Friday, July 1, 2011

Happy July! The Circus is in town...

Over at our group blog, www.welovetoillustrate.com, the Circus is in full swing! The ladies did a lovely job and we're all a bit excited about being a "Blog of Note" (thanks Blogger!) recently. Here's my contribution..hope you like little "Elbert the Amazing" (my littlest named him : )).
 
By coincidence, I recently completed a commission for a wonderful client (thank you, Sharonel!)..and it so happened that this piece had a circus theme as well! Here is the watercolor before I had added some handlettering digitally to the final piece. I hope the piece was well-received and worked well for her festive occasion!
~
I recently had a great quick visit to Washington D.C....I rented a car, had one full day to my own and discovered many new places on my visit: the Newseum, the Library of Congress, the National Gallery of Art (ok, I swooned when I saw Italian Master Drawings!), and visited Georgetown, Foggy Bottom, walked from the Capitol Bldg, visited the WWII Memorial, Vietnam, and Korean Memorials, and enjoyed a thunderstorm at the Lincoln Memorial. It was a really wonderful day. I'm so very proud of my eldest who completed a week-long Jr. National Young Leadership Conference all week and I was SO very happy to have her back in my arms again! Here's a quick sketch at the WWII memorial..

~
I was hoping to get to the lastest Illustration Friday prompt (Midsummer Night), but alas, it's already Friday, and a new word has come..I may still consider painting my sketch and show here on the blog when I have it ready. Hope everyone is healthy and well and I want to thank all of you for your very kind visits..it's always so encouraging to read each comment and visit all of you. Wishing you a lovely weekend ahead...any grand escapes or holidays you'll be taking? I like to live vicariously you know. : )
Posted by at

25 comments:

  1. Theresa MacNaughtonJuly 1, 2011 at 8:27 AM

    Hi Shirley! Hope you've been well. Your illustrations here are so happy. I am in love with Elbert! :) Can't believe it's July already!!!! :) Hope you enjoy a lovely weekend!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Elizabeth Rose StantonJuly 1, 2011 at 10:00 AM

    Really sweet circus illo.! Also, great D.C. sketch!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ces AdorioJuly 1, 2011 at 10:14 AM

    Oh WOWIEIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! What a wonderful trip you had. Ugh. So sorry. I owe a special someone an email reply, I just remembered. Heheheh!!! I love travel sketches. They remind me of the classic illustrations like Rudyard Kipling's, Van Gogh's Moleskine. I am so happy to hear of your fantastic adventure and that epsilon of yours! What a chip off the Mama Block! Smart Smart Smart!!!

    I love your circus paintings. The colors are very rich. I have only been to the circus twice and that was the 100th anniversary of the Ringling, in Houston and another time in Florida.

    My in-laws used to live in Sarasota so we took the children twice a year during the Spring and Summer. Sarasota is the home of the Ringling Museum and Ca' d'Azan, home of John and Mabel Ringling. Terrific classic, medieval and impressionist arts. They had the largest collectionsof Peter Paul Reubens tapestries. There is also the Ringling Circus Museum!!! Anyway, just imagine BUT i am sure nothing can beat DC!!!

    Have a fantastic 4th of July, dear Shirley. Tsup!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. MarshaJuly 1, 2011 at 10:30 AM

    Your animals are so cute and full of personality!! And congrats on the "Blog of Note"!! You guys over at "We Love to Illustrate" are awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jenn BowerJuly 1, 2011 at 11:03 AM

    Fabulous post. I love your new banner and all the vivid and vibrant circus wonderful-ness. Kudos on the Blog of Note! It is well deserved.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Twyla and LindseyJuly 1, 2011 at 11:53 AM

    Wow, your work is amazing! I love your blog! I am having such a good time looking around. Have a nice holiday weekend! Twyla

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJuly 1, 2011 at 12:31 PM

    Shirley, I am in love with Elbert the Amazing! What a stunning character he is! Whenever I need a moment of "oooh aaaah," I visit your blog. Your illustrations have a way of putting the hugest smile on my face.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousJuly 1, 2011 at 2:43 PM

    Shirley! I am so happy that you had fun in Washington DC. I love your circus painting! They are so joyful and playful!! I really like the color choice of your painting!!! Great job,Shirley!!!!!!!! ^____^ Thank you again for your kind comment on my blog. ^___^

    ReplyDelete
  9. Amy CJuly 1, 2011 at 4:46 PM

    oh my goodness its completely adorable, I hope this little circus comes to my town and I manage to get front row seats!

