Two FREE June 2011 desktop calendars to choose from...

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I thought my little hummingbird and parachuting mice characters were so much fun that they'd both make great June 2011 desktop calendars. So now you have two to choose from...I might just have to switch back and forth every other week, I can't pick a favorite?!! Just click on the links below each image to choose from 2 different screen resolutions of each desktop calendar, then right click the image and click on " Save to desktop". Enjoy!! :)

Hummingbird...and friends

Here another few quick snaps of this illustration as I'm working on it. The hummingbird is giving a ride to a furry mouse friend and his little buddy is parachuting in above with a napkin. Lately I have had a thing for Echinacea flowers...I've used them in my last 2 plasticine illustrations- they are so, so pretty :)

Can't wait to share more...check back soon. ;)

Hummingbird

Just a quick little post to share a few snaps of what I've been up to...

Here is a quick snapshot of the little hummingbird character I am working on that will be part of my next plasticine illustration. As you can see from the quick sketch above he will be giving a little mouse friend a ride, and will accompany a few other skydiving, and daredevilish little mice.  Bye for now...:)

Butterflies and flowers...

Here is a close-up of one of the illustrations I am currently working on. I don't know how the weather has been where you live, but here in Southern Ontario it has been very, very VERY wet! Enough rain already, and let's bring on the sunshine! The only good thing about the wet weather we've had is that we now have the lushest, greenest grass and an abundance of tree blossoms. So it is rather pretty outside even in this gloomy, damp weather.:)

I thought it would be fitting to share my butterflies and Echinacea blooms today now that the sun is finally  making an appearance- yippeee!

We are off to the cottage this long weekend. It will be the first trip for us this season. Time to crack out my lists and start packing! I hope everyone has a great weekend too!

Must be Spring...

May always brings with it a plethera of activity...this year my second son has his first communion, we have 3x3 hockey for the oldest 2 boys starting up and then soccer season begins for all four of my kiddos. Geesh, it gets tricky to fit it all on my calender-thank goodness for coloured markers! But once they are all tuckered out with some good old fashioned exercise and off to sleep, I get to enjoy a cup of tea and get to work on some plasticine illustrations with the tunes playing on my ipod. Here's a little sneek peak at what I've been working on lately:

They are both still a work-in-progress, so I promise to share the full illustrations once they're completed. Sometimes it's nice to have a few projects on the go at once for variety. I hope everyone has a great Mother's Day!! I hope I get to sleep in! ;)

Some new work- Teepee Granny

Hi Everyone, here is the final illustration of my "Teepee Granny". I ended up re-working the face of the girl in yellow a few times and I am much happier with the giggly, cracking-up expression on her face. Thanks a bunch to my critique group The Creative Cup for all their great feedback(as always :) ). I really can't say how helpful and important it is to have a critique group. There encouragement and thoughtful feedback have been so invaluable. And thanks to my little 3 yr. old for posing for my reference pic.s- she does love the camera! 

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

I signed up with hai!- Hire an illustrator

I am very excited to share some news. :) I signed up with a fantastic online illustration portfolio site called hire an illustrator.Not only do they serve as a one-stop shop site showcasing illustrators in everything from children's to nature or fashion illustration, but they also put together frequent mail packs full of illustrators promotional materials to send out to  art directors and other industry professionals through there mailing lists. I think I it will increase my  chances of getting my work seen if an art director gets a snazzy mail pack from a reputable name like hai. I'm really excited about this, and hope it attracts some great clients. I haven't tried an online illustrator portfolio site before, but many of my illustrator friends have highly recommended this one.  Darren and Jane Di Lieto, the faces behind hai, are super helpful and they work very hard at promoting their illustrators and providing a platform to showcase their work.

If you get a chance do pop over to check it out here! And if you aren't on it yet, well get over there and see what your are missing silly!!;)