Greeting Card Samples

These arrived today. A group of cards that Legacy picked up. They will be in stores in spring. It's always nice to have samples arrive in the mail.

Illustration Friday-Topic is Sleep

This is an image that I did a couple of years ago. It 's in oils on board. It seemed a good fit for the sleep topic this week for Illustration Friday. I haven't been doing a lot of traditional painting these days and spend most of my day in the studio at the computer. Funny how different things are. I do still want to get a paintbrush in hand one of these days again.

Catching-Up with Two Can Art

It has been a while since there has been activity on the blog. It has been a whirlwind for the past year with the Two Can Art  Collection. I’ve created a checklist of things I want to do for the collection and am crossing them off as I go. There is a new signature logo for the brand, new photos with Noah, a new website.  www.twocanart.com and we are in the process of trademarking the name.

We have developed some wonderful licensing partners for product. Two Can Art images are now on napkins, porcelain tabletop, greeting cards, wall décor, tumblers, garden flags, needlepoint kits and pillows. There are some exciting projects in the works too.

New Tumblers are now on the Tervis Website

http://www.tervis.com/search-results?q=autism

Needlepoint kits are at: http://www.artneedlepoint.com/artists/two-can-art

I did a signing in the C&F Enterprises showroom and they had wonderful magnets with our pillow images on them as give aways. The best part was talking to all of the people and letting them know about the collection and Noah’s part.

I loved meeting everyone in the showrooms and seeing other artists with incredible talent.

We’ve had some wonderful press from Art World News, Giftware News and Gifts and Decorative Accessories magazines.

I think the best part of all of this is that the collection is resonating with buyers and their customers and that a good number of our licensing partners are giving back to the autism community by giving a % of sales to autism organizations.

It’s been just a little busy around here lately and all in a very good way. I am so happy. Noah’s beautiful textures continue to inspire me.

- See more at: http://theillustratorsmarket.blogspot.com/#sthash.1DAF4Kse.dpuf

Flag Samples have Arrived!

I love to get samples. I am so happy with these. They will be in Lowes this holiday season. The snowman has some lovely embroidered edges. 

Illustration Friday topic is Beard

It seems the great bearded Santa is my obvious choice for the topic. He is so fun to paint. I love that you can create his persona in so many styles and medium. There are so many areas to get lost in...the fur of his hat, the swirl of his beard, the lines of his face....This happens to be in oils on board. I also love playing with shadow and light, so this particular painting was a delight to do.

Illustration Friday topic is Summer

I think of this image as retro summer. The tablecloth was my mother in laws and has that 60's nostalgic look. Summer was as simple as some lemonade and watermelon and a warm day.
This is a watercolor image on board.

Illustrator's Friday topic is Retro

I love the Audrie Hepburn retro look. With that in mind and using silhouette shapes and textures I came up with this design which fits the "retro" topic. I did a whole series of these. It was fun researching the looks.

Two Can Art Partners with PPD to Create Winter Solstice Collection

The first time I saw the catalog from PPD I was amazed at the beauty of the images on the products they produce. I am so thrilled to have some of my favorite Two Can Art images in the Winter Solstice Collection. There are four different designs on napkins, mugs with matching boxes and square plates.
Another wonderful thing PPD is doing is donating a % of sales to autism causes. I will be posting links to where they can be purchased as soon as I know.

Winter Solstice Fox Mug and Matching Box

Winter Solstice Fox Plate

Winter Solstice Moose Mug and Matching Box

Winter Solstice Moose Plate

Winter Solstice Goose Mug and Matching Box

Winter Solstice Goose Plate

Winter Solstice Rabbit Mug and Matching Box

Winter Solstice Rabbit Plate

I love this collection and what PPD did with the art.

Illustration Friday topic is Vanity

Everyone knows the story of the frog prince. It seemed a good candidate for the topic vanity. This is a watercolor I did as a character idea a while ago.

Illustration Friday topic is Natural

Here is another image from the Two Can Art Collection. This is one of my favorites and I think it fits the topic natural. This is done with Noah's painted textures assembled together.

Illustration Friday Topic- Zodiac

This is an image from the Two Can Art Collection that works with the Zodiac topic for the sign for Cancer. This collection of images has been growing in leaps and bounds and I am so happy that we have partnerships for licensing happening with some wonderful companies. If you aren't already aware the Two Can Art Collection is a collaborative group of images between myself and my son, Noah who is autistic. Noah paints all of the beautiful textures that I create images from. I've actually started a facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TwoCanArt and a blog: https://twocanart.wordpress.com.

Illustration Friday topic is Space

I wrote a picture book and did a few illustrations for it a while back. This is the cover art for Cowboy Sam in Space. I've been focusing on other areas than books lately, so this is from the archives. It's oil on illustration board with digital enhancements.

Two Can Art Collection Partners with Tervis

For any one who isn't aware the Two Can Art Collection is a collaborative body of work that I do with my son Noah who is autistic. Noah paints all of the beautiful textures that I than take and create images from. I am so thrilled to be partnering with Tervis to bring his images into the world on Tumblers. Tervis is such an incredible company and I love the people there. Working with them has been absolutely wonderful. One of the best things about being at the Atlanta Gift Show was getting to meet so many of Tervis team. They made me feel like part of their family. They set up a special area to launch the line with a card explaining Two Can Art is about. There are 6 images of birds in this group.  What is even better is that Tervis is donating 5% to Autism Speaks and an organization in our own community that helps individuals with autism. Tervis has these up on their website. http://www.tervis.com/ The Two Can Art images start with the Blue Jays to the Humming Bird. Bed Bath and Beyond also carries several Tervis tumblers.
We've also started a Two Can Art facebook page to see what else is coming from the collection.https://www.facebook.com/TwoCanArt

Atlanta Gift Show

I just returned from the Atlanta Gift Show. It was a whirlwind of appointments and showroom visits. I am amazed at the size and scope of the show. There are 4 buildings and 18 floors of an array of products. Building 2 was the main building I spent time in. There was so much incredible art on product and it was great to see so many artists that I know from facebook or personally in the showrooms. Here is a photo from one of the showrooms that have my images on cutting boards and coasters. I will do a separate post on the Two Can Art images. All in all it was a really great trip and I am very excited about things to come.