Busy Busy Busy!!!

Hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving Day! 

Thanksgiving took on new meaning for me 2 years ago in 2014, when my husband proposed, so now I always look back on that holiday with a special fondness!

It has been a very busy couple of months, and sadly, I let my blog posts lapse. But I'm very excited to share what I have been working on! First of all, I signed on to illustrate a second book for Xist Publishing! The first book, I Saw A Friend, is one of my FAVORITE projects to date, & I am eager to  begin this next assignment as soon as the holidays are over. 

In October, I participated in Inktober2016, where people are asked to do daily ink drawings based on prompts. I didn't get them all done, nor stick to the prompts, but generated LOTS of fun drawings, many that resulted in cool finished art like the pumpkins above! 

I also participated in the SCBWI DrawThis challenge! The word prompt was: FRIGHT. 

I had a lot of fun with it, as you can see above! SCBWI is such an important organization for children's book authors and illustrators, and I am a proud member!

And finally, I am in the home stretch with my adult coloring book that I have been working on for the past year! It will actually appeal to folks of ALL ages, and is filled with images of varying degrees of complexity, displaying fun and silly scenes designed to make you smile! Not sure if it will be available in time for the holidays, but DO check back for ordering information! 

That's it for now!

You can expect me to be posting a bit more regularly, so be sure to subscribe!

As always, I appreciate your interest in my work!!!

Happy National Bacon Day!

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And now, I am suddenly craving BACON!!!! 

I just started exploring the wonderful world of Instagram!!!So if YOU have an Instagram account,  and would like to see more silly art like this, follow me HERE!!!!

Download my book FOR FREE!!!

TODAY & TOMORROW ONLY!!! (Aug 29-30)

Download the e-book version of the latest book I illustrated,  I Saw A Friend

FOR FREE!!!!!!!

***Click HERE for AMAZON.COM LINK!!!!***

It is a super-cute story about a young animal lover, who discovers some friendships

 are easier to make than others!!! 

Download it for your kids, your grand kids, or simply to view my artwork!!!

It is a sweet story, and a project I am very proud of that I am very excited to share!

I welcome your feedback, & honest reviews on Amazon and Goodreads are 

GREATLY APPRECIATED!

As always, I THANK YOU for your interest in my work!!!

#scbwidrawthis ROYAL

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Although I draw people rather infrequently compared to animals, this little guy instantly popped into my head when I saw the prompt for this month's #scbwidrawthis challenge was "ROYAL." So much media focus has been on Prince William, Kate and their progeny, I do wish them some privacy! I could have easily done something with the king of beasts, as I can draw a lion with my eyes closed, but I like to think of these assignments as "challenges" and thus decided to do something a bit out of the ordinary for me. (Even threw in a touch of "royal purple." Did you catch that? ;) )Would love to know what you think of him!

Illustration Friday - TRAPPED, SCBWI #DRAWTHIS and My Adult Coloring Book!!!

Lots of things going on in my studio these days!!!

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Was happy to have a few minutes to doodle something for Illustration Friday this week! 

The word was TRAPPED! My husband and I are hoping to get a Bernedoodle puppy next year, so I guess had Bernedoodle on the brain! I hope this one made you smile! (Although the kitty doesn't seem to find it a bit funny!)

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I also was excited to have the opportunity to participate in the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators monthly #DRAWTHIS program. The word was ADMIRE. 

This drawing was inspired by a memory from when I was a kid. A police officer came to our elementary school to talk about safety. We were in awe of him. We were impressed by his badge, intimidated by his uniform, we respected his authority, and admired his bravery. Most of us wanted to BE a police officer (myself included!) by the time he left. (When I got older, I saw a police training bootcamp video, and that was enough to change my mind :D ) As an adult, with several friends who are police officers, and a brother-in-law who recently retired from the force, and having a better understanding of the horrors these people see every day as part of their job, and the risks they take with their own lives to insure our safety, I admire their courage more than ever. Especially now. And I pray for their safety. 

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And finally, here is a sneak peek of the adult coloring book I have been working on! I've been having a great time creating pages with different levels of complexity, to offer varying challenges, but also infusing a bit of humor to make things fun!!!

Illustration Friday - YARN

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This week's Illustration Friday prompt was YARN. This idea is a little more obvious than I usually come up with, but it's Thursday, and I needed to come up with something quick! And anyway, who can resist Siamese kitten cuteness, right?! ;) Glad to be able to squeak an Ill Friday challenge in after a long hiatus! Hoping to make it more of a regular thing again!

Thanks for stopping by! Hope it made you smile!

Illustration Friday - MYSTERY & 4 Year Anniversary!

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It's been quite a while since I've participated in an Illustration Friday challenge.  I can't explain why I suddenly, out of the blue, checked out the website yesterday to see what the prompt was after so many months....or why I immediately started quickly doodling something for "MYSTERY" in a meeting at work when I have so many other art projects I *should* have been doodling....as far as doodling goes. So it was quite the surprise to learn one day later that today marks the 4-year anniversary of the day I stumbled upon Illustration Friday and participated in my very first challenge! 4 YEARS!

It was always fascinating to see what people would come up with, and how unique or not-so-unique my idea was each week! I actually went on a roll where I participated every week without fail for 52 weeks straight between 2012-2013! I can honestly say it was one of the most worthwhile activities I've ever participated in - because it got me drawing again, on a regular basis. It helped me build a new portfolio, and define my style. And as a result, I have since landed 3 children's book jobs. It kick-started my career. And beyond that, through it I connected with other artists, and built some truly wonderful friendships with some amazingly talented people that have lasted for several years now. You know who you are! :)

I started a this blog a week or 2 after that first challenge, as a place to easily display my entries. After years of participation, this blog is now a gallery of my work! I love revisiting it every so often...and remembering which words inspired ideas right away, and which ones were more challenging!

Which brings me back to MYSTERY....the idea for this one popped into my head rather quickly yesterday. No idea where it came from. So imagine my surprise when I arrived home from work tonight to find THIS....

Certainly not a yeti....but too small to be a dog, and the snow seemed too deep for it to be a cat or a squirrel....hmmmmm......I couldn't help but wonder if I was being watched as I examined the tracks......

Happy Ground Hog Day!

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I don't know about you, but I don't enjoy getting woken up unexpectedly! 

And that is from NORMAL sleep, not hibernation! My husband says I grunt and growl at him when  he wakes me up for work in the mornings. (I am SO not a morning person!) So imagine how poor Phil feels - especially when, let's face it - he can't REALLY predict the weather! He's a RODENT!!!

I hope this gave you a smile!!

I have been busy working on my new for 2016 SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT series, as well as my adult coloring book, and having a bit of fun playing with some new water color pencils I had never tried before! Stay tuned for some sneak peeks!! 

Happy New Year 2016! The Year of the....SMILE?!

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 Happy New Year 2016! 

I hope you find this year brings good health, great happiness, 

and lots and LOTS of smiles!!! 

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Speaking of smiles, there is scientific evidence that smiling causes happiness! And so, this year, in an effort to spread a little bit of happiness, I am launching a new series (that I hope will be regular!) specifically designed to cause the corners of your mouth to turn upwards!  When you are having a crappy day, you sometimes need a place to turn to where you can find something to change your mood...if only for a little while. Join me on my Creations By Mit Facebook page for some silly, wacky, and sometimes simply heartwarming drawings! Hope to see you there!!