Wood

Heaven's Gate

I added Heaven's Gate to Sharon's Studio this spring. I like to mix it up and add something new seasonally.  And kitties roaming around outdoors seemed like the purrfect choice. I painted Heaven's Gate when my cat Baby died. She was no longer on the outside looking in.  Or on the inside looking out. But hopefully she is somewhere. I can't imagine Heaven being very fun with out our beloved pets.

Wood is the theme this week over at www.illustrationfriday.com  

It Takes a Village...

click to enlarge

Even though this is an illustration of a small island, it still fits the bill for village. The Illustration Friday theme. On Ometepe, there really aren't any towns large enough to be considered a city. That's part of its charm. Horses really do frolic on the beach, with no humans in sight. Monkeys fly through the trees, cows roam the earth almost unrestricted and two volcanoes loom eerily over everything. 

Ometepe is an island off of Nicaragua. A real Garden of Eden. My illustration only scratches the surface of its rural treasures.

If you look close, you can see the twin volcano in the background. When I took this photo, I was waving goodbye to Ometepe. Hello is sweet. But good bye always tastes bitter. 

P.S. Say hello to Panama over at my creative writing blog The Chorus of the Crows

Shelter

This is a famous shelter. Do you recognize it? Here's a hint. It's a manger! Obviously, I figured that this selection from my first illustrated book Mary Rode to Bethlehem on Me was the perfect fit for this week's Illustration Friday theme. After all, the famous couple (not shown) were looking for shelter on a fateful night so long ago. All the animals shown here are just a bonus.

Banjo Hat

I couldn't resist posting my Banjo Pig Illustration for the Illustration Friday theme hat. Duh. It's a no brainer. The pig is wearing a banjo hat. Unfortunately, the musical hats didn't become all the rage. I was certain that after I painted this, the banjo beret would become a big new fad. My bad. What else would you do with a banjo? Play it? I don't think so.

Of course, I'm also spoofing Project Runway. The unconventional challenge has always been a personal favorite. And Banjo Pig is a pretty unconventional illustration!

Smartie Paws

Dessertus Interruptus

This old illustration is based on a true story. But it's not just one story, it's the whole kitty and kaboodle. The whole 9 yards, or 9 lives to be more specific.

My cat Hana has been torturing me with her feline grit and determination for 7 plus years. She's smart. Basically, you don't want a cat to be this smart. It's like living with a naughty monkey that is determined to get the better of you. In reality, if Hana had a sibling monkey, the monkey would probably prevail. It really makes me laugh just thinking about another creature actually getting the better of her. If only. I can just see the tail pulling. And Hana's utter confusion at not being top cat anymore. 

I learned early on, that letting Hana sit on you lap during dessert or any other eating ritual, was a lesson in futility.  It only took the first swipe of an errant paw and the food hitting the fan to realize that. I started holding my plate to the far left, or far right. Not, in the paw target zone, right over her head. But that being said, the carnage still happens... occasionally. She is after all, determined to always be on or around me at dessert time. Always!

 Sometimes, she's a good kitty. These days, she is usually content with sitting on my lap and licking the plate after I'm done.  But there are other times. Cat-astrophe kind of times.

It just smells too darn good.

Maybe, she has lulled me into complaisance for months.

Then, the kibble hits the fan.

The other day, I had defrosted an upside down peach cake for dessert. Hana was sitting beside me, over my shoulder, on the back of the sofa cushion. I started eating. Then a paw came out. Whack. She didn't knock the cake off my plate, but this was war! Now days, one whack and she spends the rest of dessert time locked in the bathroom. So, I set my plate down beside me, grabbed Hana and into the bathroom she went. But (my bad) when I set the plate down in haste, it tipped over and fell peach upside down side on the floor below. AAARRRGGGHHH!

Delicious homemade peach upside down cake doesn't grow on trees you know. 

Illustration Friday

I'm Soaring!

Red Wings Over Red Wing, Minnesota

The word Soar has such energy and power. I have many pieces of art that depict flying or floating animals and people. I even have an illustration of angels floating over a manger. Now, that would be timely. But floating does not have the energy of soaring. If you ask what super power a random person might pick to possess, it would probably be flying. I know I would. The first place I'd go would be the jagged green Na Pali coast of Kauai. What would you pick?

My favorite part of this illustration is the Lake or River Monster. Did you know that Lake Pepin has a mysterious resident?  Well, it does. Although, I've yet to see it rear its head or flap its tail above the Mississippi. Maybe that's why I love to explore this area so much. You never know...

