JKPP: Mark B.

Transparent watercolor, ~7"x 10"

Watercolor of Mark B. over at Julia Kay's Portrait Party on Flickr. It's a slightly bigger format than the other JKPP portraits I've been doing lately but it was a lot of fun using bigger brushes. It's good to switch it up once in awhile, no?

Day 7: Smilax melastomifolia (hoi kuahiwi)

Just a quickie of a hoi kuahiwi plant I bought at the Volcano Farmer's Market. I can't wait to plant it in my yard, which is really just a part of a native Hawaiian wet forest. :). One thing nice about our Hawaiian greenbriar is that it doesn't have thorns! Over the course of time, the thorny ancestor that arrived in the islands eventually lost its thorns in the absence of large herbivores. That's why a lot of folks call our Hawaiian forests "benign". We don't have the prickly and poisonous vegetation found elsewhere ... unless they're recent introductions.

Can't wait to color this drawing!

Day 6: Sole pepper

Here is my thought on green peppers: They are the ugly ducklings of the vegetable world. Leave them on the bush, wait a long while and the boring pepper will eventually turn into a luscious red, sweet, and rather expensive pepper worthy of the prettiest salad.

This sweet red pepper is destined for the dinner plate!

Harley for Harold

This is for my new mechanic, Harold, who replaced my radiator for ONLY $60, which included three trips to the house and a 45-minute trip to Hilo for parts! This is his dog Harley, who's a grown dog now but just as adorable. I hope Harold likes his surprise. :)

Day 5: Kiholo

Kiholo Bay, on Hawaii Island has got to be one of the most beautiful stretches of black pebble beach that I know. Aqua water, blue skies, green coconut palms ... heaven! When I'm stressed, this is where I lie on the beach if only in my mind's eye, warmed by the black smooth pebbles.

Day 4: Grapefruit

Insomnia is great for my drawing commitments! I'm on day 4 of 75 of my sketch challenge and I'm finding my joy again.

Day 3: Dashy Boy

Day 3: Little Dash is over for a sleepover! 

Day 2: Impatiens

Impatiens growing outside my back door. Such delicate flowers, aren't they?

This is my Day 2 of the 75-day pen and ink sketch challenge started by Brenda Swenson. When I finish, Brenda will send me an "artistic license." :) Goodness knows I truly need one!

Day 1: Marmalade

1:00 am. Can't sleep. Must draw.

As you can see, I haven't picked up a pencil or pen in ages. Work does that sometimes and I find myself a ball of nerves and stressed, forgetting what is most important in life: expressing creativity, being with friends, laughter, love ... all those good stuff that makes every day worthwhile. Like a little light of hope, Serena Lewis posted her pen drawings as part of a 75-day sketching challenge on Facebook. She reminded me that despite the challenges of every day life, we need to make time for the things that fulfill us. So, I dusted off my sketchbook and found my favorite Pigma micron pen and sketched away. I feel a bit rusty at drawing and my proportions may be a bit kapukahi but on the other hand, I did find my smile. :)

Sharpie, watercolor, postcard size

A fun challenge to do something different for Julia Kay's Portrait Party. This is Anders Musta and his JKPP discussion thread is here.

For Asta

Prisma micron .005 pen, watercolor, postcard

For Asta, who threw me the most incredible birthday party anyone could ask for! Food, Friends, Fellowship, Fancy Homemade German Chocolate Cake, Fairy Lights, and Freaking Fun Glow Lights! It's a birthday I cherish!

Thank you card for the Perry's

Pigma micron .05, sharpie, postcard

Just a little thank you to my friends for a wonderful birthday ...

A new portrait for JKPP: Steven (sketchysteven)

watercolor on illustration board, 2.5"x3.5"

This was a fun one! Got back into drawing and tried my hand at another portrait for Julia Kay Portrait Party. Steve provided this awesome reference pic.

Coloring book pages: Yellow-faced bee and palila

I have the coolest friends. The theme of their wedding was the silversword (Argyroxiphium sandwicense subsp. sandwicense) and native species. Being the thoughtful couple that they are, they wanted something fun for the kids to do during the reception so asked if I could draw a few coloring book pages. Well, they took the idea and expanded it into an awesome activity book! Here are a couple of the drawings ...

Taos, New Mexico

watercolor, Pigma micron pen 005

It was my very first trip to New Mexico and being able to help construct a pueblo seed storage building, visiting awesome farms, mobile slaughter house, meeting entrepreneurs trying to create a healthier community, and watching the San Geronimo Feast Day in Taos Pueblo filled a great week! This is a view of the mountains surrounding Taos Pueblo and Red Willow Farm.

10-minute sketch

Just a quick sketch in my good ole moleskine before I head off to bed. G'night ya'll!

Illustration Friday: Bottled

pen & watercolor, 2.5"x3.5"

Huh? Don't ask. :/ (heh heh, I swear I dunno how I come up with these).

Illustration Friday: Duet

pen & watercolor, 2.5"x3.5"

Love is ... singing with your hunny bunny whenever the moment strikes! :D

Tim's small portrait

watercolor, 2.5"x3.5"

Back to portraits for the Julia Kay's Portrait Party! This is Tim Clary, who happens to be an awesome artist so check out his Flickr site.

Thanks for letting me use your reference photo Tim!

Japan bunnies ... Please donate to help.

Hi everyone! Need a bunny to hang out with? If you would like a one-of-a-kind, original work of art (2.5"x3.5") made by me, please consider buying a "Japan bunny"* of your very own. For a donation of $15 to the Red Cross or Seicho-No-Ie to support the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, I will draw and paint a bunny similar to the ones shown here. Because they are individually done, they are all slightly different but still very cute.

For those of you that have already contacted me about your donation, please send in your donations as we've arranged and I will send that on to the Red Cross.

But from now on, we can do this in 3 easy steps!

1. If you would like your very own "Japan bunny", please let me know by leaving a comment below.

2. Make a donation directly to the American Red Cross or Seicho-No-Ie Japan Relief Fund** and save your receipt.

3. Email me a copy of the receipt with your address and I will mail the card to you!

Thanks everyone for donating to the relief effort! We've raised $495 so far (updated 4/10/11)! Woohoo!

(* Each bunny is drawn using archival ink and artist grade transparent watercolor on white 140 lb. Strathmore coldpress acid-free watercolor paper (2.5 in x 3.5 in). They are mailed in a protective clear plastic card holder.)

(** Seicho-No-Ie is a non-denominational truth of life movement and its Sendai Missionary Area experienced the brunt of the earthquake and tsunami. Your donations, if you so choose, will directly support its members and others affected in Japan. The donation link is in prep so please check back).