My 1/2 birthday! - sharing my college work

colored pencil 1989

 

Hi! And Happy-Half-Birthday to me!

Half birthdays aren't much of a thing to most people, but my daughter was a Christmas baby - smack on the 25th - so I have always done something nice for her on June 25th. Like make her favorite dinner,  prepare a nice dessert, maybe get her a small gift, etc. ( I hope she's not reading this. I forgot her this year because her upcoming wedding is taking a lot of my head space.)

And then, I often celebrate my own (when I remember it!) haha!  Just me. I have a nice dinner, treat myself to something, make sure I tell everyone it's my half birthday . . . that kind of thing.

I thought, in honor of being halfway through my year, on the way to one of those BIG real birthdays, I'd do a throwback and share some of my college stuff.

I drew and painted many, many nudes. Not wanting to shock anyone, I'll just share this one done in charcoal.

I did some some more technical kind of drawings too.

This one was quite a challenge. 

I had to draw it transparently first, trying to get all the perspective and ellipses right. Phew!

It's in colored pencil.

Here's a couple nightmare pieces I did. Approximately 18 x 24 and in charcoal:

Nightmares about being late, being naked in public, trying to run and not being able. I must have had more water nightmares than I remember. And of course - who or what might be under the bed ready to grab you, or at least your feet.

The fear of peeping Toms while I'm in the bathroom has always been there for me. Haha!

I even made it worse by turning it into a view through a camera. 

Then this one:

The two above are 24 x 36 and done in charcoal and pastel.

Here's a print that I have always considered pulling out and working on again. 

I worked for a concessionaire for two summers after high school, and have many memories 

of what it's like to be on the fairgrounds at night, after the public has gone home.

Lastly, I took illustration courses at the Art Academy of Cincinnati and this little beauty was one of my favorites. It's done in colored pencil, and illustrates a short story about Marilyn Monroe that our professor read to us.

So, there's a peek at old Tracy. Well, actually young Tracy. 

Thanks for stopping by!

AUGUST 2025

 Die-cuts and digital art (Procreate)

I've been reminiscing a lot lately. So much of my hometown has changed since I was a kid. I'm feeling very nostalgic. Shouldn't I be able to buy a ticket, somehow, to go back in time for a day? To see places no longer standing. People no longer here. It's so close. I can see it when I close my eyes. Just out of reach.

On that note, I'll talk about myself as a child artist. Haha! Not a prodigy. Just a kid who had a knack for it.

I come by it honestly, with several older family members who were artistically talented. I admired what they could do and I wanted to do it too.

I took art classes every year of high school. Then, went to college where I started with a major in graphic design, spent some time pursuing art education, and ended up with a degree in fine art just to be able to graduate and get the heck outta Dodge.

After graduating (with that lucrative fine art degree) I got a job waiting tables, met my husband, and life took off. With the exception of a gig illustrating for Gooseberry Patch that lasted for a few years, my career as an artist hasn't been much of a career. I've exhibited in local shows and worked on several commissions, but it's been more like a habit that I can't break. If I'm not painting, or drawing or doing something, I'm not happy. You've heard the saying "happy wife, happy life", or "if Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." (That's the one I hear around my house all the time). I have to have my creative time. It's how I "fill the well," and then have more of myself to give to others.

I've reached a point in my life where the pressure of even considering an art career is in the rearview mirror. But, that does absolutely NOT mean I'm done. I just feel free to do whatever the heck I want. It feels wonderful, and I think I'm doing more now than ever. And I'm so happy to have this space to share what I do with YOU.

Sicking with the nostalgic theme, here are some of the pieces I did in high school. Again, no prodigy. But, not bad if I do say so myself.

My first painting - in acrylics. I would have been 15. This hangs proudly in my current studio.

My Daniel Boone guy. I think I was 15 or 16. 

This may have started as a grid drawing from a magazine image.

And here area few random pieces from high school. A scratchboard crystal glass, a pen and ink of a seahorse (I've always loved seahorses!), a drawing of a cute guy that I drew with no reference image. -This guy existed only in my head. I had it hanging in my dorm room my freshman year and a boyfriend at the time was jealous, thinking it was someone I had waiting for me back home. Haha! Lastly, roses. These may have also come from my head because I remember drawing a lot of roses.

I don't think I've shared my college work here. Check back in a couple weeks and maybe I'll have some of those to share.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mini oil paintings

I just wanted to share these completed pieces from my last post.

Both  are approximately 2" x 3".

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

 

JULY Calendar Piece

die-cuts 

 

The year is half way over! It's been a busy year so far, but goodness, it's going fast! I took a girls' trip to NYC in May, 

went to my niece's wedding in Jamaica in June, and now my focus will be on the wedding of my own baby girl in October! I just saw the gorgeous venue this morning. I'll be spending a lot of my time over the next few months getting wedding decorations done!

However, I still have to make time for my own creative interests. Right now I have several things started. Here's a little peek at a few ideas I'm working on. 

This is a 12" x 24" piece I started.

It's inspired by this cute little flower shop in NYC.

(See it down there in the corner?)

This is a fun challenge because, though I have the reference photo,

I'm having to figure out a lot for myself - color, perspective, etc.

Also, I got a great deal, in February, on a nice little Christmas tree for my studio.

I'm planning to hang my own miniature paintings on it.

Here's a couple 2" x 3" pieces I started.

One of my favorite cocktails - an Aperol Spritz.

Ellen - our very missed, furry kid.

I have two more paintings in the works - inspired by the Jamaican trip,

and a few more miniature ideas for the tree. So, I'm busy, and putting my studio to good use.

Here's one more thing I recently did, the wedding card for my niece and new nephew.

Thanks for stopping by!

So much to celebrate!

 Champagne glasses - 8" x 10" oils

I've done a calendar for the last 5 years. It gives me focus and a goal of at least 12 new pieces. But, this year there's two big weddings in the family, plus more things to celebrate, so most of my creative energies will be focused on those things. Originally this piece was going to be January 2026, and who knows, maybe it will still end up being January 2027.

Here are the steps:

This is the first layer in acrylics, just getting it laid out.

Second layer done in oils. I love the frosty look!

Third step

Fourth

Fifth

Sixth

Seventh

The results of the seventh and eighth steps are at the top - 

fine tuning the material, and adding the bubbles to the glass on the right.

Cheers!

Thanks for stopping by!

June Calendar Piece

 Die cuts, drink photos, and fun paper.

Wishing everyone a great summer ahead!

Thanks for stopping by!