IF:Double

Here's a little sketchbook drawing that I made for this week's Illustration Friday theme: double.  This image is my memory of a set of twins that I thought I saw at the gym one day.  Not only were they sporting spectacular matching yellow running shorts, mustaches, sweatbands and fluffy hairdos, but they were also running in perfect unison.  Those big wall mirrors can be really tricky!

Morning Moments

Things have been crazy around here lately.  I've been getting up early in the morning–earlier than I have to–so that I can enjoy a bit of quiet time to myself each day.  This simple practice gives me an overwhelming sense of peace.  It also gives me a chance to look around and just notice.  I don't know about you, but I really need my daily noticing time.  I feel like this is a good thing for me to keep in mind as motherhood approaches--only four more months to go until we meet this kicking little boy:)  

This picture is a little bit of color and textural magic that I noticed last Tuesday morning while I was taking the trash out to the curb.  For the record, this photo is a reenactment taken a few minutes after the original moment.  

IF: Breakfast

A super quick, early morning, last minute sketchbook drawing for this week's Illustration Friday theme, "breakfast."  The caption reads, "She was known far and wide for her insatiable appetite."  I had planned on a more abundant breakfast table, but I've got to get to work, and I think the double entendre works well enough with a sparser spread;)

A Teeny Tiny Piece in Progress

I'm teaching all week so studio time has been limited.  Hence my snail-like progress.

New Sketchbook Page

The caption reads, "The ghost was always borrowing her favorite dresses without asking."  This story fragment popped into my head one night last week when I was having trouble sleeping.  Whenever I go through a little bout of sleeplessness, I use those extra waking hours to think up entertaining little things like this.  It keeps me from tossing and turning and getting frustrated.  Click on the image for a better peek at the whole thing.  And here's a closer look at our protagonist's (perhaps too subtle) expression of quietly resigned irritation:

Just for good measure:)

Someone I love to pieces is having breast cancer surgery today.  We're very, very lucky because the tumor was caught early and is a highly treatable type.  She should be OK after the surgery, six weeks of radiation, and then some years of medication.  I made her this lumpectomy picture to take with her to the hospital.  A few last words to those cancer cells.  Well, a sort of cleaned-up version.

IF: Diary

I found a little sketchbook that I made many moons ago.  It's the perfect size for some Illustration Friday drawings:)  I've been on an inspiration overload lately and I need to be contained.  I think that limiting my IF submissions to one small book will help.

I love Cathy Cullis' Sketchbook Sunday posts, like this one, this one and this one.

I redesigned my blog this morning to give things a little more breathing space.  I'm thinking about a new header too.  I've created a new header as well.

Oh, and let me know if you're finding any annoying quirks as a result of my redesign;)

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I'm playing with English (language) idioms in my newest body of tiny works.

Can you guess the idiom?

In other news I've fallen hopelessly in love with a pair of moccasins.  There's an article in the latest (utterly scrumptious) issue of Uppercase Magazine about Katie Kukulka's Darlingtonia Moccasin Company, and about her nifty, old-timey construction process.  In two months I'll have enough "fun budget" saved up to get myself those green and purple "Tiger Lilies."  I'll be seven months pregnant by then, and may  not be able to see them once they're actually on my feet.  But I'll know that they're there just the same;)

IF:Giant

I just returned from my vacation in time to submit a little something to this week's illustration friday theme: giant.  This is an old, old painting, but I like thinking about it in relation to this particular word.  For one thing, it's relatively huge for a watercolor and gouache painting--about 46" x 29."  And then there's the content....but I'll let you interpret that for yourself;)  

In contrast to the weekly IF theme and the monster scale of some of my older paintings, I'm into making tiny things these days.  This piece is the first in a series slated for the Teeny Tiny Art Show coming up at Three Graces Gallery.

 Oh, and this is where I've been for the past week.  It's a tough life, I know.