Fais de beaux reves...

    I stumbled on these india ink and watercolor 

paintings I did a few months ago.  Playing around 

with different media is really fun and a great way to

fuse inspiration.  Hand cut and purchased rubber stamps

helped to create a dreamlike world for this little gal.  

Stickers, gems, flowers and other kid-like goodies like 

glitter can really make my heart beat faster.  

Silly but true.

So from this I was inspired to paint these two, 

which are a little more serious and sophisticated.  

Like the way they came out a little ghost like?  

India ink sort of gives that look.  Still not super confident with it.  

Memories of high school calligraphy class and pools 

of flubbed ink may have instilled the fear!  Maybe it's just my antique pens. 

Love them, but maybe it's really time to find another method.  Micron pens work well 

but it's hard to get the varied line quality.  Pentel brushes are a bit testy and tend to go 

a bit too bold for my style.  I know I have asked before on twitter but anyone know an alternative?

Until next week, sweet dreams....u-u zzzzzZZZ

Times are hard for dreamers.

I watched Amelie today.  
Sweet, quirky film with surprisingly few stars 
on Netflix, but what do they know about great art?  

Very inspiring film in many ways.

It's a bit hard to draw 

while reading subtitles but came up with this

girl...not really sure what her story is.  

Perhaps she is preparing to write a mysterious

note to a handsome young man, or maybe digging

into her water lily bag for her sketchbook. 

There must be a bench around here somewhere.

Who could resist sketching in a quaint 

little village such as this? 

Pas moi.

Pop! goes Easter

    Last Saturday I was cleaning like Housewife Dementia

(my friend Krissy's alter ego) and neglected to post.  Here is

a little belated apology in the form of a Easter card sketch I 

did on Easter Monday...

    When I create a character sketch I have been drawing 

that character in different poses.  This is an important element 

in children's book illustration. 

Check out the what is going on at the little girl's feet!  

Another fun technique to use in illustration is to have a "secondary story".  

I wanted to add color, it being spring and Easter, 

but my time has been devoted to working on print patterns. 

(You may be interested to know her dress is a jelly bean 

print, which may be hard to tell without color.)

The color addition will have to go on the back burner until next year I suppose.

Hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Easter!