True stories of a small flock of remarkable individuals -- and other critters.



Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Triangles and Circles!


What a wonderful day!  
Today for our blog tour I got to draw a cat and a chicken!
Wasn't I just gushing recently about how much I love to draw cats and chickens? 

Meet Linus and his ladies, some of the critters in Lisa Steele's menagerie:
Here the hens wait patiently behind a pinecone while Linus gives the shed a kitty-caress.  

I had the best time drawing Linus and Grace for Lisa --
Take a look over at Fresh Eggs Daily, explore this cool farmin' blog, and, yes, have another shot at winning a copy of Once Upon a Flock!

Cluck!...and Meow!


Monday, March 25, 2013

Trottin' Along!




Yes!  Another wonderful blog for your enjoyment: Lessons Learned from the Flock
Find out about a special gal, Charlie, the Black Copper Marans chicken! Leave a comment, win a book!

.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

Here's the blog tour schedule:

March 19 Tilly's Nest
March 20 Hencam.com
March 23 Our Little Acre
March 26 Fresh Eggs Daily
March 27  Garden Rant



Sunday, March 24, 2013

Red Dirt and Hellebores

Today's stop on the Once Upon a Flock Blog Tour:  


I follow this wonderful blog because Dee's got the gardens of my dreams.  Joyful and unpruned, always a new wall or border being built, and full of plants I've never heard of....
like these here hellebores.   

Hellebore?  What kind of a name is that for a flower?  

....or for a chicken for that matter? 

I've named my chickens "Daisy" and "Fern"... I've known "Violet" and "Lily". 
But really now. Hellebore?
Head on over to read Dee's blog, leave a comment to win a free book, and then go to the top of the blog and click on "My Gardens" for some eye-candy and more Hellebores!


---and here's the full list of awesome blogs on my tour-- Enjoy!


March 19 Tilly's Nest
March 20 Hencam.com
March 23 Our Little Acre
March 26 Fresh Eggs Daily
March 27  Garden Rant





Saturday, March 23, 2013

Copying a Masterpiece


The Once Upon a Flock blog tour continues!

I love being an illustrator because folks give me assignments that I might never have tried to tackle on my own. 

Today's creative challenge is a spectacular living masterpiece:   
Kylee Baumle's Silver Laced Wyandotte, Violet. 

Kylee wasn't sure which of these ladies is in fact Violet, so I chose that elegant form in the background. 
First, to capture those voluptuous curves.

Then, to make sense of that wildly graphic feather pattern.... I began with black, then carved the white pattern.   A bit of shading, and that rich red face....
And here's Violet! ....Makes me want a Silver Laced Wyandotte of my very own.  

Now, please head on over to OUR LITTLE ACRE  to meet Violet and to win yourself a copy of ONCE UPON A FLOCK!

Here's the full list of the fantastic and unique blogs on my tour -- Enjoy! 

March 19 Tilly's Nest
March 20 Hencam.com
March 23 Our Little Acre
March 27  Garden Rant





Friday, March 22, 2013

A Beloved Bird

When I asked Tammy Barani of the wonderful blog, Our Neck of the Woods, if I might do a drawing of one of her creatures, she sent me some photos of Buttercup, her dear Wyandotte, who passed away in December. 

I took a look at Buttercup and I froze.
  
It had been easy to draw Melissa's Tilly, chatting and singing on the roost.

Goofy little Rachel was a breeze to draw too. She's basically a knot of orange twirly lines, and she's still alive and kicking. 

Buttercup, however, is only a treasured memory. There was more at stake in creating this image. Emotions were involved.
   

But, being an illustrator, I mustered the focus to hunker down and give it a try. 
I aimed for a more classical, rather than comical, style.  


Tammy, here's your special gal. 

Tammy has already done a book giveaway on her blog, so since my timing was off, we're doing ANOTHER giveaway of Once Upon a Flock --  Please head on over to Our Neck of the Woods and leave a friendly comment, and you might just get lucky!


Thursday, March 21, 2013

Rachel and the Chicken Chick

Meet Rachel.
Rachel is Kathy Mormio's gal.  
Her breed: um... a Frizzled Something-or-Other.   

I've never seen another chicken like Rachel, and I've never been so in love with a chicken I've never met.
  
Go see Rachel in full-form on Kathy's blog:   The Chicken Chick, and win a free copy of ONCE UPON A FLOCK, too!

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Arrrrg! Blog Tour and Giveaway Continues!

Today Marky and I visit Pip and Caper at Hencam.com!
Take a look and win a book!


Tuesday, March 19, 2013

BLOG TOUR AND BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Today's the day!   



Once Upon a Flock officially hits the stands, and my blog tour begins!

Once Upon a Flock is the gripping tale of my soulful chickens, brimming with intrigue and suspense, passion, heartache and triumph.... and about 400 color illustrations and photos!

Please click on over to the wonderful blog,  Tilly's Nest, to find out more, and to win a free book!

Thank you, my treasured readers, from the bottom of my chicken-lovin' heart!

-Lauren