the golden briard

our little tree, postmortem

2011-12-29T13:41:00.000-08:00

my husband and i are suckers for the 'charlie brown' tree in the lot. we see a lot of potential in a lopsided, scrappy little tree, and this year our feelings did not waiver. our tree this year had a good run, but as you can see in my sketch, it's time for the recycling bin :( perhaps a good representation of how we feel after the holidays? hope yours was great!

one last thing...

2011-12-22T07:30:00.001-08:00

I've been working on redesigning my website here and there, whenever I can find a free moment. My challenge to myself for the upcoming year is to try to push myself to learn a few new things computer-wise and try out some new mediums palette-wise. I get complacent and stuck on working with the same materials over and over. It's time to shake things up!

So here's to a new website for early 2012- stay tuned!

Happy holidays!

a year winding down.

2011-12-08T13:34:00.000-08:00

a new year is around the corner, and like this exuberant fella above, i can't wait! i hate to make this brief, but i have to go participate in the madness that is the holidays :)

an important side note: my dear and talented friends, Julia Denos and Emily Goodale, have started a project to call attention to and raise money to help one of the most overlooked animals in shelters: black cats. These beautiful creatures are often unnoticed because they do not photograph well, or because of superstitions. so please, check out their beautiful prints and tell all your cat-loving friends & family!!
Find out more info at each of their blogs: http://thecinnamonrabbit.blogspot.com/
and: http://theshortlivingroom.blogspot.com/

Happy holidays!

brisk!

2011-11-18T09:24:00.000-08:00

bundled up and ready to go! this gal is pulling "something" or "things" along in her wagon...but i suppose until i finish my new website design, you'll have to wait and see...

stay warm...mr. brisk is here to stay!

wedding bells

2011-10-12T16:28:00.001-07:00

Hooray! I'm officially a 'Mrs.'! I cannot even believe the beautiful day we were blessed with this past Saturday. A warm, October day and evening was absolutely perfect for our little celebration. It's been over a year and half of quietly planning, creating, collecting and mildly stressing about 'our big day'. But it has come and gone and filled my heart with so much happiness. Part of the creating had to be kept secret, and now I can finally share!

The invitation...
Our sweet and sassy wedding party...

Cake toppers! (I think I captured our side-swept hair-dos pretty well)...

The real-life couple...

And the cake toppers and partial centerpieces and guest book have made it back home (notice a little 'Grandma's Gloves illustrated by Julia Denos, and Moomin peeking out)...

hopefully even more good news to come and share in the future...it's going to be a good year. :)

holy moly....a new blog!

2011-09-07T19:58:00.000-07:00

so, yeah, i redesigned my blog a bit! (notice my new little dog obsession gadget on the right?) i figured since i can't share much of what i'm doing art-wise, i'd update the look of the blog to add a little excitement.

also, in an hour i will be 30 days away from being a married woman! i'm just as excited as this little guy:

chow for now! :)

studio friend

2011-08-01T15:29:00.000-07:00

i have a new friend that watches over my doodling...

lots and lots of art...but nothing to see.

2011-07-23T19:03:00.000-07:00

i'm in creative overdrive lately...which i'm grateful for considering all the whining i was doing earlier about being in a rut. i'm drawing lots of fun stuff- but for good reasons, i probably shouldn't share just yet.

i'll share this latest modern dog illustration. always LOVE my projects with them. the icing on cake was filling in the blue plushy carpet with my new favorite medium, the pan pastel:

i'm also in overdrive with wedding planning. i've been designing my invitations, table markers, cake toppers...talk about stressful! hopefully, when it's all done i can step back and breathe... 77 days to go....! :)

lazy days in the suburbs

2011-06-08T12:11:00.000-07:00

the next few days i will be dog sitting for my parents in the 'burbs'. nothing beats walking around town with the dog, taking her swimming at the state park and sitting on the deck watching life go by. i have a modern dog assignment to keep me busy and betty white's new autobiography...i know, i know- heavy reading for a hot summer day ;)
stay cool!

take a deep breath

2011-05-30T13:25:00.000-07:00

summer is here. i turn 30 in less than 2 days. i'm getting married in a handful of months. life is changing, i am working a lot, and just recently i felt my creativity was slipping away. i practically went into a panic and decided to create a new studio space in my apartment. we quickly rearranged bookshelves, guitars, sofas, and dust bunnies galore to carve out a new little spot by the living room window.

i had the space to create BUT....i was taking on too much at once and trying to force myself to create a large scale, super detailed over-the-top masterpiece illustration. well, that didn't quite work out. my expectations were way too high and i found myself back at the drawing board over and over.

