What I've been up to...

Well, it's been ages since I've posted a picture or illustration. I'm so hard at work on my portfolio and other commissions that I'm exhausted...but so very very happy at the same time! It feels amazing to be back on track and working toward a goal.

The best news of all is that out of my 3 followers/fans, one of them is my Mom! A huge awwwwww and shout out to her!

Uploads to follow soon.
xoxo, with love

Oh My Motherboard!

Well it finally happened....I fried the motherboard on my computer! What a nightmare; I went completely mental as well, with panic attacks and loss of sleep, no contact with the outside world whatsoever...the works! How can a person be expected to function without a computer, I wonder? And what if none of the files were recoverable? REMAIN CALM: Just got everything sorted, so now I can breathe. Am back online, back to regular and frequent updates and most important..painting, painting and more painting!

I must say though, I have still been working away on large canvasses and canvas panels for a show that I am a part of in September. I also have some commissions that are nearing completion. The newer pieces are very large and therefore I am not able to scan them in. I will have to try to photograph them myself or better yet, get a friend to do a more professional job.

It feels GREAT to be back!!!

xoxo with love

More fun on the computer....

Still fooling around with Photoshop and Painter. I have been burrowed away working on a few ideas the past few days and have barely resurfaced for air. Just enough time to eat and catch the season finale of LOST...WOW!

But I have to go into work tonight and for the next few evenings. Ah the grim reality of having to go to an actual job! Am really looking forward to the long (it won't be relaxing) weekend!

I have come to realize that if you don't have a really strong drawing/sketch to start with, nothing can make it better. Not even Photoshop can help you. I just couldn't get this one to pop!! Try to enjoy this little doodle anyway.

xoxo with love

Drama with Photoshop

Unlike every other illustrator on the planet, I am incapable of mastering the art of Photoshop. I just can't seem to get it to work out in my favor...well not easily anyhow. Not without cursing at the computer and throwing the drawing pen at the screen and slaving over a tiny iluustration for an entire day! I surf the net and see hundreds of artists posting elaborate renderings that they have created in a few hours. How is this possible I wonder? I find using any of the ADOBE software challenging and it takes me a really, really long time to get an illustration down once I've scanned it in. And I'm still never satisfied with it. My end goal is to create a comic strip or cartoon of some sort with the main character that resembles me! But at this current rate, how many years will this process take me? Hee hee...

So here is a mock up of what I'm thinking so far about the "me" character...let me know what you think!

xoxo with love

For Vanessa....

I needed some direction and as always, some inspiration. Sometimes I can get so down on myself and on life that I get lost in the misery of what usually seems like an average everyday situation that a normal person wouldn't even blink twice at. But of course, it never is normal for me and all I need is to hear some encouraging words or feel a loved ones supportive arms around me. But last week I would have settled for either of those, maybe even less. And then I met someone over the Internet. Another artist whose story was quite unlike mine but somehow vaguely similar and she actually reached out a hand to help me.
I've never blogged about my past; my marriage; my loves; my life..none of that. I just wanted to start from scratch and focus on art and so it was refreshing to get all the words of wisdom and advice from Vanessa. She is warm and above all, wise! Please check her out at: http://oohlaladesignstudio.blogspot.com.
Vanessa is truly fabulous, sweet, and one of those rare, really kind people that you only meet once in a lifetime.

So, this FALL GIRLS illustration is for her!

xoxo with love

Happy Mother's Day!!

I have been so swamped over these past few days that I haven't been able to post at all. I have worked quite a lot at the restaurant and then stayed up most nights painting and coming up with new stuff for my site. I'm also trying to set up my online store and that is taking ages! I think because I am so tired and overrun, I am also coming down with some sort of flu. Oh well, it's good to be busy.


But I did manage to speak to my mom and sister in all the madness and so everything is good right now. I think my mom reads my blog which I think is super cute of her! So this illustration is dedicated to her especially and of course all the other fantastic moms out there.

xoxo with love

Missing Persons!

So I've been searching the world for someone I knew a lifetime ago, for quite sometime now..for years really. We grew up together, well until the age of 11 anyhow,(which is hardly growing up at all) in Kuwait. We kept in touch via these cute letters every month and then all of a sudden..nothing! I can find no correspondence from her anymore; nothing at all. I have scoured the Internet, MySpace, Facebook blah blah but cannot find this girl. I mean its been like 24 years but wouldn't that be nice to reconnect at this point? You would think with all our insane technology, this could be possible, but sigh, it's not. Just re-reading her letters makes me reminisce about happier, simpler, times. I'm sending this vibe out into the cosmos..ANIA, If you're out there, please contact Charmaine!

Anyhow back in the real world, pretty busy at the mo with restaurant work, commissions and just fun doing-it-for-myself-projects.

Love Ya Lots...xoxoxo