Illustration Friday~Future

Thoughts of Annie and her future as an artist...

Annie will be graduating this coming June. I can't believe how crazy fast it's all gone by. From the time she was little she has watched and questioned me on my art. She is my biggest fan. Through the years I've watched her grow not only into a beauitful young woman, but also a wonderful artist and photographer. I love seeing the world through Annie's lense. College is just around the bend for her, and graphic art is where she chooses to begin her adventure. Wether she pursues that field or veers off in another direction, I have no doubts to her success. Below is what I posted on FB today for a Mother's Day status.

Bragging rights on Mother's Day~Last week taking my daughter to school we noticed our neighbor’s cat sitting in the window. That started a conversation about cats that sit in windows all over the world. Which then led into a discussion about what a cute book idea that would make, and it would be fun to do that together. For Mother’s day I received this… Cats in Windows… 

I’ve known for many years that my daughter will far exceed me in the field of art, and it’s hard to explain how wonderful that makes me feel. I just know I’ve passed something on that’s very good!

To see Annie's photos: http://instagram.com/anniecaine

LCC Library Display

 This is the end result of the Spring Time Tree Spirit art I created for the Lakeland Community College Library. Thank you Mark for a beautiful display of my work!

Illustration Friday~Farewell

This piece felt right for the word Farewell. She seems to be sending off her little puffs of tree...whatever the heck that means?

Wishful Thinking 

Although it has been fun and challenging to do this series of work, bidding it farewell is also a welcome relief. I've been picking away at it since February and it is pretty much done.  I just need to wire up the frames for hanging. The 5 pieces will be shown at the Lakeland Community College library for a spring/summer display in May. Thank you to my friend/co-worker Mark who works at both Willoughby Hills library and LCC library for asking me if I would like to show my work. He always seems to have a knack for motivating me :)

The Land in Between

Spring Time

The Celebration

The Tango

Illustration Friday~Train

In the land of Whimsy where life is so strange...people and animals like to ride trains...bad, really bad!

This comes from a line in my first "Whimsy poem" In a series of poems that began with "In the land of  Whimsy..." On the other hand, along with that line came one of my all time favorite illustrations.

The completed pic with the help of Photoshop

I searched around to see if I could find a hard copy of that poem, but no such luck. I know it lives on my old mac, but I didn't really feel the need to boot that up since it takes forever and a day to get it up and running.

The original with the fish

There's another line in the poem that goes something like..."Children wear rainbows and fish like to run" That line I kinda like.

A couple of roughs

Writing poems has always been something I've enjoyed.  In high school creative writing was one of my favorite classes, and one of the few that I did really well in.

I remember when I did this illustration, Annie (my daughter) kept asking me "When is it gonna be done!" And it did take a while. I really worked at it!

The original line work on the train

I think about the process in writing my poems, compared to doing an illustration. When I get an idea, or an opening line stirs about. I can't let it go! I can't relax and just let it come to me. It keeps gnawing at me, and I stay obsessed until the last line.

There's a different kind of obsession with illustrating, it's quieter, more of a slow burn. I find myself purposely letting it ride out longer, in order to see it better. I've learned that if I rush an illustration, more than likely I will over-work it, or miss something.

Having kids has slowed me down, whether I want to be or not. Yet all the stops and goes can help the process too. Looking at a piece with "fresh eyes" usually works to my advantage. I might look at the art one day and think this looks great! Only to come back to it again, and see it might need more contrast, a color might be off,  or maybe there's two elements sharing the same space? Whatever it is, seeing it with fresh eyes never hurts.

As for the poem...for now it will remain on my old mac, maybe someday I'll rework it?  As for the illustration, well you can see the original never was completed. The train itself did get new life in Photoshop and turned out to be a nice addition to my portfolio and website.

Just a little side note on trains: I've been reading "The Road to Grace" by Richard Paul Evans. In it he talks about the difference between Hobos and Tramps. Hobos panhandle and ride trains, Tramps do not panhandle and they hitchhike. Apparently Hobos give Tramps a bad name.

I thought that was kinda funny~

So long for now...Make art, have fun :)

Illustration Friday~Wild

 They danced a wild dance of celebration as these two spirits finally hooked up!

