The beach was full of so much beautiful white fluffy snow, we had a blast running around. The waves were crashing and the tide was high!

Well. Doesn’t this look violent? This is how they play. Funny. Looks so violent. Really, you do hear teeth clanking, entire dog jaws clanking and clicking. But the rest of the time they are curled up into a ball and sweet as pie. Well this is actually how they USED to play before they started going to doggie daycare (while the boyfriend is away for a few weeks in Italy, working on stuff for his company.) Now, they are so worn out they just collapse in a pile of fur and snore, truly wiped out from 12 hours of running in a big dog pack and chasing balls, etc. They love it, and as puppies, how wonderful to just be a puppy all day long. Thank goodness the vet is our neighbor, she had to make a house call as both of them have ear infections. She remembered to bring over the leather muzzle so that Beppo looks like hannibal lector while she administers ear medication. He is a fussy patient, true that.

So the art show was really fun, really motivating and I really felt the love and support from my friends who made it out. The work is up all month so if you’re local, check it out. I showed up and started to take photos and my camera battery died. I am so mad, because I am usually so hyper-prepared with stuff like charged batteries, etc. Well I wasn’t this time, so no photos until the Curator emails me her photos, and/or when I go back and take some photos myself. It looks great framed, really classy. I can’t wait to show you. I will be screen-printing some new tee’s with some new designs, and working on some new products. I know (well I hope) that Spring is coming soon (despite the fresh 6 - 9 inches of snow we just got today) and I have plenty of reality to know that since the Winter was spent hibernating, the Spring and Summer will be spent outdoors. Not chained to a drawing table. So. Trying to be productive now, while the governor of Massachusetts declares a snow emergency and sends every non-government employee home early today. Crazy, huh? Snowy Winter for sure.

Some things I’m really into right now (cuz all cool bloggers are making lists full of links they love):
*Signing onto Itunes and having it ask me if I would like to complete an album by downloading the rest of it for a fraction of the album price (cuz it noticed I have one or two songs from an album.) I downloaded this, this and this and they are all really nice listens. This too. I love madlib and this is a great album. This too. I hate to believe the hype, but had to download the recent Radiohead too. It’s good. It only gets better the more you listen to it. Hypnotic. Oh yeah. This too. I needed it. Pretty fantastic. Just needed it. Did I mention that I drive a lot and listen to my ipod constantly? New music is pretty much like filling up the gas tank to drive, it’s vital.

*A slumber party Saturday night with my dear friend Sarah, who is coming over to make art, play with dogs, drink wine, listen to music, walk the beach, and eat raviolis with me. Yay!

*Drawing cute decorative footwear treatments for shoes that light up for little girls. Taking a break from my mostly fashion-inspired line for kids, and doing cutesy stuff.

*Loving this new handbag, I finally have my grown-up lady leather handbag, thanks Ebay. Why do I have to vacillate so drastically between little girl and old lady style?

*These wellies are really coming in handy for all those doggie pee breaks in all of this snow. Had to throw out the pair I bought at Ricky’s in NYC. Typical NYC story, you’re wearing darling shoes and then comes a torrential downpour, I mean like flash-flooding style and you pop into the closest store and hope they sell something rubber for your feet, to save your cute shoes. The cheap wellies I bought were total crap, really, but somehow they got me through 2 winters in NYC as my only winter boots. I hate spending money on ugly things, but sometimes, outerwear just isn’t cute but totally necessary. I like these.

*Being included in the Schmap Boston for a photo I took while just visiting one summer, now I live here. Funny. But the happy part being, if really you could just do what you like, and self-publish, and people would find you and support you for it… nice. Flickr is really nice. One of my favorite web places. I just looked at my stats, and it’s interesting. I’ve been a member for 3 years, and have 2673 photos, with 12,642 views. I have met people from all over the world who have similar interests; whether it’s taking photos of the pavement, or art or whatever. We’re all connected. Yay!