so i took a deep breath. i looked for inspiration in other artists' work. i reminded myself that drawing is something i love and should not be putting so much pressure on me. if anything, it should be therapeutic. so i'm working on that. and i'm drawing...and having fun doing so:

color sketching

2011-04-20T12:39:00.000-07:00

i bought a bunch of new pan pastels last night....drooling, excuse me a moment! i LOVE these things. anyways....i've been color sketching all day today. thought i'd share! :)

sun sun sun

2011-03-04T10:44:00.000-08:00

i feel like we are almost out of the woods with this winter business. i've never craved the sun so badly as i have this winter. i had to take a little hiatus from drawing...life got a little hectic momentarily. but i'm back- and working on a large scale farm stand piece. trying to imagine who and what would be hanging around this busy little mecca of verdure...

enjoy your weekend :)

thinking organically

2011-02-15T18:13:00.000-08:00

i've ditched the snow sketches for now and have been daydreaming of fresh produce and the first day i'll hit up the farmer's market. organic foods is a topic near and dear to my heart. i truly believe that the key to good health and well being is all in what we eat. so the pencil has been doodling little bell peppers and hearty asparagus stalks fresh from the fields. i'm trying something new with this one- a composition relying on small detail and patterns. can't wait to start playing with color!

pieces of the snow puzzle

2011-02-04T14:04:00.000-08:00

i'm working on another large scale piece for an upcoming postcard. i decided to pay homage to this crazy winter with a fun, snowy scene.

these are pieces of the sketch. stay tuned to see it all together!

happy weekend...yipee!!!

slip slidin' away...

2011-02-03T07:16:00.000-08:00

an epic storm practically every other day...that is the story here in new england. trying to not let it get me down. i cannot believe i let over month go by since my last blog post, but i guess being trapped in a winter wonderland has been a distraction. lots and lots of shoveling have left my hands aching, making it quite cumbersome to grip my trusty pencil. but i persist, and hope to bring more and more sketches to the [blog] table!

snowbound and stuffed.

2010-12-30T13:59:00.000-08:00

right before i ventured to my hometown for christmas, i finished up a new illustration for modern dog. the subject was preparing and feeding your dog 'people food', which i found fitting for the holiday season. once i was home, i witnessed my dad sneaking off into the kitchen to drop skye a morsel or two from our table to her bowl :)
being home is always relaxing, and allows me to clear my head. thanks to a HUGE snowstorm here in new england, i got some ideas for a new postcard...here's a sketch:
hope your holidays were wonderful!

new additions

2010-12-03T10:09:00.001-08:00

i updated my website last night with 7 or more new pieces in the portfolio section. most have been featured here on the 'briard', but i thought they needed an elevated status. some newbies are paired up with previous illustrations, so it's a matter of clicking around and staying awhile :)

also, be sure to check out the latest issue of modern dog- i have 3 illustrations that may be my favorite for md so far...

100th post! bleeps and bloops!

2010-11-22T16:54:00.000-08:00

Hooray! I've hit my 100th post here on the golden briard. it feels like yesterday that my two good illustrator buds, julia and emily, were encouraging me to blog about my art. and i can't thank them enough! i'm not typically a lengthy blogger, i'm more prone to leave bloops and bleeps of my art and simple ideas. but it's a good record of my progress and a great virtual sketch book. no longer do i have to sort through heaps of sketchbooks and scraps of paper to recall my ideas :)

life has been flying by fast these days. i just have to make a mention of the recent passing of my grandmother, czecstavia 'jessica' kurgan. she was my biggest supporter and best friend, a creative soul indeed. i just found out she had a pen name for her poetry writing- 'rebecca york phelps'- how glamorous. :)

if you ever notice cardinals in my illustrations, that's a little nod to my grandmother...they were her favorite. xo grammy

happy birthday, mom!!!

2010-11-13T08:25:00.001-08:00

happy birthday to my amazing mother- who has become quite the blogger :)

xoxoxo

turkey in the dark.

2010-11-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

the past week and a half has been a non-stop illustration fest. i finished up a thanksgiving book this weekend, and as i was scanning in my final piece, i noticed that it was nearly 5 pm yet it was pitch black outside! yup, so i am now officially entering hibernation mode, with winter patiently awaiting it's attack.

slowly creeping in on my 100th post...i will definitely be hitting my goal by the new year. toodles....!

in the studio

2010-10-14T13:04:00.001-07:00

a few weeks ago, i documented a little bit of my art in progress and what materials i happened to be using...

to see the finished result, click here!

a marshmallow dumpling?

