HI Five about the illustrations:)

The other day I had all fingers and toes crossed that I sent the illustrations correctly to the graphic designer for a clients children's book. She rang me and told me they were lovely!!She'd been in the business since 1982 and may even have further work:) It's very difficult when working alone to gauge the direction and quality sometimes. Dear Family always tell u it's great but that doesn't mean it makes it in the professional world. This color version is for my own portfolio.

Love this book....

For all inspiring artist and illustrators...anyone infact. I've always been a big fan of the sketchbook because it truly is where it all starts. The everyday meanderings are put down on paper :)
Titled "The Illustrated Life" by Danny Gregory.

Show 50 artist/illustrators and designers private sketchbooks. FAbulous ..$19.99

brooding beauty: 9 things for artists from NeoCon 2009

brooding beauty: 9 things for artists from NeoCon 2009

My youngest a few yrs ago

Couldn't resist including this image.One of the worst side tracking things I can do is to look through my art...photo's then ...the kids photo's creep in .Then u realise all the different events you've recorded over the last few years with these amazing little human beings:)

Finish & Sent:)

O.k I finished the 50 ( in B& W only) illustrations. Phew. It's in the Mail to the client's graphic designer. I'm all fingers crossed that I saved all images at the right dpi, file sixe etc and they are going to come out o.k. Hoping the graphic designer doesn't think ...WHAT?!!

This is always difficult when u start new venture/self -taught and u realise is the the correct "procedure"?? Sure could 've made things easier for myself at the beginning. Many of the illustrations were first drawn too large for my scanner. Sure I photographed them and downloaded them. Though when it came time edit...white space and getting the right contrast became tricky.

O.k we are going to find out in next couple of days....:)

Always Ideas going on..

I started this idea a while ago about self publishing a small book on my efforts as an artist between being a Mama to 4 kidlets. Almost impossible!

I really early on in my "career" as a Mama had difficulty realising that the time I had, had to be channelled towards the children and not my own arty passion. Visions of being an fine art oil painter or one of a kind precious jeweller had to take a back seat for now. So the children's world opened up to me with the amazing talents of children's illustrators...could I do that? I ended up trying with the first book " The Dragon's Gift." written by Tom Allen.

So where am I now...developing more illustrations for another self -publisher. We'll see.

But yes I miss jewellery & enamelling.It's not to say I can't do it now. But finances & time are the culprits. ( may'be I don't manage my time efficiently...quite honestly do I need to be perfect?..I can't. :)

Funny I haven't looked at this cover Idea for a while ..and I want to change things!

Light at the end of the tunnel!!

Seriously ...getting to the end and the energy revs up for the last 7-8 illustrations to go:):)

There was 50 in total!!!!

All had to be b& w though.

Couldn't resist this version for myself.