Rain and Pencil

I recently began using pencil for my under drawing instead of colored pencil. I've found myself gravitating toward a more subtle color palette than I use with my colored pencil paintings. I like it and I think I will continue using pencil and seeing what takes shape. The reason I started using pencil is because I recently purchased the most amazing mechanical pencil I've ever used, it's a Koh-I-Noor Mephisto Profi pencil, and I really cannot put it down. The advantage of colored pencil is that the Prismacolor col-erase pencils melt into the watercolor. The lady in the first painting is wearing a Jean Yu triangle bra. After several weeks of sunshine rain has returned to northern California. I don't mind, I get more work done on rainy days.

Tedd Vallance

Tedd Vallance is my step Dad, you may have see his work at United Coffee in Sacramento, Ca. I was finally able to get him to start a blog in which he explains his process and motivation. He spends 40 hours or more on one 8x10 drawing. As a child he made sure I always had plenty of art supplies, everything I could possibly need. I was always in awe of his talent, skill, and patience, and so I am excited that he is finally putting his beautiful trees out there for all to see! Follow him!

Let's get purse-onal!

Hey Friends,
Recently I had the honor of illustrating some handbags for Modcloth, please check them out!

Choose your own bag adventure!

Nonverbal Magazine

I created these images for Nonverbal Magazine!

Freja Beha Erichsen

I painted this earlier today, it's model Freja Beha Erichsen. Tomorrow my husband Rob is competing in a drum competition. He was chosen out of hundreds of other contestants from the west coast.

Somehow I found time to paint this today. Lately I have been focusing on trying to paint faster and with less precision. I'm ready for fall and neutral color palettes!

blue period

gold leaf detail
mutiple exposure polaroid
my christian dior scarf
blue shoes
La Châtelaine, Henri de Tuolouse Lautrec
French Ultramarine, Marcia Hafif