January art, my etsy shop and Cricket magazine

The new year has started, I celebrated a birthday and I've been painting.

I began this one a year ago, then put it aside. 

I went back into it the other day and I'm pretty happy with it.

Above is the initial sketch. Hope you can tell it's a class on a field trip to the modern museum.

It's very cold this week, so I painted some bright springy flowers :)

below, with a muted grey background.

Speaking of flowers,

I just added three wristlets, a pencil case and a coin purse to my etsy shop - Blip Blop Shop

I sold two and gave one as a gift over the holidays. 

My friend, Margot Kingon sewed these for me and I think they're real sweet.

Take a look at my shop to see details.

While I was home for the holidays, I came across this vintage Cricket Magazine

from 1976. It's pretty great! The cover art is by Erik Blegvad

I don't think I ever entered a contest, but it's fun to read over this one.

I was surprised to find a poem by Sylvia Plath.

You can see The Bed Book on Brain Pickings, one of my favorite blogs btw

Sylvia wrote this series of poems for her own children 

It was illustrated by Quentin Blake 

The art here is by Emily McCully

I really like this Coming Attractions page and got a kick out of the 

worm wishing a Merry Christmas to his tail and vice versa ;)

It's in good shape overall. I'll give it a read!

Ok, that's all for now.

Off to locate more blankets!

Enjoy the rest of your week.

xo, A

Illustration West 52 - sketches - Instagram & iMac

See Subway Animals in person :)

If you're in the Los Angeles area, the SILA Illustration West 52 exhibit Opens tonight

along with the website launch of the show 

March 7th at Center Stage Gallery 7-10p

I do not have an Instagram account, but I plan to soon, because - why not upload my stuff  

onto as many social media platforms as possible ;)

:::

At the moment, I anxiously await the arrival of my 1st iMac. As friends know, 

I have depended on a Dell computer for at least a decade, 

which is amazing considering all the files and photos I have saved on this thing!

Dear Dell, you are amazing, but it's time we part ways. It's in the best interest of us both.

I hope I don't regret this.

After much deliberation and encouragement from fellow artists, designers, illustrators ...

I decided to make the switch. I don't know what to do with myself. I Can't Wait!

Pen + Moleskine = joy

I like Clairefontaine's paper for quick sketches, also. 

...

Above, is the sketch of Porcu-punk-pine, he became Harvey (below)

I think I'll do a painting of him looking this nervous, though.

My afterthought was having the cats play chess with the mice (probably makes more sense)

Oddly enough, I came across taxidermied  mice chess sets on Etsy - The Curious13 

Clever, cute? but I don't want one.

Uplifting message of the day!

This is one of my Valentine card rejects. Poor raccoon's day didn't go as hoped.

Below is the original sketch for Subway Animals. 

It's missing a key character. Can you tell which one without scrolling up?

Copyrighting. I have started to copyright EVERYTHING.

Consider yourself warned ;)

Of course, Share, Pin, Post, Enjoy as much as you'd like.

** Have a great weekend **

It's supposed to be warmer here on the East Coast. Hooray!

xo, A

Holiday Art, Books for Kids & a little Film about Fracking

I LOVE the Snowman in Court Street Grocers window!

It makes me smile each time I walk by it, which is often.

My friend, Margaret Heidenry, is in the Screen Writers Guild and fortunately

invited me to see the screening of Gus Van Sant's new movie "Promised Land" 

written by and starring Matt Damon and John Krasinsky. 

It's an excellent picture and the 1st I've seen to tackle the topic of 

Fracking. Promised Land sheds light on both sides of the issue, 

while not letting big corporations, this one named "Global", off the hook.

Surprisingly, it's entertaining and gets the point across without being heavy handed.

Afterwards, there was a Q & A with Matt, John and Rosemarie DeWitt.

As expected, they were charming and very funny. I really could 

have stayed in my seat and listened all night.

The odd thing that Margaret and I, both, noticed was the number of people

on their cell phones, texting, checking messages, etc. I think the guy next to 

me was even checking Facebook during the movie?!

I might be less disgusted were it an opportunity to feel superior 

over the younger generation, but these were middle aged adults & older. 

Crazy. C'mon people.

