Updated Studio

My ADHD gave me the GREEN LIGHT GO to finally put together my new & improved art "studio" area. I added thrift finds to add appeal and function to said artistic space to make my magic. Before tonight, piles of markers and watercolor paper sat untouched, unloved since mid-summer. It wasn't a priority until this evening at 8PM CST. 

Ace & Archer

THROWBACK FROM 2021: A fellow PAR at the Sanford Clinic where I worked, asked to have her two cats be drawn together. 

Nekked Art

Before any watercolor paint is added on, most of my Sharpie drawings are just plain drawings with just a thought of what I should splash on. I try to not overthink the paint choices.... and from start to finish as in wrapping them up in proper packaging and being shipped off to their new homes... it's a couple of hours later. Custom orders from clients take much longer, as those are very detailed. My biggest joy, however, comes from grabbing a marker and just drawing what my mind tells my hand to do. 

Freelance with Carousel Checks

Since August 2007, I have been an active Freelance Licensed Artist with CAROUSEL CHECKS LLC in Bridgeview, Illinois. Carousel Checks LLC. I design checks, address labels and promotional materials for this amazing company. 

THROWBACK THURSDAYS

 THROWBACK THURSDAYS: Sassy Pants needs no introduction now does she?

Roller Dollz Wanna-Be

THROWBACK TO 2020: A lovely cohort named Cansas worked in the Lab at the clinic I worked at in Sioux Falls South Dakota. On the side, when she was not taking care of her children, she trained to be a Roller Dollz, a roller derby group here in the largest city in South Dakota.

February 2023 Memory

 

In February 2023, I relocated back to South Dakota from a brief stay in Marshall MN. I worked as a substitute teacher at the Tyndall Elementary School and Bon Homme High School. 

On a day off, I went to visit the 3rd Grade Teacher, Deb Sternhagen at the Tyndall location. She and I were high school classmates from 1983 to 1985. 

I met her charming class and drew everyone a quickie drawing of them. I used school-provided white paper and crayons. I was a big hit that afternoon. 

THROWBACK THURSDAYS

THROWBACK THURSDAYS: This little guy dates back to 2005 when I was just dabbling in drawing with permanent markers and using watercolor paints to capture a different look. I used to use markers and crayons but found the loose technique of the watery paints added a more relaxed feel to my imagination. 

Sanford Employee's Grandchild

While working at Sanford Clinic and Acute Care from 2020 to 2022, I also did special drawings for all of my coworkers for "anything they wished."

I drew a custom painting for an Acute Care RN's granddaughter and the family pet, Brutus.

Sanford Health Clinic Fun

From 2020 to 2022, I was a Patient Access Representative for a large Sanford Clinic and Acute Care in Sioux Falls, SD. I was asked to decorate the staff break room to raise morale during those two looooong COVID years. It was so much fun designing people's birthdays and anniversary dates and all the extras I did for everyone. Here is an example I drew for my own birthday for July 2020.

Helpline Center 211 Motivation

I worked at the Helpline Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for a short time frame in 2019.

I made this 16"x 24" watercolor painting for the phone room that I worked in and to keep my fellow coworkers motivated with their own personalized illustrations of themselves as well. 

Designing a Calendar...

My Bombdiggity Elephant was featured in my last printed calendar for the year 2021.

Here is the "just freshly drawn" subject matter before I added the primary watercolor paints. I am going to attempt to make a 2025 calendar to sell this Fall. 

Custom Order for a Beloved Family

A personal favorite of a former Boys & Girls coworker of mine back in 2010 in Yankton, SD. This was her sister and her family.

 

My Original Art

Two happy pieces I completed years ago. 

 

My Artistic Skills Goes Beyond Cartoons

 Long before I became a trademarked licensed artist, I studied graphic art at two colleges in the 1980s in South Dakota and Nebraska. I had amazing gifted art instructors both at Northern State University in Aberdeen South Dakota and Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska from 1985 to 1989. The top three are 16"x24" watercolor paintings I did at WSC. The last photo is a bronze sculpture I also created at WSC.

My Graduating Training Class

My COMBAT TRAINING CLASS in May 2023 at the South Dakota DOC in Sioux Falls, SD.

This was my true joy to draw my amazing class and our trainers for our graduation class.

The 3-wk of combat training was brutal.  

Cheryl - Conlin Furniture Store

 I popped into a local furniture store in Sioux Falls, SD due to their clearance sale ... and I was greeted by a sales lady named Cheryl. As we were walking around the store, she asked if I used to work at a former company I had worked at. After a few more tidbits thrown in, she and I had met in 2016. We were coworkers. She was an amazing salesperson and I left with a much wanted purchase. I returned the next day to give her this hand-drawn, hand-painted watercolor painting for her to remember me, all these years later... and for my way, of saying "Thank You," for the deal she gave me. 

This was an 8"x10" watercolor painting created in late Fall 2023.

All Rights Reserved.

Holy Spirit Parish Chili Cookoff

 

Hand drew, and hand colored with a variety of markers and crayons to make magic on styrofoam cups for the HOLY SPIRIT PARISH CHURCH in Sioux Falls SD for a GAME DAY event for the parishioners where I had worked as their Executive Secretary in 2023. These cups were used for their Chili Cookoff Contest.