Illustration Friday - SHY

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 Percy was always a bit shy around strangers.....

Percy the pony is the result of a doodle during another less than stimulating meeting at work. I think he looks rather shy.....or maybe that's actually contrition.....

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Jerry found under the bed to be the safest place in his new home for the first day or so....

Jerry (aka Jer-Bear) was inspired by my friend Jen's new adoptee. Used to being one of 8 or so cats in his foster home, he didn't quite know what to make of Jen & her husband, or the fact that he was flying solo, so under the bed seemed like a good idea. But fortunately for everybody, he got over his shyness after a day or 2. Jen might actually regret that if he decides he likes sleeping in her bed....

Not quite sure if I got his markings totally right, but I think she'll recognize him!

Am a little later than I'd like this week - Thursday nights aren't a good time to get feedback! But I kept the streak alive! As always, I appreciate your visit!!!

Illustration Friday - HAUNT

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 This is a monster; not a ghost, but I'm pretty sure this guy could haunt somebody's dreams if he tried! The fear of growing a rear view like that will certainly haunt mine!!!  I was asked at the last minute to draw him for a Halloween party my company held today for the employees' children, so he was cranked out in less than 10 minutes.

 But the kids didn't seem to notice. Pin the tail on the monster turned out to be a big hit! (Well, AFTER the candy collecting, that is!!)

And if HE didn't scare you, I can guarantee this photo of me WILL!!!  As always, I appreciate you stopping by!!! Happy Halloween, everyone!

Illustration Friday - SKY

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Hmmmm....I don't have a caption for this one! I think kind of just taking it in, just like the couple down front is enough.............jeez! I think I'm getting a bit sentimental!! Not sure what's come over me!! :)

I actually had 2 for this week. I inked & scanned them both, but I liked this one so much, I figured I'd quit while I was ahead. Plus, I'm coming down with a vicious cold, & I suspect my Aleve Cold & Sinus will wear off soon, leaving me as a sloshing bucket of fluids long before I finished the 2nd one!!!

Anyway, that's all I've got for now! Enjoy your week, everyone, and thanks for stopping by! I'm off to down some magic potion (aka Airborne) & head for bed with a box of Kleenex!

Illustration Friday - WATER

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It was just another ordinary, lazy Sunday....until Salvatore noticed there was a stranger among them....

Well, this week's theme was so crazy-easy that I was tempted to just posted an existing piece. But then I got an idea, & just had to play around with it. I guess I subconsciously had Loch Ness monsters on the brain after seeing this cool guy my friend, Phil posted on his blog a few weeks ago: http://philrood.blogspot.com/2012/09/monster-alphabet-nessie.html  (Check out the whole series!!! Great stuff!!)

  But since I finished so early this week, I felt like I couldn't post just one, so I went into my archives, and dug up a few more....

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A version of this girl & her friends is currently framed & hanging in my guest bathroom. 

Yeah, I admit I  have a pretty funky bathroom....

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 And you might recognize this attitudinal guy as my blogger/google avatar..... 

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When Allistair, a bit of a hellraiser, took to his skis, Ferris tried to avoid getting swamped...

Allistair and Ferris starred in my Illustration Friday entry for SWAMP waaaayyyyyyy back in March. I immediately thought of Allistair's wake when I saw this week's theme was WATER....

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Bathing Bertha spent her last $10 on SHADES to compliment her outfit, but if she doesn't spring for some sunscreen soon, she'll blend in with her bikini!

And then Bathing Bertha followed the week after for SHADES. My week has already been from Hell, and it's only Monday....What can I say? I wish I were floating around with her! I already have cocktails on the brain! I think I might need a few to get me through this week....

As always, I appreciate your visit and any comments you may feel compelled to leave! And if you like what you see, and haven't subscribed yet (on the right) please do! :)

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!!