Ok, its time to admit it. I have been cheating on Blogger and using wordpress. Truth is I miss my blogger account. I have been up to lots and would like to begin on blogger again. Not too sure why I can't decide on where to be on the web... must be my attention deficit kicking in. Below you can see my newest work, the evil ringmaster who lurks in the underground. Yes, he is from my upcoming novel and my illustrations are going to be quite different than my previous 3 children's books. This piece will actually have another character involved in it so keep your eyes open for it.

Well here he is, the clown that rises from the garbage heap in my upcoming novel that is still without a name! I have to say this piece was lots of fun to do and I really stepped out of my normal comfort zone and tried new things for this guy but in the end I really enjoyed the finished piece. So much is going on in this novel I can't wait to hand it over to my readers. I only hope my writing meets their expectations. Going from a children's picture book series into a middle grade novel is quite a transition and it has been a long learning curve and exciting adventure! Enjoy meeting this guy while I race to finish his story.

I am posting to my blog tonight from a text editor on my desktop. Trying to see if its worth doing it this way or not. let me grab a picture I've drawn just to see how it goes up from here. This is a digital image I reworked for my lilycopublishing blog. I am publishing a new book this year and a couple next year so I am getting my company in order. Like the design?

Its been a long time since I posted - I just moved into a great new apartment with my family. I really needed to downsize. An entire house was way too much for me to keep up with - I mean really - I don't want to spend my days cleaning an entire house instead of drawing!

My new place has this wonderful view of a rushing river. With all the rain I have been watching the water rise and become more active. My drawing desk and art easel now face that beautiful view and if I open the window just a tiny bit I can hear the water running downstream. It is perfect.

Now the move is almost complete and I can get back to the work I love ... drawing, painting, and writing.

Keep your eyes out for my newest creations, they will be posted VERY soon!

Again, thanks so much for following my sketchblog.

Erin Whalen

Hello peoples... so happy to say the spring bug is hitting Rhode Island. It has been a long winter! 60 degress today - I saw people outside with their rakes enjoying the day. Not me, I took my sketchbook outside instead of yard tools ;) ........

Happy New Year everyone!!!!

I have added a few more elements to my bathtub lady collage. Can you see the water in the tub? Cool huh? I filled up my polymer clay tub with some diamond glaze. It dries clear so it should look like water when its all done. Also, I added bubble stickers around her as well as clay bubbles making it have a few more dimensions. I also added some molding paste to create the bathtub bottom. In the end I plan to add some very cool embellishments but you'll have to wait and see!

Well, with Thanksgiving vacation behind us we all face the same thing... BACK TO WORK! So I will be finishing up these new paintings I started but in the meantime I do have to pay the bills so its back to interior design and logos for me for a bit. Maybe some day I can get paid to just make art but the way things are looking with the economy and all... that's not too likely. I am okay with that though. I don't mind working to make my way in the world. I will update in a bit when I get I moment between my two jobs. (When I will find the time to write my next book I will never know)

Okay. I am trying something totally different. I am way out of my comfort zone now and that is supposed to be a good thing right? I am adding some dimension to my mixed media painting by bumping out some of the image with clay. Here are the two bump-outs I am working on now. I am not too sure how it will come out but thats what experimenting is all about right?

Here is the newest sketch for my next mixed media piece..... We will see how it all pans out by the end of this weekend.

Mmmk.... now she is in the tub and I have added some bubbles and a little hair under it. The process of what to put on the painting next is giving me anxiety and I don't think that is the emotion I was looking for when starting these mixed media pieces. I am going to go ahead and finish this piece up then post it and hope I get some kind of input from my readers. I know there are only 3 but any input helps right?

I am happy to say even though I was nervous about putting oil paint onto my mixed media canvas I survived it! I actually had a blast! I can't wait to do the other one I posted below this one tomorrow. I still have to sit this woman in a tub with bubbles all around her. The idea here is she is trying to de-stress in a nice hot bathtub.

Last night I sketched this sad girl in my sketchbook. I guess it was reflecting my inner feelings. I had just argued with my ex-husband who constantly makes me feel less than I am. He is and always was very harsh with his words and last night he just reminded me of how bad I always used to feel when I was around him. This is one of my first mixed media pieces and I have to tell you it is a wonderful process. I am really enjoying it and can't wait to get to the oil painting part of it tomorrow after the coat of gesso dries! Please remember when you speak to others how your words affect them. Words are very strong and one of the most dangerous weapons in our arsenal. Use them with care.

Good Morning. Yesterday, I finally put a piece of mixed media art together. I am incorporating my 'crazy' lady sketch into it and will be oil painting her with some new paint sticks I am trying out. (Thank you Kelly Rae Roberts for the inspiration) Here is the first stage of the work. Nothing is glued down or gessoed yet but the general composition is put together and I must say, it is a great feeling to have started something I am excited about. I am really enjoying the process of the collage. The theme here is the state of the USA is in. "Chaos" In Kelly's book "Taking Flight" she encourages you to go with what your 'whispers' are saying to you. Well, I am going more with the shouts my soul is yelling at me when I see the state of our country today as I watch the constitution disappear. I never really took too much notice in politics but how can you not right now? It is affecting everyone so deeply. I was really affected when I saw some of my writer friends not being able to speak about their own book's subject when being invited to a school! It was about a holiday!!! So much for freedom of speech and diversity we used to celebrate in America. And to think... this is only the beginning. So sad. Anyway, I digress.... here is stage one of my newest piece of art. Stage 2 will be up later today. Thanks for Reading!!!!!

Hello world....

I started coloring my new webpage. The rocks on the left will be links. The rest is still being worked out. The entire illustration comes from my new YA / kids novel. I will reveal more as I go but until then you'll just have to wait! 

Wow I am on a roll... I sketched 2 days in a row! I knew I could be consistent. (Now if I can only keep it up) This one here is a sassy girl character. I am going to keep designing the page around her and add more detail but I wanted to get this much up on the blog to show you I've been sketching. It's funny - since I have been down and out with a hurt back I have learned to have patience and my drawing is coming much easier. Perhaps this injury was a good thing this summer. At least I can try to look at the bright side of things right? 

Here is an image I sketched today to add to my sexy conservatives collection. Just a pencil sketch is all but I sure had fun doing it. It makes me wonder why I haven't stuck to my sketch routine better.