Getting ready for my First Children's book

I am so close to getting Willa's book published. It has been an exciting time watching as the story developed. Thank you all the people who believed in me and my project. Here are a few illustrations. Jessica of Booklogix suggested that I should try another font that Andy so I put in Bradley Hand ITC in a couple of the illustrations. What do you think?

Here is the Bradley Hand

and here the Andy

Now here are a few examples of pages. The ovals are educational fun facts. 

I am still playing with the cover art.  Here is one I like. Opinions are welcome.

Moving closer to finishing

Moving right along on Willa's story, I completed two black and white part of the illustrations. 

The lessons continue with how to behave on the beach.

In this illustration, the parents are teaching the chick where to hid from danger.

I still have a couple of places in the book that are a little bumpy. My next task is to smooth them out, but I  am getting closer to finishing it. 

First Monotype Workshop at Glynn Visual Art

Yesterday, I did the first monotype workshop at Glynn Visual Art Center. There were ten people who came to try their hand at the new but very old process of printmaking. It was a little scary at first for Monotype printmaking is a kinetic process. I would compare it to white fright when starting a drawing. However, the class got started, and each person discovered their inner artists.  Even the one that said, “I have no artistic abilities;” found that she did have a creative side. It turned out to be a fun time for all and the folks took home some nice monotypes for their collection.

The etching press we will be using for printmaking at the Glynn Visual Art Center was Judith Hall Manzer’s press. She used this press throughout her printmaking career. Thank you so much goes to Les Manzer and the Manzer family donated to Glynn Art. I am very excited to see Judith Hall’s etching press used in this type of class situation. She would have been, please.

More drawings for Willa's book

I am working on finishing up the black and white line drawing for Willa's Grand Adventures. I will add the color all at once to insure the color are constant through the whole story. This is Willa being banded.

This one is the chicks getting back with Mom. 

Stay tune. I am getting close to finishing all the drawings and looking forward to seeing it in color. Can you tell I am excited!

September 21 meeting with Ga Sea Turtle Center staffe

My story is at the point where I need a few people to review it and get some ideas of where I am in the work. With that in mind, I meet with Katie Higgins and Lori Hunt. Lori illustrated Scute's Grand Adventure for the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Katie is a writer and educators. They were very encouraging and gave some good ideas on how to tweak my Willa's tale. Thanks guys

Katie, Lori and I are holding some of the signs created for the rope line

This is one of the black & white line drawing. I will color all the illustrations at once.

Children's book Meet the Wilson's

I keep working on my children's story. Here are a couple of illustrations that are in progress for Meet the Wilson's. This one is  when Mamma chases a opossum off 

Here is Willa showing off her new friendship bands.

Stay tuned. The story is coming together. 

Beginning of Meet the Wilson's

In July, I settled down to creating my children's book Meet the Wilson's, Wilda gets her friendship bands.
So this is what is on my drawing board.

Cardinal monotype

Sorry I can not figure out how to make this image become vertical.  Anyway this is a monotype that was sold at the Georgia Coastal Artist June Show.  Northern Cardinals just brighten up my summer days.

The beginnings

                             










This is the sketch of the beginning of Meet the Wilsons

Here is what is on my drawing board this weekend. These are some drawings for book titled Meet The Wilson's. These little guys are so much fun to draw.

Studies for the Shrimp & Grits Poster

Last year I started an image I could use in the Facebook competition for Shrimp & Grits Poster.  The chemo stop me before I could finish it.  Now I have started working on it again.  Here are a few sketches I did from head on shrimp I bought at the store.  I drew them several different way. However I really would like to see them alive and in a tank swimming around.  Drawing are some much better when you can work from live models.

An Art Show to celebration life

Here I am with my family who came out to support me

In March, I opened my first art show since going through treatments for breast cancer.  My doctors and I fought hard and we won this cancer. So I wanted to celebrate. Judith Hall was my mentor for my printmaking.  She passed away in January 2014 so I wanted to celebrate her life. The Show was titled "My Mentor and Me" It was a huge success. Thanks to everyone who came out to help us to celebrate.

Here are a couple of monotypes and etching that sold during the show.



Here is one of my small etching of the horse I shared my life with for many years ago. It is called Freedom because Pepsi and I found our freedom together.

This is a vertical piece sorry it won't turn around oh well. It is titled Chipping Away. It was to honor our Woodbine Great Backyard Count. The Chipping Sparrows help the children discover birds. 

This Black and White and Red all over.  It is a Downy woodpecker I watched at Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge.

This is Windsails.  There are only a few left of this edition. 

Now it is time to get back to the studio.

Small Yard Bird Etchings

Here are a few of my small yard bird etchings. See what you think. This one is titled "Humming Along" It has an embossed border. It measures 6" x 8"These etchings are printed on 100% rag paper. I created the image on a zinc plate. Then I ink this zinc plate and wiping off the excess ink. Then the plate is put on my French tool press and pulled through.

Here is Spangles measuring 2 1/2" x 8"

and Cardinal Time measuring 4"x6"

Time to be Born 3"x4" &

Waiting for Mom, 2"x3'
American Redstart, image area 5"x7", You Rang image area , Common Yellowthroat COYE 5"x7"

Pine Warbler image 5"x7" Yellow-throated Warbler image 5"x7.





I hope you enjoy the images as much as I enjoyed creating them.

Sketching project continues

We have had a lot of duck right off Jekyll. Here is one of my sketches.

Yesterday I watched several Clapper Rails at the Jekyll Island Visitor Information Tower. Here a quick sketch.

Here is one more I worked on November 24.

Yellowthroat in the weeds

Sat down and did a little drawing today. This was a piece from the last studio session. Common Yellowthroats tend to blend into their surrounding. When I saw these plants I was intrigued by how wispy they were in the fields. There is always one or two Common Yellowthroats flitting around them in migration.

Great show inspires new art

I belong to a great group of creative artists. Last weekend our group, Georgia Coastal Artists, held our fall show at Glynn Art Association on St. Simons Island. It is a very quiet time of year but still a few people came to look and buy. Today, Ella Cart brought a painting to work on while sitting with her work. She invited me to get some paper and join her. Well, I looked in the van and found paper. What was I going to draw? I always have a sketch book so I took one of the sketches a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. I started but I needed some native plants, so I walked around the building. Low and behold, there was beautiful fall red Virginia Creeper and palmetto. Here is what came out of the afternoon. Thanks Ella that was fun.

Art show November 12 & 13 on St. Simons Island Georgia

It is time to show off what I been working on lately. Drop by Glynn Art Association for our Georgia Coastal Artists Show and Sale. Glynn Art is in the village near the lighthouse on St. Simons Island, Georgia.

Sketching project

I am making time everyday to get back to sketching live wild birds, here is one of my sketches from last week. Practice, practice, practice.

Monotypes from Late July Studio session

Here are three monotypes that came out of the late July studio session. My french tool press is a wonderful press. I am always amazed at nature and the patterns it provides if we just look.