Guzzle Fish

Inspired by my memories of getting Swedish Fish from the Guzzle with my cousin as a kid in Thousand Island Park. We would get 100 fish for a dollar, the candies were counted out one at a time and dropped into small brown paper bag, then we would eat them on the swings in the playground. I remember my cousin convincing me they taste better if you stretch them out first, making them into sticky little pink windows before taking a bite, and to this day, whenever I eat a Swedish Fish candy, I stretch it out first and imagine swinging in T.I.P.

Digital Illustration done in Procreate using an Apple Pencil

T.I.P. traveler - Red Bicycle

One day I was coming up from the swimming rock at the end of Ontario Ave when a woman rode by on a red bike and red shorts, it was so picturesque I had to capture it in an illustration. Once the drawing was complete, I popped our little Jack Russell Terrier, Rainbow, in the basket because I couldn’t resist.

Digital Illustration done in Procreate using an Apple Pencil.

Sweetheart Commemorative

2025 marks the 150th anniversary year of Thousand Island Park and as such, many talented artists came forward and made beautiful art for the Thousand Island Park Community, to share their love of the Islands, and our collective home away from home. For me, the first image that came to mind when I thought of a way to commemorate the Park was the image of the centennial poster done by Hillary Fidelson that I grew up seeing every summer while staying at my cousin’s cottage in Crystal Bay. I think everyone has a soft spot for the Sweetheart Cottage, for its elaborate gingerbread, the double Juliet balconies and the giant heart adorning its face. Bleeding Hearts, Lilly of the Valley, Bluebells, Daffodils, Wild Roses, and Dandelion surround the cottage to honor the beautiful flowers that abound in the park, both wild and cultivated. I also had to include blueberries as a nod to the abundant wild blueberry patches that line the walking paths of the Rock Ridges trails.

Digital Illustration done in Procreate using an Apple Pencil

Sweetheart Commemorative

T.I.P. Traveler - Scooter Girl

This piece was inspired by my niece Hazel who, like most T.I.P. kids can reliably be doing two things daily; 1. riding her scooter around (or bike) 2. a daily Guzzle trip for candy and/or ice-cream!

Digital illustration done in Procreate using an Apple Pencil

T.I.P Travelers - Three Goldens

I am pretty sure anyone who has seen Mike and his Three Golden Retrievers packed onto his Golf-Cart can’t help but smile. The first time I saw them all crowed together, buzzing by, I laughed out loud because of the joy it evoked. I immediately knew I had to make a painting of this heartwarming scene. You can imagine Mike’s surprise when I, (he had never met me before) flagged him down and handed him a plate with an illustration with he and his dogs on it!

I also wanted to include the sunset in one of the pieces in this collection to honor the beauty I find in so many people stopping whatever they are doing to make their way down to the waterside at dusk to watch the sunset. Our first summer as cottage owners in the Park was 2021, which was, for so many reasons, a difficult year. But every day at dusk, everyone would gather at the water’s edge to watch the sunset, and the joy and the peace was palpable. Everyone was just so happy to be together, sharing in the love and the beauty of nature, the islands and the place that stands still despite whatever the outside world brings.

Digital Painting done in Procreate using an Apple Pencil

Thousand Island Park Girl

A little cutie that any “T.I.P”er can relate to <3

Digital Illustration done in Procreate using an Apple Pencil

Piggy Pie

I did this painting as a birthday present for one of my soul-sisters, Lauri. She loves Pigs and Pie and Philadelphia so I put all of those things together in one scene and, just like all that Lauri inspires in my life, I had so much fun doing it!

Digital Painting done in Procreate using an Apple Pencil

Fall Meadow

The vibrant blooms of Goldenrod, Asters, and Daisy Fleabane make their way through a tangle of tall flaxen wild grasses every autumn near my daughter’s school. While I am waiting in the pick-up line I am always mesmerized by this beautiful field, and how generously is pours fourth such radiant color and texture. One day, I had to pull over before heading home, jump out of my car and take a few pictures so I could make an illustration out of it. I really enjoyed playing with texture and gesture in this piece and I am so happy with how it turned out, I have a framed canvas print of it I put on our mantel each fall to honor the beauty of the season.

Digital Illustration done in Procreate using an Apple Pencil

Daisy

This is the first piece I ever made using Procreate. More than anything I love the giant flower the girl is holding because it is a very accurate depiction of how I feel when I see flowers. Their beauty is so engrossing to me I am consumed by fully them.

Digital Illustration using Procreate and an Apple Pencil

A Christmas Stowaway

I made this piece for our family Christmas Card the year of our youngest daughter’s first Christmas.

Digital Illustration done in Procreate using an Apple Pencil

Honey Love

A friend, and our local Herbalist, made an elixir called “Loved Potion #9” which consisted of roses and honey, I loved it so much I had to make a custom label for her bottles.

Watercolor on Bristol Board

Fire Fairy and the Bees

This painting was inspired by a world where fantastical things are seen, and each flower has a little fairy in it charming the bees, and warming the flowers to open as the bees bob ecstatically from flower to flower gathering gold.

Watercolor, colored pencil, graphite and acrylic paint on watercolor paper

When They Gather

Inspired by the Zuni tradition of honoring different animals as a representation of supportive elements to a healthy mind, body, and spirit. For example, the Eagle represents the ability to take higher point of view, the Bear represents the ability to go within to cultivate wisdom, and the Badger represents being able to hold healthy personal boundaries.

Gouache painted on Hot-Pressed Bristol Board