Pet Portrait - Westie

 

This is a custom pet portrait that I created for my aunt.  This is Fintan and he dreams of squirrels as they run around his woodland home.  And wimpers when he can't chase them, he just knows if he could get loose outside he could catch one and play with it.

I'm digging into gouache and having fun with this new medium.  Lots of new ideas to explore!

I Just Like to Make Things too!

I have been spending my weekends and evenings sketching and painting since the New Year.  Seeing yet another year pass where I didn't chase after my dreams got to me this year. Enough to make some serious changes in my schedule.  In fact, right now my job is just make stuff, as much stuff as possible, as quickly as possible and have fun doing it.  If it's not good enough yet, it will be soon because eventually I will find my stride, I will develop my language in paint and pen.  Just like I did with block printing. I am jumping in and doing my job, making and submitting. I'm out to find my joy and that's some serious business and there is no time to waste!

I bought the book, I Just Like to Make Things by Lila Rogers for my Kindle the other day, I'm thinking I may need to order a real copy of it soon! (Sometimes that happens when I buy an artsy book, I need to hold it in my hands!) I just started reading it and it's already kicking my brain into gear and has me super excited about illustrating, painting and playing!

Has the new year brought a new resolve for your career?

Owl Sketches

Illustrated Pet Ornaments

My painting and drawing skills have been set loose on the world of Pet Holiday Ornaments.  I'm crazy about Christmas, love animals and get to combine my illustration skills in the mix - sounds like a recipe for happiness to me!  These have been translated into polymer clay and hand painted.

You can find these in my Etsy shop and I do have options to customize the color of the breeds and to add a name of your beloved furry friend!

Here are some sketches that show the process:

Flora and Fawn

I love the old country roads near my home.  Surrounding the farms are the most amazing weeds and wildflowers: chicory, Queen Anne's lace and day lilies are my favorites.  Sometimes in the morning a deer or two will venture across the field.  This little scene captures that world for me, quite and filled with the wonder of nature. 

Watercolor and pen. 

A Little Sketch Video

Snowy Woods Sketch

I have plans to experiment with some watercolor textures for this one, pulling out the saran wrap for a snowy-hill effect.  Snow = magic!