Annie Patterson Art and Illustration

Little bouquet of wild arctic buttercups, picked by my daughter. Summer is here at last!

*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.

Catching up

hello! I thought it was about time I popped in and said hello. I've been so busy with my job and my little ones, I scarcely have a minute to post anything! This photo above shows the little ermine who were chattering at us during a nature walk out on the tundra with my watercolor field journal class. They were very cute, and very serious! These two were babies! This walkway you see is put down for researchers who study the tundra every summer.

And here is what we have had to do with every chair in the house since baby Ian started climbing. If we put one down he immediately climbs up onto the table or even the kitchen counter. It gets exhausting lifting him down and hearing him cry about it, so for now this works. Except when we need to sit down!

Some recent tiny ACEO size watercolors. Have to paint fast and small these days!

Watercolors of wild flowers and grasses

 

kite flying in the backyard

Poppies and other wildflowers

 

 

A close up of our trees here in Barrow- willows that grow just a few inches tall.

 

And that's all I've got for now! It might be a while before I can post again. Thanks for visiting!!

Oh, I almost forgot to mention- I would have loved to have flown down to the Eric Carle Museum in MA a couple weeks ago to see Lisbeth Zwerger in person, along with her artwork- but alas I could not. However, they have the exhibition catalog for sale on the museum website. I collect all things Lisbeth, so yay! I ordered it.

Idaho

 

 

 

 

 

 

We left Southern Idaho last night where we've been for the past couple of weeks. It was beautiful. We stayed in Pendleton, Oregon, last night. Now we're on our way to Vashon Island, Washington, for the watercolor workshop I'm taking. 4 solid days of painting uninterrupted by the duties of mommy-hood = amazing! I'm looking forward to it.

Beach watercolor and other news

I painted this watercolor for my blog friend DJ, otherwise known as Barrier Island Girl, who shared with me her baby sea turtle photos when I was knee deep in illustrating Turtle Turtle Watch Out! I painted this from one of her gorgeous Florida beach photos. I'd like to be running toward that umbrella, with a beach bag full of books, sketchbook, watercolors, and a picnic! Actual size is 5 x 7 inches.

Speaking of Turtle Turtle, it's been reviewed in the Horn Book March 2010 newsletter and in the School Library Journal! Download SLJ review

Baby Mallard Painting

 I painted this baby mallard today. A small watercolor on Arches 140# paper. 

Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out! is released

 





I have mentioned this book many times over the past few years- it has taken a while but Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out!  is finally released this month! Written by April Sayre, and illustrated by me. This book was published some years ago with different illustrations, so this is a new version. I fell in love with sea turtles while illustrating this book, and hope to see them in person some day.
 Many species of sea turtles are endangered, including the loggerhead which this book is about. Recent cold weather in the south east has caused cold stunning of many turtles- help is needed to care for them- you can learn more and donate money to help here. 

 Please let your local bookstores and libraries know you'd like to see this book in their collections!

Happy 2010!

Happy 2010 from the top of the world! how cool to have a blue moon on
New Year's Eve!!
Here's my blurry tripod-less attempt at capturing it's loveliness from my porch. Frosty powerlines and all.

goose in watercolor

I've been working on this goose study this weekend. The actual size is about 6 x 8 inches. Still working on it, just wanted to show it so far! I found the perfect feather out in the grass long after they had flown south. I love finding feathers!

greater white fronted geese and fall time tundra

Ahhh it felt good to get this done! I started at 10 pm last night after children were sleeping. I can see myself painting more in this style - it is relatively fast and i didn't get bogged down with details- which fits my free time challenged life style right now. I want to do at least 2 more to go with it of a snowy owl- and a snow bunting.

Geese!

Each year about this time, the geese that are migrating south appear seemingly out of nowhere on the tundra all around our house and general area. Their calls echo across the land so beautifully! To some they may just look like regular old geese, to some they may look like dinner...to me they are symbols of the changing seasons and our fragile and magnificent existence. I blogged about them here in 2007 and here and here in 2008. It blows my mind how cyclicle and consistent the natural world is. Here are some photos that I took this morning from my kitchen and bedroom windows. I love how the light shines on their feathers and outlines the form.

polar bear came ashore today

It looks like a small, young bear to me. Or maybe a skinny older bear? Photos taken by Victor.

after such harsh winters, I am always amazed at what appears on the tundra in summer.

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?