Illustration Friday: Glow

May we all coexist in peace

and bask in the glow of friendship.

Wishing all of my friends a most brightest and best holiday season, no matter how or what you celebrate.

Love always,

Lo♥

for Illustration Friday: Glow

Watercolor and ink on bristol board.

Illustration Friday: Whiskers

Cyrano never liked that he has two different coloured eyes, nor does he like the fact that his white whiskers don't stand out against his snow white fur.

That's when he started donning the fake nose.

Typical Leo, always seeking attention!

No apologies to Leo's out there because I'm a Leo too!! 

In my Moleskine, colored pencil and acrylic paint 4 years ago :)

For Illustration Friday: Whiskers

Illustration Friday: Shades

I live in a small room on the bay large enough only for myself and my cat. The wallpaper is a lovely pattern, although quite faded. It reminds me of my Grandmother's old china pattern.

The furnishings are sparse. A cot that was meant to hold someone much smaller than myself, an old ladderback chair and one electrical outlet which sits unused.

There's a tiny window that overlooks the bay. I'm so grateful for that window! No matter how small my world is inside, that little window lets in light and hope and a promise of better days. If I were to put shades on my little window to the world I would miss so much.

So very, very much indeed.

acrylic paint, pencil, patterned paper and imagination :)

Go to Illustration Friday to see other entries from around the world!

Sketchbook Project Progress

Three Generations

Well, today's sketches went mostly to the dogs! I flipped through the sketchbook to see how many blank pages I had left to fill (13) so I started with the ones I scumbled paint on.

Look at this sad, sad group of Corgis!

I love keeping things fast and loose for projects like this. I don't think anyone wants to see if you can do an exact life-like drawing of anything.

I actually think it's harder for most of us to make it nuts and crazy and goofy.

I had fun today. That's the whole point, right? 

I love how I laid the paint down for this page. Mind you, I had NO idea what I was going to do until I did it. What freedom!

And it was so simple to close this in with a few distant cat-o-nine tails and a pond.

What do you think this little terrier sees? 

Hey Mim...a fish???

Aaaah, the gorgeous, aristocratic sight hounds! My husband really, really wants 

 a Scottish Deerhound. But here's a scribbly-wiggly gesture drawing of a Greyhound and his beloved red ball instead.

I had done something like this before and gave it to a blogger friend, Erin.♥

I thought this "cat lover" should have a place in the sketchbook, yellow stream and all ;)

And finally, not to ever leave my feline friends out, here's a blue tabby who really needs some TLC. Marianne, this is for you.♥♥♥

One more day and 8 more pages to go. I doubt I'll fill them all, but hell, I'll try!

Thanks for always taking the time to visit ;)

xoxo

Lolo

Raven tag 2 and Sketchbook Project Progress

I've been a very busy girl today trying to buckle down and get the sketchbook done before Saturday's deadline. In between sketches I finished up Raven Maven #2.

Here's the front of her with a raven sticker and the #2 on her dress in the middle of the stamped heart. Her blue wings and shoelaces have glitter which doesn't show well.

The blue spiral sticker has glittler too. Once again her head was drawn and painted with acrylic paint and colored pencils.

Her head is tilted upwards because she's such a dreamer! She's going to trip over her laces if she's not careful.

Here's the back view with the #2 to signify she's the second one in a series, and my signature is below.

Here she is hanging out at the studio. I wish the glitter showed better.

She insisted on wearing Chucks too ;)

Yesterday I did this sideways peek-a-boo page of a kitty daydreaming about a yummy mouse.

Click to embiggen any or all pics!

And I painted this sweet old guy. I've been scumbling paint on various pages and then going back later to do something on them. It's easier for me seeing as Moleskine pages are so thin and transparent. That's rather limiting, in my opinion.

The dog was done with colored pencils on top of blue acrylic paint.

I had fun doing this very chubby version of Emma giving basic Chihuahua Cha-Cha lessons!

I "Googled" the steps so I could make a chart.

1-2-cha cha cha, 3-4 chiiii-waaaa-waa!

WORK IT GIRL!!!!!!



And finally, for today anyway, a pink tuxedo kitty. I actually love this page.

There's something about the pink and orange, a combo I've always been drawn to.

I was going to make the cat black and white but then decided to leave it alone.

So, this is why no one is getting visits or phone calls from me.

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!!!

xo♥

Animal Wednesday: Part Deux

I figured since I was on a roll I may as well bang out the back cover.

Besides, cats hate to be second ;)

Happy Animal Wednesday again!

Six Word Saturday # 18

Summer nights,

Pink skies,

Contented flutterbys.

For more Six Words, click here!! 

Animal Wednesday: The Catbird Seat

I was going through my images to find something fresh for Animal Wednesday and I found this collage that makes me smile! I also thought I'd give you the meaning and the origin behind this phrase. Meanwhile, my bets are on that BIG pigeon!

Meaning
In a superior or advantageous position.

Origin
This is an American phrase - which is unsurprising as the grey catbird which is the probable source of the phrase is a North American species (there's also an Australian catbird). It's one of a group of birds called the mimic thrushes. They include mockingbirds and, as you might expect, they are adept mimics. The catbird is named for its ability to mimic the sound of a cat's miaow.

Catbirds seek out the highest perches in trees to sing and display. The allusion to that is most likely to be the derivation of the term. It may also be the source of an earlier term with much the same meaning - 'sitting pretty'.
The phrase appears to have originated in the American south, although the date and circumstances are uncertain. There's certainly an association with the sport of baseball, and most of the early citations of the phrase mention the game. That includes the first mention of it in print, in James Thurber's 55 Short Stories from New Yorker, November 1942:
"She must be a Dodger fan. Red Barber announces the Dodger games over the radio and he uses those expressions... 'sitting in the catbird seat' means sitting pretty, like a batter with three balls and no strikes on him."

