15 Illustrations: Costume Parade at the Library Center

I am working with Inktense pencils, Micron ink pens, and Canson Illustration 11×14″ 150lb art pad to create 15 illustrations (that is how many pieces of paper are in the art pad) of my current family life and inspirations.

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This work is narrative in content and uses color in a monochromatic way accentuating one part of each drawing. These fun and quirky illustrations are a reflection of the current joy and activities I have been experiencing.

“Costume Parade at the Library Center,” was a fun Halloween costume parade at the Library Center in Springfield. All of the librarians dressed up and set up trick-or-treating stations throughout the library. They had the kids line up and go through the library collecting fun toys and stickers from each of the librarians. This was a super fun event, and because my kid had no intention of staying in the line, we caught the end of the line and wandered through at our own toddler pace. I used Inktense Pencil Saddle Brown to accentuate the library’s architecture and add to the structure of the space in the drawing.

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My favorite things about this drawing are all of the fun costumes and patterns,

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the cool arches and architecture of the library,

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and the plant and “hold” bookshelf.
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Inspiration for this drawing

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KUAR the Holly Jolly Trolley with the Damsels in Distress

We were asked to come up with a fun Christmas sounding song with many variations for the KUAR Arts & Letters “The Holly Jolly Trolley: A Ride Through Arkansas History,” so we came up with “Snow Angels.”

We used vocals, electric guitar, bass guitar, percussion (ride symbol, drum pad wrapped in foil, jingle bells), glockenspeil, banjo, piano, and harmonica to create a catchy and fun Christmas tune called “Snow Angels” in which two people go out into the morning winter snowfall and make snow angels before they have to go to work.

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Snow Angels
Snow angels, snow angels lying in the sun.
Snow angels, snow angels winter’s just begun (or so much fun).
You and I, we made them this morning at play.
Ten o’clock we had to go to work, we had the bills to pay.

“The Holly Jolly Trolley: A Ride Through Arkansas History” to air Friday, December 23, 2016 at 7:00 pm CST on KUAR 89.1 in Arkansas. You can listen to the show online at ualrpublicradio.org/programs/arts-letters and you can listen to the “Songs for KUAR Arts and Letters 2016” on the Damsels in Distress bandcamp page at thedamselsindistress.bandcamp.com

Happy Christmas from the Damsels in Distress!

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Paintings for Livada: Orthodox

When I was on the missions trip with Grace Church serving the Livada Orphan Care ministry in Romania, the beauty of the country inspired me. I had the idea that when I got home to Arkansas I could paint these Romanian scenes and donate the paintings to Livada to raise money for orphan sponsorship.

We spent one afternoon in the heart of Targu Mures, Romania – our “tourist” day if you will. I really liked this small orthodox cathedral and decided to paint it.

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Image to Paint

12. Orthodox

Charcoal Sketch on Canvas

12. Orthodox Sketch

Painting Sketch (1st Coat)

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Painting Sketch (2nd Coat)

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Final Painting

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Paintings for Livada: Romanian Corn Field

When I was on the missions trip with Grace Church serving the Livada Orphan Care ministry in Romania, the beauty of the country inspired me. I had the idea that when I got home to Arkansas I could paint these Romanian scenes and donate the paintings to Livada to raise money for orphan sponsorship.

This scene is one of many beautiful landscapes I was able to enjoy on our drive to serve for the day (in the kids camp, the gypsy village, and baby hospital). The hilly landscape in Târgu-Mureș and villa type architecture paired with the warm sun and cool breezes made my experience in Romania seem dreamlike at times. I experienced the beauty of God many times while in Romania.

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Image to Paint

6. Romanian Corn Field

Charcoal Sketch on Canvas

6. Romanian Corn Field Sketch

Painting Sketch (1st Coat)

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Painting Sketch (2nd Coat)

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Final Painting

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Paintings for Livada: Sighisoara Church View

When I was on the missions trip with Grace Church serving the Livada Orphan Care ministry in Romania, the beauty of the country inspired me. I had the idea that when I got home to Arkansas I could paint these Romanian scenes and donate the paintings to Livada to raise money for orphan sponsorship.

Sighisoara was our one day excursion at the end of the trip – the touristy sight seeing adventure. After the group tour – the house in which Vlad Tepes, aka dracula, was born (now hosting a restaurant and a small museum of medieval weapons) – we had an hour or so to look around the city.

When we first got to the city
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We went up the tower.

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The view from the top was great!

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Image to Paint

7. Sighisoara Church View

Charcoal Sketch on Canvas

7. Sighisoara Church View Sketch

 

Painting Sketch (1st Coat)

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Painting Sketch (2nd Coat)

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Final Painting

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