Funny how time changes your opinion of a project. I despised this line when I worked on it 5 years ago. It was a nightmare to create from start to finish- but to this day, I still see it on the shelves in various stores and its taken a long time- but I finally like it. If you begin to hate a project, remind yourself of the big picture and how each and every design will make a really amazing visual timeline in your career. They become part of your designer "growth chart".

Aunt Sonia

In the upcoming issue of Sparkle magazine for girls- this story is about a woman who loses hope until her niece, a cancer survivor, reminds her to "never give up".

I won I won I won!

The fabulous Mr. Baker chose my "Major" illustration as the winner for the Monday Art Day "chicken" challenge.

Thank you!

MONDAY ART DAY ROCKS!

Tuned up.

I keep singing the song "Play Me" by Neil Diamond when I look at this illustration. I was trying some different styles and techniques for a freelance job.

laughing in France.

I was so excited to find this in the mail today! Deborah Mori, Life Without Novacaine sent me a sample of her beautiful work. I am honored and thrilled- and plan on returning the favor! Thank you thank you thank you! Its amazing!

And it's no accident that I'm wearing my fabu new necklace from Blue Moss. I wear it everywhere!!! I love the Eiffel Tower charm- I recently traced my ancestors, turns out my affinity for all things french is deeply rooted in my genes. I discovered the most amazing family names and use them all as pen names!

What an incredible experience this has been for me- I'm new to the blog world, so connecting with all these talented artists has been so inspirational.

oh.my.dog... my new favorite blog.

I think that I am in love. Completely and utterly in love... with a blog named Blue Moss. She just posted some shoes and I am obsessed. Amazing taste this girl has (who am I? Yoda?). I MUST have these shoes. Oh the humanity! The horror! The drama!!! Its like a Lifetime Movie--- "The illustrator and her ridiculously expensive taste" starring Melissa Gilbert and Pierce Brosnan.

rough stuff

Conceptual sketch for a potential project.

Book Covers

I always thought that Book Covers and Wine Labels were my dream project. I spent 10 years in the coffee industry- check, retail packaging (but the cool stuff) - check, did a board game or two- check, but the ever elusive famous band CD covers, really swanky, big budget wine label, and David Sedaris-esque book cover eludes me... until now. An old friend (and my very first date) asked me to design a book cover for his collection of short stories. I was skeptical, but ended up falling in love with it. Please take a look at his website Michael J. Atwood. His words hit home for me- perhaps our strict Irish-catholic upbringing, or our love for all things outside Massachusetts (but still came home)... regardless, it's worth a read. He's just renamed the collection to "Funerals & Baptisms". I've found this design project to be extremely challenging, frustrating, exciting, and difficult- all at the same time. I think I'll veer towards wine labels now. lol. Which cover do you like best? any suggestions?

intelligence is knowing how much you don't know.

“When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”  -Mark Twain

I'm enthralled with the Danidraws blog. I could watch the demo's all day long. I had become so routine in my approach to illustration. I thought this was "my style". But after watching Dani, I'm trying new things and starting to get a real hand drawn feel to my digital art. This is my first attempt after watching one of her demos. Pears! Not the usual rigid dig. stuff- smooth and imperfect. Like me! lol. Happy Friday everyone.

Dark: Inspire Me Thursday

When I was little, I had a dream about a secret little hiding space in the wall of my room. They didn't have Dora Pop Tents back then, and I really wanted my own little place. This is a take on this weeks theme for Inspire Me Thursday- this week's theme being "dark."

Back then I was a nerdy little bookworm (definitely a Hufflepuff). The book on the floor would have either been Where The Sidewalk Ends, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, or The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (ok, ok, could've been Dear God, Its Me Margaret too.)

mini illustrations

I was asked to do a series of very specific illustrations for a girls magazine. Here is the full series. What a fun project this was!