    ReplyDelete
  10. k.h.whitakerJuly 1, 2011 at 9:08 PM

    Sooooooo sweet, I love these. I love circus illustrations and these are just adorable ;) I was in Washington for my daughters graduation a few weeks ago. The weather was lovely. I didn't get a chance to sketch anything though. Glad you had a good trip there too.

    ReplyDelete
  11. JaneJuly 2, 2011 at 4:55 AM

    Oh Shirley what joyous illustrations... my son would SO love the giraffe,even at 22 he still secretly loves them. Glad you had a great trip....good to recharge those batteries. Have a lovely weekend,
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  12. Deepa GopalJuly 2, 2011 at 6:05 AM

    The cute ele in the circus illo is so so adorable! Love the Lettering... beautiful work Shirley:))
    Good Day!

    ReplyDelete
  13. roberto M.July 2, 2011 at 8:14 AM

    Hello Shirley. Happy July, yes, your country and mine have something in common, both celebrate our Independence Day in July
    you, day 4, and we, day 9 (only that we keep only 196 years):)
    Well, your beautiful artwork!
    increasingly loose brushwork (more independent, haha)
    has more life, more heat (from my point of view)
    I special wide, watercolor is below, to see it better ... great job!
    well, good weekend, see you soon

    ReplyDelete
  14. micheleJuly 2, 2011 at 8:14 AM

    Shirley, your circus animals are beyond cuteness- I can only imagine how much fun it would be to visit a circus like this!
    What a wonderful opportunity for your daughter to participate in the leadership conference- I'm sure her mother has established a secure foothold on her path toward many more great accomplishments.
    Now,I'm off to visit wlti!
    Hope you're having a fun holiday weekend! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  15. AntoanaJuly 2, 2011 at 2:23 PM

    Cute & magical as always!:D
    Bravo Shirley!

    ReplyDelete
  16. ChristieJuly 2, 2011 at 7:50 PM

    Wonderful as always Shirley! I love all your characters!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Michaele RaziJuly 4, 2011 at 12:36 PM

    I think I just died from the sweetness of your illos! So wonderful, whimsical and GORGEOUS! How do you do it? I bow before your awesomeness!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Dear FirefliesJuly 5, 2011 at 12:56 AM

    Oh, I LURRVVEE Elbert!!! And just look at his sweet little friends... You are such a magician with that brush, Shirley, it's amazing how you bring so much life into your characters.

    So glad to know you had a fantastic journey, I wish I could have a getaway too! :))

    ReplyDelete
  19. Vanessa Brantley NewtonJuly 5, 2011 at 7:54 AM

    You have stolen and captured my heart with these wonderful whimsical animals so yours Shirley. HOW DO YOU DO IT?? I mean put so much personality and life into each scene? I could live here at your blog honestly. It's awesome. Hope that you had a wonderful and safe holiday. Glad you had a great trip too. Take care.
    V

    ReplyDelete
  20. illustration poetryJuly 6, 2011 at 2:09 AM

    SHIRLEEEEEYYYY!!!!!
    IM HERE IM HERE IM HERE

    ReplyDelete
  21. illustration poetryJuly 6, 2011 at 2:27 AM

    sorry didnt mean to yell :D

    im glad to hear that you and the faeries are doing okay! i just came back from my holiday so sorry i missed your posts!

    ReplyDelete
  22. illustration poetryJuly 6, 2011 at 2:32 AM

    i love c is for circus, the font is just perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Jenn BowerJuly 6, 2011 at 6:00 AM

    Shirley! I just had to stop back by and thank you for the really, really, REALLY lovely comment and awesome feedback you left on my blog post yesterday. I am working and trying so hard to improve and get 'there' and your words were such a great validation that maybe the time and effort is beginning to pay off. I just wanted you to know it means a lot to me. Have an awesome day!

    ReplyDelete
  24. kjJuly 6, 2011 at 8:29 PM

    shirley, so now i know that your animals smile! that says alot :^)

    i love d.c. to be there as a proud Mother and a curious tourist sounds like the best of everything.

    i am going to enjoy your illustrations; who could not appreciate talent and whimsy rolled into one?

    ♥
    kj

    ReplyDelete
  25. The Ink HouseJuly 9, 2011 at 5:54 PM

    C is for CUTTTEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete

Feedback! You rock! Thanks for your words...

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)