It's Tuesday -- Time for Another Update...

The U.S. celebrated Labor Day yesterday. I enjoyed the holiday and tried to labor as little as possible = )

Over the holiday weekend, I set up my new computer. Yes, I am one of "those" graphic designers who uses a PC and not a MAC. I purchased a Dell Studio XPS 16 laptop with a high-def. screen, extra memory and a beefier processing system. It is powerful, fast, and is managing my software programs (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign; Corel Painter II, etc.) quite well. I enjoyed setting it up and my first painting session leads to...

What's on my Easel...

The Tribute to Francis painting is coming along. I now have all of the primary color in and will now start to refine and work towards completion. Deb Festa, you will have your painting before the month is over!


From the Jewelry Box...
My new toy (computer) took all of my free time, so there is nothing new in the jewelry box for today. My husband's niece, Kim, is getting married Saturday, so I'm certain I'll be creating something new to wear to her wedding!

Cover to Cover...
The book is progressing nicely. I met with the author yesterday and we are in the process of deciding on a printer, (there are a few more questions that need clarification before we can make the final decision). We have decided a few things, though: the page size will be 8-1/2" x 11", the format will be landscape (wide), and the illustrations will be drawn and painted on the computer on watercolor textured paper.

The next step is to contact the printers and obtain their layout specifications. Once I have that information we can finalize the overall content of each page and I can start laying out the book and roughing out the illustrations -- yea!

Quote for the day...
"What we learn to do, we learn by doing." ~ Aristotle

All Systems Go...

Thank you for your patience while I worked out my computer problem. My computer is back and fully functional -- thanks to the help of the computer wiz at my day job – Thank you, Kane!

Probably the most significant thing that has happened in the past several weeks, artistically speaking, is that I was asked to be part of the Gallery at Marina Square in Morro Bay, California. The Gallery represents approximately 25 artists from the local area. The artists themselves work one or two days a month at the gallery, so when you visit, you are talking with an artist.

My gallery orientation/work-day was Saturday, February 7th. I was paired up with Gregory, a wonderful abstract painter with the patience of Job. Thanks Gregory for the painless training day!

Since it is February, I created some Valentine’s Day cards and some Girly Girl shoe and purse themed art. Each Girly Girl shoe and purse combo is an original watercolor, framed in a cute little purse frame.

I have a number of the Girly Girl originals and Valentine’s Day cards at the Gallery at Marina Square, at the Beads of Sharon Bead Shop in San Luis Obispo, and available direct. Simply contact me at djPortraitArtist@aol.com for more details.

Remember, treasure today for the gift that it is!