Penelope Illustration • Penelope Dullaghan

We are enjoying a few days of quiet at home between the holidays. Veda’s first Christmas was wonderful… she opened a few gifts like a pro, took naps from all the excitement and donned her red velvet dress for the Christmas meal. I enjoyed it too, even though Colin and I both got sick as [...]

I was asked to do a holiday card for one of Miller Brook’s clients using their logo. The art director, my old pal Kevin Christie, already had the idea in mind and approved by the client. So all I had to do was sketch it up and execute it. I like those kind of jobs [...]

This was my favorite job by far in recent memory. Beth Broadwater from the Washington Post commissioned me to do an opening illustration and a small spot for a story written by Ann Patchett about a childhood memory.
I loved concepting for this one because the ideas came fast and furious. (Gotta love that because sometimes [...]

I got my wish. It’s snowing! It’s so beautiful… I could stare out the window for hours. Except there are gifts to make and presents to wrap. Goodies to bake and treats to eat. Carols to sing and stockings to stuff. So with that, I will bid you adieu and wish you a very Merry [...]

july

afternoons under the shade tree at the “beach”.

endlessly vacuuming so veda would sleep.

picnics in the park.
august

veda getting to be more fun… learning to crawl.

getting together for frogmore stew at a friend’s house.

in love with these hazy summer days.
september

lattes and dancing on the cafe porch.

I got a bike for my birthday. veda liked the back seat. [...]

Inspired by my friend shari, I loved the idea of looking back at the year, month by month. For me, 2009 was one of the most difficult years I’ve been through, but you wouldn’t know it from the pictures. Made me appreciate my life more to do this.
january

we’re set to pop here, honey. 9 months [...]

Hi there!
I wanted to give you a heads up about the Wish*full Virtual Art Retreat that is now open for early registration… This retreat is taking place in the spring of 2010 — April 30th to May 2nd.
From the Wishstudio website:
“you are invited to join us for a one of a kind, special online event… [...]

I am REALLY into chevrons these days. Just can’t get enough. I find myself putting them into every assignment I get… (see below). I also had the great fortune of my awesome seamstress mother-in-law sewing a set of curtains with chevrons for me. So great!

(chevron-sweater goodness)

(above image part of this bigger piece)

(even onto the mural [...]

Ten good things to get the weekend rollin’:
- playing dress up with veda. she likes to put on my gloves and wave her arms around. (I wonder if she’s mocking me.)
- happy accidents
- my friend shari sharing this essay again, which i loved.
- this video, which was passed on to me by my friend carolyn:

- [...]

First of all, thank you for all your kind words of encouragement and wisdom on that last post. I’ve since calmed down about it all and have resolved to just be in the moment (big shocker, right?) and enjoy the Christmas holiday. The rest will sort itself out later. Letting go and giving things space [...]

Hi.
Sorry about that last post. Well, not sorry exactly… it’s what I’ve been feeling so it’s true. But sorry I left no tracks leading up to it.
The biggest deal lately has been the cloud of a decision lingering over head lately… for the last few months at least. This decision is whether to stay here [...]