IF: Hidden

Just barely squeaked this one in for this week's Illustration Friday topic: Hidden

Is it really only Thursday? Yikes. 

IF: Farewell

I feel like I've been in a drawing rut lately. It may be because of the bathroom reno Justin and I are doing but I just haven't felt like doing Illustration Friday themes or even drawing in general. Work's gotten really busy after a girl left and I was given all of her duties on top of what I already do, so that could be it too.

Either way, I'm excited to have finally gotten back to IF and I'm happy to submit this hot-off-the-wacom illustration for this week's theme "farewell".

I've been doing black & whites lately, partly so I can submit more to the SCBWI bulletin and partly because I want to expand my b&w portfolio. It all works out in the end.

Finally some nice weather this weekend, I think I will go for a jog. Last week Justin and I ran for 45 minutes straight. I didn't even know I could do that!  *fist pump*

I hope you enjoy your weekend and get something productive done! Don't fall into the cave of no return by playing Candy Crush Saga all evening like I started to do! Eek!

IF: Eyeglasses

Since attending the SCBWI conference earlier this month I have made a lot of decisions and tuned into a never-ending list of "to-do's".

I feel like it's been forevs since I last updated this. When I make journal entries and this happens I usually do bullets of key events that have occurred since the last entry, so without further ado...

• I've discovered the wonders of podcasts. In particular, the channel that has ended years ago but I've never listened to it so therefore it's spanky new to me: Big Illustration Party Time, by Kevin Cross and Joshua Kemble.  Oh my gosh I have learned so much and I've only listened to 10 episodes!
• Upon listening to said podcasts I've come to the conclusion that it's okay to have more than one style. By more than one I mean I will have two. Therefore I need to get my a$$ in gear and expand my portfolio to create more paper cut-out pieces like my mouse in the hot air balloon:

Therefore this week for Illustration Friday's topic "eyeglasses" I have made this little monster motherhood of sorts:

• I have also discovered the usefulness of twitter. I never really thought of how useful it can be as a marketing tool. I'm listed under @pigknit so follow me!
• My all-natural dog treats brochure design was approved quickly so that's a nice relief! 

I've been feeling very inspired lately. I'm anxious to get my site up but I have to create an illustration for a business webpage first. I plan to get some sketches done this weekend to get the ball rolling.

I feel like I have much more to say but I'm very scatter-brained right now so I should probably just quit while I'm ahead!

IF: Talent

This week's theme should be anxious because that's all that I am today! I just got an email confirming my registration for the annual SCBWI conference in my region this Saturday. I've never been to one so I'm very nervous/excited/anxious/curious/adfgefxsrh.

Anyone have any ideas for something I can get printed quickly to bring instead of business cards? I literally joined SCBWI last wednesday and signed up for the conference Friday so I am totally unprepared because I had been holding off making business cards until my website is finished coding. Business cards and post cards can't be made in 4 days so I'm limited to some other option...

My drawing for Illustration Friday was inspired by my growing desire for warmer weather. I love when Easter's around the corner and all I can do is picture little bunnies hopping around in my head..

IF: Whisper

This week's Illustration Friday topic had me thinking of a common occurrence at work. I have a horrible sweet tooth, and lately I've been trying to be really good about what I eat. It's not easy when coworkers drop cookies on your desk and bring in dozens of donuts for the office to share! I swear I can hear the donuts calling out to me sometimes...

I can normally resist a donut but if there's a cookie in the room it's mine.

IF: Wool

This week's Illustration Friday topic was a fun one to participate in, not to mention appropriate considering the weather conditions this week. In Buffalo it's been crazy windy and bitter cold; the kind of weather you just want to lounge around in pj's all day and never leave the house in.

Although it's still mid-winter and warm weather is far far away, I can't help but get excited that spring clothing lines are coming out as well as commercials advertising preparations for summer. I just miss getting Vitamin D. I like to sit outside on my lunch breaks and read; it's something I looked forward to every day...so I can't wait until I can go back out there again!

IF: Wheel

For my Illustration Friday post I have decided to post the cover photo I did after closing on my new house.

Ever feel like you have a million ideas bouncing around in your head that you just need to do something about? It's hard to have that going on when you're sitting at a desk for 8 hours straight..

IF: Wings

Just popping in to post my illustration this week for Illustration Friday!

Manatees in Love - IF

Certainly by now the Valentine's Day committee has flooded the aisles of stores with hearts and chocolate.

My illustration for this week's IF topic involves an underwater romance. You may need to sip water for this one, it gets awfully steamy.

Pretty soon Justin and I will be sailing on an "ocean" ourselves. I don't know why I put the word ocean in quotations...we're quite literally sailing on an ocean. Next Sunday we will be setting off to the Bahamas on a cruise; our first vacation that's just the two of us, and I am beyond excited! Especially since he promised to take ballroom dance classes with me on the boat.

Illustration Friday: Water

"There was nothing he hated more than taking a bath."

