Illustration Friday: Change; and CreatAthon
September 19, 2006
Colin started his new job last week, writing for a new agency called Riggs. Riggs does this really cool thing called CreatAthon, where once a year they take on a dozen or so not-for-profits that could use some help and they stay up all night working on campaigns for them. This year’s CreatAthon fell on Colin’s first week of work… which I think is a good thing because pulling an all-nighter and being creative with new people is a perfect for bonding, don’t you think?
Anyway, Riggs found out that I am an illustrator and they asked me to help out by doing an illo for one of the campaigns. I was happy to help! The not-for-profit that I helped with is a group that serves homeless families. Needy families sign up for this two-year program where they are given a home and taught to be self-sufficient. They are counseled and take courses in skill development… shown how to get jobs, education and childcare. Basically, they are given their lives back. So the idea of the program is to fight homelessness in a long-term manner… not just crisis management.
So to reflect all that, I drew a dull and lifeless path that leads to a house… and then the path is transformed in that house to be full of life… sprouting flowers and leaves and giving hope. It shows the path of the family’s life who enters the program. And I thought it’d fit perfectly with this week’s Illustration Friday topic: Change.
Also in the vein of change: miss Alison was tested yesterday after her fourth round of chemo and her tumor has shrunk! We haven’t heard anything about cancer in her bones yet, but feel that it is improving too because she’s feeling so much better. When she first started chemo she was so pale and weak and her cheeks were sunken. And now she has some color, she’s able to walk around more and she seems to be in better sprits. Go chemo! All our prayers are working! Please keep them coming… she’s starting her next two months of chemo soon. You’re doing so well, Alison! Superhero!
September 19th, 2006 at 11:34 am
A beautiful illustration on its own…
but with the meaning behind it, doubley so.
September 19th, 2006 at 11:41 am
Wonderful painting both it aesthetic and meaning. Congrats all around to you, Collin and to your sister. Hope things keep looking up!
September 19th, 2006 at 12:20 pm
Good news all around, Penelope! I’m so glad that Colin and you were immediately welcomed at his new job and that his sister is doing better with chemo. Your illustration is perfect!
September 19th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
This is one of my all-time favourites of yours. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
September 19th, 2006 at 1:32 pm
I’m glad that Allison is doing better!
Nice illustration! Hope you are enjoying your new digs!
September 19th, 2006 at 2:30 pm
The painting is beautiful. Glad to hear the good news - cheers to that!
September 19th, 2006 at 2:37 pm
my first impression of this illo was one of hope and thought it might be about moving to a new home and all the hopes
that come with a new start in a new place. after reading your description it became even more hopeful and meaningful
image.
September 19th, 2006 at 5:25 pm
Beautiful color choices…very organic. I enjoyed reading the meaning behind the illo. Just fabulous!
September 19th, 2006 at 7:16 pm
very beautiful, simple but has a lot of meaning. and wonderful color too.
September 19th, 2006 at 8:09 pm
Love the illustration, Penelope! Nice take on the concept (for the organization as well as IF). Good news, too, about your SIL!
September 20th, 2006 at 12:29 am
This is beautiful!! Love the concept too!
September 20th, 2006 at 12:29 am
This is beautiful!! Love the concept.
September 20th, 2006 at 6:22 am
beautiful illustration, and such wonderful news on Allison, hooray!
September 20th, 2006 at 7:02 am
The image is filled with hope. It so nice with the concept and with the hopeful news. Sending good thoughts.
September 20th, 2006 at 8:26 am
wonderful news about alison; which shows in your art!
September 20th, 2006 at 9:48 am
i love the texture of your backgrounds, so fine!
September 20th, 2006 at 10:09 am
I loved the illustration even before I read what it was for — it’s beautiful! What a great company — gives me hope. FANTASTIC FOR ALLISON!!!!!!!!
September 20th, 2006 at 10:28 am
Oh, I am so so so glad to hear the news about Miss Alison. I’ll keep those prayers coming. xo
September 20th, 2006 at 2:11 pm
Excellent piece Pen! What a neat idea, a “creatathon!”
September 20th, 2006 at 2:27 pm
this is perfect…
also perfect is the allison news. SUPERWOMAN!
September 20th, 2006 at 3:53 pm
illustration is beautiful - news about your sister-in-law is wonderful - hope you are settling in well at your new home.
September 20th, 2006 at 7:10 pm
Thank you so much for all your kind words and support!! You’re the greatest. :)
September 21st, 2006 at 2:43 am
Beauty! I love the color and texture on the background. Such a nice and calm picture, I like it a lot!
September 21st, 2006 at 8:17 am
I love this idea, beautifull!!
September 21st, 2006 at 3:37 pm
What an inspiring piece. It made me stop and think about the houses around me, how lives are being transformed/changed within the walls as we speak…
September 21st, 2006 at 9:31 pm
Love the upward twirling tendrils! Thank God that Alison’s health is improving!
September 23rd, 2006 at 5:03 pm
How do you make something so simplistic look so great? You have a wonderful gift. I would hang this up in a second.
October 3rd, 2006 at 12:11 pm
A beautiful piece, and so poignant given the enormous changes in your life at the moment.