If-Refrain

Sasha could not refrain from trying on her party dress one more time!!

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 - Twirl

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

Mermaid and Dolphin Friends

Illustration Friday - Round

Mama mouse and her little mouselets were very pleased with their choice this year!

For my submission for Illustration Friday's word round this week I kept thinking about those really round, large lollipops and for some reason coupled this with the idea of picking out a Christmas tree!  So the perfect combination....a mouse family picking out their perfect lollipop!  It's funny how when you start to doodle and sketch an idea how it morphs and changes into something so different from what you started with!

Illustration Friday - Scary

(Scroll down to see both)

Frankenduck strikes again!

This was my first illustration for IF's theme scary...but it seemed like it needed a background (see below).  What do you think?  Better or not?

Illustration Friday - Scattered

I must admit, I am a bit scattered lately...we are getting to the end point of an addition on our house...cabinets and carpets are coming next week and there has been lots and lots of painting to do...unfortunately it's wall and ceiling and baseboard painting, not watercolors!!  I have also been revising a book I have written and working on revising some of the sketches.  My etsy shop has had several custom orders lately and mix that with the kids and soccer every night and the rest of the regular everyday stuff?...You guessed it...my brain is scattered a bit these days! So here's a little something I've been working on...she's supposed to be swinging with her brother next to her, but I haven't gotten that far!

  

Illustration Friday - Mesmerizing

Charlotte found butterflies to be mesmerizing.

I, on the other hand have become quite intrigued with mushrooms lately.  We went for a hike in the woods recently with the kids and I could not believe the number and variety of mushrooms we found...large, small, red, yellow, silver, gold...so I have been working on some sketches with Little Charlotte and her favorite companions - mushrooms!!

Illustration Friday - Disguise

For this week's Illustration Friday's word disguise, I chose to do a picture of a leaf jumper.  For one, their colors are a natural disguise - blending into their surroundings!!  Secondly, my children have been catching them all summer long and I've been really wanting to draw them!  They are hard to find, usually under the leaves and jump very far when startled. It makes for great entertainment for my kids!  Oh - and by the way, they actually don't wear green and yellow sneakers...but I thought they'd be cute! 

Illustration Friday - Swell

Nothing like the swell of a freshly blown bubble!

Here's my entry for Illustration Friday this week.  I have been trying to use ink and a dip pen to line lately, to get more comfortable with it.  I also forced myself to do people this week, as I usually stick to animals.  I am okay with how it turned out...I don't know, I may have to revisit this one again.

Illustration Friday - Obsession

Here is my submission for the word obsession for Illustration Friday.  "Why  a pig skateboarding?", you ask? Well, every summer this last week of July the X Games are held and shown on TV...thus creating a several month long obsession for my three boys.  They get out their skateboards, their bikes and their scooters and try to mimic the tricks they have seen or create tricks of their own.  Just this morning we traveled to three towns (close by) to find an open skate park so they could use the ramps for even more "gnarly" tricks!  They love it and I love the fact that they are outside all day long.  So here's to summer fun...until the next obsession begins...usually right around the start of the football season!

Illustration Friday - Gesture and Perennial

Well since I was away with my family last week I had no time to paint...too much fun and sun to be had!  SO...this week I combined the two!  Nothing like a sweet gesture of Badger's favorite perennial fruit for his birthday!  Maybe it's a stretch...but they both seem quite pleased!

Illustration Friday - Stay

(Click on image for a closer look!)

Stay and chat.

For this week's If word stay I redid my elephant and mouse header...changed the mouses position and the elephant's trunk a little and played a bit more with the colors!

Illustration Friday - Remedy

"Maybe if I just touch this button it will remedy my computer problems?"

Here's my entry for IF's word remedy...just a quick one before the 4th of July weekend!

Illustration Friday - Midsummer Night

My favorite, favorite thing to do in the summer is night walks on the beach!  I love when it gets a little chilly out (hear in New England anyway) when you need a light sweater or sweatshirt, when the sun is setting or the moon is rising, listening to the sounds of the waves...it's just so peaceful.  Usually my husband and I walk along watching our children run ahead splashing in the waves or stopping to pick up a shell or cool stone. Our happiest summer days are those spent at the beach!!

Illustration Friday - Launch

For If's word launch this week, I thought of pair figure skaters where the guy launches the girl high into the air!  It's so amazing and equally frightening!  How do they ever land on their feet?  So, here are my little bunny friends skating away!

Illustration Friday - Safari

For this week's Illustration Friday word safari, I wanted to try to be a bit more loose with my painting.  It is a bit out of my comfort zone.  I also wanted to do an animal that I haven't really done before.  So,  since my daughter LOVES Diego the Animal Rescuer AND since I seemed to have the song "Symbiotic" ( a song about the rhino and oxpecker"s symbiotic relationship) stuck in my head....here they are!!  I am really happy with how it turned out!

Illustration Friday - Duet

Is there a better duet than one done by Bunny and Cher?  I think not!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!

Dexter Owl

Here's a part of a sign I made for a friend's baby in acrylics.  I just thought he was very cute.  He even looks like the name...Dexter!