Thursday, December 10, 2015

Sometimes we just need a little magic!

©Holly DeWolf- Make magic happen.

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." -Norman Vincent Peale

Monday, December 7, 2015

Only a hippopotamus will do!

©Holly DeWolf- Only a hippopotamus will do!  

No crocodiles, or rhinoceroses. I only like hippopotamuses. And hippopotamuses like me too! 

Friday, November 13, 2015

Be Awesome!

©Holly DeWolf- Be Awesome!

Always remember you are awesome no matter how many times you stubbed your toe, spilled your coffee or tripped up the stairs. You have to be odd to be number one! 

Monday, November 9, 2015

Chase dreams!

Don't follow your dreams; chase them!
©Holly DeWolf- Chase dreams! 
Some things I've learned about following your dreams: 

  • Dreams are not designed to wait. Wrestle with them and make them yours. 
  • Chase your dreams like a hungry animal.
  • Don't follow people, follow dreams. 
  • Chase the vision, not the money. 
  • Your dreams are not designed to please others. That is why they are yours. Chase them anyway. 
  • Don't follow dreams, run after them regularly! 

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

The 13 Ghosts!

© Holly DeWolf 
We have three days to go before Halloween. Although I'm not sure if I believe in ghosts, I do find it creepy that someone died in the house we moved into. I'm not sure when and what the details are but it certainly added to the spook factor this October.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

It's a Pumpkin Spice world!

©Holly DeWolf- It's a Pumpkin Spice world! 
We are getting pumpkin spiced out here with Second Cup Coffee, Starbucks, our candles and even pumpkin Oreos. I even made a pumpkin spice cake. Time for something different like spiced apple cider. 

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Happy pumpkin everything

© Holly DeWolf
Another Thanksgiving came and went with much relaxing along with pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin cake and pumpkin pie. It truly is the best month of the year!

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Book Reading!

Book reading by Tim Turnell along with Champ the seal and Narcissus Twelve and Wet Winds Trio-Saint John, NB.

It's not every day that my illustrations are accompanied with music. This was part of a family show and a reading of the book I illustrated with Tim Turnell along with Champ the seal and Narcissus Twelve and Wet Winds Trio. Love it! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC1GZ6jZInI

Housewarming!

House Warming! ©Holly DeWolf 
  
Ahh, home sweet in progress home! 

What is a home? It's a place to sit, stretch out and relax in. It's a place where you can wear pj's in all day without judgement, it's a warm bath with tea and where the cookies are. Where I throw my junk is home. Sometimes it's really the cat's house - we just pay for everything. A home is where the office is. And sometimes home can be a person or people. 

A new home is a lot of work, a lot of unpacking mixed with dust and dirt. It's a time when new neighbours introduce themselves and in an instant, you forget their names. It involves new bus routes and rerouted mail. Your new house starts off looking like Stonehenge with towering boxes, clutter and piles of stuff you cannot believe you kept. Then slowly, everything finds a place even if it means putting it back into a box for storage. 

We will be having a housewarming soon. I decided to play up the occasion with an illustration card for the invite because we're getting into Fall. Interestingly though, this has been the hottest September here on record. Last time it was this warm was approximately a 100 years ago, so I read. 

It will be nice to do something a little different than unpacking for a change. Plus I get to break out some new Fall recipes I've been meaning to try. 

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Oh my stars!

© Holly DeWolf- Adventure


Stars are always fascinating! I love the summer when the girls and I can can just stop and stargaze without worrying about being up late. 

But really, who doesn't love stars? Great things are written about stars:

"Look at the starsLook how they shine for you" - Coldplay

"I have loved the stars to fondly to be fearful of the night." -Sarah Williams

"If you be my star, I'll be your sky." 

"We're all made of stars" -Moby

"My God, it's full of stars!" -Hal, 2001: A space odyssey 

Sunday, June 14, 2015

You're my lobster!

Today is National Lobster Day. Whenever I think of lobsters, I always remember that scene from the show Friends and Phoebe's demonstration of lobster love. We all have a special lobster we can hook claws with.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

I joined SCBWI



This past May I treated myself to a very beneficial gift: a SCBWI (Society of Book Writers and illustrators) membership. 