Happy Animal Wednesday!!

Animal Wednesday: Sun Therapy

As long as I find something in my archives I can take a few minutes to post something. I'm having withdrawl!

This is a painting I did when we first moved to California. This is Biff, one of the three boys that drove out with us. He was a typical sun worshipper, just like his mom. I took him from his previous owners when he was a year old. He had malnutrition and pneumonia. He lived on a dairy farm and they didn't believe in feeding him because they thought he wouldn't be a good mouser unless he was hungry. They never gave him vaccines and the result of that was upper respiratory infection that went into pneumonia.

I took him to the vet hospital where I worked. He was negative for leukemia, thank goodness, so we treated his pneumonia, fattened him up and when he was better we neutered him. He was nearly seventeen when he died.

He had the biggest crush on me, honestly it was a hoot! I dearly miss him.

Now that we're moving back, it seems appropriate to post something that I did shortly after our arrival.

Happy Animal Wednesday!! And yes, I'm still packing like crazy ;)

Illustration Friday: Talisman

I wasn't really sure where I was going to go with this week's word, I just knew I liked it as soon as I heard it!

To me, ravens and cats have magical, mystical powers. I thought I'd convey it as an image of a cheetah wearing a raven talisman.

I rushed it a little because of my busy schedule these days.

I hope it still holds a little magic for the viewer!

(acrylic paint and Prismacolor pencils on patterned card stock)

Animal Wednesday: Thoughts of Spring

This is an ancient illustration. You can tell by all the faults but I still wanted to post it. The three cypress trees in my landscapes (as some of you know) represent my 3 cats we drove cross country with 16 years ago. I miss those boys every day. The girl in the grass with her little companion represents new life as well as memories of days gone by.

My father-in-law passed away suddenly yesterday. He was a terrific man and he's one of the reasons we wanted to move back to the east coast, so we could be closer to him in his last years. I want to close this post by sharing something my husband wrote about him last night as a lead-in to a tribute he'll be writing on Bleacher Report.

"In memory of my father, James M. Gaylord (May 18, 1924-March 10, 2009), a decorated World War II foot soldier, a D-Day Plus 6 man who stormed the beaches of Normandy, a man who nearly froze his feet off at the Battle of the Bulge. Dad, ever since I can remember I could outrun you but in the ways that mattered I could never keep up."

Happy Animal Wednesday my friends! Now go hug someone you love ;)

Illustration Friday: Pale

The room isn't much to speak of, really. Four walls of unevenly faded wallpaper, pale from the light that slips in on bright days.

But it's the view from the small window that speaks to my heart, and I stay longer than I should.

patterned paper, acrylic paint, a touch of colored pencil, graphite.

For Illustration Friday's promt: pale

( click to enlarge )

Animal Wednesday: Morning Decisions

I bought this wonderful card yesterday by Persimmon Press and thought it would be perfect for AW. This is the first time I haven't posted my art, but who can resist a handsome cat and a great quote? HAW everyone!!

Oh, and please remember to click the Animal Rescue button on the right. It helps feed animals and it's FREE!! Two clicks will bring you right back :)

Animal Wednesday: Shoot for the moon!

To all my dear friends who have been here for me through another year, I wish you all the happiness your heart can hold in the coming new year. I hope 2009 is all you need it to be. And remember, if you shoot for the moon and miss, you'll still be among the stars!

Happy Animal Wednesday and many blessings for new beginnings!

Animal Wednesday: Giveaway Winner!

With trumpets blaring and mandolins strumming I hereby announce the winner of the holiday giveaway. All names were printed on the computer in red in Lucida Handwriting ( for a festive flair!) I then cut and folded the papers in half and placed them in a bowl with a cover. I gave them a hearty shaking and opened the lid for my cat to choose one. She refused to participate so I had my husband do it. He was on the phone and just grabbed a name off the top...but with all the shaking of the names, that was fair. Without further ado....

Sketched Out is the winner!!!! Congratulations Sketchie!!

Thank you all for participating. I wish I could send each of you something but I'm a starving artist!

Happy Animal Wednesday and Blessings of the Season!!

Animal Wednesday : Angels Galore !

There's SNOW friends like

old friends,

new friends,

best friends,

and blog friends!

Happy Animal Wednesday everyone!

I couldn't resist sending more angels your way even though this is one from way, way back.

Animal Wednesday : Angels Among Us

Seems like a lot of my blogging friends need an angel right about now. Debra Kay, Suki, KJ...this is for you and anyone else who needs a little reminder that there are angels among us :)

Happy Animal Wednesday, my friends. XX

IF : Pretend

Our lives are only limited by our imaginations or fears.

Now get out there tiger, and live your dream!

For Illustration Friday : pretend

acrylic and colored pencil on bristol board

Animal Wednesday : An Enviable Position

Here's another crazy card collage of mine, this time using an old idiom. Here's the Wikipedia listing to see it's origin. I'm sure other cats are thinking this is quite an enviable position to be in. The pigeon, not so much!

Happy Animal Wednesday chums!

IF : Riding Bare-Backwards

Zappo the cat left home at a very young age to join the circus. Till this day, Zappo always rides his flying pig backwards because his mother long ago said, " Always remember where you came from."

Okay, so Zappo took it literally.

You can see my Moleskine entry here :)