Dress Up with Nya DaKitty!

Created this very quickly just for fun.

It's interesting to imagine calico Nya DaKitty 

(based on a cat who actually exists) 

dressing up with these accessories.  

Imagine where she could be going.  

A weekend flea market? 

A costume party at a friend's?  

A rodeo?

You decide.

New Richmond River Arts Fest~Chance Encounter

Hello there!  Just returned from a business seminar and I’m
feeling very motivated.  I’m sorry to say I really have been
internet/social media shy lately.  Time to turn things around.

Preparing for an art show that will be in two weeks so I’m a
bit frantic. If you are in the southern Ohio area consider taking
a beautiful country drive out to New Richmond, Ohio Oct. 14th,
from 11am-6pm.*
http://www.newrichmond.org/river-arts-festival.html

This is a juried show so quality handmade fine art and crafts
abound!  Christmas will be here before we know it, never too
early...well you get the rest.

*If you show up and say you read my blog you’ll receive one of
my illustrated bookmarks.
Lately I've been running into friends I haven't seen in a while
which is pretty neat.

Chance Encounter~
Watercolor, Gouache, Pencil

Come On Get Happy at PrintSource!

I have been super busy getting ready for PrintSource 
http://www.printsourcenewyork.com and
I'm really happy to announce my print patterns are being 
represented by Designastration Studio.
http://designastration.com
I will be working on my children's book for the next few weeks.
Pardon my sparse posts;  I will get back to posting more regularly
soon.  Things are a bit crazy (busy) right now!

I've been busy working on a lot of different projects.
Excuse me while I go into creative hermit mode at times!

The Wes Anderson art event party was really fun.
It was held on the second floor of an amazing old church.*
I painted this fox family portrait with watercolors and also
used Derwent water soluble pencil and colored pencils.
(I found the frame in a local antique store and it inspired
me to design it for a round format.)
If you are interested in this portrait or bookmarks please
message me on facebook (link below).

*If you want to see more pictures of the event check them
out here.  https://www.facebook.com/rachelcbdesign/

Moonrise Madness

Hello friends!
I'm working on some fan art, Wes Anderson (films:
Moonrise Kingdom, Fantastic Mr. Fox, plus other
greats!) themed.  I'm in a show coming up in November.

I decided to do this for fun and practice, along with Inktober.
At times I feel it might be distracting me from working
on my kid's books but really, I can see my work growing
as I do each piece.  Actually it is feeling like a bit of an
adventure in exploring different methods, trying to figure
out which I like best, honing my skills.  You know,  drawing
skills, inking skills, painting skills.  (Napoleon Dynamite ref.!)
If you would like to see my Inktober work check out my
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rachelchristinadesign/
Here is a sample of a print pattern I am working on...inspired
by Moonrise Kingdom's Suzy and kitten.

I'm printing it on fabric and will cover moleskin
sketchbook journals with it.
I am also working on some other pieces including
some fun Fantastic Fox art!  I'll give you a peek
next time!   * Rachel

Hello Friends,
I'm sorry it has been a while but I am planning
to do a show and I'm a little crazy trying to figure
out what I need to work on, print, frame, etc.
This is a fine arts show and I have only done
craft shows so I am having a bit of anxiety over
here.  Therefore, I will be posting sporadically
for a while, possibly for a few months as I hope to
have a summer job.  More about that later...
Soooo, I will let you know about posts via  twitter,
Facebook, and Instagram when I write a blogpost,
or you can just check in now and then.
I was disappointed to find out I couldn't self
publish Balloon Therapy in the small format (like
4x6) that I wanted.  The smallest format I could find
is 6x8.  I made the mistake of illustrating it too small,
but it was a spontaneous sort of work from a sketchbook
that became the story so I guess it couldn't be helped.
Goofed up so you don't have to!  Learn from my mistakes.
Check out standard format sizes if you want to self publish
before you start your book!

As you might already know I love vintage dolls.
These are a couple of my favorites.  I found them at
flea markets but you can find one here if you wish...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Mattel-1967-Liddle
-Kiddles-Skediddle-Suki-Girl-Doll-Walker-Blue-
/122477295601?hash=item1c843737f1:g:
paAAAOSwnHZYWdiI
I've been working on these drawings, adding a bit of pastel,
colored pencil and watercolor.
It's a challenge to work realistically, it's been too long.
Getting the fine details in realistic drawing really helps
when I get to my other style of work.  I think it forces
me to look at every element, so when I get to the
stuff from my imagination the discipline is implemented
naturally.  When I haven't drawn realistically in a while
I just forget and maybe get a little bit lazy. Making artwork
is work after all.

I'm thinking of adding quotes or surface prints in the
backgrounds of these but I am a bit afraid I will mess them
up.  It seems like the best things come out of being fearless
in artwork though, so perhaps I will give it a shot.
May is Mental Health Awareness month.  If you have a friend
out there who seems down in the dumps or lonely reach out to
them.  Send a card or Facebook message, invite them to lunch,
watch Dumb and Dumber or another stupidly funny movie with
them.  It's the little things ya know.
Be the first to guess the doll in pink's secret and win a free print!
Peace,  Rachel

Very Merry UnHalloween

Last week as I was driving by the local laundromat 

I saw a boy in a Spiderman costume and I had to smile.

He looked about four or five. Could it be lack of clean clothes?  

I doubt it.  When my kids were that age, they too were 

compelled to act out their days incognito.  My very own prince, 

princess and dragon raced around the house and yard.  

It didn't need to be Halloween...

Isn't that kind of freedom fabulous?

I feel the urge to make a giant paper mache head.

    Who wants to be a monster?

Enjoy your Tuesday:)  Rachel B.