How Unusual!

Debbie Egizio at Seven Ten Lounge in Chicago.I was tagged by my friend Debbie Egizio to blog 7 things that are weird about myself, and then tag some other friends. I don't know if these things really make me weird, but they may be unusual to you, and they make me ME. I can think of other things, but here is my list of 7:
1.) I wear my socks and undies turned inside-out because I hate the feel of seams. (photo courtesy of joyofsocks.com)
2.) I love the smell of silk. Silk...the fabric, not the soy milk. Silk has a warm, earthy scent and nothing else smells like it on warm a summer day.
3.) I met Richard Simmons in 1983. Did you know he is going to be 60 next year?? (photo courtesy of richardsimmons.com)
4.) I cannot whistle. : (
5.) Typos annoy me. When I see typos on a menu or in a newspaper or official document, it drives me crazy. Mainly bad punctuation more than spelling errors, especially when people use a possessive when they should use a plural. (You KNOW who you are!)
6.) I rarely go to bed before 2 a.m. Most nights my bedtime is between 3 and 4:30 a.m. Even as a little girl, I had a hard time going to bed.
7.) I love sushi and sometimes I crave it for breakfast.
I now tag Gingerpixels, Jen Seals and Rrramone!

Illustration Friday - "Signs"

© Kathleen Rietz
I won't have time to do a full-detailed illustration for IF this week. I am going to the Surtex and Stationary shows in NYC Monday, new project due mid-week, waiting to hear back from a publisher about a book deal. But I had this idea in my head, so I figured I'd put it on paper.
One time, about 8 years ago, a girlfriend and I were driving out to Iowa, stopping for antiques on our way to a charming bed & breakfast for the summer holiday weekend. We stopped several times, and ended up running out of daylight in the middle of the country. With no city lights to illuminate the sky, it was black as ink. Suddenly, right in front of out borrowed SUV, appeared 3 dancing, shimmering triangles. They hovered and disappeared. My friend and I stared straight ahead, and she asked, "Did you see that?". "Yes", I said, and felt the hairs on my arms stand straight up. We never spoke of it again. I am sitting at my computer, and as I type this story to you, the hairs on my arms are once again standing straight up. I still remember it so clearly, and i find no way to explain what we saw.
Hope you like the illo.

Illustration Friday - "Citrus" & Happy Mother's Day

©KathleenRietz
I missed you all last week! Here is my contribution for Illustration Friday. I saw so many colorful, graphic images of citrus posted..I wanted to do something different. Hope you like..

Here is a little Mother's Day dedication I put together today in honor of my mom...a drawing I made of her when I was 6 1/2, and a photo of her holding me as a wiggling, giggling baby. She was a very loving mom and I will always love and miss her. Happy Mother's Day.

The babies have left home...

A while back, I posted a photo of a squirrel who had chosen to give birth in one of the birdhouses in my backyard. Sunday, one by one, the mother groomed each baby squirrel and they left the birdhouse house for the first and last time. And why not? Spring is in full bloom in Chicago now, and it's beautiful!

Illustration Friday - "Remember" Charles Schulz, 1922-2000

I am so busy with work right now, so I thought I would dig up something from the past since I probably won't have time to do new art for IF this week.. I actually did this illustration in an Illustration class at art school in 1989. We did not have computers to make art back then, so the lettering is hand drawn and painted on a vellum overlay.

Besides, it's good to remember the simpler times. I grew up on Snoopy and Peanuts cartoons, and I am pretty sure they inspired my art since I recall drawing a lot of Snoopies.. One of my cherished gifts from childhood was a Snoopy wrist watch, which I think I still own. It was the one with Snoopy holding a tennis racquet and the tennis ball travels around the face of the watch as the seconds tick by.

"American Dreams" Scrapbook Page

Here is a mock-up scrapbook page I created last night from my upcoming digital scrapbook kit "American Dreams". Each kit will include 8 virtual sheets of paper, ribbon or trim and an assortment of coordinating embellishments. I am thinking this is a great time to start thinking about starting a digital scrapbook of your own for yourself, kids, friends...or whomever. Time to plan your summer projects!
© Kathleen Rietz

Illustration Friday - "Polar"

©Kathleen Rietz

Coming Soon!!

This is a mock-up of a page I made from one of the digital scrapbook kits I have been designing. Watch for my kits to be sold on a website set to launch in a few weeks - Scraphead.com. The kits are totally digital, so all papers and elements can be used and reused. I have had tons of fun creating them. I hope my customers will have the same kind of fun creating their own pages and albums!

Also watch for my new digital scrapbooking blog coming soon.

Thanks to my brother Pat and his daughter Alice for the photos.
©Kathleen Rietz

Just for fun..."Turtle"

This is a drawing of a turtle I made when I was 3, back in 1971. Thanks to my mom, for saving this drawing.
© Kathleen Rietz

Illustration Friday - "Fortune"

I wish life was still so simple..
© Kathleen Rietz

Illustration Friday - "Green"

This is a linoleum block print I made, and then applied color digitally. I am happy with how the greens and purples work together. I have always liked printmaking, and occasionally I create prints to give to friends as gifts or box them as greeting card sets. This is one of my favorites.
© Kathleen Rietz

Illustration Friday - "SNAP!" #2

© kathleen rietz

Illustration Friday - "SNAP!"

