Busy times

The last few weeks I've been extremely busy since I'm working on a new illustrated book that keeps me in my studio most of the time. Luckily, it's a really fun commission and I'm enjoying my confinement quite a lot.

But a couple of weeks ago I sneaked some free time and went on a short trip to the pyrenees. It was great to spend some time in the small village where I spent so much time as a kid, and hiking in those beafutiful mountains. There was also great food involved, including lots of wild berries. I came back with my eyes full of green, my heart full of happiness and my body full of energy.

Atelier de beauté

Remember that project with the french toy company Djeco I told you about some months ago? Well, I got my samples of the final product yesterday and I'm so happy with how this turned out! It meant a lot of hard work along with Sophie and Nathalie, but I'm very proud of the job we've done with this. It's called "Atelier de beauté" (Beauty workshop) and it's part of the "Design by" series of Djeco (which includes awesome illustrators like Rebecca Dautremer).

The workshop consists on finishing six of my watercolor girls, painting the hair and makeup yourself, adding some extra components like earrings, flowers, little animals, hairbands, and using your creativity to make them your own. Inside the super cute box, you find twelve prints of the unfinished illustrations on thick quality paper, watercolor pencils, brush, markers, two sheets of stickers, and a very helpful booklet that guides you step by step during the process.

It's destined for children from 9 to 15 years, but I'm pretty sure the little girl in me would love it (with someone else's paintings, of course). Anyway, I really hope you all like it! It was a real pleasure to work on something so different and creative, and I really look forward to work with the folks at Djeco again. Oh!! And it will be for sale worldwide very soon It's already for sale!! :D

PS. I made a small interview for the blog "Diary Sketches", if you want to check it out.

Oh, hai!

I've been fooling around with Photoshop making cat gifs. And another of my cat illustrations was featured in the awesome knitting blog "Las Teje y Maneje". I totally recommend it if you can read spanish.

Fishtail

Trying my new golden gouache paint along with watecolors. The scan doesn't do it justice, it glows and shines and I love it! Also, I kinda want that top she's wearing :)

Vacation

I got my film from vacation developed, these were shot with my Contax 139Q and Konica Centuria film. They make me miss the beach and the endless summer days spent with my loved ones. And the food, of course!!

This year we took Maggie on vacation with us and it was a great experience. The car trip and the first couple of days were rough (she spent them under the sofa mostly) but as soon as she got used to the apartment, she became the happiest kitty ever! She had lots of new places to explore, sunny balconies and open windows, birds, bugs and the lovely, humid seaside air. When we came back home and she realized vacation was over, she was more depressed than us...

New work

I just came back from vacation and found the new issue of American Girl Magazine on my mailbox, it was such a nice surprise! Inside, there's an article with five tips about re-decorating your room that I illustrated a while ago. You can see more detailed images on my portfolio page.

Also, I'll be posting some vacation photos and more new work very soon. We're still suffering a bit from post-vacation blues around here, mostly Maggie the cat.

BRB

I'm going here until the end of the month. I hope to come back relaxed, with a tan and full of freckles. Of course, I'm taking my cameras and sketchbooks with me. See you soon!

Pasta Puttanesca

Pasta puttanesca is my current food obsession, I swear I could eat this everyday. I simply put good virgin olive oil in a big pan, add the minced garlic, chilies, chopped olives and anchovies and cook them for a little while. Then I add the capers and halved cherry tomatoes, sometimes a splash of white wine, and when it's done, the oregano and the fresh basil. I add the cooked pasta, toss it all together with grated cheese and pepper and then, I eat. Bliss!

This reminds me I forgot to draw the chilies :)