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I have a memory of seeing this one before. I love it, love the expressions. Are you one of them??

That is very sweet. The pencil work is phenomenal; I know because it looks great even though a scanner never quit captures it correctly. I sepia captures the nostalgia well.

Great rendering of the faces on this - very nice!

beautiful Kate, love their expressions..

lovely drawing and very well rendered!

It's beautiful Kate-those expressions are priceless. And I 'm glad you brought it back as I had not seen it before.

Beautiful faces, full of sunshine.

It looks like they have very happy memories!

It's O.K. with me if you recycle. I haven't seen this one yet. It's perfect for the theme. Great expressions. Well done.

so beautiful work!

Very nice drawing!

No apologies Kate.
I always enjoy your work!

Oooooh, their expressions are priceless. Well worth preserving as a memory. This is excellent pencilwork!

You do some very sensitive communicating in your drawings Kate-

Lovely and beautiful. I love the shape of their faces and the expressions! Beautiful!

www.indigeneartforms.blogspot.com

wow, that's gorgeous. You are so talented!

you, you...recycler! :"))))

gorgeous piece, kate...love the soft pencil...the hands.

kate's a busy bee, making mem-or-rees! :))

happy holiday!

I remember seeing this one...for Mother's Day sometime maybe? Anyway, it is lovely. They both look so happy and sweet! Great piece!

just beautiful, kate!! you recycle as much as you want, you're busy makin' new stuff!! you go!! : )

a : )

This is a perfect choice for "memories"! I enjoy your pencil so much!

Kate - what a phenomenal talent you have! OUTSTANDING!!!! I found you through Diana Evans and I am glad I did - I will be back!

Cheers:-))

Jerry in Tampa

so delicate, so beautiful, what a good feeling through this expression!
make me think of my good days with mom who pass away when I was young!
Pretty work as always!

Such a happiness! Wonderful illo!

So beautiful! Technically amazing too.

This is gorgeous! What beautiful faces and expressions. :)

This is really awesome. You have a real knack for capturing personalities. Love your work.

This is such a beautiful piece! There is such sweetness and love in their expressions.

this is such a lovely drawing with so much peaceful expression it it...

Really beautiful. Like others have said, it captures the "moment" and the sweet and easy relationship between these two.

a beautiful piece, even if you are recycling! (and really, if you can't recycle on the topic of Memories, when can you!?)

Lovely Kate! Looks like a very good memory to me.

So perfect and beautiful!

Absolutely sweet and touching!
Bellissimo.
Cata

Simply Beautiful!

Very nice illustration. I like the little "extras" like the mouse. I wish the best for your friends cat.

Kate, I am touched beyond words. Thanks for your prayers and wonderful support. I am lying here with Mamo in my arms. She is comfortable right now and purring. If she could talk, she'd let everyone know what an incredibly warm and caring person you are. Thank you my dear, dear friend. Your drawing brought a smile to my face and more comfort than I can articulate. xoxo

Here's wishing all the best for your friend's sweet kitty. Your illustration is heartwarming.

I really hope your friend's kitty gets well soon.

This is beautiful kate! I love the chubby cat... and the little girl is precious. Love the clothes she is wearing and the little details on the pants and anklet. Just wonderful Kate!!!! Another winner :o)

what a cute and heavy kitty! hope he gets well really soon!

Very nice and funny illustration. I love the cat!
My best wihses

Hi Kathleen! I did the same thing...a girl and a cat. Love yours, it's super cute! Good luck to your friend.

That's one BIG, snuggly armful! Looks a bit like my cat!
All the best to your friend and the kitty.

So sweet! I love your sepia drawings just as much as the color ones.
You have a lovely style.

This is super! What a cute and comical cat. Beautifully sketched.

What a sweet and wonderful tribute to Joan's cat.!! Sorrow and worry can be so heavy but friends do lighten the load.

Great piece! What a nice tribute, Kate. You're a thoughtful and treasured friend.

I love this illustration!!:)Its so cute and I hope your friends cat gets better soon!

Oooh! Wonderful illustration, and it's heavy on all counts and I hope the heavy kitty is well soon! From another cat lover.


www.indigeneartforms.blogspot.com

Aw. All your work is so beautiful.

