Home from the Hospital...

At last, a moment.

Our 4th child was due March 20th and it just so happened that I went into labor on that evening. But, little Lindy Ann arrived around 2:00 a.m. on March 21st. I spent a couple of days in the hospital and we came home Sunday night.

She actually slept pretty well in the hospital and I took a few minutes to sketch her. I had to share a room, so these were done in very low light as it was the middle of the night. But, I think I captured her pretty well.

Things are going pretty well. Hopefully, I can get a few more sketches done at some point. I have a lot of help - sometimes too much - from her older siblings (who just LOVE her and argue over holding her).

Glass from the Past...

Things are looking up - several work and teaching responsibilities have been set aside, projects around the house are near completion, and it's almost baby time. Could be any day I guess, but I'm hoping to get a little closer to the due date. I have my bags packed for the hospital, including my sketchbook and pencils.

In the meantime, I visited Kathleen Rietz's blog and saw a posting of a glass mosaic that she'd done. That reminded me that in the past I had enjoyed making stained glass panels. HEY! At last, something art-related for me to post about!

These are a few panels I did over 10 years ago, but I've never posted (not the best pictures - poor light - I'll try to remedy that soon). The kids designs (Humpty Dumpty and Counting Sheep) were in their bedroom windows until we moved here - now they're in my kitchen, helping to keep the neighbors from peering straight in.

I always loved glass projects - there was a certain amount of mystery as to how it would actually look once completed. Unless you have a light table (which I don't), you really can't see the full effect until the pieces are soldered together and you can lift the panel off the board. Then, you catch a first glimpse of the colors illuminated.

I always enjoyed the different textures and patterns of glass that you can get, too. Hopefully someday I'll be able to dive into another glass project. However, right now is just tooooooooo busy!

Checking In...

It's been much longer than I thought it would be since I've been able to post. It seems like this year has started out with many losses - which include my dad as well as some other projects/activities that were dear to me, but have been taken away. I have to just find encouragement in knowing that the Lord knows what I don't, and things will ultimately work out for the best (although at the moment, that doesn't soothe the sting of it all - no need to get into it).

Anyway, I'm a month away from what I hope will be a turn for the better - the birth of our 4th child. I'm in that "can't get comfortable in any position" stage, but I am grateful that that's the worst of it - it's been an easy pregnancy.

On top of that, what started as a discussion about refinancing our house has turned into "let's look for a 4 bedroom." Of course, now is not the best time on many levels. And, since we really weren't planning on a move, there are many household projects that need to be finished before we can put our house on the market.

All of this has kept me away from drawing. However, as all these things come to a close as we near baby-day, I hope to have some time to actually do some drawing or painting.

In the meantime, I took my 13 yr old son to see our local theater company's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." I didn't think he would like it very much, but wanted to take him to experience Shakespeare. HE LOVED IT. It was all performed in Shakespearean English, but they gave it an Eastern Indian visual twist. It was hilarious and now he wants to take his dad. I really enjoyed it as well - it was good to just laugh!

I don't know if anyone stops by here these days. But, I hope to be back with some art soon.

Tough Start to the New Year

I'm sad to say that tomorrow my family and I will be traveling to the memorial for my dad (Richard L. Ballard) who passed away on Saturday, January 3rd.

While I was expecting this to be a difficult year in terms of my dad's health, I don't think any of us expected for the end to happen as rapidly as it did.

I look forward to being with my family during this difficult time. I'll be away for several days, but will check back as soon as I can and see what everyone's been creating.

So much to do - so little time!

My Christmas vacation time is rapidly coming to a close - we'll start back to schooling stuff next week (ish). We always start back light at first.

There are a million things I'd like to do with my remaining days - walls to paint, pictures to draw, books to read, messes to conquer...oh well. I can't do it all - in fact, I will have time for very little of it. But, I did pick up a couple of used books from Barnes & Noble online that have helped me take a few steps toward an illustration business, starting with a focus on small projects like greeting cards.

I had high hopes for this book - sounds perfect. However, only some of the information has been helpful. I like the personal profiles of some of the illustrators. But, a lot of it seems like "common sense" and I don't really benefit from the drawing and painting how-to's.

This book about the freelance biz has been very insightful. This is the aspect of illustration that frightens me most - I'm not naturally a business person, but I've gotten a lot of great things to think about and act upon from reading this one.

Anyway, I don't think I will have a good grasp on how and when I can make any progress toward my illustration goals until summer - after we've settled in with the new baby and I have time off of schooling to even think about the future. It's hard to think past spring at the moment.

Goodbye to Christmas - Hello New Year!

The cookies have been baked (and consumed), the presents have been opened (and assembled), and the stockings are now empty (no matter how hopeful the little guy up top may be). And now, I have a day or two that I can do a little bit in the sketchbook before I have to think about school again.