2010-09-23T15:16:00.000-07:00

thought i would work on a new illustration to adorn my biography page on my website. should be up later today...bunny toes crossed.

bunnies in hiding

2010-08-31T10:59:00.000-07:00

creating a website is an ongoing project for me as my portfolio grows and evolves. a few weeks ago i tightened up my portfolio and added more prints for sale at imagekind.com. now all i have to do is create a little biography and with that comes a new illustration :) i'd like to keep it consistent and so i have a chance to draw my characters that are featured on my homepage. this means, MORE HIDDEN BUNNIES....!

hooray for fuzzy color

2010-08-24T14:48:00.000-07:00

i finally finished my big fuzzy illustration...pastels are officially awesome in my opinion. also, i've updated my imagekind shop where you can purchase prints and greeting cards of my work. this piece included!

enjoying the rain here in massachusetts...and to quote my mom, "I can hear my flowers slurping every time I walk by" :)

painting in progress

2010-08-18T14:15:00.000-07:00

still working on my first-ever large scale fuzzy illustration....i've been playing around with different color palettes and getting comfortable with my new medium of choice. i've been gushing over pan pastels for a few weeks now, and still cannot get enough of their intensity and maneuverability! gliding bright aqua over a big section of my drawing with a makeup sponge=FUN.

above is a quick flower sketch from today, below is my final palette choice for the lemonade stand painting...and said painting in progress. voila!

biggie size

2010-08-09T18:21:00.000-07:00

working on a large-scale watercolor/fuzzy style illustration that i've been dying to get at all summer. i threw the sketch on here a few posts ago, but since have filled in the drawing a bit more and worked on some color sketches. this past weekend, i visited ebg in northampton, mass. i was fortunate enough to find time to take a look at some original alice provensen art!!! how inspiring that was...and i will for now on dream of owning a 'day in the life of murphy' illustration...
when i finish the biggie-sized illustration, i'll certainly post on here. but for now some random art...

palettes on the brain

2010-08-03T07:23:00.000-07:00

as i am working on little art projects here and there, my mind somehow tends to float away into a little world of wedding planning. one half of my brain is working on color design for my latest illustration on paper, while the other half is feverishly trying to come up with the perfect color combination for my future nuptials. while on the one hand this could be distracting, on the other it's been a little eye opening, researching different color palettes from my own personal taste. so coincidentally, my latest job was to illustrate a fun little map for wedding (not mine!) taking place this fall in worcester, ma. it was a challenge to put characters completely aside, and work primarily on buildings and roadways. putting personality into a courtyard marriot was a fun challenge!

fuzzy cat friends

2010-07-21T06:51:00.001-07:00

as i inch slowly towards my 100th blog post (yippee!), i thought i'd share some illustration work showcasing my fuzzy style... i'm having a lot fun experimenting with new and old mediums i.e. pan pastels, stick pastels and colored pencils. and what better subject to expand my fuzzy obsession with...

the good and the bad

2010-07-14T07:50:00.000-07:00

hmm. it's been a over a month since i've updated my blog...i really have no excuse, but lately life has been a little rollercoaster! to start things off on a good note, i am now an engaged lady! yep, he put a ring on it, and about 4 seconds later i began planning my Provensenian style wedding! :)in sad news, my family lost our beloved dog, emmitt. my parents adopted him approximately 5 years ago despite being in the middle of big move up to vermont. but what a joy emmitt turned out to be! his happy-go-lucky bounce across the yard with his favorite stuffed animal between his few remaining teeth will always be a fond memory.so during all the good and the bad, i've been plugging away at some exciting art. i recently updated my portfolio, adding some illustrations and switching up the style a little bit. i have some fun little fuzzy portraits (animal, not people) that i will post in about week or so. and the fuzziness has been KICKED UP with these new Pan Pastels i discovered on my latest trip to the art store. they have the consistency of make-up and come with TINY sponges. they are so super vibrant- they make my eyes water! i will definitely be putting them to use with the huge lemonade stand watercolor illustration- perfect for while i melt away in my little apartment :)

happy summer!

Iowa Bound!

2010-06-09T08:22:00.000-07:00

this time tomorrow i'll be in an airplane, heading to des moines, iowa. some friends are getting hitched outside iowa city on saturday, and i cannot wait to be on the farm, soaking in the festivities! i also cannot wait to come home and finish up this painting...i've been adding to the little lemonade series in anticipation of summer :)

Ice Cold Lemonade

2010-05-27T11:37:00.000-07:00

in the last 48 hours or so, the boston area got a little taste of summer...90 degree weather in may! scorching heat is not my friend, so to cope i stocked up on italian ice and grape popsicles. it also lead me to whip up this little illustration...i suppose i should stop complaining- a lot of good came out of a slight meltdown...:)

Oui Oui!