Oh my god!!!!!! this is so cute and now that my cat is pregnant is so adoc for her!!!!!! really you made me and Metaphore *my cat* smile today!!!! jejeje

come visit some day! I have a blog about children illustration *is bilingual* and you might like it!

ciao!

www.caracarmina.blogspot.com

wow...that's some heavy kitty and a little girl that loves him so....I hope all works out well for your friend's kitty

One thing I really like about it (among others) is how the medium and technique really compliment the subject. Really nice.

how very sweet! This is too adorable Kathleen! I wish little kitty the best! I have missed your work too and always lovely as usual! take care!

Sweet and lovely, and all the best to Joan's kitty.

ThaT's my cat! Darling sketch, Kathy!

Nice illo. When I was in High School I had a friend with a cat that was fatter than the cat you have pictured; the cat I mention had a belly that dragged on the ground.

Best wishes for your friends cat.

Oh, look at that belly! Best wishes for a speedy kitty recovery! Really nice Kate!

whew, that's a big kitty! I like many things about this illustration, but I especially like the little girl's pants and their cute little fraying fringe :)

This is so sweet!

Oh my gosh Kate this is so beautiful. And knowing Jo, and what she is going through right now, makes it all that more touching.

Fat cats are funny. This is great. Nice drawing!

Love this piece. Not sure if my previous comment took or not. Sorry.

great illo. : )Love the cat. Wish all the best for your friend.

Very cute! I hope your friends kitty gets better soon.

I hope Joan's kitty gets well soon! This is the sweetest drawing... it doesn't get much better than have a fat cat to hug!

Cute Kate!! I love that sweet face on that big cat! Wishing all the best for your friends cat. Take care!

This is superb. Well done!

Hi Kate:

This is a very nice drawing and a warm message. I saw Joan's listing and feel bad about her kitty.

haha a very fat cat! charming!

I love, love, love this. It makes me laugh...but at the same time is a really beautiful tribute to dear Joan.

What a lovely illustration! Especially special as it's of Joan and Mamo ...

Kate, I think you're creating some faboo illustrations, the softness and spontaneity of children is difficult to capture and keep natural, and you're doing a beautiful job!!

Kate, you have such a wonderful, well-done, soft style to your work and they all look effortless with their just-sketchy-enough lines!
Everybody is so cute too!
Thank you for your comment and for adding me to your list! I need to make myself a list...
I think this baby looks like a child but if it does look like a doll at all it's because of its scale. I think he/she is too small to expect it to be sitting like that in a lap listening to a story.
The holding of mom's finger is really sweet. And yes, I'm realizing that more accessories add sooooo much to an illustration.

Kate, I actually did think that the infant was a doll, so my comment was going to be "the child who is reading to the doll looks a little too mature." Then I read your commentary on infant vs. doll. I love the idea of the sketch. It would also be cute as a little girl reading to her doll... either way, very sweet! Elizabeth

Thanks...I appreciate your comments. I have a lot to still do with this sketch, so that really helps me.

I love the sketch. The kid looks like a baby for sure. Very, very cute -- your work's lookin' FAB.. My only small piece of technical feedback is that the baby looks really small.

Oh -- I think i misundeerstood. The baby is supposed to be doll!! Woops.

Are you around this weekend to chat? Let me know your sched.

Hugs,
Kathy

Kate I'm so happy you are doing all this beautiful and loving scenes. To me your pencil sketches as well as your sepia illustrations are something precious and rare to find. I think you have a great talent.. I really hope you know that.

Now to answer your question, I honestly think your kids always look like kids. In fact, I have mentioned several times how I'm amazed at their features and they truly seem real and unique. On this illustrations I think the mom does look like mom, no problem there at all. The baby I feel is too small to sit up straight and read a book. Usually baby's over 4 months can do that, 3 minimum and she is too small to be that age in comparison to her mom. If you like her that small then you can maybe have her on her Mom's arm like laying back but seeing the book too. If you prefer she is sitting up, then I think she needs to be bigger in size. I love the grabbing of the finger.. please don't change that.

