Illustration Friday | Fast

Not fast enough...
Just ink for now -- will add color later :-)

Não rápido suficiente...
Apenas nanquim agora -- acrescentarei cor mais tarde :-)

Colors of fall | As cores do outono

For Watercolor Wednesday (inspired by the book "Leaves" by David Ezra Stein.) I always feel a bit sad once the last leaf falls...

Para Watercolor Wednesday (inspirado no livro "Folhas" de David Ezra Stein.) Sempre sinto-me um pouco triste quando cai a última folha...

Airmail!

Look what I got in the mail! A beautiful ATC from Caroline Soer, plus a bonus gift: a folded butterfly done with Japanese paper. Caroline and I traded ATCs and I couldn't be happier. This ATC is part of a series of Malaysian birds done with coloured crayon and collage. Just gorgeous...

Thank you, Caroline!

Illustration Friday | Germs

Do you remember the Peanuts strip where Lucy Van Pelt gets kissed by Snoopy and starts yelling: "Auugh! I've been kissed by a dog! I have dog germs!"?
Well, I for one love dog kisses!

Lembra da tira da Turma do Charlie Brown, quando a Lucy Van Pelt recebe um beijo do Snoopy and começa a gritar: "Aaah! Fui beijada por um cachorro! Estou com germes de cachorro!"?
Bem, eu adoro beijos de cachorro!

And the Kitty ATC goes to...

Thank you to all who participated in my first giveaway! I was on vacation this past week and it was wonderful to return home and find all your commentaries. I used an online random number generator (#1-10) to pick up the winner, and this ATC will go to Lil Kim!

Many thanks again! :-)

Obrigada a todos que participaram do meu primeiro sorteio! Estive de férias nesta última semana, e foi ótimo encontrar os seus comentários no meu retorno. Usei um gerador de números aleatórios (de 1 a 10) para selecionar o vencedor, e este ATC irá para Lil Kim!

Muito obrigada mais uma vez! :-)

Giveaway | Sorteio

My first giveaway! Here's an original ATC, from a quick sketch I did using pen and watercolor. In order to participate, just leave a comment and a way for me to reach you. Next Monday, October 5th, I'll draw the name of a winner. Good luck!

Meu primeiro sorteio! Aqui está um ATC (Artist Trading Card) feito a partir de um desenho que fiz com bico de pena e aquarela. Para participar, deixe um comentário e email para contato. Na próxima segunda-feira, 5 de outubro, eu farei o sorteio. Boa sorte!

Illustration Friday | Infinite

When I think of infinity, I imagine a vast, starry night sky. Who can resist looking up at the stars? I know I can't.

Quando penso no infinito, imagino um imenso céu estrelado. Quem é que consegue resistir olhar para as estrelas? Eu não consigo.

Saturday morning | Sábado de manhã

Finished ( I think...)

Terminado (Eu acho...)

Luta contra o abandono | Stop animal abandoment

Em Portugal, uma campanha importante contra o abandono dos animais. Clique aqui para aprender mais.

In Portugal, a campaign against animal abandonment. Click here to learn more.

Win a copy of Party Animals book!

Hurry to artist Kathy Weller's blog for a chance to win a copy of the book Party Animals, a collaboration of pet artists on a benefit project for A Place to Bark.

It's a great project for a very worthy cause. Stop by her blog and participate. I already did!

In Progress | Em andamento

A perfect early Saturday morning.

Um sábado de manhã cedinho perfeito.

Illustration Friday | Strong

Not an original, but I'm fond of this little guy... It was done for another IF's topic, Heavy, but I figured it could work for this week as well.

Não é uma ilustração original, mas eu gosto deste coelhinho... Foi feito para um outro tema, Pesado, mas achei que poderia se prestar para esta semana também.

Artist Trading Cards

Spotlight on Books and Illustrators

This time I'd like to share with you a series of terrific chapter books. Written and illustrated by the late Harry Horse, the books are: The last polar bears, The last gold diggers, The last cowboys and The last castaways.

The books' main characters, Grandfather and his independent canine companion Roo, tell their many adventures through letters addressed to his grandchild back home. The story lines are quirky and imaginative, sometimes silly, but always warm and loving. Roo quickly became one of my favorite dog characters!

