Hello! Just wanted to let you know we’ve got 56 backers and over $2600. That’s amazing and we’ve still got over 2 weeks to make What Do You Call Your Butterfly a real, live, hard cover children’s book.

Its creative, colorful, and encourages kids to learn about other languages and cultures! If that’s up your alley, please check out our video and pass it along to your friends and family, especially those in education.

We’ll be giving free E-books to schools and teachers!

Here’s the link:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1516843891/what-do-you-call-your-butterfl…

Thanks to everyone who is making this dream come true!

When familiar things, that may have been lost or forgotten, come back to my awareness and I find comfort in them, it’s like I just discovered a secret about myself.  Here are three:

1.  The Artist’s Way.  No matter what quote, paragraph or chapter I read, I get this full of life feeling, in my gut.  It’s an unstoppable, overwhelming, I’m excited to be here sort of…high?!  Happens almost every time.  Then usually, I feel like I have to ration the experience. Like it’s too much goodness.  Silly.

2.  Painting circles.  I love circles and circular swirls, overlapping, never-ending, no beginning swooshes of paint.

3.  Planting.  Seeds grow, that’s what they do.  I shouldn’t be surprised but I am, especially when you can almost see them growing.  I come home, they’re magically taller and stretching toward the sun.  It’s glorious!

Two inspired W magazine images + a touch of crazy.

I don’t know if this is improper etiquette or not but today I entered a t shirt design competition for 106.1 The Corner. I have a few other ideas, but this was just a quick sketch and color in situation.

Eventually there will be some public voting on the finalists so you will have a say, if you so choose;)

Without further ado…

PS. They’re giving away an iPad, so do a little drawing, 4 color max, and enter it on www.1061thecorner.com!

Good luck!

Inquiring minds would like to know what your favorite cake to icing combo is? Cupcakes are a hot item these days, on paper and in person.

Here’s a watercolor I’ve been working out. Tricky subject, those edibles. Bon appetit!

DC is an inspiring place. I’m energized by the people everywhere, all on their own mission.  Some are touring, some are playing frisbee, me, I’m driving around for an hour looking for parking.  As soon as I feel defeated, the parking gods smile down a give me exactly 2 inches.  Parallel hell.  One inch in the front, one in the back.

As I approach my destination the next feeling bubbles up and sits just below the surface.  Thankfully, it strikes a different chord.  It’s the feeling of being in the presence of greatness.  History made under my feet and monuments towering overhead.  It’s even greater in museums.  Bag check.  Descend.

As I enter, my anxiety gives way to getting lost in my imagination of these old worlds.  Museum-ing for me is a bit sacred.  I tend to appreciate a quiet experience where I can soak in the beauty, hopeful to retain a fraction of the history I read.  I can’t help but tip toe through each room of the Freer and Sackler Galleries of Art.  These buildings house an amazing collection of Asian art.  To name a few items:  intricately patterned bronze vessels, turquoise and gold handles, carved wooden Buddhas, 8 ft. tall Chinese landscapes, Japanese earthenware, ceramics, jade, glass, James McNeill Whistler’s Asian influenced paintings and Peacock Room installation.

I left full of inspiration and a readiness to get my own ideas onto paper, canvas, or…cardboard?  That’s right.  My dear friend, Katherine, and I painted into the night just like the old days.  Cozy Georgetown studio, tropical paradise, red wine, and a corrugated piece of cardboard.  With a few inspirations:  Whistler’s Blue and Gold: The Rose Azalea and a towering plant, I set to it.  I’m determined to have more plants in my life.  Here’s the result and not a brush stroke more.

If you are in any way in need of an artistic boost, a day trip to DC and the Utrecht store should do the trick.

This Cville panoramic was inspired by and made for the lovely, Erin McDermott!  We met in Charlottesville and have bonded over many a late night glass of wine discussing the ups and downs of following dreams, running a business and life as a ‘crazy’.  Erin’s success as a jewelry designer has been an inspiration as I’ve seen her labor tirelessly and passionately, perfecting her craft.

She’s not afraid to share her stories, the good and the bad, that go with the territory of putting yourself out there.  Vulnerability would best describe the feeling of showing your work to the world and the anticipation of its reception by the critics among us.  When ‘Grow Your Own Roots’ was just a sketch and Skylight Studios was merely a thought, Erin was the first cheer leader on board and has been a faithful supporter ever since.  Erin McDermott jewels are a must have and her blog is not too be missed!  Without further ado my dear, Merry Birthday, Happy Christmas New Year’s, and with all my love…just after Valentine’s Day!

I’ve traditionally not updated my ‘News’ very often.  In the effort to engage more of my fellow web surfers and for some self satisfaction…I’m going to attempt to post here more frequently.  We’re not going to call it a blog or anything crazy like that, especially since I’m still learning about widgets, posting, tagging, meta-tagging and a lot of other computer jargon that is way over my head.

So, you might have also noticed I’m diving into illustration.  It’s hopefully a way for my nondescript and un-categorical paintings to exist without the pressure of hanging over someone’s living room couch.  The tricky part of illustration is that it has developed beyond my traditional paint, brush, pen and ink.  Is there room and appeal in the publishing world for traditional illustration?  I’m just beginning my journey so I don’t rightly know but stay tuned and if/when things progress you’ll find out as I do.

This little guy was inspired by Lewis Carroll’s The Walrus and the Carpenter found in Through the Looking Glass published in 1871.  Haven’t read the book so to be honest, Walt Disney introduced this tale to my generation via Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.  A haunting movie for me as a child, turned source of much inspiration and limitless imagination from which I expect to illustrate more in the future.  One Mad Tea Party coming right up?

So…bear with me as I venture down the rabbit hole.

Quick question:  What’s your favorite piece of children’s literature, old or new that you’d like to see a illustrated a-new?