April Showers

Just in time for the end of April. I finally redid my April showers. Now if only San Diego could get some rain.

April Showers

Im in Love with G-mail

Ok, If you read my last post you might have some idea of how depressed I might be. But my spirits are high with my new found love....G-mail. I was going through some old G-mails to my lovely Donald and remembered that I had sent him art to look at. One piece is below! It's Emma's birthday party invitation!!! When I am working on art I will save a pdf and send it to him at work to look at and give feedback. I am so thrilled that I have done this, I opened it up in Illustrator and the art is still intact. Now I am on a hunt through all my G-mail to see what other surprises might be hidden that my hard drive lost. I know that regular e-mail would have never allowed me to send such large files let alone save them forever. I love G-mail!!

Emma's First Birthday Party Invitation

Backup!

Save! Save! Save! and Backup! Backup! Backup!
I just lost all my art I did for 5 months. I got lazy about backing up and just didn't bother to BACKUP my files. It doesn't take long to do, so what ever you are doing right now, stop and think "Can I afford to loose all the files on my computer?" If the answer is "No!" then read no further and back up. I had sent my hard drive back to Wisconsin to a reputable company that specializes in hard drive recovery and after they worked on it for 2 weeks in a clean room, replaced parts and did everything known to man, they still couldn't retrieve the lost files. I lost all the art work I did for my daughters first birthday, my Christmas cards, my Halloween cards, my Easter cards, the logo I did for Dress Angles, and so much more, not to mention pictures from the last five months of my daughter life, which is her first Thanksgiving, her first Christmas, and her first Birthday. We are all so devastated in our home right now. The good news is that we still have the images on her blog of all those occasions, and other relatives were kind enough to take some photos and give us digital copies so it isn't a complete loss, just one I never want to repeat. So in summary

Save! Save! Save! & Backup! Backup! Backup!

Concept For Cover Art

Waiting Approval

Finished the baptism invitation! Just waiting approval

Baptism

I have been working on a new piece for a baby girl's baptism. Just about done now. They wanted to do a French theme, so I did a toile style drawing for the art. I used the cross on my rosary I got from the Notre Dame Cathedral when I was in Pairs a few years ago as a template for the cross in my drawing. The pose came from one of many pictures I took of my little Emma sleeping. I usually don't do many religious pieces, but thought this came out very sweet.

Missing Ladybugs

OK, time to use your imagination. I said I was going to stay away from digital until my hard drive came back so this is a sketch with out the vital digital imagery. I did this sketch knowing that there would be flowers and ladybugs all done in Illustrator then transfered to Photoshop and composed with this sketch in color. So when you look at the little girl imagine a few flowers and ladybugs and you'll have a good idea how this picture will turn out.

Ladybug Girl

New Art

I have been working on some new art. This first one actually made it to the digital stage before my hard drive died (good news the hard drive reached its destination in Wisconsin). But since my hard drive is off to get fixed I don't have the finished art. I can however show the sketch

April Showers

I am hoping that there will be a complete recovery of the hard drive so that I am not having to redo hundreds of hours of art. This piece (once the final sketch was finished by hand) took about 6 hours in Photoshop to finish, and that is only one of many that are waiting to be recovered. I am planing to finish setting up my online store and if all goes well have this and a few other items up for sale before the end of the month.

Logos

Just got an e-mail from a friend of mine that I did two logos for while I was living in London. Was thrilled to see my work up on his website as well as on his product that he has invented. He works professionally as a photojournalist and does amazing work, the product he invited is the outcome of years working in the field. Check out my logos and a really cool product and company at

www.d-pro.tv

Dress Angels

One of my good friends has started a non-profit company called Dress Angels. I was so excited when she asked me to do the logo. Her organization makes dresses for little girls who have never had their own brand new dress. The dress is made for the little girl and than given to her secretly from the Dress Angels. My little Emma has tons of dress and I just couldn't imagine a little girl with out her own new dress. I think it is a wonderful cause and am glad to be a part of it.