Help the environment

Please go to this site on October 15th and post something relating to the environment and how we can help it. Many voices, one big message. Incrementally, we can all do something. Thank you!

IF : Juggling a move

Some of you know that my husband and I often talk about moving back to Rhode Island, but what some of you don't know is how much anxiety it causes me. It all hinges on finding work for both of us (which means no art for me for a while, at least)...and being middle-aged and set in my ways and missing my friends and this perfect weather and.....blaaahhhh!

But that's what I left behind when we left Rhode Island. A job and great friends and ....okay, the weather isn't very good back there most days, but I did have my art. So the other day I told my husband that we should go back without jobs. "Let's just go on faith!" I said. And then the wise old crow put his two cents in . "You ain't young anymore honey. Caaawww. Just how much do you think you can juggle at your age? Go, stay, run away!"

Damn crow's feet.

acrylic on canvas, rubber stamped alphabets, collaged raven

IF : Wedding

I find this week's word a bit limiting, so I thought I'd post a little painting I did for a friend's daughter's wedding gift. It's titled "Love Is In The Air."

She got maried in August and I haven't mailed the painting yet. Maybe it will get there by their first anniversary!

Lots of people get married on the beach which inspired me to paint this.

Have a great weekend everyone, and if you're getting married this weekend, I wish you all the best!

IF : Momentum in Nature

The soft free-fall of a feather swoops from side to side, being carried by it's own momentum, soon to be swirled into the ripples of a pond gathering it's momentum from the tossing of a pebble.

Two quiet forces of nature equaling a feeling of peace.

acrylic on canvas 10" x 10"

IF : Emma A to Z !

Okay, slow day at the studio today. I worked on projects for clients and then had a little time to mess around. I figured I'd draw to keep limber so I drew my dog with a Bic pencil on graph paper, nothing fancy. Then I thought I could perhaps use it as another alphabet entry for Illustration Friday, so here's the list of traits about my dog from A to Z. Some are not so flattering but I love her anyway!

(You can see my first alphabet post below.)

Angel

Bossy

Chihuahua mix

Delightful

Emma !

Ferocious

Grateful

Heart stealer

Intelligent

Jealous

Killer instinct

Licker

My girl

Naughty (sometimes)

Out of control

Petite

Queen of the house

Rescued from SPCA

Shy

Terrorist !

Under foot

Very special

Wacky

Xanax could help her!

Yappy

Zippy

IF : Alphabets

Yay...I finally christened my Moleskin! I was feeling very child-like and whimsical today so I thought I'd go for that style. Just loose and scribbly! I used acrylic paint, colored pencils and alphabet rubber stamps. In case you can't read it, here's what it says.

"What's good today?" I asked.

"We have really good duck soup with alphabets." she replied.

"Okay, I'll have that."

Who knows where my head was...but I know this makes me giggle!

I'm A Rockin' Girl, or so I'm told!

I've been given the "Rockin' Girl Blog Award" by one of the coolest bloggerettes , Kim Coles of http://www.imwithsully.com/blog/ Personally, most days I feel like I should have the "Rocking Chair Award." I have so many women here that I admire, and it's funny but the ones I'd like to pass this on to already had it passed on by someone else. So you know what that tells me?? We all rock!!

Here's to all my new rockin', bloggin' friends. Thanks, Kim!!

IF : Visitors

How appropriate the word is for me this week. My eighteen year old niece from New Hampshire came to visit us. It was her first time flying and being so far away from home. My husband and I took her to all the beautiful places in our area making sure she had the full 'peninsula experience.' It turns out her favorite place is also my favorite; Point Lobos State Reserve. There are walking trails along sheer cliffs surrounded by the restless sea. You can't help clicking shot after shot so you can take it all home with you to savor the experience again.

I did this little painting today of China Cove, one of the prettiest spots in Point Lobos that brings many visitors each year. It's truly a magical place.

If you ever come to the Monterey Peninsula, be sure to go there. And hey, look me up...I'll come with you!!

