My Entry into the 2014 Lilla Rogers Global Talent Search

{Entry for 2014 Global Talent Search, Digital Mixed Media}

{Portfolio Presentation of GTS Artwork, 2014, Digital Mixed Media}

I entered the Global Talent Search this year after being really excited about all the entires last year. Not to mention, my "Make Art That Sells" class had just finished (also put on by Lilla Rogers' Studio) I love Lilla's approach to making art. I entered her class with a little skepticism because I am ever the realist. Her way of approaching assignments was a game changer and really pushed me to the next level. I know that the style of work may never be the right fit for her studio, but I have really enjoyed using her prompts to push myself further and create things that are the best I can possibly make. She seems to be a genuinely positive person with a lot of great tips and ideas about trends. I'm not a trend chaser, but I think you need to have some awareness about what is selling at the moment. It's also been nice to feel a little validation about some of the trends and color stories I had noticed on my own. I like to think I "get out there" enough to see what is "in" for the moment. Anyways, the assignment was to make a piece of wall art with the theme of tiny terrariums. We were supposed to include at least one word. I didn't make the top 50 from round one, but there were 999 entries and the gallery is full of absolutely beautiful, inspired art. I made a piece that I feel is 100% me, and I put everything I had into it. For my portfolio, I plan to take the hand lettering out and just show the artwork, since I feel it has a very narrative quality. Here's to making the kind of art that makes you happy! 

Work in Progress

{Watercolor in Progress, 2012}

I've been taking a watercolor class on Tuesday afternoons and it has been really enjoyable. We still have several weeks left, which is good because I have only been working on this piece during the class time. If things settle down at my home studio I will plan on working on this more at home too. I plan to work up the foreground figure completely before I decide what to do to finish the background. I have a feeling I am going to need to tone down the three red poppies, but I won't know until I finish the figure. I've really enjoyed working on this piece so far!

Illustration Friday - Intention

{Sketch, 2012}

The intention of planting a seed is to help it grow! This is part of a personal project I'm working on, but I'm still not completely satisfied with the composition. I figured I would still share it for this week's IF theme. It fit so perfectly!

Illustration Friday - Prepare

{Watercolor, 2012}

Shortly after Christmas I started to get seed catalogs in the mail. In the winter, it's always nice to prepare for the gardening season. I am itching to get my hands dirty again! I'll probably plant tomatoes, peas, lettuce and radishes like always. I am considering planting a few soy beans too so that we can enjoy some edamame at home! Oh, and maybe some eggplants, onions and potatoes too! I also love to add a few new flowers to my beds every year too! My husband built raised beds for us a few years ago and we made some PVC frames that can either hold netting (to keep deer and company out!) or plastic for cold frames. I'm definitely going to be prepared for spring either way!

Illustration Friday - Perennial (Uncolored Version)

{Ink on Paper, 2011}

I did a drawing of flowering plants that are perennials here in Iowa. I have each of these plants in my own garden. Can you guess what plants they are? I will be posting a digitally colored version later this week, as well as identifying what plants they are. Aside from illustration, gardening is one my my most favorite activities and I especially like when illustration is inspired by gardening!

Pen Sketches

{Pen in Sketchbook, 2011}

{Pen in Sketchbook, 2011}

It has been weeks since my last post, which is an eternity for this blog. At the moment I am very close to finishing paintings for my first book and ready to start painting the second book. These are a few sketches I did about a month ago when spring still seemed like it would never arrive. Now, while I spend my days painting I am configuring in my head which vegetables I will plant soon and how I will arrange them in my garden. Crocuses and daffodils are pushing up and even weeds are a pleasant sight at this early stage of spring!

Mixed Media Meanderings

{First Page, Magazine Clippings, Prayer Card and Ink, 2011}

{Organized Rabbits, Decorative Paper and Marker, 2011}

{Organized Seed Packet Information, Marker and Ink, 2011}

{Garden Plan, Colored Pencil and Ink, 2011}

I bought a mixed media journal the other day so that I could get out some of the junk thats been floating around in my head. My book projects are very calculated and predictable, which isn't a problem but sometimes I like to sit down and create without knowing where something will go. I also like to make lists, organize things and record ideas for later. This Strathmore Mixed Media Visual Journal is satisfying that need. I get in a little time before I start my work day and a little before bed. Its also nice to finish something in one day. Most of the things I have going on in my professional life take several days so the sense of finishing a page is really fulfilling. I'm also really excited to start thinking about gardening again!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

{Watercolor, 2010}

How does your container garden grow? Mine grows with several succulents and tropical plants all in a row! This piece is also listed in my Etsy shop for $18 and you can get an extra 15% off if you use the coupon code CIBLOGSALE now through December 24th, 2010!

