Last few days, I’ve been juggling photo shoots, end of school year mayhem, dance performances, ER visits and illustration deadlines. All this makes a girl a bit creatively drained. Recuperating from it all, I’m making small attempts to begin sketches for long time client, Grand Rapids Community Foundation. Again, I’m looking back to old illustration I’ve done for their newsletter, Current, to see if I can find what I’m missing. That creative mojo.Here are a few spot illustrations from past issues of Current:

Creating poster artwork isn’t as easy as you may think. Especially today, listening to birds singing out in the lovely sunny spring. Still, I’m expected to create the next round of images for next year’s Opera Grand Rapids. Things are moving along ok, but being that I’m a little distracted, and Mike scored us some sweet tickets to Porgy and Bess this Friday, I thought I’d share some of the color studies and sketches for this weekend’s performance.

Color is always an important element in my work, so when sketching I like starting with color right away.

Sometimes I scan the sketches and play with color and compositions in photoshop.

For opera artwork, I tend to listen to opera cds from the library. My kids do not really appreciate this.

Once a concept is settled, many color studies are made. Pencils and gouache make this process easy and fast.

Art finally gets done thanks to great art direction from Lisa at Square One Design

love this paper blog. love.

artprize wallpaper 1b, originally uploaded by ArtPrize.

Please choose my work for display in your space.

Thank you,Yolanda

public painting, originally uploaded by yodraws.

As always, it was amazing to paint at this year’s UICA Live Coverage. About 60 excellent artists from Grand Rapids, Michigan and beyond created works for auction. I, despite a zero art budget, came home with a few goodies to hang on my walls. I also came home, with Live Coverage buzz, energized to create more work.

Come see me paint at UICA this year.

Starting a new project always leads to pulling out every art book around the house. Old American Illustration annuals, Communication Arts magazines, Picasso and Kahlo picture books are recruited to help spark inspiration. I think every artist relies on old masters to help with the task of problem solving a new piece of work. Here is a short list of the old and not so old art masters that are helping me out today: 

Kiersten Essenpreis

Jean-Michel Basquiat

M.C. Escher

Diane Bigda

Terrance Cummings 

An illustrator friend of mine sent me this link further solidify my love for Maira Kalman. Thank you, Elizabeth.

with this. prrrrr!

detail of poppies, originally uploaded by yodraws.

Holland Friends of Art Tulip Time Exhibit
In Celebration of the Tulip
At the Holland Area Arts Council
April 24 - May 24
Opening Reception: Thursday, May, 1, 6-8pm