T is for Terrier and Teddy

T is for Terrier and Teddy

Here is one more for the letter T! 

One of the things I pick up from my customers is there is a lot of dog lovers out there! So in looking at my collection of the designs that I have done for the letter T, why not a terrier?

So here is the letter T for Terry the Terrier who stands on a Tile floor with his cute Toy Teddy bear holding a Trumpet in a Teal or Turquoise color scheme.

Happy 2019!

Happy 2019

Wishing all of you a very happy new year!

N is for Newfoundland Dog

N is for Newfoundland Dog

Finally another idea for the letter N.

I have to say this gets harder and I really struggled with this one. 

This Newfoundland dog sits at attention with a pot of Narcissus and his buddy Noah the Nightingale perched on his noggin.

Happy Holidays!

Christmas Poinsettia with Cardinal

The Christmas Holidays are quickly coming upon us.

Wishing you Joy for the upcoming season from Picture Diary and Picture Book Studio!

O is for Otter with an Oh so Delicious Doughnut!

O is for Otter with an Oh so Delicious Doughnut

I illustrated a Doughnut for my first letter O as scene below.

I was not thinking of tying into the letter at the time, but just using the doughnut for the shape of an O. What I discovered later is that there are many fans of doughnuts including children.

So to make it more whimsical and to tie into the letter O, an otter would make it far more fun than a simple still life with a cup of coffee. 

I even added more sprinkles to the doughnut to sweeten it up!

R is for Rose and Robin

R is for Rose and Robin

One of the things about working in greeting card world for several decades was learning to change art and repackage it for the better.

Initially the above piece was just R is for Rose, no robin, nor raspberries for that matter. 

So after staring at it over the spring and summer I thought to warm it up a bit tying into more R words. 

It gives it a new life like a new hairdo or dress. It needed a little more live interest and whimsy.

And it makes for a more interesting T-shirt you can find on my Fine Art America Link.

       R is for Rose and Robbin as monogram T-shirt.

Dwell in Possibilities

Dwell in Possibilities 

How many times do we daydream while staring in a cup of tea or coffee?

Here is the newest illustration I completed this month. I have added it to a new collection that I call Tea Cup Wisdom.

Maybe possibilities dwell there in our morning cup...that springs us into our day.

Restyle

Sunflower Surprise

Since farm style is becoming popular in decor, I thought to go back to an older piece and give it some checks to add a little more farm flavor as compared to the older version below.

Check the new version on Fine Art America!

B is for Brown Bear

B is for Brown Bear

B is for Brown Bear and more...book and bee or bumble bee...as well as beret. 

The bear reads a book on the boardwalk trying not to be bored.

As a pillow, this bear is great for a kids room! 

To check it out, click on this link below:

B is for Bear Pillow - Fine Art America

Reviewing and Updating Color

Good Morning Rooster

Taking another look to add a little more drama and simplify the color look of the original below.

It also makes for a better pillow on my Fine Art America offering.

A great look for farm style decor.

Change it! The Beauty of Working Digital

B is for Bumble Bee

When you look at the first version below, it is more simplistic.

So upon staring at it during many of the art festivals I have done so far this year, I decided to spiff it up a bit. Thought adding a subtle honey comb pattern in the background would be a nice touch along with some more touches of pink.

Revisit, Revise, Make a New!

Flowers in Watering Can

One of the things that happens when participating in art festivals, is doing a lot of sitting and observing while customers come in to view the my art on the walls of my tent. As I watch them, I become my own worst critic. The blessing is that I work digital.

Below is one that fell under my critical eye that I changed as you see above design for an updated look.

It is subjective, but as I sat there in my chair, I decided that it could be better. It was as if I was in a hurry with the first attempt with the one with the yellow plaid background. 

I am glad I took a second look.

Country Sunflower

Country Sunflower

Summer is definitely here! 

Here is my newest illustration inspired by the summer. 

Pillow link: Sunflower Pillow

U is for Unicorn

U is for Unicorn

I have been busy doing shows now that it is spring, which means doing very little illustration.

