Illustration Friday: impossibility

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?

copyright 1995 Valerie Walsh

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

Illustration Friday: Fleeting

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.

Happy Easter or Passover or both :)



copyright 2009 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: poise

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 :)

copyright 1987 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: subtract

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 :)

copyright 2000 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: Legendary

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!

copyright 2009 Valerie Walsh

Happy Birthday Dee Dee xoxoxoxoxo

Illustration Friday: Intricate

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.

copyright 2009 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: breezy

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.

copyright 2009 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: instinct

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 :)

copyright 2009 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: Celebrate

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.

copyright 2008 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: Time

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.

copyright 1992 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: flawed

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.

copyright 2009 Valerie Walsh

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

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.

copyright 1988 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: pale

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

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.

copyright 2009 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: resolve

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.

copyright 2000 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: clandestine

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 :)

copyright 2008 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: voices

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!

Magic Cottage copyright 2008 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: rambunctious

It was a rambunctious magic carpet that took the horse for a ride. My submission for Illustration Friday's "rambunctious" theme.

Magic Carpet copyright 1995 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: similar

They are different and yet similar. My submission for Illustration Friday's "similar". A line of greeting cards called Flower Garden Girls.
copyright 2001 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: balloon

I missed everybody last week because I had to go out of town and I hope everyone that celebrated Thanksgiving had a very nice one. Have a wonderful extended weekend as well. My submission for Illustration Friday's "balloon" is another die-cut gift tag for a happy birthday greeting.

Homespun Gifttag copyright 2002 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: pretend

Let's pretend we are small enough to walk into this box and help ourselves to some chocolate, fun clothes and surf and sun. Wouldn't that be swell? My submission to Illustration Friday's "pretend" theme is a store-shaped candy box for Fred Segal Fun Style. They are located in Santa Monica and specialise in casual beachy fashion and accessories.

copyright 2008 Valerie Walsh for Fred Segal Fun Style
Ilustration on Canson Airbrush paper

Illustration Friday: wise

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers.
Charles W. Eliot, The Happy Life, 1896 US educator (1834 - 1926)

My submission for Illustration Friday's "wise" theme are some diecut gift tags that feature teachers in the doorway of an old-fashioned school house.

copyright 2008 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: vacant

My submission for Illustration Friday's "vacant" is this vacant haunted house. I made both of these little illustrations for a traveling journal called 29,000 ducks a few years ago. It was started by Bek from Australia and she was inspired by a cargo of 29,000 ducks that were lost to sea. Some wonderful art was created by several artists and I received it during October so part of my pages are devoted to the ducks arriving in Los Angeles and their adventures here. They visited a vacant haunted house and went trick or treating by the beach. This is what it is like to Trick or Treat in LA :)Then I sent the journal to Italy. The book made it's way back to CA but I am unclear on what happened to it... It probably got ship wrecked and is floating out at sea. Have a safe and fun Halloween!
copyright 2006 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: repair

Flowers or a bouquet can repair or help to say "I'm sorry". My submission for Illustration Friday's "repair" theme is a greeting card from my Applesaucey Kids line.

copyright 2000 Valerie Walsh

Illustration Friday: Late

Late at night the fun begins! My submission for Illustration Friday's "Late" theme. A greeting card and gift tag for Halloween. I started my blog 3 years ago yesterday, the time flew by...


copyright Valerie Walsh 2008

Illustration Friday: strings

My submission for Illustration Friday's "strings" is an image that was used on a postcard for a woman named Lisa and she has a freelance hairstyling business in Santa Monica. She sends cards created by me for her clients at different times of the year. This was used for birthday greetings to let her customers know that she is thinking of them on their day. She is a smart cookie.

Illustration Friday: sugary

Do you think it's possible that when we drop little pieces of sugary sweet candy on the ground and under the couch that bugs might consume the interior as their food source and live inside the hollowed out shells of candy corn and tootsie rolls? My submission for Illustration Friday's " sugary" theme is a little original spot illo that is a used for a gift tag. Upcycled candy corn with licorice stovepipe and crumb from a hershey kiss that makes up the chimney. Front door is the crust from a graham cracker. For rent or lease in your neck of the woods.

But for the real goop: National Candy Corn Day (October 30th) is only one of many sweet holidays recognized by the National Confectioners Association which was founded in Chicago in 1884. The NCA is one of the oldest, most respected trade associations in the world.
Candy Corn was originally created by George Renninger in the 1800. The tri-colored candy caused quite a stir when introduced by the Wunderlee Candy Company. As the process to make these bite sized candies was labor intensive, Candy Corn was originally produced only from March to November each year as a seasonal favorite.
In the 1900's, the Goelitz Candy Company started to produce this confection and continues to do so to this day as the Jelly Belly Candy Company.