ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ "SNAP" - SHOT

An old SNAP shot, faded a bit, but still evoking memories of that wonderful summer at the lake.

©GingerNielson2007

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ "I SPY"

Here's lookin' at you kid!

And if you have come this far, and you love picture book artwork, you owe it to yourself to hop on over to the

Picture Bookies Showcase

and view the wonderful selection from this week's gallery.

Painter X ~ new features

One of the neat things about Painter is the fact that you can replicate any number of brushes and painting styles. With the newest upgrade the brushes mimic your strokes beautifully. But Painter X does other things too. Even if you aren't focusing on
computer generated images... the cloning and auto painting "smart brushes" are a whole lot of fun.
Here is a photo from the front yard (yep, we still have a lot of snow) and the cloned,smart brushed,having a good time playing version.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ TOTAL

Seems like

Winston the Wonderhound

is having some trouble locating the TOTAL number of children in the park. Did find them all?

©GingerNielson2007

the PICTURE BOOKIES SHOWCASE

Announcing ..... A new blog specifically for showcasing our art and the art of other Picture Book Illustrators ......

This SHOWCASE will feature artworks of the Picture Bookies and other illustrators in a weekly themed topic.
Other artists that are not a part of the Picture Bookies Group are invited to particpate as well. The site is by
invitation only for now as we get up and running.

If you have an interest in participating, please email one of the

picture bookies members

for details.
More detailed information is available on the new

Picture-Bookies Showcase

Each week a new theme will be presented.

FOR ANYONE HAVING TROUBLE POSTING PHOTOS

There has been an issue for some people with the posting of photos or artwork over the past few days. I had been tearing my hair out trying to figure out if it was me or blogger. The Blogger Status said they had RESOLVED the problem, not so.

But someone in the help group online suggested using FIREFOX or MOZILLA browsers as an alternative. FIREFOX works! and I think MOZILLA will as well.

If you don't have either you can download them ..just GOOGLE the name and you will be directed to the download area.

This may be a problem for Mac users with Safari. So if you are on Safari and cannot upload your images, try FIREFOX.

A New WEBSITE to check out....

NANCY LEFKO an established collage artist has just launched her new website.

MY COLLAGE ART

is a delightful collection of vintage and antique collage art that I am sure you will enjoy. Take some time to read all about Nancy and view her work. You will be able to visit her site often, as I have provided a permanent link here on the side bar.

Picture Bookies Challenge

The Artist/Writer's group I belong to the

PICTURE BOOKIES

issues a monthly challenge to the members. This month the challenge is GREEN suggested by Amy C. Moreno. When I posted my challenge, one or two of the Picture Bookie members mentioned that it looked like an alphabet book in the making. Hmmmmm the colors of the alphabet. So I made a list and am a bit stuck on some of the colors. Wouldn't that be a neat challenge... a collection of colors with each color beginning with each letter of the alphabet. Any ideas for "K"? Maybe I could use
"Kinda red"

©GingerNielson2007

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ WIRED

WIRED UP AND Ready to Go!

©GingerNielson2007

Winters past...

Maybe some of you know that after I was a first grade teacher and art teacher I was also a travel agent. It seemed that no matter what my profession was...the one that paid.... I was still deeply attached to illustration of some kind. I found this picture among some others, from my travel agent days. I had permission to create an entire wall mural of painted figures, (cotton)snow and old world villages each year for the wonderful couple I worked for in NJ. This is just a portion. The figures were created in a sketch book with pen and watercolor and the buildings were painted on butcher paper with acrylics. We saved the little people and animals from year to year and added to them each year.

©GingerNielson2003

Icy- Snowy- Cold- and- Frigid

Just saying the words makes it seem colder than it is. Today was the coldest March Day on record in NH EVER.....

The wind was wild, the air was icy. Up on top of Mt. Washington the Wind Chill Factor was below..yes .... BELOW -60. I think at one point today it reached a wind chill factor of -79. One of the climatoligists who mans the weather station up there boiled up a pot of water and took it outside the station and threw the water into the air..INSTANTLY it turned into a cloud of snow.
But don't try this at home, you would most likely burn yourself if your wind chill isn't at least -50 degrees.

Heres to sweeping away the winter and welcoming a blooming spring!

©GingerNielson2007

The message

Finally finished ... the worn and torn message is about to be snatched from the owl's talons.

©GingerNielson2007

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~ HIDE

Amazingly self -deceptive, Chandler thought he would be well hidden on the cluttered desk behind the old clock, candles, and decorative box. But, alas, he was "spotted."

©GingerNielson2007