...

Just Because.

Old and New

Look at this: A ridiculously beautiful nook off a country road in Napa, where people have trees hanging from swings, and fall colors extending out their back window. I had a great time seeing all the magical places and beautiful colors.
Decided to take this painting back with me. I forgot how much I liked it. Maybe it'll go into my portrait show.
The mural I did in my friend's studio. Had a lot of fun and kind of got carried away. Painting can be obsessive!

Drawing, no big deal

Did some more drawings... thought I'd share. Here they are up at the Drawing Board Gallery in Yorba Linda, CA.

P.S. I went to the SCBWI Illustrator's Day last Saturday and had my mind blown! I am always so inspired when I'm immersed into an environment of illustrators and publishers. It makes me what to work harder! More info on that and the great people I met later.... happy day!

Progress bro

Making progress! Finally painted with Mellissa some more, and worked on the portrait of Sean--- it's much better after this round. I'm becoming quite happy with it.

I love painting. You never know how it's going to turn out. Paint is so unpredictable, I think. That's why I love it.

Working on getting things ready for a boutique faire and an art walk. It'll be a BUSY week, but very worth it. Sometimes I'm baffled at how much I'm doing with my art now a days. I'm so thankful things are working out. Progress!!

Baby Steps

You have to take Baby Steps, but when you do, you get stronger, and more confident. That's how I feel. Each show I learn more, become more confident, grow technically, and I'm inspired! It just makes me ready to do another one as soon as I can. I loved getting ready for this show, and I love the people who put it together. I sold three pieces, and got a great response from everyone.

They loved the book marks.... :)
Thanks so EVERYONE who helped, came and supported, and to everyone I love and loves me back. You are the reason why I can make art with confidence- because you believe in me. :)

Here's to many more shows!

Showtime.

Let's start with the most important part- promotional materials. Just kidding (snort snort). It's all about the art! But here's the artistic way I'll be displaying my artistic handmade business cards for my artistic art show. It took a long time to make this little book mark babies, but I wanted my business card to be special, original, and useful.

Some drawings in their cloudy grey colored frames. Ink on bristol paper.
Book Babies!



And here's the lot. My paintings, drawings, book marks, and decor for my show. It's whimsical alright- and I love it! Here's to a great show!

Been painting... yada yada yada. Been busy and can barely post this picture. But here's the first go at a painting of my friend Sean. Needs to be worked on, but it's a bold, bright panting style, and I'm having a lot of fun!

More! More! MORE!

More of these little beauties! That's right! There's a show coming up October 14th at the Back Bay Center with Gallery 212, and I will be selling and displaying my "Quote- based" paintings with several interesting and admirable quotes like last time. I'm playing with shadow images, images I'm making by theoretically erasing paint and seeing what animal or face comes out of it. It's fun, for sure, and why not? There's so much to explore with the paint, I can't help but want to try it all.

Here are some finished, some in progress. Enjoy.

Self Portrait

Working on a Portrait show. A show of portraits. This will be with my fellow artist and partner in crime, Mellissa. Here's some progress, of course it's out of order but who the heck cares?! Take a look into the uncanny valley and see my head on a wood board. That's not me, I swear. More to follow, when the piece is finished!

Logos

Some logo comps I made for a friend from Denver. He's coaching a debate team and they wanted a classy logo with the denver skyline and city structure included. Denver was a great time--- just got back a week ago. It felt likt time had stopped while I was over there, but when I got back, so much had happened!

I've taken myself away from my daily life in order to get a few things done.

1. Write some darned music.

2. Finish the dummy for this Children's book, already!

Here's some progress pictures. They are both rough color studies, but I can't believed I've never done studies before- they're going to make the finished work so much easier to map out.

I'm having fun here. Playing a lot of music and having the free time to go for bike rides, paint, watch a lot of TV which feels quite wrong but, hey... things that are scarce should be enjoyed and valued once in a while, even if they aren't the most productive of things.

But I realize life is what you make it. I know this fantasy of free time can't last, but I can make time for all the stuff I love, and it's definitely important to be able to do what you love, and not live to just pay your bills, or make the next purchase. Time time time. It's an illusion I know, but it's our functioning world.

Well, love to all. Peace and fun for sure! I wish these things for you and me. See you soon with a finished dummy!

Love and WAR!

Oh the labor and love of making a children's book. It's the coolest project I've ever attempted, yet it's so difficult to pull the time together to actually do it. When one starts a children's book, I think one should make it their new wife/husband. You must nurture it so that it can nurture you. You must pay it attention, give it time, give it love, understanding, but most of all--- time. This is the problem here people. But I've become aware now, so....

In other news, my album is going to the printers very soon. We're waiting on them to start asking for which files and what files. Release party? Yea! There will be one in Orange County, and one in Napa. It'll be a big "to-do" and art will be around, friends, fun, food. I can't wait to share it with everyone. It sounds nice, you know? It sounds real and nice. Real nice.

I've been laying around with this image for my band, "Orphan Annie". We're on facebook. Look us up, please. :) I want to go all out with this dooder, so I'm taking me time. Think psychedelic, think little orphan Annie, think eyeballs and faces and butterflies and sunbeams. Our music is that.

