Birds and More Birds

Here's another pattern that I was commissioned to create by Sublime Stitching, the contemporary embroidery company I mentioned in my last posting. This assignment might have been simple for most artists, but for some reason, it gave me a real run for the money. I find birds to be a challenging subject matter. They are so streamlined and uncomplicated in shapes, and yet I wrestle with them as if I were drawing the blueprint of a submarine. You can view and/or purchase this pattern "Songbirds" on Sublime Stitching's website here.

Because I tend to always overcomplicate things, I am a big fan of the illustrator Charley Harper. His knack of simplifying his subject matter and rendering it with graphic boldness and often sweet humor is brilliant. Check out these great images, courtesy of Audubon.org:

"Green Jay, 1956"

"Cardinal", 1960

"Red-eyed Vireo", 1959

"Eskimo Curlew", 1957

"Baltimore Oriole", 1959

"Water Turkey", 1958

I find it really amusing, as well as inspiring, to know that these simple designs and graphic clean lines came out of this chaotic studio...it makes me feel a whole lot better about my own messy studio!

Charley Harper

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Did you know that almost every country celebrates a version of this holiday in their own fashion, sometimes on another date? For instance, in Japan, the tradition is very ritualized and is all about the giving of chocolates, so much so that on this date chocolate companies make half their annual income. The Western customs of giving of candy, flowers and cards and are uncommon. But here's the part I find most interesting - only the women give chocolate to the men, and it's all about giving just the right amount of chocolate. There is good chocolate, and the not-so-good, and in offices, every man is presented with his appropriate type of chocolate. What a great way to tell that guy what you really think of him! Then the men are expected to return the favor in March, on White Day, the color of the reciprocal chocolate. They must return a gift two or three times as valuable as the one they received. (excellent idea) To ignore this custom is viewed as an act of superiority, and a gift of equal value indicates he is cutting the relationship. I must confess, I gathered this information from the Internet, and we all know how reliable THAT source is, so if this is outdated or incorrect, please let me know!

These illustrations were preliminary sketches for an assignment I received several years ago.

 I hope you find time to do an act of kindness today, we all need a little love in our lives.

Stare into my eyes

I just love the way dogs will study their owner's face to pick up clues as to what their big buddy is thinking. Like, is she going to give me a hug? A treat? Like, what's up? Is it dinnertime yet?

The Quick Brown Fox

I was sorting through sketchbooks and came across this page. I was beginning to work on a painting of a fox in a surreal landscape and I wasn't sure how I wanted to proceed. These sketches provided a starting point and a way to loosen up. Sometimes I just need to get my hand moving, and then my brain says,"Hey, wait for me!" and kicks into action.

Walking the dog

Today, while walking my dog, I lost my house keys. I got home and discovered this fact, and fortunately I was able to get into my house because I had forgotten to lock the back door. It didn't seem to be a good beginning for my day! I wondered if the key had fallen out of my pocket while I was pulling the plastic doggie "pick-up" bag out of my pocket. Every morning before our walk, I say to myself, "Don't put the key in the same pocket as the doggie bag, because your gonna lose it some day when you pull the bag out." I never listen to myself! For some perverse reason, I always stuff the bag and the key in the same pocket.

So I went back to the big open field, covered in fall leaves, and walked around. Within five minutes a sparkle caught my eye, and there lay my key! Amazing!

Just so you know, I was not wearing high heels and Suzi is not a Poodle, but it makes for a good beginning to this story!

Green grape catastrophe

Yesterday my dog Suzi-Q gave me such a scare! I came home to find her eager to see me, but she had vomited greenish puke all over the floor - and a single green grape lay underneath the coffee table. Yikes! Grapes are toxic, lethal, to dogs. On my way out the door previously, I had been carrying a bunch of grapes in my hand, and one (or more?) must have fallen to the floor where she found it and ate it in my absence.

She is fine today, but I think I may give up grapes (and chocolate) so I won't have any more accidents like this!

Bunny Skater

This talented bunny was part of a fabric design I illustrated for cozy flannel pajamas.

Peacock Trivia

A male Peacock is known as a Peacock. A female Peacock is known as a Peahen. A baby Peacock is known as a Peachick. A group of Peacocks is known as a party. So I guess this means when you want to celebrate, don't throw a party, throw a Peacock.

Just thought you should know these facts.

Birdie Love

I've noticed a lot of birds courting in my yard. Which means soon there will nests with baby birds and doting mamas, not with party hats on their heads, but worms in their beaks. It's spring - bring it on!

Illustration Friday - "Rescue"

It's been a while since I posted something for Illustration Friday, and when I saw the theme for this week, I thought of this image that I created for a fabric design. Will the Princess rescue the Prince from his froggie prison? Or will the Frog Prince rescue the Princess from her loneliness? We all need a rescue of some sort at some time or another!

Reindeer

I know that Christmas is past, but I came across this illustration and thought I would post it anyway. It was part of a series of sketches submitted for stationery consideration and while other sketches were chosen, this was not. At least, not for this particular project. I have a "thing" for reindeer. I think they are cute. ??!

Memory

I had something really profound to tell you today, and I forgot what it was. Unlike an elephant, who never forgets, I do forget a lot lately. Someone told me that as we age, we store a lot more memories in our brain, like an overloaded file cabinet. So when we go to retrieve that particular memory, we can't remember where we filed it! That makes sense! And it's profound, but that's not what I was going to tell you, maybe I'll remember tomorrow.

The Plaid Poodle

Here she is, the Plaid Poodle. I just love the idea of a plaid poodle, and I'm trying to decide what to do with her. In the meantime, she will be flaunting her fine purse until further notice.

Miss Fifi Poopoo

Announcing - Miss Fifi Poopoo

Dooley

As a child, our home was run by a sweet terrier named Dooley. This doodle reminds me of him.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY - Poised

Such poise for such a little kitty!

Show-Off

Know anyone like this? Four-legged or otherwise? Always needs to be the center of attention, the life of the party. But this is the secret of a good party, and a good life. Thank goodness for those extroverts!

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY - Heavy

Whiskey

Today is the anniversary of Whiskey's passing, so I thought I would
post a sketchbook page in his honor. He ran my life here on earth,
so I'm sure he has lined up his staff in the Afterlife. I miss you,
Whiskey dearest!

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY - Leap

Those sleepless nights when the sheep
not only leap over your bed, they
leap over your house.