GRADUATION!

Hello Dear friends!

Hope everyone is getting ready for sizzling summer. :)

So this is what I have been working on for the past weeks, with breaks.
Graduation gifts for my kid's teachers.
Daycare called Keshet (meaning rainbow in Hebrew) has been like my family here.
My kids went there since they were babies. Since all of my husband's and my relatives live across the ocean it is very uplifting to have such meaningful relationships like I have created with Keshet's loving and caring staff.
My children graduated there from the UPK class. last year my son and this year my daughter.

I made this drawing of a hand (Jewish Hamsa) for them, for protection from Ayin Hara (evil eye).
I included Blessing for Business in Hebrew to bless their establishment, so it continues to strive, while offering loving and cozy environment for the lil' ones, from newborns to UPK.
I also made individual copies of another design (below the Keshet design) for the teachers with their names written inside each one in Medusa script.
Medusa script is one of my most favorite. It is an Art Nuveau script which reminds me of my countryman and favorite artist, Alfons Mucha.
('Morah' means teacher in Hebrew), and there are blessings in Hebrew above each finger of the hand. From left to right: Parnassah (livelihood), Ahava (love), Emuna (faith), Shalom (peace), Briut (health).

However, I have to admit I made a mistake I yet have to correct.
Bellow each name are two Hebrew letters, hey and yud. As I was drawing till late hours, I didn't realize, I meant to write chet and yud, which means Life. Yet to be corrected...


ART FORWARD  projects that I owe to my dear followers since March ..( :/ ) will be my next thing to work on, while I am finishing up a map of a place very dear to my heart for They Draw & Travel.

Stay tuned! :)

Where have I been? .....Asleep

Hello everyone.
I am weeks behind Illustration Friday and it just so happens that this week's theme is "Asleep".
Yes, my pens have been asleep as I have been busy caring for my lil' ones while trying to get used to my new part time job. I started working as an Art Teacher, out of all things, in all girls yeshiva. Who knew?
It came out of the blue and now I am challenged to come up with weekly arts and crafts projects for grades from Pre-1A to 8th.
I never taught art before. To my surprise, I felt like I have always done it and both teachers and students were happy. Thumbs Up!
It is quite a psychological challenge as well. I increased my  respect for all the teachers out there ! So if anyone has a petition to sign for teachers to be respected and paid more, I'll be glad to sign it!

Bellow is my IF entry for this week. I love babies and I so I draw them.
This is an ACEO card, drawn with archival Sakura Pigma Micro Pens on acid free Strathmore Vellum paper. You can find more of my ACEO's here.

Name Keepsakes: DIANA

My first name keepsake!
So excited!
It was custom ordered by a friend who is giving it as a gift.
The recipient has changed her name to Diana after overcoming a series of life challenges that have strengthened her and led her to identify herself with this being form Roman Mythology.
I have researched the meaning of the name and incorporated images that are connected with the myth.
The drawing is made using archival pens by Micron on acid free Strathmore Bristoll Vellum paper.
Zentangle doodles were added to fill in the spaces between images.

Happy Purim!

This past weekend we have celebrated the Jewish holiday of Purim.
While Dell reps were fixing my computer last week, I was Zentangling and came up with this Purim greeting card image.
Wicked Haman is walking Mordechai through the town  on the king's horse. King Achashverosh and Queen Esther are the other images.

Megillat Esther teaches us that life’s challenges are always for the best, because what appears as an obstacle is really an opportunity to develop ourselves for the better. And it all comes from God’s invisible hand that guides our fate, every step of the way.

Zentangle  is so much fun ! I got a whole portfolio in my head! :)