illustration #61

I know, I know. I said I wasn't going to go for the obvious but I guess I am not that original tonight due to all the candy I have consumed. We took our son trick 'r treatin' at a friend's house and ran into some other people we know. Let me tell you it is a good thing to stay very clear from people who try to suck your energy. I was reminded of that tonight when some bratty kid that we know was mean to our son and the mom was completely oblivious as she was suckin' down her champagne. Yep, she and her strange family are energy suckers. I was going to do my illustration on that subject but will have to save it for a more creative day to give it the complete attention it deserves. So this illustration is for the bright halo around the moon that was out tonight, shining it's golden light down on the candy grubbin' kids. Hee-hee.

sugar induced coma

As I sit here contemplating what my subject for today's illustration should be (while trying to steer away from the obvious Halloween subject) I very reluctantly helped myself to some Halloween candy. BLASTED CANDY!! I am now fighting a serious sugar induced coma. There are two things I have diligently been trying to accomplish in the past few months and they are creating an illustration every day and not eating any sugar. Well, I guess that just flew out the window this afternoon! Now I have a headache (it doesn't take much sugar to do that anymore) and I have a deadline for a project and it is inching closer and closer while I sit here with my eyes rolling towards the back of my head from the sugar. Why am I so weak? Argh, so frustrating. Well, wishing you all a happy and frolicking Halloween. I'll have to post my illustration later. Gotta go run for some more candy!

illustration #60

This is my bok bok chicken. I have a thing for chickens, I like 'em. In fact I wouldn't mind having a few of them running around in my backyard. I don't think my cat would agree though. Or, maybe she would!

Illustration #59

I was gone for the majority of the day and evening so I didn't get to post my illo yesterday although my mind was there. My illustration is for a project I was presenting in LA.

Illustration #58

This hooty owl is on the look out for small critters, or maybe some trick or treaters. Don't worry though, he is friendly. He'll just give you a wink and be off on his merry little way.

IF_Trick or Treat / Illustration #57

This illo is for Illustration Friday, the theme being "Trick or Treat." No poisoned candy for this little witch!

illustration #56

I am working on some party like graphics and thought these elements were quite fun.

illustration #55

Boy, she really wanted to give her heart but that tight grasp made him walk away. Will she ever learn holding tight never works?

mmmm, mmmm good.

I made homeade Butternut Squash Soup. It was dairy free and very, very delicious with a few pepitas sprinkled on top. In fact, it was so nutty, buttery good I just had to take a photo of it.

IF_GROW / illustration #54

This is my submission for Illustration Friday, the theme being "grow." As Southern California is all ablaze, what else can grow and spread like wildfire?

illustration #53

OK, OK. I know, another illustration of fire. I can't help it. All around us are gray skies filled with smoke and ash and a weird orange glow. My mom was forced to evacuate her home so this fire has become personal. This illustration is my view of the San Diego I don't know anymore.

illustration #52

San Diego is all ablaze with raging wildfires. The sky is glowing orange, there are bits of ash floating everywhere and the whole city is on the edge of it's seat on a stage of alert. People are being evacuated right and left. There is pending doom swirling with the smoke clouds. What happened to our lovely city? Wasn't I just gushing about the lovely crisp air and such? Maybe I'll make some tea.

he's got my heart

OK, I'm going to babble for a moment on parenting. My son. Ah, my son is the love of my life and I didn't even know I was looking for him when he stumbled into my life. He brings such joy along with him where ever he goes. Even when he is in a sour mood, there is still a sweetness that clings to him like morning dew. He says the funniest things and makes me laugh all the time. My life would be so dull without him in it. I had no idea that parenting could be so rewarding and change you so much in such a way that you can handle pretty much anything that is handed to you because you simply want or desperately need to be around to watch your kid grow up. Before I had a child, people would tell me how hard it was to be a parent and go on and on about the difficult challenges. Well, quite honestly, why in the world would I want to sign up for that? Well I did and I am so glad. My son will do great things and I will proudly watch him!

illustration #51

The Santa Ana winds are here. It's so weird, simply over night the weather has changed to a dry, blustery, warm climate with a strong smell of smoke in the air from a raging wild fire. What happened to the perfect day yesterday? I'd like that back please.