Soar is the theme for www.illustrationfriday.com this week. 

Happy Holidays artists and illustrators!

Wet Naps

My illustration Five Speckled Frogs is part of a new book! Click here to find it on Amazon. It's volume 3. And I'm in volume 2 too. That's old news, but I'm just saying.

 My colorful frogs are also perfect for the www.illustrationfriday.com theme wet. Frogs seem wet even when they're out of the water. They're soft, glossy and well, down right slimy. These frogs are all based on real life tropical frogs. Can you believe it? Nature is so amazing. And they are also representing a classic nursery rhyme.

I love them all.

The streets are not alive with the sound of music...

click to enlarge

  I photographed (not scanned, that's why it's crude) one of my early architectural pieces for today's www.illustrationfriday.com  City theme. I think I painted this after yet another Zombie attack on the streets of somewhere.  Zombie attacks are of course all too common these days. I hope they never hurt any kittens or puppies on their thoughtless and whining Zombie rampages.  But let's get back to my painting.  It seems deserted, quiet and downright devoid of life. Like the empty streets after an aforementioned attack.   But it is an eager study of Terra cotta tiles.  A personal favorite to paint when I work on fine art pieces.  Something I haven't done enough of lately.  I love to paint old texture, mysterious stairways and archways.   

click to enlarge

B/W

Black and White.  The preferred method of viewing post Zombie zones.  At least in old movies.  :)

Dogs and Cats

What could be better choices for the www.illustrationfriday.com theme animal than dogs and cats. Everyone's favorite animals. Unless you are a python fan. Just for fun, I selected the goofiest versions I could find. Big Eyed Dog is still an all time favorite of mine.

 Skeptical Cat

Skeptical Cat with mustache. Why not?

Whimsical

whim·si·cal

ˈ(h)wimzik(ə)l/

adjective

1. 1.

   playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way.

   "a whimsical sense of humor"

   synonyms:

   fanciful, playful, mischievous, waggish, quaint, quizzical, curious,droll, fantastical, Seussian

The word whimsical could describe almost all of my illustration work. I recently started concentrating on more fine art pieces. I can't wait to share those.  But for now, well, the majority of my vast computer files is whimsical. As you can see I googled the definition. It is a word I use all the time, so I was curious about the qualifiers. 

I think my Luau Pigs fit the bill. A recipe illustration I did a few sunsets ago. The poor rhythmic pigs have no idea what the true meaning of this hula dance reveals. Basically that ham sandwiches taste great!

www.illustrationfriday.com 

Red Bouquet

One flower is definitely not a bouquet. But add one additional flower, then, it might be. Irregardless, it's my submission for www.illustrationfriday.com this week. My two flower, exotic, tropical bouquet.

I love the vibrant red color. And the black background is the perfect contrast. 

A Witch in Outer Space

  

This little witch is on a midnight ride for www.illustrationfriday.com  Well, she's been on this adventure for many, many moons. Because it is becoming old hat (get it?) for me to post it on Halloween. Well, that's just the way I roll. Or as the Moon turns...

The poor black cat wasn't able to hold on. Gulp. But luckily he landed on this oddly round asteroid. Or extremely small planet. And is relaxing for all eternity while drinking a tasty pumpkin beverage. That's how I roll too. 

Pumpkin Pup

What do you stuff your pumpkins with? Well, dogs are the obvious choice. I'm not sure what is going to happen with that pumpkin topper balancing oddly on its poor little head. Weird. But who knows what I was thinking when I painted this timely piece. Although, the color still pops! 

These days, I usually find squirrels popping out of my pumpkins. I should paint that. I'm sure that scenario has happened on your doorstep. The pesky squirrels just keep eating until they find themselves eating from the inside out. Whoopsy. 

Stuffed for www.illustrationfriday.com

Starfish

I caught a starfish this week for the theme Star. It was either this or go the celestial route. I do actually have a manger scene on Christmas day. And you know what had a staring role!

Here's what I had to say for the fluid theme...

Something is fishy around here.  But it's not my entry for Friday Fish Fry  (click to enlarge) It is perfect for the fluid theme.  Not a loosey goosey interpretation like usual.  My mermaid is obviously floating in water.  And the way she is painted is very fluid or liquid.  Especially her arms.  I guess she doesn't have bones.  All the better when it is time to fillet her.  For shame! And there is another thing that makes this more fluid. I usually use references to aid in my painting.  If I'm drawing a monkey I look at a photo of a monkey. And so on and so on.  But this was completely off the top of my head.  It is very unusual for me to paint like that.    

