When the new stationery layouts landed in my mailbox a few weeks ago, I knew the "Thank You" card was trouble. I can't say why, but while the rest of them had little sparks of inspiration all over the edges, this card was a big, blank space. I left it for last and moved on with the rest of my work…
If you follow me on Twitter, you know I have a son, Elia or E. as most of my online friends know him. He will be 8 in July. He's curious, imaginative and won't take an easy answer. His questions demand spectacular revelations or something vague and mysterious enough to leave him thinking for a while.
You don't have to be a parent to work as a picture book illustrator. I've always lived the two things separately. For a long time, the illustrating process was just my own big ego trip. It was me, my 6 year old-self and sometimes, a more feminine version of Gaia appearing in my drawings. Then as E. grew older, I started to listen more. Not only he has a lot of questions, but has opinions, plans and most of all, stories!
Two weeks ago, I was finishing a big illustration and part of it was the image of a cycle. I won't go into details, but I had this flat circle and I was trying to avoid using arrows, while giving the idea of movement. Another blank space, no spark at all…
E. asked what it was and I told him the blue circle was water with different life stages of a sea creature. He looked at the screen for a while then pointing his finger and moving it around, said: "Like water in the bath tub". Boom! It was under my nose. A whirlpool!
As I solved this puzzle, I also had an idea for the Thank You card. The old robot needed new batteries and a new spark. A small explorer arrived to help. I had more fun designing this, than any other card in the group. I wasn't reaching out to the princess I've never been as a child, but to a little boy with golden wings.
There are so many things I don't do anymore, now that I am a parent. In the past I used to travel a lot and everything was a little bit easier and more adventurous. I could take risks. These thoughts only lasts a little minute though. Most of the time I'm too busy finding a good answer to the many questions I receive:
- Is a "brown dwarf" a sad star? The guy on tv says it's a star without light, a failed star...
- Is Mercury cold or entirely covered with olives? Not trees, just olives.
- If Mothra lands on our house, will my Flytrap plant be enough to fight it off?
- I think Dante the Elephant has a small phone book, do you know why?
- Do you keep cosmic piranhas in your socks drawer?
- Do you know the cartoonist who draws this comic? Really? Let's send him a note saying "Dude, you're awesome!"
- Would you rather have a daimon or a backpack with tentacles? Answer carefully, both are very cool, but you can have only one!
I don't think you must be a parent to illustrate or write picture books, but if you have one of these creativity bombs walking around your house, listen. Give answers, ask question, but mostly listen. They have opinions, unexpected solutions, silly plans and most of all, they love a good story as much as you do.
 |
| © the enchanted easel 2013 |
finally got around to finishing up the website re-design.
the layout basically remains the same. i just wanted something a bit more streamlined and not as colorful as the last design....so that the bright colors of the artwork speak for themselves.
and, i thought i'd add some cuteness by including my little stuffed elephant maggie to the mix. she really does exist...:)
take a peek and feel free to leave any comments/feedback.
p.s. still recovering from neck surgery a few weeks ago, so i'm painting at a slower pace than usual...trying not to put too much pressure on my neck while it heals and "fuses".
It's May already and I forgot about the blog, I gave up on a new portfolio site for now and on Tumblr. I have been working a lot though, so hopefully this is a good excuse!
This is an old drawing, maybe some of you will remember it. It started as a watercolour and traditional collage and was then forgotten on my old external hard drive. I found it and heavily reworked it in Photoshop. The original never really met my expectations, but now she's quite a character. Maybe, she has a story to tell. For now we're both enjoying the rain, hoping spring will last a little longer...
Read the rest of this post
At the beginning of this year I was called for a very fun project!
Pandistelle, one of Italy's most famous cookies turned 30 years old. To celebrate, Barilla alonside the nice people of creative agency "I Mille", called 12 artists to illustrate every month of the new year for their online magazine and Facebook page. Mine was for the month of April.
all decked out in her pearls.
this will be the last mermaid/finished painting i post for a while, as i will be having some neck surgery next week and laying off the painting arm. for a bit...
i hope to be able to post some random sketches of cuteness throughout the recovery process, done from my couch. until i can get back to the *enchantment* that awaits at my easel, that is ;)
June is FOR SALE here:
along with a few other mermaids that can be found in my shop.
hope to be back to painting sooner rather than later!
until then....
happy painting friends!!! :)
january's mermaid.
i haven't been blogging (or painting much for that matter) as i am waiting to have a cervical spine fusion in the next week. don't ask...
anyhoo, i'm trying to take it easy (which is next to impossible for me) and paint a little bit at a time, as i have pain that shoots all the way down my painting arm. needless to say the last few weeks have been pretty challenging.
i've had this beauty drawn up for a bit now and have slowly been working on her. hoping to have her done before the surgery and posted FOR SALE.
after that, i'll be taking it a bit slower than usual for a while as i will be constrained to a neck brace for a few weeks. so during that time, even if i can't work at the easel, i will hopefully be able to draw and sketch from my couch.
then i'll be back better and stronger than ever 'cause my drive definitely outweighs my small size!;)
 |
| ©the enchanted easel 2013 |
said no bunny ever.
just a quick little sketch of some easter cuteness :)
LOVE cute little bunnies!
I did an Illustration Friday image for the word prompt, "Eye-Glasses" and posted it on my blog, then thought I'd rework it just a bit and post over here. Please check out the rest of the images posted on Illustration Friday. Good stuff, y'all!
Paula's BlogPaula's Website
Welcome to the Teens!
