Scatterbrain

i love the word "scatterbrain." it's so funny and not at all vicious, even though it's meaning is less than a compliment. it makes me think of some children's book character with disheveled eyeglasses, one kneesock up and one down...maybe Ramona Quimby? Remember her? or Amelia Bedelia? Do i have that right?
All i know is, it's a word i like to use and so i was tickled to be able to use it in the item description for this latest illustration.

"Miss Lookilou is a scatterbrain. She loses her favorite things all the time! But all she has to do is look UP to find them all twisted and tucked into her hair.

A seek-and-find illustration which is sure to reveal something new every time you look at it."

Available here. I hope you all enjoy!

Digging Out

Into each life a bit of rain may fall....or something like that.

i've just recently gotten off one of those Life Roller Coasters we're all forced to ride from time to time. i think i'm finally getting back to my old self. Up until yesterday, i hadn't put pen or paintbrush to paper in well over a month and a half. Either i lacked inspiration or i was feeling too pitiful to be productive outside of the mandatory work day ~ i'm not sure which.

But yesterday, i just had the urge to throw color onto the page, to sit on my couch surrounded by colored pens, markers and pencils and just have at it. i had no plan. These 3 pieces are what came outta my head. And i think i'm in the mood to spill some more color today. It's looking up.

On New Year's Day in Philadelphia....

a little more of what i've been doing this december....

A few t-shirt designs for sale on a site called Mummerabilia.com
HELP SAVE A PHILLY TRADITION by purchasing a tee. Adult and kids' sizes are available.

Happy New Year!

WHat i did in december

i didn't blog much this past month. But i kept up with a work load i am now proud to have conquered.
Every december, my advertising clients go into overdrive and my artwork and custom holiday card orders get a little out of hand. It's not fair to complain about a problem like this, but i have to bite my lip a little sometimes to keep myself from it. It's the month i most want to hang with family and friends, but also a month that will normally give me that elusive financial cushion i always dream about...(at least for a month or so before we inevitably spend it all and find ourselves cushion-less once again). This year i may have outdone myself and spent it all on the creation of a box-and-bow-filled wonderland in my living room. It was the first year my little guy "got" the concept of santa and christmas and wish lists. i couldn't help myself.
ok, ok, so all that said, if you were wondering what the heck i was doing this past month.....here's a little sampling of what's been coming out of my fingertips....and printer.
Happy Holidays!

Dessert Made Fun-ner?

i have a sweet tooth. It's pretty impressive, actually. Not a day goes by that i do not eat some sort of chocolate or dessert, and usually go back for seconds. So, i clearly do not need any encouragement to reach for my dessert plates. But i think i might make these anyway.

The images below are just some crude digital mock-ups i made of what dessert plates in my little world might look like. My art decoupages and sealed under clear glass plates.

What do you guys think? would this encourage you to eat dessert? Do you need said encouragement?

Li'l bit Bohemian

Am i getting predictable? Go figure, i've gone and done another series on wood boards with bright colors and a combo of organic undertones and fine, detailed illustration. This series was inspired by etsy seller, mandizzle, whose shop is filled with the most gorgeous floral headpieces and even prettier photos of them modeled by their creator!! i wrote and asked permission to use a few of these stunning shots as my inspiration for a few new pieces, and this is what turned out!

Prints are available in my etsy shop and the originals will be available at Hello Bluebird in West Reading.

From Humble Beginnings

This is a sketch i made last night using a .3 thick Pilot Hi-Tec C pen in black. i actually kinda like it just as it is...simple and quietly rhythmic.

But i wanted to test out some simple color variations and see what shook out. So i scanned the sketch into photoshop and messed around for a while....this is what i came out with in the end.


My art really always ends up being a self-portrait of sorts. It's interesting. Restrained lines, repeating and repeating, with only occasional variation, emanating from a happy core. Earthy undertones and bright, colorful surface. A psychologist would probably have a field day with me!