New Book

New Book
Grandma's Purse

Friday, March 27, 2009

Poise


He picked her because she had poise and charm!
Okay family, I've got the "Can't Help Its" I know yall are
like, "Get your butt back to work!!!!" Okay, I'm going
in again! I'll catch you all later I promise!
Have a great weekend. Oh and by the way I had this
laying around and thought it worked for the word! he he he!
Bye now!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

I Miss Yall


Hey All you Beautiful Souls!!!!
I'm working on a bunch of projects that all came in at nearly the same time.
I have to tell each and everyone one of you how much I miss yall!!!!
OMG, I've made so many beautiful friends and I am inspired by
so many of you. I THANK EACH AND EVERYONE of you who have
come by to leave such wonderful comments and messages!
I stop by just to check and be encouraged.
I just had to post something and as soon as this is
posted I will be back to work! This is an illustration from an up
and coming children's book that I wrote. It will be in stores
later this year! It reminds me of all of us. Okay everyone, keep your
heads up, while your looking at someone else work remember that no
can do what you do, be inspired, be lifted, be encouraged and
be blessed my friends! See you all soon!!!
Hugs a plenty!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Legendary


Aunite V's pineapple upside down cake was ,"Legendary." It was
so good you'd want to slap your mama! "I would give you the
recipe but then I'd have to kill ya," she'd always say.
Okay Tomas this one's for you my friend! he he he
Here is the quick fast way and it still taste good.
Fake it with store brought cake mix. Get the one with the pudding in it.
You want it to be nice an moist.
You will need 1 can of pineapple rings
1 1/2 c. of white sugar
1 tsp. of Real vanilla favoring
1 Can of carnation caned evaporated milk
1 stick of butter
1 cup of water
a couple of pinches of salt
A whole lot of prayer he he he.
Bake the cake according to the box instructions.
in a medium sauce pan
combine water, half of the juice from the pineapple rings and sugar to make a simple syrup.
You will know it's right when it becomes syrupy like.
be very careful cause this stuff it hot like that!!!!
add the whole stick of butter and a the vanilla favor.
stir until butter is melted then slowly add your
can of carnation evaporated milk stirring as you add it in.
Taste very carefully and add your salt. Salt to your taste. It may take a pinch or two.
Now, bring to a boil and stir again.
Remove from heat and set aside,
When cake is baked cool for 30 min.
Polk hole in cake with a tooth pick
drizzle the rest of the pineapple juice on the cake.
Now, don't soak it!!!! Just dampen it a bit or as you like
Take the pineapple rings and lay them on the cake either side
it's really up to you. Then take the warm caramel sauce you made and
lavishly pour over the cakes or cake.
Now jump back and kiss yourself! he he he!
I would love to hear from you all about how it came out. Take care
he he he!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Watercolor Wednesday's " Play"


Everyday I go to pick my niece and nephew up from school.
Chyna seems to be very popular at school. She always has
a small host of friends saying good bye! It's a whole lot
of hugging and talking and giggling and I love every second
of it! I live for it! he he he!!! Have a great week everyone!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

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!!!

Friday, March 6, 2009

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.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

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!

Monday, March 2, 2009

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!

Sunday, March 1, 2009

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.

Friday, February 27, 2009

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!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

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.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

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!!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

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

Friday, February 13, 2009

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.

Monday, February 9, 2009

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.

Friday, February 6, 2009

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.

Monday, February 2, 2009

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!

Saturday, January 31, 2009

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

Thursday, January 29, 2009

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!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

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!