belated IF: Crunchy

Haven't been getting these out every week... Better late than never!

IF: Unbalanced

This is for a card I'm making for my cousin's family. It fits the IF topic too I think!

Fall Laundry Take Two!

The foliage scene needed something and I based this on Ann Marie's suggestion. The colors on the (big) little one are a little off and I need some more references to get it right but this is the general idea.

Fall laundry

I have been wanting to paint the gorgeous foliage for a while. After my crit meeting yesterday afternoon I was finally inspired to get out there and do it. It has been so long since I did a painting. My older daughter was watching me and running around the yard, then decided she should be in the painting. I still think it needs something... What do you think?

IF sketches - frozen

Some ideas... the top one is supposed to be a representation of writer's block. Feedback and suggestions welcome! I'll do finishes in color.

IF: "Flying"

In the glow of the stage Chevalier saw that the organ bellows were stuck open. She knew she had to do something fast or the audience would get a blast! She dug her claws into the side of the balcony and clambered up. She didn't think about being scared of flying. With a deep breath, she leaped toward the bellows with her eyes wide open.

Sketch doodles and head-on squirrrel (day 7!!!)

Hi guys,
Thank you so much for your feedback!! (You can click them to see larger images)
-Jenn.

Character sketch 6

I want to submit this... brutally honest feedback requested!! Thanks guys!!!

IF - Infinite/Character sketch day 5

Isn't Photoshop great? This was just a fun concept. I had a few different ideas for the IlloFriday topic but since this one involved a squirrel I liked it the best.

Character Sketch Day 4

Character sketch day 3

I am working on a head-on view of the squirrel's face without making it look angry or cartoonish. Getting there...!

Character sketch day 2

Hmmm what have we here?

A Strong Squirrel

Here's my flying squirrel character sketch for today.

Lubec, Maine

I hope this doesn't sound too corny but I wanted to dedicate this painted sketch to Ann Marie!

Here's the long-winded story: While camping over the border on our beloved Campobello Island, NB we often cross back into the States to enjoy an awesome playground at the local school. One evening we decided to do that and I volunteered to pick up pizza. Faced with the customary 15 minute loiter in the parking lot, an idea suddenly coalesced from these elements: (a) 15 minutes + (b) all to myself + (c) with my paints in the car + (d) in the middle of a picturesque coastal village = a painted sketch of the house across the street from Kippy's Restaurant! AM, your 21-day challenges prepared me for this moment! =)

An Award

Thank you so much, Ann Marie for giving me a Bella Sinclair Award. I am honored beyond words to be part of such a beautiful group of talented, witty, inspiring and dear creative friends. Please learn more about this award created by Ces in honor of Bella Sinclair.

Some very deserving friends who should receive the Bella Award:
May's artwork is so uplifting and filled with love!
Jim who finds all kinds of creative ways to get those sketches done!
Melonie spotlights inspirational mamas weekly and launched an awesome drama camp for kids!

I know you already got the award but Ann Marie and Michelle, you would have been on my list too!

3 week challenge: week 3, sketches 1

I copied Jim and took to the patio while the girls played outside!

Week...2??: some more sketches

Hi guys,

These sketches are inspired by our trip to see "Seussical" with some friends at a lovely theatre in the round. The theatre allowed us to keep the toddlers in their strollers which was great!



Afterwards we were picnicking outside and the older girls peeked inside one of the windows into what turned out to be the costume storage area!




I'm bummed that I've been unable to do finishes... I guess I'll have to apply for an extension! We were getting ready to go camping for a week and then the baby came down with a cold, which triggered some asthma... so that's on hold too. Oy!

3 week challenge: week 2, sketches 1-2

3 week challenge: week 1, sketches 1

Here are some Very Rough thumbnails (note the use of Crayola on recycled paper) for a flying squirrel encountering a small instrument similar to an accordion.

A cool place for creative mamas

So I was googling "illustrator mama" in search of some inspiration/support/kindred spirits and came across this wonderful site showcasing a creative mama every week! Well, after oohing and aahing over the work of some of her spotlighted mamas, I told her how much I liked her site and she offered to feature me! I am so humbled by the kind words that Ms. Melonie has written about my work!

And, that is not all she does! I have also learned that she followed her dream and launched an awesome drama camp for PreK-K and K-5 kids in Grayslake, Illinois. You go, girlfriend!

IlloFriday: "Hollow"; (Un)painted sketch 13/21

Chevalier the flying squirrel is surveying the hollow theatre organ pipes where he lives.

Painted sketch 12/21: "Shaky cat, wobbly baby"

Our old cat is getting shakier while the baby gains steadiness... But they are best friends all the same!

painted sketches 10-11/21: "Critique" & "Tenting"

My 4yo came with me to critique this month! =) And we also set up our monstrous tent in the family room to air out for our trip to Maine.

painted sketch 9/21

painted sketch 8/21

Doesn't this look like she's going to eat the flower?

painted sketch 7/21

Zoo trip today!

IlloFriday: "Unfold"

painted sketch 6/21: "Library Baby"

Here we are in the library again... and black and white...again...

painted sketches 5/21

Venturing into technicolor...This took me a lot longer than 15 minutes (more like 2:15) - gotta loosen up next time!

painted sketches 4/21

painting 3/21

I hope working ahead is OK (did this yesterday, but nothing today)! =)

painting 2/21

Not sure what to call this one. Just some random pretend play going on here. =)

painting 1/21: "Piano Baby"

OK, after a few warmups that didn't look so hot, here's one that came out pretty decent. So it took more like 1.5 hours...

21/21

A scene I hope to see this summer when we all go camping on Campobello Island, NB.

AND this is sketch #21 which means...I actually finished something I started!! Thanks so much for cheering me on guys, especially Ann Marie!!

20/21: Huggy Bear ("Craving")

A pencil sketch for a change. Who wouldn't crave a hug?

18-19/21: daily sketches...

Shopping for a birthday present...


All partied out...

Catching up on posting... takes a darn 15 extra minutes to get the things scanned and cleaned up ya know!!

MFN 15 Year logo?

First draft of the anniversary logo. MFN's tagline is "A Friend to Know...A Place to Grow" so I may add that on somewhere.

17/21: "Climbing!?!"

My younger daughter started up the stairs and luckily I noticed before she went too far. She got all the way to the top pretty easily but hasn't quite figured out how to get down yet, just like a cat up a tree.

As you can probably tell I'm shamelessly using the 21 day challenge as my chance to journal my kids because other than the times when the camera comes out there's practically no record of their daily activities and even fewer words written about them. As I know now from the first one if I don't do this then it will all fly out of "the transom of my mind." =O

Chasing Butterflies (16/21)

21 days sketch 15/21