Feliz Mother's Day

Mother's Day is celebrated in Mexico on May 10th regardless of what day of the week it falls on. This year (2015) it falls on the second Sunday of May, same as Mother's Day in the US. So in honor of my momma and my heritage, I created this illustration in my sketchbook wishing all Spanish-Speaking and English-speaking and Spanglish-Speaking moms (like me!) a very Happy Mother's Day.

~Dio
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Printable: Is the Moon Made of Cheese?

Being a mom is definitely the most challenging and most rewarding experience I’ve ever had. I was never a worrier until I became a mother. Never in my life had I been so exhausted until I became a mother. Never did my memory fail me, until I became a mother. There’s so much going on in the life of a mom, managing a home, her health and well-being, finances, career, and the activities other people in her household. Never did I value my privacy so much, until I became a mom. I’m 10 years into this mom thing and I still can’t pee without being approached with a question on other side of the door. And never did I know the meaning of true love until I laid eyes on that tiny little human for the first time. Watching her grow and become this whole other person with her own thoughts and feelings right before my very eyes has been absolutely magical. There’s so much beauty inside of her, and so much curiosity which results in oh so many questions. My God! The questions, day in and day out. Sometimes I just want to scream at the top of my lungs “Can you just be quiet for ONE second please!” because I honestly cannot hear myself think. But I don’t. I remain as calm as I possibly can, and kindly ask for a moment of silence so I can concentrate on the task at hand. You see, it is that same curiosity that will drive her in life to go places, to learn and explore and find answers on her own.

Needless to say, it was my own daughter that inspired this doodle in my sketchbook which I am releasing today as a free printable. And what better time to share than the Friday before Mother’s Day. So this one’s for you, mommies! In appreciation of all your hard work and patience, because boy, does it take patience. But remember, when your little ones drives you crazy with question after question, it was curiosity that led mankind to set foot on the moon.

Have a great weekend and to all you moms out there, have a very Happy Mother’s Day!

~ Dio

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Paper Coasters: Kokeshi, Hand Lettered, Doodle Art

Zazzle had a 30% offer on paper coasters that I just couldn't pass up, especially since I recently created a few using some of my latest designs. So I used the coupon code to place an order and check out the quality, and you know what? Zazzle never disappoints! I absolutely love the way they printed! The colors are very rich, and though I've seen thicker coasters, these are still pretty sturdy and slightly larger than others carried at popular dining establishments and bars.

I especially like how the ink sparkles a bit when the sun hits it a certain way. You can kinda get a glimpse of it when looking at the blue coaster in the picture above. I'm so happy with them, that from now on, I"m going to make sure I include coasters on all my special events stationery collections.

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Happy Easter

Happy Easter, everyone! Stay away from those cupcakes. They might look good, but...

Tee-hee...

~ Dio
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April Showers

Last night's bedtime doodles were inspired by the start of the new month and the old saying that says "April showers bring May flowers."

I drew it on a regular 8.5"x11"sheet of paper, using my black Tombow Dual Brush Pen* for the lettering and gelly roll pens for color. Thought it would be cute on a calendar, so I added the days of the week and dates underneath. My little freehand calendar would have turned out perfect, had it not been for day 16. Now day 16 looks very bold compared to the rest. Hope it's a sign that something special is going to happen on that day. Keeping my fingers crossed!

~Dio
*Please see affiliate links disclosure on sidebar.

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This week's doodles and lettering

I was all gung ho earlier in the year about my 365 days of doodles challenge. Well, of course I was inspired and motivated, I was on vacation and had all the time in the world to do what I love - create, create, create. But then winter break was over. I went back to work, and with the season is full bloom,  everything else (from here till May) is pretty much on the back burner. 

I haven't been drawing daily as I intended, but I do manage to sneak a little ink on paper every couple of days. I just don't have the time to post, especially at work, but that'll change soon ;)

Below are a few doodles from this week plus a bit of hand lettering. I have taken a higher interest in lettering recently, and I'm learning simply by observing. Hoping to take a course or two over the summer to really begin to master the skill.

