A Valentine's Day Giveaway - Winner Announced!

Congratulations to the winner of the Valentine's Day Giveaway!

Thank you, everyone, for participating. ♥︎

Stay tuned for the St. Patrick's Day Giveaway coming in March! 🍀

. . .

Happy Valentine's Day! I know it was yesterday, but a holiday about Love should last so much longer than one day....how about every day? No? Well, we can start with a week. ;)

Valentine's Day is all about the love we share and feel towards those most important to us. Love is very important to me, to share with others....especially those that I don't know, because everyone needs it. A truth that is always good to share.

Today I want to share something with you, an original drawing...the first original drawing of my Mermaid Portrait series for my upcoming coloring book.

Here's what you need to do to be entered into the Giveaway:

♥︎ Go to my Pinterest page and Follow
♥︎ Pin something you like from my Pinterest page
♥︎ Share here or on my Facebook Page a link to the Pin you liked  

The more you Pin, the more your name is entered!

This will be running through the entire week of Valentine's. Today February 15th through Sunday, February 21st. All entries AFTER midnight February 21st will not make it to the list.

Winner will be announce Monday February 22nd!
winner announced on facebook and here on the blog. winner will also be contacted via message/email

Happy Pinning! ♥︎

Happy Mermaid Monday!

Happy Mermaid Monday!

Limited Edition Print Here:

http://www.sarabillustration.com/#!product/prd4/3686976451/red

My biggest inspiration ever was Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid. She sparked my interest in fairytales, challenged me in drawing, and has always made me swoon to the endless possibilities through dreaming. I created this piece a while back thinking of her, she is timeless to me.

Which mermaid has inspired you throughout the years?
★ Comment below and I'll enter you into a drawing to win a handmade bookmark of this piece! ★

Monday - A Week in the Artist Studio

I am always wondering how other artist moms, especially those with toddlers do it. This is my attempt to document what a week in my studio looks like on a day to day basis (thought I didn't have enough projects going).

MONDAY

I process all of my orders on Monday, it's my main goal. I set a few goals, but this is always #1. Our weekends are usually very full, so this is a recoup day for us, and orders are the easiest to do watching Norah.

Beware the land mines.  >_<

Did I mention we listen to Kidz Bop most of the time? Norah loves to boogey, and so does mom. 

It's Monday + Weekend Round Up

I believe this Martin Luther King Jr. quote is as true for the inside of ourselves as it is for the outside to others. We must drive out the darkness within our minds, and love ourselves. Thank you Dr. King for so many inspiring words and faith.

This past weekend was a whirl wind of a time! We did so much, that by Sunday I was tired enough to sleep through Norah waking up from her nap. Who knows how long she was in her crib playing before she finally started to let me know she wasn't happy there. I find these are the times I learn the most about myself, because they are also when I'm my weakest, most vulnerable, and busiest. Do you ever have weekends like that?

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

It's a new week though, with new thoughts, new perspectives, and new schedules! I have discovered that every week is different with my schedule, time to  E • M • B • R • A • C • E  it! 

I tried something new this morning, I tried some meditative prayer. Like most women, my mind is always moving. Surprisingly it stayed pretty clear, and I think I caught myself drifting to sleep a couple of times (sitting up in the studio). Since then I've been very calm, and I knew I needed to get it down on paper, so I began this drawing. I look forward to working on her throughout the week during these times of peace every morning.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

After that first nap I give Norah all of my attention. We played around and got to ride on the dragon in the studio. It's so special to have her in the studio with me, even if I'm not working. I remember spending many days and nights in my dad's studio, and I wish the same for her.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

I struggled with my daily sketches these last few days. To find the joy and the motivation to draw when so drained is like pulling teeth for me. I feel like Tinkerbell, only able to handle one emotion at a time, except it's more than just emotions, but actions too. I did it, and I'm proud of myself for getting them done. It's okay to not be elaborate, or detailed, or whatever else I think I HAVE to be. Sometimes, just a simple sketch is all there needs to be.