Illustration Friday - MIRROR

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Not a good thing when you find your own image startling.....

Whipped this out super-quick this week, so not really my best effort. I've been having less and less time for the Illustration Friday challenges over the past month, but still managed to keep my streak going! HUGE project in the works that's been taking up most of my spare time, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel & think it'll be worth the effort!! As always, I appreciate your visit!!

Illustration Friday - BOOK

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Robin enjoyed a quiet spot and a juicy novel...almost as much as a juicy worm!

Ever enjoy a book so much, you were sort of depressed when you finished it? I really liked this week's theme, as I'm a voracious reader, finishing anywhere between 25-40 books per year. Just finished the Hunger Games trilogy & was rather depressed when I turned the last page - I thought it was that entertaining! 

This piece was another quick one. I played around a little bit this week, & had some fun in Photoshop. I wanted to create a quiet spot for Robin to get immersed in a book. I hope you like it!

I'm also including below an older piece that I shared earlier in the year that is a great fit for this week's theme. I haven't had the time to do something that detailed in awhile, but really enjoyed the pen & ink work when I did, so wanted to share him again! As always, I appreciate you stopping by!

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Illustration Friday - CROOKED (another two-fer!)

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Emogene & Edgar loved to pose for the camera whenever their mom would say cheese!

I came up with two ideas again this week. The first (below) just didn't seem strong enough to me, so I kept brainstorming. After recalling my 5 1/2 years of braces, Emogene & Edgar seemed to be an obvious solution to this week's challenge. But I just couldn't abandon Hector. He kind of looks like he might have been abandoned once already with that tail....but no worries. His belly would indicate he's been eating well now! As always, I thank you for visiting & appreciate your comments!

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Hector's crooked tail wasn't going to win him any awards at the cat show, but it gave him character!

Illustration Friday - BURST (2 this week!)

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Reggie was simply bursting with happiness....

So this week was filled with painfully boring meetings. And in those types of meetings, I tend to doodle. The doodles usually never end up as finished art, but I came up with a couple that I thought might work for this week's challenge that I was excited about. In the end, I really wasn't trying to be an overachiever. I just couldn't make up my mind! So, just like I do when I can't decide between 2 pairs of shoes in the store...I went with BOTH!

 Ever have a moment when you're just so happy you feel like your heart might burst? That's what I was going for with Reggie. I wonder what he's so happy about....

And then I drew this one.....

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Glenn always looked as if he had just eaten a meal for 10, but it was really just genes on his mother's side that made him look like he was about to burst....

Have you ever looked at one of those really plump goldfish that sort of wiggle, rather than swim and wondered if it might actually pop? That was the inspiration for Glenn....

Thank you so much for stopping by!! I always enjoy reading your comments!! :)

Illustration Friday - Imagination

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This is Bill, a total & complete figment of my imagination....or a science experiment gone wrong. You decide!  Once again, I'm posting late, and once again the week seemed to get away from me & I threw something together very quickly so as not to break my streak. But I'm actually quite pleased with Bill. And he looks pretty pleased too, albeit a bit thirsty...Hope you like him too!

I also want to give a HUGE thank you to Linda Hensley who gave me my very first blog award this week!!! Yay!!! Like most people, I just love prizes, & am very flattered to be in such great company! Please visit Linda's always insightful & really cool blog at www.lindahensley.blogspot.com

  The best part about receiving an award like this is getting to pass it on! So while I wish I could give it to ALL of the many fun blogs I enjoy visiting, I have had to limit it to just a few. Great stuff!! Please check them out!!

www.philrood.blogspot.com
www.kazartgallery.blogspot.com
www.lightbluehippo.blogspot.com
www.shirleysillustrations.blogspot.com

Illustration Friday - IDENTICAL

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Andrew embraced his individuality, even if nobody else seemed to.

Since discovering Illustration Friday earlier this year, I have participated in exactly 30 challenges. The streak almost ended there, because this week,  I was stumped. I always like to take a different approach whenever I can, so anything with twins just wasn't gonna happen here. The week wore on, & I really thought I was going to have to pass on this until today, I started thinking about.... ants.....and how, without some kind of disfigurement, its nearly impossible to tell members of the same nest apart....

Anyway, that's how I arrived at the above! Hope you like! As always, I appreciate you stopping by!! 

Illustration Friday - TALL

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Gerry could never figure out why Darby always seemed to be in a foul mood....

Of course the first thing to pop in my mind when I saw this week's prompt was 'giraffe' but I figured that would be rather popular. Then I thought of a stork, heron, or other long-legged bird, but I drew birds last week & the last thing I'd want  is be accused of being boring! So I thought some more, and came up with this. Afterall, the dog world is full of extremes....  This one was cranked out lickety split, so I'm not thrilled with the execution. But if I didn't get it out tonight, it wasn't going to happen until Thursday night, & crickets are usually chirping & tumbleweeds blowing on IF after a certain time on Thursdays....

  Big thank you to everyone who stopped by last week & commented on "Teacher." I really appreciate your comments!!

Illustration Friday  - TEACHER

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As a teacher, it was important that Estelle encourage ALL of her pupils, regardless of their abilities....

Wow!! I'm actually posting on SUNDAY NIGHT!! I don't think I've ever finished a challenge so early in the week! I'm not quite sure what's come over me actually, as I'm never early for anything! Anyway, this one's pretty straightforward.... the little one on the left reminds me of myself when I used to go to bootcamp classes....hey - he may not be doing it right, but at least he's doing it!! Thanks for visiting!!

Illustration Friday - FREEZE

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Jasmine's icy glare made Gus freeze in his tracks....

I figured there'd be a lot of ice & snow, and maybe a few cops this week, so I tried to go in a different direction with the theme. Threw this one together extremely quickly, & on very little sleep, so not thrilled with the execution, but I hope it was worth stopping by, just the same!  A bit of a different vibe from last week's warm and sentimental rabbit, huh?! As always, I appreciate your visits & comments!

Illustration Friday - BOUNCE

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It's funny how sweet sentiments from someone special can put a bounce in your step....

Of course, if they're NOT from someone special, they're downright creepy!!!

Wow! I'm pretty late posting this week! Been crazy-busy & otherwise a bit preoccupied, but glad to have gotten this one done! (I think this is 27 straight weeks with Illustration Friday?!)  I'm not sure how many people will actually see this, but I thank those of you who took the time to visit & comment in advance! I know there will likely be plenty of rabbits this week, & I really didn't have to draw a rabbit to get my message across....but the rabbit just popped into my head, and there it stayed! As always, I appreciate you stopping by!