tea for two and rant for you...

this was a commissioned illustration for a christmas present... vickie has ordered several illustrations [including this one] from me... her daughter wanted to surprise her with another one... it is called "a tea party for vickie" where all her daughters and her granddaughter are present... this is the first illustration that i've done with more than two characters- something that should be worked on more, though... the background [as always] was such a struggle... ramel and i even toughed out the snow storm to go to target looking for more paper... call me dedicated, crazy, or unsatisfied, as i have enough paper to NOT have to buy another sheet...

remember this one?! these are the two same characters in the first illustration... emma and sage... it takes practice to make sure that all the characters remain consistent in a children's book [although none of these are for that purpose].... i see where improvement needs to be made... maybe i should practice more all together instead of cleaning non stop and playing video games... with snow, kids, and the xbox so close at hand, laziness has settled in... but you heard me complain of this before, right?!

still, may i just go off on a tangent for a second?! i've seriously wanted to work on art for some weeks now... i haven't gotten much of anything done, and as time flies past, the guilt grows and grows... christmas day we came home early and i was sooooo ready to bust out some amazing art... but the kid's room was a mess and all their new toys needed a perfect spot... instead of working on art, i cleaned their room, rearranged furniture, and put away too small of clothes... all the 12mos clothes [for isabella] were washed [thanks to ramel] and stored in my closet for when she gets bigger... i didn't have to clean that day.... but yet, i DID... who else would organize their toys by genre, species, and size?! who else would hang up their clothes? who else would get on their hands and knees to vaccum their carpet?! who else would map out the best way to fix their room even though she is not a home decorator?!

ramel even said he was tired from watching me clean up that day... and everywhere i looked, there was SOMETHING ELSE OUT OF PLACE... there was something else to pick up... of course, when diego and isabella get older they will be cleaning their room themselves [AND JUST AS GOOD AS ME- i was never allowed to have a messy room and goodness, i  can completely understand why!!!!!!] this is how most days are... and it seems like my job has gotten harder! it took me a bit to figure out why... with isabella crawling, she is the one messing up most of toys, pulling down my coasters and bringing toys to rooms without picking up... i CANNOT STAND TO HAVE TOYS LAYING AROUND IN THE LIVING ROOM.... OR ANY OTHER ROOM, FOR THAT MATTER... after all, didn't i spend precious time CREATING a spot FOR those toys?! understandably, she is 8mos old so she cannot put her toys away YET... so then its my obligation to pick it up... it's my obligation to clean... sigh...

so playing halo and killing a few people [and dying even more times than that] is relaxing... i don't have to clean up anything... the dead bodies in the screen magically disappear... the bullet casings are magically swept away... my halo girl doesn't need to shave her legs or pick up toys... she doesn't have to do dishes, or even eat!!!! all she has to do is beat down a few fellows and try not to fall off a cliff...

how did this post go from tea party illustrations to halo again?! all the illustrations [except for the last one, which is my character in halo] is of vickie and her family...

Comments

[Karen]

Your artwork is stunning and you completely summed up my day in your rant! Do all creative types clean and tidy before they can begin? I wonder?

[Tasha]

I love the family illustrations. How wonderful to have that artful snapshot of your lives.

I think mom's work is never done. I know I drove myself nuts this afternoon trying to finish a sock cuff while also trying to start dinner. Dinner won, and the sock will have to be done another day in a quiet room with nothing else going on.

Halo looks fun, but I love my Assassin's Creed and Oblivion for mindless destruction. And you can't beat jumping off a giant tower into a pile of hay. :)

[xenakiddle]

Oh my! I feel like a blushing celebrity!!!
All these pieces look so pretty all in a row like this!

[lucy]

I've been reading a bit about the creative process and perhaps since you haven't been feeling creative, in the back of your mind you have procrastinated out of fear of what you couldn't do.In essence, been feeling a bit of creative block and when that happens, just like writer's block suddenly even rearranging the attic and sorting everyone's socks in the house becomes more attractive then picking up a pen, scissors, or brush and laying down your vision. On the flip side, clutter is a distraction to the creative individual--just don't let it become an excuse--you're far too talented to stop "doing" what you do. It's hard though with being a Momma to two little ones-there's so many demands on you. Just make a deal with yourself, no matter what, every day you will do something creative to help yourself get back into the swing of things and before you know it--you will be back into a routine that's right for you.

I think for creative individuals quantity breeds quality. Not everything will be perfect, but more than not, even your lesser quality pieces will be perfect to another's eyes. Case in point are the pieces you see room for work in your post....are fabulous in my eyes!!!

xoxo

lucy

[Lis Garrett ~a writer's woolgatherings]

LOL!!! You crack me up, friend, but I am a little unnerved that I can completely understand where you are coming from. I cannot write unless the house is tidy. Physical organization = mental organization. You can imagine what my house looks like with THREE very mobile and active children. (insert scream!!)

Your creativity absolutely BLOWS me away!!!

[kristel Barican]

i'm working on my website about pregnancy i just want to ask permission to use your artwork and put them on my site??

Thanks

[Jamie]

Hi! I was linked over for your etsy tutorial and read this post... and I'm so inspired! I'm a gamer and a crafter too! My friends tease me because my relaxing activities of choice either involve a sewing machine/knitting needles/scissors or an xbox. Your papercraft is all very beautiful, and has me itching to create something cute! Go girl gamer/crafters!