IF: Clandestine: Between Friends

They gave each other the look. This is a secret between us.

IF: Voices

I am beautiful no matter what you say. Words can't bring me down. I will listen to my own voice.

IF: Similar

The girls were enjoying their parade in the rain with their pink umbrella's.

IF:Balloon

Don't you hate it when you purchase balloons and they fly away to freedom!

IF: Opinion

10 ways to a better Life by Kent M. Keith

1. People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered

Love them anyway.

2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.

Do good anyway.

3. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies

Succeed anyway

4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.

Be honest and frank anyway.

6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.

Think big anyway

7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs

Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.

Build anyway.

9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.

Help people anyway.

10. Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.

Give the world the best you have anyway.

This list hangs on my office wall at work. It is a good source for inspiration after you have been curse out by a parent. I try my best to be polite and get them to calm down. I often have to explain to them that the rules I have to follow are not mine but the school district or state.

IF: Pretend

Pretending I am a tree. It is Autumn my favorite time of the year. Inspiration from Jocko B.

My Vote

I thought I would commemorate this years election with a little painting. I used my privilege to vote as I do every year since I'ved been able to. When I was 17 years old I remember wishing that I could vote because there was a candidate that I really did not want to be president. I am proud of my 2 oldest daughters who are of voting age. They voted. I've taught them that there is no excuse not to vote no matter who is running. Too many of our ancestors never had that right.

IF: Vacant

She made her mind completely vacant as he talked to her.

My submission for Illustration Friday. Sometimes when you really don't want to argue it helps if you can go to that vacant place in your mind. However teenage children go there often when dealing with parents.

IF: Repair

It's time to repair this broken heart. Lately the current financial crisis that America has been facing has been on my mind. So many hearts are breaking. Regardless of who is at fault my heart aches for every homeowner who may lose their home or any Wall Street Trader who may lose their job. Another crack appears every time that another company CEO who has sold his heart to greed appears on T.V. America is in need of repair and it will take every American to pull together to fix it. No one person can do it alone.

IF: Late

She thought to herself angrily "He's keeping me waiting!"

IF: Sugary

Sugary means sweet. I think this is a sweet little winged angel.

IF: Packed with flies

Here's my entry for Illustration Friday. This frog is packed with flies. The ink drawing is not my own original idea. I like to practice my line work by attempting to copy the works of famous artist. This illustration is by Robert Lawson 1892-1957. To learn more about this artist visit www.bpib.com/illustrat/lawson.htm Click on the illo for a closer look. Don't be too harsh on me remember I said "attempted."

IF: Clique

As Antoinette walked by she could hear their whispers. She thought to herself, I am no longer in. It seems so strange not to be part of them anymore. I wonder if their is anyone out there who will accept me for who I am inside. inspiration from http://www.flickr.com/photos/fordesign/269667833/

IF: Island

As she sat by the edge of the island her mind and body was being swept away with the sea.

Mom, You are Weird!

My husband brought home this really neat projector that disassembles so that you can store it in a bag. I was so excited to finally have my own projector. When I do art projects for the church we attend I usually have to have my husband bring one home from the congregation. I just had to show it to my daughters. My 14 year old daughter looked at me and said, "Mom you are weird. Most moms want new shoes or Coach purses and you want a projecter. I wasn't offended because I hear this all the time. My birthday request are different too, a book, new tool, or something like that. I always tell them if you ask me what I want then I always make request for something I can really use or need thats just the way I am. For Mothers Day I had my husband buy me a French Door my friends thought that was really weird.

IF:Cluttered with Numbers

This is the scrap paper I had use to help my daughter with her math homework. The book I was reading at that time was a financial book with this face. My head was cluttered with numbers.

My Hand Painted "FAUX" Hardwood Cement Floors

This is one of my projects that I finished over the summer break. I really would like to have hardwood floors but that is currently not in my budget since my husband and I are trying to become debt-free (Dave Ramsey fan). I couldn't stand the old tile that was on the floor anymore so I pulled it up and painted my cement floor to look like wood. I think I did a great job. One day I will have the cash to do the real thing but for now I am happy. NO MORE UGLY TILE.

IF:Memories: "Converse"ing with my skateboard

When I think about the things I tried when I was young I get chills. There is no way that I would go down a big hill today on a skateboard. I still have a scar on my arm to show my children that I was a daredevil in my youth. When we were on skateboards there was no such thing as wearing elbow and knee pads, or even a helmet. When it came to fashion you knew you were in style if your parents could afford to buy a pair of converse sneakers. I've really admire the new boot pair of converse sneakers, I don't know if I'm cool enough to pull off wearing them, so for now I just admire them.Inspiration from Pink Sherbert.

IF: Routine

Every morning her routine was to go to the window and soak in the sun.

IF: Detach

She felt alone and detached from everyone. Did you ever feel like this during your school years?

IF: Sail

Her only wished is to sail away with the birds.

IF:POOF: Hey where did it go?

I had fun drawing this picture. It help me to focus on keeping the children in the right proportion.

