It is time...

As I have mentioned in previous posts, life is feeling very busy lately. One of those absorbing things is the upcoming elections. I have been reading and watching more this time around than I ever have. I hope there are people that visit my site who are doing the same and really considering what this country needs to get back on our feet.

My good friend, Curt, over at While Walking Duncan, has been writing up great posts urging his readers to educate themselves on the issues and to share that information with the undecided folks, I ask that you do the same. Being that he is the "scribbler", he can say it so much better than I, so check this post out and this one. Instead I will stick with my "doodles" to portray my feelings :) Tweet Follow @kellymedina

Girl

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Clutter Find

In my clutter clean up I am finding lots of illustrations on random scrap paper - I really need to stop doing that, but I don't think I ever will. I just need to find a good way to keep them all together, maybe a big clip or a clipboard devoted to hold all the pieces of paper in one place. Hmm...

Anyways, I found this sweet illustration amongst the papers that I scanned in and did the lines with my now loved Wacom tablet. I'm so glad I pushed through the awkward/frustrating phase. All the encouraging comments definitely spurred me on. Thanks! It really is a great tool to learn as an illustrator. Tweet Follow @kellymedina

More Books

We all know I am a bit of a book junkie, right? Well I got a few more today and I am excited to crack them open and learn.

Better Basics for the Home

The Green Kitchen Handbook

These two books are going to be very helpful with being more green in our household and in our way of living. We are pretty environmentally conscious people, but I would like to keep learning ways to make a difference for the earth, as well as minimizing toxins from our life. The Better Basics for the Home book has been mentioned on several blogs that I read - this The Small Object post and Chickpea Sewing Studio post - so I'm excited about this one. I'm sure I will share what I make from the recipes.

I Can Fly

I got this sweet children's book for some inspiration and the story is so sweet. Mary Blair did the illustrations - her work is amazing.

Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day

This is a pretty easy one to figure out... I love artisan bread and would love to make it at home more often.

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Hello there...

The first day of Fall is here (and almost over)! Aaw, my favorite time of year, though Spring is starting to be a close runner up.

This isn't fall themed at all, but nonetheless an illustration I worked on tonight. I've been feeling a bit busy (aka overwhelmed) with catching up on misc. things the last few weeks. It has all been good, but takes lots of organizing to get it all situated and done. I sure do love checking things off my lists.

I did some office re-arranging and starting to think I need to get back on sewing. But most of all I need to get focused on my business plan and actually start setting time a side strictly devoted to that. At least, I need to make a decision on what I want to focus on and if I even want to do it. I'm rambling a bit, but that is where my head is these days. So bare with me. :)

Well, I hope everyone had a great first day of fall. Keep your head up and watch those beautiful changing leaves mesmerize! Tweet Follow @kellymedina

Fantastic Artist - Bombo!

Bombo!, aka Maurizio Santucci, is an illustrator + 3D artist I found via this Pikaland post.

Here are a few pieces below that I really liked. You should definitely go check out his site and see all his great work. Very inspiring!

Great textures and colors.

Such great line work and I love black and white illustrations.

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Chef Birdgiano

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A Skully Kind of Day

I have a thing for skull graphics. It's not really a gruesome, morbid thing though. I just like the graphic appearance - when done right, of course.

I saw this car when I got into work this morning. It's an old police car so the pirate skull decal made me smile.

Saw this awesome bike after work in the parking lot of a store.

I need to get a pair of these bad boys for my bicycle side view mirrors! :)

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Illustration Friday - Island

It would be so nice to have your own little island when you need a break from it all.

Thanks for visiting. Tweet Follow @kellymedina

Taurus Cottage

(original artwork doesn't have text.)

I got a wonderful surprise last week when this delightful piece of art arrived in my mail. I immediately hung it on the wall. It brightens up our bedroom perfectly. Thank you so much Silvia, I love it!

A close up of the detail.
I want to leap into this world.

