Sneaky for IF

He tried to be sneaky when playing "hide and seek" with the dogs, but it didn't take long for them to figure it out. I played this game when I was a kid. It was fun to watch the dogs run back and forth under the tree the first time I tried it.

IF: Mistake

This picture is based on a true story. My dad had a very bad experience with a cholla cactus, and was sure to warn every one after that to STAY AWAY! Shortly after that, on a walk with the family, I glanced back to be sure the youngest was still with us. She remembered Pop's warning, but was determined to try it herself. Fortunately nothing happened to her hand, but eight feet further and her shoes were full of cactus spurs! And yes, she hikes in dresses.

Burning for IF

I had so much fun working on this illustration, partly because I proved to myself that I could do it, and also because it became a family project. Everyone gathered around the kitchen table to draw dragons. I learned a lot.

When the Illustration Friday topic was announced as "Burning", a fire breathing dragon was the first thing that came to mind. It was something I've never tried before and had been wanting to add to my repertoire. I saturated my brain with images of dragons, saw them in my mind as I fell asleep, filled pages and pages of sketchbook paper. Even my son took pity on me and let me borrow his dragon figurines.

When I was restocking at the art supply store I found a book on painting mythical creatures in watercolor. Perfect timing! I followed the author's advice and worked in glazes of color, but eventually my own instinct took over.

I am pleased with the result: my first dragon painting.

Afterwards

"Hush," whispered the cat, "we'll take care of everything."

For Illustration Friday. This is just watercolor and ink on sketchbook paper. I struggled with three or four different versions of this theme and this is the one I was able to get as far as a color sketch. It's about how I was feeling, as I worked very late one night and the cats climbed onto the table and started walking in the paint.

Halloween cat

Halloween cat, from Illustration Friday's theme: Spooky
Still playing with shapes and colors to alter an ordinary drawing.