Adapt :: red peppers

red peppers, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

More from my work on the ON magazine illustrations.... Today when I got the Illustration Friday prompt  of Adapt - I thought of these New Mexico style hanging chili peppers!

They grow singularly, but are displayed together and must adapt to that closeness. HA!

What a twist. Either way, it was a fun project to do and reminded me of my time spent in New Mexico. I love it there. It is completely the opposite of New Hampshire with the lovely wide horizons and beautiful colors in the earth and sky. Taos was my favorite. I bought a huge chili wreath to bring back to NH and made it my "carry on" luggage. It was pretty funny but oh so worth it in the end when I had the most delicious peppers to cook from for a year.
Go see some other Adaptations over at Illustration Friday!

Poise :: IF and Greta the ink sketch

greta an original ink sketch, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

This week's IF prompt was Poise. Greta here is most poised in her petite toe pointing way. I am still feeling rather under the weather (hence the umbrella!) and so am going to rest my way through today. No need for a relapse!
Hoping to get some behind the scenes shots of the lovely work pouring into artstream for the Jen 11 show for you! have a wonderful weekend and think spring! Melt damn snow, melt!

Melanie Ford Wilson - on Megan Bogonovich

A huge thanks this Monday morning to darling Melanie Ford Wilson, illustrator, writer and general great gal. She posted on the Illustration Friday Blog about Megan Bogonovich's work, artstream and even me. What a lovely post. Thanks!

Pale :: Illustration Friday

Due to the frigid temps here this morning in NH (why again is it that we live here? please, remind me!?) pale is the color of everything and everyone around today. -15F is seriously cold! Pale is the IF prompt too, so I am playing along with this little ink drawing called Timmy. I often see dog owners out in this weather and just shiver! The cold cold cold has made my colors fade to black and white ... which describes the mood of the characters - pale, cold and stark, I think.
Happy weekend all - and stay warm!

Contained :: Illustration Friday

Oh it's been ages since I played along at Illustration Friday - so here goes with a new ink drawing. The word prompt is "contained" -- Phillipe contained all the available wine ...
Huge thanks to Penguin and Fish who posted about my ink drawings and some of my paintings right over here at her blog. Check her out -- her little plush kitties are so sweet! Happy Friday all - see you on the other side of the weekend.

Pretend

"A place to pretend" watercolor/ink by Susan Schwake
A pretend garden, for Illustration Friday's prompt "pretend". Go over to IF and see more lovely artwork pretending ... have a wonderful weekend!

Wise

For illustration friday this week, the prompt was wise. I thought it would be wise to praise where praise was due. So I made this little mini poster today. The wisest choices in my life are being involved with two of the most beautiful, understanding loving people. You both know who you are.

Tonight's the night! Drop in at artstream, for the Lasting Impressions bash - it's sure to be full and fun here at artstream! And for the rest of you out there, take a peek online and have a wonderful weekend!

Sailing back home

two in a boat, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

Back home again, to a sunny day in NH, (I heard there were very few whilst we were gone!) a wet garden and lots of friends and family to greet us. Our trip was picture perfect with loads of relaxing and family/friends to catch up with. I even met my buddy Kristina who flew from Rome to visit us in Muenster. Angie and Beatte came to visit too, so happiness abounded in visits from blogging buddies. Visiting our local Muenster friends was special too with loads of cake, grills and lots of prosting going on. The family love was strong too. Did I mention I was rested? And the cake! Oh my.

On to the photo above... I am posting this photo of the illustration I did for my inlaw's 50th wedding anniversary for two reasons. First you asked to see it and secondly as a response to Illustration Friday's prompt: Sail.

These two are in one boat - one sails by the stars, one by the storms.
It's sort of like life. A good life and one greatly worth celebrating. More photos and finds once I sort out the bits. Until then, you can peer at my flickr as the photos pop up. Still downloading mass quantities! (edit::edit::edit thyself)

High up

high up acrylic painting
Here is my latest painting in the "atmospheric series" ... entitled "high up"
... it is perfect for this week's IF prompt in my mind. It is a failed rain cloud. Nothing but blue skies.
Here's hoping that is what you have in your neck of the woods.

