the high bar

a sneak peek ... a tiny corner of my current custom banner illustration project -sigh


There is no challenge more challenging
than the challenge to improve yourself.

Michael F. Staley

I hope to finish it today - the big deal, anxiety producing collage/painting, hold-my-breath project. It's a 3 part illustration - created extra big to allow me room for lots of detail. It will be scanned in 3 pieces and digitally assembled. So ... why all the holding of my breath ? Well ... when I finished the line drawing for this project awhile back (which does also include a large & prominent hand drawn/typography section) I felt instantly a bit swoony at it's potential - I felt in my creative heart that if done right this piece could/would be a much coveted & beautiful new big feather in my portfolio cap ... a shiny jewel in that darn CE* crown.Plus it's for someone else - that always ups the angst quotient - wanting with all my heart & soul to have her squeal with delight at it's completion, maybe a little jumping up & down while clapping enthusiastically ;-) I know I set that bar pretty darn high - too high often but I know that this high bar of mine is what pushes me forward, always & makes me better & better + I really do love the challenge of pushing myself.

Les messy desk mid afternoon yesterday (below) - Mr. Mr. Oliver gets extremely pissed when my desk gets this full & cluttered 'cause there's no place for him to sit. I do try to keep my printer covered and free of debris & oh thanks so much (not) for the heated pillow topped, maybe catnip scented printer cover. He's already sourcing materials & calculating the cost per unit figure - he's sure North American (+ England of course) sales will be Rockin', he's an entrepreneur cat.

And speaking of cats - pop over to Dani's blog and say hello to her sweet new brood of puppies.

*CE - creative empire