"Grow" Corgi Puppy

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppy illustration was created for this week's Illustration Friday theme, "grow". I've been fussing over the style of my Children's Book art lately and this was a perfect way to play a little and have fun!

Gray's Papaya, UWS NYC

In celebration of my dearest friend’s birthday I have illustrated his favorite hotdog joint. He is not a huge fan of hot dogs, so I’m not sure whether it’s the taste, the fact that they are dirt cheap or the value of the recession special that has captured his fancy. His favorite Gray's Papaya is on Broadway and 72nd street!

The Dairy in Central Park, NYC

Temperatures in NYC hovered in the 80’s this week. I took advantage of summer’s come back by strolling through Central Park. Nestled in the park is one of my favorite buildings, a visitor center called The Dairy. The Victorian Gothic structure has an open loggia which provided ample shade and benches, perfect for this artist to sit and view the gardens and Wollman Rink.

Manhattan's Chinatown, Canal Street NYC Subway

I enjoy winding down my weekend by partaking in the Sunday ritual of brunch. Dim Sum, in Manhattan's Chinatown, was last weeks culinary escape, yum!

The main artery of Chinatown is Canal street. Overflowing with shoppers seeking treasures of cheap stuff and fresh food or cars connecting to the Manhattan Bridge and Holland Tunnel this area is always bustling. Thankfully I don't have a car so I never have to fight the traffic! Instead I engage with Chinatown by way of the 6 subway line and exit at Canal Street. I love getting off at this stop. To me it feels like the heart of Chinatown because the view of the lovely red pagoda type building is so welcoming.

New York Water Taxi

After last weeks ride on the Staten Island Ferry I continued to explore the southern tip of Manhattan's Battery Park. I could still gaze out and see the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Governors Island from land, but among all of the historical sites it was a little NYC Water Taxi that caught my attention. The splash of bright yellow really brightened up the skyline and the boats graphics are reminiscent of the famous NYC "Checker" taxi cabs!

Statue of Liberty

I'd like to extend a huge thank you, to those of you who have been writing me about my blog! I have appreciated the feedback and suggestions. A few of you requested that I expand the NYC Upper West Side card serious to include landmarks from all over Manhattan. I was inspired to start with the Statue of Liberty, when I spied our fair lady while riding the Staten Island Ferry. Thanks again and keep the comments rolling!

Westie in the Sun

While traveling back to Pennsylvania I had the pleasure of staying with a friend who has the cutest little Westie, named Pickles. The next morning I woke up to find Pickles resting in a patch of sunlight. I rendered this moment, of a very happy dog's life, in water color and ink.

Bat Teeth Fossils

Some of my favorite illustration assignments involve documenting other peoples fun finds. I had the pleasure of illustrating fossils of an insectivorous bat, H. besaoka, for Dr. Karen Samonds. Her paper describing the new fossils from her paleontological expeditions to Madagascar has just been published! The citation is: Samonds, K.E. (2007). Late Pleistocene bat fossils from Anjohibe Cave, northwestern Madagascar. - Acta Chiropterologica, 9 (1): 39 - 65. My three illustrations of Hipposideros besaoka, A. lingual view of right maxilla B. labial view of right dentary and C. occlusal view of dentary can be found on page 50.