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 is 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!

I Illustrated This!

 So thankful to God that the book I illustrated is published and available for purchase, from me or on Amazon. It’s called “My Question for Jesus.” 

Little Danya in South Sudan

I just saw a painting I did used as a logo and ornament for Harvesters Reaching the Nations (https://hrtn.org)! Please consider supporting their work on the behalf of orphans in South Sudan and Uganda this Christmas. You can even buy them chickens or a hygiene kit at https://secure.qgiv.com/event/shopgiftcatalog/store/. Merry Christmas!

Logo

Ornament

Commissions, Illustration Work & My Studio

Oil on canvas commission of a mother's wedding day

Process 

Process 2

Finished

Here shown with proud new owner.

Watercolor and Pen & Ink House Portrait

My client commissioned a portrait of his childhood home as a gift to his mother.  So thoughtful!

Pen & Ink House Portrait

Graphite Beloved Pet Portrait

Client Gets A Peek

Completed Work at the Retirement Party

Graphite Sketch: Grandma Wanda Snuggles With Grandkids

Here shown framed and dearly loved.

Illustration Work

Detail

Sisters

Lila Ladybug

Afraid of the Dark

Loved

Working on book dummy

Summer Watercolor Sketch of Atlantic Ocean

            Danya, South Sudanese Girl Watercolor, Property of Harvesters Reaching the Nations

Studio space--always lots going on!!!

Just for fun--A bit of graphite and acrylic "lace" to make New Morning Mercies look vintage.

From my sketchbook

Just for fun!

Daisies