And then there are the illustrations: done in pen and ink, they are simply wonderful: detailed, expressive and exquisite.

Published in the U.S. by Peachtree Publishers. Look for them at your local library or bookstores!

More doodles | Mais rabiscos

Little vegetable garden

Hortinha

Illustration Friday | Wrapped

Spotlight on Books and Illustrators

A bunny and a piglet, painting side by side, wish they were just like the other. In an attempt to look like their friend, they each try to change their colors, ears, noses and tails (in very creative and fun ways), until finally realizing they do indeed like themselves just the way they are.

Using fluid, spontaneous line work, Canadian artist Geneviève Côté creates a pair of loving, playful and adorable characters. With a touch of color against a mostly white background, she keeps the illustrations fresh and simple. According to the book, the artwork is rendered in mixed media – it seems like a combination of color pencil, watercolor and digital illustration. The end result is a delightful story about friendship and individuality that both children and adults can enjoy.

Published by Kids Can Press, it's now available at libraries and bookstores!

Award!

From Atelier Brigitte comes this moving award that celebrates art and friendship.

Thank you Brigitte and Bella, two very talented, generous and sensitive artists!

Illustration Friday | Modify

I realize this is a stretch for this week's theme, but I think it's time we modify our assumptions about pigs: they are in fact rather clean!

By the way, my attempt to post a doodle a day for a week went down in flames after 4 days. It's a great exercise, but it's hard to keep up the momentum ;-)

Está na hora de mudarmos nossa impressão sobre porcos: na verdade eles são muito limpinhos!

A propósito, minha tentativa de fazer um rabisco por dia por uma semana acabou depois de 4 dias. É um excelente exercício, mas é difícil manter o ritmo ;-)

Doodle 4 | Rabisco 4

One and a half -- a quick one tonight. Busy day!

Um e meio -- um desenho bem rápido hoje a noite. Dia cheio!

Doodle 3 | Rabisco 3

One more, again in pen and ink (Brause 66 and FW Acrylic Paint Sepia)

Mais um, novamente bico de pena e tinta (Brause 66 e tinta acrílica FW cor Sépia)

Doodle 2 | Rabisco 2

So far, so good :-)

Por enquanto, tudo bem :-)

Doodle | Rabisco

A little experiment this week: can I do one doodle a day and post it this week? I'm going to give it a try. Sounds manageable, so let's see if I can keep it up.

Um pequeno teste: consigo fazer um desenho de rabisco por dia esta semana e postar? Vou tentar. Parece-me possível, vamos ver se mantenho o ritmo.

Another giveaway!

Have you been to Elisa Ann Lindstrom blog lately? You should! Her paintings and cards are delightful and full of charm.

She is having a giveaway and everyone is invited to participate. I've been the lucky winner of her cards before, and it's such a treat to get them in the mail. :-)

Illustration Friday | Idle

i.dle: not spent or filled with activity
We all could use some idle time, don't you think?

o.ci.o.so: que não tem ocupação, que não faz nada
Faz bem passar um tempo sem fazer nada, não acham?

Koo & Poppet Giveaway

Meet Bear, a delightful handmade misfit creature created by Koo & Poppet and a terrific giveaway. He's quite charming, isn't he?

Be sure to visit her blog to participate and maybe bring him home! :-)

Illustration Friday | Tango

Bunnies, again. This time with romance (and music) in the air :-)

Coelhinhos, de novo. Desta vez com romance (e música) no ar :-)

Illustration Friday | Hollow

Helloooo!

Ooooiiiii!

Little painting | Pinturinha

Father's Day | Dia dos Pais

This week's prompt for Watercolor Wednesday is "Father's Day." So I decided to bring this little fellow back for the celebration.

Esta semana o tema para o blog Watercolor Wednesday é "Dia dos Pais." Decidi então trazer de volta este amiguinho para a comemoração.

Spotlight on Books and Illustrators

From France comes a delightful series of books written by Jean-Philippe Arrou-Vigno and illustrated by Olivier Tallec. The first two books have been published in the U.S. by Chronicle Books with more to come. Yipeee!