2010-05-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

i threw on one my favorite movies while sketching this morning- Amelie. much to my dismay, i discovered drawing and reading subtitles doesn't quite gel. but i had it on long enough to crank out a couple of Amelie-inspired sketches. profitez-en!

curly sue

2010-05-17T07:11:00.000-07:00

curls curls curls...with the heat and humidity on the rise, i can't avoid them on my own head, so i decided to draw this character. i'm working on a postcard this week, and she'll probably be in the starring role. she might be a hybrid of little orphan annie and shirley temple....

floating fuzzy wonder

2010-05-11T07:54:00.000-07:00

okay, so, i've been drawing these weird fuzzy fro people and cannot stop. it all started with a mother's day card that i crafted for my mom. somehow colored pencils and sandpaper found themselves in my hands, and fuzzy messy hairdos ensued. while these drawings are just experimental, i'll most likely incorporate these techniques into my watercolor illustrations...

new portfolio

2010-05-07T07:21:00.000-07:00

a few days ago i renovated the portfolio portion of my website (again). for the first time, i added some drawings from my sketchbook and some color pieces from my book dummy, Bunny's Day Out. See it here: www.jessgolden.com
back to sipping ice coffee and enjoying the breeze....happy friday!

bahh bahh tiny goat!

2010-05-03T08:41:00.000-07:00

while visiting my parents last summer in vermont, i met a trio of teeny tiny pygmy goats....seriously too cute for words. it was hysterical to watch them wander around the yard headbutting each other and climbing anything above ground. luckily, they were so short that their efforts to hop on cars failed.
it's about time i include this little guy in an illustration! will post results later this week...

flower madness

2010-04-27T13:14:00.000-07:00

the new website is coming along...here's the finished art for my new homepage. hopefully, i'll have it up on jessgolden.com later this evening. however, i am exhausted from a 2 hour walk today! i've been scoping out people's gardens here in brighton for my illustrations :) Happy Spring!

weekend for website

2010-04-23T13:52:00.000-07:00

i'm trading in my weekend to work on my website. about every 3 months, i get the urge to completely demolish and rebuild. but that's normal, right? the sketch above got the wheels turning, and i'll probably be painting this for a new homepage....should be fun :)

why am i always painting bunnies who torment dogs?

i can be your hero, kitteh.

2010-04-16T14:49:00.000-07:00

i'll be working on some spot illustrations this weekend. thank god the weather here is supposed to be miserable. never thought i'd say that....

busy

2010-04-14T19:46:00.000-07:00

i'll be working through the weekend on a job, but thought i'd post the final color piece of the dog portrait i was working on yesterday. yay for progress....ok, is it time to play critter crunch yet?

golden oldie

2010-04-13T12:32:00.001-07:00

i'm working on a dog portrait today and the subject just happens to be one near and dear to my heart. my family (well, my mom and dad) have been adopting older golden retrievers from shelters over the years. it's fulfilling to give an old dog a home, but at the same time sad to see them go so frequently (to dog heaven, of course).

speaking of old goldens, happy birthday dad!! xoxox :)

celebrate with friends...

2010-04-05T15:35:00.000-07:00

wedding season, birthdays, and other upcoming celebrations are slowly gathering momentum...for the first time in my life i have multiple weddings to attend- weddings for friends not family that is! maybe that is what inspired this little illustration?

75th entry!

2010-03-31T14:31:00.000-07:00

so the easter bunny surprised me a little early this year with some new brushes. to test them out, i doodled the above sketches and tested away. julia- check out the color of these brushes...pool! :)

bikes and banana bread

2010-03-15T11:21:00.000-07:00

i spent my rainy weekend inhaling homemade banana bread and watching Ponyo. if you haven't seen Ponyo or the artwork & animation of Hayao Miyazaki, check out this trailer- it's such a beautiful film!

anyways, i decided to use this bike gal image for a new postcard. (somehow, without realizing it, i manage to clothe my characters in my very own wardrobe- oh whoops, how conceited of me...)
as you can see from the post below, there are a few changes from the original drawing. for the first time, i had more difficulty with the dog character than the human- whoa!

bicycle breeze

2010-03-08T13:51:00.001-08:00

lately my drawings reflect the anticipation and excitement of springtime. and it just so happens to be amazing in boston right now- the temps have risen and the sunlight is lasting! i've switched to ice coffee and have cracked the windows a tad- it's done wonders for my mood! :)

gloomy

2010-02-25T13:26:00.001-08:00

been feeling slightly somber the past few days. sometimes it helps to just draw, and to make the best of my despondency. and it's kinda funny- i happen to prefer my gloomy drawings over the cheerful ones...adding big puffy bows and u-shaped eyelids probably has a lot to do with that :)

new work

2010-02-18T17:07:00.000-08:00

in between marathons of Dexter and Golden Girls, i have finally found the time to update my website. jussssst kidding (maybe)- i have been busy with projects and now have some updates to show! i used a new illustration to spruce up the blog and added the rest to my portfolio.

snowflakes to raindrops.

2010-02-16T11:44:00.000-08:00

i'm sitting here, watching the much-anticipated new england snow fall. snow doesn't bother me so much, but what i'm truly longing for is RAIN! i love rain. big fat drops, heavy sheets, you name it. the countdown to spring is ON....

hippos are blobs...so i approve.