This is the fourth piece in a series of Tree Spirits I am creating for a display next month to be shown at  the Lakeland Community College library. A friend I work with at the Willoughby Hills library also works for the college library, and he asked if I would be interested in showing my work for his spring/summer display. Mark has a knack for motivating me. He's also the one who poked at me when I didn't think I had enough time to pull off the Tomie dePaola Award  this past November.  Although I didn't win,  I now have a nice piece for my online portfolio  That art may also end up in his display.

It's good to have people who motivate you. Being a freelance creative is sometimes a lonely business, and when you find those people in your life that give you that extra push it's always a good thing. 

As for the piece above; I like it in black and white, yet I think I will be adding some touches of color, to be more consistent with the other three. 

This is why a sketch book comes in handy-- things you've done in the past as a doodle can often come back to you later on and shake up your muse.

http://marylourosatocaineillustrator.blogspot.com/2012/12/thanks-mark-sometimes-good-kick-in.html

Illustration Friday~Urban

A peace wizard saves the urban jungle... and life is good!

Illustration Friday~Swim

This piece was started, and left for dead back in 2008. When I saw IF's word of the week, I thought of my mythological creature buried in my art files. It seemed like a good piece to resurrect, and offer up. What began in Feb of 2008, is finished in March of 2013. Only took 5 years!

 

So to all my artist friends out there... what's in your files that needs completing?

Lone wolf~Night sky

I did this piece two, maybe three years ago. Originally intended for my sister-in-law who is a collector of pretty much anything that has to do with wolves. This was one of those projects that sat in the back of my mind for a good amount of years before I actually put pen to paper. Then when I did, this is what came out. I didn't give this picture to her because I didn't really like it at first. I ended up making her another piece, and framing it up. Anyway this one has kind of grown on me through the years. It's now on the move along with a few of my other pieces waiting to be displayed in the next coffee house show in Lakewood Ohio. Much thanks to my cousin/art rep Marie, who believes in me and my art.

IF~Yesterday

For Illustration Friday I felt like playing around with type this week. The background was created for another piece I did for IF which still seems to be one of my most popular posts according to my stats. Here's the link if you'd like to check it out. (IF~Proverb)

http://marylourosatocaineillustrator.blogspot.com/2010/09/blog-post.html

Art: watercolor pencils
type and layout in photoshop

Thanks for stopping by :)

Daisy Maisy Daffodil~

 Daisy Maisy Daffodil
by Mary Lou Rosato-Caine

Daisy Maisy Daffodil,
She’s a homebound kitty seeking out a thrill.
Oh this life of leisure ain’t where it’s at,
For Daisy Maisy the Calico cat!
Just a snackin and a snoozin on the windowsill,
That’s Daisy Maisy Daffodil.
She’s fat and sassy with an attitude,
Looking for escape, a little latitude.

 Now she lives with Sherry, whose kind and good,
But she won’t let her roam the neighborhood!
Then one day Daisy sees a chance,
the door’s wide open it’s time to dance!
Daisy Maisy the Calico cat,
She chases a bird, but she too darn fat!
The bird gets away, and flies in a tree,
Daisy doesn’t care it’s just good to be free!
All of a sudden it starts to rain,
Poor old Daisy, feeling the pain.
She runs back inside to her windowsill,
That’s Daisy Maisy Daffodil!

 

This poem and pic was a gift given to my friend/co-worker Sherry for her love of Daisy~ 

 

IF~Talent

Tango talent on a lovely spring day~

 

A friend of mine asked me recently if I would be interested in doing a display of my art at the college library where he works. He didn't give any direction other than a loose idea of either Arbor Day or a spring theme. He also didn't give a deadline. I work so much better with a deadline. With a new challenge to motivate me (Mark is always good for my motivation) I told him I would do up some tree spirits dancing.
So one down, four to go!

Illustration Friday~Whisper

Sometimes whispers can be as simple as a bunch of Hippie Fairies throwing down a few happy thoughts...

This piece is from a children's book dummy I created for Simon and Schuster as an entry to a contest they held back in 2000.

Thoughts of mom...