I had the forethought to take my drawing stuff to the doctor's office yesterday as the waiting room was packed and I was able to start the above drawing. I didn't know what it was going to be - it started as a doodle. But, it turned out to be very appropriate for the time of year and my feelings about the season at the moment (funny how those things can come through when you're not actually conscious of it). Christmas was sort of a blur - here and gone - and I feel like I hardly had time to enjoy it. However, I'm ready to put it all away and try again next year. In the meantime, 2009 ought to be interesting - full of changes!

This drawing is a little different for me in that I never do such minimal eyes - little more than dots. I usually draw more detail in the face in general. I'm happy that I came up with the appropriate age - often, my young children look older than I intend them to. I think I achieved the right amount of squat pugginess for a toddler.

This blog needed a little punch of color, too!

Considering becoming a hermit so I can draw and paint again!

I can't believe it's nearly Christmas - I've only done a smidge of Christmas shopping, no Christmas cards mailed out, no cookies made, barely have any decorations up, no tree yet, and soccer tournaments every weekend (whose idea was that??).

On the upside, schooling obligations are ending for the year and a break is coming. The co-op class I was teaching ended this last week and I'm cutting back to just core subjects with my kids. Of course, I still have some grading and some loose ends to tie up before I can put it all aside. I just feel like Christmas is going to fly right by and will not have had time to enjoy any of it. Argh!

I'm really feeling the desire to go someplace where no one can find me and just retreat into "drawing and painting land" - it's always an escape and it's long overdue.

All I have to share is a random page from an older sketchbook (sigh).

Busy, busy, busy and TAG! I'm it.

Well, I've been away for a little while - our homeschool group had its annual art and talent show recently. I put together the program covers together and shared the drawing for it earlier. But, here's the final result.

Besides that, we've had assorted end-of-season soccer parties (now all-stars begins), we've been putting together spring classes for our co-op, and a couple of my kids had a recent encounter with the stomach flu.

So, I have been on to respond to being "Tagged" by Tom Barrett. I get to share 7 things about myself. Hmmmmmm, why does this seem hard? I mean, I'm sharing stuff on my blog all the time. I guess there's plenty of stuff I haven't shared yet. So, let's see what I can dig up...

1. I go through phases when I really get into cooking - I get tired of making the same things (which tends to happen when I'm busy) and I'll start craving other flavors and variety. I'll be making the Thanksgiving dinner this year for only the 2nd time ever.

2. For someone who works in a bookstore and enjoys children's books, I really haven't read very much. I wasn't that into reading as a kid and I was never assigned the reading lists that are given out today. I'm really enjoying reading a lot of those missed titles aloud to my kids every morning (we're reading "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin right now).

3. More than reading, I was much more into drawing (obviously) and writing. I used to write screenplays starring all of my stuffed animals and the model horses I collected. I partially minored in creative writing in college but ran out of steam before finishing.

4. Growing up, I wanted to be a horse trainer or forest ranger.

5. I'm related to a famous modern-day explorer - Rober Ballard (finder of the Titanic, Bismark, and assorted other historic vessels). He's my uncle (my maiden-name was Ballard).

6. I have very ecclectic tastes in music. I like anything from country and bluegrass to classical to rock. Mainly, I listen to a lot modern Christian rock these days.

7. Speaking of music, I got into the whole punk/alternative thing as it flourished when I was in high school and college. While I still enjoy some of that music in terms of style, I've come to regard the message and the language (and the "scene" in general) irritating rather than intriguing like I did when I was a teenager. And, I married a man who plays bass for and listens to only punk rock bands.

So, those are 7 things you probably didn't know about me. In turn I'm tagging the following artists to share 7 things about themselves (but don't feel obligated).

Kathy Hare

Julia Denos

Shawna JC Tenney

Illustration Friday: "Wise"

Forgive me for resurrecting a picture posted a long while back, but I knew I wouldn't have time to explore something new this week. It's not the most original interpretation of the word - I'm guessing there will be a number of owls posted this week. But it is one of my favorite drawings and it's always fun to see how everyone can approach the same subject in different ways.

At one point, I xeroxed the drawing and colorized it with watercolors to see how that would look (yes - I'm that low-tech). The result is below.

Illustration Friday: "Vacant"

This was one of those instances where I had an idea jump into my head as soon as I read the prompt.

Well, I didn't exactly envision the above drawing. But, I did immediately think of the bronze figure sculptures of antiquity - I've always noted their more stylized features (like swirly hair) and the empty, "vacant" eyes that so many of them have. So, starting with that, the drawing just sort of evolved from there.