This illustration is a concept for a natural skin care line I have been working on. I had to take the name out of the logo because it is in copyright stage at this moment but the illustration stands alone without the name. This is my fifty first illustration! I didn't think I'd get here but I am so excited to keep going. Yipee for me!

illustration #50

Yep, today was a good day. The sun was shining, but there was a nice cool breeze that tickled across your skin ever so lightly you had to look to make sure that someone was not there. The air was so crisp and clear, everything twinkled in the sunlight. It even smelled clean and clear, better than freshly washed laundry. My small sentiments and jocund delights do not express how very grateful I am to live in this fabulous city. Yep, it was a very good day.

illustration #49

Just came back from the Fall Festival at my son's school. Although it wasn't Halloween related, it put me in the mood for some spooky trees.

illustration #48

We have pets. Four of them to be exact. One dog, one cat, one siamese fighting fish and one desert tortoise. My son was given the fish when he was 2 and now he is 6 (and a half) so that fish has been around for quite a while. My belief was that these particular fish only last a few years, like 2 or 3 but he has proven us wrong. That fish will not die. In fact, he is quite ornery. I go near the tank and he whips around like no one's business and challenges me to open the top of the tank and drop in some food for him. I know this because he jumps up to the top when my hand gets near and then dives down real fast. His name used to be Bleu Truck but now is just Bleu Fish. Boys, I tell you!

illustration #47/ IF_Extremes

This little illustration is about extreme emotions for Illustration Friday. One day she is fluttering about, happy and sappy and the next day she has sunk into a deep dark place. Emotions. Extreme as they can be.

illustration #46

I am working on some animal concepts for a kid's project. I thought my little critters might be fun for today's illustration.

On another note, I took a computer class on Fireworks today with my sister and boy am I impressed with that program. I went into it not really expecting too much but I was very pleasantly surprised. I may do my next illustration in that program!!

Angry Housewives

Tonight was the first meeting for a book club I just joined. We are reading the book called "Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons" and our discussion was so interesting. This book is really quite funny and there is very intriguing character development over the span of 30 years. I really enjoyed hearing how other individuals related to different characters and why. Of course we discussed over chocolate goodness and cheesecake mounds awash with tea and other delicious drinks. (At that meeting I so wished I hadn't given up sugar!) I suppose everyone could have a little bit of angry housewife in them...

illustration #45

Another luggage tag. I really have the traveling bug right now, can't get it off my mind. Paris, get ready, here we come!

illustration #44

I am planning a trip to France for the spring of next year and have been thinking about luggage tags. So here is my graphic interpretation of a tag to grace the likes of my ever so common black luggage. Mmmmmm, traveling. I've got the bug right now!

illustration #43

Well, it is Saturday but I don't think there will be much Drive-In action tonight--it's raining. Again! Don't get me wrong, San Diego needs the rain desperately and we are so grateful for every drop but being in a place that has little rain, we are not used to it. It is funny how everything slows way down when there is water on the road. People just do not know how to respond to wet weather! Anyway, here is an illustration celebrating good times on a wet and rainy fantastic Saturday.

illustration #42

Happy Friday everyone! Today was a day that was really full, meetings, phone calls, work, basically life. I now have a few minutes to breathe and then off to another meeting. When did life get so busy? There are times I feel like I am looking for something to do and then there are times I can't swim up to the surface to gasp for air. Funny, the balances and imbalances we all face keep us in check. Once again, happy Friday!

illustration #41

I have been working on a logo with olive leaves for a skin care line and I really liked the shapes and colors, so I created this illustration. Olives and olive leaves have been used throughout history, ever since biblical times, for curing illnesses. Not only is it a beautiful botanical but extremely useful. Here's to the olive!

illustration #40

Wishing I was feeling light and effortless today, feeling a little under the weather...

