Love is . . .

WANTED, NEEDED AND OFTEN LONGED FOR!
IT KNOWS NO GENDER.
AND NOT ALWAYS TENDER.
SOMETIMES LEAVES PEOPLE IN A WORLD OF CONFUSION.
IT HURTS, YET FEELS SO GOOD.

"IS IT POSSIBLE TO LIVE AND NEVER LOVE, OR HAVE LIVED AND NEVER BEEN LOVED?"-AG
"LOVE IS A GIFT . . . BUT BEWARE OF INDIAN GIVERS."-AG
"YOU SHOULDN'T TAKE CANDY, BUT WOULD YOU ACCEPT LOVE FROM A STRANGER?"-AG
"IT'S NOT AS MUCH THAT THE ONES THAT HURT YOU LOVE YOU, AS IT IS THE ONES THAT LOVE YOU HURT YOU."-AG

Love is such an emotional word. It has different meanings for each and every person. It is one of those words that can spread across the spectrum from taking your breath away, to making you cry. Although some tears my be tears of joy, others are full of pain with every drop that falls.
Some take it seriously, some think its a joke, and others may joke but know when its time to be serious.
What does Love mean to you? Devotion, honor, forever? Whatever it is, be good at it. Love your mate like you know they need to be loved, love your friends/family the way you want to be loved, and love a stranger like your the only one they've got. Love can be passed with something as simple as a smile.

True Beauty

This is a piece that I just did. Its not really much. A quick sketch actually. I was bored one day at lunch and was bumped out of my usual relaxing spot due to school testing, so I sat out in my car and just let the pencil flow. I really wish now that I would have brought better paper to draw on. I drew this on just a notepad. I really love it . . . although the scanner didnt do it much justice.

Size: 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"
Date: May 5th, 2006

"Lili"

This is a portrait of another important person to me. This is my Best Friends daughter. I am so close to her that I have become an Auntie to her . . . or as she likes to call me "Auntie Any" (and yes I spelled it correctly. Its Amy just with an n). While I was attending Fresno State, I started drawing this portrait from a wallet-sized photo that I had with me. Although I should have been taking notes, I was drawing instead.
A couple of things that really hold my attention to this portrait is that 1. I drew it only in pen , this is unusual for me. I usually start out in pencil and then will move onto pen once I have a basic outline, and 2. It was purposly draw for my best friend during some troubled times. We werent able to speak much, but I knew that sending this to her would lift her spirits a bit. I think that thats what made it so easy for me to give it away. I knew that the reward wasnt in me holding on to it (like I do with most all my other art work. I have a really hard time letting my art work go. I for some reason feel that no one will treat or appreciate my art like I do.), but it was in giving it away and bringing a smile to her face if only for a moment. I never got to see that smile myself, but I knew it was there and I could see it from memory. What a beautiful smile that was. It was worth it. :)

Size: 8 1/2" x 11"
Date: Mar. 13th, 2002

EDM Challenge # 54 (Draw someone or something you love)

This is not a finished product, as you will see a lot of on my page. I started this a couple of years ago, in 2004. Although this picture doesnt really do the drawing any justice, it is a pencil drawing from a photograph of my niece and nephew. They are the most important (things) people in my life. I cant even remember what life was like without them. I have plans of finishing it here in the near future. It was originally supposed to be a birthday present for my brother.

Size: 9" x 12"
Date started: 2004

Shower Art: "Pregnant"

I think that this is by far my most favorite piece of shower art that I have done. I just love this one. It is so simple and is not just an expression of the beauty in pregnancy, but also represents the beginning to a new life for both mother and child. No modifications were made to this piece.

Size: 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"
Date drawn: Dec. 8th, 2005

More Shower Art: Just for Em "Mermaid"

Here is more of my all famous shower art. As promised Em, here it is . . . an update of the page. I think out of all the art I do this is by far the craziest, coolest, and funnest to do.
I didnt make any modifications to this piece at all. This is exactly what the hair looked like on the wall.

size: 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"
Date drawn: Dec. 8th, 2005

EDM Challenge #50 (Entryway)

Well This is currently my entryway. One that I uncomfortably call home for the moment. This view will be changing soon, as I am traveling back to California from Texas. At this point, I dont really see the entryway a lot since I dont travel out much right now. I should have drawn the entryway to the room that I am staying in right now which doesnt bring many comfortable feelings with it either. It is that little hallway to the right where I dwell. I do know that with uncomfortable feelings and all, I am thankful for having a place to sleep at night. It aint much but its all I have . . . right now.

Size: 8 1/2" x 11"
Date drawn: Dec. 22nd, 2005

Blind Contour Friday 1-21-06

Its really hard to try to draw with a pen that is not fully functional. I guess I could have gotten a different pen, but laziness seem to play a big factor in that.

Illustrationfriday.com topic: E is for . . . Eyes

When I saw the illustration friday topic, I was wondering what I could do. The first thought that came to mind was of course elephant. Isnt that what we are driven to think as a child? E is for . . . Elephant. The more I thought about it, I remembered that I was just messin around one day with my colored pencils and drew some eyes. I modified them on the computer so that they will have different effects. 1. Original, 2. Pastel effect, 3. Watercolor effect, 4. Cartoon effect, 5. Neon effect, & 6. Heavy contrast.

EDM Challenge #49 (Fridge)

Although this is not my fridge, its just an ordinary fridge with a copper penny sittin underneath. Right now I am staying at my girlfriends brothers house (under some tense conditions) while we are preparing to drive back to California from Texas.
When I saw this EDM challenge, I felt a little uncomfortable with it . . . not being my fridge and all. It just seemed weird to draw someone elses fridge. Almost as if I was reading someones diary and sharing it with complete strangers. To a slightly less degree of course.
As I sit here looking at the picture I drew, I feel that in a since it represents how I feel. I have quit a load of complications in my life right now, and to expose myself complete; pulling my own covers, would be too risky. Which is maybe why I opened the fridge and freezer compartments and decided to close the fridge and just draw the freezer compartment. I am not willing to open all the way up.
To explain the picture a little, there are drawings hanging on the fridge. They were drawn by my girlfriends niece and nephew(Stacie-4yrs. & Jon-Jon- 5yrs). I am not sure if you can see it, but the picture that is directly in the middle of the fridge is a tracing of a hand. It is so cute. I love how children trace their own hands when they are young, 'cause they come out so chubby. Maybe thats why I left the door closed. I dont know.

Size 8 1/2" x 11"
Date drawn: Jan. 12th, 2006

Illustrationfriday.com topic: Sea

Scratch board, what a wonderful medium. Just one thing . . . dont mess up. The eraser doesnt exist in this world.
This is the first and only piece I have done on scratch board. I actually had the oppurtunity to experiment with this in high school. I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed it so much that I didnt finish it so I could enjoy it again later. No not really. I started this in 1998-1999, and hopefully I will get a chance to finish it soon.