OK, My real last post before Pennsic

http://equalityacrossamerica.org/blog/?page_id=19

GO, support OUR rights! Don and I have been together for 25 years as off this Pennsic (that is where we met) and yet we are not a LEGAL couple and do not have the same rights as other married people!

Happy Early Birthday

My husband Don was born on July 31st. I won't be home for his Birthday since I will be at Pennsic and he won't be coming up till later. So, as my last post before I leave I wanted to put up the only picture I have done of him. It is sorta in a medieval style, based on the Sforza Hours. His SCA name and title is Baron Gwynhir app Gryffyd. Happy Birthday Dear! I love you!

Thoughts to Remember

Many things have been said about almost everything in the world. This little quote makes me wish everyone would think this every day and try to live by it. I did the art and it was used as an SCA scroll. Based on a small section of Fresco from 1500's Florence.

Future Book plans

Well, since Endeavor Printing did such a great job on "Animalia" and "Bestiary" (plus the Pennsic to Pennsic Calendar) I hope to print many more books (once I have the money to do so). Among the books I plan is one with a Fairy theme. This is the cover idea I have for it. What does anyone think of the cover?

So Long and Thanks for All the Fish

Well, I am not off to Pennsic yet (next Saturday), but the theme of "So Long and Thanks for all the Fish" was what I was given as the idea for Arisia (a scifi con in Boston) that I was artist guest of honor at back in 2001. That is a hard "theme" to try and do art for. The T-shirt ended up with a merman in a space suit and the con badge was this "Space Dolphin". The design was black and white for them to print but I did a colored version which I really liked. This is how it came out with the wording removed. I think it was about 3 x 5 on Bristol paper in Pigma marker. The colored version is watercolor colored pencil and acrylic.

Good News

Not as good as the last thing I posted was bad, but still, something positive for me. My new book "Bestiary" is done and looks great! I just got it and the Pennsic to Pennsic calendar, both look wonderful and are available from me for $20 each.

Sad News

I have not gotten any more info and don't have confirmation of this, but I got an email today that said;

"I just received word that Duchess Arielle the Golden passed away early this morning. She fought a long battle with cancer as I'm sure many of you know. She was the epitome of grace and she will be missed very much. I do not know any other details, but I wanted to let the Barony know so that we can keep her family and Duke Valharic in our thoughts and prayers today."

I wish I could believe this was not true but since I know she had been fighting cancer for several years, it does not seem like a hoax.

Duchess Arielle and I had our issues but she was a great and generous lady and it is a great loss to the Kingdom. (for those who don't understand the titles and terms being used, look up http://www.sca.org/)

This art is not a picture of Duchess Arielle (she was MUCH prettier and blond) but it was what I had that I thought would fit this news etc.

Summer Heat

I did this several years back (1992, wow 17 years ago). I did it with certain patrons in mind and I think one of them bought the original right off. I had lost the only record of this until about 2 years ago when I found the color laser print of it. I have always had a weakness for red heads and this one is very cute. Most of my art is not erotic in my opinion, this is one of the rare exceptions. I also don't do modern clothing (if I do cloths at all) and here I do modern attire. I really like the shirt. The design on it is my own (I should do the whole design sometime, it looks interesting). Anyway, a hot picture for a hot day. Originally about 10 x 20 (I think), "Woodland Surprise", Acrylic and watercolor colored pencil on Canson board (as usual).

Something for Nothing

I have allot to do before Pennsic and that includes some art I should work on. So, what do I do? I paint a picture no one will buy that is just because I wanted to do it!

I have done nude boys for most of my life and I always get grief from someone about it. I find the young male form to be the perfect symbol of innocents and beauty! It is NOT child porn by any stretch! If you look at art through out history you will find nude boys. The ancient Greeks, the manuscripts from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and on and on. Go to any museum and you will find them everywhere. Do those pictures get labeled porn? NO! Why? Just because they were not done buy a modern artist?

OK, that is my rant on this subject. This picture "Sky Eyes" is a little elf boy, part of nature. His necklace is made of drops of dew. He was inspired by beautiful boy faces I have pictures of and by beautiful boys I know. Simple, Innocent and natural. That is how I see him (and almost all boys). About 9 1/2 x 11 1/2, Acrylic, watercolor colored pencil on Canson board. 41

Another Small Wolf

I did this late last year. I have several great books with pictures of wolves and one has allot of cute pup pictures. That is what this was based on/inspired by. "Peek a boo Pup", 8 1/2 x 11 Prisma Color and Acrylic on black paper.

So Called Followers

I guess my "followers' are all asleep or on vacation or something. I have seen little to no comments in a while now. Dawn is supposed to have more free time but hasn't commented in a while. Ryan comments, such as it is. Russell has so much going on and almost never comments, Jon is dealing with health probs and I know others have lives. I just wonder sometimes if this is more work than I should bother with? I will not post for 2 weeks starting on the 25th (off to War). Rambling away (which I hate on these things...)

First Feather

I'm not sure this was actually my first one but it is one of the earliest. Done in 1997 on a very small feather, an inch or less long, it is still a favorite of mine. It sold immediately at it's first convention. "Voice of the Night" Acrylic on feather.

Supporting a Company

Because I am so pleased with how they did my book and will be doing more for me, I am going to promote Endeavor Printing http://www.endeavorprinting.com/index.php .

I recommend them to all my artist friends and I hope if you use them you will tell them you heard about them from me.

The "Pennsic to Pennsic Calendar" I do every year (for the past 7 or 8) was layed out like a book and sent to them, so I hope it gets done and looks as great as I think it will. Funny how 13 month calendar fits the 24 page book layout :)

If you are an artist, please check this company out, I think you will be pleased.

Somthing is Better than Nothing

As I am busy trying to get a calendar and a book ready for print before Pennsic (in about 2 weeks), I am not doing any new art to post so I will have to post old stuff. Oh, and I have Tarot decks to try and finish production on before Pennsic as well.

"Talisman" was done in the late 80's or early 90's (I think). 15 x 20, Acrylic and watercolor colored pencil on Canson board.

What I did on my Summer Vacation

OK, so it wasn't really my Summer vacation (that will be in 3 weeks when I am at Pennsic for 2 weeks). BUT, this is what I did while away visiting my mother. I got most of it done on the trip and finished it up when I got home. Mostly just smoothing out a few things and doing final details and now it is done. I have a wonderful book on Coyotes and this was inspired by it and referenced from it. "Coyote Twilight", 12 x 12 on tan paper, Acrylic, watercolor colored pencil and Pro White. Just the Native American god/demi god/immortal waiting for the night to fall. $150 (picture 40)

Home Again

We are back and it was a long trip. Wonder if anyone missed me posting?

Here is a black and white that I am very happy with, it does look better in person and somehow loses something subtle in copying or scanning. "Above and Below" was inspired by M.C. Escher's "Three Worlds". It is 8 1/2 x 11, Micron Pigma marker on Bristol paper.