If you want to make an artist happy...

If you want to make an artist happy, just ask them to paint flowers. It works for me.

Artist paints Christmas ship with plywood...

Artist paints Christmas ship with plywood - that's just what I did. After trying umpteen different methods of painting the water and none were working. This is from my book 'The 12 Days of Christmas in Washington' - I finally tried plywood. And viola! It was just right. I figure this is as a meaningful connection of nature and art. And the pages were the editor's favorite.

In the season of nights & lights...

This was fun to paint...

On Fluffy, on Snoozer, on Meowser, on Pixin....

Dash on Fluffy, on Snuggles, on Meowser, on Pixin.... on Fluffy, on Snoozer, on Scratchy & Licksin ... Glad Tidings & Happy Holidays to All!

Line - Color - Action!

 Line - Color - Action! 

Photoshop enriches the color choice for an artist - but sometimes it seems there are too many choices.

But it's all good.

Frosty in color

First comes the brush pen line - and suddenly Frosty is ready for his screen closeup!

Let ye olde Holiday cheer ring forth!

Frosty's all dressed up for the occasion. Let ye olde Holiday cheer ring forth!

I woke up in the dark, thunder and rain this morning to warn the homeless person sleeping in their car on our street to move to a different location to avoid a ticket. 

There were dramatic lightning bolts that rent the dark and rain to add to the effect.  But when I got there the car was gone. I started out in Seattle living in my car so I have huge sympathy in this season of sheltering the lost and disadvantaged.  

Of course Mother Nature wins

It was intoxicating painting a book about Fall at the same time Fall was going on in Seattle. I'd walk down the street an feel hopelessly inadequate compared to the handiwork of Mother Nature.  Of course Mother Nature wins

Pumpkins are a natural to draw and paint. 

It was fun challenge figuring out how to paint all those leaves.

That's the way the cookie crumbles

Well it's a holiday day late and a dollar short - but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

But not to worry - there's lots more seasons coming up after this one.  I myself have just about reached my limit on pumpkin and pecan pies - lol!

Just sketching away...

Just sketching away on the next cover design... this one with a snowy wintertime setting.

I was spinning down the hill on my bike when it occurred to me that I should change a color from green to lilac. But the funny thing is when I got back home and tried it, it was exactly what it needed. I like when that happens.

A Good Night's Sleep

One reason I liked this story so much was probably because I wished I could hibernate.

Counting sheep doesn't always work.

Tea with a friend is helpful.

But counting bears is a novel approach.  Anytime I have an illustration with bears, sheep and a tea party I'm happy to not be hibernating.

Some things I saw in Denver...

Snow and lots of sunshine...

The view of the Rockies is always good...

A little history - one of the oldest houses in Denver. Molly Brown stayed there once.

Flying over the Tetons is always amazing.