snowman

I just can't stop drawing snow!

snowballs

Sitting here in Los Angeles, my mind is taking me to a place where snow happens in the winter. I'm missing it a bit as our trip to Boston for the 10 days before Christmas did not give us much snow at all (just an inch or two which promptly melted).

Oh! Glorious snow!

christmas cheer

Happy Holidays everyone!

Here's my 2012 Christmas card design. I've been illustrating cards for the holidays every year for 4 years now and this is the first to feature little critters. You can see the others on my website and etsy shop.

Also, please stop by my page on facebook and give me a 'like' if you want, I'd appreciate it!

Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Years!

1927

Mr. and Mrs. Bunny, 1927

radio flyer

It has just occured to me where I must have gotten the inspiration to draw a little blonde kid on a red wagon...Calvin and Hobbes! Bill Watterson (along with Norman Rockwell) was one of the most influencial artsists for me growing up. The artwork is permanently etched into my brain and must be coming out now that I'm drawing more kids. Of course he's dressed differently and his hair is tamed and he has an honestly pleasant expression on his face, so he isn't exactly Calvin. He's close though....

family portrait

Family portrait of the Bunny family circ. 1939

new etsy items!

My Etsy Shop

Journals! Handmade with 100% recycled cardstock covers and filled with high quality recycled sketchbook paper (Fabriano, made with windpower in Itlay!)

New! These thank you cards feature my characters Bunny and Fig the Fox! Handmade with 100% recycled cardstock.

illustrator's day!

I had a wonderful time at the SCBWI Los Angeles' Illustrator's Day! The speakers were all inspiring and I learned so much about the children's publishing industry, as well as gallery shows and greeting cards (things which interest me as well). Here's a photo of the three portfolio winners and three illustration contest winners. My portfolio won the "People's Choice" award! (I'm the second from the left) Congratulations to the other winners and thank you to everyone who voted for my work, I am honored to have been chosen! 

And now for some new work: babies and toddlers! I've been focusing on drawing small children and achieving a high level of cuteness. What do you think? 

I think they are totally cute.

pugs

Pugs are cute, especially when they are in love.

save the date

I've just been commissioned to do this Save the Date design for a couple of friends, Sam and Alex. They told me that their favorite animals were bunnies and walruses (respectively) and asked if an illustration of both could be on the design -heck yes! I was excited immediately about the idea of drawing this adorable pair. The bunny was easy as pie since I've been drawing my bunny character for a while now, but the walrus was new and so a bit of a challenge. I looked up photos of the animal to get the shape of the body right and found it pretty easy to translate into my style. The trickiest part was the funny mustache business they have, I struggled to get it right, but I love how it came out in the end! (Note the sketch below has no walrus-y mustache because I wasn't sure how to draw it.)

ps. My husband Jesse may or may not have thought that the walrus was a lobster at first....

fig in the grass

Fig the fox is my newest character. She is sweet and shy and loves to dance. If you've been reading my blog then you've probably already met her, though I love this image and wanted to share it with you. It very much represents her ways. She's not hiding in order to jump out and scare anyone, but rather she enjoys hanging back and watching things from afar (unnoticed if possible). Good thing she is a fox and slyness runs in her family!

business

I just got new business cards in the mail and boy am I excited about it! They are gorgeous, printed by MOO and feature some of my newest work. Sometimes it can be a challenge to pick images which you want to represent you to other people, but this time I knew pretty much right away the ones I would choose. The dancing animals, Bunny and Fig, and then Fig sleeping beauty. Then I just had to add the baby covered in cake to the mix. It makes me laugh every time! 

Also, I wanted to mention that you can sign up for a subscription to this blog and you'll be notified by email when I post new things. So if you'd like to see that I do in the future, please subscribe! Just enter your name in the box to the right and hit 'submit'. And thanks!  ---->

PS. If you're on Twitter- follow me! I like to post updates about my work and also some cool things I find regarding music, art, and bicycles.

twit

follow me on Twitter! 

@mary_lundquist

thanks.

little kiddos

Vivian is feeling nervous and a bit scared because she doesn't know anyone at the party. They all seem to know eachother really well already, maybe they went to the same nursery school? Eventually she will start dancing.

I love when babies make such a mess with cake! It's one of those things we find adorable even though it's really kinda gross looking. The moms get a chance at a grown-up conversation although they are undoubtably talking about their kids.

 Just messing with the dollhouse and moving around all their stuff. It's alright, they don't seem to mind. For some reason it's more fun to put things in place through the window rather than the big open wall, because why would a house be missing a whole side anyway?

And finally, the cranky, over-tired kid. Vivian hates going to bed when everyone else gets to stay up and watch a movie. She really is tired, more than she knows. In about 1 minute she will stop screaming and be so glad because her pillow is very comfy and all she wants is to close her eyes and be fast asleep. 

...more to come...

meet fig the fox

She's a graceful dancer, and practices her own unique kind of ballet.

And just like the rest of the gang in the forest, she loves a good brew. You've probably also noticed the drawing of her sleeping in a flower patch, which I love so much that I made it my blog banner!

This is a new illustration from a series based on little children. I was recently at a 3 years old's birthday party and got a kick out of all the kids and their excitement. It was also interesting how the grown-ups were forced to chat with each other. 

happiness and suspicion

moving the boat

Bunny has the best friends.

jump!

wild west alphabet

Just realized that I never posted this! It's an alphabet I designed a while back and it's kind of clever because I used things that are wild west/cowboy themed. It was tricky, but I'm happy with how it turned out. It's fun to look at and you can even write your name with it! This is the pen and ink version which I colored digitally, but I also made a screenprint of it and printed it on organic/fairtrade totes. Check 'em out on my etsy shop.

party!

This little scene speaks for itself, I believe! Bunny's friends know him well and have given him books for his birthday, mostly non-fiction and how-to manuals. He's going to have learn how to build himself another bookshelf!

super bunny

Here are a few more of the most recent Bunny and Bear pictures. I'm working on illustrating the characters in diverse settings and using interesting perspectives. I really love the painting of Super Bunny (above) because he seems weightless, like the clouds behind him.

This one shows the interior of Bunny's home, in the trunk of a tree. His place is cosy and he has made pot of hot chocolate to cheer himself up a bit because his plans for the day must wait until the rain lets up. 

Bunny has recruited Bear into helping him build a boat, so they pack a lunch of sandwiches and a thermos of cocoa and begin felling the first tree to make into lumber. I don't think they realize how much work building a boat will be, but at least they are doing it together and have brought snacks to carry them through it.

More to come!

bunny and bear

Summertime, watercolor, 2012

Sometimes you happen to create a character or two who really interest you. These little friends are Bunny and Bear and they are the main characters in a series I've been working on. For some reason I have grown fond of them, like friends, and am having a great time thinking up a world for them to live in. 

Bunny is curious and is always scheming and trying new things, like building a boat or organizing a pancake feast for the neighborhood. He doesn't mind taking a day off though, to just laze about and nap in a hammock! Bear is Bunny's best friend and the friend we all hope to have, dedicated and thoughtful, although he's got some quirks which make him unique and even more lovable. 

Stay tuned as I will be posting more of the adventures of Bunny and Bear!

Over Land, watercolor, 2012

Over Water, watercolor, 2012

Dance, watercolor, 2012

I also want to mention that I attended the Summer conference of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators last weekend and it was amazing. I learned so much and was incredibly inspired by the wonderful speakers. On top of that my portfolio received and 'Honorable Mention" at the portfolio showcase! If you are looking to become an illustrator or author of children's books, I highly suggest joining this society because it's a great resource and community.