ifriday: Polar (North Pole)

Coldilocks and the Three Polar Bears

Originally created for a charity exhibit benefiting First Book Philadelphia. Scroll down for my southern polar edition.

ifriday: Polar (South Pole)

Penguin Snow Angels

Being somewhat of a polar illustration specialist, I would be remiss to completely miss this week's ifriday topic, "Polar." I so wish I had time this week to create something new for the topic as I always find great joy in making penguins out of thin air (or paint). But alas, this has been the busiest week of the year so far with projects creeping out of every corner of my studio. So although I feel like I'm cheating, here are my penguin snow angels from nearly 4 years ago.

To make up for my inadequacy, I will post something for the North Pole as well. Forthcoming...

Sometimes I wonder what John Denver was thinking when he sang
You fill up my senses
Like a night in the forest
Like the mountains in spring time
Like a walk in the rain...

Ok, so I get the night in the forest (best stars ever), and even a short stroll in some light rain, but--the mountains in spring time? Could he really have been talking about mud season?

The ski resort has closed but there is still ample snow on the ground. Including 5 feet blocking the door to our garage. It has begun to melt, resulting in a 4 foot wide puddle at the end of our driveway. And that's just the beginning.



It is 40 degrees outside, but it snowed last night, so any progress the sun has made has been deterred by more slush. The front range needs this slush; the snowmelt and runoff from our county is the main supply of water for the Denver metro area. It is critical.

But on a day like today, overcast and chill, I pine for the flowering trees that populate the country everywhere but in the mountains in springtime. A daffodil or two wouldn't hurt either.

The best thing to do on a day like today is to turn one's thoughts to what one is grateful for. I am grateful for:
1. The return of the summer migrant birds that chatter and trill in the snow laden trees. They know the payoff of mud season is the most spectacular summer imaginable, with little competition for alpine meadows full of wildflower seeds.
2. Little puffs of catkins on the aspens and willows. They are bright white against an otherwise soggy landscape and promise brighter days.
3. The snowcaps on the mountain peaks, they won't stay white for long. With the ever warming seasons they'll barely last until June.
4. The hummingbirds that will land here sometime in June as the flowers begin to bloom.
5. Another ski season gone by--I skied 36 days.
6. The increasing flow of work I have coming in, however anxious it makes me feel trying to get it all done.
7. A tax bill lower than I had anticipated.
8. Upcoming excursions: A weekend in Moab, 5 days in Pennsylvania with family, 1 week in Greece and 1 week in Tuscany.
9. The flexibility to take so many days off in 2 months.
10. The summer to come, and whatever surprises it might bring.

But the mountains in spring time? I don't know, Mr. Denver...

How to Wreck a Journal

Wreck No. 1
Originally uploaded by Kate Hamilton.

Recently on the Illustration Friday Blog, Penelope posted about Keri Smith's newest book and project, Wreck This Journal. Intrigued, I visited the dedicated web site and thought, "hmm." Then I quickly got distracted (probably by barking dogs) and forgot about it. But not entirely. Because I found myself looking it up again today after seeing the pre-order on Amazon. And I thought to myself, "This is just what I need."

I am the definition of a perfectionist when it comes to my artwork (and other things). Perfectionism is not anything to be proud of, but rather something that I'd rather shed in a hurry. It is prohibitive, limiting and frustrating. It is a product of the ego. And it stifles my art.

What better way to rebel against the constant nagging of perfectionism than to wreck something? I have been trying to get more "sketchy" with my i-friday entries, but I still find my inner perfectionist laughing and gagging at the results. "You call that sketchy? It's crap!" she screams in the voice of a tightly wound Catholic school nun (I've met quite a few in my time). Well guess what Sr. Perfect! I'm going to make more crap!

Keri has started assigning wrecks to do in your journal, in addition to an extensive list of other suggestions, plus whatever will be in her upcoming book. I've started today with assignment #1:

right where you are sitting

1. At some point during the day, make marks in your journal using whatever is around you.
2. Make a note of where you were.
3. Post the page on flickr.

I happened to be at my desk for this one, but working on something entirely different for a client. It was pretty relaxing to dip a brush in paint for a few minutes and just let it do its own thing. Far more relaxing than the work I'm toiling over which require precision and absolutely no grace. So there it is.