Kansas Sod House and Uncovered Wagon

This pattern was so simplistic that I decided it needed more.  That's when I decided on a wagon a barrel to go with the pattern.  It turned out so cute. 

Colorado Water Wheel Mill Paper House Model

The funny thing is that I ended up with 49 house patterns and couldn't figure out which state I left out until I carefully checked all the names against a list of states.  It turned out to be Colorado.  So what kind of model to make for Colorado was the question.  A mountain lodge?  A little cabin getaway?  No, I already did those for other states.  Finally, I decided on a water wheel mill and then created the pattern.  It turned out even better than I had hoped.  I know the grey blocks under the house look odd but it had to be above the floor to make room for the wheel.  Also, I used a toothpick to make the wheel actually turn.  I love it.

49er Home Plate Collage

This was so much fun to create.  Baseball collages are more popular than I thought.  I've never been much of a baseball fan but I loved creating this still life because it wasn't your basic flower and wine glass still life.  Here it is.

Pet Portrait Collage, Carpet Cat, Part 2

It's been a busy week with the ArtHop Reception for the Annual Spring Membership Show for SWA at the Fresno Arts Council Gallery on Thursday.  I almost forgot completely about loading this part two of the Carpet Cat collage, even though I had it prepared last week.  I'll try to do better in keeping consistent with my YouTube uploads but for now, I feel scattered. 

Pet Portrait Collage, Carpet Cat, Part 1

So I finally got around to posting the video of the pet portrait of my niece, Kayla's cat, Carpet.  It's long so I divided it is two parts and this is part one.  I do usually have to tear the pieces for collage so very small but a furry creature like Carpet needed to have small furry pieces rather than larger chunks of color.  I think it turned out okay, and Kayla loved it.  She got it after Christmas and has it framed and hanging already.

How Night Came Children's Story, Part 2

This is the telling of the Brazilian story of How Night Came to be.  I thought it was a cute story to include in my children's book.  It was certainly interesting. I must say I had the most trouble with the face of the lead boy in this illustration.  I worked it three times before I was happy with it.  Sometimes collage has its limitations that make faces and flesh really difficult.  In this case, I lost the "cuteness factor" several times and in the end, had to put a shirt on my lead boy.  I think you will agree when you watch this that the shirt was the best option.

How Night Came, a Brazilian Folktale collage illustration, Part 1

I'm so happy to have finally published the Fairytale Alphabet book.  His story took so long to tell and explain that I broke it into two parts and this is part 1.  I love the bag of night but had the worst time with the faces and redid them a couple of times before I was happy with the results.