Marigolds are a delight!

For some reason, my once color-accurate scanner has now morphed into some weird color-mixing machine since I switched to a mac. I think it is because it is as perimenopausal as I am!  My marigolds are blooming nicely and are producing their own seeds now ... so I will be sharing them with friends as Kate has shared them with me. I'll be passing on the Rietz legacy. :) I just had to take the opportunity to draw my little flowers because their little bursts of color light up my morning when I sit amongst them and drink my coffee.

A birthday wish for Kate

This is one of my favorite drawings, which I did last year. I love it because it's just a little glimpse of things I saw while on one of my weekend walks, reminding to stop from time to time and enjoy the simple things around me. I'm posting this again in honor of Kate Rietz who celebrates her birthday today. This drawing is one of Kate's favorites too. Happy Birthday gurl!!! *party horns blasting* *confetti thrown about* *balloons and streamers floating around*

Garlic, anyone?

While sitting at the kitchen table with Kate on my last night in Illinois, we began drawing potatoes and garlic that we had saved just for the occasion. It was fun but also bittersweet, knowing I had to leave bright and early the next day. I finished up the drawing on the plane back to Hawaii and you can see what Kate finished later, here. This special time was such a nice way to cap a very, very special trip.

More images from IL

Splat!!!

... a smidgen of images from my trip to Illinois. There was so much to see and do that I wish I lived there! More photos and drawings can be found on Potluck Sunday and on Kate Rietz's blog.

A smile that lights up a room

I was able to capture Sunshine's sweet repose with this quick sketch as she lay at Kate's feet while Kate worked on her latest illustration project late one night.

Kate and me in Chicago

I am back home after a wonderful two weeks in Illinois where I stayed with my blogging friend, Kate Rietz, and spent the time exploring her incredible city of Chicago and drawing together. It is something we've wanted to do for a long time and we finally got our chance! Kate is as wonderful as I knew she would be and we shared many, many laughs together. It was so difficult to leave!

Kate and I have been posting our drawings from the past two weeks on our blogs so check them out! We also have a joint blog, Potluck Sunday, that we started back in Nov 2007 so there are postings there from time to time. Some are related to art, some not, but always a bit of ourselves.

P.S. Kate is selling her prints now so check out her professional website for more info.

"frenz 4-ever"

I've spent the past week and a half hanging out with my wonderfully talented and great friend, Kate Rietz, here in Chicago. Yes, this island girl finally made it off her rock in the middle of the Pacific to draw and spend time with her blogging buddy. These are some drawings I've done at Kate's house, of things found along our afternoon walks with pup, Sunshine, or at Starbucks. If you want to take a look at Kate's drawings, check the out here. Drawing is best done with a friend ... and one as cool as my bud. :) (PS: I am already sad about leaving).

Beaufort tree

When I walk past a tree with interesting bark or form, it will stop me in my tracks (blame the botanist in me) ... and of course I have to take a picture. This really cool tree grew in the back yard of the house I stayed at in Beaufort, NC, where my friend Karen got married in November. I have no clue what kind of tree it is tho' (Anyone know?). I drew this mostly with a .005 Pigma micron pen and some .03 for shading. I'm pretty happy with it, thanks to Kate who provided valuable feedback as I neared the end.

Happy Birthday Kate!

This is a little something something that I made for a dear friend Kate (Kathleen Rietz - Artist) who is celebrating her 40th birthday today (12/24). It's a drawing of Sunshine, her little pup that loves her like something fierce. Happy Birthday Kate!

Check out her website too ... I assure you will be treated with incredible illustrations!

Visit my new blog!

WOOHOO! Check this out! I've teamed with Kathleen (Kate) Rietz (children's book artist, designer, crafter, and all around awesome woman) on a collaborative blog called Potluck Sunday. It is where we share our creative odds and ends, including photos, stories, artwork, and other things under the sun that did not make it onto our personal blogs .... just a little of this, a little of that. :)

One of my favorite illustrators

Hey folks, you have to check out Kathleen Rietz's drawing for Illustration Friday's theme: Discovery (here). It's a post I can totally relate to. And, if you know me, I think you'd agree that the little girl looks like a young me ... and a budding biologist no less! LOL. Since I don't have anything to post, thought I'd share this link and send you over for a peek. :) Have a great Wednesday everyone! I'm spending tomorrow planting Mauna Loa silverswords at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. I'll take a few pics to share. Night all!