I was thinking that I might have a close-up of the head with a figure peering into the eye. But, as I began working on it, the figure ended up being placed at a distance.

One struggle I had was that some of the poses I envisioned were a little tough for me to pull off. Usually, I'll recruit one of the kids to pose for me when I get stuck. But since they were already in bed, I had to change some plans. Anyway, I realized that I need to do some practice sketches involving more dynamic gestures.

Career Path - Plan B...and Other Things

I've recently discovered sites like iFreelance and have browsed some of their illustration jobs for potential shots at getting some experience under my belt. As I looked at the descriptions and deadlines, it occurred to me that I might need to rethink my book illustration plans. The few listings that were of any interest to me had 4-6 month deadlines. Those projects would most certainly be disrupted by things like giving birth to baby #4 and adding a newborn to our menagerie.

Since my other kids were getting older and more independent, I was working toward illustration knowing that I would have access to "time" more than I used to. So, realistically, I don't think I could attempt a book project for a while.

Being a children's book illustrator is my ultimate goal. But I started to think that, in the meantime, a good area to focus on a gain experience might be with greeting cards. I don't know how many people out there do that (I'd love to hear about the pros and cons from anyone with experience - what do people charge for such projects?). I was a little discouraged to think that my illustration plans would be pushed back, but this strikes me as a lot more do-able.

So, I think that's what I'll research at the moment - provided our computer doesn't die. It's behaving worse than dial-up at the moment so I'm a little concerned. I made CD back-ups of all my photos that I stored on this thing last night (just in case). If I suddenly disappear for a little period of time, then it's because I threw the computer out the window.

As for the picture above, it's just one from the sketchbook from about a year ago. I may have posted it before, but I don't remember. It doesn't have anything to do with the topic - I just don't like to post without a picture on an illustration blog. Perhaps these could be characters for some sort of greeting cards...who knows?

Project for an Upcoming Kids Art Event

Here's a little side project that I've been doing for our homeschool group's Fine Arts Festival (art show and talent show) that's coming up soon. This is the design for the program cover. It's a doodle from waaaaayyyyy back - about a year ago - that I thought would be appropriate for the event. Different parents have always done the cover, but I think starting next year, we're going to hold a design contest for the kids. Winning design gets to be the cover.

I'm pretty happy with it except for the 8 in 2008 - but, it's done in ink. Maybe I can make an adjustment with white paint. White-out certainly makes things worse (tried that before - yikes!). I suppose that's the downside of not working on the computer. Oh well, maybe I just won't worry about it. I'm certain the audience won't care, but it's that bit of perfectionism that comes through when I'm working on a project.

This design will run on white paper and be inset on red or black cardstock (the colors of the event are red and black). If it's on black card, it will have red ribbon; if it's on red card, it will have red ribbon (on the spine).

Illustration Friday: "Late"

Thought I'd pull this one out of the sketchbook as it seemed appropriate for the topic. I did post this a couple months back - so it might looked familiar if you've visited here before. But, it wasn't totally complete at that time. I've since filled in the empty spots and added the clock hands. It's not my favorite drawing, but this will be my teaching week and I won't have time for something new.

Illustration Friday: "Strings"

I made it - just under the wire. Since this is the week I don't teach my class, I really wanted to try and do something for IF. (Click on the picture to see more detail).

I always chuckle when I see those rope lines meant to get young kids from point A to point B. The kids are always doing different things as they move along, usually getting distracted, BUT they dutifully hold onto the rope. I once watched one little girl who was bringing up the rear as she looked everywhere except where she was going, just following the tug of the rope, and she ran smack into a door frame (barely phased her - she was fine).

Anyway, that's what jumped into my head when I saw the topic.

I hope to add color to this one day, but I knew that wasn't going to happen before they changed the topic. I'll repost it in the future. I can see that I really have to make an effort to carve out time to work on illustrations these days with everything going on. And, it's only going to get busier as the holidays approach (YIKES). Oh well, such is life...

Kid Stuff Keeping Me Busy...

Well...I at least looked at the Illustration Friday topic and even doodled a few thoughts. But, this just isn't going to be the week to get something like that done.

Every other Wednesday throughout the school year about 30+ homeschooling families meet to share our gifts and teach classes to all the kids. I'm teaching an art class for kids 9 years to early teen that looks at how the portrait has been depicted throughout history. We started with Ancient Mesopotamia and the Abu Temple figures (known for thier huge eyes and stair-step hair and beards).

Today, after studying the style points and the color symbolism, they painted Egyptian-Style portraits on plaster tiles.

We only have an hour together and there's quite a variety of ages and abilities in the class, but I think they're all having fun and learning something at the same time - that's the main point, after all.

Maybe I'll be able to get to IF next week...