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.
Chicago is gorgeous in September! I had some time to myself so I stationed myself at the end of a walkway, sat with some gulls, and drew for a bit in my moleskine. I added the color after I got home. Looking at this drawing, I can practically smell the ocean, er, uhmm, Lake (heh heh, thanks Kate), and the sound of the waves lapping the sides of the boats and gulls flying about. :)
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.
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.
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.
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).
This is a little guy I did for Leigh (Beegirl) for our Moly_X_9 group. To check out the other two, you can find them here.
Thought I'd give you a peek of my Moly X9 entry in Scoach's accordian moleskine. The full layout and other member's drawings are here. Thankfully, my team members have not hung me out to dry for holding up two molys. *smiling meekly*
Thanks everyone who has been of great support to me the past few months. Since April, I have had an issue with an ovarian cyst that has caused me to rethink my life. Apparently, it is not an uncommon thing for women *ehem* my age, but my cyst caused me to bleed heavily for a month and a half ... continually (too much info perhaps?)! Ok, and then there were the cancer scares, serious anemia, and getting sick as a result a few times the past two months. I am recovering right now and on five medications (I feel like a walking medicine cabinet!). So, that is the scoop. Sorry for being a poop and posting only a couple drawings the past month. That was about all I could handle. But, I'm eating better now, exercising, and feeling much, much better. The road to recovery is so sweet.
Thank you everyone for your emails and calls! Makes me feel glad to know I have friends out there that care. *hugs*
Thank you Karen Blados, Ryan Wolf, Kate Rietz, and Derrel Blain for giving me feedback on the problems I had with my computer, email accounts, and blog posts yesterday. I slept on it (although I did toss and turn all night) and let God handle it, because really, of the support people I wrote last night, He was the only one that responded to my requests :). After I got home from work this evening, I turned on my computer and all the problems with my blog and email accounts had disappeared! Really! THANK YOU for answering my prayers! Woohoo! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I figured we could celebrate with a picture of my favorite plant, ohelo (Vaccinium reticulatum) and one of the miracles of nature. It's related to blueberries but it's our very own Hawaiian version.
Just a quick Saturday morning sketch of my friend's pup. I love his shape ... such a cute, compact dog that followed me around when I was at her house. I hope she recognizes him. :)
LOL Ok, I totally bastardized the 21-day daily creative challenge, eventually turning 21 days into 120 days! But alas, I am officially finished! Thank you all for visiting and encouraging me through the painfully slow points and always leaving me wonderful comments. This painting is only about 3X5inches and are of some orchids we have in the office. The flower pot is now dripping with these beautiful purple and reddish flowers that make my heart a little lighter whenever I see them.
Hi Everyone! *WAVING* I've been feeling like you are all getting to know me through my drawings and I really haven't made much effort to show myself. I always figured that my art should reflect me. But, having "met" other bloggers and knowing what a huge difference it is to know what they look like, I figured what the hell. So, here I am ... SO THERE!
It is a little nerve-wracking but quite liberating to tell you the truth.
I really must thank Karen Opp, of natur_illustration for inspiring me to share myself with you all. She is working on a 365 photo journal of herself, in part to explore the side of her that is hesitant to be in front of a camera. As she says, "Nothing like putting yourself out of your comfort zone in front of a bunch of people." She's awesome ... and her photos are awesome!
(Photographing oneself is a very good exercise ... I discovered one of my eyes is really bigger than the other. Strange I never noticed that before. Alas, I am beginning to love my imperfections).