Not overly thrilled with this week's submission, but I wanted an excuse to experiment with drawing water.

Two Sneak Peeks

As I anxiously await the closing of my house new house (or should I say old new house?), I did some extensive doodling which became a b&w illustration that is soon to be colored. Once I finally get the official closing date, this illustration will become my new Facebook cover photo.

Oh, the journey begins... 

Also, last week Justin and I had an engagement photo session with Erin Oveis Brant Photography, and she posted a preview picture...which of course only made me hungry for more!

At Beaver Island Beach on Grand Island <3

I am SO proud that this amazing photographer is from my very own dumpy hometown. She lives in San Diego now, but just happened to be in visiting and doing photo sessions for the week :o) 

I knew that if I couldn't get Erin for my wedding photography, I at least had to get an engagement session done.

Illustration Friday: Book

Happy Friday!

Not the happiest Friday I've had, but I've got a good feelin' about this one. Despite the fact that my closing date was supposed to be today and I thought I'd have the keys to my new home this afternoon (which I won't).

So why do I feel so optimistic about today? Beats me. It's one of those odd times when you feel like you can sense something happening before it actually happens. Or maybe I'm just excited about October beginning this upcoming week.

Engagement photo session this Monday! I'm excited/nervous/scared/anxious/hopeful.

As for Illustration Friday, today's topic was book, and I am happy to oblige.

"Annie didn't really mind Sebastian's company. Truth was, he was her best friend." 

A Little Thursday Choo-Choo

I finally opened the pigknit etsy shop! Right now there are crickets chirping as I only have a couple pieces listed, but that's just a matter of uploading new art. Check it out!

House-buying is quite the process. Faxing, signing, faxing, initialing, mailing, inspecting, faxing. Our closing date was originally Sept 28, and we were hoping to get early occupancy. Well...it's the 20th and we're still not closed. Now I'm just hoping we actually close by our closing date!

Two friends of mine are coming over so I'm making lasagna tomorrow.
Oh by the way, I drew a train:

Why yes, it was as fun to draw as it looks...how did you know?

It had originally began as a doodle in my sketch book that I ended up liking enough to digitize. The zebra was an after-thought, but I'm glad I put him in because this train was lacking in zebra.

I'm so anxious to find out what tomorrow's Illustration Friday theme is...I wasn't feeling this week's theme quite so much. Normally if I'm going to get an idea from it I'll get it within 5 minutes of reading the theme so if I don't get it by then I forget about it entirely until it's suddenly Thursday before the next week's theme is out so...

Another random note: It's gettin' cooler over here in Buffalo. I heard on the radio that because this Summer was so dry, this Fall is going to be disappointingly bland in color. Lame. Anyone else excited for changing seasons?

Illustration Friday: Imagination

I can't wait to see all of the submissions for this great topic!

"Imagination" 

Illustration Friday - Identical

It's been a very...very long time since I've done a drawing for Illustration Friday, so it feels great to have something to show this week!

Here's hoping I have time to participate more often:

Illustration Friday: Jump

"As she wrote her thoughts began to jump from the pages"

Finished Commission Piece

I finished the commission piece and it's on it's way to print! I don't think I'll be able to squeeze anything in for Illustration Friday, but the good thing about Illustration Friday is that there's always next week!

Courtney & Brendan, 2012

Commission Time!

I was going to try to create a quick illustration with an Easter theme, but I've been so busy this week I couldn't get around to it, and I'll be out of town this weekend so I think I missed out on my opportunity.

  I've got a new commission piece to work on though so that's awesome, I'll be posting progress as it comes along.  Hopefully I'll have time to work on IF as well.

Can't wait for Easter! I had to cheat and let myself have one cadbury creme egg. I can't help it, there's no avoiding the best Easter candy out there, I can't just not have one. And it was so worth it...

Illustration Friday: Return

"Return"
Follow the string of glowing light,
Hung through the highest tree.
Return to where you're meant to be,
Your haven from the night.

Illustration Friday: Swamp

Remember being little and feeling swamped with homework?  A little part of me secretly thought it was fun, and I loved the feeling of accomplishment when I'd check another assignment off my  planner. I don't miss projects, papers, or presentations though. I definitely never take my free time for granted now that I'm completely done with school. I love that I go to work and come home and leave work at work. In college I always had these dark clouds of assignments and animation projects that hung over me all semester and brought me down.

Tried the first exercise of p90x with my sister yesterday. SO glad I decided not to bother getting into that. Not only is it expensive, but the first exercise is pretty much impossible. There isn't enough structure and there's too much room to cheat, it really is up to you to push yourself in order to get a good workout. I can't do that, not when all I have monitoring me during the time is my cat. This is why I'm a member of the gym and take classes, because in boot camp it's high intensity strength training with a little cardio, and unlike at home where I can skip out on pushups, at the gym my instructor is there ready to pick on anyone who gives up.

Well that was a rant. Can you believe it's only Wednesday? This week is crawling by..