"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.