Giffy Pop Wednesday!!!!!!

So EVERY Wednesday I'm going to TRY...I say TRY to do a little gif. They're so fun. I just love them. Gif's are like little digital versions of old school mechanical toys. They're quite analog really when you compare them with all the other cool stuff going in the digital world. Maybe that's why I like them. I've been wanting to do this for like 10 years but have been afraid to commit to a weekly thing. Eeeeeeee.....Here it goes! Introducing Giffy Pop Wednesday! 

I call this one   S H A M E L E S S   P I N E A P P L E.

Enjoy! 

My chubby kid body gave me character :)

So hi...How are you? I hope swell. It's summer!!!! Yay! It's the perfect time for a party. How about a book party?! From May 5th to the end of June of 2014, there is a BOOK LAUNCH blog PARTY happening to celebrate Jenipher Lyn Gallardo's BOOK  release, "How Being Stubborn, Depressed, and Unpopular Saved My Life". She invited over 40 people to spread the word by sharing an encouraging doodle. The book is really sweet and has helped so many girls. Her doodles in the book are very charming and the message is very down to earth and funny BTW! Of course I said yes to this awesome party invite and down below is my doodle. 

Here's my story to go a long with the picture.....So when I started second grade I began to get chubby. Then I got even more chubby. My mom made really good pies what can I say?! The kids at school apparently didn't understand my love of food. I was called Ms. Piggy, Fatso, Chubs, you name it. It hurt. It hurt A LOT! Kids are so mean. Even though it hurt my feelings and left some serious scar tissue I wouldn't change it for a thing for two reasons. 1. It made me really dig deep into drawing. Being able to draw gave me a sense of worth when other things in my little life made me feel worthLESS. 2. Being called names taught me how to have empathy for others. I knew what it was like to be teased so I thought twice before doing it to others. I think this gave me some serious character and the ability to think about other peoples feelings. So thank you chubby second grade me. I love you and accept you just the way you are...because I wouldn't be me without you :)

Perspective

I was so honored when Design Ranch asked me to design the cover of KU Medical & Science Magazine because the cover story floored me. I balled after I was finished, like hard. The article is about a woman named Kathy Davis and the extremely sick or terminally ill children at KU. Kathy is their teacher, their mentor, their rock. Someone who helps their family get through the tough spots like surgery or donor issues etc. Someone who is a huge presence in helping their parents with the grieving process if the child passes away, an experience I can't even imagine. I am so thin skinned and don't know how the people in the medical field do it. I'm too sensitive...That's why I do what I do. So how does an artist capture something so inspiring yet sad yet also hopeful? It was tough. But to me, Kathy provides these folks with stability and comfort. But she doesn't ever forget these are children and at the core of every child there is an innate desire to have fun..to be light. To be a kid :) So I drew a tree because Kathy provides them with stability in a scary roller coaster world. She also provides fun, lightness and hope so I made clouds for it's leaves. I made the children happy and light because if they had it their way, that's how I think they'd want to feel. I hope I did this story justice because it's nothing short of amazing. And I just can't my hug my kids hard enough right now. Read the full story here :)

Blooms of Nigeria

I listen to NPR in my kitchen while puttering, cooking or feeding my little one and I have truly lost count of how many times a lump grew in my throat as a sad story would unfurl on my radio.  I usually change the channel because I feel helpless so why torture myself. What can I do? The latest sad story involves 300 nigerian girls being kidnapped. For what?! My imagination betrays me.....As a mom, my heart breaks for the parents of these girls. IT's ever parents nightmare. What's up with men who do these horrific things in the world? How do they sleep at night? Or look in the mirror when they get ready for the day? Their evil, gross day....If they were American girls would they have already been found? I dunno....Many questions cross my mind. Here is an article about the latest findings. 

As I drowned in my sad feelings and overwhelming thoughts of anger, Artist Rebecca Bradley decided to do something about it and now she's gotten a bunch of other artists to do something too...It might not change the situation but it's putting something positive into the world. An energy...And sometimes that has to be enough. Just think if EVERY SINGLE PERSON in the world did that.

Anyway, Rebecca created a blog called Blooms of Nigeria where a flower for every missing girl resides so that we may bring awareness to this situation.

Here is my flower for sweet Laraba. 

Marker Fumes = happy fun time with fluttery butterflies :)

I've been working mostly in black and white for over 5 months now because of a very special and exciting project which I will share with you in September. But as excited as I am about this now done project, the lack of color in my work in combination with the fact that it's been grey as heck outside is killing me. And when it snows it gets dirty.....blech. The magic of Christmas is long gone, new years resolutions have already failed....This time of year is hard for a lot of people. And why wouldn't it be?? We need spring! We need fresh air! WE need nature! WE need motivation. Color is a big motivator for me. It always has been. So I've been obsessed with markers....an easy and accessible color tool. My other obsession lately is obviously flowers, animals and plant. Below is the marker study and then the finished piece. Oops, what do you know, a little grey got in there :)-Sarah W.

Working with The Land of Nod

Hello friends! I have some really exciting news...A print from our Esty shop, Black Bear's Delight,
is on sale at landofnod.com. I was also asked to create an "spring time" illustration for their website background. I had a blast creating a bunch of silly little creatures on skateboards and roller skates.
The Land of Nod is my favorite place to buy baby/kid's product. They carry all kinds of goodies for
our little dood, Finley.

http://www.landofnod.com/new-wall-art/new/black-bears-delight/f13982

-Colin

Hello folks! Just wanted to share my MATS Bootcamp assignment :) If you haven't heard of it check out the link. It's a great way to make new work for your portfolio. For the mini we were instructed to go crazy and doodle cuckoo clocks til our hearts content. The mini is a warm up assignment that helps you prepare for the actual assignment. Hopefully if you sketch enough (and stretch) for the mini you have enough ideas for the actual assignment. For February it's ye old iPhone cover. 

I'm pretty happy with how mine came out but I could probably noodle with to for another week. That's why deadlines are goooooooood :)-Sarah W.