Illustration Friday-Sight

Here's a sight you don't see too often~little girl meditates on balloon.

Done in gouache.

Illustration Friday~Hitched

I'm re-posting this art from 2010. I never used it for an Illustration Friday. It just seemed the perfect piece for Hitched. I thought the reindeer needed a Christmas break~

The Santa and Reindeer image was done for a sweat shirt/tee shirt design that I did one season for members of my large Italian family, mainly the kids. We have this get together every Christmas Eve, over 25 relatives usually show. We've been doing this since 1983. I was working for a transfer design company at the time, so I put this image together and got a good price on a bunch of transfers. Then a flattering, but not so funny thing happened. One of the other employees, who worked in the screen printing room, actually tried to steal my design. Apparently he had a little side business of his own. Luckily one of the other guys caught him and grabbed up all the extra transfers and gave them to me. Let’s hear it for the good guys! Long story short, he didn't last too much longer there!

Illustration Friday~Jump

Today I was cleaning this piece up a bit in Photoshop to put on my website, when it occurred to me that this would be a good choice for the IF word of the week "jump." Happy little fairy folk jumping and bouncing about!

Illustration Friday~Puzzled

The King

I always have such a great time at art festivals. It can be a lot of work though, especially if it's an outdoor event. My booth is promoted mainly to kids, although I do sell other whimsical work that appeal to adults. The best part is talking to the kids and hearing their excitement as they tell me about what they like to do, whether it's artwork or a hobby. There's such a freshness that kids bring to the joy of creating, and you can see the pride in their eyes when they talk about it.

Sleeping Lady

This piece is called "The King" I buy these puzzles at craft stores. It's a coated finish and the ink of the Prismacolor makers don't absorb, which makes it fun to just swirl the ink around until it dries. There's also a bit of a bubbly look about the piece that I like.

With summer on the way it's time to start gearing up and doing a couple of these events. If you've never participated in one, you should give it a go!

To all my blogging friends~ Have the best day!!!




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Breezy

This picture was done in one of my illustration classes years ago :)

I always liked the feel of this piece. My neighbor Breanne was my model.

Illustration Friday~Swamp

A distant cousin to the Western Swamp Turtle;

the Australian Swamp Creature also carries his home with him. 

Illustration Friday~Intention

In the beginning I struggled with this piece. The fear of the "white paper" had me in its grips. I wanted to create something really good; this was going to be my submission to the 2nd annual May Show at the community college. I knew I wanted it to be something that was true to who I am. A few roughs, and it still wasn't coming. I let myself go--I stopped thinking of it as a competitive piece. I just wanted something that I could be proud of. I let myself get into that frame of mind where it's all about the "feel," where your hands move effortlessly and your brain goes into a meditative state. And then a song starts playing in my mind, Imagine, by John Lennon. He is one of my favorites. One of the few that I shed tears over at his death. It was so senseless. I wonder how many other beautiful songs he would have sung if only...

This piece is called: "Thoughts of John" It's pen and ink, with a watercolor wash in the background; reminiscent of the psychedelic era of the 60's. What I found interesting, was at some point as I was creating this piece, I turned on the radio and guess what song was playing--yep, "Imagine"

How's this for a lovely Intention....

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace

~John Lennon


PS-It was not accepted in the May Show.

Illustration Friday~Capable

My capabilities are limited today. I'm in need of a break, just like the little caveman in the picture.

This is one I did many moons ago. Today it's the best I can do for capable...or the lack of it.

The New Family Members

Mitzy-Mink and Milo

The newest members of the family. Both are from Shelters. Milo is an 18 week old kitten--I forgot the energy kittens have. Mink is about a year and she's been in a couple of foster homes. She was a stray. Not anymore. We are totally in love with these two :)

Mitzy-Mink

Illustration Friday~Fluid

            Fluid Adjective:

         1.Able to flow easily

2. Constantly changing or apt to change

3.Smooth in shape or movement

This illustration has always had a very fluid feel to me. I scanned this in many pieces, so this is a quick version. I plan to clean it up more and play with some color in Photoshop. I've had this in my studio for some time now, and every now and then I just pick away at it. It's kind of a meditative thing. There's another section to it that's not complete. Once I get it to where I like it I will probably put it on my website that I am currently working on.