© kathleen rietz
Don't worry...in any good story the protagonists always come out on top!

Chilled Bliss!

After living without refrigeration for nearly a week, my new fridge arrived at 7am sharp this morning. That was a little rough, since I generally go to bed around 4am, but..some things are worth getting out of bed for. Sort of like Christmas morning when you are a kid. I can now go to Valli and stock my shiny new Frigidaire. I have never felt so giddy about a visit to the grocery store! But as you can see from the inside picture, not much could be saved excpet grains, nuts, a few odd condiments and some sad looking veggies.

Coming Soon!

© kathleen rietz
My latest pursuit, aside from my children's book art, is designing and creating digital scrapbook kits. Watch for the launch of Scraphead.com coming later this spring. Here is a sneak peek at one of my designs. Watch for more to be posted here, and a link to my kits on the site when it has launched! This is a design from my Romantic Cottage Collection.

Illustration Friday - "I Spy"

© kathleen rietz
I spy Orion! Orion is my favorite constellation.
(Illustration dedicated to Ginger, who loves her Beagle)

Happy Spring!!!

© kathleen rietz
Today is the first official day of spring, but I saw my first robins in the yard yesterday. I am celebrating by posting this drawing I made of a robin when I was 4. The first robin sighting of the spring was a big deal in my house growing up. I hope you are enjoying the thaw...wherever you live.

Illustration Friday - "Total"

© kathleen rietz
This is actually a sketchbook drawing I did in the autumn of last year. I like to create new works for Illustration Friday, but I do not know if I will have time in my schedule tonite.

I have always liked this drawing. In it, I tried to convey the total love and connection between a daughter and her mother, and in return the love and connection the mother feels for her daughter. I guess it would also have been a good entry for the topic of "communication" a couple weeks back, since I think you can just feel the language between these 2 people in their unspoken words.

Sometimes the things we need to say to each other have no words at all.
© kathleen rietz
Here is another drawing from my childhood. I drew this picture when I was 5. It is a drawing of my mom picking up my baby sister out of her playpen. Note the love between them and how I accentuated thier smiles. That's what I'm talkin' 'bout! (click to view larger...it is worth a closer look.)

Illustration Friday - "Wired"

© kathleen rietz

New Neighbor

My brother, Pat, made this bird house for our mom several years ago, and it is now in my backyard. Over the years, birds have moved in, but none have stayed around for very long. Probably because of the dog. Last week, I saw this saw this squirrel chewing the hole in the front of the house. I let the dog out to chase it away twice because I thought it was destroying the birdhouse. When I looked again later on, the squirrel was actually in the house, and I grabbed my camera. Leon went out there the other day, and said there are babies in the house! The squirrel is in the house day and night, coming out maybe once a day for a short time only. This is driving my dog nuts.

Illustration Friday - "Hide"

© kathleen rietz
"NO MONSTERS TONITE!"

Illustration Friday - "Communication" #2

© kathleen rietz
Everybody loves a good belly laugh!
NOTE: THIS IMAGE IS NOW AVAILABLE AT MY ONLINE SHOP. CLICK THE "SHOP" BUTTON AT THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER OF MY BLOG.

"Morning Visitors" - Illustration Friday - (Communiation)

© kathleen rietz

Here is the final painting titled "Morning Vistors". My preliminary color sketch was posted on Tuesday.

I posted this painting late last night, but have decided to submit it for Illustration Friday. I am doodling all the time, and hope to submit another drawing specifically created for IF, if time permits.

NOTE: THIS IMAGE IS NOW AVAILABLE AT MY ONLINE SHOP. CLICK THE "SHOP" BUTTON AT UPPER RIGHT CORNER OF MY BLOG.

© kathleen rietz
Also, I found this drawing I made when I was 4. My very first pet was a snail named Sammy. Here Sammy is eating. I do not remember what we used to feed him, but I remember walking to the IGA to buy it. Weird. I could not fit the entire drawing on my scanner, but in the drawing Sammy is in his fishbowl, and a girl is sprinkling his food into his bowl. She has a big smile on her face. I assume the girl is me. I always loved my pets! : )

Preliminary Sketch - Lady Bug & Snail

© kathleen rietz

It's always interesting to see how other artists work, and I enjoy it when they post their progression of a work of art on their blogs. I learn a lot from it.

This is a new illustration I am working on. I did a pencil sketch first, transferred it onto illustration board and tightened up the drawing. Then I placed tracing paper over the drawing and worked up a color comp with Pantone markers on the tracing paper. I then went in and had some fun with pen and ink. I do not usually do that part, but I was actually liking the way the color comp was looking as an illustration, and wanted to experiment a little to see if I could make it look "finished". I sort of like the brightness of the Pantone colors and how they bleed into each other on tracing paper, and the character of line which flowed from my pen quill.

I hope I end up liking the final color illustration. If not, at least I have this one...which I am actually kind of liking!

