IF - Stretch!

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Poor wormy!  He really is being stretched, isn't he?  BUT...a bird's gotta eat!

Hope you are all doing well!  Thanks for stopping by!

Tree

Hello there!  It's been a while, I know!  Well, this was going to be my submission for Illustration Friday's word tree, but I didn't get it finished in time!  Oh well...!  My children are all done with soccer season and on to basketball and gymnastics...this means, though, not as many nights out at practices...only 2 nights a week as compared to the 6 days a week we were spending at soccer...SO this means I have much more time to draw and paint and play...yay!  

Illustration Friday- Water

I really wanted to create something new for this...as ideas for water are endless....BUT...there is just no time this week!  Although, I don't think I ever posted this here...so it's new to you! :)!  Have a great rest of the week!

IF-Book

A good book can make you want to share your thoughts and talk about it to just about anyone who will listen...even your pet frog.

IF- Imagination

Imagination?

Illustration Friday - Identical

Here's my submission for IF's word identical.  I am not really sure why or even how I came up with this.  These adorable feathered friends popped into my sketchbook and I just had to paint them!  It's funny how an image like this can become so clear in your head with composition and color...even before you paint it!!  Are they identical? Probably not...but you have to look closely! 

Hope you all are having a great weekend!

IF- Teacher

Little Miss Molly couldn't wait to give her teacher a shiny red apple!

Okay, okay...it's late, it was a quick one...BUT I am getting it in just under the wire!  Hope you all have a great weekend!  

Illustration Friday - Bounce

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"This is how you bounce a basketball, Little Owlet."

Wow!  It has been a while since I was able to participate in Illustration Friday!  We've been busy here  with vacations, camps, family and lots and lots of cousins! I can't believe it's August already!  This summer is flying by!  Thanks for stopping by! 

IF - Suspend/Vocal

She was such an enthusiastic cheerer that she'd spend the entire game with the "Go Team Go" sign suspended over her head!....Okay, okay, I know it's a stretch, but I have not had much time to paint these days with the kids home for the summer.  Busy, busy days, but lots of fun!  SO...this piece is actually from a sketch I had posted for IF's word Vocal back in April and I finally got to paint it!  Hope you like it!

Illustration Friday - Space

Bear's Space walk.  

Well, I am getting this in to Illustration Friday with not much time to spare...but I got it done after breakfast for the kids and before heading to the pool for swimming lessons with a few touch-ups after the pool.  Can you guess that my children are home for the summer?  I think that is how it's going to be for a bit...fitting drawing and painting in between pool and laundry, trips and meals, cleaning and trips for ice cream.   Actually that is not sounding so bad...think I'll go get myself an iced tea and enjoy this beautiful summer day!

Illustration Friday - Hurry!

Hurry Blue, you're late for your singing lesson!

Illustration Friday - Faded

For this week's IF word, faded, I kept coming back to laundry.  You know that favorite shirt you have that you think looks really good still and you just love the color?  Then one day you happen to realize by looking in the mirror or worse, seeing it in a photograph, how awful and faded it looks?  But you say to yourself, "It's just so comfortable...and you put it on anyway?  I have several items that fit this category!  Oh well...we need something to paint in don't we?

Have a great rest of the week!

Illustration Friday - Sight

It was a battle right from the start 

For both sides brought nothing but heart.

The Cattle Dogs were feisty with every swing,

While the 'Roos seemed to catch almost everything!

So who was the winner of Aussie's baseball cup?

The Kickin 'Roos or the Cattle Pups?

No matter the outcome, whomever it be,

This game was most certainly a sight to see!

Illustration Friday - kernel

Phew!  Made it back to Illustration Friday!  I know it's only been a few weeks but today was the first day I've been able to paint something for myself  in a while...and does it feel good!  We've been crazed around here the last two weeks...cleaning, painting (walls, doors and the like), cooking and getting ready for my son Luke's First Communion!  It was on Saturday and it was the most beautiful day!  We had 30 family members come celebrate with us (hence all of the preparing!)!  BUT...it was a fabulous day and a great time was had by all!  No other major events are on the horizon...so I should be able to get back to painting (I have a long "Things I want to do" list!)

Thanks for stopping by...have a great week!

Illustration Friday - Jump

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"We really shouldn't be letting him do this.  Remember what happened to Ronald the last time he tried?"

Illustration Friday - Heights

Here in New England the trees are in full bloom and in honor of Earth Day...I just had to paint this little tree full with pink blossoms! Happy Spring Everyone!

Illustration Friday - Vocal

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Little Owlet was always the loudest cheerer at all of the basketball games.

This is still in it's sketch phase, still needs a bit of work, but this is about all I have time for this week!  Hopefully I'll get around to finishing this by next week...I'll post when it's complete!  

Illustration Friday - Return

As the Golden Fish return to the Land of Mermaids a parade and great celebration is held in their honor!

Illustration Friday - Swamp

Feeling swamped.

Illustration Friday - Yield

Yield to the beauty that surrounds you!

I thought I'd try out a little mixed media this time...something I could get addicted to!

Illustration Friday - Intentions

Clare had every intention of doing her homework...but...the sun was shining, the flowers were blooming...and she did have her tutu on...

Illustration Friday - Capable II

Okay, here's my second of the same scene I did before (see post below).  This time I changed up the colors a bit and changed the placement of things in the background.  I still would like her to be lighter...maybe I'll try her brown?  Which image do you like better...this one or the one below?

Illustration Friday - Capable

Little Owlet is very capable of playing the violin, but she may need a bit more practice first!

I think this is my earliest entry for Illustration Friday!  Yay!  I just happen to be working on some images for a story I have written.  Trying out different colors for the owls and background, etc.    I am working on another one of this at the moment, I changed the placement of some of the things in the background and the color of the violin playing owl...seems a bit dark for her...anyway, I'll post more when they are done!  I'd love any feed back that you might want to give!

Illustration Friday - Popularity

The Piggie Mud Dive was by far the most popular event at the annual Pig Fest!

I wanted to do this for last week's Illustration Friday theme suspense, but just didn't have the time to devote to it...So glad it fits this weeks popularity theme!  I really enjoyed painting this one...I hope you like it, too!

Illustration Friday - Suspense

"Who is going to be sick next?"

That is the suspense in our house these days with strep throat getting the kids one by one.  My littlest came to me like this today...blanket in hand, rosie cheeks, sad look on her face...poor thing.  

Illustration Friday - Forward

Little pup came scampering up over the hill to the pond.  He came upon a pair of ducks and was unsure if he should go forward.

Illustration Friday - Twirl

She whirled and twirled!  That day, she was a star!

Illustration Friday - Prepare

Little Owlet is prepared to SPLASH!

 (or to just stand there looking cute!)

Mermaid and Dolphin Friends

Illustration Friday - Highlight

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Here's my submission for Illustration Friday's word highlight.  Every New Year's Eve my husband and I come up with separate lists of our Top 10 Moments of the Year.  After the kids are in bed we go through our lists, one by one, counting down to our favorite moment of the year.  The moments this year ranged from a Florida boat ride where dolphins came right up to our boat and we all watched them for a long time as they swam right near us, to the excitement of our children as they waited for our new dog, Sprinkles to arrive, to my Dad's 70th birthday weekend where my entire family was together for the first time in two years! , to my 10 year olds game winning catch to win his baseball league championship!  My painting this week was inspired by some of the pictures from one of my husband's highlighted moments when he took our three boys to climb Mt. Monadnock in New Hampshire... it has been a wonderful year!

Doing this helps remind us of how incredibly blessed we are.  So here's to a fabulous 2012 from my family to yours!