I painted this one way back in the day.  I've been slowly scanning some of my old, older and oldest images over time.  And I still like this one.  I love the swirly water and vibrant color.  I actually used a fabric paint for the hair.  And I used more textured papers back then.  Nothing fishy about that.  

Just fun.

Sur-Prize...Cupcakes!

click to enlarge

This little girl has her eye on the prize. The cat, on the other hand, just looks annoyed.  But, I'm not sure if I painted it that way on purpose. Ha! It's an old piece. But the recipe is still terrific.

Prize is the theme for www.illustrationfriday.com this week.

Mermaid Me

click to enlarge

I went fishing in my vast cyber ocean and hooked Mermaid Me. It is my choice fillet for the www.illustrationfriday.com mermaid theme. Self portraits are so much fun to do. I think we all have so many sides (or fins) to ourselves.  I don't exactly swim like a mermaid.  But my love of the ocean goes back to when I was 5 years old and saw it for the first time.  I grew up far from any ocean on a boring farm in Wisconsin.  Well, now I think of it as a scenic area of rolling hills and bountiful crops.  But back then it was one dull day after another.  Until our first trip to Florida.  Magic!  It has been a love affair ever since. 

 I've done some serious shelling on Sanibel Island.  Put my tanned paws in the silky sands of Siesta Key.  Sat with Sea turtles on the black sand of the Big Island.  Snorkeled with the fishes in Belize.  And most importantly boogie boarded in Dominical, Costa Rica.  I definitely have a little bit of mermaid in me.  Even though I often sport a life jacket.  A little girl pointed at me after bike riding along the lake this Summer.  I was still wearing my helmet.   She pointed and said to her Mom, "Safety Girl"  Yep.  That's me.

Safety mermaid artist girl to the rescue.

Villain

Guess who's the villain? Well, if you own a cat, you know the answer is always (D).  For all of the above. 

Here's the villain at my house.

Hana. It almost looks like a drunk mug shot. She was caught in the act on a trail cam. But we let her off easy because she was actually doing something cute. Leaving us sock kittens by the front door.

Two shakes of a cat's tail ago I posted this piece for the invisible theme over at www.illustrationfriday.com  Here's what I wrote...

No one's forcing you to look at my Pawshanks Prison piece. But if you do, you'll notice the orange cat is hiding his stash of illegal catnip behind a poster.  Hmmm.  I wonder where I got that idea?  If I wouldn't have painted a toilet in the background, I could imagine that the gravel chunks collected from the wall were hidden in the litter box.  But I did.

  The Shawshank Redemption is one of my all time favorite movies. A classic.   Pawshanks Prison is also a clawsic.  At least in my mind.  The acatamey nominated it for a Morris.  But it lost to a documentary on Li'l Bub and Grumpy Cat.  The catics ripped it to shreds in the press.  But I don't care.  I know it would get 4 paws if the voters knew how to vote!

The Good Old Days

Excerpt from The Yearling. By Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Old is the theme for www.illustration.friday.com

P.S. It looks like there aren't enough biscuits!

Growth Chart

I selected an illustration from my book Maya Monkey for the www.illustrationfriday.com theme grow. This one's pretty obvious, as she's being measured for growth by her friend the sloth. 

Just another day in paradise!

Nature at its Finest!

My favorite detail of this piece is the red eyed tree frog. I've posted him before on my blog. He really represents some of my finest detail work. It could be that I was inspired by my love of animals, reptiles, birds and bugs. Well, scratch the bugs. But they do feed my beloved birds and frogs. So I guess they're O.K. As long as they are on the tongue of a frog instead of on me! But it is mostly because of the insane beauty of the tree frog. What a great subject!  I've never seen a red eyed tree frog in the wild. I have seen a blue jean's frog though.

Blue Jean's Frog.  Although,that's probably not his official name!

These images were taken on a night hike in Puerto Veijo, Costa Rica. Shortly after I photographed these little frogs, it started pouring dogs and cats!

Flora and fauna

Dominical, Costa Rica

And since I painted that jungle piece so many years ago, we've actually stayed in jungle cabanas with similar amazing views! This one was breath taking. And you heard all of the jungle noises you'd expect to hear from a location such as this. But, I did nickname this place Casa Construction. It lived up to it's name. Let me tell you. Maybe, I'll fill you in on that next week.

Sunrise and sunset were visually stirring here. Dominical, Costa Rica will always feel like home.

Nature is the theme for www.illustrationfriday.com this week.

Saturday's Critters

My World Wednesday