Back in action today! Barbara sent me a link to an old friend’s portfolio and wowza. I think this piece is brilliant. Equal parts fine art and illustrative— just how I like it!

Link: Lisa Chou.

This is Bernard. Bernie. Reason #2. Call me what you will. Ma read me all of your comments from  yesterday and I almost peed. Actually, I did pee. On the rug, two days ago. But don’t tell Ma, because I don’t think she knows [editor's note: Oh I know, Bernie].

Anyway, thank you for your kind thoughts and if I could give you all many licks and cuddles, I would. Especially if you are a lady, because I am a lady machine!

THANK YOU!
p.s. Please excuse the grainy image. It was late, and I think the pixels flatter my skin tone.

Get ready. I mean, really. Get. Ready.

For a few weeks now, Shane from Art House Co-Op and I have been in cahoots about what is soon to be the best collabo EVER. And I’m not even joking.

But like homemade pies and mixed tapes, they can only be as good as what you put into it. Which means, we need YOU [yes, in that Uncle Sam-poster-kind of way].

So, if you want your work to (a). gain exposure, (b). be PUBLISHED, (c). have an official spot on the gallery wall of Art House Co-Op, or (d). all of the above, read on.

And if not? Well, you’re crazy.

The Scavenger Project is a book compiled by Art House Co-Op and Design for Mankind where each chapter will reference a moment or scenario found by YOU.  Here’s how it works:

1. Go here and sign up.
2. Receive your welcome kit, participation info and a list of 24 items, one for each chapter.
3. Visually represent each item in whatever way you’d like– paint, illo, photograph, 3D dioramas, etc.
4. Send in your submissions and watch the beauty of our individual perspectives unfold.

If you’d like to participate and want to pre-order the book, feel free to do that right here as well. And yes, I’m going to do it, too, so we can all pretend like we’re in a big fancy club together. We can talk in code, if you like. ;)

OK, any questions? Go get ‘em, and sign up now!!!!! So excited to see your submissions, and shoot me an email if you’ve signed up so I can cheer you on!

p.s. This will be my only post today, so I can catch up on:
1. Sleep
2. Your emails, which are the highlight of my day!
3. A crazy amount of projects
4. Packing. :(
5. Re-scheduled birthday activities.

See you tomorrow— love to you all.

photo credit: flickr member feel_intention

You guys— honestly. I can’t thank you enough for your sweet comments, prayers, emails and phone calls today. You have been so gracious and loving, and Reason #2 so appreciates it all. [I sort of do, too!]

For those of you wondering, Bernie is fine and well and begins his anti-seizure medication tomorrow morning. He’s currently sleeping soundly on my feet, just where he belongs.

I don’t normally get personal here, but I really feel the need to share how blessed I was today. Although it wasn’t your typical birthday, between the emergency vet clinics, the pharmacies, the family vet and my annual dental check-up, I couldn’t help but feel as if this was a true birthday celebration. Nothing fancy, no parties or balloons. Just Husband and I driving around town trying to figure out what the next step is.

And isn’t that so fitting? Life is about the next steps, the ups and downs, and the in-betweens. Throw a few dentist appointments and a trip to the E.R. and you’ve got yourself a pretty well-lived life.

I can’t think of a better way to turn 25.

He had another one… we’ll be out for the day.

It’s 4am and Husband and I just arrived home from the emergency vet clinic where Reason #2 had a focal seizure. He’s quite fine now and sleeping soundly. Needless to say, I’m quite tired and will be catching up on sleep in lieu of regular posting.

I like to think Reason #2 was just giving me one last scare as a 24-year-old. ;)

Link: Crl! on Flickr.

New [and really, really good] work from Husmann Tschaeni.

Link: Husmann Tschaeni.

I took a cue from Andre Jordan [whom I adore!] this morning and attempted some deep-thinking exercises.

Unfortunately, I came up with much the same answers and am now happily indulging in a bowl of ice cream.

Link: a beautiful revolution: blog: tell me something.

I like to sometimes pretend I’m the subject in a specific piece of art. What am I thinking, feeling?

Am I cutting up an ex-lover’s letters or my bank statements? Or am I simply in the beginning stage of a papier mache project?

I assume only dear Penelope can answer that…

Link: Penelope Illustration • Penelope Dullaghan » Fine Art.