Happy Valentine's Day | Feliz Dia dos Namorados

This month the volunteers at Morningstar Therapy Dogs in Colorado delivered Valentine's Day cards during their nursing home visits. Each card was "signed" by a therapy dog and given to one of their elderly friends.

Pam Spears designed this simple and elegant card using one of my dog sketches. She had contacted me to ask permission to use the drawing and I was happy to agree. A therapy dog does so much good and brings so much happiness to people of all ages. I truly admire the volunteers who dedicate their time and effort to bring these wonderful animals to those in need.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Este mes os voluntários do Morningstar Therapy Dogs no Colorado distribuiram cartões do Dia dos Namorados durante suas visitas a casas de idosos. Cada cartão foi "assinado" por um dos cães e entregue a cada senhor ou senhora idosos.

Pam Spears criou este cartão simples e elegante usando um dos meus desenhos de cães. Ela entrou em contato comigo para pedir permissão para usar o desenho e eu concordei alegremente. "Therapy Dogs" fazem tanto bem e trazem tantas alegrias para pessoas de todas as idades. Eu admiro muito os voluntários que dedicam seu tempo e esforço para levar estes animais maravilhosos à aqueles que tanto precisam.

Feliz Dia dos Namorados a todos!

Illustration Friday | Muddy

Introducing, in color: Abby and Ally

Apresentando, em cores: Abby e Ally

As you can see, Ally is a bit timid, but Abby loves adventure!

Como vocês podem ver, Ally é um pouco tímida, mas Abby adora de aventuras!

Character development | Criando um personagem

This month for Watercolor Wednesdays the challenge is to create a character (or two!) and place them in a sequence of events. I've been thinking about these two bunnies, Abby and Ally, and so here they are, in very rough sketch form.

Este mes para Watercolor Wednesday o desafio é criar um personagem (ou dois!) e imaginá-los numa sequência de eventos. Tenho pensando nestas duas coelhinhas, Abby e Ally, e aqui estão elas, num rascunho bem preliminar.

They'll be back soon!

Elas vão estar de volta em breve!

Illustration Friday | Focused

One more for the black and white illo portfolio.

Mais um para o portfolio de ilustrações em preto e branco.

Illustration Friday | Clumsy

That would be me on the left. For some reason, I've always been a bit clumsy with string -- which I'm sure explains in part my difficulties with sewing to this day!

:-)

Sou eu na esquerda. Por alguma razão sempre fui meia desajeitada com barbante -- o que com certeza explica a minha dificuldade com costura até hoje!

:-)

Breaking News | Notícias de última hora

We interrupt this broadcast to bring you the following breaking news: Mônica Carnesi is now represented by Teresa Kietlinski of Prospect Agency!

I'm SO happy to be working with Teresa! With 13 years experience in the publishing industry, Teresa has designed and art directed hundreds of children's books.

Now working as a literary agent, she represents some amazing authors and illustrators. I can't believe I'm in such great company!

You can check out my bio and portfolio on their website and learn more about Teresa as well.

What a great way to start 2010 :-)

Interrompemos este programa para anunciar uma notícia de última hora: Mônica Carnesi é agora representada por Teresa Kietlinski da Prospect Agency!

Estou tão feliz de estar trabalhando com a Teresa! Com 13 anos de experiência na indústria literária, Teresa trabalhou no design e direção artística de centenas de livros infantis.

Trabalhando agora como agente literária, ela representa autores e ilustradores incríveis. Nem posso acreditar que estou em tão boa companhia!

Podem ver minha biografia e portfolio no site deles e conhecer a Teresa também.

Que grande começo para 2010 :-)

We are back! | Estamos de volta!

We are back and we had a terrific time in Rio!

Estamos de volta e nos divertimos muito no Rio!

Happy New Year (belated, from Brazil!) | Feliz Ano Novo (atrasado, do Brasil!)

It's been a while since my last post, but as you can see I'm on vacation in sunny Brazil for a couple of weeks. This picture is from Búzios, a lovely village near Rio de Janeiro where we spent some days with my family.

Wishing you all a wonderful 2010, full of happiness, health and peace!