You can see more work by Silvia here and at her blog. Tweet Follow @kellymedina

Facebook

My good friend finally got me to sign up with Facebook this week. It has been pretty fun and amazing to find some people I haven't talked to in forever. Tweet Follow @kellymedina

Illustration Friday - Clutter

A clutter of birds visit my house every morning. They make quite a ruckus some days. It is very entertaining. I swear they sound like they are laughing, sharing adventures and gossiping over their sunflower seed breakfast.

This was created using pen and tablet. I am really loving it. I have a question to any one who using one, which kind did you get? I have a small Graphire currently and thinking of an upgrade, I need a larger active area, I think.

Thanks for visiting and I do cherish reading comments. Thanks! Tweet Follow @kellymedina

Check out the Maple Granola recipe. It's delicious! Tweet Follow @kellymedina

Healthy Rat

Another doodle that came to life all thanks to the pen and tablet. I'm really loving the tablet more and more. I still fumble a bit, but I can see why so many people use them and love it. Tweet Follow @kellymedina

Strawberries Inspire

With the summer coming to an end I am starting to get sad about all the local Farmer's Market and stands closing in October. This was my first year to really get to know where and what I could buy locally. I picked up these strawberries yesterday and they are so sweet, in both the adorable tiny size and taste. While I was playing around with the image, I sampled some colors and fell in love with the red and green I got. I believe I have just found some color inspiration for the holiday cards I need to start cracking on.

Also, I am setting up a good photo "area" to achieve better lighting in my photos. I wrapped up several pieces of cardboard in white butcher paper to provide back + side lighting which really seems to help. I think it will be pretty helpful as the days start getting darker. Tweet Follow @kellymedina

Girl in Red Shoes

I finally brought this character to life, it has been in my sketch book for a while. Tweet Follow @kellymedina

Animals for Card

I was thinking this would work best as a blank card design. I might end up adding some words. Tweet Follow @kellymedina

Pen illustrating

Wacom Pen: Left is Illustrator only. Right is Illustrator and adding some Photoshop color/texture.

I'm very encouraged by comments that people love their Wacom pens so much. Thanks! Tweet Follow @kellymedina

The Cuddlers

Aren't they just adorable!? It's taken a while for Ollie to wear down Kivan to be cool with this sort of thing. But seems he is winning her over more and more. Tweet Follow @kellymedina

Ballooning

I made these simple balloons for an illustration and started playing with colors and a card design. I ended up with this flat card and I really like it. Also, I am trying to let myself do more simple illustrations on more of my cards. So here ya have it.

I need to get cracking on more cards, I've totally been slacking. I really wish I didn't have to sleep, I could get sooo much done! Tweet Follow @kellymedina

Stepping into September

It was another great weekend. The extra day off was a great bonus. I did have work project that I worked on over the weekend, but I was still able to get some nice outside time. The weather has been absolutely perfect here. Saturday we went for a walk...

This early turning tree stopped me in my tracks. So beautiful with the blue sky and clouds behind it.

As we continued our walk, we came across this busy little bird. He kept fluttering in an out of the branches and teasing me while I tried to catch a photo. Finally he landed and posed for me with his triumphant claim of a seed from the branches. I love his head markings.

I love taking macro shots of tree trunks. This is two trees, but it almost looks like one trunk.

I rushed up to see this pretty little red poppy (I think that's what it is) and went crazy over the dead stems with their seed pods and hairy stems. I'm going to go back for a few more to put in a vase.
A couple weekends we went around our neighborhood and picked blackberries for jam, which turned out fantastic and is so good on Whole Grain Pancakes. This weekend the blackberries were really ripe all over the place, so we got to snack on them while we walked.

On our way we stopped by a wild growing mint plant and spotted a baby deer, who hid away right as I was done fumbling with my camera to take a shot. Figures! But you can see the little rump as it walked away.

Good stuff, I hope everyone else enjoyed their long weekend. Tweet Follow @kellymedina