Things I’m a bit sad about:
I miss my boyfriend a lot. And so do the dogs. We are moping. They don’t understand why the kitchen isn’t filled with the potent smell of garlic every night and why they don’t go to the park and the beach every day.
The hockey ice skates I’ve had since I was 15 years old, broke, and I was really sad. I loved them. So I bought a new pair and am excited to try them out. Hope I don’t sound like an old man and say “they don’t make ‘em like they used too.”
Not having vacation time until Summer. This winter is long and I could really use a trip to some sun.
Realizing it has been a year and a half since I’ve been to Portland. I really miss my family and friends. Had a vivid dream last night and I could feel a Portland summer breeze on my arm. I could feel the grizzly beards of my Dad and Stepdad on my cheek when I hugged them. It was a vivid, visceral dream and I am doing everything I can to get out there the very next 3-day weekend I have off. Miss you guys!
not necessarily a bad thing, but did the math and realized I’ve had 25 addresses in my 31 years of life. Why, oh why, do I move so often? I have also counted that I’ve had 17 different jobs since I was 18 years old.

Well friends, that’s all for now. Thanks for hanging out with me on this long post, more good stuff later. xo

Rabbits, as promised. I love 140lb hot-pressed watercolor paper. Smooth so the pen can just glide right over. But the cold-pressed watercolor paper does more justice to the paint washes…

Very busy with the art show I’m preparing for… and still experimenting with some ideas for some new pieces… This is done with gouache and watercolor washes, pen and ink. I am working with some new watercolor paper that is very textured, and a bit of a challenge to glide ink over, but holds the washes so well. After (finally) watching disc one of the Planet Earth DVD’s coming in from netflix, I can’t get enough of the elephant image. Seeing those elephants dancing and swimming in the water after their long, dusty dry walk was just amazing. You will be seeing more elephants along with bunnies, birds, etc.

Still drawing furry little things… this time with some raindrops. Sometimes, after drawings shoes for a while, it’s nice to switch over to something quick and less technical.

Also, been reading inspiring interviews here & looking at pretty things here.

Exploring different (quick) animal silhouettes for my upcoming art show. I tend to prefer really fat winter animals, but since it’s spring and all I’m looking for some less-arctic type guys to work with. I know these look extremely juvenile, but they are just quick captures for now.

I’ve felt quite inspired lately. Not that I’m moving quickly on any of my inspirations, but I am quite energized. Hey notice the new header on the site! I have the theory that when I am busy, I am more efficiently creative. That the visual idea formulation happens in moments of downtime whether on the way to or from work, or even at work, and then when I get home I am able to just sit down and just execute the idea. I have less time to explore right there with the pen and paper, but in turn, it makes me really decisive to just lay down what I have seen in my head. This sketch is along the lines of what the next body of work I am going to produce might look like. More painted backgrounds, animals, etc.

Well spring is coming, even if yesterday it was 11 degrees and today it snowed. It is coming. And I do love the Valentine and Easter holiday (from a thematical standpoint!) So! Working on some great valentines cards and spring cards… should have the shop updated this weekend. Also, preparing for an art show next month here in Boston, and I’m really excited!

p.s. thanks print and pattern for the mention!

I have so many ideas for my work in 2008 and I feel really focused this year, with a good sense of what I want my work to include. I think honestly having a website and a flickr site for the past 3 years has been great because I have this visual catalog of what I am most interested in (subject matter, style, technique) and I can easily see where this brings me. I have also become a bit more organized, and started really focusing on moods that I want to come out in my work. Not suprisingly, you can expect 2008 to be full of more animals! This drawing was done by hand and colored digitally. I am still working out some elements… stay tuned!

When we adopted Beppo 2 months ago he was a poor little malnourished, mangey 7 month-old orphan dog. (see photo below.) And we thought he was cute even then. Now, he’s gained some weight, grown some really soft lovely fur, and is happier and healthier then ever! We take turns squeezing him (lovingly of course) because he is too adorable to even know how to deal with. If I had to sum up Beppo’s personality in three words they would be; persistant, affectionate, and mischevious. The two dogs are best friends and don’t leave each others side for a second. It makes all those fun and trying (3am-type) puppy-rearing experiences worth it.

Happy New Year! The snow has started to melt. After a few 7 degree days, it’s starting to warm up to the 30’s… yay! But there was a polar bear and elk sighting in the backyard! Just kidding, there are those little plastic toys staged to look real. I think I could do this all year long, stage my little toy animals. I don’t quite have my new years resolutions all written out yet, but I am working on it… Easing into the new year!

p.s. I know we’re all pretty much over the Christmas thing, but here are the two stockings I did for us. I finished mine about 20 minutes before Christmas eve dinner, how’s that for last minute!

And a few shots from snowy Maine, where we were for New Years. Lovely!