I've always been a loner. I value my solitude. People who know me may not view me this way. I'm friendly, easy going, a high energy kind of person. Introvert is not a word that would be used to describe me, yet that is a part of me. Maybe it's the part that makes me the creative that I am. I was a shy, quiet child. Losing my mother very young, I spent countless hours alone; painting, drawing, writing, playing make believe with my dolls and stuffed animals. I sometimes wonder, would I still be the artist I am today, had I not lost her? Maybe I would have been more so? Maybe she would have pushed me more? Maybe I would I have done better in school? Then again, losing her may have made me the creative I am. Throughout my life there have been these unanswered questions. I never talked about my mother when I was a kid, especially in school. I didn't want any pity from my friends. As I get older it seems more important to keep her close. And in my solitude I sometimes find her.

Illustration Friday~Wool

The IF word of the week wool, brought to mind all these cute animal hats that seem to be the latest craze. They are so adorable! This passed week at work, I do believe an owl and a beaver came calling at my circulation desk, or maybe it was a shark? You never know what you'll find at your local library.

Amelia sporting her new bear topper.

New Domain and Blog Title

New year, new changes...After being "In the land of Whimsy" since 2009, I've decided to change my domain and title. When I started this blog I just kind of threw myself into it. I liked the name, and it was fitting to some of my poems that I based it off of. Yet every now and then I would do a search on the title, and noticed that there were a few out there using the same name, or a close variation of it. As of late though, it seems there's just too darn much whimsy out there for my liking! So I've given up the ghost, from here on out I'm just me... "Mary Lou Rosato-Caine, Thoughts from the drawing table." As for any of my followers, if you look on your list of people you follow it should have automatically whiched over to the new domain. Although any links for "In the land of whimsy" will now go over to "Page not found."

 

Although the name has changed the whimsy lives on...

Illustration Friday~Wings

Winged Goddess~Crying





 

Illustration Friday~Myth(The Zombie Apocalypse Fact or Fiction )

The first thing I thought of for IF Friday’s word of the week “Myth” was Big Foot. My daughter’s personal favorite. Although she would tell you there’s no myth on this subject! Then a friend of mine on facebook shared this link  http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/01/18/mythbusters-zombie-episode/ Yes! Inspiration! Mythbusters doing an episode on Zombies! What better for the word Myth than zombies! (thanks Paul for posting that link!)



 Art: Photoshop enhanced zombies with my
favorite Art model "Arthur"

When I was in my teens Night of the Living Dead was the big talked about movie, although I’m not sure if I actually saw that one. I do know that I went to the drive-in with a group of friends and watched the hordes, as they munched their way through a shopping mall in Dawn of the Dead.

I’ve always been fascinated by zombies, but more so, the human element of it. The survival methods one must master in order to overcome. Then again in a zombie apocalypse there is no overcoming—just surviving. Come to think of it, I’ve always watched anything “survival”, man against nature is usually the one I gravitate to the most. Plane crash movies seem to be another common theme for me.  This definitely does not help my fear of flying!

 A few personal relatable zombie facts:

1. I know a man who is actually preparing for the zombie takeover—he’s more into survivalist preparedness, plus he’s a gun instructor. I’m glad he’s my friend, I sure wouldn’t want him as my enemy.

2. My favorite movie is Zombieland. Loved Bill Murray’s role, and also the search for the elusive twinkies. And now with the demise of Hostess one has to wonder if the zombie apocalypse is just around the bend.

3. Guilty Pleasure: One very unordinary Easter Sunday instead of the usual holiday celebration. My family and I stayed in our jammies all day long. We snacked on ham, potato salad, deviled eggs and other goodies, as we watched our very first viewing of Shaun of the Dead! Very sacrilegious—I truly hope God has a sense of humor!

4. One of the scariest movies on cannibalism for me is “The Road.” It’s very bleak and depressing, along with the fact that people are eating each other.  Plus It's more closely related to a “real” zombie apocalypse with the loss of animals, and havoc to the environment.

5. My all-time favorite TV show…The Walking Dead! I sure wish the People’s Choice awards/Golden Globe Awards would give this series the recognition it deserves!

For a good write up on The Zombie Apocalypse Fact or Fiction here’s a link that can talk it up much better than I can. http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20120604/OPINION06/120609929/-1/OPINION

 

 

 

Illustration Friday~Ocean

 

The last time I was in Cape Cod it was 1993. It was the year before our daughter was born. My husband and I flew out and spent 4 days. We also had a day in Boston! It was so much fun! This coming summer we're going back and I can't wait! Cape Cod is more than just a nice place I like to go back to. It’s a place where I “feel” like I’ve always belonged. At times I feel like I lived another life there…a “metaphysical soul thing.” I guess.

