Red Train of Allaire

allaire train posterized
We will really have to go somewhere else in New Jersey soon, because I keep showing you images from our wonderful trip to Allaire State Park (if you click on that link, you’ll see all my posts on Allaire). There is a fun train ride called the Pine Creek Railroad at Allaire, and I had fun using the Live Trace tool in Illustrator to come up with the above image. I used Photoshop to get the train conductor’s face to look not posterized, by putting the photo under the Live Trace image and erasing the Live Trace layer on his face.

allaire_train_foliage
Another version: this one shows more color and detail, especially of the foliage behind the train.

allaire_caboose
And here’s the caboose at the train’s end, turning the corner.

Soup Illustration

soup
 
“If I put something
in the water,
I can make Birthday Soup.
All my friends like soup.”
– Quote from Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik
– Illustration by me, inspired by Maurice Sendak
 
I did this illustration (ink and watercolor on paper) for an upcoming soup post (thanks to everyone who shared a post of a soup recipe – soup post is planned for Wednesday), and later this month I plan to do a post on book illustrators.

Do you have a favorite illustrated book or illustrator? Please leave the name in the comments. Thanks!

Today’s Flowers: Marigold Studies

marigold_buds_flower
The happiest flowers in my garden in this cool autumn are the marigolds. We also have mums, white alyssum, snapdragons, rudbeckia and a solitary pink rose. The last of the summer impatiens died this past week.

marigolds_many
I saw a neighbor had red and pink carnations that were still showing color.

marigold_bud
If you take the dried up marigold buds, open them to reveal the seeds, then sprinkle them in your yard, next spring you will have a renewed treat.

For more flowers, visit:
logo_rose_todays_flowers

See and Tell

umbrellas_blue
What do you see in my daughter’s drawing? I can only guess myself. I will consult with her by Monday to find out what she was trying to depict. Have fun with this.

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