Ryan Wolf of Bone & Shadow fame and more recently, re: wolf, has been posting some really cool pics of his Star Wars figurines in odd and brain kinking situations. A trip to his Flickr site keeps me entertained into the wee hours and has elicited more than a chuckle (check them out on his Flick photostream here). Being a Star Wars fan as well, I had these figurines although they were boxed up and destined for donations. Instead, I decided to bust them out and draw them as an assemblage in honor of Ryan. (I've decided to keep them)
I love the way dogs rest. They look so comfortable in whatever pose. This is a painting of my friend's dog that has short hair over most of his body, but with tufts of long hair in the oddest places ... like on the top of his head, giving him a mohawk look. He is the cutest tho'! I felt like watercolor tonight after being inspired by other artists in cyberworld. Aren't art blogs great for inspiration? I suppose I could have darkened the background more, but I'm tired and this is about all I can do tonight. As always, comments and critiques are welcome! :)
Inspiration sometimes comes from weird places. When I was at a meeting at Harold L. Lyon Arboretum in Manoa Valley this past week, I happened to find this tiny vase of beautiful tropical flowers in the bathroom. I thought it was such a lovely touch that the garden staff would decorate the bathroom with pretty flowers from the grounds of the arboretum. So, I had to rush off and find my camera. I can not tell you how many funny looks I got when I grabbed my camera and rushed off to the bathroom. Goodness knows what they were thinking!
I have iPhone envy. Don't get me wrong, I love my wonderfully pink Blackberry. I mean, shouldn't all phones be pink? But come on! How can I possibly not love hybrid maps, that beautifully large screen that is yearning for my touch (it is a touch screen after all), easy access to my email, and pinch zooming! I LOVE pinch zooming! I feel like I am having an affair ... with an iPhone that I do not have. Ugh, talk about unrequited love! Here is a 15-min quickie of my presently underloved Blackberry. I think that is a tear in the corner ... : (
Can you see the little lacewing on the branch? Ok, they are not that large in reality but that's the beauty of drawing, right? Give me an inch of creative license and I just might take a mile! :)
Ah, I've missed the smell of a newly sharpened pencil! It felt so good to have a pencil in my hand the past couple days! Drawing this plant from my front yard has done wonders for my spirit and disposition. Goodness knows what the name is tho' ... but I'm pretty sure it is in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). In times like this, a botany degree comes in handy. It's good to be back folks! I look forward to continuing and completing my 21-day creative drawing challenge!
Whew, I was beginning to think my drawing bug hitched a ride on the last boat off the island! This is the beginnings of my first drawing in my new moleskine. Thought I should post "something" so you knew she arrived home safely. Thanks everyone for being SO patient!
And what a way to celebrate! No sooner had my drawing bug returned that I received the Brillante Weblog award from Kate! Now, I have the honor of picking 7 other blogs that, in my opinion, are PRIMO! I am going to spread my wings and bestow the award on my newly discovered blogs. So, here goes ... in no particular order:
1. Susan Rudat - Art, Illustrations, and Other Musings. Oh goodness, her artwork is addictive!
2. May's Illustrations and Pictures. Pull up a chair and kick your shoes off and relax as you enjoy her work and a pretty French song in the background.
3. rue Manuel bis. Ok, I've known about Casey's work for awhile bit I just think you need to see her work. I think "happy" every time I visit.
4. Enigma. I wish I could draw like her! I really do!
5. Bobo's Fun Place. Julia's style is darling. Plus, check out the video of Bobo's tricks. Now THAT's one smart cat!
6. Free[k]hand. Not a stranger, but I just love the way Miguel thinks. He makes my brain kink.
7. Kathleen Rietz - Artist. One of the most talented artists I know. Thanks again for the award Kate!
If you decide to participate, the rules of accepting are as follows:
1) Put the logo on your blog.
2) Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4) Add links to those blogs on yours.
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.
LOL. I'll have to leave a note for the awardees tomorrow cuz I'm ready to fall asleep at my desk! Thanks for visiting! :)
Not that I was an ungrateful child (at least I don't think I was), but when my parents gave me this doll, I had no idea what to do with it. I couldn't play with it because she stands in her very own glass case. I vaguely recall wanting a walkman instead. As I got older, I grew to appreciate the things she represented: tradition, humility, gracefulness, skill. Now, I cherish her. She stands about 16 inches tall, including that hair. I painted this tonight, with transparent watercolor on Arches cold press 300 lb paper. Hmmm, I see an Asian theme here ...
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