The boys are stirring up trouble at the pond.

This is a recent illustration for an online magazine (it hasn't been published yet so no text either!). It has been way too long since posting and I am hoping that will change!

I don't find anything flawed with a bear and pig chatting over coffee...do you?

I'm still in the process of learning how to do a stinkin' image swap in Dreamweaver CS3! I feel a little bit like the 3 blind mice! Anyway, my "whiteboard" website is finally up :)
www.deb-johnson.com.

We share Similar thoughts with our Cat Josie...a nice quiet Christmas Eve...

Better late than never! Here is a snip from a work-in-progress...there is still much to add! Let's PRETEND our snowman will be just like Frosty!

I've had so much fun the past few months as a graphic designer for a local (yet upscale!) publication, Showcase Magazine. At first, it was an all-consuming endeavor...lots of hours and new things to learn. I'm finally getting settled (somewhat) and can return to what I truly love, illustrating.

I've also found another great way to communicate and keep up - FACE BOOK! Think about signing up. There is a HUGE illustration community.

Anyway...back to the feel of sketchbook paper, the flexibility of digital paints and a creative block that seems to be going away.

This is actually for two weeks...Clutter and Island. He's made an island out of a clutter of stuffed hugs!

Do you remember me?! Haha...what happened to summer?! It seems like only yesterday it was May...

My daughter is visiting this week before starting her senior year at JMU. To refresh your memories, she is getting her BFA (graphic design and print-making). She adores print-making and is so good at it. She wants to be an illustrator, too. Next summer she is hoping to intern at the Crusade for Christ Headquarters in Orlando, FL (CRU). I'm excited because it gives me an excuse to visit :)

Most of the summer I've been a stand-in creative editor for Showcase Magazine while the real CE is on maternity leave. This has given me a chance to do something different...a much needed shot-in-the-arm for creativity, imagination and deadlines that make your adreneline pump - and pump. And it has absolutely NOTHING to do with children's illustration. And you know what? I love the magazine and hopefully they will keep me on to assist the CE...but I miss illustrating. The hectic pace of the magazine has left time for little else but it's almost done :)

The illustration above is for Illustration Friday...Detach. I did this as part of the mini-book card for my daughters 21st birthday in June. Detached, in some ways, is how I feel. You watch your kids grow into adults and detach in their own ways...detached for 6 weeks from artwork and my blog...

The good thing about the word "detached" is knowing I can "detach" from the detached feeling and move forward! I am so excited for my daughter and son this coming year...and also for me, too! I've got my copy of Dreamweaver and Painter X and several goals...one biggie is that I will hopefully have my Cintque by Christmas :) and first I thank God for it all.

It's been a hectic, busy, crazy summer! For the past 2 months I've been doing a little creative and graphic design work for a local magazine called Showcase. The creative editor is on maternity leave so I'm trying to fill her shoes for the September issue. It is so much fun and the people are so wonderful I don't really notice the "crazy-busy" parts. It's the kind of job that can make you gray but in a good way (only my hairdresser knows for sure!). The best part is that I still get to work from home. In fact, our creative editor lives in MN! It's been so busy I haven't really had time to draw much but that's changing. I've picked up my sketchbook again and the ideas are sprouting! YAY!

I just got my new copy of Dreamweaver CS3 and Painter X so I'm going full tilt into redoing my website...DOUBLE-YAY! I'm excited about this!

I've also rediscovered Facebook to network with other illustrators...it's wonderful!

I'm hoping to post some new things this week so check back :)

I'm still trying to find a something I like...time to redo the kitties...this time the line art is done in Illustrator. I'll repaint a new background and post it later. I just might have to redraw it before I'm happy!

Can you find the mittens?

We spent the weekend in Harrisonburg, VA...did a little hiking and got attacked by ticks and horse flies; went to a winery and brewery, and the best part--taking my daughter to lunch! She'll be 21 in two weeks...time flies.

We came back home on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was hot, hazy and humid but it was still so very beautiful! We found a camp ground we'd like to go back to in the fall.