2010-02-11T17:19:00.000-08:00

phew! just scanned in a series of 5 illustrations i completed for a wedding gift commission. the job was so much fun, and allowed me to flex my color muscle...here's one in color and another in black & white. stay tuned for the whole series. i will hopefully get them up on my website real soon. now time for some baked potato with brocolli...and DEXTER! (love me some michael c hall....)

doggy dining

2010-01-04T14:20:00.000-08:00

after finishing up an illustration for modern dog, i got to thinking about all the crazy things my pets over the years have snacked on. i had house bunnies who transformed the living room couch into their own little condo, a tiny hamster that chewed an enormous hole in my baby blanket, and a couple of golden retrievers that had a tendency to snatch a dinner napkin right off my lap (*ehem*- are you reading this miss skye?) but my dog, buster, takes the award for consuming the most dangerous and bizarre cuisine- a case of firestarter blocks, an entire package of black licorice, and a bag of homemade pita chips- still in the paper bag!

grandma got illustrated

2009-12-09T12:49:00.000-08:00

just a quick follow-up to my grandma sketch- just finished it a few hours ago so thought i would share. stay warm- it's brutal out there new englanders...!

birds in a handbasket

2009-12-04T12:47:00.000-08:00

the days are whizzing by lately- i am in denial that christmas is just a few weeks away. i've been working hard on my portfolio- tearsheets, postcards, new illustrations and website. you can see a new painting put to use as my homepage here. the rest of the website is still in progress...

i've been thinking a lot about my grandmother lately. she's 87 and living in a retirement home. there are a lot interesting characters at her little place- whenever i visit, there's always a dance party or singing session going on :) this has lead to drawings, and eventually i'll paint one of these little characters. in honor of my grandmother, the final granny will definitely be a bird lady :)

creampuff thanksgiving

2009-11-24T07:24:00.000-08:00

i'm getting ready to pack the car with pumpkin pie, cartalk on the ipod and warmer clothing for a northbound trip to vermont. i'm sitting here counting the hours, no- minutes 'til thanksgiving feast time...
in the meantime, i'm still watercoloring some "creampuff bunnies" (credit: julia).

happy thanksgiving! hope you have lots to nibble!

not quite right...

2009-11-10T11:35:00.000-08:00

there was time when i faced sheer frustration when trying to paint. taking the final step and adding color to an illustration was a nightmare- well, maybe that's exaggerating a bit, but it certainly caused some minor heart palpitations. but lately, i've been taking my time and being more patient with watercolor, and feeling good about the results. i even found that i'm preferring it to drawing...but with every new experience, practice makes perfect. and this week i'm finding that every painting i finish must be reviewed then redone! it can be frustrating...but i must keep going! i'll leave you with a good example of frustration...

new portfolio

2009-10-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

i'm launching my new portfolio on my website today. i have some new pieces in there, so be sure to stop by and visit :)

ooooohhhhmmmm....

2009-10-06T12:27:00.000-07:00

um, what? it's october? anyways, i'm posting something i finished up for modern dog this morning. i have also been plugging away at my website, and will have an updated portfolio soon! it should include some new additions to the illustration below of little blue boots girl :)

hope you're enjoying fall....the best season EVER. :)

bright blue boots

2009-09-04T14:39:00.000-07:00

eco friends

2009-09-03T16:30:00.000-07:00

i've been winding down the summer by adding some pieces to my portfolio. i've been able to enjoy the outdoors lately- breathing in the crisp air, soaking in some sun without breaking into a sweat, etc. etc. i think my love of autumn and the little hints of it that i'm experiencing now have influenced this little series. here are a few examples that will soon have color...

too hot to work

2009-08-10T11:49:00.000-07:00

everytime i attempt to put pencil to paper, my sweaty forearm sticks to the table. that's a true indicator that i should spend the rest of the day drinking ice water and eating fruity popsicles. but before i abandon my responsibilities, i thought i'd do some bloggin'.

right now, i'm working on an extensive e-book project. my subject matter has been classic fairytales- so far i've tackled three pigs, three bears etc. and will continue with prince and the pea (no, no princess this time around), cinderella and little red hen.

on the side, i've slowly been revising my picturebook idea Bunny's Day Out (although the title has since changed). last night, i finally finished storyboarding and added that to the pile of new text and new color samples. i will share some- not sure if i'd consider them final, but getting close to how i want the overall book to look and feel.

noise noise noise

2009-07-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

i'm getting out of the studio today and having lunch with my friend, mari. there's been some crazy construction happening at the top of my street. the sound of jackhammers and guys yelling 'yo'! all day is already getting to me.
ciao!

