Ballooons!

I love this picture of Wilder and I at the Nasher Sculpture Center here in Dallas this weekend. Click on the Title to follow a link to the exhibit page. The room is filled with 9,000 balloons that go up to a height of eight feet. They tell you not to go in if you are claustrophobic or have a latex allergy. It was definitely fun but can get kind of confining and disorienting towards the middle. Think ball pit amplified.

Word Wall

I am really bad at blogging. I am visual not verbal and since I am already posting on Facebook and Flickr it seems really redundant to post here unless I have something to say. I have not posted anything since February even though I have been producing so I thought I would talk about this last mural that I did.

It was done for little boy who isn't quite two and just moved into his big boy room. His mother wanted me to create a wall with words that would inspire him to be a good person. She has decided to not have a "theme" for his room like airplanes or sports but wants to make his room all about learning and I think that so far it is very fresh and modern.

I created the layout in illustrator and then projected it on the wall using an opaque projector. It sounds a little like cheating, except my projector is very finicky and painting in the dark will give you a crazy headache. Once the layout was on the wall, I turned the lights back on and went back over all of the words to make them look a little prettier. I wouldn't say that words are my most favorite thing to paint, but I think that they turned out really well.

Happy Birthday Sarah

About five or so years ago I started this tradition with my friend Sarah where I would make her something for her birthday. This year I asked her what she wanted and she said she really liked the dandelion mural that I did in a clients bathroom but would like it in more brown tones. I asked her what her favorite flower was and she said she liked lilies and birds of paradise. I used to really like birds of paradise but now, not so much. So I went with the lilies. To make the pattern on the background I went to Lowe's (where I'm sure they think I'm crazy) and got this big piece of perforated aluminum and spray painted through it. I love the effect it gives. I plan on doing another one very similar to this one but with tulips for my friend Rachel for her birthday in March. But just because it might be your birthday don't expect me to paint you something. =)

Height Charts

My sister had wanted to do something different this year for Christmas, so she hired me to make custom height charts for her best friend's kids and for her neice and nephews (on her husbands side). Of course I waited to the last possible minute to do them even though she asked me in June. I had to photograph them in sections and then photoshop them together, since they are so long. So if any one wants one for next year, let me know now. I will need to know the child's name, favorite color and a theme.

Ten Year Plan

On the eve of my thirtieth birthday, I've decided to make myself a plan for the next decade. Everyone knows that I want to be a children's book illustrator, but after going to California, I know that I have a lot further to go. Recently, I've realized that I need a better day job, so I've started studying for the GRE. That's the first step. I have to re-learn algebra. If that goes well, I want to apply to UNT. They have a Master's program in Art Education. The program also certifies you to teach art. If I get a job as an art teacher I will have the same schedule as Wilder, which is also a plus. Of course I can still work on my portfolio and do murals during this time and hopefully find an agent. I know that plans are dumb and nothing goes the way you think they are going to, but it makes me feel better to have a plan.

Shared Art

I was browsing a photographers website, who I must say does beautiful work when I came across one newborn portrait that looked oddly familiar. And strangely it wasn't because of the baby in the picture. It was the mural in the background. I have only seen pictures of Kailynn Bree but I was very intimate with her nursery way before she came into this world. So I was very excited to see her beautiful portrait taken in front on my mural. The photographer was nice enough to allow me to post the photos on my site as well. Please go to her site and look at her other work http://www.apmdesignphotography.com/ and you can follow her on Facebook as well.

It's a Small World

So I just finished the playroom for one of the doctors that I work with. She just built a new house, so we have a couple of projects in the works. The map was originally supposed to have the kids on it, but once I painted it, she loved it sooo much she didn't want to cover it up and we moved them down to the bottom of the wall. I actually like them down there better. I am really happy with it. It's very colorful and fun and a nice idea for a play room. I can't wait to start on the next project.

On a side note, I am going to begin implementing some of the advice that I received at the conference shortly and start up a fan page on face book and also a flicker account, so look for those in the days to come. Also, I am going to start participating in Illustration Fridays because they are supposed to be a good way to get noticed. Thank you for your support, and if anyone knows of someone having a baby or moving into a new house or someone that might need something pretty please pass along my name.