Starting to do color studies!!!

"The Three Things"

Working on the book, folks! It's going well. Here's a peak at the story boards, much of which are finished. Another sitting to go, then I'll start working on larger sketches, then paintings. So excited!

After working on a couple of books, other author's books, I've realized that it's important to still show your own work around to people, get some ideas, work off each other, because if you do not, you'll be your only critic, and the product will suffer. I had a dear friend come over to draw with me today, it I threw a few ideas at her, she gave me great advice, great suggestions, and I can already tell the story board is moving well!

In other news, still painting, playing music, etc. Going to Colorado to play some gigs and see some friends. Bought a rad new sketchbook that just makes me want to sketch every day in it. How awesome is that?

"Through you nature becomes aware of itself. Nature has been waiting for you, as it were, for millions of years." -Eckhart Tolle

Love,

A

More Paintings

I haven't posted for a few weeks, but I HAVE been painting. It's in me now, and I can't stop! I've started more pieces for some future shows, and also a study for a children's book, as well as a painting for a friend (the Buddah). It's been fun seeing how different each painting turns out, and I will continue to just "let it happen". Sometimes it is more cartoony, sometimes more decorative, sometimes neither.

There's some great illustrator-ish events coming up. The O.C. Shmooze on August 13th, and the OC Kid's Book Fair October 2nd. I went to that event last year and had a blast. Great authors, illustrators, tons of books to buy and have signed by the authors. I'm just thankful I have these events accessible and close by. Until then, more painting, and more children's books. Love to all!

A study for a friend's story called, "Around the Block". He's signed a contract, so it'll be published and it's an absolutely lovely piece of work! I might not do the illustrations, but I love that I'll have this painting sketch with a little bit of his story to show around or just hang up in my room.
Painting for a dear friend. He's been a spiritual guide and pal so he deserves a little something. It's the least I can do!
One of a series of 4-5 quote pieces. But these are on the smaller side. About 4" x 4". Ruby slippers being painted as we speak!
Regular 10" x 10", like the rest. This is my favorite thrift store cat statue. A more decorative piece, but still includes a quote sure to inspire you each day.

Gallery 212: Success!

Hello, everyone. What a couple weeks it's been, getting ready for the show, finishing up my paintings. I really enjoyed doing this series, and there will be many more to come because.... look! The wall is bare! That's right, folks--- I sold every one of my paintings at the art show. I was so pleased and excited to see the response, so I'll be starting a bunch more, and continuing to show them at Gallery 212 and possibly some other venues in Orange county. There are so many more amazing quotes out there, I can't wait to start!

Love to everyone. Thanks to the beautiful people that came out to support. It was so nice, and I am so gracious. I have the best friends and family!

Here's to many more paintings and many more art shows!

Farmer Ted

I drew this dude while the preschoolers were napping today. I just wanted to remind myself how much I like to draw. And I did.

New Paintings, what?

Yes, I've done it! I've started painting again ---with a new vigor, too! I have an art show July 8th in Costa Mesa (Back Bay Center & the Offices at Back Bay 2675 Irvine Ave.) I hope to do more of these shows, since I feel like I have something to say in my art for the first time in a long time. I know things like these go in waves; sometimes my song writing is just nonexistent, but what matters is I share it when it IS there.

I'm going to show about 6 pieces, all for sale, all affordable, all just fun. I hope you enjoy. Here's a look at two of the pieces. They're 10" x 10".

Love to everyone, and may you create, too! It's the best!

On a quick note, I will perform at this little art show. I'm so excited to combine my music and art. I've also been hesitant to do so, afraid people might not separate me from other artists, or not take me seriously, but I've been getting a great response, and I've always been torn by the two arts, why shouldn't they be combined? They're both art after all? So here goes to a new outlook! Pursue, pursue!

P.S. Thanks, Mom, Dad, Aunts, Uncles, Oma, Opa, Sisters. I love you all, and you've been a catalyst to this new excitement for art and life. :)

A Festival to Remember...

What a day! A warm 75 degrees, fresh cut grass, and the smell of barbeque. Besides those bright and beautiful conditions, there were tables upon tables of art and crafts, and lots of great musicians. I had such a great time, that when I left, I was surprised six hours had flown by!

I sat at a table a drew portraits all day. Half of them were of people's dogs from a photo on their i-phones. I actually had a great time doing that, and a few of the kids I drew were just fun to talk to, besides being so much fun to draw. I'll be looking to do more events like this soon. Laguna, LA, Orange--- here I come!

Sweet Haley, posing with her portrait!

Jamie, and me. Enjoying the festival.

"T" the pup.

One of the book marks I made.

More bookmarks. I had so much fun, and I thought it was a sweet idea to give away a few hand-drawn items.

My table. Where the magic happens.

Side Works

Here's some work that I've been meaning to put up:

The first is a Disney sketch practice. I use to draw mermaids and princesses all the time when I was a kid, and I still have the worst time drawing Disney! It's so iconic, so recognizable.

The second is a little painting I've had penciled, sitting on my desk for the longest time. It's fun, whimsical. I should have taken more time--- but I will do that the next chance I have to work on another ditty.

Love to all!

Annie