I think the sentiment is there and this is a gorgeous piece!!! I love it Kate :o)

At first I thought this was a sketch of a little girl and her doll, but then I realized it was supposed to be a baby with its mom. Maybe if the baby looked a little older it would help.I love the idea of a curled up cat though, that would make a very cozy scene.

Thanks everyone! So the baby is too small. That I wondered about as I was drawing it. I want to work on the mom's haor a litle bit. It started out more whispy and modern, but then it got heavy when I darkened up the piece.

Honestly, I often times think I would be better at this if I had had my own kids....I guess that is my handicap as a children's book illustrator. Thanks everyone! I value your help so much! Especially those of you who have kids or are around kids a lot.

Thanks to all!

HI Kathleen

I love this piece...it's adorable ...I love your style and the passion shines through your work...

Cheers,
Diana

I think the expression of the baby is very much in line with the style of the drawing. I do love the little gesture of thumb-holding that is so precious between mother and child. Really beautiful Kate.

I think that, if you draw the baby a little bigger, it will be spot on. At first glance, before reading your post, I thought the baby was a doll but only because of size. Apart from that observation, I think your illustration is wonderful!

So SweeT! I was convinced by the mother's posture - she is softly curved in a protective way around her baby.
SO glad to have found your blog! Looking forward to following your work.

As someone who's done this a lot in the last nine months, I couldn't resist adding a little more.

I think the baby looks like a doll because he lacks visual weight. He sits up so straight and a little higher up then I would think he belonged. I think if he were nestled more deeply into the crook of the arm, and given a little more substance, he's read clearer.

Regardless, it's still a very lovely sketch, and I can't wait to see it in color. :)

Great work! the eyes of the child are so expressive and deep

beautiful solid colors. i like the boys eyes most especially.

This is gorgeous, Kathleen! The boy's eyes are so real and expressive. Sounds like a lovely story, too!

Extremely beautiful, great characters Kate! The little boys eyes are so compelling and the look of pride on the mother's face is plain as day! Love this!!!

What a beautiful illustration Kate! It is really expressive and rich. Very nice.

Beautiful image and sounds like a wonderful story. Like everyone else...the eyes are awesome!! thanks for sharing it.

This is so beautiful!! I love the colours and the eyes are simply amazing ~ :)

Wonderful Illustration- right down to the smartly designed, lidded box and surface decoration of the material! The characters are full of life and the colors are rich!

Beautiful work Kate!!

The boys face is adorable and I love the colors in the piece!

This piece really shows your range as an accomplished artist. Very masterful expression and rich colors. Love it love it love it!

Thanks everyone!!

just beautiful and soulful...the colors are fabulous...

Oh! Kathleen!
This eyes are absolutely sweet, magical and expressive.
Is always a pleasure see your art.
Cata

Kate, this sounds like a wonderful story and your illustration is so incredibly beautiful. There is so much sweetness in his expression.

They are both really well drawn! Great faces and expressions. The boy is awesome.

the eyes are phenomenal! such soulful expession. perfect. a lovely image.

Oh this is very beautiful Kathleen!

Just so beautifully done.

Wow, how wonderful! I love the warm expressions on the faces, especially.

Kate, hands down one of your best! Everything about this is magnificent...the expressions, the jeweltone colors, everything. I'm speechless. Bravo!

Wow, thanks everyone!!

The colors are so rich. Oh I love this style!

he looks like a real person...did you use a reference photo for the little boy? anyway, great painting, kate!

It's gorgeous, Kathleen! I love their expressions, so sweet and touching!

Beautiful illustration, very delicate, love the warm colors. Sounds like a great story ! :-)

Wow kate, this is amazing.. Love it! :o)

Thanks Enigma. Often when I am creating art in my "realistic" style (as opposed to the whimsical style I have been posting lately), I compile a series of reference photos or research articles. Then I create my own characters in my head, based off of the photos or articles. So these characters are from my imagination, but I did use some photos for lighting, fabric pattern, colors, jeweled boxes, etc. While I did have a reference photo of a child, this boy is from my imagination (the child in my reference photo was actually crying and had his mouth open). So I would say that I often use photos as a guide for inspiration, but not for copying.