Warm Theory

warm, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

In theory, this painting would have been easier to achieve in a smaller scale. It measures 3 x 4 feet and I did this back in 2005 in oil and oil bar.
It was fun to paint.
Guess what I saw that inspired me- in Vienna prior to painting this?
Guess in the comments below and the winning answers will be put into a hat at the end of this week (February 22nd) and I will draw a winner. The winner gets one of my new larger scale bird paintings, painted just for them.
Have fun!

Tales

bluebird visit 12x18 watercolor on arches #140
A painting from last summer...the tale has already been told. Over at IF there are more stories to hear. Or in my earlier post today which includes a podcast interview with Megan Bogonovich.
Happy weekend friends. Stay warm!

Plain

the mysterious cell 6x6 inches mixed media on cradled board
It has snowed so much here in the past month, everything (as beautiful as it is in snow), looks plain. Which fits the IF prompt today. With the addition of rain today, came this artwork. A bit more later this afternoon too... Remember, there is still time to get your art work in for Lovely Hearts! Click the heart in the sidebar for more info.

the peony house

the peony house, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

A part of my new painting series based on my "story of small" book I made earlier this year. it's 12x12 inches and is acrylic on canvas. it also fits the illustration friday theme, I believe with the "excessive leaves"... It's up at our shop.

Trick or Treat

monster kitty monotype with ink on top! 6x6 inches
I like neither! bah hum bug! doom on halloween! OK there, I said it... I love autumn, I love October, pumpkin carving, pumpkin soup, pumpkin seeds, pie, muffins, cake! I even love pumpkin scented soap! but I do not like halloween in any form, spooky, horror, macabre, costumes, - hello -, holiday lights? who thought that was agood idea ... (ok, you can persuade me just a little... with a bit of chocolate!) I happily hand out over 400 pieces of candy each year and love to see the children, but otherwise it is a road show of a holiday for me. But I digress...here is my Illustration Friday offering for trick or treat.
I envision one of the 100s of witches which land on my door step each year to turn me into a black cat so I can sit in the window and watch the show go by.
Have to run, the doorbell is about to begin ringing....

Open

"open" mixed media on arches watercolor paper

Open all night, ready and waiting just for you ... come on in! I imagine this to be an all night "yurt" in the middle of a storm, waiting for a weary traveler to come in, have a warm drink by the fire and a cozy bed with lots of down comforters.

My mixed media piece for illustration friday's prompt - Open. Go see many other illustrations of "open" over at Illustration Friday. Wanna vote for your favorite open piece? Visit the forums and pick your favorite five.

Here's how:

Log into the IF Forums (http://illustrationfriday.com/forum) or create a new account if you don't have one already (http://illustrationfriday.com/forum/register.php), then go to the Link Viewer (http://illustrationfriday.com/linkviewer.html) and scroll through the entries to find your favorites.

dance ii

dance ii, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

Their momentum is building... for a really big twirl!
you can tell it's not easy because she's so tall... but they are in love, so it doesn't matter.
for Illustration Friday today - momentum!
Go over there and say Happy Birthday to Penelope - it's her big day!

I is for Ink ...

and P is for Pie... a couple of new works which are part of a bigger project. More on that later!
For illustration friday

Illustration Friday -Visitor

Haven't played along in awhile, so here we go. A little watercolor I did on vacation - there were so so so many birds around our little apartment that it was inspirational for me.
College preparations this weekend so this is all for now! Have a wonderful sunny weekend.

The word for the day is ... release. ... as catch and release, release your feelings and fly from the nest.

Missing

"from the window I" 6x6" mixed media on baltic birch
It's friday again... how did THAT happen? I thought that this little bird mixed media piece would fit the "bill" ... ( sorry, my jokes are terrible!) for Illustration Friday.
This little bird is missing his friends up on the clothes line. They'll be back.
Wishing everyone a lovely summer weekend!

Blue Moon

blue moon - acrylic - 12 by 20 inches -- unfinished.

For illustration friday's prompt - moon - a small painting which I have. "Once in a blue moon" has always been an idiom which appealed to me. A fun, image provoking twist on words. Of course Wallace and Grommit come to mind as well... Don't know if I will finish this piece, but it was fun to revisit it and think about it again.
July is almost over and I have been busy preparing for two upcoming shows, one in August and one in September, which my work will be part of. The first is an invitational group show with small drawings, 6x6 inches or less, here at the Salmon Falls Village Gallery in Rollinsford, NH:

I will most likely be attending so will share some photos with you after that time. Have a great weekend!