It's Rita's birthday, but she's not happy. None of her presents seem right (too big, too small, too medium) until one of them starts to jiggle and bounce off the floor. Out comes a charming little dog, with as much personality as our little heroine. They are bound to become great friends!

The illustrations are deceptively simple, but absolutely adorable and engaging. Pencil lines and just a bit of orange against a white background, and they're off!

Learn more about them in this nifty video and look for the books at your local library and bookstore!

Illustration Friday | Unfold

And where exactly ARE the folds, you might ask? Look closely at the long scarf! :-)
I did the sketch for this little illustration a while back, as an idea for a Christmas card. I came across it the other day and finally finished it for this week's theme. The colors didn't translate very well, though -- sometimes I have a really hard time with my scanner. It's hit or miss!

Last weekend I attended the Illustrator's Day 2009 Conference, sponsored by the SCBWI-PA. It was a great experience, and I got to meet Carli Moua in person! I met a lot of really good illustrators with different styles and techniques, and got some good feedback on my work. I'm planning on attending more of these events this year, they are a great way to learn and network.

Mid-America Bully Breed Rescue

The Mid-America Bully Breed Rescue is having a Boarding Donation Drive.

Stacey Hsu, the gifted artist from Three Red Trees is participating by donating 100% of all June profits from her Etsy store to help with this fundraising effort. This is a wonderful opportunity to get some beautiful and original artwork from Stacey and help with a very worthy cause.

You can also donate directly by clicking on the widget at the top right. Every amount helps and goes 100% to the dogs!

Thanks, everyone!

Zime's Giveaway and Etsy store!

The multitalented Zime has opened an Etsy store, Mininas, filled with the most adorable art miniatures.  And to celebrate the grand opening, she's having a lovely giveaway.  Visit her blog to learn the details and participate! 

A multi-talentosa Zime abriu sua loja na Etsy, Mininas, cheia de objetos arte em miniatura muito charmosos.  E para celebrar, ela está tendo um grande sorteio.  Visite o seu blog para aprender mais e participar!

No time! | Sem tempo!

I haven't been posting lately -- I've been busy at work and I've been preparing for Illustrator's Day 2009, sponsored by the SCBWI-PA in Philadelphia. I registered late for this event, then took my (wonderful!) two weeks vacation in Brazil in May, and now I'm trying to get the assignments done. This illo is one of them, for the nursery rhyme "Good night, sleep tight."

Not sure if this happens to you, but whenever I work on an illustration for a long time, I start having issues with it. It's a bit annoying! :-)

Ultimamente não tenho tido tempo de postar -- tenho estado ocupada no trabalho e me preparando para Illustrator's Day 2009, uma workshop patrocinada pela SCBWI-PA na Filadélfia. Eu me matriculei tarde para este evento, aí tirei duas semanas (maravilhosas!) de férias no Brasil em maio, e agora estou tentando terminar os deveres. Esta ilustração é um deles, para a rima "Good night, sleep tight.'

Não sei se isso acontece com vocês, mas sempre que trabalho numa ilustração por um tempo longo eu começo a ter problemas com ela. Isso é um pouco irritante! :-)

Spotlight on Books and Illustrators

Author and illustrator David Ezra Stein is the creator of one of my favorite books dealing with seasons:  Leaves, about a young bear experiencing his first fall, is the perfect combination of words and images, both simple and endearing.  

His new book, Pouch!, comes out in September and on his website David has added a cool "Making of Pouch!" page that describes the road from idea to final book.  It's definitely worth a visit!

Check out his books at your local library!

Ilustration Friday | Contagious

We've all been there once... and it's not fun!

Todos nós já estivemos contagiosos em algum momento... e não é nada divertido!

Dog Doodles | Rabiscos de Cães

Back from vacation -- and doing some quick pencil sketches of dogs.

De volta das férias -- e fazendo uns rápidos rabiscos de cães a lápis.

Guess where I am? | Adivinha aonde estou?

That's right, I'm in Rio de Janeiro, visiting my family! I'll be back with more illustrations soon.

Isso mesmo, estou no Rio de Janeiro, visitando minha família! Voltarei em breve com mais ilustrações!