Dresses

Right now, I'm working on visual concepts for a new book, I Had A Favorite Dress, by Boni Ashburn. To get in the mood, I've been doodling dressy things on hangers...Hope you are having a swell Thursday (it's so foggy here I can't even see the little hills out my window!)

Francine Friday

So Francine popped out of nowhere as an ink test a little while ago and I cracked up. Matt's a fan of this kooky little lady with her "jazz hand" + envelope purse and asked me to post her. What do you think she'd be saying in a speech bubble?

In Memory

It was this gentleman's 100th birthday last weekend:



Django! What would I draw without you? Thanks to your genius, perseverance and three finger hot club jazz, I can scribble and paint. Without you, I'd be many books behind and much gloomier. Many many thank yous.

Occasions For Color

Hello! Here's a peek at some of my desktop reference I was looking at as I finished painting the interior art for Just Being Audrey (art to come!)... Dreamy reference, right? The advertisement typography from the 1950's, Dior's "New Look" all over the place, gloves– And the palette. Oh the palette. Dandelion golds, frothy whites, pearly creams and most of all, that pale mint, a color I have been slightly obsessed with (which I have hunted for months for my bridesmaids-the color is so elusive!) Making this book and planning a wedding simultaneously has been crazy and grand. Matt and I are getting married in May! Couldn't be busier or happier, much to be grateful for and much to be done! Here is a Maid of Honor card I painted for my sister, Christa...

2010

Happy New Year to you!

Love and Snow Come to You!

A blizzard is coming tonight and it's almost Christmas. I feel grateful for the warmth of my home on a day like today, and wish warmth and goodness to you too. I can't believe how fast this year just flew.

Here is a wintery spread from Dotty (done and released Fall 2010!): Ida and her friend Katya are headed to school in a snow storm, on one of those winter mornings when the sky looks pink-grey and exciting, because a sky like that usually means early school closing! Poor lumpy Dotty is trying to keep up and slightly failing.

Have a beautiful holiday and see you in the New Year! ♥

Woke up to...

SNOW today! And here is a picture of the little diner below us, the old sign is hiding between branches. At the bottom of the sign it just says, "EAT". Love it. Winter's here.

Winter Work

Helloooo out there! How are you?...I regret I cannot share any of the work from the 2 completed picture books yet or the Audrey one (almost done!) so here is a personal sketch. I think her name is Chloë and she should be wearing peacock blue. One thing I can't wait to do, when the work is done: WRITE stories!

P.S. Music is my fuel for every single painting. Any audio suggestions are welcome, what are you listening to?

Sweets

When you're on a deadline (I'm a crazed picture book machine right now) you have to appreciate the little breaks and indulgences sweet enough to be a break but not so sweet you lose your stamina. Like jogging in place while you run a marathon.

Below are mine from last week:

Cat










Couture










Cannoli




What are your sweets?

Monte Carlo Baby

Putting the finishing touches on the Audrey book and realized I needed a little 1940's swanky film-set guy in the background of one of the spreads where Audrey's filming "Monte Carlo Baby". So I scribbled him in and here he is freshly scanned. Looks like he might break into a little Astaire soft-shoe and/or vocal number . Are those high-waisted pants or WHAT?

This one goes out to my kid brother.