ValGal Art

Illustration Friday: Forward

2012-01-30T22:22:00.000-08:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Forward" theme is prismacolor pencils and acrylic paint on Stonehenge paper. It is called "magic wand".

Illustration Friday: stripes

2011-11-08T22:59:00.000-08:00

I have been working on Hanukkah images this season. This is a holiday that needs a little more colour! Here are some valgal HomeTown Hanukkah Houses. The images are slightly distorted because I photographed them on a curved sheet of paper. They are diecut to make garlands, cards and gift tags. The holidays are quickly approaching so no matter what you celebrate, have a very good one!

Illustration Friday: Mysterious

2011-09-04T00:05:00.000-07:00

we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible player ~ albert einstein

my submission for Illustration Friday's "mysterious" theme is a dimensional painting titled " Enchanted Evening".

valgal 2011

Illustration Friday: MidSummer Knight

2011-06-30T17:45:00.000-07:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's Midsummer Knight :)

Liquitex Acrylics on stonehenge with a little thread and glue.
MidSummer Knight's Dream 2011 valerie walsh

Illustration Friday: soaked

2011-05-26T15:11:00.000-07:00

I posted this image here and I talked about how I came up with this idea. But did you know that it was not just a painting it was also a T-shirt ;)

My submission for Illustration Friday's "soaked" theme is " Singin in the Rain" created in 1995.

Illustration Friday: journey

2011-04-16T22:34:00.000-07:00

I like to dream yes, yes, right between my sound machine

On a cloud of sound I drift in the night

Any place it goes is right

Goes, far, flies near, to the stars away from here

Well you don't know what we can find

Why don't you come with me little girl

on a magic carpet ride

You don't know what we can see

Why don't you tell your dreams to me

Fantasy will set you free

Close your eyes girl

Look inside girl

Let the sound take you away

Steppenwolf

A newer version of "Magic Carpet Ride" 2010 Acrylic and Resin on wood and wood panel

Illustration Friday: bottled

2011-04-09T13:47:00.000-07:00

I have created a few wine labels and it is something I really enjoy. I don't drink, but I find it very appealing to make a piece of art that people get to look at while they are relaxing and having fun! They are feeling good and hopefully looking at your art and taking the time to notice the little details ;) My submission for Illustration Friday's "bottled" theme is a wine label for a father/son wine making venture up here in Topanga. This label was made for a competition they were entering in the hopes of cash prize to possibly fund their endeavours. I had a very short period of time to paint something that gives the impression of rustic and homemade.

Illustration Friday: layer

2011-02-24T16:35:00.000-08:00

Screen printing is all about putting a layer of ink on paper. Layer upon layer upon layer. This is a screen print I made using waterbased inks which at the time I made this was a relatively new thing. We always used oil based inks at Wasserman SilkScreen Company and we had to use stinky solvents to clean up the screens and squeegee. This print has 9 layers of ink, one is a transparent white that turns 9 colours into 18 and the darker ink that has a textured look was used as a shadow colour and it has transparency in it. I created the texture effect by drawing with a special crayon on frosted mylar that has a bit of tooth to it, making the crayon stick to create some nice textures. Handprinted all by my lonesome, I use a little kickstand on the side of the screen and just print away :) Registration is key! :) My very late submission for Illustration Friday's "layer" theme is a screenprint on rag paper (stonehenge) called "Shooting Star".

Illustration Friday: surrender

2011-01-29T21:32:00.000-08:00

Here we are a few days later and I have poured resin on the painting and it is sealed and very shiny. It heightens the colour in one way and it also adds a layer of depth to the painting too. I have to always intensify the detail because the resin softens all of the fine handwork and creates an even dreamier image. For me this image is really called Tree House because this is what it is, a California Redwood! valgalstyle :)

" If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it" ~Toni Morrison

My submission for Illustration Friday's "surrender" theme is a dimensional painting. Liquitex acrylics on wood panel with wood frame, foamboard building, handmade paper shingles and clay chimney and door handle. The painting is called Home in the Woods.

photos and art by Valerie Walsh 2011

Illustration Friday: resolutions

2011-01-04T16:44:00.000-08:00

This is a "houscape" I did for a lovely woman in Sherman Oaks in 2010. She works in the field of music for major motion pictures and I am proud to have captured her home and I made the frame for the painting too. It is actually dark green but hard to tell in my photo. My resolutions are few but I resolve to do more unique and interesting projects if possible this year and see where my artistic adventures take me... My submission for Illustration Friday's "resolutions" is airbrush acrylic on wood and it is called "Dixie Canyon" :)

photos and art valeriegallerie/valeriewalsh

Illustration Friday: phenomenon

2010-12-10T20:15:00.001-08:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "phenomenon" is my Holiday card this year. I decided on a non traditional colour scheme to make it a little different and special :) I have been making cards for 30 + years in every combo of colours and so each year I try to make something a bit out of the ordinary.

Thank you to all the folks that came by this year to see my art and ideas! I was a little lax in posting this year and my fifth year of blogging here passed by and it means so much that you visit and check out my stuff and comment :) Thank you and have a lovely holiday season too!

Nowadays, "phenomena" are often, but not always, understood as appearances. They are themselves sometimes understood as involving qualia.

Illustration Friday: burning

2010-11-17T18:59:00.000-08:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "burning" is one of a pair of my tower candlesticks made from clay and handpainted glazes.

Illustration Friday: afterwards

2010-11-10T12:54:00.000-08:00

This little house started out as an illustration on Arches and is printed and diecut and afterwards it becomes a garland of houses. It has one side that can be folded which enables it to stand alone or in groups and I used non-traditional colours for the holiday or anytime. Notice you slide the ribbon through the open windows :)

Illustration Friday: spooky

2010-10-21T15:37:00.000-07:00

Somewhere in the Transylvania countryside is the idea behind my submission for Illustration Friday's "spooky theme. I love this word so I did this last minute quick and dirty on stonehenge using acrylics and prismacolor pencils;)

2010 valerie walsh

Illustration Friday: beneath

2010-10-04T09:15:00.001-07:00

This paperhouse is painted with acrylic paint, i used thread to hang the paper star, fashioned a clay doorknob and of course it all starts with a small matchbox ;)

all photos and art valerie walsh for Illustration Friday's "beneath" theme

Illustration Friday: acrobat

2010-09-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "acrobat" is a painting I have done many times in many ways for lots of peeps. This is a version I did to a song by Los Lobos :) You know the saying "once in a blue moon" which means seldom or rarely? Well this is a lavendar moon and that means as rare as it gets! The title of this painting is "Balance" which is required when you are an acrobat ;)

valerie walsh 2010

Illustration Friday: dessert

2010-09-08T17:46:00.000-07:00

Did you know that a goat would consider a flower dessert? And deer do as well :) I have friends that raised goats in Topanga and the goat really will eat almost anything! They would stand on the roof of their shed which gave me the idea for this illustration. Many times I see deer and they are grazing on my neighbour's newly planted flowers or fruit trees and vegetables... It does make me smile and it has happened to me many times as well, it is always the same feeling SURPRISE!!! :D