The first time I remember hearing about Cape Cod was from a friend in art class when I was in 10th grade, she would always share her vacation photos with me--For the most part I'm not an envious person. I'm usually pleased for the happiness and success of others; but when Mimi would show me those pictures, I had a bad case of the green-eyed-monster! That was the vacation I wanted! That was the life I wanted! When I was a kid vacations were rare, maybe a trip to Canada to see relatives, or a short get-away to Cedar Point. But an extended stay by the ocean was not a part of my life.

I remember when my brother Mickey and his new bride went to Cape Cod for there honeymoon, Mick brought me back a charm bracelet, I doubt he remembers that, but it’s still in my jewelry box. I knew then that Cape Cod would also be my honeymoon destination.

In 1988 Larry and I drove to Cape Cod for our honeymoon. Our first stop when we hit Massachusetts was Plymouth. After taking in the rock and the boat, we moved on to Hyannis Port. Although we hadn’t booked a place to settle in for the week, we both felt being centrally located in Hyannis would be a good location. Plus the ferry to Nantucket was pretty much right outside our door. Nantucket is such a quaint island, known for its cobblestone street in the center of town. We did all the little shops, road bikes, hung out on the shore of Brant Point. It was a great day. I bought a book, “The Ghosts of Nantucket” that night in bed we read ghost stories to each other.

Getting back to my “metaphysical soul thing”…

A funny thing happened on the way to Provincetown. As we veered off the main route on to a dusty little beach road, in search of one of the many lighthouses on the peninsula; I had the oddest feeling I’d been down this path many times before. I even dreamt about this road, only in my dream it ended with a house near the beach. It was one of those Déjà vu moments that you stop and think “I know this so well.” Who knows, it was probably one of Mimi’s old photos that came back to me…or, maybe I did lived there in another time period. I prefer that~

Arthur defends his table!

Possesed Kitty lands on table

Squatters rights

Checking out the territory

"Good Kitty"

Arthur defends the table!

Illustration Friday-Edge

 

Just a quick sketch for IF this week.

Illustration Friday~Glow

 

Playing around in Photoshop for Illustration Friday's word of the week.

It's the first snow of the season in Northeast Ohio, and I am feeling a Christmas glow!

Thanks Mark! Sometimes a good kick in the pants is all you need!

 

Inspiration~ It doesn't always come in the form of a little creative muse sitting on your shoulder whispering sweet encouragement and filling you with an abundance of energy. No, sometimes it comes from a fellow co-worker that gives you the push you need! He stands there, looking at you like you're kinda nuts and says "What do you mean you don't have enough time, you have 10 days!" Then he goes over to the schedule on the wall and points out all the gaps in the schedule that you aren't working and should be doing art! Encouragement comes in many forms; I can be a rather insecure artist with perfectionist tendencies, which adds up to-- I can get in my own way. So thanks Mark for the figurative "kick in the pants."

 

When I went on the SCBWI site at the end of November and saw the deadline for the Tomi dePaola Award for Dec.14th, I was kicking myself for not going on sooner. Yet I still figured I could pull it off. I knew that I needed to have everything complete by the 9th of December, since my schedule at work was going to be pretty full the week of the deadline. By December 2nd, I had just come up with the passage I liked, and only a quick rough to show for it. But I kept hearing Mark's voice in my head and that seemed to give me the edge I needed. When you don't always have an art director or a client that you know you must come through for, then you have to rely on your own resources, and that's not always an easy route. All and all I'm pleased with the outcome. Mark on the other hand keeps looking for the fawn..."Where's the FAWN?"..."The whole story is about the FAWN!" Oh well, you can't please everyone :)

 

The Unoffical Gallery of the Tomie dePaola Award

http://scbwicontest.blogspot.com/#!/

Illustration Friday~Snow

Wishing you all a Wonderful Holiday Season!!!

