hummingbird

I checked my blog this week and realized that a Halloween themed illustration was still the latest thing there! It's so embarrassing to be behind in the season…Luckily I have a new painting to share!

This was commissioned by my sister-in-law, Erica, who came for Thanksgiving and was en route to Costa Rica where she goes every year to help run a yoga teacher training course. A good friend of hers  there has a little baby girl and so this painting is a gift. It's based on the little boy version I made a while ago (see blog post from January 29, 2013), Erica thought with a few changes it would make the perfect present. She suggested I add a Respendent Quetzal and a Hummingbird, which are birds found in Costa Rica and a nod to the baby's name, Ava (related to the Latin for bird.)

I really enjoyed this little project and the challenge of drawing these beautiful birds. It was important to make them a part of the picture but not take over too much attention from the bubbly baby!

Erica's request came at a great time, too, because I've just finished the illustrations for my first children's book! It's too early for me to share the details but as soon as I can I will be letting everyone know the publisher and hopefully some of the illustrations!

My yearly Christmas card illustration soon to come! 

queen

I haven't posted for a while and so here is a new painting! Not sure where she came from but I know there is a story there.

cowgirl song

you are amazing

I painted this in honor of my sister-in-law Katie Lundquist, who is amazing. She just graduated from Warren Wilson College in North Carolina and the whole family went out to celebrate with her. I wanted to make her a custom card which says more than just congratulations on it, something which expresses how proud we are of her and her accomplishments. Hope this did the trick!

PS. she is a great writer, so check out her blog! 

http://lightonbalance.blogspot.com

Children's Book Week!

Happy Children's Book Week!! 

Why not celebrate by visiting your local library or children's bookstore?
(You can also build a fort)

girl reading

(You can tell it's a library book because of the sticker on the spine.)

baby!

 Happy baby!

storytime

Storytime!

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!

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

pugs

Pugs are cute, especially when they are in love.

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!

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!