Illustration Friday - "Communication" #2

© kathleen rietz
Everybody loves a good belly laugh!
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"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.

Symphony in the Pond

© kathleen rietz
I love being an artist! I don't know if it was the spicy Ethiopian food I ate for lunch or the intense colors of Autumn leaves against the blue sky on my afternoon walk, but something definitely inspired me to paint on Sunday! I am pleased with how this painting turned out. It is a study of color, light, texture and composition. I used gouache on cold press illustration board. This painting is dedicated to my mom, who always encouraged my creativity.

"Sketch of the Day"

I drew this composition last night. It took me about 4 hours. The characters are fictional, as most of the characters in my artwork are....but I wanted to show the loving relationship between mother and daughter. I used pencil on cold press illustration board. This was meant to be just a sketch diary drawing, but I think it is strong enough to send out as a new sample.

Sometimes the best pieces of art are done out of pure inspiration, and the sole desire to communicate through pictures what cannot be said with words.© kathleen rietz

Harcourt - Educational Chart

This is one in a series of 3 educational illustrations I painted for Harcourt publishing.

Springtime

© kathleen rietz
Women and flowers are both such beautiful and magical creations...

Abbey Press - Christmas card illustration for 2007

I have fun with all of the projects I do. I just completed this one last week. Here I have posted the color rough and the finished art. Abbey Press always lets me have a lot of freedom with design and detail, and we have a great working relationship spanning several years. I think my enjoyment shows in my work.

Harcourt - "My New Pet"

Here we have excerpts from a kindergarten book I illustrated for Harcourt, about a boy and his grandfather who adopt a dog. I have included roughs as well as finished artwork to show the progression of my work from start to finish. I used a combination of watercolor and colored pencil on cold press illustration board.