Illustration Friday~Popularity

The competition was on...
Who would be the biggest crowd-pleaser?

Illustration Friday~Forward (the journey continues)

Swiftly moving forward, Jonathan and Cornelius hoped, that even if the guests had gone, maybe there would be some yummy leftovers? Although grateful they were no longer grounded, both cringed at just how much the intergalactic space tow had set them back!

Illustration Friday~Twirl

Arthur rendered in Photoshop

This is Arthur. Arthur and I have been together since 1989. That's when the light bulb went off, that's when I had the idea of becoming a children's illustrator. And since then both of us have had a twirlly-whirlly ride. As for me I've been up, down, and all around with this long held dream. Arthur has also had a good spin of it. He's been set on art tables, longingly stared out of windows, and found himself stuffed into closets. I think he may have even come to classes with me a couple of times. His one hand is glued on since somewhere along the way he got himself injured. His base has also seen better days. I have to admit, I know how he feels. I too have had my share of ups and downs. Some days I question--why do I stay on this road? Freelance?... Really? ...Full-time? You gotta be kidding! And yet, I just can't seem to stop. It's a part of me. It's the part of me that I am so familiar with. From Crayola to Prism Color it never seemed to be a choice. With all the pieces and parts of my life: marriage, children, people entering, people leaving, jobs, jobs and, more jobs! This is the part of me that I've grown up with. So I continue on...I dream, I hope, I pray--and I keep moving forward; some days, only inch by inch. Lately though, I feel a shift, a new found determination. I think it's rather ironic that when the economy is so down and so many of us are struggling; I'm feeling so optimistic...I hope it's contagious! I hope 2012 is a revving up year, full of new starts for all of us!

As for Arthur... he seems happy to be back in the loop--Twirling :)

Arthur with a mini Van Gogh that Annie drew.

I probably have had this saying for 20 years.

From Matt's favorite game
"Skyrim"

Annie and Matt have been drawing a lot lately too.

Illustration Friday~Grounded

Johnathan and Cornelius were more than a little disappointed that they were grounded midway to their annual family reunion. Johnathan made a mental note to avoid wormhole 356 the next time out!

Illustration Friday-Highlight

This was my highlight for December.
"Stories For Children"(an online magazine) contracted me to create an illustration for their Feb. Issue.
The art director was enjoyable to work with and very professional.
Here is a link to their site.
http://storiesforchildrenmagazine.org/default.aspx


 Wishing everyone happiness and success in 2012!!

Christmas Crash 2001-2011

Crash- his last Christmas with us

Crash was 14 years old as far as we can figure. He came to us 10 years ago at Christmas time. Somewhere along the line he picked up the name Christmas Crash. I guess his spending one last Christmas with us was his way of saying goodbye.Crash originally lived in the house next door to us. And his back story was interesting in itself. Mr. Wolfe (our former neighbor), found Crash after he had been hit by a car on the Daniels Park Bridge. Mr.Wolfe took Crash to the vet and told them that if he lived he would adopt him. Well as it turned out Crash was not that badly hurt, so he came to live in our neighborhood. Needless to say this was how Mr.Wolfe came up with his name. I'm not sure if it was the accident or not, but the cat only had 5 teeth in his mouth and  watching him eat was always a bit comical. Crash was outdoors a lot. So he would come to visit us. Sometimes his long hair would mat up pretty good, so I'd take a brush to him. He seemed to like it for the most part, and he kept coming back. One day I saw Mr. Wolfe and said "I hope you don't mind me brushing your cat". He laughed and said "You know that cat would leave the house looking like hell and he'd come home always looking so good. I couldn't figure it out!" Being named Crash did not help his situation in life. He was always underfoot, or he was getting in the way of bikes, or stopping cars in the street; because he thought it perfectly fine to sit in the middle of the road. Our Crash, he will be missed. He was just goofy enough, that we know there's no other quite like him.

