Annie Patterson Art and Illustration

Illustration Friday * Shy *

Curious characters

A sketch from a while ago. I like these characters, although not sure yet who they are or what the story is.

Geisha: watercolor sketch

The reference for this was a vintage black and white photo. I used a different brush than I'm used to, but that was kind of fun.

*When frost comes to the fall tundra*

It's been so long since I've posted on this blog! Partly because I've been using facebook more, and partly I suppose because I've been busy finishing a book illustration project. I'd like to get back in the routine here, though! In the meantime, here is a quick sketch I drew and painted the other day.

Hello April

Photos 1-3: tiny watercolor sketchbook ladies

Photo 4: Five year old artwork (the best!!)

Photo 5: trip to Anchorage for five year old to have surgery
for chronic ear infections(she's doing great!)

Photo 6: Pantone fan books make me happy

Check out my SIGG

Ever since I stopped drinking out of plastic containers, I've wanted a SIGG bottle but couldn't decide on which one I wanted. So I decided to try their design your own option! Fun! I like how it turned out- I used a watercolor sketch from my moleskine book. I think I'll make one for my laptop next.

littles

I made these little ACEO cards last night, for a local craft fair that happened today. I haven't ever made them before- it was fun to work fast and small (2.5" x 3.5") and feel like I had created something. 

a picture, and a list

Recent good things:

1. Marisa's e- course

2. early bed times for children and time to play with art

3. watching two foxes (fox?) chase each other at mach speed back and forth across the tundra

4. painting the colored wall in my bedroom back to a neutral shade of sea glass blue, from a bright spring green that limited my decor choices

5. Ian's yummy warm snuggles

6. Isabelle practicing 'ballet' 

7. a new macbook pro coming in the mail

8. paying off a credit card

9. frozen ground - no more mud or wet soggy tundra puddles

10. coffee in the morning

11. talking to a friend who makes me laugh

recent sketches

no time to do finished paintings these days, just little sketches here and there. 

I was so excited to see my daughter's drawings transform recently from scribbles to actual 'things'. She's been drawing lots of cats and mice. :)

Josephine and the monster

pencil and photoshop

December drawing, thinking of Spring

I just finished this drawing. I will paint it soon. Click to see it bigger.

Lots to Share

 

 

I've been doodling before falling asleep...a nice way to end the day.

 

 

 

 

Foxy was out today, almost white!

 

 

I'm so happy to have my table space back. It's been taken up by that giant sign I was working on. I'm thinking of painting the walls, or one wall. It's a small corner with a window that brings in nice light. Not sure on colors though. I have a hard time deciding on wall paint colors. Any ideas?

 

Here's a view of the books Im looking at this week. Most exciting are the three Japanese decor books that I just received...from Japan! I emailed Paumes, the publisher, and they were super friendly and the books arrived so fast! I found later that you can also order them at Yvestown. So these books, although I can't read them because they're written entirely in Japanese, are completely enjoyable and total eye candy from cover to cover. I got the one about children's rooms in Copenhagen, Paris, and small Paris apartments. Wow, talk about inspiration overload. I highly highly recommend these beautiful books!

 

 

and they sent the books with some cute picture cards, and possibly the most beautiful receipt I've ever seen:

 

 

So much goodness in one day! Oh and now Project Runway is on! Have I mentioned how much I love that show?

 

Baby, It's Cold Outside...

Today was so cold that the schools and many businesses were closed. It got down to around 45 below zero, with wind chills at 65 below! Then the whole town lost power for about an hour, which was so scary because it doesn't take long for pipes to freeze etc. Thank the lucky stars someone was able to get power back on for us. It's times like this that I think about the people of the northern climates throughout history who survived winters and made it through without electricity and cars and grocery stores full of food. 

Here's a photo of my grandmother's little blue glass vase, in front of the window that happens to have frost on the inside...Also snowball candle and star lamps reflecting in window.