Petey's Mamma

Pulling out the tablet for some other work, it invites doodling. No crumpled up or wasted paper, just ideas and play. I should do this more often.

"Forward" Illustration Friday Jan. 27, 2012

Inspired by the Illustration Friday word: "forward"

Thoroughly energized by the SCBWI conference in NY this past weekend. Still catching up on sleep, digesting everything.

Now, forward!

"Grounded" Illustration Friday January 6, 2012

Inspired by the Illustration Friday word "grounded"

As one of four noisy, energetic and - above all - inquisitive children (I'll admit the word "hooligan" has been used to describe one or more of us at times with some accuracy) one of the things I longed for most was somewhere I would not be disturbed.

In the summer, even a call of nature did not necessarily mean a period of solitude, as the outhouses up in the country were two-seaters, and "take your sister with you" was a phrase we all had to live with - and learned to sidestep with some skill as we got older.

I used to watch squirrels and groundhogs with some envy - to my eye, they could just wander off, dig for a while, and voila - a new house. All the peace and quiet they could want.

These days I've learned to enjoy, even gather the noise around me. Solitude comes of its own accord.

"Highlight" Illustration Friday December 31, 2011

Inspired by the Illustration Friday word: "Highlight"

Mulled over this word choice all week, in between various holiday gatherings, tidyings and while working on my portfolio, getting ready for the SCBWI conferece in NYC late January (anyone else going?)

Although the highlight of the holidays was the wonderful, noisy tribe of kids tromping through the house, drawing that while my mind was on other work did not develop.

And then I noticed - the toes, leaves, branches and shoebuckles in this image, all highlighted in the moonlight. I rarely post an image not created specifically for the I.F. challenge, but I think this one took shape influenced by the challenge, eve if I was unaware of it until just now.

Happy New Year, everyone.

I.F. Dec.23 2011 "Messenger"

Inspired by the Illustration Friday challenge word: "Messenger"

In this busy season I had plenty of time to consider this word and its associations while driving across the city, buried to my elbows in cookie dough and surrounded by children enjoying themselves at the top of their lungs.

Messenger and message. We receive them together, and somehow have to untangle our responses to one from the other. Easier said than done, at times.

"Separation" Illustration Friday Dec. 9, 2011

Inspired by the quote: "A composer knows that music is written by human beings for human beings and that music is a continuation of life, not something separated from it". - Hanns Eisler

"Brigade" Illustration Friday Challenge Dec. 2/2011

Inspired by the Illustration Friday word: Brigade

I enjoy working in response to a quote. This week I found:

"Some of us are like a shovel brigade that follow a parade down Main Street cleaning up". - Donald T. Regan

There was no getting around it: elephants were going to feature in this image.