P.S. After having missed last week, I'm glad to be back!

acrylic on canvas, 6"x6"

My "Best of IF" show at Studio Lolo ! Save the date!

Okay fellow "IFers", I've finally come up with a date for my "Best Of Illustration Friday" show after much encouragement from many of you as well as my friends here at home. It will be one year since my first post on October 15th, so being the way the calendar falls this year the opening will be Friday, October 12th with a wine reception. It will also be the night of the Art Walk in Pacific Grove, so there will be many more galleries staying open. It's really a fun event!

Now I have the job of choosing which illos to frame and how to display their stories next to them.I do know that I won't use any of my collages, just paintings. I'd also like to find the time to get 3 more Wallflowers done so they can be a part of the show.

I'm hoping with this much notice many of you would be able to pop in to meet me. You have no idea how much this venue has meant to me this past year! I'll keep the show up for a month, so even if you can't make it on opening night, perhaps you could drop in on one of the weekends.

Okay...I have lots of work to do!! Thanks for all of your encouragement this past year, and today still.

IF: Emergency Grounding Energy

Many of you may be familiar with the Soul Collage process. You make your own deck of cards to use in your personal readings. It's an amazing intuitive process used by therapists and regular, run of the mill people like myself. To learn more about it, go to http://www.soulcollage.com/

This is one of my animal companion cards that represents the first chakra, the root chakra located at the base of the spinal column. It is associated with the material things of life, with shelter and food and with making money. It has to do with our sense of security in the world and is connected with survival and self-esteem. This chakra holds grounding energy. It stabilizes us and helps us keep our balance, physically and emotionally.

When I look at this card I see this magnificent bear making sure I'll be taken care of. He'll help me keep my balance and keep me grounded. I feel that I could call out to him in an emergency and he'd be right there.

(Note: when my family sees this post, they'll swear I've been in California too long!)

Princess Pepper Cloud visited!!

I was so thrilled to have met Princess Pepper Cloud the day she came to my studio! It meant so much to me that she took the time to look me up and hang out at Studio Lolo for a while. Her and her husband couldn't be nicer. She made this beautiful plate for me which I'll use at my art receptions. It has Monarch butterflies on it which is so appropriate because Monarchs migrate to Pacific Grove every year! We're actually called butterfly town and we have a butterfly parade and a sanctuary to see them in their natural habitat.

Now I have an original PPC creation which I'll treasure forever. I'll treasure that day as well. Thanks for visiting Kim!! Hug the cats for me and give my best to Ted.

IF : Missing you so much...

I worked all day on a painting for this topic today and ended up not using it. It just wasn't the right fit. I kept going back to one of my favorite illustrations I used for a promo mailer a couple of years back. This guy is really a heartbreaker, isn't he? Dogs miss us whether we're gone at work all day or just going to the bathroom with the door closed. They're missing us whether it's five minutes or five days, doesn't matter to them just as long as we come back. I feel sad for the ones who are waiting for someone who isn't going to return, ever. Thankfully a lot of those guys end up in new homes with someone new to miss! I have one of those rescues. Trust me, she never looked back! Now she's missing ME when I'm at work, or checking for mail, or out for dinner ...but at least I leave the bathroom door open. I know...too much information!

Fine point Sharpie, watercolor, and Prismacolor pencils.

Inspirational Award

I've just received an "Inspirational Award" from fellow blogger friend Ronni Fairy Girl! She and I have similar interests, mainly art and animals. We're also both animal communicators although she's been at it longer than I have. She inspires me as well, so kudos right back at ya Ronni!Here's her link... http://designingfairy.blogspot.com/

I'm supposed to pass this along to five people, but honestly you all get this award from me. Not to sound gushing, but I'm here because you all inspire me to step up my skills and to keep drawing and painting. When I joined Illustration Friday I had no idea it would mean so much to me. I'm actually going to have a show at my studio of my best "IF" work. That idea was inspired by my friend, Mary Helen. That's in the future though when I get enough money together for framing the work.

