Thanksgiving Coloring Sheet

Character Sketches - Pollock

Character Sketches - Pals

Illustration Friday - Sneaky III

I was guilty of a similar thing when I was little.  My parents caught on video a wee Michelle in her high chair reaching out for the sugar bowl and spooning a giant mouthful into her own waiting mouth.  I wouldn't put it past my younger self to do this too.

Illustration Friday - Sneaky II

Lauren's sneaky ability to catch her parents at the exact moment they were discussing her upcoming birthday was remarkable.

Illustration Friday - Sneaky I

Clarence was notorious for being sneaky.  His sneak attacks on his hapless victims ultimately got him banished to the basement, but it was so worth it.

Smells Like Crayons

Take a look at my experimentation with a Graphic Novel over at Smell's Like Crayons.

Spilled Milk

This little pup isn't going to cry over spilled milk.  No, sir.  In fact, he'll do his very best to put on a brave face.  

Illustration Friday - Burning

I enjoy finding my two young daughters books with strong female characters.  The Paper Bag Princess by Robert N. Munsch is a great example.  The eponomous princess stands up to dragons, saves the boy, and then realizes the boy is a jerk and dumps him.  I love it!

The dragon is known for burning everything in its path, including princesses.  However, not even fire breathing dragons can stop this princess.  She's got some serious moxy.  And she's a great role model for young girls.

Illustration Friday - Afterwards

Ally loved her weekends.  She treasured them.  On the weekend, Ms. Gator would leisurely amble through her morning routine, she'd make a pot of tea, and afterwards, she'd sit down in her oversized chair, prop up her feet and savor her Gator Times daily.  No rush, rush, rush that was so typical during the week.  No.  She didn't need to be anywhere or do anything on the weekend.  Ahhh, weekends were such a delight.  Unfortunately, Ally had no idea that all that would change when her new neighbor moved in...

Daylight Savings Time

It's hard for me to get up in the morning when it's still pitch dark outside.  I'd prefer to stay curled up in my warm bed until the sun decides to wake up, but alas, it's not to be, and I drag myself out of bed.  Once I'm up, I wake up fairly quickly.  It looks like my hedgehog friend here has trouble with daylight savings time too (but at least he gets to sleep a 1/2 hour longer than I do.)  :)

Rejection is hard

Rejection is hard.  You'd think after a while you'd get better equipped at dealing with it, and I suppose that you do.  But it's still hard reading "Thank you for sharing your work with me.  Unfortunately, your style is not one that I can use at this time," or "I'm not taking on new artists this year."  And those are the ones you actually know about. 

But rejection is inevitable in this competitive industry, and when it comes knocking at my door,  I pick myself up, dust myself off, and keep plugging away.  Evenutally, there will be an agent, or an art director out there who thinks "Aha!  Just what I was looking for."  

So until then, here are a few quotes that keep me inspired:

An artist cannot fail; it is a success to be one. ~Charles Horton Cooley

Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

No cats allowed.

Three Cheers

The Award

Teacher Appreciation

Writer's Block

Of Mice and Men

They Draw and Cook - Holiday Recipe Contest

They Draw and Cook are at it again.  Another fantastic recipe/illustration project!  And get this ... $2000 in cash prizes and 31 ƒavorites will be featured once per day on Food Network's blog (The FN Dish)!  How cool is that?!?

I may have mentioned in another post that I've inherited my mom's love of cookbooks.  It's true and I just do not get tired of looking at the illustrated recipes on They Draw and Cook! (It's my guilty pleasure... although I really don't feel at all guilty about it.)  I love that I can participate too!

The recipe I've submitted is for Cinnamon-Roasted Almonds.  However, I must warn you ... they are addicting!