I did it

I listed a set of alphabet cards to my shop on Etsy this morning.  This is a major first for me.

If you have pre-ordered in one of my posts, I will soon be listing your own special order in the shop, so not to worry... you don't have to pounce on this one!

Things keep humming along

I am about to be able to do a big reveal and am super excited about it.  Other than that, things are fairly routine around here.



Milo is getting over a 48 hour flu which was primarily just a high fever, and may have been related to getting shots.  He is unbelievably 2 and a half years old.  How did that happen?  I do not think I am in a very good kid documentation mood, which is too bad, because they are both such charming little creatures.



June is turning more into a kid every day.  The toddler is disappearing.  This morning she said, "Dad's been laying on the couch like crazy!"  It was hilarious to me, but maybe you had to be there.  My favorite expression of hers is "What the heck in the world?!!"

The Latest Letter... and the Back of the Card (I think) ::

Okay I would really like your input.  First of all, what do you think of my panda?  Should I try to eliminate some of the black ink?  Or is it just right?  (Note: the weird rough circle around the P showed up as part of a file conversion.  Yarg.  The final version doesn't have that.)

And next... I've been working like crazy to come up with a design for the back of the card.  Here is a little sketch I came up with not too long ago that I think is going to work out.  The drawing is just that though... a sketch.  What do you think?  Will it do the trick?

I had been wanting to come up with Lady Lark but I just can't seem to capture her yet.  I've got a lot of drawings that look like mother hens wearing clouche hats and eyeglasses... but I have not yet finished one and thought: "There she is."  And so, I continue.

The Letter O ::

In case you did not see this one in the sidebar, here is the latest letter.

All credit to Adam for telling me ostriches have long eyelashes.

N for Nest ::

Nesting, nesting, nest.



Based upon my previous post you might guess that we're feathering our nest - but nope.  Barely keeping it clean I'm afraid.  I think it is all the indoor play.  Here are a few recent snaps of the kids with their new play house.  I'm trying to encourage June to use it as a hideout.

My Type B Blogging, and a Mouse

I confess I am envious of those bloggers who are so organized, who never miss a post, who line up guest bloggers when they go out of town...  But.  I am happy to me, even if I am Type B.

I sure wish I had time to catch you up on all of our Christmas excitement in California, or to fill you in on some of the projects I am working on currently.  But for now, all I have for you is this mouse.

La la la Lion ::

I have been having some issues with these letters.  I have made a bunch in advance of how many I have posted, such that now I want to go back and revisit some of the "older" letters.  For instance, the first few were simple little things I did in less than 5 minutes while painting with the kids.

Later versions I was trying to get more accuracy... but here's the thing: I do not like perfectly accurate drawings.  Don't get me wrong, I think they are impressive and can be quite beautiful.  But they simply do not resonate with me.

I checked a book out from the library a few months ago about drawing that helped me to hone in on this issue.  It described learning to draw as a transition from symbolic to accurate representations.  And the whole book was about increasing accuracy.  I would read through it page by page and become increasingly irritated at the snobbishness of the author.  How the whole idea was to eliminate the symbolic remnants of the drawing style.  When the whole time I am crying out inside, but I like those!

So if this is making any sense, the whole point is that I am trying to walk a line between recognizable accuracy and symbolism - so that I can make the image more fun, more lovable, more me somehow.

And I have to go back to A.  That alligator just doesn't cut it for me.  Maybe an anteater instead....

K is for ::

Here's the latest.  I'm rather fond of it.

Jelly ::

All I can say about this one, is I never realized before drawing this just how phallic a jellyfish can be.  I had to do some Photoshop after-effects to reduce the similarity...

So which J is your favorite?

The first J ::

In honor of our daughter June, I wanted J to be really special.  While the jack o' lantern is cute, I am just not satisfied.  So stay tuned for later this week when I unveil J number two.  Hopefully the second one will be an improvement.  :)

Cold Houses

Here is the latest installation.

When I was in elementary school, I saw a video which showed a man constructing an igloo and which explained that people did not actually live in igloos, but instead they were temporary structures, used for hunting trips.  Rather than operate on this small knowledge, I thought I would do some research.

Today wikipedia says:

There are three traditional types of igloos, all of different sizes and all used for different purposes.

• The smallest was constructed as a temporary shelter, usually only used for one or two nights. These were built and used during hunting trips, often on open sea ice.