2010 playing in the wrapping paper

Watching Matthew

afternoon nap

Best Friends

Illustration Friday-Messenger



Wishing Everyone A Lovely Holiday Season And The Best New Year!!!

IF-Sink

I'm sinking in all the rain we've been getting lately. Where's my White Christmas?

Illustration Friday~Round

The Mystery of the Moon

by Mary Lou Rosato Caine

The mystery of the moon; he beckons me this night.

Round, and full, enchanting; there’s magic in his light.

 I walk the streets in silence, I gaze upon his face.

Contemplate his power, influence and grace.

The stars shine bright in reverence, whenever he is near.

Like beacons of the night, easing all your fear.

 It is said that strange things happen, whenever he’s around

Could this be a myth, simply to astound?

Faries in a Tree

Just a bunch of faries hanging out in a tree. I updated this piece using a patterned background in photoshop. Looking at it now on my monitor; I really need another dark green clump of tree to balance this piece. I should probably do a redo :)

Illustration Friday-Obsession

dictionary results
ob·ses·sion  –noun

1. the domination of one's thoughts or feelings   by a persistent idea, image, desire, etc.

2. the idea, image, desire, feeling, etc., itself.
3. the state of being obsessed.

I am always the most obsessed when there is a goal to be met. This past June I decided to participate in an art show ten days before the event. Leaving myself a small window of time to pull together a lot of work. I become very focused and very organized. Notes get written, to-do lists are made, computer files get put in order, and blocks of time are found when I think there's nothing left.

It's a mad race against the clock, and I am in my element. And then I stop...and stop...until the next time.

This was the first piece to sell. Why is it the one you always think is a bust, is the first one to go?

 

Here are a few pictures from the art show

Illustration Friday~Launch

A small cottage that launches little boys just for the fun of it.

This was done in prismacolor markers. I added a sculpey frame, then cooked it.

Yes, I use to cook my artwork. I made a bunch of these fun little pics 

and sold them at art festivals. 

IF-Shadows, or... is it "Dark Shadows"



Barnabas Collins

 When it comes to Halloween, or anything dark and spooky--I'm in! I think it all started in 1966 with my intro to the classic cult soap opera "Dark Shadows" The series ran from 1966-1971, in all there were 1225 episodes. I was 6 years old, and it was my all time favorite right from the start. I can remember my cousin Philip and myself hiding behind a big chair in the living room, watching the show, making sure we were well hidden, just in case... a stray ghost, vampire or werewolf, would miraculously jump through the screen and "get us!" And so my love affair began with the dark and shadowy, and has not wavered since. There's one episode that always stands out in my mind. I was eight years old, and home alone after school. I lived in an apartment. Dark Shadows aired at 4pm, and there I was eagerly watching the show. In this particular viewing there was a disembodied hand, set under glass, (if I'm remembering correctly) well, it escaped! It was floating about in the air, possibly chasing someone, or just floating? All I know is it scared the daylights out of me! I ran back and forth from the television, to the safety of the apartment hallway. I could not keep my eyes off of the screen, even though I was scared silly. If anyone in that apartment complex was looking through their peephole, I must have looked pretty silly running back and forth! Aw what the heck, I was eight years old! It looks much more silly these days when I do it!



the photo reference for my interpretation

I seem to be on a roll with black and white posts lately. The illustration above is a pencil portrait of Jonathan Frid. Better known as Barnabas Collins, my all time favorite vampire. For all you Dark Shadow fans out there, you must check out Jonathan Frid's website. It's great! http://jonathanfrid.com/ A remake movie will be coming out with Johnny Depp playing Barnabas sometime in 2012, I'm sure Johnny will do him justice. Although it's some big shoes to fill! There was a remake in 1991, with Ben Cross, it was okay, and I like Ben Cross, but really, there's only one Baranbas Collins. There were also two movies made--"House of Dark Shadows"(scared the heck out of me) and "Night of Dark Shadows."(no Barnabas in #2)

Well that's that...

