spring sketchbook snaps

Last week consisted of a lot of spring cleaning, but it also yielded tons of much needed creativity. Because of this, my sketchbooks saw a lot of love. I’ve been trying to just doodle and sketch more, as I tend to over work a lot of drawings due to my obsession with detail and texture. Simplifying my illustrations has been fun. Although of course, I can’t stay away from meticulously drawing animals, and so a few more excessive renderings have started to emerge. Some new pieces in my ongoing collaborative sketchbooks with Anika Starmer, Patterns & Paws, have started to come together. Stoked to finally have a bit of time to devote to these beauties so I can mail them back to Maryland soon. What have you been drawing in your sketchbook?

hand-printed owls

A couple people added my old wolf etsy treasury to their favorites list this morning, and it made me realize that it’s been a while since I’d curated a little list of cute handmade critters. I have been daydreaming of the printmaking I will do this year, and thus got looking at hand-pulled prints of animals… one thing led to another and before I knew it, I had 10 owl prints open in different tabs. Naturally a treasury was born; to our feathered friend, the owl, and the printmakers who illustrate them.

Home for Christmas

Yesterday John and I hit the snowy roads towards Windermere to start a wonderful holiday vacation. It has been 3 years since we have been able to be home for Christmas, so returning to the Columbia valley for almost a week is a welcome treat. We passed under the IBE gates late afternoon, had a great family dinner at home and spent the evening with my best friend Nick.

This morning has been spent watching various birds and mule deer play in our front yard. I am feeling so happy and relaxed; exactly the mood I’ve been chasing after for weeks… Feels so good to be home for the holidays.