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.

Balloon Therapy Final Chapter!

Hello Friends!

Last week as I was pondering how to end 

Balloon Therapy, I realized it seemed maybe a 

little scary for little ones to see the pig character 

(Kissandra, Kissy for short)  just pick up the mischievous 

kitten (Poppy) and walk off the bus with him.   

I needed to make a revision.

 So, the conclusion...

What do you think?  I hope Balloon Therapy has brought 

a little cheer to your day!  I am working on a bunch of other 

projects right now so I am going to take a two week break from 

posting here.  I really like this format and I may just continue 

posting stories this way.  Any feedback would really be 

appreciated if you have a moment!

I am going to look into self publishing this as a small soft cover. 

If and when it's available I will let you know.  

It will be a lot easier to "read" as a full booklet!

Have a great couple of weeks.  

May love and peace prevail!  Rachel

Balloon Therapy Part 6

Hello!
What a great weekend.   I had family visiting thus
it was very busy!  I was up late working on these but
couldn't get them posted until today.
It's really amazing how I have learned more each time
I work on this story.  Sometimes I can see where I am
missing an element, like this week I had four finished
then looked back and decided it would be better to fill
in the story with the newspaper illustration.  It's a good
way to inform the viewer and keep the story "wordless".
Only four more illustrations to go and I am still not
positive of where and how the story will end.  It's is
strange how I have had ideas but then the story takes a
totally different turn like it has a mind of it's own within
my mind.  It's really fun working this way.
Enjoy!  Tune in next week for the grand finale of
Balloon Therapy!  <3 Rachel

Balloon Therapy Part 5

Hi there,

So what's happening in Balloon Therapy?

It's taken a turn...any ideas where to go from here?

I think I have it figured out, but I'm not positive 

about the ending.  Only 8 more pages to go...

Thinking about self publishing this story as a little

paperback.  I know it has been a little confusing to 

follow, since you have to read it sort of backwards.  

If you have an excellent idea for the ending I will 

send you a free copy.  Email me, raradesign@yahoo.com

Sweet dreams.  Rachel

 

Balloon Therapy Part 5

Hi friends,
Working on these illustrations again has brought a
sort of new enlightenment about all that is involved
in illustrating picture books.  I recall a faculty member of a
Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators
(http://www.scbwi.org) conference once said how being an
illustrator is a lot like being the director of a film.  It's not only
characters that illustrators must be creative with, but the
setting, lighting, and color story.  Even the emotion that the
characters project and the feeling that the image evokes is
critical to getting the point across.  It's a lot of pressure,
but I love it!
*I apologize for not posting last week as I had trouble with my
wifi/new internet provider.
Need to let off some steam?  Pop a few balloons!  *>.<* Rachel

Balloon Therapy Party Part Four

Hello there partiers!
Had a tough time with these today
as I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to
do.  This has been a fun process however,
because it is happening organically.
I decided today that I will push myself to
complete 32 illustrations as that is the
standard picture book page number.
That is more than I originally planned so
it will be interesting to see where this goes!
Enjoy the party;).  Rachel

Balloon Therapy Part 3

Hey there!  Finished up four more panels
for Balloon Therapy.  This project is teaching me a lot.
Here are four things I learned today:
Keep characters consistent in appearance.
I had an acquaintance several years ago who
was a costumer for movies.  She took photos
of the characters in every scene so that if they had to
re-shoot a scene they knew exactly how each
character was styled.  I was reminded of that when I
forgot to illustrate Daisy's messenger bag in the
illustrations with the cab.  I added it after realizing.

Be sure your paper and materials are harmonious.
The paper from the sketchbook has a strange reaction
to the watercolor pencil, almost like it has a waxy coating.
(For projects for clients I use Arches.)
Another tip, always be sure you have enough of the same 
quality paper to complete the project! 

While examining the previous paintings I thought it
would have been really funny to have the cat's eyes
peering in through the mail slot.  Oops!  Just saw that
I forgot the mail slot...Keep environments consistent 
looking as well as characters!

I'm really happy with how the last two panels look.
This has been fun!  Join me next week to see how this
party goes.  You are officially invited. :)Rachel
P.S.  It's fun to tie in elements from earlier in the 
story, Daisy's dress is from the little shop she went into!

Hi folks, Happy Saturday!
    It's been an awesome spring like day here in Ohio.
Had a hard time staying inside to work on this project,
but once I sat down I really had fun with the story.
    Illustrating is so different from textile design.  I have
to think so much more about every aspect of the work.
(Textile design requires thought also, but once the sketch is
done it is more technical for me than anything.)
    Like setting up a scene in a film, lighting, color, characters,
and objects, are all so important.  A lot of thought goes into
each illustration in children's books.  Perspective plays a
huge role also, as scenes can truly make the viewer a part
of the world of the book.
    So with no more hub bub...here are four more panels
from Balloon Therapy.
   Tune in next week for four more!  Cheers!  Rachel CB

Balloon Therapy

Hello friends:)
I have been doing some soul searching
about my art and well, my soul.  Typically I am
a very private person, but I feel like I need to bear
my soul to move forward.  I feel like
maybe I'm not connecting, though my fear of exposing
my vulnerability is huge, but I feel like I need to
break down some walls.

Where is my heart and soul when it comes to my work?
I feel as if I have been exploring the streets of a
hip little city. There are many exciting and magical
nooks to explore.
I have always been a gatherer.  When I visit new places
I pick up tid-bits of memories.  An inspiring souvenir
from a shop, a menu from the local diner,  a vintage item
if I am lucky enough find a flea market or thrift store.

Those finds are special to me.  Piece by piece my art is
coming together.  I am impatient,  wanting my experience
to merge overnight, when that's not my style.
When I lay out work on the table it all feels
connected, yet not exactly the same.  Maybe it's
just the way I work. Maybe I need to find that one
process that I can make a commitment to.  The one
thing some of my favorite illustrators have in common
is that they use the same process or media consistently.
I think my problem is I get bored so easily.
I do love using my Derwent Drawing (water soluble)
pencils.  Hear me out!   I am going to commit to
this process for as long as I can take it!!!

These are illustrations I started in a sketchbook last
week.  To save time and keep the spontaneous feel
I decided to illustrate it from my pencil sketches.
The story is sort of happening as I sketch each frame;
I am thinking it through as I go along.
I have an idea of the finale though.
I am having fun with the comic book/graphic novel
feel, though I am using traditional media (watercolor
pencil).  I'm calling this series Balloon Therapy.
We could all use a little balloon magic now and then
right?
I will be posting every two weeks now as I am very
booked with projects.  Check back then to see what
Daisy Blue is up to!  Love, peace, balloons, Rachel:]

Portfolio Website Update!

Very excited to announce I have finished updating
my new website.  I have been pretty sick this past
week and was finally able to finish the final touches
today.  Here is the link:
http://raradesig3.wixsite.com/rachelbollman/home
I would love to hear what you think! You can email
me from my about/contact page!
Here is a sample of what you will see on my
Patterns & Art page.  This is a screen print and
appliqué design with trim details.
Have a great weekend! xoxo, Rachel

Cat Rail

Hello Friends,

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday.

Welcome to a new year!

I don't have a lot of time to write as I

am currently in the process of updating

my portfolio website.  It's a huge project,

as I want to show as much new work as possible.

In November I mentioned a book cover

I was commissioned to do.  I have finished

the cover and the book is now available on

Amazon. To find out more check it out here:

http://amzn.to/2ikus8A

or on the blog: https://cat-rail.com

See you next week!  Peace, love, and newborn kittens,

Rachel