IF: Boundaries

Quick sketch for this week's Illustration Friday topic, "Boundaries". No further comment. ;)

Have a good week, everyone!

Spark Story Starters

Last year, I started working with the delightful Tamara Vukusic on a project that would encourage creativity in children. She had an idea for a card game and app that would prompt imaginative answers and encourage parent-child conversation. Tamara and I got along right away, as we are both moms of young children and seek to balance motherhood and creative work. :)

In short, I created artwork for two of her projects, "Spark Story Starters" and "KidCart". Both are apps available on iTunes, and "Spark Story Starters" is also available as a deck of cards. "Spark Story Starters" is a creativity prompt game, while "KidCart" is a shopping list app that encourages children to help with the grocery shopping. I drew over 100 grocery items for that one!

I had so much fun being a part of these two projects, and I am especially happy to see how well "Spark Story Starters" is being received by both parents and educators! I play the app with my daughter quite often. She is now 4, and her answers to the questions have really evolved in complexity since we first started playing.  (Check out the Spark website!)

Here is one of my earlier designs for Spark.  I liked this version too, but in the end we went with a design that worked as a more recognizable brand.  Besides, this version looks a little naked.. 

IF: Influence

My 4-year-old copies me when I do yoga or crunches in the living room. 

And the sketch:

IF: Swell

My summer has been very busy! Vacations, family visits, play dates, feeding two growing little ones, losing the baby weight, not to mention.. getting back to work! I've been drawing a few very fun projects this past month and hope to talk about them at a later time.

The busy summer has left me little time to draw just for fun, but I managed to squeeze in an Illustration Friday for this week.. Went with the first thing that came to mind when I saw the word "Swell"!

Note: I have only surfed once my entire life.

Here's the sketch:

IF: Remedy

Summer is here! I hope you all see as few scraped knees as possible this summer. At least we know the remedy, right?

Here's the sketch:

IF: Swept

Hello! I've been finding tiny pockets of time to draw while the baby sleeps. My husband also took our preschooler to see Kung Fu Panda 2 this afternoon, so I managed to squeeze in an Illustration Friday piece! And they brought back popcorn! Yay!

Here's the sketch I did for it:

And here's another sketch I did for this week's topic:

IF: Asleep

Playing around some more in watercolours.  Sleep is slightly elusive at the moment..  ;)

Baby is here!

We are delighted to announce that Abigail Akari was born on April 26, 2011!   She was a big baby at 9 lb 15 oz.  The family is doing very well.  I hope this (somewhat) explains the lack of updates on this blog.  ;)

IF: Warning

Helloooo internet universe!  How have you been?  Everyone in my household has been sick for the past while.  I hope you are well!

Here's a quick one for this week's Illustration Friday, "Warning":

And here's the sketch. I imagined him to be shouting, "TEACHER'S COMING!"

IF: Chicken

Seeing how the lovely Jannie Ho requested this topic, how could I not paint something this week!

This painting took a bit of time, seeing as I was crocheting some baby hats last weekend:

You can see the inspiration as I seem to be in "nesting" mode myself these days!

Sketch for IF: Deja Vu

Happy New Year everyone!

I'm still digging myself out of my to-do list pile, sketching and painting and mothering and getting kicked in the ribs very frequently!

Here is my sketch for this week's Illustration Friday, "Deja Vu".  I want to paint it in watercolour/digital. I will do my best to have it completed by Thursday night, but shall make no promises. ;)

I see many of you writing your 2011 goals. With baby due in April, I don't want to set any soaring expectations that I'm very unlikely to achieve. Once he or she is here, my only plan is to play everything by ear. Until then, my primary focus is to beef up my portfolio and client list. Good luck to everyone - I have good feelings about this year!