I just want to echo the comments here. Really nice work, Kate. I like seeing the variety on your blog!

Thanks for your comment - I'm getting back in the saddle! ;)

love the expressions and the bold colors!

Wow! I agree the expressive eyes on the child are very compelling. Amazing illustration.

There's something about those eyes that are so captivating. What a beautiful illustration!

i see, thanks for the explanation, kate. its a great tips!

Wao Kate, this illustration is impressive!! The colours and the eyes of the kid...

:D

This is gorgeous. From the rich but not overpowering colors, to the emotion conveyed in the subjects' faces, to the patterns blended in all over-- WOW!!! And I'd like to read that story... is it written, or still floating around in your imagination?

Thanks Elizabeth! The story is still just floating around in my mind. I would love to get it on paper someday. I hope to take some writing classes one day.

Really nice, and different for you. I want you to read me the story!! ;-)

wow, you are really talented!!
I love it!!

Mer

wonderful illo! love the sound of the story!!! I want a magical box :)

great illustration! so expressive!

I love the colors and the asian feel you created with texture and color. The character style is cool too.

Your sense of depth, colors and facial expressions always amaze Kate!

Muy buenas ilustraciones, felicitaciones, sos muy buena dibujando.
Saludos

Nicopderosa - Garcias por un comentario! Me gusta tu ilustraciones y tu blog. Feliz Navidad.

This really is magic. I love the child's expression.
And you're one of the kates who won a present, so just let me know your address, and it will ship in no time.
I'm going home on the 19th, but the road until that day seems long. There are so many things that need to be done, so many letters and gifts to send out before that date, so many things to do for the winery... I wish I had four arms and hands. Well, not aesthetically speaking.
I wish you very happy holidays and all the best in 2008, but I hope to get back to you before that.

Beautiful book cover. Love the colors.

Hi! Beautiful illustration. Wonderfull style.

What a beautiful, warm piece. I love the colors you used.

A very nice softness and warmth to the art

Lovely post (both).

I agree with Ernie, beautiful warmth to the illustration, and nice gesture showing the delicate things about the character. The spot color is perfectly placed!

What a lovely, tender, drawing and such a touching post in honor of your mother. Happy Mother's Day!

Wow! Love both illos!

Lovely soft drawing for citrus, and a loving post to your mom. You wrere both lucky to have what you had, however long :)

Your illustration is nice. And not the typical entry! Yea! The photo of you and your mother is quite a spectacular one! What a cherished memory!

Thanks for your comments, and I look forward to your entries!

Very touching both!

love the smooth line a very comforting feeling

She has perfect arms and hands. So cute and soft. I too like the spot color on the lemon. And what a nice idea to post something old and sentimental for your mother. Very lovely!

kathleen - your illo is beautiful. you really captured a sweet moment.

It's nice to see something so subdued for this topic. :) Your illustrations are so lovely!

Just beautiful, Kathleen!

very beautiful Kathleen!

FAB work, Kathleen! awesome!

I like the b/w with just a bit of color, and your "Mom" tribute is wonderful!

Thanks everyone. It was so nice to be able to have some time to just sit down alone and draw. So nourishing to the soul. I have been so busy, so after missing IF last week, this just felt so good. Thanks for your positive comments.

Gorgeous illo and Mother's Day tribute! So very special ;) Hope it was a good one!

The illustration of the little child is gorgeous, Kathleen and the picture you drew for your mom is a treasure that brings great meaning to the day.

que linda ilustracion.

que linda ilustracion .....

great illos this week kathleen as always:)

Both are beautiful. Thanks for sharing them with us.

wow, beautiful pencil drawing.. all your works are gorgeous..!

nice trbuite to ur mom and spetacular illo in pencil

I like the little girl expression! and the contrastt between the colour yellow of the lemon and the graphite style!

Lovely peaceful image and the colour tone of the lemon is perfect.
As for your Mothers day card,it's wonderful that you actually have a drawing from when you were 6, it was obviously cherished by your Mom.To me that says it all.
Thank you for your encouraging comments, they mean a lot to me.