Illustration Friday~Safari

I named him "Old Soul"~Thank you Annie~

 This weeks theme for Illustration Friday was just perfect to post the above illo that was given to me by my daughter. Last Sunday was Mother's day, and Annie surprised me with a plain brown paper bag tied with a pretty pink bow. Inside, 4 scented candles, body spray and a perfumed bath fizzy. All very nice gifts. My daughter knows me pretty well after 16 years. She knows I like simple things, and things that I can use. She knows my love of art. She also loves art, and she's good at it. My pride in her is endless. Not just for her art skills of course, but for the type of women she's turning out to be. She's kind and thoughtful. Yet she's strong enough, and just stubborn enough, that lets me know she'll be okay. I have two wonderful kids, and although Mother's day is a nice day; the best way my children honor me everyday, is by the type of people they are growing into. I am especially proud at the way they treat each other, how they usually put each other's needs first. Just a small example: There's always one doughnut or cookie that goes to waste in this house because they always save the last one for each other. I hate that the doughnut goes to waste, yet what a statement on their thoughtfulness.

Continuity (IF-Lesson)

Driving home today from the annual Eco-fair flea market, (the city garage sale) which two of my friends were participating in; the word "continuity" popped into my mind. As I was looking at the houses with there widows peaks and old structures, many of the homes dating back to the 1800's,  it occurred to me how comfortable it all is. How well I know it. The annual flea market in the city hall parking lot, chatting up friends on the street, or visiting the library that I worked at for many years. Waiting to cross the main street, I overheard two women, talking about there visit to Willoughby and  how quaint the town is. One lady was giving the other lady the "lowdown" since it appeared she was the more familiar visitor. Listening to them, I felt a sense of pride at being a "local ". And I have been a local for a long time. I have lived in Willoughby since 1963. For as many times as I've dreamed myself in other locations, there comes a day like today when the spring air feels so good and the flowering trees are in bloom, and the sense of continuity takes over, and it just feels good to belong.

Willoughby is not that small of a city, in fact it houses many folks and spans quite a distance. Yet it feels like a small town, especially in the downtown area. The buildings date back to the early 1800's maybe earlier than that. The town was actually settled in 1750, so it's rich in history. My own history plays on my mind today, as I drive through. I think about all the times I sat down by the river at Todd Field, when I was a kid, maybe reading a book, or just sunbathing by the water, to a few years later, battling in that same river with my drinking buddies in the annual tug-of-war games. My 20's were filled with a rowdiness that I both appreciate and wish to forget at the same time. Yet it is my history. Then there's Frank's Restaurant. I was 19 and it was my first waitress job. Back then we were called waitresses. I really don't like the word "server", that they use today. I liked being a waitress. I liked working in the heart of the town. My customers ranged from Lou who owned the hardware store across the street, (now it's an upbeat coffee house) to Mr. Nichols who still today owns the jewelry store. There were also the local politicians and the big shots at our city newspaper. I gave them all their coffee or lunch. Frank's restaurant is no longer there, a fire did it in, in the early 80's, a year or so into my job there. Later, Frank's got a new life as an art studio, that to came and went. It's now been a candy and cake shop for quite a while, I bought my wedding cake topper there in 1988.

So on days like today, I enjoy walking around in my home town, chatting with my friends, Helen and Jan, at the flea market, going to the library and catching up with Michele and Rose, or just waving to the folks that I've known for many years. Friends that I have shared memories with, and a feeling of community.

Now for the Lesson part...
The illustration is done in ink wash. The brickwork itself took forever, I believe the entire illustration was over 20 hours worth of work.

Once the illustration was complete, a close friend/photographer and I had much fun setting up the photoshoot for this piece. The Christmas card promo was done in an attempt to land a job at the art studio, mentioned above. Those were the days of cold calls and pounding the pavement. I did not get the job, but it turned out to be a great lesson; from the endurance of sitting at the drawing table for extended periods of time, to meeting a deadline, to watching the ins and outs of a photoshoot. All in all good memories, and a good learning experience.