quirky illustrations – Paper Opera

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.

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.

“Watching the Larpers at Phelps Grove Park,” was something we did a hand full of times last fall. Larpers are live action role-players “where the participants physically act out their characters’ actions. The players pursue goals within a fictional setting represented by the real world while interacting with each other in character.” (via Wikipedia) When the weather is nice out the Larpers and their families meet up at Phelps Grove Park on Sunday afternoons and play for a couple of hours. We always think it would be fun to let Ein off leash and yell “Warg attack!” – but of course we do not do this. I used Inktense pencil poppy red for the picnic blanket and one of the Larpers’ teams. I have really been wanting to use red, but it’s such a vivid color that it was hard to find a place for it until this drawing.

My favorite things about this drawing are the Larpers,

the nature (trees and grass) patterns,

our family (dad, mom, baby, and dog),

and the picnic blanket pattern and polka dotted pants.

Inspiration for this drawing

“Key of G” is a musical family portrait in the playroom. G was the first note our baby played on her Casio keyboard. I liked this drawing so much that I made it into E’s first birthday party invitations and thank you notes. It’s super fun with all of the patterns, shapes, and there is that party pink color again. I used Inktense Carmine Pink and Fuchsia blended. I never thought I would be a little girl pink promoter, but goodness there are so many cool things in pink!

Some of my favorite details of this drawing are the thread in a jar, the piano, the piano bench cushion pattern, M’s fun socks (completely made up), the rug pattern inspired by The Land of Nod,

the play kitchen with the triangles on the wall (which the pink triangle decals are from the Land of Nod and placed by Gallery Gal), our fun family musical portrait,

me playing accordion, E playing the maracas, Ein playing the jingle bells,

the fun pendant (that I designed and embroidered), table cloth triangle pattern, and flowers in the kitchen, M playing the concertina (Grandpa and Grandma Sugar gave us the concertina – thanks!),