Tis the Season

Even the little meeces need some rest and relaxation.  Wishing all of you out there, a wonderful, restful, and relaxing holiday season!!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving.  A holiday where you give thanks for the many good things in your life, food, wine, fireplace, and family.   Ahhh.

On the drawing board: Trick-or-treat sketch

I've got Halloween on the brain.  I'll try to find some time to paint it.  Just don't know if I'll get it done by Halloween.  :)

Trick-or-treat

The Great Goose Egg Auction

Hello everyone!  I'm sorry I've neglected my blog for sometime.  I'm still here.  I've been hard at work with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt which is a great thing!  So, forgive me.  When I have some time again, I'll post more often.

I received an email today that my egg is now up on the Great Goose Egg Auction site.  I love the pretty background they used to photograph my wee little birds.  It's always so much fun to see what everyone has come up with for their eggs.  I'm always amazed by just how creative my fellow art-makers are!

“Some birds are not meant to be caged, that's all. Their feathers are too bright, their songs too sweet and wild. So you let them go, or when you open the cage to feed them they somehow fly out past you. And the part of you that knows it was wrong to imprison them in the first place rejoices, but still, the place where you live is that much more drab and empty for their departure.” 
― Stephen King, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption: A Story from Different Seasons

The Great Goose Egg Auction 2014

I am excited to be a part of The Great Goose Egg Auction 2014 for Open Fields School.  In 1996, a parent donated more than 100 blown goose eggs for use in the school. 

A friend of the school and illustrator of children's books, the late Trina Schart Hyman (April 8, 1939–November 19, 2004), suggested that the eggs, if decorated and sold as unique works of fine art, could benefit all of the Open Fields students. Her idea hatched into an annual online auction that supports the school with the sale of artist-decorated eggs. Each year, goose, quail, hen and emu eggs are sent to artists all over the world and returned to Open Fields School as works of art!

This is my egg for this year's auction:  As Free as a Bird (sticking with my recent pigeon/morning dove love, of course)

Pigeons and Refracted Light.

Or Mourning Doves and Rainbows.

Earth Day 2014 Bookmark

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtfully committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. ~ Margaret Mead

On the drawing board ...

I'm ready for Spring.  Aren't you?

On the drawing board...

St. Patrick's Day

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
~Irish Blessing

I'm still here!

Hi everyone!  I just wanted to let you all know that I haven't vanished.  I'm still here.  I've been working feverishly on sketches for the first book in the series I'm working on with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.  It's been wonderful.  I turned in the first round of sketches last week, and now I'm waiting to hear back regarding revisions.

When I'm able to post pictures of the artwork, I will.

The first two books of the series will be out Fall 2015.  :)

Little Doodle

Kiddos are back to school tomorrow.  The littlest one is feeling a bit nervous.  She asked if I would make her a quick little doodle that she could bring to school tomorrow.  Something that would make her smile.

She loves the story of Merlin, and because one of her favorite characters in Merlin is a dragon named Kilgharrah,  I knew just what to draw for her.  I hope she likes it.

Happy 2014

This year is off to a great start!  The wonderful Kathy Temean is featuring me in her blog's Illustrator Saturday!  If you haven't had a chance to visit her blog, you really should; it's full of goodies!