Illustrating My Name

{Black Prisma and Watercolor, 2010}

{Black Prisma and Watercolor, 2010}

These illustrations were created as examples for the current project I am teaching in my Introduction to Illustration Class at the Des Moines Art Center. Its a really fun project but it also makes you think outside the box and decide how abstract you can make your letters while still making the piece legible. The top piece is garden objects and the second is inspired by different animals (and a ladybug!) Its addicting to turn words into shapes... so beware if you decide to do this project. You may not get anything else done the rest of the day!

From My Garden

{Watercolor, 2010}

I planted my vegetable garden pretty late this year. Due to the heavy rains where I live in Iowa, I kind of lucked out because most people I know had a hard time with seeds washing away and too much water killing plants. As a result of my late planting, I am starting to pick my first tomatoes, even though most people in this zone (zone 4) would be almost done with them. When I went to pick my Speckled Roman tomato this morning it was so pretty I knew I would be drawing it. The color and shape of the Speckled Roman is just beautiful and it is supposed to taste similar to a Roma tomato since that is one of the species that were cross bred to create it. This was my first year growing the Speckled Roman. The other tomatoes are Yellow Pears and they taste like veggie-fruity-awesomeness. This was my second year growing Yellow Pears and each plant yields tons of fruit (I even grow organically and with no pest protection)! The air has cooled off here so I spent the afternoon drinking tea and painting this in my Moleskine watercolor sketchbook.

Summer Garland Sewing Project

{Garland Detail, 2010}

{Garland, 2010}

{Oliver smelling a flower, 2010}

I just finished a little sewing project that I started a week ago. I didn't sew it completely perfectly, but it is just as cute as I imagined it! I picked out fabric colors to compliment pink and green cushions that are on my front porch. I wanted something cheery to brighten up the space. The last picture is my sweet little kitty, Oliver. A few days ago he was exploring the gardens. A few seconds after I snapped this shot, he started chewing on that flower!

The Promise of Spring!

{Watercolor, 2010}

Last night I wandered around the front yard garden and sketched some of the flowers that are blooming. I also did some small drawings of the little comforts that we offer in order to attract birds (and by birds I also mean: squirrels, raccoons, feral cats and chipmunks.) I really love our yard, and this time of year it is hard to sit in my studio and work when all I want to do is dig in the dirt and monitor the progression and growth of my plants. I am especially in awe of God's great work during this time of year! Below are some pictures I took while I was outside last night.

{Adder's-Tongues, 2010}

These lovely little bulbs multiply like crazy. We live at the edge of a woodland and these grow in our lawn. You can imagine my delight when I discovered these during my first spring living in our home!

{English Daisies, 2010}

I planted these at the base of the birdbath and right in front of my studio window. They are so cute!

{Oliver and Moss, 2010)

Oliver loves to rub his paws on the moss that is growing on some rotting wood!

{Lichen on a Mulberry tree, 2010}

Ok, so this isn't exactly a flower, but its beautiful! It looks like some miniature coral!

{Bluebells, 2010}

I transplanted a few of these from the abundance in the woods behind the house. They are native to Iowa and do well in our shady back yard.

{Ferns, 2010}

The way ferns unfurl as they come out of the ground is so magical. I love having ferns in my yard.

First Lomography Photos

{Diana F+ Camera, 2009}
Click to see much larger!

L: My garden gate. R: Virgin Mary statue at a local greenhouse.

{Diana F+ Camera, 2009}
Click to see much larger!
L: Intentional double exposure with our old windows and Oliver in the lawn. R: Baseball in a mud puddle at the park across the street.

{Diana F+ Camera, 2009}
Click to see much larger!
L: Antique Ford Truck. R: American Flag.

