Stringfellow Art

I just finished reading the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik, and I absoluetly loved it. I’m a sucker for historical fiction, and for dragons, so this was right up my alley.  I could resist creating some Temeraire inspired art, in fact I think I will do a couple of illustrations from the first book to add to my portfolio.  But here is what I would do if I got the chance to re-make the cover of the book.

Some more work on her. She is starting to come together…

Got inspired to do some Disney related art.  Here is a piece of a Belle picture I’m working on.

I took a little day trip to the nearby Santa Ana Zoo. I took the camera with me in case I wanted to snap any picture of the “wildlife” while I was there. It is a pretty small zoo, and a lot of the exhibits were empty, but I still enjoyed the chance to get out and do something. The Colors of the Amazon bird habitat was very pleasant to sit in, even though I could still hear the sounds of the nearby I5 zooming by.

I’m currently going through the book, “The Artists Way” by Julia Cameron. Cameron as spent years teaching people how to regain their creativity–blocked artist and writers, and people who have never considered themselves “creative.”  I’ve been feeling a little block myself lately, and this book really called to me.  It takes you through a process, week by week, to help you rediscover your creative spirit, and how to nurish it and sustain it.  One of the weekly things you must do are “artist dates”, where you take your artist out, to do something she wants to do. And it doesn’t have to be anything proper,  like going to an art museum, just something that your inner artist would find fun and entertaining.

Hence our trip to the Santa Ana Zoo. I’ve been having a hard time figuring out what my little inner artist wants. Or rather, we’re having a hard time finding  the things she wants within driving distance.  She wants to play in a secluded stream in the woods where no one else can find her. Hmm. Or in a deserted beach where she can find driftwood and shells. Hmm.  Or a trip down the Amazon. Sigh. Well, finding a lonely beach in Orange County is a challenge, as is the woods.   But she likes animals too, and the zoo has rainforest like settings, so yay! Inner finger painter satisfied. Of course, while there, she decided that we should sign up to volunteer for the zoo to do face painting and such when they have specail events.  I kinda like her idea, so we might go along with it.

I think there will be something on her hand…

I’m not sure why she is scared. She just ended up that way. Must have been the sight of me holding a paint brush veeeery close to her eyes. One sympathizes.

I was listening to the audio book of the biography of Marie Anttonette while making her, so she ended up a little princess.

Well, 2008 is (well) over.  I have to say, that it is a bit of a relief to be done with it.

This year has been a rough year, if the lack of blog post is any indication.  Every member of my family has ended up in the hospital or Emergency room this year, including myself, many of those trips resulting in surgery.  Galblader surgeries, broken arms, blood clots, infections, knee surgeries…we had quite the banquet of aliments and surprises.  And of course, all the economic problems as well.  I left my full time job in July to begin freelancing full time.  And then my husband’s company laid of this department.  Thankfully, we had beefed up savings in case of a rainy day such as this, but as the job market got worse and worse, it has gotten harder and harder to pay the bills.  To help make ends meet, I picked up two part time jobs.

I was very busy leading up to Christmas, working 7 days a week between my two jobs, and trying to finish up the illustrations for two different children’s books.  I didn’t get tome completed as I wanted, but was able to escape for the holidays to Colorado Springs. Which was complete HEAVEN.

Now January is almost here, and I’ve been struggling to get back into the swing of things.  I have completely exguasted my creative energy, and had no time or way to replenish it.  I guess you could say my inner 4 year old finally threw herself on the floor and refused to do any more work. Period. Nope. Not gunna do it.

So, we read some books. And some more books. And soaked in the tub with our books until our toes got wrinkly beyond recogintion. She was willing to work with me enough to finish up one of the book projects.  (Preview of that coming up later.)

So we say a (not so) fond farewell to 2008, and look to a better 2009!

…finally. Started her back in August, but she is finally finished, clothing and all.  Her costume was inspired by many paintings by William-Adolphe Bouguereau.  I think I will be relying on his work for inspiration for the next doll as well.