personalized canvas

Waaay back in July (wow, is it really mid november?!!) I drew up four bird ink and watercolors for button designs to be handed out as favors. It was seriously the best project for me since the wedding theme is lovebirds! In the middle of sketches and emails being sent back and forth, the bride-to-be had an awesome idea. Instead of a boring ol traditional guest book she wanted a personalized canvas where all the guests could sign and it would be ready to hang on the wall. seriously, what a fantastic keepsake.

The canvas is 30 inches x 40 inches and features the bride and groom birds along with two smaller birds representing his daughter Lily and their son Gavin. I have to say my favorite part was doing the ink work (see last photo of the corner detail). Working with acrylic on canvas was a bit of a challenge for me, since I've recently moved on from thick textured watercolor paper to working on smooth bristol paper.  But thanks to Matt and his patience with me the canvas has been completed! Best wishes to the love birds Megan and Albert- they get married this Saturday!!!

I apologize in advance for the repetition (hardy har har!!) of the multiple posts of birds. and patterns. and of course my favorite... patterns filled with rows of birds.  Seriously, it's all I've been drawing in my sketchbook and I just love experimenting with the zillions of possibilites I have once I scan in these itty bitty birds. The colors, shapes, and negative space (which then creates brand  new shapes) is just endless.

This bird was probably my favorite out of the page I doodled on. I love the zig-zaggy feel of these pink and green birdies. 

This one has a retro 70s-ish feel to me. I think it's a combination of the bird shape, the repeating pattern, and the bold colors. I love it.

PS I'm starting a new sketchbook soon. Maybe I'll force myself not to draw birds. I can't make any promises though. 

wacky birds

This wacky bird pattern originated from a recent page of doodled birds in my sketchbook. I couldn't resist scanning it in and creating a fun image. I would love to see this on a journal, or even some bed sheets!

Below is another little sketchbook doodle. Needless to say I was feeling pretty tired and when I'm tired I get goofy, so the outcome is bird versions of Matt and myself. enjoy!

Illustration Friday- wrapped

All wrapped up and ready to go!

Just a quick drawing for this week's illustration friday... I started drawing lots of tiny presents with fun bows on top but of course I ended up with one that included a feathered friend.

I would love to receive a cute little present with such a happy bird on top!

wedding buttons

the lovebird wedding buttons colored in.
I love how these turned out, and Megan loves them too!!! so exciting
next step is to work on her "guestbook" which is going to be a canvas painted by me! can. not. wait!

+ 3 more!

more inked drawings for your viewing and my watercoloring.
enjoy!

inked!

a quick little update on some inked up love birds.
this is my favorite part of the process seeing a nice crisp image sans color.

Ok it's been what seems like eons since I've been on here. (again).
But I promise to make a much better attempt on the updates! so many awesome things have come up that I can't not share.
first of these updates is love bird drawings!! (no surprise right?) A really good friend of mine's brother is getting married. His fiance contacted me and wants some images for buttons! and how perfect is this, the theme is lovebirds! It's a fall wedding with a great color scheme of plum, blues, greens. Needless to say I'm quite excited. here are some of the quick idea sketches I sent her this morning.
enjoy!

nest lady

just a loose progression from my last post/promotion idea
I sketched several different styles for the tree hair but I just wasn't happy with the results howeverrrr I'm liking this one a little more!

Just one of the few sketches I've been toying around with for a new self promotion piece.
This one is... a tree/bird lady!

owl always...

love you!
just another print, a little bit bigger than I've been doing. Still trying to get the hang of small line work- practice practice practice!!!!

I totally love carving my own stamps!! After having a linoleum block and carving tools in my possession for oh about 2.5 years, I finally started to make something of them. I had been looking at this book Lotta Prints for a while now and picked it up back in February. It's such a wonderful tool- there are many ideas and pictures of inspiration that will make your brain think in ways of stamping.



I first started out too complicated... small design with more small details.. very hard to do especially when I haven't touched this stuff in 6 years. I quickly learned simple shapes are easier and still just as fun. I have some other designs (leaves, flowers, hearts) but these birds are my favorite so far. I carved the body shape and then used an ink pen to do fine line details. I have a gagillion post-it notes and thought this was an excellent use of them. enjoy!

love bird

wouldn't a flock of these be so adorable?? !

lovey owls

a quick ink drawing of owls (I've been drawing pages upon pages lately)
Inspired by an orange lovebird plastic barrette.

Illustration Friday- intricate

Building a nest is an intricate process & these birds are down to the last twig!

Can you tell I'm anxious for some nice spring weather?? I can't wait to see some real green outside!

birds out the wazoo!

as promised, here is a page of birds I doodled out this evening. I think I have entirely too much fun drawing little animal characters (most especially bird like creatures). I can't help it though! I love fun round shapes and little feathers sticking off of them. I'm sure there will be more to come- so be prepared!

Illustration Friday- instinct

Birds have a natural instinct to fly... of course only after a few flight lessons!! 

I absolutely love love love drawing birds! Within the first couple pages of my brand new sketchbook I have an entire page filled with quirky birds- I'll have to post a few of my favorites