Divalicious!!!

This is for all the ladies!!! I believe that there is a Diva inside each of us.
She might be pulling up to the school picking up the kids.
She maybe working in a nursing home feeding some hungry Senior.
Or maybe she is a crafter working from home putting it all together to sell in her Etsy store.
Diva's are not defined by what they do, but how they carry themselves.
It's the smile you are given and the head nob when walking through the supermarket.
It's the way she compliments other women when they are dressed to kill.
It's the way she takes something and makes it out of nothing. It's her ability to
laugh at herself. Diva's know who they are because they have taken time to know
themselves and are comfortable with it. They don't have to be anything more than
themselves! Ladies I celebrate each of you today! Go ahead and do your thang!!!!
he he he!!!

Intricate

This is a illustration I did for Scholastic for a book fair ad.
There is a lot of "Intricate" detail in this illustration.
I thought my eyes where going to fall out!! he he he!
Have a wonderful and creative weekend my friends.

Watercolor Wednesday "Babies"

This is my WW submission for the prompt "Babies."
Meet Sugar, Spice and Niecey. You won't need a sugar
substitute with these babies. Their 100% all natural and organic.
Expect for Niece's fake afro puffs. They should be removed
before adding her to your morning joe. He he he!
Have a great day!

Tagged by Friendsinglove.blogspot.com/

I've been tagged once again!!! This time by my friend Shiva!
Shiva is a wonderful artist! I had sometime today and so I took
the time to do this! Now please, please,please don't be offended
if I don't response to all of your tags! I've been tagged a whole lot he he he!!
I'm in the middle of some projects that required my full attention.
When I am able to catch my breath again I try to catch up I promise!
Have a great week everyone. BTW, I'm suppose to tag a few people, but
I know how busy you all are. If you would like to response please be my
guess and do so. Actually this was fun! he he he!

Read and Rise

I was asked to do this piece for Scholastic's Read and Rise Magazine.
This was a the cover for the parent guide. In this guide was information about
what books your child should be reading and what was good for what age group
and other very important information to help parents get their kids reading.
Read and Rise was a publication that was given out to innercity kids who
didn't get lots of books to take home. The magazine was a beautiful
one with lots of stories and fabulous illustrations. I loved that fact that
it was given away for free to families. Sadly Scholastic cut this magazine this year.
No more Read and Rise. I hope that one day they will bring it back. It's so sad that
a great program like this had to be cut.

Breezy

Each night Issy would take out her favorite hair magazine and pray for
luxuriously long fabulous hair that was "Breezy" and easy just like the girl in the
magazine ad. Issy had an aunt Nessa who was bald and she prayed for her too.
he he he!

Kids In Glasses

I can't resist kids in glasses. I just love it!!!! While working at a Jewish school in
Closter, NJ over the summer, I met a brother and sister and both
wore the coolest glasses. Bright blue ones for the boy and cool reds ones for the girl.
They where no more than five or so, but they where so cute.
I did this quick illustration in memory of them.

Instinct

Red's instinct told her to head of to Granny's house right away, but she simply couldn't
resist just one dance with such a charming wolf. Oh why, oh why do we ignore
the voice in the core of our being that says, " Something is wrong fool,
don't be a sucker for this foolishness!" We somehow put it in the back of our minds.
Instinct is there for a very good reason.
It's your indicator that let's you know, something is fishy.
So the next time your gut says ,"Don't buy that car it's a lemon!!!!"
or "I needed to call you just to say I love you and I was thinking about you."
or "Don't marry this chick she's a mental case run don't walk to the nearest exit now!!!"
Listen up Yall!!! and I know you know what I mean.
He he he he he! Instinct, it's more than a fragrance use it!!

Watercolor Wednesday "The Music Lesson

Two things that go together like Peanut butter and jelly? Kids and music!
I've had the pleasure of watching a bunch of kids at a party.
When the music came on everything changed. Boys under the age of 10
were busting moves that made me laugh and giggle. The girl too.
Kids just love music. It's a pity and shame that many of the music
programs have been taken out of our school. Music help builds the brain and
helps with self esteem and creativity. So give yourself, your child, or friend
a good dose of rock, gospel, hip hop or jazz and of course have a musical day!!!
Toot!
V

Celebrate

Well yall, it's that time again. You know V day, Valentine's Day or love fest,
whatever you want to call it. I hope you get flowers and candy and a great card,
but for those of you who hate this day, do me a favor, will you take your own self
out? Will you buy yourself a card or some candy please? While you are waiting
for the right person to come along, take care, treat and love you.
However you choose to Celebrate, have a Happy Valentine's Day my friends.

Oh How My Soul Sings of Gratefulness

Hey There, I just got an award from a very talented and wonderful artist and designer friend,
Senta of sentaplyer.blogspot.com. YAYYYYYYY!!!!
She has given me another award. Thanks Senta from the bottom of my heart. You are so kind and
sweet to do that. I really appreciate you choosing me. Instead of posting just more
stuff about me, I wanted to tell you all about what I am thankful for. It is said that
thinking people are thankful people. I want to say to each and every person who
comes to view this blog and leaves and message or watches. Thank you from the
bottom of my heart. I am ever grateful to even be considered a part of this
great vast company of creative souls. It's amazing!!!! YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL SOULS!!!!
Each and everyone of you!
1. I am grateful for My God who loved me so that He would in His great love and wisdom
sent and gave His loving Son to give His life for me that I might have life.
2. I am grateful for my Husband of 16 years and our beautiful Zoe such fabulous gifts
3. I am grateful for a host of crazy, hilarious, messed up, dysfunctional, loving, kind,
fabulous, creative, brilliant and nurturing family and friends.
4. I am grateful for my hands and my eyes and my brain and my spirit and my imagination.
5. I am grateful that I am here.
6. I'm grateful for what each creative soul brings to the canvas called life. You are a gift not
to be measured by anyone else. You are as unique and different as your fingerprints. No one before
you or after you will have the same fingerprints for this I am grateful. You have left your fingerprints
on me. All of you.
7. I am grateful for expression!
8. I am grateful for your expression!
10. I am grateful for this day to share with you my heart with other BEAUTIFUL SOULS

Have a most wonderfully fabulous day my friends.