{Diana F+ Camera, 2009}
Click to see much larger!
L: Sailboats on the beach. R: Lily pads in the marina.

These are photos from the first two rolls of film I shot using my Diana F+ Lomography camera. (Click on the word "Lomography" to learn more about it!) The first roll of film, which was black and white, was shot around my yard in Des Moines, Iowa. The second roll, which had color film was shot while I was in East Tawas, Michigan during the 4th of July holiday. I really like the double exposure picture that I did of Oliver. It happened because I was on my last picture of the roll and the light was so wonderful that I figured it couldn't hurt to try! Now I want to try some more double exposure pictures (maybe with the color film too!) I'll keep posting my efforts with my lomo camera as I learn more about it and get better at using it as a tool!

"Worn" Sketch and Garden Updates!

{Sketch on Illustration Board, 2009}

I hope to have this sketch finished later this week so I can submit it for Illustration Friday's theme of "worn". (as in, the kitty is all worn out from playing!) Its a scrap of illustration board that is about 3 inches on each side. I want to do it in oil, since I am back to painting that way.

{Oliver, 2009}

I've mentioned my cat, Oliver, several times on my blog. Here is a picture of him from a few days ago. I know I have also written about his "loaf" pose. Its like kitty yoga! Gosh darn, I just think he is the cutest thing.

{Garden, 2009}

Some close-up shots from my garden! The thing I am most excited about is the tomato plant! Look at those little tomatoes growing up! (they are the little yellow pear tomatoes that are similar in size to cherry tomatoes.) The rest are some of the flowers that have been attracting several butterflies. (and bees! can you spot the bee?) This morning they even lured a male ruby-throated hummingbird. I was so excited to see him. They flit around so quickly that I always stop what I am doing and just stand still, hoping it'll stay as long as possible!

Bloomin' Time

{Bloom Pillow, 2009}

Yesterday, after my parents had departed to head back to Michigan, I was really itching to make something. I was looking through some of my favorite craft books, and got inspired to make a mini pillow. I hand cut and sewed on the decorative flowers and the word "bloom". Then I grabbed my sewing machine and added some Amy Butler fabric to the back, and stuffed it. It matches the bedroom and adds a bit of a spring flair!

Click photo to view larger
{Snapshots from Memorial Day Weekend, 2009}

Here are some other pictures I shot this weekend. The dog is my parents' Boston Terrier (I named him Scout when they first got him ... I was still living at home.) Of course, there is a shot of Oliver. He was relaxing up in the attic while I was digging around for something. There are several pictures of some of the spring plants around the yard. The baseball was just laying in a mud puddle across the street in the park. I thought it was kind of cool. I'm sure its from one of the many games of fetch that seem to go on during all the nice weather with the neighborhood dogs! I hope everyone else out there had a magical long weekend too!

American Cancer Society: Relay for Life

I've posted the prints that I am donating to the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. I colored them with watercolors and prisma pencils. They will be for sale in Comstock Park, Michigan under the "Pat's Panthers" tent during the relay on June 13 and 14 of 2008. I really like the way they turned out and I hope they sell well.

On another note:
Here is some inspiration from my recent container gardening. Some Violas, English Daisies and other lovelies. My Peonies in the gardens are just starting to show some leafs, and hopefully soon, flowers too!
Today is the last day of April. I only missed posting 2 days this month. Not bad! But I must admit, it will be nice to go back to 2 or 3 times a week. For me, as an artist, it usually means a bit more quality...though less quantity!

Oh! and one more thing! Please visit my very good friend and maid of honor's new blog! She's a graphic designer in Grand Rapids, MI and I think her blog deserves a warm welcome...check it out at this link: Erin Waineo

Illustration Friday-Garden

I just recently took a part time freelance as a plush toy designer for Manley Toy Network here in Iowa. Last week was my first week, so I had to set up a lot of stuff and get organized. I just started a tiny orchid painting and an Easter painting, but I don't know if they will be done in time for this week's theme of Garden, so here are some older (and probably previously posted) items that surely fit!
Drawing and painting flowers is something that I do that is good for my soul. It's one of my favorite things to create images of. I hope you enjoy this collection of sketches.