IF: Enough

You've had enough!

I drew this illustration and colored it on my computer. I think it turned out okay. I've been teaching myself how to use program.

IF:Foggy

As the fog began to creep into the forest, she used the last of her powers to form a light.

IF: Fierce Green Eyes

She looked at him with those green eyes which were so fierce.

IF: Hoarding: The Sunday Newspaper

Does anyone still read the Sunday paper?

IF: Punchline

The only true thing that I can see in my 4 daughters that is just like me is they all love to read books.

Book Challenge #19

This is the cover of a book I was reading called A Man Of Feeling by Javier Marias. I loved the picture so I attempted to draw it while I was at work. (I was bored) I had some watercolor pencils with me and I used Qtips to activate the watercolor. Little did I know that this is a famous painting by Edward Hopper.

IF: Forgotten: How did she get me here?

In this illustration the man has forgotten how she got him to this point. He thinks he making a big mistake, but the woman on the other hand is saying I got you now. Too bad marriage isn't forever like in our vows. I have been married for 25 years, longer than my own parents were married. My stepmother is only 9 years older than me.

IMT: Orange and Purple

I call this "Deep in my thoughts"

IF: Baby

The young African mother found an opportunity to flee. She wrapped her baby and fled into the night...,

I am not really good at drawing children or babies. I think this picture turn out well enough to submit

IF:Worry

I try not to worry but pray. Although sometimes my concerns turn to worry. The end of this school year has caused me to go from the concern to worry mode. The CRCT test results for 2 of my children will determine if they get to move to the next grade. Even if they pass their classes for the year, one test will determine if they get to advance.

IF: "Wide" Open: Feeling Exposed

This painting was to express a feeling of being exposed. The space is wide open and empty. The young woman is trying to cover up what she can. She is alone with her shadow-self.

IF: Electricity: In A Kiss

The strong current of love! I know that's a little corny.LOL!

IF: Seed

I thought this drawing was appropriate for theme this week. I had fun drawing it.

IF: Wrinkles: He Still Thinks He's A Ladies Man

Have you met this man? Although he has wrinkles he still thinks he can get any woman he wants. Dressed in his best to impress.(I attempted teeth in this drawing.)

IF: Primitive: Slavery

This is originally entitled "Hiding from Slavery." There are so many things I would like to say about this drawing and what it evokes in me but I do not have the words to express my thoughts.

Emotional Slump

I was in an emotional slump this week. I was actually failing until I watched the free version of iTunes True Life on my ipod touch. At the end of this episode they showed a soldier recovering from severe injures from Iraq. He lost both of his legs and an arm. His words touched me "Don't take things for granted, things could be a lot worse." It really makes you think.

Well my illustration is of a little ballerina who didn't get the part she wanted and is very sad sitting by the window

IF: Save: Feed the Pig

Do you remember having a piggy bank when you were little? Somehow as Americans we have gotten away from saving money. We have a -1% savings rate. We don't think about when a rainy day comes, we think we can put it on our credit cards. Credit cards are not saved money. I drew this FEED THE PIG from a website (www.feedthepig.org). It is to encourage people to save. When I think of save it reminds me to make a wise choice with the rebate we will receive in May. What will your choice be?

If: Homage to First Love

Do you remember your first love? I do. This is my homage to it.

IF:Pet Peeve: Throwing trash out the car window!

When I was growing up there was this commercial ad about "Keeping America Beautiful." They depicted a family on vacation and they were throwing trash out their car window. Standing by the roadside was a Native American the trash landed at his feet. He turned around and had a tear running down his face. I don't know if that would be PC these days but that commercial has been my moral compass. It really bothers me to see people dump trash out of their car window. Recently we were at the drive-thru window at Taco Bell. The people in front of me were throwing their trash out the window onto the driveway. The first time they threw something out I was enraged, then they threw out more stuff while they where waiting to get their food. I couldn't take it any more so I rolled down my window and told them to stop littering. My children think I'm crazy but I just couldn't take it anymore.

More Time

I wish that I had more time to paint and draw. I can totally forget about having time to think about gardening and quilting. How do you manage to fit it all in. Having time for husband and children. My love for reading. I miss being a stay-at-home mom, but I have the best part time job that I could ever wish for. I work for the school district, so I am out when my children are. I guess I should just be thankful for the things I do get to do.

IF: Looking Into The Garden

"She was confined to only look into the garden but never enter"

I was really please with the way this painting came out. My husband keeps asking me what am I going to do with all of the things I've been drawing and painting? I really don't know. I just feel like being creative has been bottle up in me for so long I'm just happy to let some of it out.

Leap

IF:Leap

The theme for IF and IMT were the same so I couldn't decide where to post each picture, so I posted them together. I hope you like at least one of them.

Inspire Me Thursday:Leap This is the smallest painting I ever attempted. It measures 3x5.

Love in Action

This picture was one that I did not like, so I stuck it on a shelf. The challenge of Action painting gave me an outlet to dap but all over her face and hair. I also added some text of what love in action is. The original drawing.