Simplicity : Sketchbook #3

I haven't done a illustration like this in a long time. I love black and white illustration with just a few colors. At first I thought that I was just afraid of color, but now I know that it is the simplicity that appeals to me. Below I posted some of my old drawings. Inspiration photo by Claudia Ferrari

august 2009

September 2009

Finally Completed Sketchbook One

Finished Sketchbook

2008 Drawing

When I took the 2007 pledge to myself to start drawing again I picked up a sketchbook I purchased in 2006. I started drawing in it and thought the drawings were ugly. I wanted my sketchbook to look like those I saw on other artist blogs. So I stopped drawing in it and would only draw on loose paper because if I made a mistake I could throw it away. I gave the sketchbook to my daughter Zoe, who likes to draw also. Years later I found it in her room and it was the same as I gave it to her so I picked it back up again. Today I can say that it is finished. To see my first drawing click here Fairy. These are my final drawings.

2015 Drawing

2015 Drawing

Final Page

CED: Past, Present, Future

Still working through my first sketchbook. I went  back and added some pages to cover really ugly drawings but they are still visible if you flip the page. The first is an attempt at a fairy in 2006.

 I would like to think that my drawing has vastly improved. This is a quick fairy I drew today to cover up the ugly one. The last sleeping fairy is one I submitted to CED in 2011.

 And I did another what do you see drawing. At first I saw nothing, I rotated the page. I added in some extra color. Then I was able to see the birds in the trees.

If there is any lesson that I can pass on to anyone about past present and future. It would be: what ever you are facing in your life, LIVE for today, the past can't be undone, and who knows what the future may bring.

Finished Sketchbook #4

Here are a few of the last sketches I did so I can start on my new ones. I still have other sketchbooks that aren't complete, but they are specific themes. Hopefully I will come back later and add color

CED: New Designer that I fav

I recently came across a designer that is new to me. I love her clothes. Her designs are also sold in my new favorite store Anthropolgie. Her name is Orla Kiely. I decided to do a few illustrations of her clothing. The hemlines would have to be lower though:)

CED- New Froggy Photos

As my inspiration I did something new. I turned my husband and I into frogs. This illustration is from a photo of us on vacation in Cololnial Williamsburg,  Virginia.
This was a mommy vacation. My children didn't want to admit that it was fun. We stayed for a whole week. I had fun turning us into frogs. Although the husband froggy looks like he's being dragged along, my husband was actually smiling.
 I thought about adding more color but I think the frogs stand out better.

Face 6 - Gentle



March gently with the shadows, yet breath the wind.



I have a poetry board in my office at school which I allow children to create while their waiting. There is one student who loves the board. This is her short poem.

One Down time for a New One

So I have completed my little moleskin and now it is time for a new one. I purchased the hardcover watercolor moleskin this time because I love the weight of the paper. I also thought that I would try to add color, but I'm so afraid of adding color to my original drawings in my sketchbooks. I usually make a copy on my printer then add color. Lets hope I can get over my fear.

My goal is to post each picture. Hopefully I can be faithful to my new challenge.

IF: Asleep

Does he know he's sleeping on flowered sheets?

So it's been a while since I submitted anything to Illustration Friday. This quick drawing was made on flowered paper.

Finally - A few Sketches

 I'm finally posting sketches from my sketch book. I can't seem to get back in the grove of my art.
My multi-hat wearing is keeping me from being inspired. I purchase 2 magazines "Where Women Create" and "Artful Blogging to get me jump-started.

IF: Spooky

Hazel the witch tried to be spooky, but it was not within her to be so.

Not that spooky, but I think it fits the theme.

IF: Old Fashioned

She wanted to break things off so she wrote him a letter.

Letter writing has become very old fashioned with the invention of technology email and texting. I used to loved getting a hand written letter from family members and friends. If email had been around 25 years ago I would not have cherished letters from my mother one year before she passed away unexpectedly. I can't remember the last time I received a hand written letter.Do you? (I'm not talking about the generic family letters you get at Christmas either).

IF: Hatch

"These are mine" just keeping them warm until they hatch.

I've skipped the last couple of weeks of Illustration Friday and I really wanted to post something this week. I am not a sinister person but all I could think of was eggs hatching and I wanted to do something funny. My husband said that a cat keeping eggs warm was unrealistic. Well I hope everyone gets it. I have a cat named Sage. If you are a bird lover it's just for fun.

New Drawing

This is my current drawing. I'm still adding ink to it. I was hoping to draw something in the background but I'm not sure what it will be. I would like to add more detail in my drawings. Although the coat seems simple I've spent an hour or so filling it in already. It is not quite what I wanted but I am please with it. See inspirational photo www.flickr.com/photos/diletta81/3229199533/

IF: Music - Can you feel it!

Upon seeing the topic for Illustration Friday I had to submit a picture with my headphones or earbuds. Whenever I listen to my music I feel as though it is moving thru me. In my drawing the hair says can you feel it.

IF: Unbalance

You could tell by the look in his eyes that he was becoming unbalanced.

IF:BLUR

My mind is in a complete blur....

IF: Pattern

This is one of my favorite patterns to draw on a coat. I also like the pattern in the scarf.

IF: Infinite

"The Infinite Rockstar" you can tell by his swagger that he has no limits.

IF: Caution

Baby it's cold outside. It is currently the opposite of cold here in Georgia, but I liked using the thought as a caution.