This is a colour study for a painting called "House Pet" and I made this drawing in 1990 and did not use this idea for a painting until my 2004 HomeMade calendar. I changed the building and colours to pinks and greens but I have always enjoyed blue and purple together very much :) Was hoping to make something new because I love this word and have a good idea too but the time got away from me so this is my very late submission for Illustration Friday's "dessert" theme.

all photos and art valerie walsh 1990-2004 prismacolor pencil on stonehenge

Illustration Friday: atmosphere

2010-08-21T17:40:00.000-07:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Atmosphere" is a dimensional painting I made for Dee Dee, my sister in 1995. It is wood, formable foam board, acrylic paint and resin. This was a bit of an experiment in several ways, I wanted to go beyond the traditional shapes of paintings and create leaves that give the piece dimension sort of jutting out curving around and also by painting part of the leaf on the surface to add a faux visual continuity for the eye. I made a few of these round layered pieces and really enjoyed this look. This flower girl is saying "I like the air up here". What does it mean? I don't know it was just fun to make, love the colours and I like it :) sorry about the glaring white spot, I took this picture at my Mom's house. She has an entire room dedicated to my art and it is a Valerie Gallerie of sorts and this was sitting up on a shelf so I did the best I could because I frankly had completely forgotten about this image.

I am not sure if they make this foam board anymore I bought a ton of it and you could wet it and it would form easier into shapes that I wanted to make. I never see it anymore so I imagine it was not so popular, but it worked for me. I have found through the years that when I like a product I buy a lot of it because many art supplies tend to get discontinued...

Illustration Friday: Star gazing

2010-08-14T19:10:00.000-07:00

I have created hundreds of paintings in my 30+ years as an artist that feature or incorporate stars. This image was commissioned by a very close friend and she looked at my portfolio and chose to have me make a bridge painting that would include her husband, son and herself in the buildings. She likes very soft muted colours which is always a challenge as I tend to be quite colourful :) Yes this is subtle and subdued for me... She really loved the softness and the pastel quality of this and it is large and one of my layered dimensional paintings with resin. I did this in 2000 and I am always happy to paint something special for someone I care about. It is called "connection to love" and it is my submission for Illustration Friday's "Star gazing" theme.
valerie walsh 2000

Illustration Friday: artificial

2010-08-05T13:32:00.000-07:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "artificial" theme is a facade called Home Front. This is a tough word for a homemaker :) I thought of a house in Florida with all the pink flamingos out in front but this has been done a million times or maybe an artificially sweetened Gingerbread House but I posted the real sweet kind before ;) I decided on this idea, as you can see; I finished down to the wire because I am working on other stuff but the idea is reminiscent of the old saloon type buildings propped up in the back.

art and photos valerie walsh 2010

Illustration Friday: double

2010-07-28T11:24:00.000-07:00

When I paint illustrations for cards, calendars and stickers I often have to make 2 of the same image and sometimes 4 if it is a seasonal item. I have a game I play with myself to see if I can make them look identical. Sometimes I have to make the same item in reverse and I enjoy this as well. Here are some examples of my submission for Illustration Friday's "double" theme.

1. Love Grows (greeting card)

2. Homes for the Holidays Stickers (spring/summer)

3. House Paint stickers (LOVE & Happy Birthday)

Illustration Friday: diary

2010-07-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

I got quite excited about this word :) What sprang to mind is "Diary of a Mad Housewife" so I decided to make a moleskine into a house and use the idea of the text viewable through the door and windows ( I have done this before and loved it!) This helps the diary resemble the cover for Sue Kaufman's book. My version and my writings are modified from the original of course and illustrates the madness that plagues me in my constant creating of buildings and homes. My submission for Illustration Friday's " diary" theme is a journal called "Diary of a Mad HouseMaker.

photos and art valerie walsh 2010

Illustration Friday: Giant

2010-07-04T14:57:00.001-07:00

When you live in LA you tend to get asked to do a lot of unusal jobs. I have had my fair share of unique opportunities and I welcome them :) This illustration is from one of those very times. This took place in 1990 at Sunset Tower Hotel in Hollywood. It is a landmark hotel and in those days The St. James Club of London and Antigua bought it and operated it as such. My friend was the head doorman and asked if I could make a special remembrance for Whoopi Goldberg because she loved the hotel and had been staying there for some time and he wanted me to make a quick valgal version of the hotel to make her feel special. I only had a day to paint and I wanted it to look like the work I was into at the time. I was making 10 layered dimensional towers and castle-like structures for a show in Santa Monica. This illustration was mounted on a lovely thick piece of paper that I made. This place is considered a giant among the old art deco buildings and many wonderful people have stayed here including my mom and me :) we had a delightful and memorable time there.

Please watch this short film about Sunset Tower Hotel.

valerie walsh 1990

Illustration Friday: satellite

2010-06-25T14:19:00.001-07:00

A natural satellite is a celestial body orbiting a planet, dwarf planet, asteroid, or star of a larger size. The most familiar natural satellite is the earth's moon; thus, satellites of other planets are often referred to as moons. My submission for Illustration Friday's "satellite" theme is one of my star chairs. I painted a lot of furniture about 20 years ago. The star chair was one of my first pieces of functional art and was created in 1990 for a clients house and you can see a shot of it in her home with a little painting I made right above it. Then in 1997 another woman I know was the costume designer for the TV show "Dharma and Greg" and she collected a lot of my work and she wanted furniture to go with my paintings so she would find antique pieces she loved and i would strip, prime and paint in fantastical colours and with my signature halo effect with blends. It was a ton of work but a valgal room with furniture and paintings looks pretty cool! It seems like a lifetime ago in a galaxy far, far away ;)

Illustration Friday: Ripple

2010-06-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

I feel happy that many of the people that collect my dimensional paintings usually say "Do what you want to do". I love that but have learned that there can be that very small percentage of folks that can be "difficult to please" :) This has prompted me to always make a little colour study or maquette of the image so that they can have a chance to decide they like or change my vision. This is a little (very rough) colour pencil study for a dimensional piece I have been commissioned to create and I am pretty excited because this is a place that we drove up to quite by accident and discovered and I always felt it would make a lovely place to paint. My submission for Illustration Friday's "Ripple" theme is titled "The Secret Fountain".

Illustration Friday: trail

2010-06-05T13:45:00.000-07:00

This is a Topanga box and I have been making them for a long time. They are made from upcycled wooden ginseng boxes. I handpaint them and they do not have houses on them. I have walked many a trail in these hills for 30+ years. When I look at the hills I think of all the beautiful days and dogs that have walked these paths with me rain or shine. Walking is one of my favourite things in life :D My submission for Illustration Friday's "trail" is a hand painted

Topanga box and the inside holds a special surprise ;)

Illustration Friday: Equipment

2010-05-19T23:10:00.000-07:00

You are not seeing things, come closer, this is the dance of the hammer and the nail. It is a rare treat to catch a glimpse of this elusive happening! My submission for Illustration Friday's "Equipment" theme is an illustration I made while the painting I am working on is drying so this is quick and dirty and down to the wire ;) This little painting on paper is called "Home Work". You cannot build a house without the proper equipment. The humble hammer and the nifty nail ;)

2010 valerie walsh

Illustration Friday: Fearless

2010-05-10T22:00:00.000-07:00

The person that moves in here might enjoy living on the edge and could be considered fearless.