hand-me-downs

2009-07-13T13:09:00.000-07:00

it's been a rather mundane monday- went for my daily walk, hit up the post office and finally making an appointment to get my brakes fixed. i've been drawing some sorta-self-portraits lately- scraggly thick hair, stretch pants and hand-me-down teddy bear sweaters...yep, that was me.
in my previous blog entry, i mentioned going to the dog park with skye (my favorite nutty golden retriever). well, i guess skye decided to leave her typical sassy self at home and instead acted like a total wallflower at the dog pond. here's a little video clip of all the other dogs playing with her tennis ball:

a snippet

2009-07-10T08:11:00.000-07:00

i just finished an illustration for the upcoming issue of modern dog magazine. i had a blast with this one. above is a snippet of the illustration. since i finished early, i'm off to the dog park with my favorite crazy golden retriever friend, skye. if she does anything wacky, i'll be sure to snap a photo. have a fun weekend blog people!

terrier time

2009-07-06T12:14:00.000-07:00

i'm drawing dogs today- working on a dog reference guide or dog stationary...i haven't quite wrapped my head around all the possibilities for these dogs drawings spewing from my pencil. we will see...
this particular drawing is of a wire fox terrier (note the long snout and puffy beard).

sketchbook

2009-07-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

today is a blogging kind of day....it's been pouring for quite some time in boston. to sort of amuse myself, i have to sketch stuff like this:

i'm not a good houseplant mother...

2009-06-15T19:24:00.000-07:00

i recently adopted a pink echeveria, hoping that my plant-nurturing skills would take a turn for the better. you see, a quick glance from me will cause the heartiest of plants to up and keel over. when my boyfriend and i were first dating, he showed up at my doorstep with the most beautiful orchid plant. unbeknownst to him i am a plant killer and in matter of days that poor thing was worm food. ah well, here's hoping the best for Pinky...

in the studio, i've been painting goldilocks and the three bears...here's one of the pages.

here's hoping for some early shut-eye a la mama bear ...good night!

oh hello.

2009-05-21T13:44:00.001-07:00

i'm excited to report that i will be traveling through the midwest beginning tomorrow. I've traveled coast to coast on several occasions, but never took time to say hello to the middle. my destination is iowa, and i can't wait to be there!

cya latah!

happy mother's day

2009-05-10T07:08:00.001-07:00

i know i have the best mom in the world!
love you mom

the blog got a fresh new look...

2009-05-05T17:15:00.000-07:00

the seasons are changing and i felt the blog needed a make-over...voila!

revisions for a bunneh...

2009-05-04T19:29:00.001-07:00

i have to apologize for that title...it was written after a hard-core sesh on cuteoverload.com. anyways, i've been revising Bunny's Day Out (my wee little book dummy) the past few days. it's been a little tricky staying focused with summer- like weather taking over here in boston, but i've managed to plug away...

good bye, bea.

2009-04-26T08:18:00.000-07:00

I'm sad to report that another Golden Girl has passed away. Beatrice Arthur, known for playing legendary characters Maude and Dorothy Zbornak, died in her home this past Saturday. She had been battling with cancer for several years, and finally it was her time to go.

I heard the news and was overcome with grief. It's not that I knew her personally, but as a huge fan of her work I can not help but idolize the woman. Bea was way ahead of her time, and involved with projects that became such a vehicle for future generations to voice injustices within our society.

It will be difficult to watch Golden Girls now that two members of such an outstanding cast are gone. Dorothy and Sophia have finally made it to the big lenai in the sky....RIP.

Let My Melody show you around my new studio...

2009-04-10T12:19:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, I needed a change. Working in my kitchen was not comfortable anymore and I knew it was time to squeeze my old drawing table back into my life.

I took some photos of where I work- now an even shorter commute from bed to desk. Here's my little pal, My Melody, helping set up my new workspace, and even contributing to the art making process. Hey, it's lonely working at home all day- I have to amuse myself somehow.

refreshing!

2009-03-17T19:57:00.000-07:00

i have a big project coming up any day now, so i thought i'd update my websit e while i have the chance. check out the illustra tion section of my site to see a new, more eyeball-friendly design and a few new pieces.
also, i've added an entire new lineup to my imagekind account for purchase as prints or greeting cards. 5 illustrations of 5 different dog breeds (there's a 6th coming.....and it may be a bassett hound!)

ciao for now!

lil' pig

2009-03-12T14:23:00.000-07:00

things are going to get a little busy soon...i will be trapped indoors for quite some time...!

Boston cowboy, Part Deux

2009-03-04T12:32:00.000-08:00

boston cowboy

2009-03-03T13:30:00.000-08:00

howdy folks! just thought i'd post a drawing that i'm about to add some color to.

if you've been in my kitchen, you've seen my cowboy obsession firsthand. yes, it's odd...i'm a new englander through and through, but i can't help but love the wild wild west. i have an inkling that the fascination has to do with horses and herding dogs....

throwing in a little color

2009-02-21T19:56:00.000-08:00

i've busted out the watercolor paints for a new dog series. i'll reveal just a few of the color sketches.

i'll continue after i recover from a Laffy Taffy overdose....groan....goodnight.

sussex success

2009-02-11T10:44:00.001-08:00

this is last drawing i will post for a little bit. i'm going to paint a few of them and see what happens...

the results are in....

