Emergency!

Illustration Friday

Theme = EMERGENCY

Today I digitally colored this drawing from my sketchbook created on August 15, 2001-I guess it's fitting that it's August 15th today as well. There was a fire in our neighborhood, a little girl went racing down our street on her bike yelling "Fire Fire Everywhere - Armitage & Milwaukee!" of course we had to go check it out,we met lots of other interesting late night spectators...lots of dogs too. There was not 'fire, fire everywhere' - just one building, but fairly large and the intersection of Western, Milwaukee and Armitage was blocked off so it was a big deal.

Moon

Illustration Friday Theme = Moon

This is one of my "Night Flyer" paintings,inspired by dreams of flying. Have not done one of these in a while, not since moving from Bucktown, where the neighborhood and architecture also inspired these images. It's also been quite some time since I've had a flying dream - they are amazing. The last one that I can remember, I was flying around inside a room and could use my feet to springboard off the walls and sail into the air bouncing off the other walls. I would still love to do an illustrated book of people's flying dreams some day. I have submissions from dreamers in many locations including Australia. My favorite was from a local Chicagoan who told me that when she flew she had to watch out for power lines - then went on to share that she worked for ComEd for 20 years!

Suit

Illustration Friday Theme = Suit

This was a page from my sketch book last year - I like to do a little visual wardrobe planning (or wishing) before I take a trip. I think I was mentally 'suit-ing' up for my trip to New York for the 2006 Licensing Show. Sadly, I don't wear the cute fancy high heel shoes or the pointy ones, I have very large, serious feet that insist on practical, comfortable footwear!

Cars

Illustration Friday Theme = Cars

Only one car here, but if you count the one I was riding in...carS works. I drew this on a drive up to Wisconsin for Labor Day weekend last year. Clouds, trees, silos, signs, cars, water tower, road - I'm a much happier passenger than driver, I like to look out the window and daydream.

Citrus

Illustration Friday theme = Citrus

A few years back I painted this fiberglass chair, "California Dogs" for the opening of The Dogs Gallery, the chair featured thematic canine scenes from all around the state - the seat is a pup snoozing in an orange grove. This chair was auctioned off for charity - the proceeds split between The Brittany Foundation and L.i.f.e. Animal Rescue. I also painted a chair titled "Izzy in L.A." - my beloved muse in Tinseltown.

Neighbor

Illustration Friday Theme = Neighbor.

Back in the late 90's, when bucktown was still very edgy, we had a bad neighbor...it made for a rough couple of years.

Fortune

Illustration

Friday

Theme =

Fortune

Green

Illustration Friday Theme = Green

I created this painting a few years back after a dream in which I was back home in Wisconsin (where I grew up) driving onbeautiful hilly country back roads, the sunlight was streaming throughthe trees making everything a golden green. It was perfect, until the road I was driving on went completely vertical on me...at which point, terrified, I woke up!