Faz tempo desde meu último post, mas como vocês podem ver estou de férias no meu Brasil ensolarado por duas semanas. Esta foto é de Búzios, uma linda cidadezinha perto do Rio aonde passei alguns dias com minha família.

Desejo a todos um 201o maravilhoso, cheio de felicidades, saúde e paz!

Merry Christmas | Feliz Natal

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Feliz Natal a todos!

Another pencil sketch | Outro desenho a lápis

One more sketch, this time with my friends Bunny and Fox. It gets hectic at work and at home around the Holidays, but I hope to finish this one before the end of the year :-)

Outro rascunho, desta vez dos meus amigos Coelho e Raposa. Fico toda atarefada no trabalho e em casa na época do Natal e Ano Novo, mas espero terminar esta ilustração antes do final do ano :-)

Pencil sketch | Desenho a lápis

We got a lot of snow here this weekend.

Nevou bastante aqui neste fim de semana.

Spotlight on Books and Illustrators

Now, when was the last time I talked about some of my favorite books? I've been remiss, I know!

So the spotlight today is on Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Jen Corace series of "Little ..." books, published by Chronicle Books. The stories all share a similar concept, a variation on a traditional family routine -- eating, bedtime, clean-up -- and are totally charming and funny. The illustrations by Jen Corace are just marvelous: ink and watercolor, simple and uncluttered on a white background, but with plenty of carefully planned details.

Originally published as picture books from 2005 to 2009, they are now available in board book format as a box set.

What's next for these two very talented people? I'm looking forward to Amy's "The Wonder Book" with illustrations by Paul Schmid (I can't wait to see his work as well!) I'm also eagerly awaiting Jen Corace's "Mathilda and the orange ballon," written by Randall De Sève. Both books are being published by HarperCollins.

Look for books by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Jen Corace at your local library and bookstores!

One more from the Art Exchange

©Lukaluka

Now, look at these cool cats! That's the illustration for January in a fantastic 2010 Calendar created by Luka, a very talented artist from Vilnius, Lithuania. You can see more illustrations from her Cat Calendar (and other nifty creations) here.

Thank you very much, Luka! :-)

Illustration Friday | Crunchy

Crunchy acorn, anyone?
A quick one this week
;-)

Illustration Friday | Entangled

Admit it, this has happened to you too!

Admita, isto também já aconteceu com você!

Illustration Friday | Music

Guess what's playing on Itty Bitty Bear's iPod? Why, tango, of course!

Adivinha o que está tocando no iPod do Ursinho? Ora, tango, é claro!

Look what I got in the mail...

I was invited by Caroline Soer to take part in an art exchange project, and it's been such a fun and rewarding experience! Not only have I received delightful works of art, but I'm getting to know a lot of very talented artists:

From Jill Bergman, this sweet and delicate painting:

From Danita Art, this handmade ATC (can you see that the dress is made of fabric and sewn by hand?)

From Cathy Peng, an original ATC of "Kelly Green." Look at those eyes!

From Shirley Ng-Benitez, three ATC prints of the cutest mouse, her very own Monsieur Olivet!

Another ATC, this time from Loni Edwards, with her simply adorable "Farm Friends":

From Elisa Ann Lindstrom, this beautiful print of an absolutely lovely painting, "Amber Field":

And from Lisa Holtzman, calligraphy artist extraordinaire, this one of a kind painting, entitled "Shooting Star":

Pretty impressive, huh?! Be sure to visit the websites and blogs of these talented and generous artists. I'm certain you'll love seeing more of their work!

Illustration Friday | Unbalanced

They've done it before, but as you can see this is an extremely difficult maneuver.

Eles já fizeram isso antes, mas como vocês podem ver esta é uma manobra extremamente difícil.

Itty Bitty Bear | Ursinho

Playing around with pen and brush...

Brincando com caneta e pincél...

Illustration Friday | Skinny

Some bunnies worry too much about how they look...
Not terribly happy about this one (I couldn't get the mirror right), but illos don't come out good every time, right? ;-)

Tem coelhinhos que se preocupam demais com sua aparência...
Não estou muito satisfeita com esta ilustração (o espelho não saiu direito), mas elas não saem boas todas as vezes, não é? ;-)