Wildlife series in progress!

Tasmanian Devil Soft Pastels & Charcoal Block

 Starting off the wildlife series with a slightly melancholy Tazzie. They tend to fight a lot but this shy guy is a newbie and seems just unsure yet. Obsessed with soft/oil pastel and and charcoal block for depth and texture-also the big eyes are here to stay as I am super absolutely inspired by Margaret Keane's art. The animals need some depth and mood and intensity because all wild animals have to fight for their life every single day. Plan is to draw every day while working my way up to the top wildlife animals to draw/paint-such as the one and only most spectacular -- elephants. Joy! Committed to this journey toward becoming a full time animal artist very soon. 

Improving an old piece

Number 2 - FINAL - It is deeply satisfying to improve and shift your mind set the second time around 

                     

Number 1- Pekka has sort of a monkey vibe about him

The real Pekka the pug

I overworked Pekka portrait painting number 1 and was NOT satisfied with the end results. So I changed things up a wee bit and started my painting with a vibrant color palette and took off from there which created Pekka portrait painting number 2 which is now moving forward my go to color palette. Abstract and quirky style. Modern with a pleasing palette that strikes a conversation immediately. This one spoke to me. I did not over work it. Each stroke and color choice was intentional. Cute pets with colorful style. 

Baby Bighorn-first procreate painting of wild animal-April 2019-taking a look back

3 years ago I began the digital painting journey using my apple pencil on my iPad Pro. Procreate is the most intuitive and sophisticated drawing program on the planet and I never imagined I would be able to create drawings of critters and cuteness digitally. This baby bighorn was an attempt in April 2019 and I’ve been hooked since then. My plan is to keep honing my dog and cat drawing skills everyday with a bit of wild forest critters then graduating to even wilder animals. I have a fox painting that’s in the works-traditional acrylic on canvas-poor guy has been pushed to the wayside but I will pick up my brushes very soon to complete. In the meantime I look at this sheep and am pretty proud of what I was able to accomplish with the minimal training drawing on a tablet. I love it so much. One day I’ll trade in for a 13” which would be mind blowing when I get there. Bigger is better when drawing and painting. (Soon I’ll paint on 20x20 or 30x30 canvases) big art is my dream project…..
 

Only Cute Art work in progress

 These are the the cuties I plan to use in a series of nursery art/modern pet art for display in nurseries, kids rooms and the like. The whole process of this is definitely consuming my valuable time. Working on these forces me away from current world events which are indeed beyond my control. I only want to create cute and small things. Since I was a small child growing up in the states, my first favorite book that has inspired me and brought pure joy and safe cozy feelings is a book by Gyo Fujikawas Baby Animals,1963. 1980’s baby animal stickers and Hello Kitty toys at It’s A Small World at the westroads mall was my LIFE!

 Ultimately to make this art sellable as digital downloads available to the proper target audience. Which does not make them limited art-I’m ok with that-custom commissions is possible although the lengthy process of a final print from digital drawing/painting worries me simply because of the print output would be inconsistent. I’m focusing on traditional painting of commissions. That way I can really take the painting process a step further from semi realistic to abstract modern. Which is my ultimate goal. Currently I’m completing a 30x40” acrylic/mixed media-trusting the lengthy process that it is and all of the important steps that need be taken throughout the creative painting process. 

Above image of a nursery snapshot I copied and placed my image within the room. These sophisticated wall guides are from Ariana Falerni. I purchased the couch set years ago and added some final images on display on my up to date website-today I wanted to play more but since I’m working on a newer computer I’ve lost the downloads and just have to make a purchase of the new and improved newborn/kids room templates-it’s superior wall guides that work flawlessly with photoshop. This is my goal for 2022. I only want to make cute stuff. That’s all. 

Believing in a greater purpose

One of the many important quotes I love from Martin Luther King Jr.!

The inspiration and reason I wake up every day!

Highly nutritious for 3$ at ALDI-not organic but close!

It’s your moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. 

In the spirit of MLK day, I’d like to pause and dig deep in what matters most

This blog is absolutely not political in any shape or form. But this is a new year. A new beginning. And sometimes moments in our creative lives require reflection in order to keep our creative juices aware to function and why I do what I do and the freedoms that I have in America to be able to think and do what I do. 

My top 3 things I do to keep myself sane, healthy and on track with my daily life. 

1 diet, exercise and health in order to ‘stay safe’-this is what I drink every day: cold pressed juices including whole foods, minimal processed and fast food-(do not deprive yourself-you’ll go insane).

Dog walking, yoga and working in a warehouse environment keeps me fit and never sedentary!

2 open mindedness understanding and compassion-freedom to respect other peoples opinion. MLK looked at the world with compassion and understanding! Respecting other peoples opinions even if you disagree is how we are a democracy! Without it we are doomed. Government overreach has grown and taken us down a dangerous and dark path-being aware of this and always on your toes for multiple sources of information is crucial-independent media is the path of the future. 

3 creating art is my therapy and the freedom to share and create whatever I chose -no censorship. Always learning new ways to create and new artist ideas and inspiration is what motivates me-the pets I live with bring my stress levels down and are also my inspiration-I could never function without a dog by my side. 

I’m going to die one day and if I don’t hold to my convictions while I’m here on this beautiful blue earth-I serve no purpose. 

This is my daily life. Only here for a short time-making the best of it-dig deep about those who are gone and no longer with us. It will gut you and force you to believe in yourself.