Ready for the Church...

Well, in between soccer tournaments and games, I was able to bring this project for my church to a close.  All that's left is the clear topcoat and Cubbie will take up his post, welcoming families to the Cubbie room.

During part of this project, I had company out in my garage/studio as I could often hear little scratchings and nibblings.  We located the little critter's hide-out...and this is what happens when you give a mouse a box of papier mache masks.

What one little garage mouse can do!

We dumped out the box and all of its contents in the yard - and watched the little mouse scurry right back toward the house.  Where are all those neighborhood cats when we need them?

Making a Splash...

I've been working on a couple of different things lately.  I've stepped back into the chef panel, doing a little here and a little there.  I put in a layer of color on the architectural elements and started the grape leaves creeping across the top.  I added a couple of minor veggies and filled in the purple grape at the bottom. 

My challenge here was the splash.  I originally started using cerulean blue and was horrified - blech!  Switching to ultramarine was much better...but, wait a minute!  I didn't try pthalo.  Might have to try that tomorrow.

Another thing I started was a study of a tree - the type of tree that will go in panels 1 and 2.  This is especially challenging because it's a truck load of green, green, and more green.  I have 3 different greens in the hillside and another 3 (or more) greens that make up the tree.  I'm having to find ways to create contrast, even though in the reference pictures that I'm using, it does blend together at times.  I need to work on it a bit and work out the kinks.

Not very accurate color, but wanted to share
what I have so far

I think I have a studio guest at night.  I'm not sure, but I think it might be this guy:

I've heard him rustling around here and there.  I suppose we can share the space for now...so long as he doesn't start using my paints.

Illustration Friday: "Contraption"

Well, I've been wanting to get to this all week, but I've been too busy.  So, here I am - sleepless on a Thursday night. Well, I guess it's actually Friday morning, so there'll be another topic soon.  I've posted this one before, but it's perfect for the topic.  I've been working on another project which I hope to share really soon!

Illustration Friday: "Beneath"

This drawing done over summer was a good fit for this week's theme.

Kitty's looking for her mouse.  Perhaps he should look beneath the bed.

Illustration Friday: "Equipment"

If you want to successfully steal the cheese, a mouse must have the right equipment.  Now, are there supposed to be extra parts?