Exploring

Not all those who wander are lost.

- J. R. R. Tolkien

www.robertabaird.com

Exploring

Jillian loved to explore in the kitchen.

Exploring the moon

I've always wanted to explore the moon and it looks like this cow will have her chance. This is my latest for Stories for Children. I wanted to have her friends in the picture, but since the trajectory wouldn't have been possible she's going solo. 

Exploring...

She discovered a couple of seahorses!
(watercolor & pencil)

Sticky - finalized color image

Finally finished this image for "Stories for Children".

Exploring II - Color

And here is the other one... what do you think? Are the colors working? Feel free to offer tips, I'm always open to suggestions! :)

Exploring I - Color

I'm so proud of myself... it's been crazy here, and I STILL found time to paint! Yay!! Here is the first one in color...

Father's Day

Just for fun & because I loved Vanessa's & Monica's illustration so much, thought I'd do one also, even with the green balloon! Hope you don't mind--just loved both images!

Day at the Beach (pencil study)

I don't consider myself a colorist, so I've been experimenting with something that seems to work for me: drawing in pencil first, using value, then print image off onto watercolor paper & watercolor the image. I draw much better than I paint & I think I've finally found a technique that works for me. Comments and/or constructive criticism welcome!

Day at the Beach

watercolor & pencil

Exploring 2

And the second one is exploring ... well... breasts. There is something so funny about stuffing your shirt full of fruit, socks, pencils, etc. to get a glimpse of what you might look like as a grown-up. It's sort of like a pubescent Magic 8 ball.... without the ball... ok so maybe it's not really like that at all, but I like Magic 8 balls, so there.

I'll paint both of these later tonight and repost.

Exploring

I know this week's prompt is Father's Day, but I've been crazy busy the past few weeks with end of school activities that I feel like I can't catch up, so I'm cheating, and just fast forwarding to next week's prompt (I hope you don't mind): exploring. I've got two illos for this one. I felt inspired.

The first is .... belly buttons. Belly Buttons always seem to fascinate children - from toddlers exploring their bodies, to elementary school kids checking to see if they are an innie or an outie (and sometimes even showing off their bb lint - gross!)

Happy Father's day!

father's day

sorry i haven't been here for ages! i feel so terrible.. this is my tribute for my late father, who passed away 4 yrs ago.

Father's Day

It's been a while since my last post, but here's my entry for this week's prompt.
Happy Father's Day!

Take the 30 day Doodle Challenge

I got my copy of the Spring issue of MO Scribbles yesterday. I read an article on daily drawing for play and decided to take the daily doodle 30 day challenge.

My first attempt is here: wendymartinillustration.com/wordpress/ on my web site blog. Take a peek and please leave me a comment.

Why not join me in the 30 day challenge? Let's egg each other on and see where we end up.

:D

sticky

What could be more sticky than a toasted marshmallow on a . . . stick?

I'm late again, but still trying to post. I realized I need some more spots and, since I have a bit of odd-shaped watercolor paper, I might as well make the most of it. Fun, fun, fun.

A Day at the Beach

Every summer Vasthi looked forward to going to the
beach to see big Tobiah. He also looked forward
to seeing Vasthi for he knew that she would
always take care of dental hygiene. After his
four point check up Vasthi would put on a show.
hee hee hee!

Day at the beach

This a 5 x 7 watercolor, titled 'Follow me'. We don't have many sandy beaches in Maine....but we have a lot of rocky ones! These kids are my two boys.
I love all the submissions so far! So much imagination!!!
Debbie

Cocoa Beach

When you live inland, like I do, sometimes you have to get inventive when you want to go to the beach.

I think if I was coloring this again I would make the cup a warm color. Sometimes I have a hard time with my palette. Oh well, you learn by doing, right?

Goodbye

Some people have mixed feelings at the end of the school year. It's not always easy to say goodbye to a good friend.

Sorry about not being around very much lately. Our computer modem was fried a while back, we were on vacation, and I simply need to reset the habit. Yesterday I just decided to put this together. I hope to get around to some more, and to comment on everyone's wonderful illo's!

Sticky Days

This is not so much "sticky days" but it's about cotton candy that the protagonist makes disappear--it's an image I'm working on for Stories for Children magazine.

Sticky Days

Lunch a la Boys

Sticky Sketch

I doodled up two ideas for "sticky" - these are really rough; hopefully, I'll be able to refine them a bit this week . :)

Sticky Day

I finally had a minute to work on something for this week's topic. Right now it's just a sketch, but I hope to post the final color before Wednesday. (fingers crossed)

You know, I tried this sketch three different times with human kids, in different settings. It didn't really gel for me until I added the snouts-haha! Sometimes you gotta state the obvious. These poor kids overindulged their cravings for something sweet on Movie Night. With stomachs swirling and dangers of hurling, it is a sticky-sickly situation indeed.

OT I am so excited!

I just made plans to go to Denver, CO. On June 27th the COVR Awards Banquet is happening there. Guess what? My book An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child is a finalist!!!!!

Finalists and winner will be announced on stage during the banquet. I am so excited I can barely breath.

I need to get some painting done, but life has been a bit of a turmoil at the moment as I scrambled to make arrangements to head out to Denver. I was just notified on Friday of the honor!

Anyone know of good touristy spots in Denver I should see before I come back home?

Sticky Situation

For some reason all I could think about was stepping on gum when I saw the word "sticky". I had fun whipping this out. Not a lot of detailed story-telling here, but I think we can all relate.

Sticky day!

This is 'Day at the fair'. My boys with the grandparents! Usually by the end of this day...everyone is very sticky! I did something a little different with this painting. After puting in the watercolor washes, I went over it with pen and ink to define edges. It is something different for me and I wanted to see what the end result would look like. I think it gives a bit of a caricature look to it.
Debbie

Schools out

First I want to thank you all for choosing me as the winner for May!! How exciting! I feel very honored, as I am in such wonderful talented company here!
I lost my internet connection (It's still limping along until I get repair on Thursday this week) and wasn't able to post for May's theme week 'Schools out'.
Since I was the winner for that month, I had better post something! lol.
Here is my schools out theme. Titled 'Show chores'. Around my area (and when I was a kid) the horse shows start up! This is an older painting from a few years back, but I felt it was fitting for what I know about school being out.
Thanks again for the monthly winning here at Watercolor Wednesdays!!
Debbie

Sticky Days

It's amazing what the sun and a few hours can do to pretty candy.
A friend of mine left her candy in a front window in her store
and it all just melted. This is what it looked like just before it happened
hee hee hee! Needless to say, It was a very Sticky day.

Field Day 2 in color

Here is the second of my two Field Day illustrations in color. I painted the other one too, but wasn't happy with the way it turned out so I'm going to redo it, probably tomorrow.

This one I'm pretty satisfied with. Ahhh. :)