Wow - It's been a long time!

I've been away from the drawing board for a very long time now. Not that I haven't done any drawing at all, but I certainly haven't been on my computer as much and I haven't actually been working in any other medium - except the pen and scrap paper doodling during a telephone call or moment of silence before the next torrential series of busy-ness.

My father has been declining in health steadily over the past year but especially in the last few months. He suffered another stroke (I think it was the 3rd this year) 4 weeks ago and then seems to have had another mini-stroke about a week ago. Needless to say, this has been the focus of my attention for a while as my mother is needing help in his care and we're all trying to spend as much time with him as possible. I haven't exactly been able to participate in Illustration Friday or Everyday Matters Challenges which I really enjoy. :( Well, I'm bound and determine to start up again. I wanted this to be an illustrated journal and I haven't been very good about really commenting or thinking about things when I post my pics. Gotta change that. CYA round -

Illustration Friday - DIGITAL

Click for larger view.

Illustration Friday - DIGITAL
Using the less common but more original definition of DIGITAL (referring to the digits, e.g., fingers), here's a 10 minute Adobe Illustrator (incorporating the other meaning of digital) quickie because that's all I have time for this week!

Illustration Friday - ENVY

Click on thumbnail for full image. I painted this in Open Canvas, altered a photo with Photoshop and pasted it in as a layer, and added the text with Photoshop. Total time: 20 minutes.
I have another idea that I might have time to submit.

Illustration Friday - Aquatic

Click on thumbnail for full image. I absolutely ADORE Orcas... Orcinus orca. They are absolutely magnificent: an awesome combination of beauty, grace, ferocity, and familial loyalty. I had a lot of fun doing this. (And being a BC girl like Kerry, I too was inspired by the aquatic mammals that travel along our coast.)
This was done as a digital painting with Open Canvas. It took me about an hour.

Illustration Friday - NOURISHMENT

(Click for full view) My take on the word for this week... I think it's so important - life-essential, really - to nourish our children with Unconditional Love, Laughter, Respect, Encouragement, Affirmation, and Knowledge just to name a few things.

Illustration Friday - MISCHIEF 2

Or should I say, "Ms. Chief"?


(Click on image for larger view)

Open Canvas - 20 mins.

Illustration Friday - MISCHIEF

(Click on image for larger view) For some reason, when I uploaded this the color of the boys' skin changed - yellowy... and the sky changed too. :(
Oh well - this is a REALLY quick sketch in Illustrator, colored in Photoshop. Total time - 15 mins.