Illustration Friday: rescue

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 .

Marisol Stationary to promote and teach children the art of letter writing and Thank you notes. Valerie Walsh copyright 1994

Illustration Friday: undone

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

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

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

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

copyright 2001 valerie walsh

Illustration Friday: entangled

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.

copyright 2000 valerie walsh

Illustration Friday: music

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
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