Illustration West 48

The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles announced the opening of the Illustration West 48's website today.
Four of my pieces were selected and are on display in the self-promotion category!
Please click to check out Cricket's New Year, Mud Season, Fall Fox and Spring Rabbit.
http://www.si-la.org/48

Forget- me-not!

Even though I wore a scarf yesterday the garden believes it's spring. The wee forget-me-nots have bloomed giving me that reassurance that soon I will be edging, weeding and mulching to my heart's content. As a tribute to these brave little posies here are some pieces from my Garden Border collection.

It's here...

...and it's so thrilling to be included in this beautiful magazine. The other women featured are amazing so please check it out if your near a Barnes and Noble, Borders or a Claire Murray store!

A heartfelt thanks to Linda Kramer, Stacy Bass, Donna Murphy, Laurel Kornhiser and, of course, Claire Murray for this gift.

What's on the board: Santa Bear

Having fun giving my tiny brushes a work-out painting these mittens!

The "La Vie Claire" spring edition is just days away!

La Vie Claire has a sneak peek of the article about my work and home on their website. Click the link below then "turn" to pages 20-21. I can not wait to hold the magazine in my hands - how thrilling!

http://www.clairemurray.com/LVC-SP10.html

Take Heart!

I listened to a great podcast from Tara Reed the other day - an interview with Mary Engelbreit . Tara asked questions for an hour about Mary's life, career, work schedule, and how she balances it all. The nugget I walked away with is that Mary Engelbreit CHOOSES to draw at her table at home after she puts her 9 year old to bed.
I'm always trying to carve out studio time in my day that maximizes my Mom Time so after "bedtime" can be the start of the work day!
It makes me smile knowing that as I sit at my table after I put my son to bed that the Queen of Licensing is also at hers!

Here's a link to Tara Reed's Art Licensing blog,

http://artlicensingblog.com/2010/03/18/mary-engelbreit-was-amazing-on-the-art-licensing-ask-call/

A Merry Christmas Sketch

Let's just say that my studio is an organizational challenge on a good day but especially when things start chugging along. This week there are stockings stuffed and hanging from my easel, yards of braided wool, white pine and hand-carved reindeer adorning my desk. Christmas has come early and this time in the form of a jolly polar bear.

The new addition to my holiday collection is inspired by home spun items in tribute to my Great Grandmother Marinkas. This small Hungarian woman would come to stay at our house for a week at a time to teach my mother how to make braided rugs and crochet. She said little as her small hands braided and crocheted at top speed - we watched in fascination. She would kiss our cheeks goodbye and leave us with the gifts of her labor, a blanket and a rug.

Grandma Marinkas seemed magical - just like one of Santa's helpers!