• Intermediate-sized igloos were for semi-permanent, family dwelling. This was usually a single room dwelling that housed one or two families. Often there were several of these in a small area, which formed an Inuit village.

• The largest igloos were normally built in groups of two. One of the buildings was a temporary structure built for special occasions, the other built nearby for living. These might have had up to five rooms and housed up to 20 people. A large igloo might have been constructed from several smaller igloos attached by their tunnels, giving common access to the outside. These were used to hold community feasts and traditional dances.

I can't imagine living in an ice house - even one with five rooms.  It is so cold outside today ... the thermometer in my car read 18 degrees in the morning and 12 degrees as I started my car up after work.  Brrr.  Both times I started my car it was dark.   We live in such an insane, extreme place.

On another topic, that being the letter "I" ~ I could not think of an animal (aside from an iguana) that was sufficiently common or well known enough to use.  Ice cream was another good idea, as was icicle.  As you will see with the next one, "J" is also proving difficult.  So much that I will have two letter "J's" for my next illustration post.  Stay tuned.

P.S. If you did not check out the Ben Howard video in my prior post, you are missing out.  Not really about the video - but about the song.  So check it out!

Hay is for ::

Here's my H.

My first horse.  Not too shabby, if a little on the Shetland Pony side for a horse.

A Girl Gorilla

Why of course she is a girl!

I think Miss J would be disappointed though at the lack of eyelashes.  Because girls always have long eyelashes.  I think she would also want me to put a bow on her head.  Because girls always have bows.

P.S.  I just finished saying goodnight to the kids.  June said the sweetest thing, so I have to share.  She said: "Mommy, I love you.  You make my heart full with lots of good words."  Isn't that great?

F is for Fox ::

Here is my latest creation.  I had to change this quite a bit using Photoshop.  While I was satisfied with my initial watercolor, my Sharpie filling in of the drawing seemed cramped.  The little fox appeared anxious and unhappy, and I wasn't having that.  I needed a cuter version.  While I could continue to tweak this one, I am satisfied enough to post.

Here is the original version for comparison.  It shows just how much clean up and polishing work I had to do.

Elephant

Here is the latest installment to my alphabet series.

It is cold and windy out this morning.  Yesterday the leaves were falling like rain.  With the rain actually.  This morning I cannot tell as it is too dark yet.  I keep imagining that soon enough there will be blanket upon blanket of snow outside.  I try to enjoy yet another day without having to wear snow boots, for that will come soon enough.  On the flip side, I try to get excited about a season of cross country skiing with my new skis.  I am hopeful I will be better at it this year.  Practice has to help right?

As I type, June is downstairs coloring and Miles is asleep.  I feel as though I am stealing a few minutes to myself, and I know this little slice of time will help me enjoy my day all the more.

As I tidied the kitchen a few moments ago, I came across the following teabag quote: "It is important to find your identity and your legacy."  It has inspired a lot of thought from me as I go about things this morning.  Like perhaps that youth is about finding identity, and age is about building a legacy.  Or that maybe identity and legacy are one and the same, at least sometimes.  For example my great-great-grandkids might look at my alphabet illustrations and that will be all they know of me, aside from perhaps these words.  Identity and legacy then merge.

Both kids are awake now and the sky is lightening.  I hope you enjoy your day.

C is for ...

So, here is another in my alphabet series.  I am rather fond of this kitty.

I have so much other news to share but it seems like when the sun shines there is less time that I am willing to spend inside blogging.

Big news.  Like:  Miles got a fat lip.  That story will likely be the next one.

And other news that is not so scary, nor so bloody, like just how lovely the fall is shaping up to be.  I love taking pictures of the change in colors.  The coming dark is strange though.  Like now it is dark by 9 pm. I find the dark to be almost foreign after light bright summer.  And though it may seem childish, it almost seems scary too.

B is for ...

Not my favorite bird ever, I must confess.

But I still think it is cute.

A is for Alligator

A long, long time ago I posted some drawings on this blog.  Well, here is a new one.  I created a number of these this morning as I sat and painted with June.

My goal is to ultimately post the whole alphabet, letter by letter.  My favorite thing about the alphabet drawings is how they make June smile as I hand them to her.  So satisfying.

If you like it, please feel free to use it.  I would only ask that you link back to my blog as the source.