2nd Annual Chuy Run

Here's a new tshirt design for the 2nd Annual Los Chupacabras de la Noche 10K Trail Run, happenin' in San Antonio, Texas on July 17th. If you're interested and live in that area...here's a link to their Facebook page Also, I'd love to see photos of the event...esp. with people wearing the tee's!

Les Belles de la Mer

Ok, first, I'm not even sure "Les Belles de la Mer" makes sense in French...but it sounds good to me! Je parle francais comme une vache espagnole.

Regardless of my terrible French...here is the first of many Mermaid drawings I've wanted to illustrate for some time now. I have this pile of sketches from last year that I haven't had time to get to. Now, I do. Unless some freelance work comes in. In which case, I will put the sketch pile aside and happily work on whatever that fabulous assignment is. PLUS, I'll be thrilled that I won't have to sell off my furniture in a yard sale next month!! Yipes. Freelance can be wildly exciting and scary sometimes.

Enjoy the Mermaids!

Cutey Critters

So, this past year I haven't really had time to do any personal work..which is fine and all because drawing my own little critters and stuff doesn't generally get the bills paid. Plus, I'm not about to complain about actual work that comes my way! No way, Jose!
However, it's a dream of mine to get some of my personal work to parlay into income at some point in time. If that doesn't pan out...it's still, always, good to draw for the fun of it. Right?! Keeps the creative juices flowin'!

I started this series of spring themed drawings (aka personal work) last year and have finally had a little down time to draw a couple more! Yay! Just in time for summer!!

Juicy Gossip

Ah, love it when I get to see another new bookcover of mine on the bookshelf! The lastest is called "Juicy Gossip" and it's part of the Candy Apple Series for Scholastic (book # 19) written by Erin Downing. Art Directed by Steve Scott.

I'm posting my art without the title because, frankly, the scan of the book I purchased last night looks terrible and I don't have a decent sized version of the artwork WITH the titles...here's a tiny one lifted from the web.

Scholastic Web Store

OMG! STOP TALKING!

OH HI! DON'T CHA LOVE IT WHEN YOU GO TO THE MOVIES AND SIT YOURSELF BEHIND LITTLE MISS CHATTY CATHY? OR WORSE, IN MY BOOK- LOUD POPCORN EATERS! THEY DRIVES ME NUTS! CRUNCH, SNORKLE, NUM NUM. OR, OR, OR... THE PEOPLE WHO SLOOOOOOOOWLY OPEN THEIR CANDY WRAPPERS! WHAT ABOUT THOSE GUYS? GAH! GET ON WITH IT ALREADY!! OR, WHEN TWO MEN GO TO THE MOVIES AND NEED TO SIT A FULL SEAT AWAY FROM EACH OTHER...REALLY?! ANNOYING. ALSO, I'M NOT A FAN OF PEOPLE WHO WRITE IN ALL CAPS, ALL THE TIME. IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M BEING YELLED AT.

phew. Ok. That was kinda fun...just letting off a little steam. The above illustration was for the teen magazine "YIKES!" Summer 2009.

HAVE A NICE DAY!

Liberty Porter, First Daughter

Looking for a great book to purchase your 8-12 year old daughter this summer? Thought so! This sweet book will be out in bookstores this July and you can already pre-order it on Amazon and the Simon Schuster websites! Written by the fabulous Julia DeVillers, beautifully book designed by Karin Paprocki and illustrated by yours truly! (me!!)

I'll share some of the interior illustrations once the book is out.

Spring-ness

I know it's not technically springtime yet but it's another gorgeous day here in Los Angeles. With all the recent rains washing away the crud, it sort of feels like Spring. And well, I guess it's spring in my brain. That counts, right?

Have a beautiful day, people!

Cupid Runs for Romance!

Awwww, Valentines. More like...Ehhh, Whatev.

No, no, really, stokked for all you lovebirds out there. It's wonderful. However, this year, I'm all about heading over to See's candies to load up on some...Okay, NO. I think I'll go ahead and resist that urge. Instead, I'll share a glass of wine, probably with several of my most bitchen, single girlfriends. I love my amazing, smart, beautiful and single girlfriends. Happy Valentines, Girls!

This here image was drawn for the same folks who commissioned the Chupacapra race. So, if you're in San Antonio, Texas this weekend...check 'em out!

