Illustration Friday: unfold

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.

copyright 2004 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: talisman

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.

Copyright 2009 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: worry

Sometimes when I get ready to leave the house, my dog Rat seems to worry. Once he realizes that he will not be coming with me he looks sad and let down. This can cause me a little guilt but I promise him I will be right back with a walk in his future and I leave him with a few cookie bribes. He seems to look a little less worried...

My submission for Illustration Friday's "worry" is a small layered dimensional painting "House Sitting" and it is made with Foam board, clay, wood, acrylic paint and resin.

Illustration Friday: Save

Some of my time is spent painting "Houscapes" portraits of private homes. A few years ago a woman came to my studio tour and she asked me to paint her home. She lives in Malibu in a gypsy wagon and a tent with her two dogs. This was not just any old gypsy wagon, this is one that was used in the original "Dr. Dolittle" movie starring Rex Harrison. It came from England, when the movie rapped and it was no longer needed a family brought it to their property out in Malibu and felt it was worth saving. The lady I did the painting for has been living in this wagon for 25+ years. She is an amazing person, living simply, she works with Martin Sheen and has been arrested over 100 times for protesting nuclear armaments to help "save" the planet. The area she lives in is absolute paradise. Bob Dylan lives next door and he has a gypsy wagon too. I loved painting this for her and it was a way to "save" the memories and to commemorate the anniversary of her 25 years living there. As a young girl I read all of Hugh Lofting's books and they always transported me to a wonderful place. This is my submission for Illustration Friday's "Save" theme.

Illustration Friday: homage

My submission for Illustration Friday's "homage" is one of my Marisol greeting cards for "Dinner at my place". A homage to the simple pleasures of life: Home pride and being House proud.

Illustration Friday: 100%

100 percent Prismacolor pencil for Illustration Friday's "100 %" theme. This is cute, it will be a diecut and when you turn one of the corners of the lawn it stands up as a decoration or place holder. I will post it again once it's been printed and cut. 100% home too.

Illustration Friday: Little Things

Here is my submission for Illustration Friday's "Little Things" prompt. It is a little painting 2.5" x 3.5 titled "First Snow". It is a little child standing in the doorway watching the first little flakes fall. It really is the "Little Things" in life that help us understand what's important.
A few of my friends asked me to put some gifts in my Etsy shop for the holidays. I used to be big time into gift making. When I was 19 (29 years ago) I started my own hand printed greeting card business here in Topanga. I would silkscreen in my studio, a limit of 3 colours and I would hand deliver, wrapped with a ribbon in a paper bag. I had tons of takers, they were all wonderful people and all of their friends would hope to receive one of my cards. They were printed on hand made paper, limited and signed editions. It was a unique little business that made people happy at the holidays.

Illustration Friday: Snap

My submission for Illustration Friday's "Snap" is from a painting I made my sister for her birthday. The cold snap prolonged the ski season another week. For dd it was the perfect dream!

valerie walsh 2007

Illustration Friday: total

My submission for Illustration Friday's "total" is from my 2002 HomeMade calendar and the title is "Home Delivery". It was a total surprise when the stork showed up! This was for the month of January . Out with the old year and in with the new. The quote is: I remember, I remember the house where I was born, the little window where the sun came peeping in the morn ~Thomas Hood

Home Delivery 2002 copyright Valerie Walsh