Princess Collage

Hello Everyone,
I'd like for you to meet a new friend. Meet Princess Collage.
She's from the Kingdom of Canvas Prime where everything is white and plain.
Princess Collage hates waste so she is out on while and crazy adventure
to take scraps, bits, and pieces back to Canvas Prime
and turn it on it's ear with recycled fabulous mixed media and collage art.
Okay enough with this. I have been doing collage for over 20 years now.
I love it. I find it very relaxing and fun. It's filled with flaws just
like me he he he!!! I take the stuff that nobody wants,
and turn it into art for my walls. Sometimes it doesn't even make it
to my walls before someone purchases it. I have learned to make prints of
my work before I sell now he he he! You can see more of my collage art at Fineartregistry.com or
painted-words.com Type in Vanessa Brantley-Newton.
Oh and yes, this is ruthless self promotion for my Etsy store.
Princess Collage is a story that I wrote and I am in the process of
creating the illustrations for the book. I'll keep you posted.

Tagged By Jane Winton

Hey I've been tagged by Jane Winton of goldenmill.co.uk and janeandthehappycrow.blogspot.com
She is a fabulous full time artist and
one of the sweetest people it's been my pleasure to know.
Well I'm suppose to tagged 8 other people.
Now I will be honest and tell you that I'm in the middle of a couple
of projects and some of you have been tagged already. So if would like
me to tag you, please stand still!!! he he he he!!! leave me a message and
I will tag you. Thanks so much Jane you are such a beautiful soul!
Have a good one everyone!

Flawed

Jasmine's confidence on the inside always took care of her "Flawed" outside!
YOU GO GIRL!
I find it so amazing how we as women and sometimes men, measure
ourselves by what we see in magazines and television.
Everyday products are shoved at us with a price tag and promise that it will make
us look better ,feel better and sometimes perform better. As a makeup
artist, I get people asking me to make them look like this star or
someone else. It's a whole lot of pressure honestly. Some of them look
nothing like the people they admire. I can use the same brand of makeup and
technique, but in the end you can only be you. Flawed or not
the only you, you will ever have is you! Don't let it get lost
in someone else's idea of beauty is. Sometimes the very thing
that we deem a flaw is the very thing that makes us unique and beautiful!
"I am fearfully and wonderfully made and my soul know it right well"
Psalms 139:13-14
Peace

Ruby Booker Is Back

Ruby Booker is back with a 4th book due in stores this month. I have the
pleasure and honor of being the illustrator of Ruby.
Derrick Barnes is a wonderful writer and I really enjoy working
on the wonderful characters he creates in Ruby's world.
I'm now working on the cover for the 5th book in the series. Maybe
I'll get a chance to show you a sketch or two. You can purchase Ruby
online at Barnesandnobles.com or Amazon.com.
Thanks for your support!

Break Out The Dancing Girls Nester Won an Award

Break out the dancing girls Bella Sinclair of Bellasinclair.blogspot.com has
given me a couple of awards. I just want to say thanks so much Bella
for thinking of me. I admire Bella's wonderful illustration style and
her hilarious humor. She is an inspiration to me lots of other
illustrators. Even in these rough times it's little things like this
that make life sweet! Thanks so much Bella you're the best Girly!!!
Ooh la la Yall!

Climbing

Jacob found that he could lost for hours "Climbing" through the pages of
his favorite book.

Hot Chocolate

Good to the last drop it was! I just purchased some Hot Cocoa Mix
from my local food market and let me tell you it was wonderful!!!
It was imported from France. I tell you this stuff is magic! It's smooth,
rich and creamy and I think I'm addicted. However... the packaging wasn't
so special. I love packaging! Most of all the packaging from
the 50's, 60's and 70's! Of course because I'm an artist. We sometimes
by with our eyes first. I created this little label to put on the outside of the can.
Instant magic I call it. Mamma needs a little lift! Hope I made you smile today!
Have a most magical day my friends!

Pale

Take 48 turned poor Tyler "Pale" at just the mere thought of drinking one more can of
Nutra Kid. There had to be a better way to get money for his college education.
Poor Tyler. he he he

Hippity Hoppity Something Warmer Please!!!

Morning Everyone,
Is it me or is this weather just crazy??? I live in Jersey and let me tell you the hawk, eagle and pigeons have ALL landed!!!! The wind chill makes it feel like a few degrees below 0. I'm not feeling Jersey right about now. It's just stupid cold outside. So cold I don't even want to get the kid up to go to school. My friends in the Midwest how do you deal with this? I did this little picture to brighten up these cold weather days. Hope it makes you smile even if it doesn't warm up your outsides. Please make sure you wrap up warm. Warm up your cars. Make sure you dress in layers and think warm thoughts. Have a wonderful day.