Or they could just be a bit crazy ;)

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Fearless" theme is a quickie called "hilltop house".

I have been away and now i am back. Cocoon would have been a better word for me but I had to miss last weeks theme so i was certainly challenged by this word as it does not come to mind when you think of a house or home. There are a few buildings in Topanga that remind me of this one :D

valerie walsh 2010

Illustration Friday: ahead

2010-04-23T23:06:00.000-07:00

Spring ahead! My submission for Illustration Friday's "ahead" theme is a spring infused diecut gift tag. Have a nice weekend ;)

photo 2010 valerie walsh

Illustration Friday: detective

2010-04-22T22:22:00.000-07:00

I kind of drove myself a bit crazy with this prompt and since I am busy it was a good excuse to avoid it all together but in the end I remembered this painting and thought it is the kind of street that you would expect to see a detective. I had to post something...

My submission for Illustration Friday's "detective" theme is an acrylic painting on wood panel called "Rendezvous". Whew down to the wire ;)

valerie walsh 1985

Illustration Friday: linked

2010-04-10T14:23:00.000-07:00

I have made a lot of houses that are connected or linked but most of them I have already shown. Linked is a wonderful word and I can think of so many things I would love to make for this prompt. While the paintings dry, I made 2 houses that are linked. They are made of paper and paint. My submission for Illustration Friday's "linked" theme is "duplex" :D

Hope you are having a lovely weekend and please check out the brochure printing giveaway here, it is free :)

all photos by valgal 2010

Illustration Friday: dip

2010-04-02T15:12:00.000-07:00

Well I'll be dipped! I cannot remember if I have posted this Easter card in the past? Probably not because it doesn't have a house ;) My submission for Illustration Friday's "dip" theme is a die cut Easter card that is vintage style. When you bend and fold the dip in the egg it creates a little easel to help it stand on it's own . I have always enjoyed dipping and dying Easter eggs. Happy Easter and or Happy Passover.

photos and art valerie walsh 2000

Illustration Friday: rescue

2010-03-26T14:11:00.000-07:00

File this under "Emotional Rescue" my submission for Illustration Friday's "rescue" theme is a colour pencil drawing I made for Babs in 1989. I am diggin deep my peep, peep, peeps :D

Illustration Friday: expired

2010-03-20T11:10:00.001-07:00

The lease on this Pear Pad has never expired. Why? Because it's purrfect ;)

My submission for Illustration Friday's "expired" theme is a painting on Stonehenge paper for the King of Maybe and my friend, Fernando Pereira.

2010 valerie walsh

Illustration Friday: subterreanean

2010-03-12T13:20:00.000-08:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's " subterreanean" theme is an idea that I started to work on quite a while ago, i think two summers ago I was planning on working out this painting called "DownTown" but I was sidetracked by so many other "Houscapes", paintings. greeting cards, etc. Sometimes this happens, I have a lot of ideas just not enough time to get it done. I try to use the summer as my time to do art and ideas that I have wanted to explore and I always have the best of intentions. I hope I can get back to this some time in the future. This painting shows me, I might have lived in Topanga a little to long. I started thinking the ants and bugs and rodents have little condos and it is like a little underground town. I am sure that I am right ;) On a side note sometimes when I create an image in a layered dimensional way I do a flat illustration as well so I have one version for a reproduction image and a dimensional image as well. So that gives me two unfinished pieces I need to work on :P Happy Friday!

Illustration Friday: brave

2010-03-05T12:31:00.000-08:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "brave" is a cropped version of my idea of "Home of the Brave". I had to crop an illustration I have already submitted before because I am pressed for time but I love to submit for the word :D it is a joy to play along each week! This is from my 2004 HomeMade calendar and it is called "Field House". I live in an area where the Chumash Indians lived.

I am taking care of Nomi and I walked her behind the house into the park and we stumbled upon

the most beautiful mushrooms. So I thought I might share a little slice of my world and it is very spring-like today :) Enjoy and have a lovely weekend!

art and photos valerie walsh 2004 and 2010

Illustration Friday: perspective

2010-02-26T14:28:00.000-08:00

My perspective is pretty much the same, houses and buildings, painting and having fun.
My submission for Illustration Friday's "perspective" theme is a drawing I made for my dear friend artist Pam Jones. It is her birthday on Saturday February 27 and she is a fellow pisces. We belong to a music sharing blog called Kings of Maybe and I am playing her a few songs this weekend as well so if you click on you may follow along too. This drawing called "Going Up?" is her birthday card and I thought on Pam's way up she might need to bring along a few things she could use: Fishie Friends, a monster, a valpal hat to receive songs and messages and a birthday cake! of course it is chocolate :P I hope you have a fabulous birthday sweet Pam Jones! Big love from Valgal, babe!

birthday card for Pam Jones 2010

Illustration Friday: propagate

2010-02-19T09:14:00.000-08:00

Cultivate your heart and love will propagate.
My submission for Illustration Friday's "propagate" theme is a valgal valentine called
House of Adore and the door opens and there is a little sweet message. Adore and a door ;)

You should give val-entines all the time not just on February 14th.
I have an image that is really perfect for this word here but I have shown it in the past and I don't like to repeat images:)
Here I am with my sweet brother Colin. We are close little buddies. He sent me a beautiful box of chocolates from France for my special day :) He knows I love candy!
Thank you Colie!
2001 valerie walsh

Illustration Friday: adrift

2010-02-12T12:28:00.000-08:00

Do you catch my drift? My submission for Illustration Friday's "adrift" theme is a colour pencil study on StoneHenge paper and the frame is clay and resin. Eventually this boat will drift and be adrift...

valerie walsh 2000

Illustration Friday: muddy

2010-02-05T11:21:00.000-08:00

Living in Topanga I know a lot about mud because here we live in the dirt. I am sad to report that more people are moving in and pouring a fair amount of concrete to make it less dirty! It always makes me wonder why a person would want to live in a rustic State Park when they could easily live in Calabasas which is much more paved and upscale. Have you noticed that I talk a bit more when I really don't have anything for the word and I don't have time to make anything either :(

This image has a little to do with mud, muddy and Topanga because this doggy plate that I made for my mom about 15 years ago is made with Topanga mud in a little garage clay studio belonging to Jan Mitchell right down the lane. Good clean mud! We taught children, we had girl's Monday Night Clay where we played, talked and laughed. My submission for Illustration Friday's " muddy" theme is a painted clay plate "Happy Day" I made for my mom Babs who has not been feeling well. I love you Mom!

"happy day" plate 1995 valerie walsh photo of babs 2007

Illustration Friday: focused

2010-01-29T14:09:00.000-08:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's " focused" theme is a cropped portion of an illustration for the book "Return of the Matador" that I painted over the summer. Happy Friday! Have a lovely weekend ;)

2009 valerie walsh

Illustration Friday: clumsy

2010-01-22T14:39:00.000-08:00

At first glance this might appear to be a very silly and clumsy painting but it is actually very sweet and tender. My sbmission for Illustration Friday's " clumsy" theme is " a celestial life."

I painted this in August of 1992 for friend Tracy Walsh because she was about to marry her longtime love Shep Lonsdale. Tracy loved my art and has been quite a wonderful and supportive collector of my work. When she came to me and asked me to do her invitations I was happy and tickled because this was my first wedding card. I have done quite a few now but this was my very first one and she wanted a child like image using all the things she loves! This is my favourite kind of client, someone that tells me what they enjoy and I get to do whatever I want :D Tracy wanted the sea, the stars, the moon, and the feeling of infinity, love and the universe. Not your traditional invite to be sure, oh and the best part she wanted all valgal colours featuring their dog Jade. In order to make multiples I had the image offset printed and then I made cotton rag paper in my studio, dyed to compliment the painting and I added this beautiful old glitter to the batches to make it sparkle. We printed the typeface on a see through vellum and it was a limited edition art card for all the guests. I framed up some for her bridesmaids gifts and the gift that went to the person that married them. The funny thing about the man that performed the wedding Cliff Potts, he is Johns best friend for 40 years but I did not know him then and had not yet met John. I live on a street with 3 houses now and he lives in one of these houses and has been my neighbor for 13 years! Tracy is a travel agent, her mom was a very well known British travel agent who's clients were Elton John etc. and Shep is a musician and was in the band Gaelic Storm which you might have seen in the movie Titanic. When Leonardo Dicaprio takes Kate Winslet downstairs to where the real people are hanging out, this is the band that is playing. Shep is a very cool dude and Tracy is a very cool lady. I am happy to say they are enjoying their marriage to this day :)

btw: The wedding was at the Hotel Bel Air and it was the best wedding I have ever been too. They have swans floating in ponds there!
valerie walsh 1992

Illustration Friday: wilderness

2010-01-17T16:20:00.000-08:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "wilderness" is a doodle piece on a scrap of arches paper notice the deckle edge. I call this "leave a little light on". I have lived in a lot of little houses that look like this :)

2010 valerie walsh

Illustration Friday: confined

2010-01-08T16:16:00.000-08:00

Most of the time artists have to create in a confined perimeter. But I usually try to go beyond the boundaries any way I can get away with ;) My submission for Illustration Friday's "confined" theme is one of my dimensional paintings titled "Oriental Evening". My bridge paintings are quite popular so I have done them many ways for many people and each one is unique and yet similar. I think bridges help to break out of the confines and going outside of the frame helps too. I always put in details of life inside the windows in the form of glimpses of men and women, instruments. birds in cages, cups with tea or coffee in them and books, paintings, kitties and dogs. This one I even made some clothes on a line created from handmade paper and all the flowers are dimensional. I hope you enjoy!

Speaking of enjoyment I went with my friend Trish to see her daughter Katherine in her music group tonight at the Apple Store in Santa Monica. The name of the group is Sonos and they are so good that I want to share this with the world!!! We live on the same street and have been neighbors for years. I have watched Kath grow into a beautiful young woman so I had to go see Sonos tonight and give my support before they go back out on tour again. They have a deal on Verve Records, these kids are kicking butt! Because I know Kath so well I asked if I could have a picture with the band, a kind of "I knew them when" and I was the only one to have my pic with the band, YAY!!! They are amazing and you must click on to this word: kings of maybe and you can see what I am talking about. There are no instruments only voices in this group. Awesome!

sonosings.com

Illustration Friday: Renewal

2010-01-01T11:29:00.000-08:00

You might be wondering where the house is?
This is the big blue house, home to wondrous
things, mystery and big time beauty.
Where life and death swirl in the icy depths.

I made this painting for the program when John's brother Phil Hartman died in 1998.

John asked me to create this painting quickly so it is not the greatest work of art but I tried to
make it about the content and focus on the message. Phil loved the sky, he had a plane and he loved the ocean and he had a boat. He adored Catalina and went there often. This image is what I thought his children would like, the idea that we all come together and swim and play in the big ocean as a family with abandon and until then, we join each other in the sea of mind. The father, mother and children all together jumping and feeling joy, the oneness. The children are grown now and they are so beautiful it hurts my eyes. All of our hearts are joined forever. They will live and grow and the renewal is taking place within and without. Sweet Graham Nash played two songs for this beautiful and small private ceremony. I have included the song "Simple Man" that he played for us. My submission for Illustration Friday's "Renewal" theme is the circle.
When it makes no sense we must find the beauty in the aftermath.

We had a drink to Phil last night and he was with us.

1998 valerie walsh i am a wave ;)

Crosby Nash- Simple Man - Marrakesh Express

Illustration Friday:pioneer

2009-12-25T23:00:00.000-08:00

We are all pioneers in our own way, am I right? We try our best as our parents did and our children will be the ones that carve out a new future. Many of the people I look up to create

buildings and homes and I enjoy that kind of pioneer. I feel lucky to have been exposed to so many trendsetters in my lifetime in the fields of art, printmaking, music, literature, films, architecture and especially the internet. I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank all the artists and blog friends and blog groups, my family and anyone that stops by and looks at my pictures or reads my posts for the last 4+ years. It has been a wonderful and loving trip which surprised me at first because I thought maybe people would be critical but that has not been the case at all, everyone has been positive and supportive. I have appreciated all the kindness, cheers, friendships and meetings too.I actually met a few artists and writers that have come to LA and a few that live here and I have a phone friend in Alabama too!

I also want to mention that I have had my blog sponsored by Uprinting for the last few months because I wanted to give something back to anyone that comes here who might like to try a printer that is artist friendly and puts out great products. They are allowing me to give this experience for free for you and me : ) I am doing it to say thanks for all the comments, great feedback, laughs, tears, fun and great art that you share with me. It means the world to me. My submission for Illustration Friday's "pioneer" theme is Thank you Stationary, with Thank YOU from and to all over the world .

Illustration Friday: undone

2009-12-21T17:23:00.000-08:00

One good gust of wind and it could all come undone. Then a New Year and everything regenerates and is renewed and starts again. My submission for Illustration Friday"s
"undone" theme is a greeting card titled "Holly House". Have a lovely holiday whatever you celebrate :)
copyright 1995 valerie walsh

Valgalart/ Working with William Wegman

2009-12-20T01:12:00.000-08:00

I decided to resurrect my posting about the "artists I have worked with" series as a print maker at Wasserman SilkScreen Company. I really liked almost every artist I have worked with except for one or two (I worked with a lot!) but one I really liked was William Wegman. His art is all about his dogs and he's world renowned but you would never know because the guy was a pleasure to be around, very sweet to me and I don't mind saying I had a little crush on him. He is real smart and really loves those dogs, but all the while crafting amazing pictures that everyone wants. You might be wondering how we printed his work and for sure he was a special case because his originals are enormous Polaroid prints and call for reproducing a photographic realistic look using a fine art method of printing. We worked hand in glove with another printer that Jeff had a relationship with called Black Box and they made collotypes of his art on rag paper and we added some layers of ink (via silkscreen process) to enhance and pop the images. Plus we did a special varnish which is always gnarly and stinky and you get quite high being around it for a whole day. I hate to think about all the fumes I inhaled but what are you gonna do. Hazards of the trade. I think we did a 3-4 piece portfolio that was in a beautiful case and the prints were large. Normally I would remember all of the details, how many prints but at that time period his work was so hot that I was able to sell my printers proofs immediately for good money and I was a starving artist person so I could always use the cash. They sold for over $1000.00 each, there were at least 3 so I can remember I was thrilled that me and my dog Yote ate well then too :) The time period was 1988 and in those days people would walk in and buy prints directly from us and it was pretty great. Whenever an artist signs a limited edition and you have a very large print like this you must have a person that moves the prints while the artist signs in a very delicate and flowing way so that he just goes from print to print from a stack and barely has to lift his hand or head, It's like a little dance. I would move them to make a new perfectly aligned, signed stack. That was usually one of my jobs aside from racking and mixing inks which presented me two areas that I got quality time with the artists, mixing their inks for the proofing process with them and moving the prints while they sign them. We always make the print twice, once on a few sheets for the proofing process and again as the final edition so you are talking at least a month or more working on one artists job and you get to have a little insight into their mind and ideas. I feel lucky I had the opportunity to work for him. I looked up the print "Dusted" that we printed and it sells right now in a slumpy market for $5500.00- 7500.00. When you look forward and catch the vision if you have the ability to see ahead, buy art as it comes out at a good price. It can be a very lucrative and wise investment in the future, plus you can hang it on the wall and enjoy it too. Of course his work now sells in every possible market and it is what many artists wish for. It couldn't happen to a nicer man.

William Wegman, Dusted, 1988. Screenprint, 30 x 24 inches, 76.2 x 61 cm (paper). Edition 47/96. Signed, dated, and numbered, recto.

Illustration Friday: hatch

2009-12-11T13:01:00.000-08:00

This might seem very obscure but my submission for Illustration Friday's "hatch" is a houscape of Malcom Leo's home. He is an amazing man that has produced documentaries of many great bands and artists. You might have seen some of them like: This is Elvis, The Beach Boys~an American Band or Rolling Stone~20 Years of Rock n Roll. So many I could not list them all. This is a portrait of his home and what I paint most every day "Houscapes", capturing a slice of someones life. OK, you are wondering where the hatch part comes in, this home is in the legendary Hollywood Hills and this is where the Golden Age of Movies was hatched and second as you can see home is where we find our escape hatch, where we feel safe. Safe at Home. For all you lovers of baseball you will recognize this phrase :) A view of his holiday card included on this rainy LA day.
PS: this is an exceptional view of the neighbourhood he lives in. I am standing on a hill across the street on another property that combines two lots that house an enormous mansion. Incredible!

art and pictures 2009 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: crunchy

2009-12-04T09:37:00.000-08:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "crunchy" theme is "GingerBread House" from my 1st HomeMade calendar published by Entertainment Calendars in 2001. Happy Friday :)

Illustration Friday: entangled

2009-11-27T20:05:00.000-08:00

Many entanglements are affairs of the heart. It is a little hard to see but there is a man serenading a woman in this dimensional painting and he is wooing her with his song. "Mediterranean Night" is my submission for Illustration Friday's "entangled theme.

Illustration Friday: music

2009-11-20T16:22:00.000-08:00

I have created many music-related images for record labels, bands, The San Diego Chamber Orchestra and I even painted a music house. This image is for the music blog I am a member of called "Kings of Maybe."When our fearless leader Asperezas asked me to make a new header for the 1 year Anniversary, I knew I had to make a crown of buildings. Our group is small but good and they have turned me on to some great music that I LOVE! My new fave is Just Say Yes by Snow Patrol posted by flor. I am lucky to be part of this wonderful tribe and hope for many more years of good music and inspiring videos. This is our new honorary member and crown model :)

copyright 2009 valerie walsh
please click on to the highlighted links

Illustration Friday: unbalanced

2009-11-14T15:04:00.000-08:00

Life is about finding a balance. My submission for Illustration Friday's "unbalanced " theme is a stationary card and postcard set called Home Life.

2009 copyright Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: blur

2009-11-06T11:01:00.000-08:00

When I am not wearing my glasses life takes on a nice blur.

Believe it or not, when I was young I was in a little band called "Blind Burning". We wrote songs and recorded them in a recording studio that is for students at UCLA. We also had a little home recording studio and it was a lot of fun. We entered one of our songs for a contest in Musician Magazine, a popular mag that some of you might remember and we made it pretty far in the competition. But the band broke up and that was the end of my band career :( This is the cover art I made for the contest to go along with our song. My submission for Illustration Friday's "blur" theme. 1982 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: skinny

2009-10-31T15:30:00.000-07:00

This is a blast from the past, 1995 to be precise. When John managed Lode they used to make flyers to get people to come to their gigs. This was for Halloween and I turned each person from the band into a pumpkin :) Inara George was the lone girl in the band and she is the SKINNY pumpkin and all the rest are the boys: Gabe Cowan, Robin Moxey and Lon Baker. Sometimes the bands artist friends would make the flyers and sometimes John would come knocking on my door to ask if I could crank out a quick flyer to advertise the band and I would happily make art for the group. We did lots of them :) I kept them all because they were so talented and I knew they would make it and they have, just not together. Good Times. This incorporates Halloween and skinny in one fell swoop for Illustration Friday's "skinny" theme. Here is Lode courtesy of Geffen Records.

1995 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: Fast

2009-10-23T09:24:00.000-07:00

A "fast" GROWING and very GREEN trend are PUMPKIN Houses. Grow one today!
Steve Millers Pumpkin House

click on to pictures and links to view larger

"Pumpkin House with Tar the cat" Stationary Card for Monday Artday Stationary 2009 Valerie Walsh

"Pumpkin House with Topanga Crow" Stationary Card for Monday Artday Stationary 2009 Valerie Walsh

Submissions for Illustration Friday's "Fast" theme.

Just want to mention that JC & Doodlestreet won the Business Card Giveaway and Diana Evans won the Greeting Card Giveaway! So please sign up for the Sticker Giveaway and the Postcard Giveaway all sponsered by Uprinting and you can win free items and all you have to do is leave a comment on the posts telling me what you would do with your winnings :)

Illustration Friday: frozen

2009-10-17T12:05:00.000-07:00

Frozen on the outside and warm on the inside.

diecut holiday card for Illustration Friday's "frozen" theme.

2006 copyright Valerie Walsh

please don't forget to sign up to win free business cards from Uprinting you have 5 more days (October 22) and 2 winners will be announced.

Illustration Friday: Flying

2009-10-09T11:50:00.000-07:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Flying" theme is the cover of my 2004 HomeMade Calendar. The image is titled "Flying Home". I have not shown this version but I had to use this for the prompt because it is a signature image for me and I have done this very painting in 4 colour combos, I have made several dimensional versions and a variation of this idea has graced my stationary & business cards. The card below is a reversed version of the stationary card I submitted a few weeks ago. When I have time I try to paint the image I am working on in reverse so I have two versions and I fleshed out the windows a bit more so you can tell these butterflies are houses. This fits the flying theme well too.

Today I had John choose a winner from the pool of submissions for the Uprinting Greeting Card Giveaway and Diana Evans is the winner and she will receive 250 greeting cards!!! I will receive a set for sponsoring this contest on my blog. Tonight I will launch a new Uprinting Giveaway where 2 of my friends will receive 250 business cards so please keep trying because you are bound to win one of these gifts and all you have to do is tell me what you will do with your printed item and who you plan on giving them to :) Thank you to all you girls that participated and Congratulations Diana!!!

Illustration Friday: Germs

2009-10-06T18:07:00.001-07:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Germs" theme is a bit late this week, it is called "Where Germs Live". It has been pretty exciting around here because PBS American Masters series came to our house to film John for the David Geffen episode. The creator, Susan Lacy is an amazing woman. She directs, interviews and executive produces the show. She has interviewed 20+ people already for the Geffen story and it includes Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Joni Mitchell, Elliot Roberts to name a few. John was amazing in the interview and the whole crew was mesmerized by his stories of the groundbreaking music and the business of managing the great artists in the 70's.

In case you might think I have gone off the deep end with this illustration please notice the article and real home below. I now feel completely VALidated :)

2009 Valerie Walsh

TOILET HOUSE

The Toilet-shaped House has a very unique design and was built by Sim Jae-duck, the chairman of the organizing committee of the Inaugural General Assembly of the World Toilet Association, and he hopes his toilet house will highlight the global need for better sanitation. The Toilet-Shaped House is in fact named Haewoojae which signifies in Korean a place of sanctuary, where one can solve ones worries, Sim Jae-duck opened what is billed as the world's one and only toilet house to mark the launch of his World Toilet Association. The steel, white concrete and glass house, with a symbolic opening in the roof is a 419 sq, m structure with two bedrooms, two guestrooms and other rooms, the two-story house of course features three deluxe toilets.Unlike the giant toilet in which they are located they are not see-through affairs. If you would like to visit this house you can go to Sim Jae-duck's native city of Suweon 40 km south of Seoul.

via-Reuters & Spluch

Illustration Friday: pattern

2009-09-25T11:33:00.000-07:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "pattern" theme is a painting that will be used on a wine label for Cornell Winery. This is an amazing little area and the buildings are quaint and old timey. The person that made this building employed many different materials, which in turn has created an array of many "patterns". I will be painting another building in this area as well. I embellished the vineyard aspect in this painting for the owner of the winery because in fact a beautiful park is there called Peter Strauss Ranch against a mountain backdrop. This was the perfect angle of the building for me as it highlights this unique steeple. It is a historical landmark area and I am quite taken with the place. Quite a few vineyards and wine tasting establishments have sprung up in the canyons of Malibu in the last few years. I enjoy creating wine labels and when the printing is finished I will repost.

Last night I posted a giveaway here and one of my readers will win 250 full colour greeting cards courtesy of Uprinting. Please read the details and enter to win some free greeting cards that you can put your art or photos on for the holidays!
click here for CornellWinery.com

click here for Greeting card Giveaway

Illustration Friday "inifite"

2009-09-18T17:47:00.000-07:00

The shape of the butterfly is very close to the shape of the infinity symbol. In some old cultures, butterflies also symbolize rebirth into a new life after being inside a cocoon for a period of time.The Ancient Greek word for "butterfly" is ψυχή (psȳchē), which primarily means "soul", "mind". Both possessing infinite qualities and possibilities. My submission for Illustration Friday's "infinite" theme is another stationary card for Monday Artday ATC's stationary group. This is called "Housefly". When I look at butterflies, I see flying houses, don't you?
We get to take care of the magnificent Mr. Tar for 2 whole weeks while his family goes to Italy. Felicita Strada or Happy Trails Meghan,Billy and Sullivan! I love Italy

copyright 2009 valerie walsh

Illustration Friday: Welcome

2009-09-14T21:41:00.000-07:00

A welcome port in the storm. My submission for Illustration Friday's "Welcome" theme is Bumbershoot House stationary cards for a Monday Artday ATC group. I have been away for a week. I flew to Washington and me, my Mom and sister drove to Sandpoint Idaho to visit my brother. It was the perfect weather for a roadtrip and as you can see very lovely! Here's a picture of my Mom, brother and sister.

Illustration Friday: Strong

2009-09-04T11:23:00.000-07:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Strong" theme is an illustration from the book "Return of the Matador" by Astrid Ryterband. This is a story of how the aging Matador has his last bullfight and very soon after has an accident, wakes up and discovers he has become the bull. His son, an acclaimed bullfighter in his own right ends up facing his own father in the ring. It is a wonderful story and I am not sure of the publishing date yet but I will post the book and provide links to it when it is available. On another note the new book "Good Day Mail" is out and available on Amazon.com. If you love getting good mail and I know you do this book celebrates giving and receiving mail. Valgal has the love letter to Rat captured on page 116 . Wonderful artist Emma Kid is in it as well and you might know her from her blog "Ben Conservato". The authors Jennie Hinchcliff and Carolee Gilligan Wheeler are based in San Francisco and they give good book! Check it out :)

Illustration Friday: Magnify

2009-08-29T20:47:00.000-07:00

A postcard and stationary card for Illustration Friday's "Magnify" theme. I'm a little behind this week and will be around to catch up with everyone soon. I have included a picture of my little friend Tar who came to visit me. He loves to sit on my deck and he also enjoys a little snack.
copyright 2009 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: Caution

2009-08-21T18:38:00.000-07:00

Caution to all who enter! My submission for Illustration Friday's "Caution" theme is a dimensional painting I did in the 80's titled "Bats". Throw caution to the wind this weekend

Illustration Friday: wrapped

2009-08-14T09:57:00.000-07:00

Now this is a good word! My logo and avatar are all about being wrapped up in a bow.

But my submission for Illustration Friday's " wrapped" theme was inspired by Georgina Matich of Argentina and the lovely ATC she made for me in 2007. It is titled "Silla" and I adore it! So when the ArtHouse 10,000 project sent me the word "chair" I asked Georgina if we could collaborate on this and she graciously allowed her image to be repurposed for this show. I have been working all summer on book illustrations, a large houscape and a wine label and now summer is almost gone... it has been nice, creative and quiet. I just wrapped the silla/chair image for the September 1st deadline and I hope you like it Georgina and Thank you so much for your kindness, talent and cooperation.

Georgina Matich's Blog

valeriewalsh 2009

Illustration Friday: impatience

2009-08-07T10:15:00.000-07:00

Instead of complaining about "impatience" the word that is chosen for Illustration Friday's theme today, I have decided to take the plunge. I know it sounds rather drastic but for some reason "impatience" pushed me over the edge. Farewell my friends, it has been grand.

3"x3" canvas for ArtHouse Canvas Project

Valerie Walsh 2009

Illustration Friday: modify

2009-07-31T11:08:00.000-07:00

Charlie was worried when he heard his family's plans to modify his dog house, but when he saw the results he was quite pleased. My submission for Illustration Friday's "modify" theme is a 3" x 3" painting for the ArtHouse Canvas Project which starts today at the Atlanta Airport Atrium Gallery through Sept. 4th. Below are a few more views.

Illustration Friday: idle

2009-07-24T21:23:00.000-07:00

It has been a bleak week as my pal Louie passed away. He is my mom and sister's dog. Louie and I spent 6 day's together just me and him in June. I'm so glad I did and we had 3 glorious walks a day, slept a lot, ate good food and watched movies together. He was never idle except for dog naps because he is a border collie and lived for the walks. He was sensitive and sweet and I am so glad that my Mom took him to Lakemont for his last walk because he really loved that place. Louie was a herder and therefore never idle. We will miss you forever sweet Louie.
My submission for Illustration Friday's "idle" theme is a birthday card I made for my sister Dee Dee and it features Louie. It is paper and ink.
Valerie Walsh 2009

Illustration Friday: Tango

2009-07-19T19:10:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of the TownHouse Tango? It could become the latest dance craze... Have I gone over the edge, probably but life is a complicated dance, no? My submission for Illustration Friday's "Tango" theme.

copyright 2009 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: hollow

2009-07-10T18:17:00.000-07:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "hollow" is not an illustration but rather a clay pot that is comprised of 4 clay slabs that make 4 separate buildings and a hollow interior. It really isn't hollow but filled with the sky and stars. This vase is owned by a longtime collector of my art and I only made a few of them as they are large and can break and indeed one broke during an earthquake and one got broken that was in transit. Considering all the time and work it left me with a hollow feeling :(

Illustration Friday: shaky

2009-07-04T22:28:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it can feel like you are living on shaky ground, especially in California. Here is my silly little submission for Illustration Friday's "shaky" theme. I have another pressing deadline right now so that's why this is minimal at best. It reminds me of the many earthquakes I have experienced in my life, falling debris, shaky buildings and usually your utilities get shut off for a few days while they restore power and water. As long as no one gets hurt they are a unique experience but every once in a while people talk about the Big one coming...

A bit of SHAKY trivia regarding music icon Neil Young, Neil has directed 5 movies, including 2008 critically acclaimed feature length documentary CSNY/Deja Vu. His nom de cine as a filmmaker is Bernard Shakey, the mythical founder of Shakey pictures.

Illustration Friday: worn

2009-06-26T11:28:00.000-07:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "worn" is a 3" x 3" mini canvas for the Art House Canvas Project 2 . The word for this image is "Nocturne" and you can see my little friend Tar the cat is worn out from chasing the fireflies.

I know a few artists here in LA that did paintings for Michael Jackson. He was a great lover of art and really admired excellent craftsmanship, artistry, intricacy and deeply detailed works. He was a big supporter of art and artists. The Jackson clan moved to Encino in the early 70's so his family's home is very close to Topanga. I hope he is dancing and singing in peace.

Illustration Friday: Drifting

2009-06-19T11:01:00.000-07:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Drifting" is one of my Marisol Hidden Treasure greeting cards. It has a gift certificate inviting the recipient to dinner. So after you drift, you have dinner, how perfect.

Illustration Friday: unfold

2009-06-12T20:21:00.000-07:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "unfold" theme is a diecut valgal card that celebrates love. The message is clear but the card is a little unique in the design. I love making cuts and folds, it makes the card a bit more special. I have included a few views here: 1.the original illustration and a copy of the card 2. closeups of the image 3. card folds and unfold.

Illustration Friday: craving

2009-06-06T11:05:00.000-07:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "craving" is "Soda Shoppe" an illustration that is an interior , yes, but it is a room for a building in my ValerieGallerie site that is used to house my greeting card section. This is a slightly different version that shows what Babs the cat is craving. A wonderful guy named Brian Coughlin helped me make my site and I will never forget his patience, kindness and generosity. He is a member of the band "Kinch" and a very multi-talented young man.

I was in Washington for 7 days and I hung with my pal Louie and we took many beautiful walks together.

Illustration Friday: adapt

2009-05-29T08:47:00.000-07:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "adapt" theme is a colour study (prismacolor on Arches) called "Cat House". This is a piece I made in 1989 and a guy that collected my art had to have it so this is a scan of a 35 milimeter slide and this accounts for the quality of the image...

We all need to embrace our differences and adapt to our surroundings.

Illustration Friday: cracked

2009-05-22T15:16:00.000-07:00

Sidewalks are cracked. My submission for Illustration Friday's "cracked" theme is one of my valgal business cards. Cracked sidewalks remind me of skating, biking and childhood fun. Hopscotch anyone?

I hope everyone has a nice Memorial weekend. Topanga is a fun place to share in the festivities because we have Topanga Days Fair a 3-day celebration with bands, games, food, sellers and dancing. It is a long standing tradition to attend the parade on Monday and all the kids, dogs, and adults enjoy themselves and the main boulevard is closed to traffic so all the floats and even our Firetruck 69 can attend. If you click on this link and go to the tab marked Topanga Days you can see the fair in 1979 and in 1999. A 20 year span and it seems the same :)

http://www.anastasiafite.com/

Illustration Friday: contagious

2009-05-17T18:09:00.000-07:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "contagious" is a small illustration titled "Home Sick". This little house has the chicken pox and is very contagious so don't just pop over or you might catch some.

Illustration Friday: parade

2009-05-08T11:50:00.000-07:00

This parade was for the ladies. As the first Gondolier made his way towards the town you could feel the excitement build. I made this painting in 1993 and in 1994 John and I drove to Washington and delivered this and 6 more paintings and ceramics to the Chase family home. They have a beautiful, modern home decorated in all of my colours and everything looked amazing!!! We helped them hang all the paintings and this one was hung above their bed. Only one piece broke on the trip but I brought an extra painting and it all worked out. My submission for Illustration Friday's "parade" is titled "Gondoleer".

Illustration Friday: hierarchy

2009-05-01T13:08:00.000-07:00

Because of her place in the hierarchy, the King awarded the Princess her own castle. This layered dimensional painting was done for the Walker family in Washington. They commissioned 2 paintings, one for each daughter and this was for Amira. She loves lambs, butterflies, hearts, flowers, birds, etc. Also they wanted an image to represent the meaning of her name.
The girl's name Amira \a-mi-ra\ is pronounced ah-MEER-ah. It is of Arabic and Hebrew origin, and its meaning is "princess. Feminine form of Amir. My submission for Illustration Friday's "hierarchy" theme.

Illustration Friday: Theater

2009-04-24T12:50:00.000-07:00

Another blast from my past and from the show I had called "Five Easy Pieces"in 1987. This dimensional painting is called "Vanity" and suits today's Illustration Friday theme "Theater". I wish I had more pictures of it but it sold long ago and was way before I had a digital camera. There are many little details like a compact with mirror and a tube of lipstick on the vanity, ashtray with a burning cigarette and a small hand mirror. copyright 1987 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: impossibility

2009-04-17T12:14:00.000-07:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "impossibility" is a dimensional painting that I created for a family in Brentwood, CA. They commissioned many paintings and always encouraged me to make unusual and unique works for them. It was awesome to make large paintings and get to be kind of "out there" with my ideas and techniques. This image is another version of "Flying Home" but on a magic carpet with paper I made and molded to hold the house. I even sewed little tassels on the edges. The boulders and water are made from wood and I used prismacolor pencils for the jewel like tones in the rocks and painted over the color pencil than scratched away the paint to get the stone like quality. The idea of a flying house might seem impossible but is it? We have been taught that anything is possible, right?

wood, paper, thread, prismacolor pencila, acrylic paint, foam board.

Illustration Friday: Fleeting

2009-04-10T13:49:00.000-07:00

Childhood is fleeting. My submission for Illustration Friday's "Fleeting" theme is a dimensional painting for Rady Children's Hospital auction on April 21st. The title of this painting is "Happy Home". I loved making it and hope it goes to a happy home and benefits a child who needs care.

