Trick or Treat? by Catharine

Pumpkin costume, scary version on my blog!

Pickles by Laura Taylor Mark

"Great it's burger night!" muttered Jeanette as she walked into the kitchen and spied the note on the fridge. She knew what that meant - her mom would be plunking a big, heaping bowl of those gross, green things on their dinner table. Her two younger brothers love pickles. They also loved nothing better than to wave them at her and bite into them making loud, crunching sounds. They know how much Jeanette HATES pickles!

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Hello all - I can't believe how long its been since I posted!! Will play a bit of catch up here very soon and see what you've all been up to :>

Safari/It's a Jungle Out There.-Illustration Friday

Brrr...

Patrick, the very small polar bear, didn't mind the cold…

He could only think of lunch but where was he going to find a goldfish at this time of year?!

I recycled an old ink and bleach drawing by adding the goldfish.

Cat Magic

Here's my late entry...

Inkwash and PS

I really like the themes for the month and I've enjoyed looking at some really splendid stuff, can't wait to see what the second half of the month will bear :)

Well done all 'round!

The gift | The story continues...

More color versions of these earlier sketches. You know who the gift is for, but what is he knitting? ;-)

The gift | Color version

Here it is, in ink and watercolor, from this sketch. I'm using Lanaquarelle Hot Press paper, and sometimes I have a hard time controlling the washes. But I guess it gives it that unpredictable watercolor effect, right? ;-)
As far as the ink strokes, I've been trying to leave them looser and sketchy, and I think I like the results. What do you think?

Where's the snail?

I thought I would be a bit playful with this one. The snail is quite impressed with what that little girl can do! Come to think of it, that's one large snail! :-)

I'm still trying to find my most comfortable way of drawing people. I like a very loose style, similar to what I did with this illustration, but it doesn't always work. I really just have to keep practicing, trying different styles I guess, until I find the "right" one for me.

A Manly Happy Birthday

I thought Richard might like a nice manly birthday greeting, with lots of bold color and fire. ha ha

I know I'm late for the birthday, so I hope it was a happy one.

Island Dancing

"With the embarrassing seatbelt-extension episode on the plane forgotten, Ella had a great time learning the hula."

I had a great time with this illo. I kind of liked the colors that happened. I inked this first, then painted with gouache. When dry, I held it under a stream of warm water and let it wash off the extra paint. I had some happy accidents when the paint washed off in patches in the sky making clouds.

I've really been inspired by everyone this last 2 weeks. I haven't taken the time to comment as I have started 3 classes and put in overtime at work this last week, but I've loved them all. Good job everyone!

Dancing

I'm actually more of a spring/summer kind of person, but fall is my husband's favorite season, so I thought I'd do a little dancing for fall. :-)

Grown Up Peter

"Peter's eye caught on the jacket, all blue, in the shop window. He made the purchase, as he missed wearing the one he had in his youth."

Tribute to Beatrix Potter

When I first started reading about Beatrix Potter, I was fascinated by her illustrated letters: the start of her career as a storyteller and illustrator. So here's my homage to Ms. Potter: my interpretation of her now very famous letter to Noel about a little rabbit named Peter. :-)

Ella Distracted

While on a family walk, Ella saw the most fascinating things.

Can you imagine? Triplet elephants? Just imagine how big you'd get while pregnant. ha ha ha. I almost had a disaster with this. I used a different kind of paper and when I went to wash off the gouache the paper started to disintegrate! I didn't panic, just layed it out on a table as flat as I could until it dried. Oh well, you learn by doing, right?

This was outlined in India ink and then gouache. When the gouache is dry you wash it off! (I know, it's hard to see all that expensive gouache going down the drain.) I've loved seeing everyones take on this. So many creative minds out there. I'm honored to be numbered among you.

striped skunk trio

Back from vacation with an entry for this weeks "Triplets" theme. This is a loose study created by using watercolor washes and ink. 

Watercolor Wednesday "Billy Goats Gruffs"

Mia Loopner did not take to kindly to the Woodland brothers making her the grumpy old troll in their backyard production of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff."