Happy almost Valentine's Day everyone! UGallery is running a "sweetheart art" promotion right now which I'm happy to have my piece "Cupcake One" included in. I'm also loving the colors on "Assorted Chocolates" by Toni Silber-Delerive. If anyone is interested in how I create my pieces from start to finish, please check out my art blog: http://rainyisle.blogspot.com/ I post a lot of step-by-step and in-progress work there so you can get a look "behind the scenes." Happy arting everyone!

For the remainder of October my artwork is being displayed at Cloud 7 Cafe in Portland, Oregon. This is by far the largest solo show I've done so if you're in the area, please stop on in! They're located at 901 NW 10th Ave. and make some amazing lattes if you're a coffee drinker. The show is titled, "Japan Fashion POP," and is focused on different styles of Japanese street fashion, such as lolita, decora and fairy kei. There's everything from postcards, to prints, to original illustrations to large canvas prints.

If you happen to be in Ketchikan, Alaska this August look for me at the Blueberry Arts' Festival. I'll have a booth on Saturday, August 6th selling handmade jewelry and open-edition prints. You can see a preview here, on my art blog of what will be for sale: http://rainyisle.blogspot.com/2011/07/blueberry-festival.html I will also be having a solo show in October in Portland, Oregon. More information to come as that gets closer!

I would like to say thank you to the person who bought my piece, "Koi Yin-Yang," today's daily deal. It's always humbling when someone spends their hard-earned money on something you've created. So again - thank you, and I hope you enjoy it hanging in your home!

Other places to view my works in-progress: http://rainyisle.blogspot.com/ http://twitter.com/rainyisle http://www.rainyisle.com/

I now have an in-progress art blog; you can see step by step pieces, sketches & ideas here: http://rainyisle.blogspot.com/ Please take a look!

Thank you so much Belle! Unfortunatly, I can't take credit for the photograph-it came from a license-free stock site.

Rachael, your new piece, Harajuku Girl, is incredible. I love the way the background is out of focus, and her accessories are really fun! Did you take this photo in Japan? Thanks!

In March of '09 I'll be having a small showing in a gallery/retail space in Portland, Oregon. I've been trying to focus a lot more on my artwork recently, be it sketches, illustrations or character designs-just anything to keep myself drawing. Will someone please tell this to my day job? Hahaaa...

So a couple days ago I sold my first piece here at UGallery! It's really exciting knowing that someone I've never met before likes my art enough to pay for it with their hard-earned money. Even though I've been drawing all my life, it makes you feel like an "official" artist. Hopefully this will be the first of many more!