Sorry it's been a bit...here's what's new!

I have been working on freelance commissions, some for wineries and others in exchange for accommodations. 

Wine Label Art

A beautiful trade for a beautiful place to stay in Carlsbad, CA.

Family Farm Label

A winery with a farm with pork products...

...and honey for sale.

I won Best of Show at the Graton Gallery for this watercolor.

In Celebration of Grace's Life

 I received a very personal commission from someone whose friend had tragically lost his daughter in a terrible accident. I was able to use photos from a recent photo shoot of Grace and her 3 small children. I came up with three compositions for an oil painting, and we picked option 3...one that showed Grace's delight in her children, her tender care for them, and their sweet love for her and each other. This painting now hangs in the home of Grace's parents. 

I won the National Arts Program Lifetime Achievement Award!

I won the National Arts Program Lifetime Achievement Award, which I will receive at a reception at Finley Community Center on Sunday, March 12. The reception is from 3-5, with the awards presentation at 4. What an honor!

I’ve been doing some more graphite work, while sending out illustration queries and picture book dummies.

Großmutter Liest die Bibel

Kylie & Daughters

Spazieren mit Sabine

The Lee Brothers

An oil and 2 sketches

 This has been one I’ve been wanting to do since visiting Yei, South Sudan in July where an organization called Harvesters Reaching the Nations is caring for orphans and widows. Little Emily is not an orphan, but the daughter of a medical officer in the clinic there. During the Sunday church service, she fell asleep in the arms of my friend Esther from Kenya. I painted this oil on canvas for the National Arts Program. 

Little Joshua, graphite on paper

Elijah and Father, graphite on paper

In these last months…

I have been working, working, working! Lots of illustration work and two children’s picture book dummies are ready to go. 

Here are some of my illustrations…

For Christmas, 2022

For the prompt "Firsts..."

For "Where Are You, Annaliese?"

For Lila's Fire

Illustration Mentorship

 I have had the joy of working with Giuseppe Casetellano of The Illustration Department on a Professional Illustration Mentorship for 3 months.  It's been great as well as lots of work, basically questioning what's next and what to do to get there.  We have worked on narrative illustrations, as well as my current projects of several book dummies and final spreads.  Fun, fun, fun!  Here are some of my narrative sketches, and studies of illustrations I love by other illustrators, as well as a study of Jerry Pinkney's style. More to come!