Fishin’

This was a summer themed cover illo for the Mid-Atlantic SCBWI summer edition newsletter. The final piece has a masthead and text superimposed over the center part of the composition (thus the space in the composition). I will post the image with text from the final newsletter as soon as it is published.

Storm approaching

I recently finished this spot illustration for the SCBWI newsletter. It is for an article on Point of View in writing and how the POV the character has should be reflected in the choice of descriptive words. All this, of course, is greek to most folks, but to illustrate this, I chose an image of a character, in this case, a WWII era child viewing an approaching bomber. The idea was partially fueled by a story my seventh grade english teacher, Mrs. Patrick, told my class years ago. She was a young girl in the UK during those war years and remembered the terror she felt when she saw the German Luftwaffe planes. All these years later, it came in handy. Thanks, Mrs. Patrick, wherever you are!

Sirena

one ring to bind them…

loverly…betrothal ring designs for a couple of neat people I am fortunate enough to know.

ten things…a quick list

I admit taking my cue for this from my fav illustration blogger, Penelope.

So here’s my list of ten things to be happy about right now…(how’s that for being positive?).

1. long walks in the warmer weather
2. my sketchbook
3. a new wacom tablet
4. completing projects that have been hanging over my head for months
5. seeing the first robin (come on Spring!)
6. my warm, fuzzy cat curled up purring on the footstool
7. cinnamon oatmeal and watching the Upside Down Show with my son in the morning (it’s hilarious even if it is a kid show)
8. Kimya Dawson’s music and the entire Juno soundtrack
9. red zinger tea
10. spiritual growth (developing a closer relationship with God)

The weather has been completely nutty here and my allergies are kickin’ in. It makes being positive a struggle when you are coughing and struggling to breathe (not something one should take for granted). I did notice the first robin of the warm season yesterday afternoon and had to take a very happy mental note as he marks the beginning of the season I love best and the ending to a very long, dark winter during which I was deathly ill.

Getting dangerously close to one’s own mortality can be a life-changing and humbling event. Trust me. So here I am, alive and enjoying what I have right now. That’s not an easy thing to do.

Cheers to all of you!

TT

Artrage experiment

Just my first cut at using the software Artrage to digitally “paint” one of my drawings. I kinda like it. It was hard adjusting to the radically different interface (I’m used to Photoshop…love CS3!) but hey, it had some features that I couldn’t get in the beloved CS3.
This was a drawing I did on the fly, from memory…thinking of Ellen Page as Juno….just a fun sketch to kill time.

So, there it is…and man, is it late at night, almost 1 a.m. and I’m wide awake scribbling on my little tablet in front of the tele (Food Network…what else is on?) So pathetic. I have to get to bed…peace out!

Originally uploaded by NewLeafCreativeWorks

IF Topic: Tales and Legends

Eliza Dolittle is a character that has always fascinated me. I read the play, Pygmalion (George Bernard Shaw) in middle school and it was years until I saw Audrey Hepburn (one of my favs) play Eliza in the musical, My Fair Lady. I love the undercurrent idea in the story of Pygmalion that happiness isn’t a byproduct of wealth or social status. Eliza ultimately chooses her own happiness, regardless of the desires of the people who try to mold her to their ideals.

Admittedly, I am also fascinated by the romantic vision of Edwardian England and I love a good love story!

Later, much!
TT

It’s been a while…

I’ve been temporarily removed from doing a lot of creative work (or work of any type) by a serious illness. No worries, though, I’m on my way to recovery and the needed rest has really recharged my creative batteries, no matter how much of a bummer the route to the rest was.I was hanging out around the house yesterday and I spotted these great cards that came from Aunt M for me, T and the kids, three of the same kind which gave me enough raw materials to make this little collage. I have been entertaining the idea of creating quilt patterns and this may be a beginning. It would be perfect for an appliqu√© quilt. Ironically, M and her sis, my M.I.L., Judi are both avid and awesome quilters. I may expand on this in sketches and patterns.

So it is good to be back at posting. I wish all of you the best in 2008. Stay tuned for more…

Kipling’s Princess

Perhaps this might be Mowgli’s love interest in the Jungle Book. I do so love Kipling and read all of his stories as a young child. I remember feeling the terror inspired by Shere Khan, the tiger nemesis of all the jungle. I do love a good story and Mr. Kipling had a way with words.

Little Match Girl and Goldilocks

I’m currently inspired to create illustrations based on all my favorite childhood fairy tales. These are a few of the ideas I’ve been toying with . I have more! Hansel and Gretel will be posted in a bit and there’s some sort of Indian Princess that I guess is a nod toward my love of Kipling.