Keepin' it fresh....

Whoa! I can't even believe this...I'm actually posting again. I'm practically on a roll here! Let's really hope I can keep this up.

Here's a quickie drawing I did for a friend of the family who wanted art for a symposium flyer.

The Latest Buzz

This is a fun little assignment I was did back at the end of last summer.
I was commissioned by my old friend, Brent Piaskoski to draw the cast of his sweet and funny tween comedy show up in Canada. Brent and his wife/writing partner, Barb, gave it as a wrap gift to the cast. This sort of thing makes me a little uneasy and wonder "Really? You think they'll like that?" mixed with "WOW! Cool beans! I feel so honored." "The Latest Buzz" airs in Canada on the Family Channel and in lots of other countries outside Canada too. Unfortunately it's just not the U.S. (yet)

Hello, 2009. Nice to meetcha.

Testing, testing. One. Two. Three. Anyone out there?

(echo)

Yeah. I've been a bad blogger. BAD. More like, non-existent. My apologies to anyone who might still be checking in. I've spent the better part of the last many months coloring a graphic novel for another artist. I haven't had time to draw anything of my own outside of the occassional post-it doodle. I'm almost done with revisions on the book...so, soon I hope to share with you many new illustrations! I might go crazy once I find a little free time to play! (I cannot wait!!)One of my resolutions this year was to be a better blogger...so, here's a minor attempt at gettin' goin' on this again.

The above illustration was drawn for a really sweet and fun book for the 10 year old girl in your life! Published by Simon Schuster, written by Julia DeVillers and Jennifer Roy, who happen to be identical twins. A second book in this series is in the works...I'm just not sure when it comes out. I'll be sure to post that cover once it is out in stores.

Los Chupacapras!

I put this image together for a 10K night run called "Los Chupacapras de la Noche" held in San Antonio, Texas last month. The character originated from my "Sasquatch and the Bunny" project but I think it came together nicely here with running shorts and headlamp!

Unfortunately, the t-shirts they made for the event came out terrible. Of course, that's just my personal opinion. My best guess is that they used the JPEG instead of the EPS file! Anyway, because I wanted a t-shirt I could wear...I've gone and made it available on my CafePress site. If you want one too...you can find that right here.

So, uh...what's your sign?

I drew this Zodiac set for AstroGirl Magazine. It should be out on newstands by now...

In case you are wondering...I am a Libra. Very balanced yet very indecisive. Artistic! And prone to favor sweets and shiny objects.

*You have until October to get your shopping done!! ;0)

IF: Forgotten

It's been forever since I participated in Illustration Friday. And, man! I've really missed it! I love this challenge so much. I wish I could participate every week but until I win that SuperLOTTO prize, I will need to continue trying to make enough money to house (and feed) me and my dog! ;0) Still, I'm hopeful that I will be able to play more often anyway!

This week's theme: Forgotten. For me, I could have gone a million different ways with this one...I've "forgotten" a lot! Where I put the KEYS, the garage door opener, the dog leash, my silver flip-flops, or what so-in-so said about who-was-it? Forgotten passwords are a given. Anyone else?

Palm Readin'

Ok, even though I drew this, I still have no idea what it all means when I look at my own palm. First, should I read my predominant hand (I'm a lefty). Or is it always the right hand? Does it matter? The lines LOOK different on each hand. I'm thinking I'm gunna go with the one that says I'm going to live the longest and be the happiest, where I get to travel the world, be married and have kids. Right? Which hand allows me to do all that?!! Maybe I should leave it to the "professionals"!!

I've always had an affection for Palm Reading signs...they're so cool, so mysterious and kind of kitschy too. I just haven't gathered the nerve to stop in one and get an actual reading. It's on that "that'd be cool to do some day" list. BUT, I get a little freaked out about the idea of someone else being able to glimpse into my future. Besides, I'd only really want to know good news. Bad news sucks. Period. No need for advance warning! And besides that, I'd probably worry that they were keeping bad news from me.

So yeah, guess I'll move this to the "I'm too chickenshit for this" list.

This little illustration was for AstroGirl Magazine.