So, thanks to all of you who inspire me to continue, and for all of the amazing comments you leave, and also for the laughs from some of you. There are a few of you I have a "back and forth" game of wits with! I look forward to our time together every week. Consider yourselves recipients of this award!

IF : Moon Mother

Trying to come up with a different take on 'moon', I started writing my ideas down; moonglow, moonflower, moon heart and moon doggie (remember him?!) And then I thought of arctic moon and began to draw a seal lit by the moonlight. But then...my idea evolved into this thought and the whole picture changed. Well, at least the moon did.

The young seal asks his mother, "But what if you leave me too soon?"

To which his mother replies, "You'll see me in the moon, little one. You'll see me in the moon."

acrylic on paper, touch of colored pencils, not what I'd hoped for.

IF : Poem...Drink Your Tea

Drink your tea slowly and reverently,

as if it is the axis

on which the world earth revolves-

slowly, evenly, without

rushing toward the future.

Live the actual moment.

Only this moment is life.

~Thich Nhat Hahn~

I searched a million (or so it seemed) poems on the internet to come up with something that sparked a painting. Here it is, a painting I did today just for Illustration Friday. I've titled it "Tea and Ginkos." The cup and saucer are very Wabi-Sabi. Who needs a perfect elipse?

inspiration and acrylic on canvas

IF: Self Discovery

I see myself in windows and mirrors. Squinting, I try to get a better view of my reflection but it's not anyone I recognize. I refocus my eyes, still I'm not sure I know that woman looking back at me. There's a vague familiarity around the eyes and mouth. Her hair is shorter and red. It was never red, always blonde. And her weight, surely that can't be. And then to my horror and shame I realize it is me. As I pick away at my physical flaws I make an important discovery. I AM NOT THIS PACKAGE. I'm more than that. I'm a wife, a sister, a daughter, a friend, a healer, an artist and a kind-hearted, spirited woman.

And so, I've discovered that I am enough.

Collage, sweat and tears. And with love to my dear husband and friends who tell me this every day.

TAGGED...again!

Okay, Andy Doodler tagged me again and I'm supposed to tell you 8 hopefully interesting things about me. I'm supposed to choose 8 more to follow, but I'll let you decide if you want to join in or not. I've already tagged enough of you! Here's my list, lame as it is.
1) I'm pretty shy for the most part. I don't think you can tell that from my blogs though. Maybe because there's a bit of anonymity here :)
2) I'm very self-critical. I really need to be kinder to myself. I would never treat another person like I treat myself. Hey, we all have demons.
3) I have paint on almost all of my clothes! I hardly ever dress nice because of it. I make the attempt to look good, but that darn paint shows up everywhere!
4) I'm an animal communicator. I'm fortunate enough to be able to be very still and quiet in order to help an animal through intuitive communication. I get quite distracted during regular meditation though. My mind is everywhere!
5) I can't bear to watch animal movies. They always upset me, even if the endings are happy.
6) Nature is my church and kindness is my religion.
7) I have a large bank account...in the karma bank, that is! I'm always doing good deeds and not charging for my animal services even though I really need the money. I usually put my heart ahead of my financial needs. What goes around, comes around though. I'm very wealthy in my friends.
8) My mother wanted me to be a comedian! She'd always tell me how funny I was and that I should do it as a living. Other people have said that to me as well. They all drink too much.

IF: 6 things I think are Geeky

Okay, I really didn't like this word. I thought no matter what, someone was going to be offended by nearly every post. And then I thought, lighten up and let it rip Laurel! Still, I kept it tame and to a minimum of insults. Here are six things I think are geeky.

1) Bow Ties...I know some wonderful guys have worn them (and still do) but do you really think "hunk" or "sexy" when you see them?

2) Holiday themed sweaters...ladies, what are you thinking??? Get rid of them. Even homeless people don't want to be seen in them. Thrift stores can't give them away!