Also, be on the lookout for my little bee and flower below. I'll be turning it into a greeting card illustration sometime in the next couple of weeks.

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Puppy Love

Aren't puppies the cutest? I love dogs, they're so lovable and full of personality. They are often a source of inspiration for me, as well as a subject matter when drawing on my sketchbook.

I drew this little guy sometime in the summer of 2014 during my lunch break. Since then, he lived on a small piece of scrap paper, smiling at me daily from my bulletin board. Last week however, I brought my little pup home with me and I gave him new life. I transformed him from a cute simple doodle into a digital illustration.
Today, my little "Bandana Doggy" adorns the cover of this lovely thank you card and is also featured on stickers, bookplates and address labels over at my shop at PaisleyInParis.com.

He's the perfect stationery icon for any pet birthday parties, or doggy themed baby showers and birthday parties. Yes he is!

~ Dio

365 Days of Dio Doodles

I was looking at my sketchbooks during my holiday break and noticed a pretty decent improvement in sketches over the last couple of years. Truth is, I have been drawing and doodling a lot more in recent years, but I am still not where I want to be. So, on January first 1 started a personal challenge which I call "365 Days of Dio Doodles." A promise to myself to draw daily, take time to hone my craft, make my art more polished looking and to get faster at it. You can follow my journey on Instagram by using any of the following hashtags: #365daysofdiodoodles or #paisleyinparis. See you there!

Last doodle of 2014: Wishing You a Happy 2015

Happy New year my friends! May 2015 bring you lots of peace, joy, health and the making of many beautiful and unforgettable memories. Cheers!

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I know a lot of nice people...well, kind of.

Making tags for my coworkers' gifts today. Apparently Santa had to lower his standards in order to include them in his nice list this year - ha!

I didn't have time to bake anything but they all love treats. Well, don't we all? I bought cute decorated bags and filled them with store bought biscotti and Kona coffee k-cups. Coffee is brewed daily in our office, free of charge of course. However, if we want to use the Keurig, we have to buy our own pods.  Given that our office coffee tends to be bitter at times (or too strong, or too weak), I'm sure they'll be quite happy to get their k-cups.

Making the Tags

If want to make your own tags, here's what you'll need:

• Scalloped tag paper punch*

• 1/8" circle paper punch*

• Sharpie markers*

• 60-100 lb card stock*

• Ribbon, string or twine* to tie them on to the goodie bags

First I punched out the tags, then I doodled away. Since I was in a bit of a rush, I went went with the easiest thing to draw. A Christmas tree with stars. It's also fun to make tags out of scrap paper and recycled packaging. I'll share some of those soon. Happy crafting!

*Please see affiliate links disclosure on right column. 
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Working With Crayons

I've been especially obsessed with new marking tools lately. I've been buying pens like there's no tomorrow. I guess it keeps me excited about drawing, but one thing I've learned is that no matter how pricy or inexpensive your marking tools are, you can create beautiful art with just about anything.
Earlier in the year, we were packing up to move when I came across a basket full of my daughter's broken crayons. I really hate being wasteful, so in order to justify keeping them, I decided to use them in my sketchbook. Here's a peek of one my favorite pieces.

First I doodled a bunch of flowers in the background. Then, still using crayons, I drew shapes on different color pieces of card stock, cut out the shapes, assembled them into the shape of a fairy and attached them onto my floral background using a glue stick. Last, I added the lettering above the fairy. Turned out cute! I think this would make a nice piece to frame and display in a little girl's bedroom. Too bad my daughter is running out of wall space in her room.

The Joy of a New Marking Tool

So I spotted a new marker at Michael's the other day. I got a hold of 50% off coupon this week, which I took as a sign from the heavens that I must get it. Last night after work, as my family waited for me at home to have dinner, I made them wait a bit longer because mama had some shopping to do. I mean, Michael's is only 1 block away from where I work, so it wasn't much of a detour. I marched right in, grabbed this neon pink Molotow marker as images of beautiful pink and black doodles flashed through my mind. Then at home after dinner, the magic began. Here it is, my work in progress.