This week's challenge word is "Snow" and since I am a bit rushed this week with the holidays, I decided to dig out an older piece from my files. The snowman design was done especially for my uncle Ralph. He was a big supporter of my art. He and my aunt Lily, bought me my first art table, light and chair when I started out. It was quite the surprised! They stopped by one day and dropped everything off! It's moments like this in your life you just don't forget. I miss him dearly! My uncle had a large collection of hats, so this particular Christmas I thought I'd make him up is own special hat. At the time I made this design, I was working at a company where they made heat transfers. I also made tee-shirts, and sweatshirts for the rest of the clan that year. We have a BIG family dinner every Christmas Eve, there's about 25 of us in my aunt's basement. It's been going on, as of this coming Christmas, 29 years!

 The colored image above was flipped, when I scanned it into Photoshop. (these images are always reversed as part of the printing process) The black and white art was designed in Coral draw, then printed out on vellum paper, after printing them out they would then go to the screening room, where they would be burned onto the actual screen. Ink would then be applied, then transferred onto the paper stock that would be put into the heat tranfer press and applied onto the tee-shirt.

 

Merry Christmas Uncle Ralph!

Today I'm missing my Island...


To be silent, to sit by a lake with the morning dew sparking in the sunshine-
To explore in the woods, only to find the ruins of an old winery-
To make new friends and hope your paths cross again-
To take a bike ride and feel how great it feels to just peddle along and not feel worried-
To just live in the moment...

 October 2011 Kelleys Island, Ohio

Illustration Friday~Zoom!

 This illustration is hanging in my son's room.

 Matt loves Mustang GT's!

Done in colored pencil this is my first and so far only car illo.

Illustration Friday~Tree

~Let's get ready to Rrrrrummmmmble....

I don't remember what the class assignment was for this piece. It may have simply been to do a black and white illustration, or to choose a style or a technique. I do remember thinking that I wanted to combine my enjoyment for drawing trees along with my fondness of boxing. I remember visualizing a huge tree stump, and thinking I would like to have the two trees fighting on it, while all the other trees observed the match, maybe taking a few side bets.

Boxing is the only sport I really like and I usually get two different reactions to this. A man's reaction is--really? And somewhat amused. A women reaction is--why? And somewhat perplexed, with a hint of disgust.

 

Disclaimer--This is just one women's opinion on sports

Growing up in an apartment that consisted solely of my father and one of my brothers, sports were on TV constantly! I knew the season more by the sport than I did the changing of the weather. God help me all those Sundays filled with golf! Boring! And so very quiet, "Shh he's putting" How about basketball... okay, run back and forth and try to get a ball in a hoop! Boring again. Oh yes, let's not forget football. Gotta love it, sit around the TV and everyone swears--a lot! Then there's baseball-- I guess that was okay. I really only liked watching my brothers play it though. I even played for a short period of time, and I was always stuck in right field! Not too much action there. But boxing...now that's a sport! There's nothing like watching a good bout! You've got technique, action, blood, and excitement! I know a lot about boxing, I know all the terms and how the judges score if it comes down to a decision, if they're being fair that is. I use to know many of the players along the way, but no so much anymore.

Memories of Dad

Now and then I'll flip through the stations and a fight will be on and I automatically stop. Sometimes I think my dad's channeling through me. Sometimes I just like watching because it reminds me of him. Memories flood me of my dad explaining things like, reach, and jab, and uppercut, or being a southpaw. He taught me what a KO meant verses a TKO. I remember when Cashis Clay changed his name. When he was stripped of his title for being a draft dodger. I remember the fights with Joe Frazier. I wanted Frazier to win, I didn't like Ali as a kid. I thought he was too much of a show off. I didn't understand that it was all a gimmick. Now I think Ali is just wonderful.

And somethings just don't change

A couple of months ago I was doing my usual flipping through stations, when I came upon Julio Chavez Jr. vs. Sergio Martinez, so Annie and I watched all the back stories on these two opponents. I wanted to see that fight so bad. Apparently Martinez was going to attempt to regain his middleweight title. I instantly fell in love with Martinez and hoped for victory on his part. Unfortunately the HBO pay-per-view price was way more than I could even justify. The first thing the next morning I went online to happily discover that Sergio had in fact won back the title! YAY! ...Anyway that's my write up on trees, hope you enjoyed it :)



Isn't he adorable!