My Foodie ABC products, via Zazzle.com

Together with DuoPress, the publisher of My Foodie ABC: A Little Gourmet's Guide, I've started designing products featuring artwork from the book. Several will post today, with more to follow soon. And yes, I take requests (the designs are quite easy to make and upload).

Enjoy!

~ v

Fred at 50: Happy Birthday, Honey!

Today is my husband's fiftieth birthday. Amazing, how time flies.

At an absolute loss in the "gift ideas" department, I remembered Freddy's recent lament over some paintings I made to hang in my studio: "These are not paintings; they are illustrations." My response: "Well, that makes sense. I'm an illustrator, not a painter." "Next time," he suggested, "try using your left hand."

That's an old art-teacher's trick, making students work with their weak hands, to loosen them up. I am right-handed, and Fred is right: I am TIGHT. Years of training in technical architectural drawing sealed that deal years ago. So, in an effort to loosen up, for you, my dear, here is my rendition of your beautiful self, painted with my left hand.

Much love to you,

~ v

love and joy :-)

Designed a few T-shirts today, for my Zazzle store; cards, too. Enjoy!

:-)

~ v

Ash Wednesday / Easter Sunday

A few weeks ago as I was driving through Savannah's beautiful city squares after class, I couldn't help but notice the ashes: almost every pedestrian I saw had a gray smudge right in the center of his or her forehead. Ash Wednesday... mid-day mass at the Cathedral must have just let out.

I grew up Catholic but haven't practiced in several decades (am currently non-denominational Christian)... couldn't remember the symbolism behind the ashes, so I looked it up. As far as I can tell, wearing ashes is an ancient practice associated with repentance.

Seeing all of those faithful Catholics, foreheads smudged, was rather lovely... it inspired me to create the above image as a Spring mailer. Rather than settling on a simple portrait, I set the ash-wearing woman next to a young girl in an Easter bonnet, to show the span of lent (from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday), and to symbolize the hope of Easter, which follows the sorrow of the cross. Easter, after all, equals hope: new life, abundant life, eternal life. Joy!

Globe and Mail

I made this image Tuesday afternoon on a very quick turn-around for Jason Chiu a the Globe and Mail. The illustration, in today's issue, accompanies a Facts and Arguments essay written by a woman whose father recovered from a brain aneurysm. She likens him to a cat with nine lives; no matter how many times he falls, he always seems to land on his feet.

hello, old friend!

It may seem like a small thing, but in the past month, I have re-introduced black to my palette. For years I shunned it, color and value alike; not sure why, anymore. In an effort to be BOLDER, allow me to say, Hello, Black—it's nice to have you back.

I saw this adorable student pedaling through one of Savannah's beautiful squares on my way to a coffee date the other day. Whoever you are, dear, thank you for the inspiration.

More to follow...

~ v

ipad cover

I am building my zazzle store; decided to use my repeat pattern demo (see below) as a designer ipad cover. So cute! Makes me wish I had an ipad; or, that zazzle would sell a case for my MacBook!