Doing December things

 

Give, get, play the penguin way!

(painted with gouache)

Things I see around me now.

Painting, snapping, and drawing my way through December!

Decked out dogs

 

Dogs make me happy!  Christmas, not so much.  This makes me feel like such a Grinch, but I figure I can't be the only one.  Painting this however was fun!  What I do like about December is the twinkly lights & of course the cute decked out dogs.

Hello, World! puzzles

Do you have a young Hello, World fan in your life?  Masterpieces has licensed some of my Hello, World! art for an assortment of colorful puzzles. (ranging from age 3-5)  You can visit Masterpieces Inc online to order or if you’d like to see the puzzles look for them at JoAnn’s stores. 🧩 🎁

 

Share JOY 🌟

 

As a child I loved The Animals Merry Christmas by Richard Scarry.  I'd admire it year-round!  This is a gouache piece I made thinking about that book.  The sweet, festive animals are always up to something & this time they're putting on a Christmas concert to share some joy that I hope you find this holiday season.  Papyrus purchased this card so it's now, somewhere in their line.

Birds and Blooms Personalized Growth Chart

 It's turkey season but there's no turkeys here.  Instead a bunch of cut paper patterned birds, branches, leaves and flowers in my new personalized growth chart.  Available in my Etsy shop!

 

Here's a closer look.

 My favorite it the hummingbird!  I miss seeing them around my flowers pots throughout the day.  

Story time- take a look!

This is a print I made for an upcoming fabric collection with P & B Textiles out soon.  I enjoy making animal characters and sweet little details make me extra happy.  Did you notice... chicken drives fast? (hint check out the duck reading the red book) When you look closer there's lots to see and soak in, maybe even smile about. 🍄

 

Let's Fly

 Sharing a new print I made for Little Sleepies.  Glide, soar, or cruise into sweet dreams!

I love that they made this print in sizes for the whole family.

 

 This teeny-tiny silhouette gets me ever time!

 

 

Election DAY

⭐ If you haven't voted yet, now is the time. ⭐

IMPOSSIBLE

 

I’m a sucker for motivational stuff.  Like anything that is supposed to connect it comes across differently to each person.  For me the word IMPOSSIBLE read as I’M POSSIBLE.  Maybe this my dyslexia kicking in breaking up a word in a different way or maybe it’s some sort of inner belief to push the boundaries of what is perceived as possible.  Either way I’m running with it & turned it into an art print to hang in my home.

IMPOSSIBLE: not able to occur, exist, or be done. I’m not so sure❗❓

 

 

 

Happy HALLOWEEN

 

Here's to seeking a little magic everyday but especially on Halloween!

Here's a few painted costume choices... Which one would you pick?

 

I've updated my Etsy shop!

 

To see the image better, go ahead & give it a click.

 

 

 

I updated my Etsy shop Missjillmcdonald with lots of shiny new things.

There's personalized art prints, motivational art prints, painted pennants, growth charts, 

and my travel journals.  Wander over and enjoy taking a look, there's LOTS to see!

I hope you find something you'd like to have in your home. 

 

Here's a link to my favorite NEW art print. (it's also available as a growth chart)

 

 

Blast off!

Blast off!  I’m excited to share my next Hello, World! book with you.  Although it’s not out yet, it is available for pre-order.  Drawing rockets & machines is fun but it’s even more satisfying to learn about what these cool contraptions can do!  We’ll cover rockets, rovers, space shuttles and much more. 🚀

 

Spooky season

 

🔸 It's upon us! 🔸

It's back!

I wanted to share the meet the artist interview I did for Little Sleepies & let you know that the Around the World print I made for them is back.  Hope you enjoy learning a little more about this print and my art here.

Have you picked a pumpkin?

 So, here we are one week into October & now it feels appropriate to share a little more about my latest Hello, World! board book From Seed to Pumpkin.

 

This book shares the life cycle of a pumpkin, tells how the tradition of carving jack-o-lanterns started in the U.S. and offers a helpful tip on what to do with carved pumpkin after Halloween.  Like all my Hello, World! books I learned some new things & it's my hope/goal that you do too!

 

 

If you have a little one in your life who likes to color, this new coloring page has been added to my website.  Enjoy for some fall fun!

 

We went to the apple orchard (Red Barn Orchard in Weston Mo.) two weeks ago.  We've gone each year since my son was 3. (He's 17 now!)  This time was our hottest trip yet with a temp of 95 degrees.  Apple doughnuts didn't sound as good this year in the heat.  That said the pumpkins looked great in the bright, hot sun.  These ones with long stems caught my eye.

Did you know the art in my Hello, World! series starts out with cut paper characters & shapes?  I scan each item & continue creating in Photoshop.  I'm sharing a photo of a beginning stage.  Sometimes it feels like I'm making paper dolls.  I still like to play!

Fall flower fun

 I find making patterns so relaxing & fun.  This one is a crescendo of spicy fall color & shape.             

 

With no hard frost yet, I'm happy to report the flowers are still going strong!

Types of apples

 

I painted a few of my favorite kinds of apples.  Pink Lady apples are at the top of my list! Apples are in rose family, called Rosaceae.  I find this so cool & when you look at the calyx you can kind of see the similarities.  I can say (from experience) that painting an apple is so much easier than successfully painting a rose!

Shifting seasons

 

Mid September in my studio, where the light is soft and shining.

Labor Day weekend

 

Here’s to a fun, breezy, long weekend with some extra time to embrace the outdoors!  This watercolor painted was turned into a card for Design House Greetings.  I've mentioned it before, (and I'll do it again) I have dreams of learning to sail one day!