Illustration Friday - Focus

Fishing for Love
Acrylic Painting on 5" x 7" Canvas

Painting of a young woman fishing while her thoughts
are focused on the catch that really matters -
that of the dreamy young man she met last week
and whom she hopes will give her a call.

Illustration Friday - Wrapped

The Girls
Acrylic on Canvas

Like a soft blanket wrapped around my shoulders on a cold winters night,
my sisters tender embrace brings me warmth and comfort.

What can be more uplifting than memories, laughter and tears shared amongst real sisters or friends who are close enough to be considered sisters.

This image is from a painting I made for one of my sisters on her 40th birthday ~
Prints from this painting are available in my shop
~ MagicMarkingsArt.com

Illustration Friday - Impatience

A Great Red -
Where impatience cannot be tolerated.
Sip slowly
and let the elegance
and simple texture of the grapes
remind you of sunshine and cool breezes.

Simple Pleasure - A glass of Red
Acrylic on canvas
available here: www.magicmarkingsart.com

Cheers to the last few weeks of summer -
Where the days move slowly
and we savor each moment.

Illustration Friday - Idle

The Reader
8"x10" hand painted collage on canvas

What a perfect word for summertime....

~ Idle ~

A break from homework, or from
rushing the kids out the door to make the morning school bus,
or from the non-stop scheduling that surrounds afternoon sports practice.

What I wouldn't give for a luscious breather like this
in the middle of January!

Illustration Friday - Shaky

Beach Babes
Hand Painted Collage
on 5x7" canvas board

Shaky
The little boy felt shaky walking towards the ocean shore.
The sand tickled his bare feet ~
The seagulls screamed for crumbs ~
But the warmth of his sisters hands in his
gave him courage and security.

Beach Babes is one of my new summertime collage pieces
and is available in my etsy shop: www.magicmarkingsart.com

Illustration Friday - Worn

Three Old Row Boats
Acrylic 26" x 33"

Worn out or Worn In ~
Depending on your personal point of view ~
I look at these boats and envision
many stories ~ told, or untold ~
of summer days past.

Illustration Friday - Craving - A cup of coffee and a letter from a loved one.

Illustration Friday's Theme - Craving
A cup of coffee and a letter to a loved one.
Glaze on Pottery
Two things I crave - my morning cup of coffee, and a loving word from my son when he's away at school. I painted this piece this past year ~ while our first born was enjoying his first year at the University of Va. I miss having him around the house ~ and will treasure every day of summer with the whole family back together again ~ our son, our daughter, and our sweet pup Rory.
Plate is available here

Illustration Friday - Surfers ADAPT to water and wave conditions.

Illustration Friday - Adapt
Acrylic on Canvas
A surfer learns to adapt to changes in wave conditions and water temperature.
When our children were younger my husband bought a soft surf board, which is wonderful for beginners, so he could teach our son and daughter how to surf. We live on the East Coast where wave conditions are usually ideal for the novice surfer ~ therefore, not too intimidating ~ as you can see from this painting I did of my daughter. This same yellow board has made its way around the neighborhood as our neighbors children have learned how to surf. I can imagine there are numerous households around here that have pictures very similar to my painting.
Anyway, as the end of the school year gets closer, it won't take us long to adapt to the lazy days of summer, and all the glorious memories which this season brings.

Enjoy adapting!

Illustration Friday

The word for this weeks Illustration Friday is...
Cracked.

Welcome Visitors
The door is cracked, come inside
Leave your cares behind.

In our humble beach bungalow, even though the school year is not yet finished and the official date is still weeks away, SUMMER has arrived!
So,
kick off your shoes,
grab a beach towel and boogie board,
a glass of sweet tea,
or a cup of homemade ice-cream
and celebrate
the delicious
care-free
days of
SUMMER.

Cheers to sleeping in, bike rides on the boardwalk, freshly made ice-cream, and sun-kissed skin.

Illustration Friday....Thanksgiving Day Parade Painting....

Thanksgiving Day Parade ~ Featuring Snoopy.
Acrylic Painting on canvas
Every year my husband, two children, and I plan a trip to somewhere special for our Thanksgiving Holiday. It is a tradition which we started when our daughter was in kindergarten and our son in third grade. Two years ago when our son was a senior in high school, he got to choose our vacation destination. His choice ~ New York City. This trip ranks as one of our all time favorite Thanksgiving Holiday Vacations.
I created this painting after our memorable visit.
Who could resist Snoopy?

Friday Illustration....Talisman

Cosmopolitan
Illustration Friday
Theme: Talisman


1) Magical object: an object believed to give magical powers to somebody who carries or wears it. 2) Something with magical power: something believed to have magical properties.


Hmm...Let's think about it.



In the company of delightful people, sharing great conversation while sipping a drink that's not only beautiful to look at, but delicious and refreshing.


While I would hope one would not end up wearing their cosmopolitan, I do believe that while holding and sipping this drink one could feel the magical properties it offers.



Talisman......Cosmopolitan.....Yeah, I believe it fits.

Illustration Friday ~ Poise

Afternoon Practice
This is my first entry into Illustration Friday - a weekly art exhibit for artists and illustrators. The theme for this week is "Poise". I thought this painting would be appropriate.