The Sign on My Studio Door

Another way-too-busy-with-work week, which no freelancer dare regret, but maybe I do just a little, because I would have had a great time with this week's IF. I am fascinated by signs of all sorts & had a million ideas.

But, with apologies, instead of posting my own work this time, I'm posting an old magazine ad that I've had hanging on my studio door for years. It cracks me up, & I thought fellow illustrators might get a kick out of it too... Click for a detailed view.

edit-Yikes, I just realized I actually broke a rule by posting this on IF! I've e-mailed Penelope to apologize, & I hope you'll all forgive me-- I guess this week has fried my brain!

Fruit

I very much doubt I'll have time this week to do an illo for Citrus, so I thought I'd post something old & fruity! It was done in acrylic & water-soluble oil on paper. 8x8"

By the way, if any of you are in NC, I have pieces in 2 shows right now. 2 curiollages in "Anything Goes" at the Visual Art Exchange Gallery in Raleigh, & 2 watercolor illustrations & a curiollage in "Open Book" at the Hemphill Library Gallery in Greensboro.

Ghost Town

We once had some wonderful next-door neighbors who kept bees in their beautiful garden. It was fascinating to see the bee-keeping & honey-harvesting process at such close range. Alas, when they finished their degrees (in plant pathology & entomology) they moved away... I really miss them. (Hello out there, Elizabeth & Jennifer!)

Now there is a mysterious bee-keeping crisis-- honey-bees are disappearing at a frightening rate. Normally bees come back to the hive to die, but these are just vanishing, & no-one is quite sure why.

So this image is for the missing & for those left behind...

I was in a rush this time so did it all digitally. The text source is a children's book of 1886 called Natural History for Little Folks. Click for a larger image & a better look at the lonely bee...

Memory Bank

This one goes out to all the students studying for finals-- may you never forget what you've crammed in there! The formulas & diagrams come from a great Scientific American handbook from 1908; the painting is acrylic. I might do another tweak or two but I'm running out of time for IF, so here it is. 6x6"