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©Kathleen Rietz

©Kathleen Rietz
Here is a spot illustration I painted to accompany the mermaid illustration (BELOW) which I painted yesterday. I have been working on trying to create portfolio pieces that tell a story. These illustrations were based on the Illustration Friday theme "Tales & Legends" from 2 weeks ago. You can see the preliminary sketch for the main illustration if you scroll down the page a bit.

©Kathleen Rietz
A new illustration inspired by the Illustration Friday prompt "Tales & Legends" (scroll down to see the preliminary sketch).

I'm just going with the flow. I've noticed a lot of mermaids for this one, so here's mine.

© Kathleen Rietz
Just some underwater MAGIC portrayed in a preliminary sketch!

© Kathleen Rietz
I am working on this preliminary sketch this week for a new piece that I hope will make it into my portfolio. I am open to suggestions about what you think it "needs". It is in the very preliminary stages. I really want my illustrations to tell a story. Not just be pretty pictures.
Last Friday I had the distinct pleasure of sitting down at a local Starbuck's with children's book illustrator Kristi Valiant, who stopped through town on her way to see family. I had such a nice time with her, and I also learned so much from talking "shop" with her and leafing through our portfolios together. I am hoping that we will catch up with each other again in the not-too-distant future. It was so great to see such an established illustrator with over 20 books to her name! Bonus: she is a very nice person! Thanks Kristi!
Then on Sunday Kathy Weller and I talked on the phone until our ears pretty much turned into soft cauliflower. : ) I have always been such a BIG fan of Kathy's. Funny to find out she is also a big fan of my work. We seem to have similar personalities and I get the feeling we would be a dangerous pair if we lived anywhere within 50 miles of each other! You know you are a dangerous combo when you have talked so long that your phone's battery dies and you have to switch to your cell phone. heehee... Thanks Kathy! You crack me up.
I also want to thank Alicia Padron for our valuable email exchanges about illustration, promotion, and just plain "life".
I am realizing how blessed I am to have "met" so many terrific artists while blogging (some virtually and some in real life!). Rubbing elbows with you all is what makes my day, every day. I have learned so much from your comments about my work. I do not take for granted anyone who stops by to have a look. I always hope you like what you see and will that you return again and again.
O-O-O-Oh!!! By the way, I am going to try to put together a new blog showcasing my art students' work. I hope to work on it this weekend. Stay tuned. I will announce the blog once I have it up and running.

I talked with jabberworks who lives in London and asked, how many mermaid are out there, is the new trend ? Why ?
So she made hers and I made mine :D

I took my character and made her a mermaid :D





who 

Una sirena en busca de un abrazo...así le puse a este boceto, que pronto espero pasarselos a vectores y ya con texturas.

Les deseo a todos buen inicio de semana...

A mermaid seeking for a hug... this is how i call this sketch piece. Hope to do it on vectors and put some textures on it.

I wish you all a good start this week.

It is my mom's birthday this Friday so my sister and I decided to paint her two pictures with the following in common: Theme was sea/ocean and two colours had to be the same (to match her bathroom which is yellow with hints of purple).

Mine:


My Sisters:

2 mermaids I drew last year.

j.

www.jameselston.com
blog

Croox-Aix is one of my favorite merfolk.


Tim

Here's one I made earlier...



This was for a book cover, as part of a series of three small Cornish picture books. It just so happens I've started work this very week, on three more books in the same series.

The author Will Coleman has a website here:

Brave Tales Books

My website
My blog

©Ginger*:)
These little kids are either going to make their fortune with that treasure chest, or one of them will notice the mermaid just behind them and start taking pictures!