Shameless Pug

Ok...so after your done watching the "Presidents" marathon on The History Channel ( btw, Happy President's Day!) and the "Star Wars Tech" show....stay tuned for "The History of the Joke"...starring Lewis Black interviewing folks like George Carlin, Robin Williams, Dave Attell and many others. I say this because comedy is funny and because my lovely sister was the Talent Executive on the show. Of course, I'm super late in plugging the show but I thought it was on tomorrow night, not tonight. Grrr. Anyway...it's also on tomorrow night but at 1 AM. I don't usually last much later than that, but who knows, maybe one of you will have a tight deadline and need to pull an all-nighter. In that case, you've got something great to keep you awake!

The History of the Joke on The History Channel. Check your local listings!!! In my neighborhood, it's playing at 9PM. Tomorrow night---1AM

Happy Valentines!

You're so gouda to me!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Pizza Only, forever...

I don't know about you...but I don't think it would be terrible to have Pizza Only, for the rest of my life...as long as it's good pizza and different toppings were available! I really cannot remember ever having a pizza I didn't enjoy. Can you??

Anyway...these spot illustrations were for this months' "J-14 Yikes!" magazine...which is a popular magazine for the "Hannah Montana"/ "High School Musical" set. Well, I'm guessing that based on all the photos of Miley Cyrus and Zac Efron throughout the magazine. Anyway, the illustrations were a silly and gross little "quiz" of sorts... i.e. "Would you rather eat nothing but pizza for the rest of your life or never eat pizza again?"



"Would you rather wear the same socks for a month or the same underwear for a week?"
Yep..I'm serious...I didn't make up the scenarios...just drew the pictures.


"Would you rather wear your ski jacket all summer or your bathing suit all winter?"


"Would you rather shave your head or dye your hair neon green?"

My answers....
1. Even though I like pizza, I'd rather never eat it again. I'd cry about it though. I just don't think I could never not eat the occassional ice cream, slice of bacon, taco, or sushi roll. No can do.

2. Definitely socks.

3. Um, ski jacket? Unless I loose that 15 lbs! THEN I'll...um...yeah, no...no, I won't. Ski Jacket.

4. Since I've shaved my head before, I'd go with dying my hair neon green. (hopefully, it'd be one of those wash out dyes...)

Little Miss Mitzi

My little Miss Mitzi isn't doing too well right now. We think she's got invertabrae disc disease...and poor baby is in a lot of pain. Essentially, her breed is prone to this type of problem and I'm not sure how this happened but perhaps it was brought on by her jumping off and on some of my furniture. Maybe it got worse by all those walks we take?! I dunno, but she's such a trooper...hardly complains at all. Still sweet as can be, just not her normal peppy and happy self. (which breaks my heart). We've gone to the vet over 5 times in the past month trying to figure out what's been wrong. Treating her for possible gas, arthritis, blood tests and X-rays. Finally, we saw a specialist yesterday and so she's on bed rest for the next 6-8 weeks. Meaning that she's got to be crated. And I have to carry her out to pee and poop.
For 6-8 weeks!
We are on day 2.
Anyway, the hope is, if she's immobile for a while, she'll heal. Otherwise, we will have to do something like surgery.

Mitzi is only xix years old. (okay, in dog years---she's my age, practically middle aged) and like me, she's far too young for this!! Sooooo, please send some good vibes/prayers her way...I would greatly appreciate it. I want my baby girl to be happy and healthy again very, very soon.

Superstition

It's a quicky since there was lots going on this week.

I have this superstition that I better post something for last week's Illustration Friday (the theme was Superstition)--or--ELSE!! So, of course, I'm all about posting something, even if I'm terribly late. It's kind of like one of those horrible chain emails that claim you have to send it on to 10 friends in the next 2 minutes or you will have bad luck for the next 12 years. Who wants to risk that?! (So please, I beg you....do not include me on your list for these forwards!)

I'm also all about posting a superstition that may bring about GOOD LUCK...which we all can use, right?! "Fingers crossed" has thought to bring good luck since...well, at least since my days in the school playground. Maybe centuries. Anyway, a long time. Occasionally, I use this highly deft method as an adult too...and it always seems to make whatever I don't have any control over, a little more hopeful...like, "Hey! I'm doing what I can here" even if it's just crossing a couple of fingers.
Wacky? Yes! Hopeful? You betcha. Helpful? Who knows.