The Queen of Halloween

I was looking at a very long family tree and wishing that I could see the people, which gave me the idea for a series of paintings called Imaginary Ancestors.  This queen is the first in line. I was going to paint her holding a flower, but she just wanted to hold a twig instead.

Happy Halloween!

In Flowers

The idea for this illustration came from a dream I once had, that my clothes were covered with flowers that would open in the daytime and close at night.

(It's available as a print in my Etsy shop.)

Evening Song

It's 90 degrees outside, so working on this autumnal illustration ("Evening Song") for Ladybug Magazine was a refreshing break from the heat--in my mind, anyway. Some neighborhood crows obligingly posed for me.

Year of the Dragon

This dragon popped into my head one night, just like it's popping in on the girl in the painting. My publisher decided not to use it, since it didn't look enough like my usual work, but it makes me happy anyway. Here it is, popping in on my blog.

Happy (belated) New Year!

Happy News

The illustration "Flying Horse", which I did for the cover of Cricket Magazine last September, was selected to be in the 3x3 Illustration Directory No.8!

Signs of Fall

Almost half a year later....

There is a cool night breeze and the sound of rain on the leaves outside. It's already starting to feel like autumn.

This is my illustration "Look Up," from the October 2011 issue of Ladybug.

Signs of Spring

• A tiny bit of spring green appeared outside: some flax seedlings that came up from last year's plants.

• The starlings have started to get their black summer feathers, and are pulling up twigs for nests.

• It's 5 pm and still light out, even with a sky full of wintry grey clouds.