Teasel, Devourer of Prairie

April 10, 2013

Mission: Create a poster to help eradicate teasel, the road-side-scourge and devourer of prairie.

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Target Audience: State, county and township road crews.

Challenge: Create a poster that will clearly inform and educate the target audience about what teasel is, how to identify the plant in all stages of growth, how it spreads,

what means of eradication to employ during each stage of the growth cycle, how to track the colonies of the invasive plant using GPS technology and monitor each season for re-sprouts.

Goal:

Stop the spread of the noxious, destructive weed.

 

Finished poster coming soon!

Just call, I can help!

Freelance Illustrations Helps Make Dreams Come True

March 29, 2013

 

A few short weeks ago I received a phone call  from Nadia Magli, Executive Director and Founder of The International Omega Foundation. She was leaving for Guatemala to show the children’s home a concept drawing.

Nadia also described what the project really was going to be, “…not a farm or a garden, but a long-term sustainable solution for children and their families. There will be 75% fresh organic produce, bio-swales with tiliapia ponds, a chicken coop and rabbit hut in the center with rain barrels. The 1/2 acre site will be surrounded by bio-fencing, acacia bushes with beautiful yellow flowers. There will be mango, avocado, banana, papaya trees, amaranth plants and corn. Each child will get their own plot to work and learn how to raise organic food they’ll feed their families. There will be bird houses, herb beds, veggies, flowers and child everywhere. Can you draw this for me?” Nadia asked.  I couldn’t wait.

Using  Nadia’s rich description, I made the following rough sketch. After a few volleys back and forth, Nadia labeled specific plants and added elements, I created the final color drawing which is what you see at the beginning of this post.

When I do a large complex drawing for a client I often make a number of smaller sketches to show the client the different elements of the final drawing.  I have a large collection of old illustrated books from the 1900s – 1950s, from the time when people really knew how to draw. I learn new things every time I open up one of those old books. I looked to one of my old books for drawings of children working in gardens.

 

I also needed to capture what the surrounding landscape looked like so I could place the garden-farm project in the proper setting. I was given a few photos of the area where the project will be located. I made this little watercolor as a sample, sent it to the client for approval and had my background.

I love what I do. Just call, I can draw it for you!

Miss River

February 22, 2013

I have the greatest clients. They bring me wonderful concepts and ideas to illustrate.

 

I’m working with the Bio Diversity Project to create a number of  visual elements for use in a new brochure. The brochure will serve as a recruiting tool to collect and educate advocates regarding issues associated with the Mississippi River.

Part of the concept is to show a smattering of the variety of life along the great Miss River.

Or what life used to look like as in the case of Tom & Huck.

These are the type of concept sketches I make to communicate to the client what the final art will look like. I call these my ‘sloppy copies’. Even so, there is a poetry and brevity that I love in these very quick sketches. This step is necessary when creating custom art for a client. There’s not much time spent on the initial concept sketches. It allows the client plenty of room to make affordable changes, adding elements, moving or in some way altering the image. If I’ve done my job well, interviewing and LISTENING to the client, my initial sketches can be spot on. Not every one is able to translate what they see in their head into words. Over the years I’ve developed very good techniques to draw ideas out of clients in a way they may have been unable to articulate.

Call me next time you need custom art. It’s an enjoyable process and much more affordable than you think.

 

847-487-1752

OR

drawings@mc.net

Real art, created just for you or your business,  made easy!

Call me! You’ll be glad you did.

Mapmaker, mapmaker, make me a map…

February 7, 2013

I’m a mapmaker! Need a map? Contact me.

I love the stories told by maps. Lowell Forest Nature Preserve is located on the west side of the Rock River in Dixon in north central Illinois. The site has terrific topography due to ancient glacial waters which carved out the bedrock. See next image for THAT part of the story…

Due to the dramatic topography, there are highly unusual plants living on the steep rock bluffs within the preserve.

Oh, I started out writing about maps and wandered into telling more of the story of Lowell Forest Nature Preserve. Maps are a window to the world, no matter how small.

Nothing exists in a vacuum We’re all connected. I’ve learned this over and over in my job as an illustrator,  maker of maps and maker of signs for nature preserves. You cannot remove one strand of a spiders web without affecting the entire web.

We humans would do well to remember that with each decision we make.

I am a mapmaker:

I’ll help chart your course, blaze your trail,

find your way,

map your dreams. Custom maps for YOUR custom needs!

Contact me, it’s easy…

Re-fresh & Re-new

February 6, 2013

 

The Job: Re-fresh & re-new logo of

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County

The Challenge: Honor original vision

Extra Challenge: Original logo was created by friend who I respect and admire. Must  acknowledge original logo and preserve friendship!

 

 

Outcome: Success on all fronts!

 

New a re-fresh and or a re-do this spring?

Call me, I can help!

Mapping the Past for the Present

September 26, 2012

Approximately 65% of people are visual learners. I’m a visual learner. When I turn a concept into an image, I know I’ll remember it. Our brains process visual information 60,000 times faster than text. You fill in the blank,  “A picture is worth________.”

My daughter was given several maps and a series of questions to answer about the historic civil war battle at Pickett’s Mill in Georgia. I knew nothing about the battle. I was able to help her determine the correct answers by looking at  and comparing the battle maps of Pickett’s Mill. The topography was extremely difficult, comprised of heavily wooded steep ravines. The Confederate troops used the landscape to their advantage, dug in and prepared for the oncoming assault. The unknowing Union troops pushed ahead with their planned attack. The formation of the Union soldiers completely fell apart due to the topography. The backup Union troops never arrived, the topographically disadvantaged Union soldiers were slaughtered.  1,500 men were killed that day.

