You would think it would be genetic....

but I did not inherit my parents' skill with a camera. When I showed my dad (a professional photographer for decades) the B&W pictures I took for my college photography class, he looked at them, thought for a second and said "there is no black and white in this picture!" Yes, thank you Dad. I know. So if you catch me blaming my inadequate pictures (which by the way is kind of important if you are trying to sell your work people have to be able to see it and love it if they're going to buy it!) on the camera, the lighting, etc. I'm lying. I stink at taking pictures.

Of course it doesn't help that my assistant is always getting in the way.....

He munches on my props,

he can't keep his tail to himself,

and he's nosy.

Why don't I just lock him out of my art space when I'm working you ask.....



because I've already locked this one out! If they were both running around together even worse things could happen! Oh well! Just a day in the life of a non-photographic, pet-loving artist.

Random Fall-y Goodness

Some tidbits from fall so far....

going from full time to part time at work means surprises when I come in, like a desk drawer full of nuts for instance....

discussions on being thankful for what we have with the blue-eyed baby...

distracting the panda-dog from her tail boo-boo...she's convinced her tail is not her friend...

dressing up as the older versions of Charlie Brown and Lucy VanPelt for Katie's birthday party...the subsequent bring-your-wig-to-work pictures are too scary for the internet.....let's just say certain ladies wigs are not meant to be worn by men...

vibrant, gorgeous fall leaves fluttering down around New England houses (no, this is not our house!)....

and YUM, last but not least...a newfound enthusiasm for baking....whole wheat pumpkin muffins...mmmm-mmmmmmmmm!

Happy Autumn!

IF: Wrapped

Wrapped is the topic for this week. I immediately thought of this half finished illustration I started a while ago. What a perfect incentive for finishing it. This is my colored pencil version of my little rascal pets. Consider this the "before" picture of what might happen "after" I left a room of beautifully wrapped presents. I think you can guess what these two (with their mischievous little claws) would do next!

This is Prismacolor pencil on Strathmore Bristol Vellum (I think I like the smooth paper much better for pencil work though). I added some cut paper and ribbon for the gifts. I hope this will find it's way into a personal Christmas card or letter from us this year. As always I'd love to know what you think!

Two more babies in the jungle

So I had Yoshi (whose full name, by the way, is Yoshi Shinga Dewey Alexander French...a regal title if there ever was one) offer his inspection and critique of my work. The Siamese ninja gave me his perceptive pointers and helped me complete the next two Jungle Babies!

Now there's 4 in the set and I will probably go put them into my Etsy shop for the world to see. Still have more jungle babies in mind and a million other things....ah, so many projects so little time!

This weeks topic for Illustration Friday is "legendary." I have a couple of good ideas....we'll see if I can make it happen! We have a bunch of special events going on this week. A CareNet banquet and the annual Spring Gala for my work. Lots of good food and dressing up, maybe not so much time for artwork.....we'll see.

Random Picture Day!

I've decided while looking through the digital camera to delight you with random pictures from 2008. (well only really since the summer on so there's even more randomness around somewhere else!) Hope those of you who are not living close to us will appreciate my sharing this embarassing montage of silliness! Enjoy!!!!

Who is that handsome boy cooking dinner? (looks pretty gross but it tasted good!)

My drying dishes hat!

A serious conversation with Miss Kita about the importance of sharing.

Taco the donkey! And at a farm so close by....what a dream come true!

First time in costume....we're Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher.

Visiting family at Thanksgiving....it's only sparkling cider, don't worry!

I tried so hard to become a cookie maker this Christmas....I tried, I really tried.

Yikes, first sweep of the living room with the new pet hair vaccuum!

My first trip to IKEA and this is what I come back with!

The blue-eyed baby likes his present.

Me and my Schweetie-face while visiting my sister in PA.

THIS CONCLUDES THE RANDOMNESS

Illustration Friday: Celebrate

When you're young, even small things are cause for celebration.....like the birthday of your kitten friend! The sad thing is, I did this very thing to my little Yoshi when his first birthday rolled around....only I was not young at all! And look at him now...all grown up. He seems rather disinterested in his illustrated self so I guess it's okay to post on this blog!

I'm proud of this illustration, not necessarily because of how it turned out but because I am amazed that I was also able to sketch it, redraw it and color it in one evening!!! This is an amazing accomplishment for me....I agonize over things, drawing and erasing, drawing and erasing for so long. I really need to get to the point where I can confidently make a piece of art from beginning to end in a reasonable amount of time. It's a challenge and a matter of practice and determination. AND you have to let go of perfectionism and take it easy!

Here is the sketch I drew on scrap paper. I hope you can see the many eraser marks from all of the times I changed something (for my beautiful friends that wish they had the confidence to be artsy. Aimee! Chris!). I am amazed when other artists show their sketches or artistic journal and the rough drawings are so.....not rough! I am unable to draw that clearly and perfectly the 1st, 2nd, or even 3rd time. I ALWAYS need a good eraser and a paper that can withstand all of my minor corrections. I guess life is kind of life that....lots of new paths and possibilities and a billion little refinements and corrections. Hmmm.....