Unfold

The idea of what Heaven might look like unfolded in my mind as we talked about it in class. I played around with some different ideas and came up with a "street of gold in a crystal city". The kids really got interested in it, so I re-worked the design and made copies for them to color too. This was the final one that inspired them to begin telling stories about the people, and apparently mermaids, that live in the Crystal City.
We cannot see the flowers that the little girls pick, or the fountain around the corner to the right. Those are pictures for another day.

Craving marshmallows sketch

The topice at Illustration Friday was"Craving". My family had recently been camping and that's the only time the kids are allowed to eat marshmallows, or the only time I buy them. S'mores! After roasting one of two, and making the whole chocolate/marshmallow/graham cracker sandwich, they still just want to eat marshmallows. And the next day, they still remember the marshmallows are there, and want to eat them right out of the bag. Such a yummy, sweet, soft treat they crave when we are camping.

Puppet theatre

I've been working on other stuff, but finally have something for Illustration Friday. The theme this week is "theater"! I got the idea for this a long time ago while watching my nephews put on a puppet show for their little sister.

Read a book

I seem to be taking a little vacation from the Illustration Friday topics, but that doesn't mean I have stopped painting. I have several ideas of my own that I've been working on. This is what I did today. I like reading books outside when the weather is nice, and I love to see kids enjoying stories together.

Summer bubbles

This time I thought I'd post a work in progress. The topic this week is "Celebrate" so I picked some kids who were out of school for the summer. Bubbles and barefoot is a great way to start!

Time

This is a piece I've been working on, and I'm learning to sing the song as well for an event this weekend. I'm finding it surprisingly difficult. The Illustration Friday topic this week is "Time" and I thought since roosters are the ones who announce that it's Time To Get Up!! this would be appropriate. And if this boy can finish his chores quickly, he will have more time at the lake.

Flawed

How about a girl who suspects that the gem in her necklace is not real because she sees a flaw?

Climb for IF

Well, here it is a little late. "Climb" for Illustration Friday. My scanner decided to take a vacation without warning, but it seems to be working fine today. Maybe I ask too much and it's just getting tired. The idea for this picture all started with the cat and I just kept adding to it. I don't think I've ever painted a squirrel before. I had lots of fun with this one.

Voices

In thinking of what I might draw for IF's theme "Voices", I kept thinking of all the creatures who make demands in the house- the dogs, the birds, the cats (not to mention the children and their friends). It's very rare to find me sitting alone. There is usually a curled up something nearby. I sketched this man while watching a movie, and it didn't take long for me to imagine what kind of voices he might be hearing if he had pets.

Contained

For Illustration Friday's topic "Contained". I know some people would prefer not to even look at tarantulas, but I've held a couple and still feel happiest when I know they can't go wandering.

Rambunctious

One day in December, both the kids and the animals got a little too excited at the same time. I don't know who started it, but it did involve them all vaulting over the sofa. The house is much too small for such energy. I don't remember anything that happened after that.