2009-02-11T06:17:00.000-08:00

congratulations to the sussex spaniel....the oldest dog to win westminster! ten year old 'stump' seemed to snag the win without hesitation last night. i haven't drawn the sussex yet (started to, though) so here's another finalist for the meantime....scottish terrier!

another briard drawing

2009-02-10T14:48:00.000-08:00

ok. so i drew another briard...it's taking some practice. and i think i'm going to add some color to these drawings and possibly sell prints on imagekind....

i'm working on the group winners of 2009 westminster first :)

night two of westminster...scottish deerhound madness!!!

2009-02-10T14:07:00.000-08:00

I know there's still Night 2 of the Westminster Dog Show still ahead of us, but I'm rooting for the scottish deerhound to take the prize. He never gets picked, and I tend to root for the underdog...heh heh no pun intended ')

i love the borzoi...i can't stop drawing!!!

2009-02-09T19:18:00.000-08:00

okay, okay, i guess the westminster dog show has really got me amped up because i can't put the pencil down. blogging twice in less than a few hours is a record for me, and i feel like a total nerd...but i don't care! i had to post i drawing i just did of a borzoi...another amazing dog!

i'm starting to think about an ABC dog book...the problem is there are SO many contenders when it comes to the letter B....briard, borzoi, boston terrier, BORDER COLLIE, brittany spaniel, bassett hound, black & tan coonhound, bouviers des flandres....i could go on but there are only so many hours in a day.

goodnite!

go briards!!

2009-02-09T16:03:00.000-08:00

tonight is the first night of the annual westminster kennel club dog show. i am always so excited for this event. i was fortunate enough to attend the show a few years ago and experience the energy and excitement behind the scenes. and last year i was awarded an illustration award by the DWAA (Dog Writer's Association of America). the cermony was held the weekend before westminster, so i gooed and gawed at all the pretty doggies that paraded around the streets of NYC. if you sit in the hotel pennsylvania's lobby long enough during that week, you will see the most beautiful, pampered pooches...it's absolutely incredible.

tonight is night one, and will include the Herding Group...which i pay tribute to one particular member in the title of this very blog. GO BRIARDS!!!!

some changes here & there

2009-02-05T17:14:00.000-08:00

i've been updating my website the past few days. it started with wanted to upload one little image and turned out to be a three day project. no major changes, but i modified the look of the homepage. please visit: www.jessgolden.com to see the madness.

border collie bling

2009-02-01T16:59:00.000-08:00

it's been awhile since i've painted a dog for my own personal 'doggie bling' series. i've sold most of the originals, but i use the imagery for buttons and you can also purchase prints on imagekind. i've continued by choosing to illustrate one of my favs, the border collie.

(the original is 6"x6", gouache on paper)

my favorite brown pencil!

2009-01-28T15:03:00.000-08:00

I draw daily with the Lyra giant colored pencil....dark umber to be specific. My favorite art store is totally sold out and won't be getting any in for a few weeks. i'm down to a few nubs to draw with, and I'm beginning to fret. I've settled with a skinny prismacolor for now, but it's just not the same.
I've looked all over the internet and been to few other retailers, but what I seek is apparently a rare item. Oh sigh....

black licorice & kitty cats

2009-01-23T15:47:00.000-08:00

As I sit here gnawing on chewy black licorice scottie dogs, I'm conjuring up images of animals I do not typically draw in order to expand my range as an illustrator. Some think I'm biased, and always draw dogs, but I've proved you wrong! AH ha!

Happy Friday (and Happy Birthday Brian Foley)!

Trapped! But I finished!!!!

2009-01-14T10:57:00.000-08:00

I've been trapped in my living room for the past 5 hours while the plumbers rip apart every pipe and surface that supplies water. My apartment has just 3 rooms, being the tiny gem that it is, but this has forced me to FOCUS on finishing my book dummy. AND I DID!!!! Here's the title page art!

For the remainder of the day, I am going to hang with my favorite dog friend, Skye. She loves her visits to the city...even in the frigid cold. Must not forget to wear the long underwear!

Stay warm!

Closing the etsy shop and other news...

2009-01-11T10:42:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since my last blog...I think the holidays combined with head colds and never-ending shoveling, have just gotten to me. However, this has not kept me from doing some artwork and finishing my children's book, Bunny's Day Out.

My latest pet portrait is of Willie, the blue-eyed horse. You can also view him on the pet portrait section of my website.

Regretfully, I am going to be closing my Etsy shop. I did make a few sales, but the small charges from etsy combined with what paypal takes out just made me break even. When my paypal account was hacked and someone (I will refrain from using any nasty words) tried to withdraw money from my bank account, that was the last straw. So if there are items on there that interest you, or you'd like a button just shoot me an email and I'll hook you up for an even cheaper price.

