A Blog is a terrible thing to neglect. I'm so guilty! :(

Guess I've been in survival mode really. I've been trying to recover from a divorce and 'near empty nest' syndrome. With only one out of four kids left at home it has been nice but quiet. I always knew they'd grow up and head to college someday but I never realized how quickly it would happen! All the more time for creating and drawing? Not exactly. I am however, still working on my dream of becoming a published, children's book author/illustrator. I'm not only a full-time working single mom but I'm also not going to give up on what I'd be doing anyway whether or not I made a single penny doing it. This thing I love and live for is my art. It's such a big part of who I am. It's essential to my world. It's... well, it's me. :)

Although my portfolio doesn't have a lot of new pieces in the last year, I've still been doodling and creating every chance I get. It's my hope for a bright and fulfilled future. This notion is what keeps me going for I want more than anything to be living my own creative dream! Time to wake up my procrastinating paintbrushes and get to work! The only one stopping me is ME!

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Visit my Redbubble site to see my latest artwork and photography. :o)

My little sketch for the day

Here's a little drawing from my sketchbook. I haven't decided what to do with it... maybe I'll make the time to add a little color and finish it. I like the look on the kid's faces; not a care in the world but to finish that scrumptious ice cream before it melts. Sometimes I miss that carefree feeling. No worries, no bills, no "have-tos", just simply enjoying the moment. I guess that's why I try to capture that feeling in my artwork. It is a fact that until I decide different, these kids will be suspended in a "happy moment" for all time! What an existence! :-)

I haven't exactly been on vacation...

My son, Jake, started his 2nd round of chemotherapy in June. Getting his brain tumor to shrink and getting him through treatment and well again is my highest priority. I still try to fit in a doodle or two every day, and when all is quiet late at night and the house is still, I can get really creative! I may lose sleep, but in the case of keeping myself sane by creating, I'd rather lose a little shut-eye than my entire mind! :-)

With yesterday's MRI results showing great news (the tumor is shrinking again!) I can sigh with relief and the hope that Jake will keep what vision he has, he will begin his senior year chemo-free, and will go on to higher education knowing I did everything I could to be there for him. This doesn't mean of course that my life starts once he's out of the house, as I have 5 kids behind him. It does mean however, that my days will go on hopefully a little less eventful as far as hospitals and doctor's appointments go. Maybe I can start to let go of all the stressful, hopelessly overwhelming life duties I've committed to beyond my children and husband and do a little more for myself and my art career. I'm ready to move forward and have been for years. My dedication and finances have been reserved for my children, especially for Jake and seeing him through years of treatment. Now however, maybe I can squeeze a little more "me time" in the equation and recharge my batteries. It's important and I've been the one putting myself on the back burner. And well, we all know what happens to leftovers that have been re-warmed a few too many times... that's how I feel most days! It high time I break the downward, spiraling cycle of doom and free myself to be thrust into another world: the children's book industry! As to how exactly I will go about that only time will tell! Stay tuned... you wouldn't want to miss the show! :-)

Illustration Friday "Might"

It takes tenacity... it takes perseverance...it takes mighty strength to simply "hang in there" sometimes. As a mother of seven I've gained a little in each of those categories throughout the years. It also takes patience. Not only with all that surrounds us; that which has often has a sneaky way of taking us away from our dreams, but with ourselves. Not always intentionally but certainly inevitably, my time is divided between my responsibilities as a mom and a wife. At the end of the day I've worn so many different hats that I usually get the leftovers of myself, which are fragmented, frazzled, and exhausted!

But you know... those crumbles of my former, whole-self are still creative, thriving, and buzzing with ideas and ambitions. I'm eager to jump on the first opportunity that presents itself for me to be ME! An artist! Oh yeah! Sometimes I have to pinch myself..."Hey, this is reality!" Under all the other identities I'm an artist. So I pick up my pieces after the kids go to bed at night, remain hopeful, and move forward. As we all know, that isn't always an easy task. Just thinking about the gift that God has given me, gives me goosebumps! I GET to doodle and paint. I am fortunate enough to get paid doing what I LOVE to do! You can't beat that.

illustration friday- dance

I've been doing other artwork and haven't had a lot of time to participate, but I couldn't resist this week's topic.

Life is a journey, not a destination. We might as well dance while we can!

So even though you may be busy with work or whatever, when your kids ask you to dance, drop what you're doing and have fun with them. They're only little for a short time, and by putting them first, you'll create a new memory for the both of you. You can always get back to whatever it was that you were doing. Those few moments that you took time out for them, will last forever with your kids. Now take a break from your creativity and your computer. Crank up some tunes and go dance with your little monsters!

illustration friday- under the sea

This is a scanned portion of one of my mural designs. The bottom part is "under the sea". On the opposite side from the sea turtle is a dolphin peaking out of the water, a seahorse, and a few other fish, along with some bright, yellow coral and red sea grass. In the middle of the painting is a sandy beach with starfish and shells, and a mother tiger resting with her cub in the shade of a palm tree. The top half of the design is a jungle with a baby elephant, and a brightly colored toucan in one of the palm trees. A giraffe leans in from the side of the painting. The expression on his face is as though he has just spotted the viewer of the painting and is looking directly at you.

The original painting measures 12 x 18 and is painted in acrylics. I chose a more realistic approach to this painting compared to most of my other work. I had fun painting it, and I love the colors. It's always nice to branch out every once in a while and work in a style that's a little different from my norm. Creating something that takes you out of your comfort zone allows you to change and grow a little, and see things with fresh eyes. Still, I love creating my whimsical cartoon characters the most. What a good feeling it is to work directly from my heart and see the pictures in my mind come to life on paper.

Enjoy your weekend!