Last year was definitely a pre-teen time for Puppicasso and me. Many new creations, activities, and attitudes were realized — but our offline life got in the way of our blogging life. And since the world didn’t end, he decided to resume his predictions. So, the first part of this year will be a cleaning house and catching up on the life of Pupp.
The motto of this year will be, “Always put one paw in front of another, and go forward no matter what.”
One small paw for Pupp…
… one giant leap for Puppi-kind.
We wish you a Happy 2013! Enjoy this Millennium’s entry into puberty — hormones will rage and change will be the constant!
Puppicasso wishes to extend a special shout out to Neil Armstrong for use of his likeness and spirit… he is missed.
Filed under:
Puppicasso Predictions Tagged:
2013 Predictions,
Cute,
Dog,
Moon,
Neil Armstrong,
New Year's Resolutions 
and her cute little arctic bunny alabaster! together they love to enjoy the wonders of winter....such as sweet little frozen fairy kisses! i mean why settle for butterfly kisses when you can nuzzle noses with such a cute little bunny....
one of two little winter fairies in the works. check back for alpine's twin sister siberia and her adorable little polar bear companion, snowball.
because i'm just a bit obsessed with winter...;)
dashing through the snow....
no horse or sleigh needed ;)
just a cute little helper named Pippa and her candy cane striped zebra friend Peppermint.
hey, he's just as good as any reindeer.
but way cuter...;)
lost in the woods?! not with friends like this...:)
a sketch for a painting i am working on (in between a few custom orders....just a few). this lovely piece satisfies my need for some serious cold weather and SNOW, as it is just WAY TOO HOT lately. of course, then again, summer is NOT my season. snow bunny all the way!:)
p.s. i have a *thing* for white birch trees and cardinals. i just a have a *thing* for WINTER in general. big surprise....;)
did you ever just have one of those weeks where NOTHING goes right and EVERYTHING goes wrong?! well, needles to say, this was mine....(and i hope it doesn't get repeated anytime soon)...
i am working on shane's painting (below) as well as a custom painting for a little boy named grady (whose obviously going to grow up a Phillies fan...*as i cringe being the Braves fan i am...)
progress on shane's painting was much slower than i was hoping due to a week filled with....life i suppose. hoping to be able to get back on track this weekend...*fingers crossed*....
my custom painting for baby shane is done and on his way to shane himself...in california!
can't wait for the family to get it...and for shane to enjoy it for years to come:)
i am selling PRINTS of this here in my etsy shop WITHOUT the name on the blocks-because i was smart and scanned it before i painted his name ;)
love this little guy!
but it still counts!:)
just wanted to show my man peyton some love tonight (as we all know i have plenty of that for him!!!)
so, go kick some bears a**!!!
love, pippa
xxx
well, here is the custom painting i was working on for a future philadelphia phillie no doubt....
i am actually pleased with the way it turned out (being the die hard braves fan that i am....)
i will be framing this over the weekend and delivering it on sunday!:)
i am selling it as a print in my etsy shop found here
perhaps ;)
next up in my line of princesses...the very regal and humble Cinderella.
follow the link below to purchase prints of Ariel, Snow White and Belle. hoping to be able to add more to the collection soon!
Last year I illustrated a picture book titled, A Caring Deed For Becky for Featherweight Press. It was written by Susan Wigden.
I've spelled her name "Widgen" incorrectly at least a thousand times, but that's neither here nor there.
In any case, Susan is currently making the rounds with the book and I thought I'd post a video of a school reading she did earlier this year.
Want a copy? Of course you do.
Get it through Amazon HERE and Barnes and Noble HERE.
love Pippa and Peppermint, the candy cane striped zebra :)
my holiday 2012 card featuring my alter ego (Pippa) and her adorable little Christmas companion, Peppermint.
since i have such a LOVE of candy canes and all things peppermint, i just couldn't resist coming up with this cute and festive little zebra.
proof that you don't have to be an elf....or a reindeer to deliver some good ole' fashioned holiday cheer!
HAPPY HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
LIMITED EDITION PRINTS (WITHOUT THE TEXT) SOLD HERE~
anthonyholden:
It’s almost the weekend! Get out your best outfit and strut your stuff!
-Anthony Holden
Oh yes I am reblogging this.
where the trees are made of candy canes and peppermint sticks and the mountains made of huge mounds of peppermint ice cream....topped with a sweet, swirly StarBright mint. speaking of StarBright, meet the park ranger himself, Mr. StarBright Snowman and his peppermint loving pals. together they make sure that Peppermint Bark Park stays sweet and frosty all year long. please be sure to watch your step when visiting, as one is sure to stumble upon a piece of bark or two. and then, well....it just may be time for a yummy snack ;)
well, for all who do not know, i am crazy about candy canes, all things peppermint and of course, super cute snowmen. so here is my latest little creation inspired by all of those things. i actually wound up sketching it the night right before thanksgiving and have been painting it over the last couple of weeks, in between working on Christmas gifts.
below are some pictures of the painting in progress. hoping to finish it up (finally) tomorrow. then it will be FOR SALE as an ORIGINAL in my etsy shop. NO PRINTS will be sold.
Hello Gaia @_matt_baldwin here. Thanks for a terrific blog post. As you know from our tweeting together I have a son Oliver (almost 3). Reading your post I couldn't help but wonder and look forward to what questions my little man is going to ask me as he approaches E's age. E's questions are all awesome, especially his comment on Cosmic Piranhas!
Elia è un portento! :)