One of the things I noticed are some people are now looking for Unicorns in my offering. As I design some of these letters, I design some of them so one may or may not see the letter especially if it is pulled out of the collection of letters. That was my intent with the unicorn above. One can see the U shape or just the unicorn.

For all that like a little whimsy in the bath, you may find this as a shower curtain on my Fine Art America link.

Happy Mother's Day!

Wishing all Mother's and Grandmother's 

a Very Happy Mother's Day!

V is for Violets

V is for Violets

Although my name starts with a V, doing a letter V that has a tie in is not so easy. I mean who wants a V that is a Vulture. While doing a show a woman asked if I did a V for Violets because Violet is her first name. So I finally got to it and illustrated one.

Here is to all who love Violets, the letter V and perhaps are named Violet.

E is for Eskimo and Explorer

E is for Eskimo and Explorer

Maybe it is because it has been an unusually cold spring. Maybe watching The Terror on AMC inspired this new illustration. However, coming up with new variations of the letter E has been a challenge. I have to say though, I did have fun with this one. 

Check out this newest addition to a collection of many whimsical letters I have illustrated on my website in a collection I call Alphabet Soup on the link below.

http://www.picture-book-studio.com/images/alphabet-soup 

Review and Update

Ranunculus in Blue and White Vase

There are many times I look at something I did from years ago and decide to redo it. Such is the case as the new and improved one above as compared to the original below.

I wanted to make it look more dynamic and add some pop. Glad I decided to redo it. It is an artist's prerogative. 

  

For all Cat Lovers

Cat Love

I miss my cat. Yes, I am a secret cat lady. 

I have had many cats in my life including cat lady friends.

So here is my latest for all cat lovers. 

T-shirt

Of course cat lady T-shirts as well as pillows and totes are available on Fine Art America.

Pillow

Pillow

Tote

Cultivate Kindness

Cultivate Kindness

Here is a new one to celebrate the month of April! 

You can find many versions of my latest illustration for sale on

Fine Art America

Hello Spring!

Hello Spring!

Once again I looked at one of my older pieces to liven  up a bit for spring.

In the greeting card industry, we called it a "rework".

Will see this year if it will make a jump in sales with a fresh look at the festivals this year, however it simpler version is also available on Fine Art America.

It is available as a framed print where you can pick your choice of color.

Or as a pillow.

Adding a touch of spring to one's home decor certainly helps to chase away the grayness of winter. 

Attitude of Gratitude

Attitude of Gratitude

Once in a while I like to create an illustration with a quote of some kind. 

Being grateful does help to set the tone of the day. It is kind of like looking at the glass half full rather than half empty. One starts the day on a positive foot rather than the negative.

Lots of wisdom is these words.

D is for Duck and Daffodils

D is for Duck and Daffodils

As January is coming to a close, I am definitely looking forward to spring!

The idea of this design came to me early this morning. 

While trying to think of a new letter E, D using a duck came to mind. Maybe it is the memory of the cute duck that lived next door when I was a kid. Her name was Clownie and she was the watch duck of the neighborhood. So when thinking of her fondly, I created a new letter D.

You can also find this delightful letter D on a T...t-shirt that is!

Just click on the t-shirt for a link to my Fine Art America site.

Revisiting and Refreshing: Two Birds on a Watering Can

Two Birds on a Watering Can

While sitting in art festivals, there are some designs I target to refresh.

The design below was the original, and while I sold quite a few, I thought it use a little more punch.

Updating Updating art goes back to my days as a greeting card designer. Even good sellers got updates over time.

This time, I also added a little more live interest to tell more of a story by adding the beetle.

This design is now available on Fine Art America 

It is also available on other products such as a tote bag.

It is a nice way to escape the winter blahs!

Looking For Spring!

Looking for Spring!

You can tell Cleveland winters get to me with all the cold, snow, and gray skies. 

I think the gray skies are the worse part.

So of course while counting the days till spring, I created this illustration to add a tough of brightness to this day.

Here's hoping this winter is a short one.