Illustration Friday: Mail

Remember when the mail was delivered by carrier pigeon?

This is a repost of one of my favorite paintings on an envelope. It now resides in Malaysia with my friend Caroline who won the giveaway!

Now I must get back to writing my holiday cards so I can get them in the mail!!

(acrylic and colored pencil on brown craft envelope, cancelled stamps)

Illustration Friday: Crunchy

Fallen pine needles on the forest floor, crispy and crunchy under your feet.

The fresh, falling snow might muffle the sounds of the next passers-by.

I've always been a sucker for these Charlie Brown trees. They warm my heart.

One sepia pen, one white pencil, one brown paper envelope and five minutes.

For Illustration Friday's prompt: crunchy

May I have the envelope please?

yes Ellen, you may!

My husband drew the names out of the hat this morning. Thirty-one entries!

Thanks to all of you for your wonderful comments. There will be more giveaways in the future!

Illustration Friday: Music...to me

If you're a fan of these magnificent birds then you're a fan for life.

The caw-ing of ravens is music to my ears because I understand them.

They're magical, mystical and misunderstood.

Here's my kick-off to the holiday season replacing 'four calling birds' with my beloved corvids, 4 cawing birds!

This was painted on a brown paper envelope and I'm giving it away.

Just leave a comment and your name will go in a hat for a drawing next Friday.

And no, you don't have to like the birds, just the art ;)

Illustration Friday: Homing Instinct

I really liked the word this week. I almost went in several directions but ended up being pulled by the homing instinct. Migration amazes me with the whales and the Monarch Butterflies. Cats and dogs will use their homing skills to get back to their loved ones even if it takes years as long as they survive the journey.

We used to get our mail by carrier pigeon back in the day. I find that astounding! Some of us have natural homing instincts too. Many people are happier wandering from old places to new places, never feeling the need to stay put. Others have this deep sense of belonging in a particular place and will do whatever it takes to get back there no matter what roadblocks life throws at them.

What about you? Do you have a homing instinct that's pulling your every fiber?

Maybe you should answer that call.

This is another envelope giveaway although I have no idea where the address will be written. I messed up! I'll choose the winner next Friday.

The winner of the Raven envelope from last week is Brine Blank!

acrylic and colored pencil on brown envelope for Illustration Friday's prompt: instinct

Illustration Friday: Time

Time is such an intangible. How do we illustrate it?

I chose to draw a raven on a brown envelope that will be stamped with the time and date when it's mailed. I love taking the time to write a personal letter and to decorate the envelopes. Of course I add a special stamp that often features my art, but not always. I do try to make the stamp match in some way though.

If you'd like this envelope to be sent to you with one of my raven card designs inside (blank for you to send), just leave a comment saying you want it. You have to be willing to email me your mailing address, of course! I promise not to keep pestering you via the post, and I won't share your address with anyone else.

The winner's name will be drawn next Friday. Stay tuned.

Happy Friday everyone!! And happy, healthy baby, Penelope :)