Looking forward to finishing this piece tonight, 'cause it's Friday Art Night at the Perez residence!

Happy Halloween!

Wishing everyone a very happy Halloween! Have fun, stay safe and save some candy for tomorrow. ~ Xo, Ms. Dio

My favorite time of the year

Yay - my favorite time of the year has just begun! I'm so ready for boots, scarves and sweaters, accompanied by my favorite drinks of the season: pumpkin spice latte, chocolate abuelita, and pumpkin cheesecake. Yum!

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This is how the universe doodles

I'm one of those people that see shapes everywhere I go and in everything I encounter. I see shapes in the clouds, on the texture on the wall, in my food - everywhere! It's pretty cool, actually. If you ask me, I think that's how the universe doodles. Sneaking up shapes here in there, just for fun, same way I do on every piece of scrap paper I encounter or while on the phone. So the other day walking into the office building where I work I noticed a water stain where a planter once stood, that looked like a bear wearing a beret hat. I pointed it out to a couple of coworkers, they laughed and agreed in amusement. Then there was the one person who thought the stain looked like Elvis. Ha, ha. Well...unless Elvis looked like a bear wearing a beret, maybe yes, otherwise no. Right?

~ Dio

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Creative Process - From Doodles to Illustration

For many years I have admired gorgeous patterns printed on home goods and textiles and wondered how in the world do people do that? Is it really PEOPLE who do that, or machines? But machines aren't creative! I had no clue. I've been a graphic artist for 18 years now, living on deadlines, producing one marketing piece after another, relying on stock photography and clipart to obtain those images/illustrations that I don't have time to make from scratch. I do the corporate thing because I'm good at it, it pays the bills and I like my employer and coworkers (BIG plus). My passion however, is in all things CUTE! Oh, what I wouldn't give to land a job creating graphics for children's apparel! 

As I follow the beat of my heart, I realize it's time to work in that direction, so I spend every chance I get researching designers and online courses. That is how I came across Lilla Rogers' Make Art That Sells online course which I took last fall, and the Make It In Design Free Summer School Course which I'm currently taking.

When it comes to graphic design, I am pretty quick at visualizing a concept in my head, and I rarely sketch anything before I begin working on a layout. I can't say the same about illustration, though. Illustration and pattern design takes me HOURS to complete, mostly because I'm still pretty new at it. The more I do it the faster I'll get, I'm sure. Every artist has their own way of working, but here is my individual process broken down in three easy steps.

1 - RESEARCH & DOODLE

The topic for my Summer School (Beginner Track) assignment was Tropical Paradise. I spent some time online looking for pictures and illustrations of tropical plants and birds. I studied the features  and details of of toucans, flamingos, surfboards, plants, etc. Then I shut my browser, took out a few pieces of plain white card stock, my favorite black pen and began to doodle over and over again all things that felt tropical and beachy to me. It is important NOT to copy anything you have seen. Just absorb, be inspired, and draw while the images are fresh in your mind. Let your individual style shine through.

2 - DIGITIZE DOODLES

I'm not too confident in my hand drawing and painting abilities, so after filling a few pages with doodles, I recreate them (from scratch) in Illustrator. I don't have a Wacom tablet, but sometimes I will use Adobe Ideas on my iPad to recreate my doodles digitally, then I download them to Illustrator where they can be fine-tuned. I don't worry too much about staying true to my original sketches and changing up the characters. The way I see it, if I find a way to improve as I move along in the process, I will.

3 - FOCUS ON THE DETAILS

Once in Illustrator, I focus on the details and complete my illustration. I'm not very experienced in creating  patterns. I've used Illustrator to create a simple repeat a few times, but I haven't mastered it yet. The image below was created simply by copying and pasting my birds and florals, changing up the size and colors, flipping them vertically or horizontally, placing them manually throughout the designated space and adding a background.

