IF - Voyage

Illustration Friday time again!  And it's not Thursday night, minutes before I go to bed!  Go, me!
There's a thousand things the word "Voyage" brings to mind, but these two little Russian space dogs from the 1950s - Belka and Strelka - have been on my mind lately.  So here they are :)

IF - Revenge

Hello!  I've been falling behind, but I managed to get an Illustration Friday done this week.  The word was "Revenge" and this is what sprang to my mind.  It could have something to do with the extra cake that's been lying around my house, since Griffin turned FIVE this week!   I'm hoping to get some pictures ready to share here soon.  I've been swamped with doing photos for other people, and I always feel like I should do those first!   I'm sure there's a saying out there about a photographer's kids...
Anyway, I'll do a birthday post soon (ish.)  FIVE!

IF - Red

Two for Illustration Friday this week, both with red cedars.  I admit it - I missed the West Coast this week!

We survived last night's storm just fine.  That was the first time I've ever felt the house move in the wind that much.  It was quite something!
I'm in the paper this week, because I actually wrote a letter, got a bunch of people to sign it, and presented it at a town hall meeting.
Jai had a one-day work week because he was working all weekend, and then we had stormageddon.
Griffin stayed in his pajamas all day.  Holly was a baby monkey who kept finding and eating invisible bananas.  Now you are up to date.

If - Spark (Number 2)

Hello!  So, I did get another reprise at Illustration Friday this week.  This started off as a little doodle while I was waiting for lunch to cook, and after lunch the kids and I dug out my good pastels and played around.  They did some nice colour fields, and I squeezed this in.

We're in the middle of Spring Break here, so all our usual programs are cancelled.  There's a small danger of us going stir crazy - we're in the middle of a freezing rain warning, and no one wants to go outside.  The danger comes mostly from me - the kids would be happy to watch Peppa Pig videos over and over and over. So far, we've managed to keep the fighting to a minimum - two more days to go!  When is Spring coming???????

Here's the sketch:

IF - Spark

Hello! Here's another Illustration Friday doodle.  I used Griffin's pencil crayons and my Neocolor Pastels.  I may try and re-do and refine this picture (charcoal and watercolour?), but I'm trying to at least make one thing a week, without worrying too much.  With the kids around, I don't always have time to set myself up the way I'd like, and I'm trying not to let that stop me from doing something, at least.

In other news, things are going well here.  We're SO ready for spring.  Not summer, just spring.  Positive temperatures.  The kids have March Break this week - even preschool is cancelled, so we're all here, all the time, this week.  Today we made Maple Bran Muffins with Maple Glaze (yum!) and a big roast dinner.  I'm not sure yet what tomorrow will bring.  Probably something yummy! Have a good one!

IF - Voice

Hello!  It's Illustration Friday time again!  One week I am going to try and fit in some more time to do this, but for now I'm just glad to get something done, if I can.  My course is going really well, but it's a LOT of work, and I don't have any photos of the kids to share right now - I've been too busy editing photoshoots.  Anyway, this is just a fun one.  These are a couple of the characters I've been playing with for a story I am working on.  I'm just loving having an excuse to actually sit and write stories.  SO much fun!

IF - Space

Fitting another Illustration Friday in!
Not much to report on the home front at the moment.  Everyone was sick, and is now on the mend.  I am LOVING my course, and looking forward to the day when I have a little more time.  Jai has been running every night, and can now get to the highschool and back without stopping.   Holly is starting to ask "why" a lot (isn't she too young for this phase?) and Griffin is (according to his teacher) the only kid at Kindergarten Kids (his pre-school group) that didn't get yelled at today.   They are growing fast!

IF - Prehistoric

Hello.  This is just a silly one, that I thought Griffin might like, but it's nice to get another Illustration Friday done!  It's been a while!

IF-Travel

Hello!  I had this one done on time, but not posted on time!  Drats! Here it is anyway.  Travel:

Busy bees around here this week!  You can see some wedding work on the photography blog, if you wish.

IF - Protest

Hello!  Illustration Friday time!  I missed a few weeks there, but Griffin and I had a painting session this week, so I fit this one in.  There are so many interesting aspects of the word "protest" that I would have liked to explore, but anyway, my brain just wasn't up to the challenge on short notice.  And so you get this:

A little obvious, and a little fun.  Have a good week!

IF - Children

Illustration Friday time again!  It must be way past my bedtime on Thursday night!  Oh well, here it is: Children.  This is one loosely based on Griffin and Holly, paying a visit to our friend's property - blowing dandelions and dangling from tire swings.

IF - Sweet

Illustration Friday: Sweet.  This one is pretty self-explanatory.

IF-Tension

Illustration Friday!

IF - Liquid

Hello!  Time for Illustration Friday again!  This week the word is "Liquid" and brought to mind the fable of The Thirsty Crow.   (Which can summarize as: a thirsty crow finds a pitcher with some water in it, but can't reach the water.  He then drops pebble after pebble into the pitcher, until the water is high enough to drink.)  I believe the moral is supposed to be something about hard work, but I always just think, "what a clever crow."

IF - Future

Hello!  Another Illustration Friday is here!  "Future."

Griffin and I went out on the deck to colour, so I managed to get this done (to this point, anyway.)  A scene that I am hoping to see around here in our very near future!

IF - Tribute

Squeezing in (I hope!) my Illustration Friday picture for Tribute.  This is the teacup I always used at my Grandma's house.  Every day for afternoon tea.  I love it, as it reminds me of her.

Griffin added the saucer, which I think is just the perfect touch.
P.S. Oops - just missed it!  They're really on the ball this week!  Oh well, in my head this is still gonna count!

IF - Farewell

Hello!  I'm a little behind this week - we spent the weekend in Halifax, and I just haven't quite caught up yet.  Of course, I am behind most weeks, so I suppose I don't really need the excuse.  ANYWAY, we're all doing fine - I will update the blog again soon, but for now, here is my latest Illustration Friday picture.  More of a doodle this week - I keep drawing cats.  Hugging cats - why not?

IF - Train

Illustration Friday time again.  The word this week is "Train."  Griffin really loves this one.

IF - Wild

Hello!  Here's another Illustration Friday, completed!  Late Thursday night.  Very late.  (Past my bedtime.)  Yup, it's a bee beard.  A mighty one.

EDIT:  Huh, looking at it this morning, I feel like I might have gone a little overboard last night.  Here's the original, pretty much straight off the scanner:

Sometimes late nights are not my friends.

IF - Urban

Hello!  New Illustration Friday day.  The word this week is "Urban." This week I just played around digitally for a while, and came up with this little digital doodle.  Something a little different.  Sometimes I daydream about all the things I will do when I have a little more time.  Then I wonder if that day will ever come.  Then I stop feeling sorry for myself and go play with my kids.