Rediscovering Seuss

Many, many moons ago, when my good friend Jessica got her first teaching job at an elementary school, she asked if I would mind drawing some pictures for her classroom to go with her Dr. Seuss theme. It's hard to say no to someone as sweet as Jess, so of course, I was happy to do it. I worked really hard on the drawings (winter of 2006-07) and finished four 8"x10"s in colored pencil on vellum. And then I mailed them to Jess. Or so I thought...

Until I found them tonight. In a manila envelope, in a portfolio in my closet. Oops!

The funny thing is, I visited Jessica's classroom this past January with my brother, who has benefited from her generosity and the generosity of her class while he's been deployed to Afghanistan. I thought it was strange that the drawings weren't hanging up, but I thought, "Well, maybe she didn't like them," so I didn't even ask.

Jessica assures me she will hang them up, if she ever gets them! So here you go, Jess -- coming soon, three years later than promised. :)

Also somewhat delayed

I finally declared Michele's drawing finished, even though the perfectionist in me is still not satisfied and I've threatened to come over sometime with charcoal and erasers to tweak it. :) Here is the semi-finished drawing in the frame and mat she chose.

Charcoal on vellum

Somewhat delayed...

I finished Lyndsey's gift a long, long time ago. And forgot to post. Here it is. :)

And another work in progress

Lyndsey has a big, white, empty space on her apartment wall, so I'm painting something for her to hang on it!

It's BIG and bright and a departure from my normal style, and I'm really having fun with it. But unfortunately I can't post any pictures of the entire thing for you yet, because then it wouldn't be a surprise for Lyndsey's 25th birthday! So here are some close-up teasers.

Acrylic on canvas

Work in progress

For Michele -- a portrait of Venice (which is taking me FOREVER). I'm thinking of naming this drawing "Never Let Perfect Get in the Way of Good," because my perfectionism is why it's taking so long.

Fortunately, it's almost done now (much further along than in these pictures, complete with polka dots and gondolas), which means Michele might get it a year after I promised it to her. Hey, I've been busy! :)

Charcoal on vellum

Angel, 2005

Chalk pastel on vellum

My mother-in-law loves angels, so I drew this angel for her as a Christmas gift (when she was still just "my boyfriend's mom.") The dreamy style and the medium were really a departure for me, but I really enjoyed drawing this. I used several pictures as inspiration, but the final product is mostly from my imagination. It's pretty large (I think 11" x 14") and hanging in her living room now.

Venezia, 2005

Charcoal on paper (probably resume paper!)

A tiny (4" x 6") sketch I did one night during my senior year of college, because I was bored and tired of working on my resume. I mailed it to Shane. This is a good example of how I use art as a stress reliever. A little sketching does wonders for the soul. :) (Although some would just call it procrastination!)