And that's how this piece was born. I'm sure in a few years I'll look back and cringe, but for now, I am embracing the moment. It's the beginning of a new path in my career as an artist, and as with anything, only time and practice make perfect.

Doodle Enclosures for My Medical Bills

I've had a couple of medical bills on my desk I had been avoiding since the beginning of the week. I finally decided to tackle them today before the mail man arrived. I glanced over them and thought "Blagh! I'd much rather be using this money to..." then I paused. The bill I was looking at was from my dentist. I actually happen to like my dentist and my smile. Thanks to him, I still have a nice set of pearly whites...a few fillings, a couple of root canals and crowns, but I still have all my teeth and for that, I am very thankful. I noticed how my energy shifted by looking at things positively, and I felt inclined to share the joy. Instead feeling resistant, I was now feeling grateful and creative so I decided to include a little doodle with my payment to brighten their day.

I used a sheet of yellow paper that I found on my desk, cut it in half and began to doodle. Once I was done, (I snapped a picture of course) I folded it in thirds, placed the check in the center, folded the flaps inwards, and enclosed it in an envelope along with the invoice. I did the same for the second bill from the radiologist.
I'm sure it'll surprise whoever processes the payments. I mean, how often do people include little notes of joy with their payables? Not many, I would think. I hope my little dose of positive energy makes them smile, the same way I smiled when I realized how blessed I am to have the money to care for my health, and how blessed I am to have a dental provider like Dr. Moya and his very caring staff.


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Then there was this guy with a golden tooth...

I have to say I really enjoyed making this quick digital doodle for #doodleadayjuly. I looked at the doodle calendar earlier in the day, saw the word "golden" next to July 28th. I thought about it off and on during the day, "hmmm...golden...what can draw that is golden?"

I thought of the sun or a sunflower, I thought of a shiny gold coin, but they seemed all too common. Finally, just a few hours before bedtime the "a-ha!" moment came.

Into my mind popped this cute little guy with a golden tooth and sideburns that would have made my 20 year old dad quite jealous.He's pretty cool lookin' don't ya think? The sideburns makes me think he's got some pretty funky dance moves, and he knows it, that's why he's smiling!

 
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"Palm and Florals" Framed Artwork

Remember that post a couple of weeks ago about me experimenting with Prismacolor markers? I received the markers for my birthday a little over a year ago as a gift from my hubby. I'm new to using markers and haven't been much of a painter throughout my career as an artist. I have strong graphic arts background, however in recent years I've been avoiding getting back behind the computer after a 40 hour work week. Last thing I want to do after putting in the hours at my 9-5 job is come home and sit behind a computer screen for several hours more. Instead, I've learned to unwind with my sketchbook, a Sharpie pen, and an occasional glass of wine.
So I got brave the other day and pulled out the Primacolors. I love them! It's like painting but without the messy setup and cleanup. All this time I've been afraid to use them for fear of ruining a perfectly good blank page, but if we don't overcome our fears, how else are we ever going to move forward, right?

Well, here it is - the final product! 

I added the piece to my Society6 shop as a framed print.  Phone cases, mugs, wall clocks, and totes are also available with the same pattern. Hope yo like it!

Experimenting with Prismacolor Markers

Hadn't had a chance to take out the Prismacolor markers in a while. Since I work full-time, I do most of my doodling during my breaks at work or late at night. Right before turning off the lights, I grab my sketchbook, black sharpie pen and I doodle away for about 15-20 minutes. It helps me clear my mind allowing me to fall asleep faster once the lights are out.
Well this past Sunday night, I decided to set the black marker aside and dust off the Prismacolors. An hour an a half later, I was having so much fun, it was quite a struggle to put them away. I had a bit of a hard time getting up for work this morning, but it's okay. A new piece of art was born, making it all worth while.

Here's a sneak peek of the piece I created. It's not quite done yet, but I'll make sure to share the final product once it's done.