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

2013 Calendars

As many of you know, each year I have desk calendars printed with a different image of my art for each month.

I have so much fun matching the image to the month!

This calendar has reproductions of my illustrations, paintings and collages.

Mim, guess who represents October? :)

Here's the link to my shop in case you're interested.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/115325880/2013-desk-calendar-with-art

I'm only charging $5 above what they cost me, plus shipping. 

Sorry for the sales pitch! Tis the season :)

Illustration Friday: Tree

Not far from downtown there's a rusted, old abandoned space-metal building sitting in a state of decay from neglect. There are several block shapes spray-painted in random colors as though graffiti artists used the side of the building to test their new cans before tagging the local businesses and schools.

In spite of the blacktop surrounding this building, a small tree pushed its way through the asphalt-covered ground several years ago. The part of the building behind the tree makes such a beautiful backdrop, like a giant patchwork quilt sewn together stitch by stitch, always there to embrace this tree.

It's Redbird's favorite place, especially in the afternoon when the sun glows on the warm colors of the quilted metal. It's as though Redbird gives the tree a reason to stay alive with the promise of her daily return.

What some may perceive as decay and neglect, Redbird finds a sacred space that welcomes her with warmth, grace and beauty.

reposted for Illustration Friday's prompt: Tree

 Acrylic and colored pencils on scrapbook paper.

Happy Halloween from Super Emma

I'll be Super-Duper Emma, the menacing Squirrel Catcher for all of Barrington, Rhode Island!!

Well, maybe just my yard, although I was told I can't harass Short-T, mom's favorite :)

Happy Halloween my friends, and please be safe out there!

Here's to all of us who made it through Sandy's wrath.

Blessings to those who were not as fortunate.

xo

Lo ♥ 

Sunday Drive

I headed out for a long, aimless drive yesterday. It's one of my favorite things to do to decompress from the work week.

I headed for the other side of Mount Hope Bridge.

This guy's license plate is "swtryd."

Sweet ride! 

This was Volpe's Pond at 1:00 pm.

This is it at 5:00 pm!

I love afternoon light.

I stopped at Colt State Park in Bristol.

I love it there! You're surrounded by ocean and nestled by woods.

It was breezy by the bay, but still warm.

Red sails!

I love when the ivy changes with the season. What a great, old building.

I paused for a few more afternoon shots....

And made my way back to Barrington.

It was a picture perfect day!

xo

Lo

Illustration Friday : Sky

"Even the Horses Did a Raindance"

From my old old old archives for Illustration Friday.

acrylic paint, colored pencil on bristol board

Happy weekend!

xo

Lo♥

Finding Joy

Sometimes JOY can seem elusive, but it's never really very far away.

We just have to open our eyes.

 

I took Emma to the park down the road as I do three times a day.

I grabbed my camera hoping for glowing glimpses of new color in our ever-changing trees.

It was raining with the sun shining. I know what that meant!

And so I began my search for what would surely be waiting...

I love the vibrant color against the evergreens and the other leaves that are slow to turn.

The glow of the afternoon sun never disappoints.

I have no idea what kind of tree this is, but WOW! 

It was on fire!

And look at this beauty, half turned, half hanging onto the greens of summer.

So I turned the car around and headed home, smiling at the black cloud that followed me and rained on me during this time with Emma...

And I'll be forever grateful for this gift that was waiting for me as I turned the car towards home.

Joy was there the whole time.

xo

Lo♥

Cactus Monday: Autumn Glow

Pulling one from my archives because it fits for the season. Feel the glow !

xo

Lo♥

Illustration Friday: Water

This is a tiny painting I did called "Ebb and Flow."

I don't do many abstracts. I try, really I do, but the detail freak in me comes out!

I'm learning to go with the flow lately.

I lost a dear, dear friend the other day. She lost a short but valiant battle to cancer. I got to say "I love you and so long" on the phone as the nurses were putting in her morphine drip. It was very tough.

I have a torn meniscus in my knee. Big deal, but the other knee is painful as well. I see the orthopedic guy on Halloween. Scary!

I know surgery is in my future and I can't afford to be absent even one day from work. This too shall pass.

I'm ready to get back to blogging on a regular basis again. My computer issues have finally been resolved, hopefully for good.

I've missed being here!

Oh my, life is always changing.

Ups, downs, curve-balls, wind-falls.

We muddle through.

Thanks for the visit. I hope to see you again  soon :)

love,

Lo

hello, remember me?

Oh my, internet issues galore, missing friends, working, housework...and yes, a bit of art.

I hope to get issues resolved soon because I sure do miss you all!!

xoxo

Love,

Lo♥

Cactus Monday revisited

It's been a long while since I've participated in Cactus Monday, so I went to my archives and pulled these ATC's out from a few years back.

Makes me want to find the time to participate again!

Happy Cactus Monday to my old friends!

Illustration Friday: Identical

Not quite identical, but close.

And so darn cute!

acrylic on canvas, sold

Illustration Friday: Tall

short chefs,

TALL hats.

for Illustration Friday: Tall

paper bag, ink, colored pencil :)

Animal Wednesday on Thursday

Last week I took care of one of our Veterinarian's kitties while she was away.  These feet belong to Toggle.

Here he is in all his cuteness. He has MAJOR anxiety issues and is on meds.

He's the main reason they get a cat sitter. Of course, I gave him extra love!

 This is Dexter. He has a stripe nearly at the end of his tail. it goes all the way around! How cool is that? Any old cat can have a white tip, but a random stripe??

NO, this is NOT a Bushbaby!!!  This is Sophia. Can you believe those eyes???

And they're always that wide open and startled looking even though she's laid back. Hilarious!

Truly, three unusual looking cats!

Happy AW on Thursday!

Illustration Friday: Teacher

Raven has always been my favorite teacher.

All knowing, ever present.

for Illustration friday: acrylic paint, colored pencil on paper bag

Fifty Nine and holding

This is the only baby picture I have of me. I don't think there are any more in the family unless it's the same image.

This was taken when I was 14 months old, October 1954.

Little chubette!

This is me today, age 59 and holding. (although I'm back to being blonde.)

I hope I take advantage of the gift for another chance to get it right.

I want to sail into 60 next year. I have a lot of work to do!

Thanks for all your birthday wishes on FB, the calls and the many gifts, but mostly thank you for your friendship.

xoxo

Love,

Lo♥

Illustration Friday: Bounce

" Springer " Spaniel!!

From the 2011 Sketchbook Project

in the Brooklyn Library's permanent collection.

Keep looking up, my friends!

(pen, ink, watercolor in a Moleskine)

xo

Lo

Animal Wednesday: Mim's Samson

Now that Mim has shown this on her blog, I wanted to post it here as well.

This is her favorite dog, Samson, who has been gone for many years now but who still has a huge place in her heart. She commissioned me to paint him from the photo below. I changed the background for artistic reasons, but I also wanted to give him that twilight glow.to bring out his soulful eyes.

It's always nerve wracking to paint a specific animal because it has to look and "feel" like them. I hope I've come close with this one!

I know all of my black animals have a lot of blue in them...I can't help it!

I like to reflect the local color in the sheen of their coats.

Thanks for the commission, Mim! ♥

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Illustration Friday: Lonely

"But Mother, what if you leave me too soon?" the seal pup asked.

"You'll see me in the moon, little one. You'll see me in the moon."

An encore piece which seemed to fit.

I hope to be making new art soon or you'll be seeing ME in the moon!

xo

Lo♥

Please go to illustrationfriday.com to see other entries!