Sophie & Ally

My eldest daughter, Sthefanie, is due with her first child ( that means that I will be a Gramma!!!*grin*) next month. She has chosen to name her expecting baby " Alissa Sophia". I made a little girl and named her Sophie and her little companion ,a baby lamb - Ally!

This little animation is my first one and I know is not great but I think is sweet, don't you agree?grin

You can see the illustration HERE!

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.

Psalm 8

" When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?" Psalm 8:3-4

One of the very first Psalm chapter to be memorized by my children was Psalm 8. I love the assurance and the Majesty expressed by the words of king David. It is a comforter to know that we serve a God that is sovereign and all power.

This illustration is again a little different than most of my children's illustrations. I am always wanting to try something new....a new approach... in drawings and painting . I am discovering that i like a the soft side a lot. I think it tells a lot about the picture mood. As you can see , i did not use black and did not highlight the edges. I worked mostly with the shadows . In my mind this is a evening were the moon was full and bright, just like when I was a child growing up in Brazilian farm land.... the moon seemed always brighter there than here and now.*grin*

I would love to hear from you with your honest feedback. What do you think? Is it too light, muddier, or it soft and fits the story?

**I still can not see my followers and nor can I follow others. I am not sure what to do. I can visit and leave comments but this is so upsetting to me.

. It is available here

Have a blessed weekend!!!!

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*

feeding chickens

Music!

Christmas day was different this year. It snowed. It was beautiful and calm. Kate been home gave us the treasure of singing with piano music once again. Everyone was happy ...even our little pets!*grin*

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,

Baking with momma!!!

Hello there~

I am pleased to share with you one of my latest work - An illustration of a simple , but precious moment - baking cookies with momma !

All of my children enjoys cooking and baking. I love it too, but is this time of the year that I enjoy the most. There is something * very * special about baking Christmas cookies and it brings out some of the sweetest memories to my heart.*grin*

My girls and I will be doing just that mid this week. I am very excited about it and I think they are too.

I cropped part of this illustration so one can see the details. You can double click to view it a larger too.

Momma has a very sweet expression. Been a mother of 7 children I always thought that "Patience " is one of the most precious gift a mother can possess because that leads to everything good.

When I had Kate , my second daughter , I found a little t-shirt that said "I think my name is no-no". I think all the children after her worn the same t-shirt!!!*grin*

I love the family gathering in my kitchen. My children are no longer babies but still young plus I have so many wonderful memories!

This print is available at my etsy store and it is part of a series of 4 that I will be sharing something this week. They are all part of my line of vintage style recipe cards!

Bunny talk - show & tell! :-)

At the Zoo

When I was a young child, I was always fascinated any time momma had a chance to take us to the zoo but when the circus would come to town, it would make my day complete!*grin*
I did this illustration and my daughter Gabriela, ( now 14) told me the she would write a little poem for it. I thought that it was funny how everyone *sees* differently. I had the circus in mind but Gabby saw a little boy at the zoo.
One thing she and I shared the same vision... no matter what this little boy is so fascinated by his big balloon that even the lollipop is left for second,grin.
Since as young child red has been my favorite color however; when anyone asks me what is my favorite color I answer white- because I can paint on it!*grin*
ps. below I am sharing some of my wip pictures.

The Fiddle

You my click i to enlarge it.:-)

He loves me ....he loves me not... he loves me...

Blessings Pa?

When I was a child, my parents taught us ( my brother and sister) to come to them before bedtime and ask each one for blessings. We did this every evening as we grow up... Papa would be first then Momma. I would hold my hand up asking him " blessing Pa?" and papa would kiss it saying: "God bless you ,my love", and I would kiss his.

Again, here I am looking for new grounds .I am not sure yet where I am going... I feel that I need to draw , draw and draw as much as I can... you know what I mean.... between endless interruptions but again, I can not complain because I have learned to manage things like that and after all I am momma of 7 children.*grin*

I am struggling with many things.... more simple or define lines... soft pastel or vibrant colors... focus subjects or many details... what am I good ? Is that in me a natural way or a matter of practice... questions and questions.

I have decided that I need the most is too relax. Yesterday I rode a bike to the barns.... that would have been lovely but I would not dare allow anyone to take a picture of me because the bike I used was my 8 years old son and boy didn't I look clumsy .... not to mentioned that by the time I reached one of the barns I was about to fall apart. the pedal and the ground was so close , I soon jumped out of the bike and walk aside it.That made me think that I need to ride bike more often... well, not a tiny one.*grin*

Yesterday evening , Mark and I sat under the grape vines. The weather was perfect. It felt like a autumn day. The sun setting behind the tall trees and the cows and sheep silhouettes were such enjoyable scene. I felt like a queen curled up in a lovely metal chair with a soft red cushion, looking up to see the almost-ready-t0-eat grapes , hanging down so tempting....grin.

It is almost 11pm, I must go to bed now. I am looking forward to tomorrow as I know I will be getting a early birthday gift that i have been wanting for so long. I will *show* you as soon as I am able.

good nite~*smiles*

ps. You may click on the picture to view enlarged.