Illustration Friday - WHISPER

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 When I first saw this week's prompt, I wanted to do something a little different. And I came up with the idea of a "whispering wind"........except with all the storms we've had around here over the past month, I'm more familiar with a screaming, howling, obnoxious wind (another of which is forecasted for overnight!) And so I came up with the image below during a meeting at work.  But the meeting was so long, I had time to work up an alternative sketch based on the idea of "whispering sweet nothings"....thus, the image above. Although, from the look on Hank's face, I'm pretty sure Bonnie isn't whispering NOTHING.... & might not be the type of girl often described as "sweet".....just sayin' :)

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Illustration Friday - WOOL

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 When I saw the challenge word was 'wool' I immediately thought 'sheep', as I'm sure many people did. Not exactly original, and anyone who has visited this blog before knows I strive for originality! But the sheep I thought of are the ones that appear in the children's book I illustrated, 'The Quilt Book' . I had a lot of fun with these particular sheep & selected some of my favorite scenes to share with you. I admit, I feel a little guilty, not drawing something new for this week's prompt, but the truth is, I've got a paying project I really *should* be working on, & ultimately, any new sheep would kind of look like these guys anyway! So, in an effort to be professional, stay on the straight & narrow, meet my deadlines, & not get distracted by visions of fabulous new sheep....... "old" sheep, and therefore, "old wool" it is!!! As always, I appreciate you stopping by! And if, by chance, anyone is interested, the book is still available to order! Just click on the link! :)

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Illustration Friday - STORM

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After the blizzard we just experienced last weekend here in New England, I was tempted to boycott this week's illustration challenge. I mean, when I hear 'storm' I can't help but think of the over 2' of snow I had the "pleasure" of shoveling to dig out my car on Saturday! But....in the end, I did not one, but TWO scenes inspired by last weekend, hoping they will be the last of the "storms" we see in these parts this season! :)

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Illustration Friday - WHEEL

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Yeah, yeah, yeah. So much for slacking off, huh? I saw this week's prompt, and couldn't stay away! Although I can't believe it actually took me a few days to come up with this idea for "WHEEL" when my studio mate, Miss Miga runs on hers right next to me when I'm on my computer! I was watching her last night, & finally *light bulb!* It came to me! This actually looks a lot like her, with the green wheel, the yellow teeth, and the tufts behind her ears. (Although you can't tell, because she passed out in the photo below...)

Illustration Friday - WINGS

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I can't believe it, but this little guy marks my 52nd consecutive week participating in the Illustration Friday challenges! I made it a whole year, without fail! I admit, it has gotten more & more difficult to get them done, & now that I have completed a whole year, I intend to do a bit of slacking off, and maybe some picking & choosing. (Although I expect this to be a very hard habit to break!!) But I'll still be posting, so do continue to stop by for smiles & silliness!!!! Thank you to all who have come along on this ride!!!

Illustration Friday - MYTH

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It is a myth that unicorns are peaceful, docile creatures. 

They're actually quite nasty. 

Not only do they  terrorize woodland denizens, but they also have a penchant for popping balloons & bouncy houses at kids' birthday parties and have been known to stalk Lisa Frank.....

So this week, I had this fantastic idea for "MYTH." I wanted to do a minotaur (doing something unusual, of course!) Was pretty excited about it, actually. I started sketching during a particularly tedious meeting at work, but the minotaur just wouldn't come together for me. And I knew if I didn't get it done tonight, I wasn't going to get it done at all, with more pressing (read: paying) projects looming this week. So I flipped the page, & cranked out something I could draw with my eyes closed. A unicorn. My friend Phil had once said unicorns are not all cute & sweet, & I decided he was right. This one is certainly not all sunshine & rainbows!

As for the minotaur.....I still love the idea. Maybe he'll appear in a future blog....

Happy Friday!!!

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It's not often I'm up & drawing before 7:00 am before I head off to the day job!! But sometimes when you're excited about an idea, you just have to do it........regardless of whether it will make you late for work or not!! Happy Friday, everyone!!!

Illustration Friday - OCEAN

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Ah, ocean! Not really a difficult theme this week, & several of my other IF entries would have fit well with this theme, but I decided to do something new anyway....

This is the 49th consecutive Illustration Friday challenge I've participated in! When I discovered IF last February, I thought it would be a good way to keep drawing regularly, & maybe get a few new portfolio pieces. I never expected to keep this up, week after week!

 Once I hit 52, I will slow down a bit & try to squeeze them in when I can, as it has become increasingly difficult to complete them with all of the other creative projects and assignments I've got going on. But it has been a lot of fun, and will really be a hard habit to break! Thank you for coming along for the ride!

Illustration Friday - EDGE

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The first illustration challenge of 2013! And I got it done fairly early in the week, too!

 I'd say, off to a good start! :)

Illustration Friday - NEW

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Everyone knows new sneakers make you run faster!

For this week's challenge, I was going to draw a newly hatched chick....Then I scrapped that for a baby new year....But upon thinking about it, I felt both of those ideas were pretty common, so I decided to go with new shoes...and from there it went to new sneakers. Didn't you always think when you were a kid, that new sneakers would make you run faster than you ever could before? Well, maybe I'm just weird, but I did!! 

2012 was a very good year for me on many levels. In February I discovered Illustration Friday, & committed to participating each week, in an effort to keep me drawing. I haven't missed a week since. In March, I started this blog as a place to display the challenges (i.e. the products of my wacky mind!) & through it, have "met" so many great people, & have made some really cool new friends!!! I LOVE reading your comments & insights, & discovering some of you are as crazy as I am!! Above all else, I love it when you tell me my drawings have made you smile! And visiting & commenting on YOUR blogs has truly become a favorite past time! I sit there with a cup of coffee, and & am inspired & amazed by the level of talent! In July, I met a super-hot guy who IS as crazy as I am, & who has become, without a doubt, my biggest fan. He pushes me onward, always challenging me to challenge myself, do more....and stop screwing around! In November, the children's book I illustrated went to print. This was a project started many years ago, and something I'd long since given up on. It was amazing to finally hold it in my hands! And when I started receiving photos of happy kids, holding their copies of the book that they'd received for Christmas....well.....it made me want to get off my butt and create MORE!!! 

So I look toward 2013 with eagerness and anticipation! And I hope at this time next year, I'm typing up an even longer list of positives!! And with that, I'll wish you all a truly FABULOUS new year, & shut up!!!  :)