I was glad to help my daughter determine the correct answers to the questions on her homework by simply looking carefully at the series of battle maps. We both learned several lessons that day.

Fast forward several weeks, I was contacted by Connie Huddleston of Interpreting Times Past. I’ve  worked on  a number of really fun interesting civil war era projects for her. She wanted me to re-do the map of Pickett’s Mill for the national historic site in Dallas, Georgia. LOVE the serendipity.

My map will replace the former site map.

I thought of the enormous causalities of the battle while I was painting the new map. I found it impossible to honor all the lives lost in the slaughter. I’ve since learned much more about the battle. History represents Union Major William Tecumseh Sherman as being unconcerned about the landscape he was ordering his troops to-despite having the services of a topographical engineer. Sherman has then been categorized as being cavalier about the tremendously heavy losses of his troops at the Battle of Pickett’s Mill.

All this to illustrate part of what I do at Freelance Illustrations. I’m a visual story teller. Let me help tell your story, teach your lesson, convey your concept, explain your theory!

Just call, I can draw it.

Art Time

September 21, 2012

Two shows…

One weekend…

Sept 21 & 22,  ‘Art of the Land’ Harvard. 6:30 – 9:30.

60 artists, hundreds of artworks with an environmental flavor. Thirty percent of all sales go to the Land Conservancy of McHenry County to help protect and purchase open space-they’re not makin’ any more of it-openland that is. I’ll be showing seven pen & ink drawings of birds and butterflies on native plants. I seldom put this series of pen & ink drawings up for sale. Special price for someone who would like to bring home all seven!

Saturday & Sunday 10 – 5, ‘Art in the Barn’ Barrington.  This was the first ‘real’ art show I attended, I was in high school. I have always wanted to be in this show one day. I’ll be in booth #22. Stop in and say ‘hi!’. I’ll be there with oil paintings of my neighborhood.

People visiting my booth at art shows are often surprised to learn that the images I paint are primarly from about 10 mile radius of my home in Wauconda. It’s really beautiful where I live. Many of our lives keep us so busy and consumed that we don’t slow down to see and inhale the beauty of the world that we are embraced by. Come see my paintings.  : )

 

Painting Zen

May 25, 2012

When I paint I am transported to another state, it’s a zen experience. Everything drops away and I exist in a perfect place, totally meditative, totally focused, centered, calm and at peace. I aim to weave those attributes into my paintings so others may experience  the joy in my work as well. Outside validation of my work is not necessary for me to continue painting. I know when I’ve done a good job, I know there is always plenty of room for growth and improvement.

Traveling to participate as an artist in the summer art shows has been a goal for years…it was a matter of timing. Summer 2012 is my second season as a traveling gypsy painter artist-LUV IT! I was thrilled to be the recipient of a purchase award at the 49th Annual East Lansing Art Festival in Michigan. My painting, ‘Fall’ is now part of the permanent art collection at the Student Book Store, SBS.

Outside validation felt wonderful!

Summer 2012 Art Show Schedule:

Oak Park, Il, Saturday May 26 What’s Bloomin’ Festival, booth#88

Hinsdale, Il, June 9-10, Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival, booth #15

Skokie, Il, July 14-15, Skokie Arts Guild 51st Annual Art Fair (My painting of a Great Blue Heron will be featured on the program cover (!) Ok, so I’m excited and honest about being excited!)


Huntley, Il, August 18-19, Huntley ArtFest

Milwaukee, Wi, Sept. 9th at Mt. St. Mary College. All art will be priced $100 or below. Get up early to get in the door early! I understand people line up EARLY for this show!!

 

 

Passion

March 3, 2012

What would our lives be without art? Take a moment to remember a beautiful song performed live, the smell of muffins baking in your mom’s kitchen when you were little, softness on your skin of a blanket knit by great aunt Mary Jane, how proud your child was to see their painting hang on your refrigerator. Each of those moments are filled with the joy of a shared passion. Our lives are richer and authentic when we share our joys, our passions and our sorrows.

Art is an expression of our joys and sorrows.

Be sure to allow time each day to listen to others joys and sorrows.

Find your joy, share your passion. You will be happier. Your little corner of the world will be a better place.

It’s A Sign…

February 1, 2012

I make signs for nature preserves…I don’t physically make signs using tools in my my workshop. I design, illustrate, layout and build production files to produce interpretive educational signs.

I love what I do. I describe my job as getting to visit some of the most beautiful places with the people who know the most about those places. Every piece of land that has been preserved has a story behind it. It’s my job to learn that story and figure out the best way to tell it back with pictures and two paragraphs or less.

An excellent, successful interpretive sign is SO much more than what appears on the surface. So many subtleties are built into an excellent interpretive sign,  MESSAGE delivery, writing, choice of visual elements, font choice, font size, layout, what to include and perhaps most important, what to leave out.
Unfortunately, in an effort to save money, many interpretive signs today are being handled ‘in-house’ by a well meaning and most likely talented designer. When a visitor glances at an interpretive sign there exists a three second (or less) opportunity to capture the further attention and interest. If the viewer glazes over and walks on by that educational opportunity is lost. Period. And honestly, can you afford to miss that opportunity? That family? That potential supporter of your preserve? No, you can’t.

Don’t trust the design, writing and layout of your interpretive signs to just anyone. Call me instead.

Just call, I can do it!