Illustration Friday: talisman

2009-04-05T13:23:00.000-07:00

My talisman is a house key. A skeleton key that might have a past, some history. From a home that was lived in and loved in. Maybe it doesn't exist any more except in the memories of a former occupant, but the humble key remains.

My submission for Illustration Friday's "talisman" is "Housekey" made from clay,paint and handmade paper.

Illustration Friday: poise

2009-03-27T12:28:00.000-07:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "poise" is a dimensional painting that was in a show I had called "Five Easy Pieces". All the paintings were dimensional and each one represented a word and a piece of furniture. The paintings were Vanity, Charity, Chastity,Sinkronicity and this is called "Stability" and this is the painting hanging on a wall, I only mention it because you might think it is laying down but it is vertical. It is 20" x 40" and it is 5" deep.

I can't seem to scan film real well,I am not sure how to size it becaue it is scanned at 2700 dpi and reduced down. This doesn't capture all the details. I could use some tips if anybody has some :)

Illustration Friday: subtract

2009-03-20T12:10:00.000-07:00

If you subtract the background it becomes an easel back greeting card. My submisssion for Illustration Friday's "subtract" is an Egg House from my Applesaucey kids card line.

We dog sat Nomi for 6 days, she is the most well behaved love bug and she was Ratty's friend :)

Illustration Friday: Legendary

2009-03-14T00:06:00.000-07:00

The idea of the woman who lived in the shoe is a legendary story and my submission for Illustration Friday's "Legendary " theme. This is how her shoe would look if it were plopped down in the San Fernando Valley. Possibly in a tract home setting with a spanish influence. It looks like it fit's right in!

Happy Birthday Dee Dee xoxoxoxoxo

Illustration Friday: Intricate

2009-03-06T10:14:00.000-08:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Intricate" theme is my last full colour illustration for the book I created for the Art House Sketchbook project. We like to think we are complex and intricate but deep down, everyone we know needs to feel that he is home free. Stonehenge paper and acrylic paint.

Illustration Friday: breezy

2009-02-27T12:10:00.000-08:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "breezy" is from my moleskine for the Art House Sketch Book Project. I am not sure if this image really portray's "breezy but I have been sick with the flu all week and I am slightly delirious. I apologize to all of the wonderful artists that came to see my work and wished me a Happy Birthday. I was so ill I couldn't go online and comment back to you. I will visit each of you and can't wait to see what everybody is up to. Tonight is the opening of the Sketch Book show in Atlanta and then it will travel around. If you get a chance, check it out.

Illustration Friday: instinct

2009-02-20T08:39:00.000-08:00

Was it instinct that made her load up the car and head toward the woods? My submission for Illustration Friday's "instinct" theme is from my moleskine for the ArtHouse Sketch Book Project.

I was pleasantly surprised by this in my inbox yesterday , can you spot my image among all the beautiful things? And I turn 50 this weekend too :)

Illustration Friday: Celebrate

2009-02-13T08:50:00.000-08:00

After my dog Rat died I wanted to create something to celebrate his life. I made this funny little card that is house shaped and a little Topanga stamp to fit on the chimney. This card is a love letter to Rat. A month to the day he died a little black cat showed up every night and he would pop in through our cat door and bite my toes urging me to feed him! I named him Tar, Rat spelled backwards because he is black as tar. I found out his real name is Red and he has a wonderful family.When you open the door to this card Red or Tar is sitting there to greet you. I wanted Rat to know that this cat was checking up on me every night and that I was ok. I sent it out into the world and maybe it found it's way into someone's heart. My submission for Illustration Friday's "Celebrate" theme is a handmade card celebrating the life of my faithful companion.

I hope everyone has a Happy Valentine's Day and celebrate your loved ones.

Illustration Friday: Time

2009-02-06T12:11:00.000-08:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Time" is a dimensional painting I made in 1992. The title of this piece is "Night Clawk" and it was hanging in a restaurant in Westwood, CA and a young man named Kirtland Washington came in and purchased it. It's cool how a painting is a part of the artist and then someone takes it home and it has it's very own life out in the world somewhere. I hope Kirtland still has it and enjoys it. I am close to finishing the Shoe House and will post it soon.

Illustration Friday: flawed

2009-01-31T12:50:00.000-08:00

Flawed or Fabulous?

If somebody moved into your neighborhood and built a house like this would you embrace it or would you think they are crazy? I am so happy that there are kooky people that build houses like this because it makes the world a more interesting place! It needs a few kids though...

My submission for Illustration Friday's "flawed" theme.

I am kinda swamped but I will paint this image and hopefully post the finished idea soon. Here it is in real life: Haines Shoe House
Address:
195 Shoe House Road., Hellam, PA [Show Map]
Directions:
Just south of Rt. 30, west of Hellam, north off Hwy 462 on Shoehouse Rd.
Phone:
717-840-8339

Illustration Friday: climbing

2009-01-23T10:54:00.000-08:00

Climbing to the top of one of the tallest buildings she saw the message written in the stars.

My submission for Illustration Friday's "climbing" theme is a very old painting featuring my dog Yote. She was the star of many of my older works and I loved her dearly. I am busy working on a new houscape and preparing work for an Art House project.

Illustration Friday: pale

2009-01-16T10:00:00.000-08:00

It rose up in the winter night, it was a very large pale duck.

The Big Duck or Duck House
My submission for Illustration Friday's "pale" theme.
Location: Along Rt.24 North of Rt. 27 by 1.25 miles. On the west side of the road.Suffolk County-NYLatitude: N40 degrees 53.28Longitude: W72 degrees 33.44. I have painted this duck house before here as a daytime piece. I made this one that resembles how the people of Suffolk decorate the duck at holiday time.
A tribute to the artist Andrew Wyeth:
http://news.aol.com/article/painter-andrew-wyeth-dies-at-91/309207

copyright 2007 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: contained

2009-01-09T10:03:00.000-08:00

My submission for Illustration Friday's "contained" is a diecut card created for Holiday Season 2009. Notice how I contained the houses within this lovely shape. A little different and very fun to do. I love painting holiday work , especially cards. I enjoyed creating this subdued palette as well.

Illustration Friday: resolve

2009-01-02T12:00:00.000-08:00

Every year I resolve to paint more houses, homes and buildings. My submission for Illustration Friday's "resolve" theme is a custom invite to a house party. Happy New Year to everyone.

Illustration Friday: clandestine

2008-12-26T11:02:00.000-08:00

Sweet little Miss HollyBerry has a clandestine meeting with Mr. Mistletoe. Where is he? It"s so cold, Brrrrrr!!! My submission for Illustration Friday's "clandestine" is an illustration I did for a Holiday card this year and a submission for a Holiday contest on Youtube. It didn't make it to the contest but they loved my work so much they requested a bunch of my older images :)

Illustration Friday: voices

2008-12-19T11:26:00.000-08:00

The voices inside "The Light Stays On" found their way into my heart and I loved painting this image of the "magic cottage" for Karen Jasper. I hope you can treat yourself or someone you know with a copy available through the author, Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com. Karen has a paypal link at the top of her blog and you can buy the book right from her page and she would be happy to sign it for you as well. I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays and having winter fun!