Good Morning, Dreamer

What do you do when you get a commission to do "whatever you want" when the client exclaims they "like everything!"

First, you stalk them on Facebook.

Then, you spend a couple months pondering what the heck you're going to paint.

Then you just decide What the Hell Here We Go!

And you come up with this:

My friend Cynthia, a curly haired, rambunctious, smart, hilarious, genuine, lovely woman asked me to paint her something. I had free reign over my canvas domain, and thats exactly how I like it. I knew I was going to paint her hair, and then once I got into that, I just kept flowing. The texture in the skin was at first an accident, but what is life without some happy mistakes? Here are some process photos:

It begins with a sketch.

Then a watercolor base.

Then some gouache tendrils.

Then some spray paint application.

Next we get the acrylic ink flowing.

Acrylic clouds to rest her head.

Blue eyes applied in layers of gouache.

Micron for fine outline.

At the end of the day we make some tiny rainbows and some silver ink rain,

so when you wake up you can say

Good Morning, Dreamer.

Love, Mama Cass

Cath(art)sis

I have been studying art therapy and the techniques to use

to help sustain myself in times of inner turmoil.

You can always rely on art to be there at your specific

level of need at the precise moment you need it the most.

All you have to do is pick up your pen.

Love,

Mama Cass

Happy Birthday Dad

Happy birthday Dad, you are wonderful.

Here you taught me how to fly.

"Flying Lessons"

Enjoy.

Love, Cassie

Letters by Hand

I always loved digital typography, though I seem to be inclined to do everything by hand. Here are few pieces I did:

Thank you cards to my friends and family for a great weekend in Washington D.C.:

I designed these wedding invitations for our dear friends' beautiful wedding this past summer:

the guests had a fun Mad-Lib to fill out for the RSVP!

I even hand-lettered my resume and cover letter (with 100% positive results!)

I often hand-letter compliments or things people I love say or write to me in my sketchbook, cuz it makes me feel good. Here is a quote that a friend of mine texted me after he received a painting from me in the mail:

If you have a favorite quote, I could hand-letter it for you!

<3- Mama Cass

I haven't been doing Nothing.

Hi,

I know you all have been wondering what I have been up to the last few weeks,

well,

it hasn't been "nothing."

Coaching, swimming, drawing, painting, searching, loving, eating, and living are all part of my daily activities lately. I'm only lucky if I remember to use my camera.

My kids (the Barracudas) finished their last meet of the season with a second place, and we are pumped to keep training this winter to swim even faster!

I helped remind them how awesome they are by creating a team poster for them to color-in, with these new dual-colored markers by Crayola. They had a great time putting the markers down, and the poster came out vibrantly fabulous! Go Barracudas!

In December, my former college roommate, friend and teammate Rachel commissioned me to paint a piece for her and her boyfriend Willy's home. They are awesome for each other, in love, happy, and they still have Rachel's dog she got in college, too! I haven't met Willy, but I learned that he has a green thumb and he loves Bonsai trees. Rachel studied photography in school, but she always had a love for contour drawings, so I created a colorful, intricate piece to show their love, and I included a movable monkey, her dog's favorite toy!

A real family portrait!

and here are some process shots from the piece:

Off to the future!

Have a great day.

Love, Mama Cass