Valentines Happy Cupid: "Storm of Love"

This Illustration was painted with a dual purpose in mind, to use as a Valentines Card to send out to family and friends as well as for Illustration Friday's word of the week "Storm".  I painted in gouache paint, using some dry brush techniques to highlight the curves of the body and wings and then finished with a fine point pen doing some outlining and shading. In creating this image of a happy cupid sitting on a cloud, I was inspired by happy Buddha statues from around the world. Taking the word storm and turning it on its head to have a positive meaning, happiness - like a fresh spring rain.









Inspired by a smiling Buddha that is at a temple on Koh Samui Island in Thailand; a beautiful place that I am always inspired by and would love to travel to one day! I wanted to create a cupid that looked posed in a happy gesture, like this Buddha; spreading love throughout the world with his hearts, instead of the iconic cupid aiming an arrow that is commonly seen. It was a very fun project! 

Happy Valentine's everyone ~ Be Happy!

 

Illustration Friday: Wings 

Created for Illustration Friday for "wings" topic. A little boy takes flight from the comfort of his own living room using his imagination and some hand made wings! Illustrated  in gouache and pen and ink. View a larger version or purchase a print or original painting on my website.

Hot Air Balloon vs. Flying Piglet

(Card of Shadow Dancer Balloon)

I recently went on a road trip in October from Minneapolis to San Francisco to visit friends, family and the western part of the country. We stopped in Albuquerque, NM to visit some folks and we able to be part of the amazing International Balloon Fiesta there as crew members. We helped unroll the surprisingly delicate giant balloon called, "Shadow Dancer"; pilot William Manus directing us and several others the whole time. William is a local firefighter and as such, our ride to the fiesta as a vintage 1960's fire truck! Inspired by this unique experience I created this illustration in gouache paint on paper, putting my own spin on one of my photos of "Shadow Dancer". I am selling the original painting as well as using the image on some greeting cards that I sell at Simply Jane in the store and local craft shows. It was a great event overall that I will never forget; watching the sun crest over the dark mountains at 5:00 am, and waiting for the wind to be just right for him to take off. Then the amazing sight of hundreds of hot air balloons slowly filling in a huge green field and then lifting off into a stark blue sky!

Recycling Vintage Plates to make Art

Tarantula

Instead of buying expensive, yet cheaply made canvas imported from china; the recycler in me has come out to play and used these old plates I got at a thrift store to create some fun new pieces of art. I am thinking of doing a whole series of these based on animals, plants and maybe some of my favorite fairy tales/stories.

Luna Moth 

I first applied golden absorbent ground, (my new favorite medium that allows you to paint water-based paint, like gouache on almost any surface.) I then painted my luna moth and tarantula on the center of the plates and after it had dried I applied a spray gloss to seal everything and make it water proof. These plates will not be food safe but they will make a fun and unique piece of wall art, (easily hung with a $2 plate hanger form a hardware store).

"Intertwined" gouache on canvas

New illustration  I just finished. A look at the beauty of life and death. It was a work in progress for a long time and now it is finally done. I especially had fun with the colors and details on the clematis flowers. Prints are available on my new website hosted by  otherpeoplespixels. I recently switched from creating my own website to this web service for creatives and I love how easy it is to upload my artwork. It takes about 5 min or less to upload a new image and I can even sell it directly on the website through paypal with no commission taken. Its a great service for any illustrator!

A Seal's Dream - Illustration Friday: Vocal

Inspired by some old Disney nostalgia I created this painting for Illustration Friday: Vocal. Painted in gouache paint on paper it reminds us of a simpler time when we listened to cassette tapes of the song of mystical creatures from the sea.

Illustration Friday: Swamp

"Fantastical Frog" Painted in gouache on paper. A frog with a swamp growing on his back filled with other critters. (Got it done by friday but didn't get to scan it till today)