.000-04:00

Whew, just made it this week. I can't BELIEVE it is Thursday. June is just too flipping busy! This is a little dance we call the Pee Dance. Most frequently performed when the only bathroom in the house is occupied or when not wanting to stop a preferred activity for something as dull as a bathroom break :-)

Illustration Friday - Jungle

2006-06-13T13:16:00.000-04:00

I'll admit it, I'm a lazy artist. When I saw this week's topic was "jungle" I thought, "Oh man that is so much work doing foliage; maybe I'll just skip it this week."
But I persevered and came up with a solution involving no leaves! I hope you like it.

Babycakes

2006-05-30T10:31:00.000-04:00

This is a greeting card illustration that I'm currently shopping around... just not enough hours in the day.

Sorry kids!

2006-05-22T17:01:00.000-04:00

No new shoes for you but check out mommy's new Italian green leather purse!!!!!!!

I have a thing for purses; always have. Could be worse, could be sports cars.

Angels & Devils

2006-05-16T20:48:00.000-04:00

I will undoubtedly do more with this one. The whole angel/devil, good/evil clash is just sooooo ripe for interpretation. I of course did my usual trite version. But I did plant some symbolism - the apple? Come on, he so wants to go to the dark side and have fun! Again, my apologies if I offend anyone... And now to figure out the new Illustration Friday format. I am afraid.

Fat - illo friday

2006-05-11T18:18:00.000-04:00

ahhh, in this case some fat - marbling - is good. My apologies in advance to the many varieties of people that this image could offend. I realize it's not a "real" illustration, it's just something I put together to make myself a t-shirt because, well, I love steak.

Just made it

2006-05-04T16:09:00.000-04:00

This week Illustration Friday topic is Under the Sea. Technically this isn't really under the sea but what the heck!

IlloFriday - Robot

2006-04-26T12:16:00.000-04:00

I wasn't even going to do this week's topic because my allergies are driving me insane and on top of that I have strep throat. So with Coronation Street on hiatus during hockey playoffs I exhausted other TV possibilities pretty quickly and turned to drawing while I recover. This is my personal robot racing to me with more kleenex and medicine on top on the health chart thingie that came with my prescription!

Spotted - Illustration Friday

2006-04-17T17:04:00.000-04:00

Well that was fun. I haven't done a "real" painting (many would argue that this is hardly a real painting!!!) in a long time. I'd forgotten how long it takes - it was nice and relaxing. I should do more just as stress relief.

Speed

2006-04-12T20:05:00.000-04:00

As soon as I drew the sketch for this I couldn't believe how much it reminds me of one of my sisters when she was little. It's the hair,and the grin and the whole I-have-life-by-the-tail attitude. I was her biggest fan growing up and I guess I still am in many ways. Plus it was the method of "speed" that I chose that reminds me of her as well as she is now a scooter bike-riding diva instead of a manual scooter - which BTW we never had, I think they skipped a generation! The original story in the background is by my son, scribed by and illustrated by my niece. If you read it, I am not a princess, his dad has never been in jail nor is he a queen. Happy Easter everyone.

Spring!

2006-04-03T09:53:00.000-04:00

Wow, I can't believe I've missed a month of Illustration Friday. I've been too flipping busy. And here I am out doing the spring yard work, hahahahahaha.

Illustration Friday - Tea

2006-02-28T13:18:00.000-05:00

I drink coffee and lots of it. My husband keeps buying all these different flavoured teas and the boxes always come flying out of the cupboard when I open it. That has nothing to do with this illustration, I just felt like sharing! Thanks to everyone for their comments on my past entries, much appreciated.

"For fun it's a wonderful toy"

2006-02-14T20:10:00.000-05:00

It doesn't get much more simple than a Slinky. A classic "oops" toy. A plain old spring and look at all that fun. Simplicity at its best I'd say. I have a few. My kids can't play with mine; they have their own.

Glamour

2006-01-30T15:11:00.000-05:00

Thinking about this Illustration Friday topic I kept going back to the whole starlet idea of glamour. So that's basically what I did. Her dress has some valuable info from Amy Vanderbilt's Everyday Etiquette. Sweet stuff circa 1952.

E is for egads, eek, enough!

2006-01-17T13:17:00.000-05:00

Egads, I'm busy right now! No time to make a special Friday contribution. This is Veronica (yes, I name my characters, so what!)and she is for a client who makes posh handmade diaper bags. So the bag needs to stand out. The illustration will go on hangtags, used on web, promo material etc. Which one do you like better?

Flavour

2006-01-02T16:23:00.000-05:00

Boy this was a toughie - there are soooooooooooooo many flavours out there! I really did NOT have (still don't) any idea where I was going with this one. It started with just the guy and his magic flavour sauce and somehow the background and the milkshake maker found their way in there. If nothing else it should make somebody smile.

Holiday

2005-12-26T07:23:00.000-05:00

I did this for an apron for my sister for Christmas because she IS the Cookie Queen. I swear her cookies are little works of art...makes it real hard to scarf down a box of them but I do my best!

Later...
These are some of the cookies. My food styling leaves A LOT to be desired!

Imagine

2005-12-21T14:34:00.000-05:00

I'm going to imagine these helpful dudes coming into my house the next 3 nights and doing everything I haven't got at yet! I did manage to paint my finger nails a festive green colour and get to the liquor store to stock up...priorities!