3) The Mohawk....do you really think you look cool? Well, you don't! And then if you make the hairdo a neon color you're really sending out a cry for help. Do yourself a favor and get some therapy. Or smoke a joint for goodness sakes if you need to make a statement. Chill out and fix your hair.

4) Socks with sandals...this is wrong on ANY planet! Men or women, please never, ever do this. Dark socks are a bigger faux pas, but still, ditch the socks if the sandals are on the feet.

5) Santa hats...how many store clerks does it take to wear a Santa hat? Every one of them!!!! And what about regular people who are out shopping and donning those hats? I just don't trust them. And how many kids do you think are traumatized by seeing so many versions of Santa out there? It's just wrong. And for those who don't celebrate Christmas (or the commercial version), must they have this in their faces day in and day out from Thanksgiving until Dec 26th?

6) and finally....adults with braces!! I stare at them, honestly. Do you really think at 40 you're going to get the same bang for your buck if you were 12? I think not. I have such a hard time looking at a balding man with wire and rubber bands in his mouth. I usually just hand him a kleenex to wipe the drool before I leave the room.

I'm sure I've offended some of you. Now you've seen my other side. Not so fuzzy is it? It's because the word was limited. I hope you'll still like me in the morning!

(The opinions of this post are not necessarily those of the readers, although they should be! )

watercolor on canson, glued onto scrapbooking paper with sticker numbers. Click to enlarge.

IF: Twist

Quite sometime ago Portnoy and Biff met at a no-kill animal shelter in the middle of America.

It seems Portnoy was a renegade that escaped a truck headed for the slaughterhouse. Afraid to go back to the farm, Portnoy walked for days until he met a kindly old gentleman who told him all about this shelter. Unable to properly take care of a pig, the old man gave Portnoy a ride to the door and waved a tearful goodbye. The volunteers at the shelter welcomed Portnoy with open arms and hearts. They brought him to his new quarters but on the way there he was struck by Biff, an old-timer stray dog with a twist in his tail just like his!

The shelter worker saw the connection between Portnoy and Biff right away and asked if they'd like to be roommates. Biff's spirits soared by having Portnoy around. They shared stories of life before being rescued and celebrated every day for the strange twist of fate that brought them together.

Two peas in a pod, those two. Old souls embracing a new lease on life.

Just for IF, watercolor, Pitt pens and gouache on Canson pastel paper...and lots of struggling with each blasted medium! Click to enlarge.

Thinking Blogger Award

A little while back I was honored to be nominated for a Thinking Blogger Award by http://getzapped.blogspot.com . I was surprised that my art could move people. I started contributing to Illustration Friday to give myself a creative kick in the pants, but so much more has come from the experience. I'm thrilled to have stumbled upon it and so many creative folks who share my passion. As part of my award, I'm supposed to nominate 5 people who's blogs inspire me to think. This is hard to narrow it down to five, but here they are in no particular order.(I'm sorry I don't know how to link them.)

Neilornstein: His rich paintings make me reach into the deep recesses of my mind. There's always a glimmer of light in a dark scene that draws me near. I'm always moved by his work.

Hardwax: Miri moves me along the same lines. Her work just draws me in and makes me go deep even if it makes me uncomfortable. I always come away feeling priveleged to be part of her art experience.

Quiet Storm: Nobody can draw like this guy. I'm left breathless with each post I come across. He makes graphite sing about having a purpose!

Ascender Rises Above: Not only does she post beautiful and thought-provoking images, but she always chooses a piece of literature or poetry to absolutely nail the entry. I never come away from reading her posts without saying "WHOA!"

Get Zapped: I have to give the award to the awarder! She gives us all a place to get centered in this crazy world. Her daily postings inspire and move me to a greater place than where I began. She's a breath of fresh air in a polluted world and reminds us that we can all be a part of the solution. Thank you Michelle.

I'm sorry to have left out so many more that inspire me. I thank each and every one of you who contribute to this experience for me. You've made me better in so many ways! I'll see you down the road.