Farm Parade & Deep Thoughts

Watercolor & Pencil
( Click on picture to enlarge)

I had an idea of making a parade for while but I confess that the coming of 4th of july had brought back the idea to my mind. I have 2 other farm parades in the making.... one is a Christmas Parade and the other is a Fun Fall Parade but I think because this took me a while to draw and paint , I want to rest a bit before I go back to the others.*smiles*

This was my first time painting a tractor. Because my illustrations are vintage style, I wanted a tractor that would fit the period of mid 1900's so the FARMALL is what I decided to add.

I will be listing on my etsy sometime soon but first I want to frame one and see how it looks.

I was thrilled to find a company that makes barn woods frames. Mostly of my oil paintings are framed in those but the man that used to make it for me was a seller on Ebay and he no longer makes them due to an accident while working, I know, poor guy!

I have been thinking to frame with a white frame also , just to give a different look and more modern for those that likes it that way... we shall see... right now , I custom frame some and as soon they are ready I will post.

I also have an exciting news. I was invited to do an exhibition in August. It is for a book club . It is not anything big at all and honestly if was , I wouldn't do it as I don't feel ready for something like that. I was surprise to be approach in interest on this because lately I have been thinking that perhaps I should not illustrate at all. Why? Well, perhaps some artists like me can relate... or perhaps is just me..sigh.

This is why:

For as far as I can remember I have always wanted to be an illustrator for children's book. When I was a child at any time I read I would look at the pictures and let "it" tell me the story. I would them *dream* about it for while. As an adult , it is not much different.*grin*

I take the children to the library every week. They have a summer program now and all my children were piled up with books . The person that checked us out handle me a paper to enter on the drawing and I laugh when I couldn't as I took a long look in what I had and saw that I did not get one single *adult section * book, grin.... yes , things has not changed.

Now back to my thoughts ... I am struggling with directions to go. I realize that in this industry , there are few different ways that an illustrate can go. One is to pursue children's book illustrations by submitting promotion cards, portfolio or even looking for an agent. This is such a difficult road to go and I personally know a handful of artist that have been doing this for a long time and never got a book deal. I recently found one artist that I can not say her name as she does not know me, but reading her blog, I was shocked to know that she has been trying for over 10 years and nothing. This person is A*M*A*Z*I*N*G..... her work makes me dream and I can see her illustrations on so many books and yet , she is still waiting!

Then one can be I like to call - A commercial illustrator. This is something that I recently found out about it. Etsy has a LOT of artist that are exploring this path with LOTS of success. For that , when one is creating is not just making a "picture or illustration" but rather "picturing" where this will go , mostly focusing on licensing. There are lot licensing companies out there that looks for specify art work, for ex: children's plates set.... Wall stickers... fabric.... just to name few.

Now is the question.... What should I do? okay, for those that will say...'follow your heart', I am starting to think that is NOT a good idea.*sad grin*

I HAVE been following my heart and I have not found sales for me. As much as I love to illustrate what ever comes to my mind , I truly need to make some income with that. I have set my sculpting aside to devote my time mostly on this and it is frustrating not to see monetary results, mostly because I start to fell selfish and that I am letting my family down.


I have been praying about it and I am willing to try something new but again, my style is what is and that is what I know and how it comes to me because is part of my life , but the vision can be change and that is what I am hoping for.

This year I decided to make a portfolio and bravery start the road of sending out to publisher. I know it can happen or not and honestly, I don't want to be sitting , waiting and hoping that some one will say yes. the reason is because creating illustration is now a natural thing for me and it comes and "calls" me to get it done. It is a joy ,a pleasure and a blessing that only artist like me can truly understand and relate so I don't have an option to "stop",grin, BUT I can be commercial mean while.

I don't even know how to do this is practical way.... I began to think that perhaps I need to strength my outlines a bit and maybe even add a little of photoshop . I am not sure.

okay, I hope this did not come out as rumblings in a bad way because I honestly can tell you that I am SO grateful to the Lord and so thankful that God has blessed me with my gifts and the portion that HE has for me. I want to be content with my lot and if means just to make silly little illustrations then let it be but I then need to learn my limits and priorities- I struggle with that!*grin*

I was not planning to write this post and as I am re-reading it , I was tempt to delete it but thinking again, perhaps God used me to help someone that are facing similar struggles.

May HE bless you with direction and true contentment that can ONLY comes from Jesus Christ.

Summer and gardens...

This time of the year I like to take time and enjoy the work that we did over the past few months around our farm. It is with a true sense of satisfaction and gratidute that I thank the Lord Jesus for blessing me and my family with so much more than I ever dream . I know I don't deserve anything and it is only because God is gracious that I am and have all that He has trusted in me.

Happy 4th of July!!!

I wish you a happy and safe holiday weekend!!!*grin*

Oil, watercolor and Character choices

Hello dear readers~*grin*

I have been thinking for while to do a post like this and the reason is because I wonder so much my self about sketching,painting, and so many other aspects that involves creating an illustration, that Idecide to share with you some of my "findings", grin, if I can call it that way.

You see... as long as I can remember , I have always painted with oil painting and never , ever used a pencil to draw. When i finally came to the point of deciding that i want to illustrate children's book, and after trying *painting with wool* ( a whole different post) , I started to draw and tried water colors. It has been less than 2 years now and I consider this medium very new to me. I love the way the watercolor makes me free and more and more I feel leaning to become even more "adventurous" with this medium.

The picture below , is my oldest daughter - Sthefanie when she was 14 years old... almost 10 years ago. The painting above is an example of how I painted with oils.... I always knew I could never have been a portrait painter... I was never good that way; However I was able to paint subject that did not show face completely and as a matter of a fact , I did several portraits of my children and they hung around the house but nothing like what I am doing with the watercolors today.