:::

Sunday, I met Kristine Lombardi at Books of Wonder to hear a stellar panel

discuss their latest books and share their thoughts about the publishing world.

December Picture Book Bonanza

James Howe - Otter and Odder: A Love Story

Corey Rosen Schwartz - The Three Ninja Pigs

Lane Smith - Abe Lincoln's Dream

Bryan Collier - I, Too, am America

Susan Hood - Spike, the Mixed-Up Monster

Melissa Sweet - *illustrator; Spike, the Mixed-Up Monster

Douglas Florian - Shiver Me Timbers!

UnBEElievables: Honey Bee Poems & Paintings

Michelle Knudsen - Big Mean Mike

James Howe, Corey Rosen Schwartz and Lane Smith 

           It's always fun to see writers and illustrators you admire in person. 

         Each one read a bit from their latest children's books.

                          It's interesting how ideas come about and develop into stories.

                         I love that Corey Rosen Schwartz has a son who told someone that 

                               "yes, he speaks a 2nd language, Karate." That sparked the idea for 

                                                              The Three Ninja Pigs.

                                  James Howe mentioned that Otter and Odder, first came about 

                                                 when his daughter was still a kid. She's now 24.

Lane Smith, Bryan Collier and Susan Hood

Bryan Collier's book, I, Too, Am America, is based on Langston Hughes' poem 

about the Pullman Railway Porters.

It's beautiful and he spoke, not only about this true story, 

but about the real people he uses as his models. These friends and neighbors

 end up serving a dual purpose. For instance, the young man on the cover, 

was thrilled when he went to school with a copy and learned that the girls 

thought he was cute!

Melissa Sweet, Douglas Florian and Michelle Knudson 

Susan Hood spoke about wanting Melissa Sweet, a favorite of mine and many,

to illustrate Spike, the Mixed Up Monster about an Axolotl 

(an endangered Mexican Salamander) 

Some are cuter than others and Melissa, obviously fashioned hers after 

a precious one!

I can't remember how long Susan said she had to wait, but 

Melissa is usually booked for up to three years at a time.

Can you imagine? She's truly living an illustrator's dream.

Not that she doesn't deserve it, but I couldn't help thinking that instead of

waiting, maybe the publisher could have taken a chance with a

lesser known artist, or an unknown even. 

:::

All of these books look and sound great!

 I hope to have the chance (extra cash) to buy them all, as gifts

(for me ;)

:::

Now, onto my humble artwork, patiently waiting for it's moment in the sun! 

These are a few of the Christmas cards I've added to my Etsy Shop

Now accepting payments by Credit Card, as well as, PayPal

Snow Deer and Chickadee in *square format on Etsy

 Twig and Top Dog, a mainstay for me 

*Below are Prints, Stationery & even a few iphone & ipod case designs

I recently added to my Society 6 shop for the holidays.

Snow deer 5 x 7 size

*Society 6 is offering FREE Shipping on all orders in

my shop through Sunday Dec. 9, 2012 Midnight Pacific Time*

Click Here to browse and buy that perfect holiday gift or card set :)

A Gifted Dog 

Here are some other recently added pieces

A Christmas Cat 

Lyle the Terrier

Dog in Space

Elephant draws

There is more to offer in my shop, please take a look!

Feel free to contact me about commissions or purchasing an original.

 If I Were a Toy store has decorated! 

My Carolers are happy & still singing.

and this Friday Night, December 7th at 6pm, is the Carroll Park Tree Lighting

Apparently, Santa and his elves will make an appearance. 

Shouldn't they be working?

Thanks for stopping by. Hope your holidays are off to a good start!

xo,

A

ice cream ice cream, we all scream for ice cream!

This is  Rosco & Blippy Bun's Brand New Ice Cream Shop

It took time and hard work, but Grand Opening Day 

could not have felt, or tasted, any sweeter.

With some last minute touches to their sign, Rosco and Blippy were ready for business.

Only a handful of customers came on that 1st day, 

but by the 2nd ...

the word had spread.

It was almost more than they could handle,

almost!

:::

:::

Enjoy a refreshing cone today and don't forget the sprinkles ':)

: See more at AllynHoward.com :

Have a great week!

xo, A