| Comic Books

Attention Shoppers...AGAIN! And a quick update ♥



Finally, I've decided to open an Etsy store for selling off original paintings and prints! It's seems a bit easier to sell and list through Etsy as opposed to having my own store through my website-so here it goes! Click here to enter the shop.

I'll be sure to post soon as there's been lots in the go as of late, especially with the release of Marvel's Girl comics right around the corner in March! Excited for everyone to check out the work of all these amazing female creators and the contribution made by Trina Robbins and myself in issue #1. I'm so honored and excited to have been asked aboard this project! To read more about the book and it's creators, stop by Marvel News!





Posted on 6 February 2010

Puzzles For Sale!


Excited to find out a puzzle I designed a few months ago for Galison/Mudpuppy has hit the shelves! It's an honor to contribute to their line of puzzles and games, as their list of illustrators are many I grew up with and love dearly (Eric Carle, Maurice Sendak, etc.). It was a fun job and hope kids get a kick out of it. The puzzle can be purchased here.

Posted on 23 December 2009

Sue Storm and Her Fantastic Tree



Finally got a free day for the first time in a couple of weeks. Lots of really exciting things are starting to happen, from jumping aboard new comic projects to getting started on my fourth picture book. 2010 is going to be good, I can just feel it!... So of course, when I'm not painting for work...I'm painting for selfish reasons. Above is what I cooked up this afternoon. Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday!


Posted on 20 December 2009

Fashion fades. Style is eternal.



Upon digging around for some reference and clothing patterns, I started to stumble upon lots of wonderful old fashion advertisements, photos and illustrations. Being a clothing and cosmetics junkie (especially the vintage sort), I wound up spending a little too much time on the internet on a mad treasure hunt. It really got me thinking about making some fashion illustration samples and playing around more with a loser gouache technique. Here's a few Ads/photos/illustrations that pulled me in, along with some drool/swoon worthy items I would kill to get my hands on! Above is a photo of French model/muse "Bettina", early 1950's (Dior).



Mid Century Dior ad, illustrated by the amazing Rene Gruau



1955 Dior



1954 Balenciaga gown (Gasp!)



1960's YSL (Le Gasp! The car and the dress, please. Thanks!)



1960's Chanel Ad



More gorgeous Rene Gruau, above and below









Posted on 19 November 2009

Caramel Apples...And Some Cute Owls!


Only THREE more days till Halloween!!

Aside from posting the 5 little owls painting above, I want to share the BEST caramel apple recipe I've ever come across. This past weekend, I decided to go a little insane (6 straight hours in the kitchen insane) and make a batch of cupcakes, cookies and these amazing treats:

What you'll need...

  • 1 1-pound box dark brown sugar
  • 16 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temp
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
  • 2/3 cup dark corn syrup
  • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon robust-flavored (dark) molasses
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 12 candy apple sticks (you can find these at specialty food stores, candy making supply shops, etc...)
  • 12 medium Granny Smith apples
Whipping cream
*PLUS Any kind of goodies you'd like to use to dress up your caramel apples! We used chopped walnuts, sprinkles, shredded coconut, cinnamon gummy bears and lots of crushed candies.

How to prepare...

Combine first 8 ingredients in heavy 2 1/2-quart saucepan (about 3 inches deep). Stir with wooden spatula or spoon over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves (no crystals are felt when caramel is rubbed between fingers), occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush, about 15 minutes.

Attach clip-on candy thermometer to side of pan. Increase heat to medium-high; cook caramel at rolling boil until thermometer registers 236°F, stirring constantly but slowly with clean wooden spatula and occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush, about 12 minutes. Pour caramel into metal bowl (do not scrape pan). Submerge thermometer bulb in caramel; cool, without stirring, to 200°F, about 20 minutes.

While caramel cools, line 2 baking sheets with foil; butter foil. Push 1 chopstick into stem end of each apple. Set up decorations and melted chocolates.

Holding chopstick, dip 1 apple into 200°F caramel, submerging all but very top of apple. Lift apple out, allowing excess caramel to drip back into bowl. Turn apple caramel side up and hold for several seconds to help set caramel around apple. Place coated apple on prepared foil. Repeat with remaining apples and caramel, spacing apples apart (caramel will pool on foil). If caramel becomes too thick to dip into, add 1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream and briefly whisk caramel in bowl over low heat to thin.

Chill apples on sheets until caramel is partially set, about 15 minutes. Lift 1 apple from foil. Using hand, press pooled caramel around apple; return to foil. Repeat with remaining apples.

Firmly press decorations into caramel; return each apple to foil. Or dip caramel-coated apples into melted chocolate, allowing excess to drip off, then roll in nuts or candy. Or drizzle melted chocolate over caramel-coated apples and sprinkle with decorations.

Enjoy! xoxo







Posted on 28 October 2009