Sketch of the day!

I have a cousin Jeff -He's 4 years older than I am. Which- when you're little is just older enough for you to think He is the biggest (6'4") -coolest - guy around. When we were young, he was obsessed with the Minnesota Vikings - and his room, which I was always locked out of- always smelled of sweaty football uniform. These days- He's a Dad of 11 year old twins a boy and a girl. Which He takes equal delight in coaching the football team and watching the dance recitals. One of the reason's I like Facebook is that- these days- family is so spread apart and we just don't get together much. But there I can read his proud papa posts AND most interesting of all: his posts about his fervent love of cupcakes.

So I took a few minutes and was inspired by this big tough guy with the sugary sweet insides.

(Jeff- this drawing does not imply you have little T_Rex bippy arms!);) -XO

Sketch of the evening

What if Medusa and Aphrodite were Bff's growing up? - Two unlikely friends - who care about eachother despite their differences? Hmmmmmm... Telling myself stories again.

color sketch

Illustration Friday "Detective"

Bringing this back for IF this week. This is my husband's absolute favorite thing I have ever drawn. I should have it printed and framed for him. - There's a whole story that goes along with this illustration... Someday.. I'll get the dummy done!

They Draw and Cook

Nana and I are up on "They Draw and Cook"





This is a very clever new art blog started by Nate Padavick and Salli Swindell. "They Draw and Cook" Visual artists do like to express themselves in many ways. Sometimes- after a huge deadly deadline it's a good idea to put down the pencil and do something else to express yourself. Cooking is a very meditative, soothing way to do it!- and You get to eat the results- Bristol board never tasted this good!;)

I do prefer baking to cooking a nightly meal- unless I have a whole day to think about the dinner- and that only happens at Christmas. But baking! It is so unnecessary and indulgent and comforting and usually- I bake from recipes handed down from other great bakers. My Mom - Queen of cookies. My Great Grandmother on my father's side was Italian. I have yet to summon the courage for some of those recipes. I do have a recipe for peanut butter chocolate chips that I guard with my life that came from my Mom's grandmother.

This came from Nana. She is my husband's Grandmother. She welcomed this Shiksa with open arms from day one. She lives in Florida in a nursing home now. We haven't seen her in two years. We call on the phone but sometimes she drops hers in the toilet so- you can't always reach her!
She is a treasure from a disappearing generation of Brooklyn women. Yiddish flows and so does guilt but all gets washed away by love. Everything about her is larger than life- her voice, her jewelry and her boobs. Here's to you Nana! You're turning 89! Happy Birthday!

Return to the Land of the Reject Sketches

More rejected sketches. My fave? The three at the bottom. They were my "Jersey" Bears- I could hear Papa bear w/ his James Gandolfini/Tony Soprano voice- and Mama- well she'd be table tipping when the porridge was eaten.

The Land of the Reject Sketches

Just like the Land of the Misfit toys- there should be a place where rejected sketches go to wait for a time before they get thought about again for a new project. (changed significantly ofcourse-cough cough)

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8..................

Give us any chance, we'll take it.
Give us any rule, we'll break it.
We're gonna make our dreams come true.
Doin' it our way.

Nothin's gonna turn us back now,
Straight ahead and on the track now.
We're gonna make our dreams come true,
Doin' it our way.

There is nothing we won't try,
Never heard the word impossible.
This time there's no stopping us.
We're gonna do it.

On your mark, get set, and go now,
Got a dream and we just know now,
We're gonna make our dream come true.
And we'll do it our way, yes our way.
Make all our dreams come true,
And do it our way, yes our way,
Make all our dreams come true
For me and you.


I've been sooo busy. I just completed a project that I had 3 months to do. A picture book/illustrated play of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. I will show some of the work when I'm given the ok to do so. It was a lot of work in a very little amount of time. The last week I found myself talking to myself- yes I was going a little crazy - and finding ways to urge myself on- @ 2 am night after night, to keep going.

When this theme song popped into my head.

I've been singing it for days and it has kept me going. Inspiration can be found in the oddest of places. Who knew Laverne and Shirley could be my patron saints of meeting a deadline?

The words- if read by Patrick Stewart or Anthony Hopkins in a dramatic reading could take on a whole new life. And so I give to you- The Gospel according to Schlemiel! Schlimazel! - If you can get the voices of those two Milwaukee girls out of your head- read them. Maybe you'll find the inspiration to do it your way - make your dreams come true.