Home Dummy

I've been drawing a lot lately working on a picture book dummy titled Home. I like to take my time drawing so I can be sure to get things right. Finishing an image by carving, printing, and painting a linocut is so much fun. But drawing is a little nerve-wracking for me. Here are a couple of the small drawings I've done already.

I see that I need to adjust the perspective on lots of those downtown buildings! I couldn't decide which angle I was looking at them from. 

I would like to submit this dummy for the SCBWI Don Freeman Grant. It has to be received by March 15th including two finished illustrations so I have to get busy and go draw some more!

Rock-A-Bye Baby finished

Well, I know this nursery rhyme ends rather badly, but I do like the way it starts out!

I've been meaning to make a baby picture for years and I'm glad my friends are having a baby to finally prompt me to do one. I'll also have one for sale in my Etsy shop soon. :)

Rock-A-Bye Baby

My friends are having a baby soon and I wanted to make something for their new little girl. I finished carving and printing this block today and I'm looking forward to painting it soon.

I love Virginia Lee Burton's illustrations and she influenced this print. She drew gorgeous trees, sweeping lines of pathways on the ground and birds in the sky, and lots of decorative patterns. I like the way she used symmetry also. Symmetrical layouts are often pretty static so I'm cautious about them. But I enjoyed putting this tree smack in the middle of the picture!

I got Ms. Burton's book The Song of Robin Hood for Christmas (thanks Mom!) and I wanted to share a couple of her beautiful illustrations. Aren't they fabulous? I really like the way she did the leafless trees in the first image. And I kinda borrowed the style of the tree in the background of the bottom picture to make my small tree. :)

14 Wishes and 1 Winner

Yesterday I mailed off these 14 prints for the Wingtip Press print exchange. I will get 12 different prints back sometime in the spring. Amy who runs the exchange named it Leftovers because you make small prints to use up your leftover scraps of paper AND because she uses one print from each set to sell and raise money for hunger relief.

She also takes one print from each set for exhibitions. The prints from last year's exchange are going to be shown in New Zealand! That's cool. I hope my prints go exciting places that I may never get to visit myself. There's still time to participate if you are a printmaker. You just need to make 14 prints by March 15th.

I was in the mood to carve letters when I made this little print so I used the text from the song When You Wish Upon a Star because it runs through my head often. For those of you who want to make a wish, here's your star!

I drew a name from my warm winter hat to pick the winner of my Seasons linocut. Zoe of Playing by the Book is the winner! Thanks everyone for the nice comments!

Illustration Friday: Grounded

The way I stay grounded is to walk outside in all kinds of weather. But of course I like sunshine best! Today I painted this print and I think I got the effect I was trying to achieve. On bright winter days the whites, blues, browns and green pine trees are so crisp and clear. This has been a winter of very little snow and lots of gorgeous clear blue days. I'm not complaining!

I've been participating in the Mother Reader comment challenge and meeting so many great people this week! Thanks to those of you who've been visiting my blog for the first time recently. I'm working my way through your blogs also. It's fun to see new formats, read lots of book reviews, and see the wonderful art. :)

Also-- if you're an artist wanting to make a children's book dummy be sure to check out the Kid Lit Art Picture Book Dummy Challenge. I'm doing it!

While I'm linking to things, I'm sure most of you have heard of Illustration Friday. But if not- go check it out. This week's theme is Grounded hence the title of this post. There are always sooo many great illustrations to see.

Winner and New Giveaway!

I'm giving away another hand painted linocut this week to celebrate my 2 year blog anniversary. To be entered in the drawing just leave a comment on this post and follow the blog. If you have thoughts about what the phrase "art on the page" means to you, I'd love to hear. I'm thinking about making a new header and your thoughts are inspiring! The drawing will be next Sunday, Jan 15th.

This is the print I'm giving away this week- Seasons. I haven't matted it yet but I will this week. I hope you like it!

This morning I did the drawing for the Snowflowers print. The winner is Mary my writing critique partner- Yea!!! Thanks all of you for the nice comments and thoughts about Art on the Page. You can see that I did the drawing in my husband's Denver Broncos hat because today is a playoff game. :)

Bridge and Steamboat Ski Area

Here's the latest linocut for my series of Colorado cards. This is a view of a footbridge over the Yampa River with the Steamboat Ski Area in the background. There is a lovely walking path along the river that runs all the way through town. My dog and I walk here a couple times a week and I always enjoy the view. I will paint this print and post its finished version soon.

Here's a photo of the spot that the drawing is based on. I changed it up a little and tidied up the cottonwood trees.They sure are messy aren't they?!

Snowflowers Giveaway!

It's almost my 2 year blog anniversary and to celebrate I'm giving away 2 prints! I started this blog January 15th, 2009 and I wasn't sure I'd like doing it but I've had a great time. I SOOO appreciate all of you visitors and the wonderful friends I've made!

I'd like to make a new header and I've had some ideas but nothing that is really exciting. So, to be entered for a drawing to win Snowflowers please be a public follower of the blog, and then leave a comment on this post telling me what the phrase "art on the page" means to you. (Or if you can't think of anything, just leave a comment!) I'm hoping your ideas will help me create something fun and new for the header.

I'll have the drawing next Sunday Jan. 8th and I'll also start the next week's giveaway with a different print. Thanks again for the support and wonderful comments these last two years!!