Illustration #35/IF-Open

and sometimes, we just need to leave our hearts open to hear.

Illustration #38

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. --Thoreau

A friend gave me a magnet that has this quote on it. I love this quote, especially right now at this time in my life. However, I am a little perplexed as to how one goes about confidently towards one's dream. Since it is still a dream, one obviously hasn't broached it yet, maybe held back by insecurity, lack of confidence or direction. Is it the moving forward and not standing still that gets you going in the right direction toward your dream or must you imagine it first to gain the confidence to achieve the dream? I suppose it is a little of both.

Illustration #37

Hmmmm, I think Halloween has been on my mind. I have been promising to do some Halloween decorating with my son and that involves coming up with some really creative crafts and projects that can stand the test of time outside until the end of the month because I refuse to succumb to the commercialism and materialism every store has projected out to unsuspecting consumers. I would like to make the occasion something of a personal investment for my child, so when he looks back at these times, he'll remember searching diligently for the perfect box so we could create the most incredible Garbage Truck costume at age 3, painting numerous pumpkins into faces and dreaming up really inventive ideas for costumes for later years. That is what Halloween is about, to me anyway. (For him, unfortunately, it's still about the candy.)

Illustration #36

Just now got back from a wedding. The past month has just been a whirlwind of funerals and weddings, new beginnings all around! This wedding tonight was for a pair of really special people and may in fact be our last friends to get married. The ceremony overlooked the Pacific Ocean at the Torrey Pines Hilton and was simple and elegant. Great reception and good music (guess I got my dancing in after all!) So this illustration is for weddings. Very fun evening!

Illustration #35

Not really thinking about bees today but I just really liked these bees and thought they needed some place to buzz around. This illustration is a very graphic piece on a beehive and it's keepers.

On a completely different note, I just got back from a play tonight called "The Busy World is Hushed" and my very very good friend Barron was one of the stars in it. What a powerful and moving piece about religion and it's definitions and losing love, gaining love and faith. Three cheers to Barron!! I just loved the play, it was fabulous! If in San Diego and in need of thought provoking entertainment, go see "The Busy World is Hushed" at the Diversionary Theater!

thanks a bunch!

Just wanted to shout out a great big "Thanks!" to those of you who have made comments on my blog entries and have sent me really nice emails regarding my work. It really means so much to me to have the communication and contact with other artists (and non artists too!) Posting my work is something new for me and I really, really, really appreciate those of you who take the time to look at it. THANKS!!

Illustration #34

I was thinking about names and their meanings, I know random thought, and it got me to thinking about my name. I don't know why but my name means "bee." I don't particularly like bees and actually am afraid of them when there happens to be more than one hovering around me but none the less that is what my name means. So, on that note, my illustration today is about bees.

Illustration #33

Anyone up for a cocktail? I think I sure could use one right about now.

illustration #32

these boots were made for walkin and that's just what they'll do...maybe even have some extra fun with these striped tights!

Illustration #31

Yikes, a whole month went by and I actually did an illustration every day of the month. And look, I am still here and for the better! I'll keep on drawing folks, I'm addicted now.
Today's illustration is about school photos. My son's school has class pictures tomorrow and I volunteered to get him a new shirt. Well, want to know what he picked out? A dress shirt and a tie. Who is this kid? He has never worn a dress shirt and a tie before and I told him I didn't think anyone else would be wearing one tomorrow. Did he care? Nope. (I suppose I should have taken the hint from the highwaisted pants that this kid has his own fashion ideas.) I LOVE the fact that he doesn't care and I hope he never loses that but sometimes I am just not expecting such confidence coming from a four foot boss. So this is for my fancy dressed little boy who is growing up way too fast with the cutest little chicklet teeth!