Port City Champ Book Launch


This past Sunday I got to be part of the book launch during the Port Saint John Community Day. I also got to meet this fella named Champ based on the main character I illustrated for the book. As a bonus, Port Saint John had a mascot made to help promote reading. As an extra extra bonus, proceeds of the book will go to the Saint John Free Public Library. This summer he will be making the rounds around town. His adorable stand out charm will make him a definite favourite. 


champ

Inside book cover

Dedication page

Friday, June 5, 2015

Happy Donut Day!

©Holly DeWolf- Happy Donut Day


Donuts. Is there anything they can't do? Happy Donut Day. 

New Book Launch!


I'm happy to announce the book I illustrated will be launched this Sunday, June 7th in Saint John. As a bonus, they created a mascot based on the character of the book. 

The Champ mascot and book will be a focal point of Port Saint John’s own Community Day display. As a bonus, they will be handing out 500 copies of the book. Future plans include a reading outreach to libraries, schools and community groups and an app. These books will be available for purchase at $4.99 each with proceeds going to the Saint John Free Public Library. Beginning June 8th the book will be available for purchase at the Butcher’s Daughter in the City Market. Very exciting! 

This was a great project to be part of. Not only is this great for Port Saint John, it's also great for the community and for the illustration industry too. Using illustration to promote the port will widen it's audience while supporting the creative community here. 

As I always say, no matter how small the area, the market, the town or city, we all need more illustration. Why? Because we are visual. We are drawn naturally to pictures and images. Often it's the best way to market and explain ideas. In a big way, they opened up their industry to include the arts which we need more of. I'm hoping this will catch on. 



Monday, May 11, 2015

Monday, again!

©Holly DeWolf- Dont hate caffeinate! 

Remember: Coffee will always run interference for you. It's got your back! Happy Monday!

Friday, May 8, 2015

The man on the moon is smiling

©Holly DeWolf- The man on the moon is smiling. 


"The man in the moon is smiling 'Cause he's in love with the girl in the world."

There was a time I used to make notes from things I heard or read. Now I have this endless collection of things to illustrate. When I find time to work on something non client related, I grab ideas from those notes.

This illustration is from a song that Harry Connick Jr sang way back in the '90's called Heavenly. I sketched an idea for this about 8 years ago so I'm finally happy to have completed it.

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Easter slushy Easter!

©Holly DeWolf- Happy Spring! 


Easter came with snow, slush and chocolate this year. The bad news is, I wont be wearing sandals anytime soon. The good news is, it's sunny out so I'm going to focus on that and all the goodies the Easter Bunny brought us. 

Happy chocolate Day! 

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Happy St. Patrick's Day!



You gotta try your luck at least once a day, because you could be 
going around lucky all day and not even know it. -Jimmy Dean

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Sunday lazy Sunday!


March break begins here this week and so we all decided to sleep in today. I have deadlines coming out my ears the next couple of weeks so I'll be juggling work mixed with a March break activities: Mario cart smack down, camp fire stories (a March break tradition), canvas painting, the great bake off, random dancing, March break movies, cartoon-palooza, the necessary donut run and so many other little creative ideas. 

Happy lazy Sunday to you! 

Friday, February 20, 2015

Happy Lunar New Year



Nin hao! Goodbye year of the horse, and happy year of the goat, or ram or sheep. This year is all about taking a new and fresh perspective on life. It is also about developing determination, persistence and patience. I like those predictions. Happy Lunar New Year! 

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

You're foxy foxy!



He's a foxy fella. 

"If you tame me, it will be as if the sun came to shine on my life. You then become responsible forever for what you have tamed." 

Happy Valentines Day! 

Blobs needs lovin' too!



Poor little blob fishes out there-they were nominated as one of the ugliest creatures. But they need lovin' too! 

Happy Valentine's Day!  

Hug me!




Valentine's Day is right around the corner so took the 3 x 5 art challenge I was nominated for on Facebook. I squeaked it in between book illustrations and resting to get rid of this cold. So here is some Valentine's mushy, gushy, heart string tuggy goodness!

Monday, January 26, 2015

So little time!

©Holly DeWolf- So little time! 

Today I focussed on a something we sometimes take for granted: time! 

Monday, January 12, 2015

Should is deadwood!



This is one of favourite expressions! It's direct and straight to the point and much needed kick to the creative butt on this very snowy Monday! 

Friday, January 9, 2015

A wonderful day!



This will be my first tiny narratives illustration of the year! Today's coffee mug was inspired by a snow day here in New Brunswick. It's a good day to stay in, draw, illustrate, work on children's book illustrations and drink coffee. Have the best Friday!