IF - Clumsy

"Clumsy Sorry"
watercolor | 2010

He felt so bad that he knocked over her building blocks accidentally. They seemed to have come out of nowhere. He began to worry when her crying didn't stop. "Will mom hear?" He thought to himself.

Ready for Valentine's Day?

Bear of Hearts button by sarabillustration

I have some great gift ideas for Valentine's Day this year that I'd love to share with you! Here are some thoughts:

Small heart button. Buy these in bulk and share with friends and family. Remind them of your love for them, or ask them to give their heart to someone in need of love. A great small and simple gift!

Little Valentine Heart button


Send a postcard. I have several postcards featuring paintings showing hearts, love, and the famous color red. Each card is only $1.25! Buy in bulk and send loving thoughts. Great framed once received too. Not only do they get your sweetest words, but they get a piece of art to hang as well.

Child of Healing Postcard


Wear your love. Support your heart by wearing it on your sleeve for one day. A few images to choose from for the day of love that you can place on any shirt of your desire. Now men, I haven't forgotten about you, but assumed you wouldn't want to wear a cute fairy bear with hearts. I have also designed heart ties in two colors for men bold enough to sport them. Great for an evening out! These shirts are great also for breast cancer awareness, every day, and children.

Bear of Hearts Tee

There is much more, mugs, stickers, magnets and other designs not presented here. Take a gander and see if you get any ideas. Thanks so much and let's spread the love people!

Visit my Valentine's Day Shoppe

Emotional Response

Child of Healing | watercolor 2010
We were created to care for the earth, to nurture it, tend to it, like a garden. And as we do this we must always see it through the eyes of a child. For this is what the God Almighty says. People, animals, and plants.

Last Sunday Brian and I finally got to see Avatar with my family. Where to start. If you've known me for over 10 years then you know that there are times when I seem...beyond weird, almost hysterical over "my world" in my head. Why I am like this I ask God daily, but the bottom line it's who I am. It's a connection God has placed in my heart. I intro with this because the movie Avatar, tho for entertainment did something I've never seen done in my life. No, not the animation, tho it was beyond anything else out there. It brought the world I live in, every single day, when I paint, daydream, night dream, everything to life right before my eyes....closest thing to physical other than my paintings. Pandora is the world I would envision while falling asleep as a little girl. Even the avatars...they weren't blue in my dreams, but the way they looked and moved...all the same. I should post my old artwork, that'd confirm my standing.

Crazy talk I know.

Needless to say I was pretty numb after watching the movie. I began questioning again what I am to do with all of this emotion, sympathy, empathy, heartfelt connection everything I see something remotely like Avatar. It's happened more than once. So I did what I only know how to do, and that is paint.

This painting is my response to the emotions, visions, and energy taken from the movie. Trust me, it was very difficult not to draw blue, kick butt, awesome creatures...but I also wanted to give purpose behind the painting than just response. We are connected to the earth, God said to Adam and Noah to rule the earth, tend to it, eat from it, and take care of it. That was the mission given to us by God. Children tend to have such a clear and innocent view on life, and Jesus says to go to God with a child like spirit. I truly believe they are the most important creatures, and what we teach them has such a huge effect.

We all know this, but for some reason we continue to forget and think about ourselves. They are the key to a joyfilled and eternal life.

February Postcard

Last night right before bedtime I finished the illustration for my promotional postcard. Thanks to my advising husband of course. First mail out of the year. Surprisingly enough, while playing in photoshop for layout, it wasn't nearly as hard as my postcard last year. I don't know if it's because there isn't as much pressure (Brian having a new job), or if it's what I hope it is. That I have enough faith and trust in God that I just keep doing what I'm led to do and let Him take care of the rest. A running theme this year I think. :)

I would appreciate any feedback about layout. Especially in on the back. I realized I hadn't done any illustration to take from the front and transfer to the back. So I decided on illustrating a beach like (Columbian?) girl, all the way across the ocean from where the kids on the front are from, receiving one of the loving thought letters. Placement and color was the only real issue I ran into. Couldn't decide.

If you have thoughts, opinions, for either the front or the back, I'm all ears. I'm hoping to get these ordered tomorrow or Friday. :)

Thanks!

Work in Progress

Getting there....but I'm starting to go cross eyed and crazy trying to determine where it's going visually. Are the colors working? Can you see the birds well enough? I would love some feedback and critiques on this.

This painting is being created for my first promo postcard of the year.
To view the sketch go here
To view previous wip, go here

Thanks!

IF - Confined

"Snowed In"
graphite pencil in sketchbook | 2010

For the last month and a half we have been knee deep in snow, with two possibly three blizzards. It's fun living in the midwest and don't get me wrong, I love the snow. But the winds and windchills are major bummers. Schools were canceled because of dangerous windchills. So unfortunately they were confined inside their homes, left to find something more creative to do. I don't know about them, but I laid around and was lazy. Sooo boring and no motivation to do anything.

Also some exciting news that I received yesterday. Another drawing of mine has made it into the SCBWI Bulletin for the January/February issue. I haven't received it yet, but once I do I'll share! :D Always a great motivation and ego booster.

Promo WIP

Finally getting to some color on this piece. It's my promo illo for postcards. It's an odd concept and image for children's books, but I liked the idea of love being sent to all children, and it sparks a sense of imagination. :) Choosing colors is always a difficult task, so I'm anxious to see what comes of this in that sense.

Snow day in, so hopefully I get some more paint on this piece today.

IF - Renewal

"Little Black Dress"
graphite pencil | 2010

For the word of the week I kept thinking of women and how we renew ourselves on a regular basis. It could be just a nice hot bath, a new hair cut, or even a new little black dress. It gives us a refresh. Why? As a woman I can't tell you, but it never fails.

The other thought I had was bringing out the little black dress from the back of the closet, adding a flower pin, and giving a fresh appeal. Something I know I've done a few times. :)

On top of the Illustration Friday piece, this sketch was the first in my brand new Moleskin sketchbook that I had to order online. It's surprisingly hard to find it here locally. I know Candace has, but the Art Store was out and I wanted to make sure I got the sketch folio from their line. I have bought and used their notebooks, but the paper is WAY thin. This paper is like a cream bristol board. Love it! Don't think I'll go back. They have a watercolor paper one, it's tempting.