My children have always been the biggest inspiration of my life for everything i do. I think I was born to be a "momma" more than anything else. When my children were young, I had 6 under 8 years old once!!:-)) it was a little crazy , but because I have a wonderful husband and incredible father to my children , it made an amazing difference , I think!

So, here I am trying to illustrate and because I feel that I like to illustrate from life, Like dear late Tasha Tudor, I had to find my own source of direction. How? I use pictures. I have Thousands and thousands of pictures from my children at all the stages of their lives and this is has become my most valuable source of information but I am not limited to that alone, they , the children are also my models for my today's illustrations.

This is a wip of an illustration that I am currently getting ready to finish and paint. Here the children are picking wild blackberries. This is a common thing for us during the summer time. It is normal to have one of them"eating" the fruits a little more than they should ,grin.

In here , you can see that I actually had my daughter Gabriela posing for me. the reason i do this is because I don't have enough experience to draw from my memory yet , only some very simple poses but i find that if i have a reference it helps me to see when the light is coming and when I draw and paint I can add the "folds" for the skirt for ex, much much better because it comes from the real thing.

Another aspect is that is important to me that my children be part of my illustration. They are my life!*smiles* and as blessings they are to me, I feel that I want to share and this is *my* way to do that.

I can add or make changes as I see fit once i can the most important in- the faces and hands! I find these very very important!

It normally takes me 10 to 15 pictures to get one that I like. Mostly because my teenagers laugh to much when they pose and i don't help it either... I feel as I am still 12 years old my self!*grin*

I am also inspired by other ways too. I have to be careful with my distractions, specially in church. As much I trained my own children to sit still in church at a very Young age and they did, I see that not everyone thinks the same and I have to be careful because a little child in front of me can lead me to smile in which does not help her momma , *blushing*, and I totally get distracted from the service, not right either,*severe blushing* ....

so as I say... been an artist is a blessing and a curse.... Blessings as our own Creator is the Master of all and a curse because everything to me is poetic and drives me to places that I shouldn't always be, but Jesus is Gracious and teaches me every day to focus in the most important of all - Him!

My miniature dolls are often seen in my illustrations too. So as you see , I am influence by all around me. I hope this post was interesting for you and if you are an artist searching for way to progress your work, perhaps this will help you to have some new ideas!

I would love to hear from you!*smiles*

Coming up at my Etsy Store- greeting cards!!

When evening pulls her curtain down

And pins them with a star,

Remember that you have a friend

No matter where you are.

Yours till the moon shines,

Recipe Cards and more!!!

I been wanting to make some recipe cards for while but I wanted to have few illustrations ready first.

All the little things in life are more precious to me than the real big things. *grin*

Here are some new art. Some will soon be greeting cards and postcards too.

The wood stove sketch is not new. I made last year. It is just like my own Majestic Stove!!!

This is such a sweet illustration . I truly thing that the older girl has baked her first cake and trying her best to deliver it without problem.....I am not sure about that!!!*grin*

Here my *real* sweet girl baking some goodies to give away!*smiles*

If you would like to buy some , they are available at my etsy shop for $7 for a package of 10 cards.

The recipes cards measures 5 1/4" x 3 3/4". They have lovely round corners too!

They come on a cello package with a handmade label that has been sew to the finish.

Now is time to enjoy some delicious cookies!!!!

Bunny talk - show & tell! :-)

Fairytale Pottery

Ohhh... I am so excited about this!!!! last year I started trying out to transfer image to pottery in way that it would be permanently and maintain the dishwasher/microwave/oven safe.

I did several try outs and if you look at me early posts you will see that I was not very happy with my first results .

The whole process require testing because glazes and surfaces varies a lot ( amount of silica etc...) but I finally figure out and i absolutely LOVE the results!!!

I made several pieces and also listed some on my new little etsy store. Visit me there , if you like to buy some.
I will be making , as time allows me ,more pieces and will list some more there.
I love the font .... it is like a child's writing.*grin*

My wordings are :

* one saxy mouse *
* a musician mouse in the house *
* simple pleasures *
* made from scratch *

Time to plant!

"For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations." Isaiah-61:11



The next three pictures were suppose to be after some other ones but after I finished writing I realized that I forgot, so here they are ... a little out of order!*grin*


As you can see , my grass looks terrible ....Josh is determined to change that! Yeahhhh!

I came out from my little shop to see that Becca had stop working and was dangerously playing....Becca!*grin*

Okay... I do love to see how my children get along so well!!!!

( This was the beginning)sigh!

Today was such a wonderful and blessed day! My children as well as my 2 extra students , were anxious to finish school so they could come outside and help me plant.

I had worked early this morning and later when they came , they told me that I could finish my sculpting work because *they* would surprise me!!!!!!!!!!!*grin*

Becca and Ruth Ann , started to plant the garden....

Today they planted collard greens, lettuce and broccoli....

They have their own system of doing things!*grin*

Little Ben wanted to plan flowers for me...aww...Ben.... you are so sweet!*double grin*

Ben also knows well how to do this...

A little at a time....

I walked to the back yard to see how Gabby and Lydia were doing....

I laugh to see Gabby with sun glass... she said the sun bother her eyes..... oh Gabby!*grin*

I love this little spot.... I come here almost everyday to fetch some herbs for my cooking.

I always have oregano, lemon balm,rosemary, thyme and lavender.

It was about time to plant ....cilantro, parsley,,basil and others!*grin*

Benny did an excellent job! ((( Thank you Ben!!))) later on this will look fantastic!

The girls did great too.

What a wonderful Day!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Jesus , for your blessings and for simple things!