Definitely not a white Christmas.

I have had firm rules in place for the last 4 years about our holiday cards. 1) They are illustrated by me, 2) they are based on the theme of "giving", 3) they are paper, 4) they are mailed, 5) they are non-denominational. This year only one of those five rules survived.

The holidays have been to me, for 33 years, snowy, cold, and wintery. Around September when it gets to be about 50 outside, I usually start making candles for gifts, crocheting and knitting things, and by late October hatching the idea for the card.

This year we moved to L.A.

It's still in the 60's even though Christmas is 13 days away. My yarn, crochet hooks, knitting needles and candle supplies are all stored on shelves. The trees still have green leaves on them, and every street has the incongruous site of santas and reindeer on green lawns with holiday lights all over them. It's weird. Therefore, this year, so is our card.

However, it wouldn't be a card from me without some sappiness, so I included an excerpt from Francis Pharcellus Church's reply to Virginia O'Hanlon's question of whether or not there is a Santa Claus.

I hope that you have a great holiday whether you are in sunshine or snowstorms.

"Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world."

New series and HGTV potential

Happy December! I have to say as a Midwesterner- it sure doesn't feel like the holiday season in L.A.!

These pics are of the third and latest group in my High School Portrait series. These are from the 1967 Cardinal series, which- I know that you shouldn't have favorite children, but I enjoyed these immensely. I LOVE 1967 hair and clothing, these cats have style! You can see the rest on my site: http://www.nancyillustration.com/cardinal.html
Or buy them on my Etsy page (I'm also doing free shipping this month): http://www.etsy.com/shop/nancyillustration

In other news, I just turned in my release form to Reform School. They are so hip and cute that HGTV shall be filming them next week. Which, by extension means that my work may be on TV! Very exciting. Now I need cable and a DVR.

The Weakerthans and painting workshop

I did this after going to a painting workshop with a superstar painter that I completely admire this summer. The style is too much the painter's vs. mine, I think maybe. I do miss oils though, which I did this in. It's a portrait of John K Samson of the Weakerthans. Only b/c I adore the band's music at a level not seen since my Smiths obsession in high school (or maybe the Get Up Kids one in my 20's). And, I had taken the workshop, then gone to see them live at the Roxy (great great show), so that's all I was listening to at the time.

It's been a few months since I did it, but I finally scanned it b/c I just bought Mr. Samson's solo EP (with my new favorite song on it) and remembered I painted this in summer. The likeness took a million years, and it doesn't match my portfolio, but I like it anyway.

Mady Overload

A tribute page to kitty. Crazy? I think not. Or, I think sure, but don't care :) The following page has over 50 excellent photographs and fan art of Madeline Sparkle Pants J-R. Please look!

http://nancyillustration.com/mady-overload.html

By the way, this beautiful kitty was adopted from the Anti Cruelty Society in Chicago. Adoption rules!

High School Portrait Series: The Truman Show

Yes, we are in the 70's now! I have finished a new series of High School Portraits. This one was drawn from two yearbooks from the same school. One was 1977 the other 1979. They were years when the boys rivaled the girls with hair and clothing styles, and they all looked amazing! I have to thank my cousin Miki for lending me the books (which I'll ship back today!). This one was a lot of fun. All fifty portraits may be seen on my site here: http://www.nancyillustration.com/truman.html

I've also had some sales at Reform School of the first series. I am experimenting with printing methods to offer inexpensive (but good quality) prints. So far the combination of the two qualities is alluding me, but the quest continues! In the interim, originals are still for sale online at Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/nancyillustration As well as at Reform School on Sunset in Los Angeles: http://www.reformschoolrules.com/directory.html

Next up- 1966 BIG hair!

Hanging at Reform School

Again with the high school pics, but I'm really happy that they're up at such a cool place! They were hung up yesterday, and here's some pics of them in the store window. Thanks to Tootie and Billie from the shop for putting them in such a prime spot! And, if you're in L.A., please stop by to see them and the nifty goods at the store! 3902 Sunset Blvd www.reformschoolrules.com

My art is going to Reform School

I'm very excited to report that the awesome, lovely shop Reform School (3902 W Sunset, Los Angeles) is now carrying most of my Comet series (36 of them). They are being hung in the front window as we speak, and I can't wait to see them up! If you're in or near Los Angeles, please visit them!

Their online shop is here: http://www.reformschoolrules.com/