So long everyone out in blogland!

lonely days...

2008-12-17T08:36:00.001-08:00

Lately, I've been feeling a tad lonesome. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade my self-employment in for anything, but at times I feel like days are going by and no significant changes have been made. I can stay in my pjs all day if I choose to, which sounds great but doesn't get me any motivation or energy to make some good art. But I can say that I'm trying SO hard to stick with it, and I feel that I may be on the verge of some good things. I have to try to get out for a walk, listen to the music I love and always have a great book waiting for the moments that I need to escape.

I need a dog.

do you have a velcro dog?

2008-12-11T09:05:00.000-08:00

i handed in an illustration for Modern Dog Magazine last week for an article about clingy dogs and the separation anxiety they experience when apart from their owners. Modern Dog is always full of great articles for dog owners and enthusiasts, so be sure to check out the spring issue to find out how to handle this popular topic.

i've also been working on some pet portraits and holiday treats. i probably won't expose them until after the season...don't want to accidentally spoil a surprise!

and i'm almost done with the drawings for my book project, Bunny Adventures (title pending, of course). then it is revisions, revisions, etc.etc. that's what i will be slaving over today due to crummy weather....

happy thanksgiving!!

2008-11-26T12:02:00.000-08:00

may your thanksgiving be relaxing, yet adventurous!

a new approach to fat bunnies...

2008-11-24T12:01:00.000-08:00

here is the first image from my story about mollie and bunny. i'm relying more on my linework and what i enjoy doing best...drawing!

"Bunny lived indoors where it was safe, warm and cozy."

website marathon

2008-11-18T09:34:00.000-08:00

i spent all day yesterday updating and polishing my website. it wasn't in my immediate agenda to work on my site, but 8 hours later (molded into my chair) i realized it perhaps had been neglected.
so there's some new artwork, and little details to pull it all together.
back to sketching!

greyhound jewelry box: new item in my etsy shop!

2008-11-14T13:09:00.000-08:00

i literally just uploaded my first hand painted jewelry box to etsy.com
i hope to paint more, and i am encouraging requests. sometimes i don't know where to begin because there are SO many doggies that i'm obsessed with. sigh...

i was recently inspired by the ban on dog racing in massachusetts, and decided to celebrate by painting this awesome breed. unfortunately, the racing dogs here will not be rescued, just shipped to new hampshire and rhode island. it's discouraging, but hopefully in the future other states will follow in the bay state's footsteps...

anyways, here's the link to my shop. have a totally rad weekend everyone!!!!!

booking it

2008-11-12T09:21:00.000-08:00

i posted a painting a few blog entries back that was sort of the beginning process for a book idea that's been floating around in my brain lately. that painting was an exercise to see my characters in an environment and to work on a larger scale.

this image is the next (and more developed composition-wise) piece that i would bring to a finished level.

the main issue i'm having is how to develop more of story and add some structure to my idea. what will begin the story? forget that, what is the story??? i think as i paint i have to concentrate on a storyboard too....

weimaraners!

2008-11-10T07:59:00.000-08:00

I was recently asked to donate a piece of art to the Weimaraner Rescue of the South for their annual "Weim & Cheese" event. If you live close to Homewood, Alabama, definitely check it out. Fancy Hors d'oeuvres, live music, silent and live auctions.....I wish I wasn't up here in Boston so far away. Weimaraners are a beautiful breed (but what breed isn't, c'mon) and need your help! So please visit http://www.weimrescue.com to see how you can help :)

Here's the illustration I donated to the auction (it has a sparkly vintage frame )

happy halloween!!!

2008-10-31T09:23:00.000-07:00

it's my favorite holiday today, halloween. it's been nonstop horrorfest in my apartment the last few days...with movies, that is.
in art-related news, i finished the first mollie & bunster painting yesterday. it's dimensions are around 11"x17". i haven't painted this large in long time...so here's a few photos of the finished product. i have the next drawing in the sink right now soaking up some coffee...

Doggie 4-pack!

2008-10-29T10:46:00.000-07:00

I've packaged up my little dog buttons into a charming little 4 pack. Wouldn't this be a great stocking stuffer for your dog-lovin' friend? It is for sale in my etsy online shoppe:

www.jessgolden.etsy.com

leaf pluckin'

2008-10-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

here's another sketch!

bundled up and drawing

2008-10-21T11:43:00.000-07:00

it's cold in boston these days! i'm reluctant to turn on the heat, otherwise i'll be a wimp come december. so i've wrapped the scarf around my neck and continued to draw.
the next few days i'm sketching out the mollie and bunster story. (satisfied emily and julia? :p)

i'll put the sketches up as i do them, and by the end perhaps i'll have enough to create a lil' book dummy....! stay warm and stop to smell the flowers (not munch them!).