Nautical

I have had things that live in the sea and float on the ocean on my mind lately. 

Seaweed Sketches

Seaweed Sketches

I have begun researching and sketching out compositions for my next BIG piece in my Beasts series: a Humpback Whale. I plan to make it on two large square panels and include embroidered barnacles  and lush colors. 

All very timely, as I received my next mini-assigment in Make Art That Sells bootcamp with Lilla Rogers: nautical themes. I have been pinning images on Pinterest , cutting images out of catalogues like mini Boden, Vinyard Vines and others. Yesterday, I had a few hours to kill so I checked myself into a local library and perused the ocean section of the adult non fiction as well as the children's book section to see what other illustrators had done with the theme. I wish I could head into Boston to the Aquarium - one of my favorite places on Earth. I'm a bit afraid of the ocean itself and do not like being on a boat in open water since a boating accident a number of years ago. But, I am fascinated by all the creatures and life in the ocean. Of course, the boats harken back to my first series way back in 2006 of "Arks"...So, I am happy with my obsession as we welcome summer and all her loveliness! 

"Voyage" Gouache and ink on paper and edited in Photoshop 

"Voyage" Gouache and ink on paper and edited in Photoshop