Just for fun...

Here is another vase I made from a recycled iced tea bottle. This is one of my faves....I love these colors!


This is a pendant I made using the ancient technique of casting molten silver in a carved out cuttle fish bone. Cuttle bones are very soft and can be carved into and hollowed out easily using sinple tools. The cuttle bone can only be used once, so each piece is an original. I took a metalsmithing class last year and this was my favorite piece I made.

Thank God, it is 40 degrees here today! I will take the dog for a brisk walk and I have a massage scheduled this evening. The snow is melting and it looks like the cold spell finally broke.

I want to take my acrylic paints out and begin experimenting with them. I have not used acrylics in years. All in time, I suppose...I feel so driven to create art lately. I hope to have a new promo piece done this week or next.

Hope you are well. Here's to creating great art!

Mosaic Objects #2

For my series of crosses, I first made a 4" cross template out of cardboard, and then cut and sculpted the crosses out of Sculpy, which I then baked in my oven. Then I added the cut stained glass. The grout has little flecks of metallic gold in it, which you cannot see in this photo. I gave this cross to a friend for her birthday.


This is a detailed photo of a vase I made for my entryway.


I made a series of mosaic pendants. First I sculpted the pendants from Sculpy, baked them and then add the mosaic glass. Each one is different. These sell for $12 each.

I love to make mosaics, but I think it's been a year now since I have made anything. When I started creating mosaics, it was an obsession for me. It was a time in my life when someone I loved was away, and I needed a creative outlet that was not defined by anything or anyone...something which has been a struggle for me because I have spent so many years making commercial art. I enjoy making things for people and giving them away.

Illustration Friday - "gravity!"

© kathleen rietz
Mmmmm....a glass of red wine, a fountain pen, some Pantone markers and Illustration Friday...what a blissful combo!

I just could not help but picture these young pranksters and their water-filled balloons when I read the theme for Illustration Friday -- "gravity". A quick sketch is all I have time for. I am working on a new project this weekend.

Bumblebee Spring!

© kathleen rietz
Yes.....the forecast calls for 6 - 9 inches of snow with 30 to 40 mph winds tonite and tomorrow. I am trying so hard to keep my sanity. So....here is my latest design! Bumblebee Spring! CHEERS!

Illustration Friday - crash

© kathleen rietz
Poor Humpty!

Little Miss Sunshine (Illustration Friday-"crash" #2)

© kathleen rietz
I had forgotten about all the photos I had stored in my camera. Until tonite. I had taken several photos of Sunshine in various poses of sleep. This is the sketch I put together. Just a quick sketchbook sketch, but I needed to draw tonite.

Illustration Friday - sprout #2

© kathleen rietz
Thought this would be worth a look, too.

Illustration Friday - sprout

© kathleen rietz

"Hilda"

© kathleen rietz
This is my childhood family pet, Hilda the Daschund. I drew this portrait when I was 5 yrs old. Hilda had sparkley brown eyes and a red leather collar. My mom saw my creative potential, and loved all of her children dearly. She saved my artwork in a folder, which now belongs to me.

Speaking of pets.....it's been so cold here, I have not been able to walk Sunshine for 2 weeks. The sun comes out in the morning and disappears after lunch, and either way it is down right BUTT-FREEZING weather. The wind chill is MINUS 15 degrees Farenheit. I am glad to be working from my home studio.

I keep seeing these ads on television for travel to tropical destinations with white sand beaches and brightly striped cabanas, and quite frankly, it is KILLING ME! : (

Mosaic

I wish I had a better photo of this mirror I made. It is actually a very cheery piece I created for my kitchen. The light was not cooperating with me the day I photographed this.


I recycle glass jars and bottles and make gifts out of them. This was an iced tea bottle, which made a lovely vase. I gave this vase to a friend who moved away to Georgia.


I love the luminescense of the light through mosaic glass votive candle holders.

In The Morning Mist

© kathleen rietz

Here is an illustration I did last night. It is so cold and grey in Chicago in January. In the illustration, I wanted to convey the feeling of being able to move freely through the warming dew of the morning.

© kathleen rietz
Here is a drawing of a horse I did when I was 4 1/2 years old.

News for the New Year

Happy New Year to you!

Sunshine is the court jester at "Plaza del Kate". I adopted her from a dog rescue in October 2002. She has taught me many things about art and life:

1: When you find yourself in a creative rut, it is important to look at the world from a different perspective.
2: Never take yourself too seriously.
3: Hug fervently. It makes you smile and allows for creativity to flow more freely.

The New Year brings many new possibilities, most of which have kept me up at night in constant thought. Watch for a new sample piece to be posted soon.

- Kate

Christmas Greetings to You!

© kathleen rietz

Sajid's Gift

© kathleen rietz
I have had this story bouncing around in my mind about a sweet little boy in India named Sajid. I love the diversity and richness of culture, and how tangible our world has become through technology. In this book cover illustration, I sought to convey the flavor of the Indian culture through color, design and composition. My goal was to captivate the viewer to want to open the cover of the book and take in the entire story.