Two friends update

These dogs are smaller than they may look. The beagle's head is only 2.5cm across. There was not much forgiveness for an unsteady hand!

And these are the completed dogs!

Two friends

I've had an order this week for an illustration of a family's German Pointer and Beagle. Apparently these two are inseparable so I wanted the dogs to have a look of where-you-go-I-go about them.

So far this is what I have sketched. I'm away for a few day but I will update with the finished version soon.

Another dog drawing

Dogs have great expressions. That's one of the reasons why I enjoy depicting them.You can just about guess what they are thinking or feeling...

The Dog Days (are not over)

Who me?

I've just finished this border collie for a commissioned order. For those of you who follow my blog, it's the same idea as the labrador from a few weeks back. That sold for a crazy price at an auction and I picked up several requests from the unsuccessful bidders to do their own dogs. It's beginning to look like dogs are my niche.

Who would have thought? Being a cat lady and all....

Welcome baby

A sweet little family portrait welcoming a new baby.

Drawing family groups like this were the start of my return to illustrating over two years ago, and I never tire of them.

Welcome baby

What's new pussy cat?

I'm unashamedly a cat person. Cats are easy care, they don't smell and they are cuddly. I grew up with both cats and dogs (our ginger female Cindy made the front page of the local paper in 1977 having produced an amazing total of 118 kittens). The dogs were working farm dogs and we never had them in the house.

For the past five years I've had Burmese cats. This is Spike and Milly from a post two years ago. It was ridiculously expensive to buy pedigree cats but I think they are an amazing breed. Too smart for their own good sometimes and they rule the house, but they are well loved members of our household.

Today I did some experimenting capturing the look of Milly, our chocolate Burmese. The first is a cartoon version. She is a bit of a pouty, the-world-has-done-me-wrong cat and I think her face says that.

The next drawing was more of a realistic portrayal. I used a different style with dotting. This is the cat before I coloured her.

And the final illustration, coloured with Copics. It is amazing how the cat comes to life with shading and colour.

I've started a facebook page for my art if you are interested in keeping up with what I'm working on. You can also place an order for your own 'Life As I Know It' original through messaging to it. I'd love to hear from you!

Life as I Know It

When I started illustrated my 'Life As I Know It' series I thought long and hard about the style I was going to draw. My aim was to create characters that people identified as my work and this is what eventuated - very simple full bodied/skinny limbed figures with only dots for eyes. It never fails to amaze me how much expression I can convey with so little to show it.

Shopping Day

Off We Go

Excuses

I am not even going to start with the excuses of why the blog has lay dormant for so long. Just one word maybe...BUSY.

I'm still very involved with Christchurch City Chorus and Sweet Adelines. We are competing in Hawaii in November 2013. Over the last 9 months I've also been singing lead in a new quartet so twice as many rehearsals as normal, and a lot of travelling. I've gone through 15 000 km since Christmas. Yikes.

There are some changes afoot in my life. I've decided to follow my passions and take them to the next level. Exciting times! More soon...

Last weekend I had some artworks in an exhibition. They all sold well so I was very happy about that. I've also got a few commissions as a result. Here is one of my illustrations. I called it 'Sorry'.