This past month I worked on illustration gifts for my sons. We just got back from a week's vacation with my them and my family in Michigan and Canada; it was so wonderful and was just what I needed. I will post fun photos later. Above are the illustrations which I created and had printed 16 x 20 and framed. They turned out great and the boys really liked them. I decided to create one background illustration and use it for both designs since both boys love music and enjoy playing the guitar, so it seemed appropriate. For the foreground illustration I worked from photos that I took of them a few years ago. My youngest son (bottom illustration above) has short hair now and my older son (top above) actually wears his hair a tad longer so this was a nice way to capture their younger years.

I've had to place a copyright on the illustration which I've found I have to do more and more. Recently I found out that in China, someone using an online store (very similar to Ebay) illegally downloaded and posted my illustration and used it to help sell some Aerapostle jeans they had for sale. Everything on the website of course was in Chinese which didn't help and I had to log in and register to communicate with them. Easy enough if you could read their language. Now how does one go after someone who breaks US law internationally? They never asked nor had my permission to post my artwork and have clearly broken the laws of US copyright infringement. I'm disgusted to say the least. but let's not dampen the day. So please try to understand when you see that I've added copyright to my illustrations.

For IF's "garden."

Spring is fast approaching and I can't wait to work in our gardens. Last weekend the temperature on Saturday was 65 degrees. I wanted to get my shovel and wellies out and start planting. Right now it is 11 degrees with a biting north wind. I think my planting days are still far off in the distance though one can dream and prepare. I think I'll pull out my seed pots and start there, maybe that will encourage spring to come sooner.

And another, older illustration that fits this theme well, "roots."

Today it rained and snowed simutaneously and was relatively warm (low 40's) and you needed and umbrella however by the time I left the office for home it had turned to freezing and I had to scrape the windows. I cranked up the heat and my feet have finally thawed. Not a good idea to stand in snow and ice while scraping your windows. I should have had boots on but who was to know?

Joining in the fun of the Self Portrait Party. Ok, so my chin is not that saggy but what do you expect from a half of a blind contour?