Your mother sounded like a wonderful woman, may the memories you have with her comfort you when you miss her the most. The picture of the little girl with the lemon is lovely. I like how the lemon is colored while the rest is not. It certainly highlights the theme without being too intrusive.

lovely, lovely, lovely!

Lovely soft depiction of a wondrous child. Beautiful!

what a tender sweet lovely illo...

Such a sweet image and I love the contrast of the graphite against the yellow of the lemon - and it echoes nicely the photo of you and your mum, lovely :)

lovely tender drawing...and nice sparing use of color

wow, such a beautiful drawing !!!!!!

Lovely soft drawing Kathleen...the colour is perfectly placed... and the original from your younger years already shows talent.

Hi Kate these are so wonderful!!

Such a beautiful post to IF. She actually reminds me of you.

You loving dedication to your Mother for Mother's Day is very touching!

Debbie E. - that's funny. Leon thought it looked like me when he saw it, too. I did not see that when I was drawing it, but I do now. I have heard people say that when artists draw (or create anything), our drawings (or creations) are ALL self-portraits. I guess anyone who has seen the real me, knows this is who I am. Thanks Debbie, for really seeing "me".

Oh, I forgot. I was tagged last week to list 7 weird things about myself and now I'm tagging you. So, if you want to play, you list 7 weird things about yourself and tag up to 7 people to do the same. No pressure if you don't want to do this or if you've been tagged before.

Deb, I accept your challenge. This should be easy. I may even have pictures to go with the weird things...I will have to think about that. As soon as I get a little more time freed up, I will post my weirdnesses. : )

This one is really gorgeous. You've made this look like such a delicate, precious moment.

Very beautiful illustration...I love the photo of your mom and your childhood drawing, too. My mom died this past August, and I was missing her a lot Mother's Day, too.

what a beautiful post. the drawing looks like it was drawn with much tenderness!

Such talent!

What marvelous sensitivity and tenderness!

Your art is wonderful.

beautiful work! very sweet :) thanks for your comment :)

Nice work Kathleen! The B&W with the muted lemon is very cool and great drawing too. Thanks for your comment. The Weirdness challenge would be hard, probably easier for an outside opinion.

stopping in from debbie egizio's site; what a lovely illustration!

Your image of the little girl is so poetic, so lovely!

Super sweet! You are such a lovely person and wonderful artist. :)

Thank you, Mike! That's so nice of you. You made my day! -kate : )

thanks for the link Kathleen,
I specially love this illustration!

Squirrels are evil. ;-)

I am listening to many of them running on my roof right now!

Thanks Rrramone...that's what I was thinking. (?)

Aaah these guys look so cute in the bird house :)
Spring is definitely here in England too.
Hope your well Kate, lots of love,
Lisa
p.s...I went to Seattle a few weeks ago. It all came and went so quickly.

Awww! How cute! We have baby squirrels too, but they are waaaayyy up in a tree behind the house. Happy spring!

Kate, this image is too precious! They look so sweet and innocent, but we know the truth. It was nice talking to you.

See, I should be working! I'm just taking a quick break.
see ya,
Deb

How fantastic. I know momma squirrel picked just the perfect spot when she found your yard!

oh my god!! it´s so magical!!

I love the first picture- you could easily sell that one to a calendar company!

Here in NYC, the squirrels are like the pigeons. Unless you try to actually pick one up (and catch God knows what) they are not impressed by you at all.

love those 3 little faces peeking out! looks like they did a job on the birdhouse, though. :)

Ha ha--what a great set of photos!! Very nice.

Very cute! And yes, squirrels are evils. I'm certain of that, and my Yorkie would agree. There's one that sits on the fence and literally taunts my dog, who despite being adorable, would love to shred that squirrel. Yorkies were bred to kill rat-like things!

ahhhhh, evil but cute as long as they stay outdoors and not in your attic.

How cute is that!! I like squirrels, actually. Some people call them rats with fluffy tails. My husband used to love watching them on the bird feeders when we lived back east. Entertaining antics!

what sweet pics.. love the little ones in the birdhouse!

they are so adorable!!

ah cute, I have baby birds on a wreath on my front door on my www.bookbabie.com blog:)