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Travels With Ernest - The Adventures of a Nomadic Navy Wife

Travels With Ernest - The Adventures of a Nomadic Navy Wife

In the spring of 2006 my husband left for a deployment.  It wasn’t our first, and it certainly will not be our last, but it was his final deployment before we became parents.  I was able to take advantage of the flexibility of our before-kids lifestyle, and, among other things, I became a nomad, tried […]

Making the Switch: PC to Mac

Making the Switch: PC to Mac

My first computer was an Apple 2C.  My dad bought me a “drawing” program that let you color pictures like a digital coloring book.  It was crude, awkward, had only eight colors and was utterly magical.  My current computer is a brand new iMac, complete with Adobe Creative Suite 3, which allows you to color […]

Image Resolution vs. Image Size

How do I make my digital photos smaller?  How do I make them bigger? These are two of the most common questions I get asked.  Usually I walk them through the process using whatever image editing software they have (See the instructions for reducing image size in Adobe Photoshop below.) And then I usually have […]

The Glories of CS3

The Glories of CS3

When I was in graduate school I purchased my first round of pixel pushing software. I had everything a modern freelance artist needed, including Adobe Photoshop 7, Adobe Illustrator 9, Macromedia DreamWeaver and Macromedia Flash. I had dreams of entering the professional artist world and creating fabulous pieces of hip, relevant, educational and enlightening artwork. […]

Don't Just Run... BE a Runner

Don’t Just Run… BE a Runner

I am a runner.  I do not run fast or far, but I do run, and that is what counts.  Deciding to BE a runner instead of just going running was a breakthrough for me.  I removed the option of not going.  I could not BE a runner and not run.  It was a part […]

Have a Happy Family Photo Shoot

Have a Happy Family Photo Shoot

Recently we decided to enact a new family tradition.  The Yearly Family Photo Shoot.  I admit that I am not a professional photographer, but I am a bit more than an amateur.  When you are an illustrator it sure helps if you can take good reference photos.  I’ve also sold photos as stock photography, taken […]