Miami ABCs Preview...

Last night I sketched out all 8 of the Miami Letters I am doing for the show at Books and Books next month.

Tonight I put paint to canvas on two of the 8. They are currently drying so I can't apply the first layer of black just yet.

I'm really happy with the way they look so far and I think this is going to be a fun show.

I've decided the title of the show is going to be "Slice of Miami Pie" ...what do you think?

Some Pie Sketches

I sketched 7 new pies on canvas for the Books and Books Show. I wanted to show you a taste of some of them... Can you guess what these are?

Hope you're having a great week so far!!

The Island Shop, Key Biscayne

Exciting news to share today! (no, we haven't found a house...keep sending good joo joo) ...no the exciting news is that as of this morning, cSd paintings are available for you to buy from
The Island Shop on Key Biscayne! So very exciting!

They are carrying 7 of my originals...
2 mermaids
1 shark
1 frog prince
1 queen bee
1 nessie
1 piggies

They are going to see how the public responds to them, and if it a positive reaction, then they want to consider carrying my onesies, kids t's and bags.

So, Baby Mama is smiling...this is good.

Next time you are in Miami, and head over onto "the key" be sure to stop by and let me know what you think.

"J" is for Julia

Julia was born way back in September...and I am a bad tia-madrina for not being done with her "J" yet. You may remember the original sketches from months ago...if not I've inserted it here to the right.

Tonight I am happy to say that I sketched it out onto canvas!

...and I started painting it. It's not the only painting I worked on tonight. I also started painting Adi's monogram and I also did a few sketches for baby Carlos. I think I've sketched out my favorite idea for baby Carlos.

I also did some sketches for something I've always wanted to paint. A cock. ...now, now...get your mind out of the gutter, when I say cock, I mean rooster. I love roosters.

But I'm showing off the "J" tonight. I'll show you the rest over the course of the week.

Done and done

So I found the fabric marker--- and finished the bag.
Thank you everyone who chimed in and has enjoyed this new product to the cSd line. I'm happy to take orders--- just email me.

I'm going to use this for work this week and see how it holds up--- I expect it should do beautifully.

I'm going to make a few bags for the Bazaar next month. This one is a nice size good for groceries, toting things around for yourself, the kids--- to school...all sorts of things!


My friend Robin has already put in a request for her own monogrammed Texas heart bag. She's a events planner so I know that the bag will be taken here, there and everywhere holding everything from seating charts to sign-in sheets.

I may get a small one to make for my niece Olivia--- hers would have her monogram and a mermaid probably. Anyhow-- stay tuned for more bags.



To order email me, ceci@dubonics.com
This size ba (13" tall x 17.5" wide), $30

A little something something...

So tonight I started working on a new project. This is the first bag I've done--- so I'm making it for myself as a prototype.

I'll do the other side too, I just have to wait for the paint to dry--- and I may do things on the sides... stripes or something. I am really excited to see where these reusable shopping bag go as far as designs can go.

Today I signed up for my first bazaar--- Saturday December 12 on Key Biscayne. I'll sell original art, onesies, T-Shirts and be taking orders for everything including bags. I'm also going to try and have prints ready for the sale.

We'll see. ---but what do you think??

...also it's not too late to tell me what to draw for a chance to win your suggestion on canvas!

You Told Me What to Draw...

A few weeks ago you told me what to draw...

Eddie told me to draw something dark..."like some homeless guys standing over a garbage can fire" ... well Eddie there you have them.

Someone else asked me to draw my school mascot (off the record)... so here is an owl--- the mascot of Bank Street College.

You told me what to draw and I enjoyed the challenge.

Now it's time to tell me again! I will put all submissions into a drawing and the winner will get a mini-original painting of their request!!

So tell your friends to tell me what to draw and thanks for those of you who did!

A Chicago Cubbie

One of my dearest friends has been living in Chicago for about 8 years now-- and just this year she and her adorable and funny husband had the cutest, chubbiest baby ever!

This week I am finally getting to Chicago and get to meet sweet baby James.
I have been meaning to paint something special for sweet baby James and tonight I started working on my piece for him.

His room is blue and green with lots of ocean life --- so this is what I drummed up.

Currently I am waiting for the paint to dry so that I can go into the outline phase and then touch ups. I only have 24 hours to work on this---so I will work fast but efficiently on this one. It's going to be the first time I travel with a piece too-- so I am going to have to pack it up nice and safely with lots of love for safe delivery to my little Cubbie.

I love painting these nursery pieces.

Last Chance

Tonight's the night---your final chance to enter a chance to win an original mini-painting.

Now--for my entry for the day.

This is a sketch of the Double Banyon --honestly---I love it. A lot...I may have it framed type of love.

I also decided to absorb Rolling Hills into my personal collection this weekend. I use it for my blog image---my twitter page--- it's a favorite.

Anyhow, this weekend I am going to start working on 3 nursery pieces and some sketches for a potential commission.

Thanks for all your comments throughout the week. I'll be picking a winner tomorrow.

:)

Next Show at Books & Books booked!

OK--- so mark your calendars! I have just been booked for another month-long solo show at Books and Books in Coral Gables, September 3-28, 2010.

Between now and then I be working on several things...
1. prints
2. onesies
3. canvas shopping bags

I'm also going to be taking some of my pieces to a great little store in Coconut Grove, which is interested in carrying my things.

So the show in the Gables may be over, but there is still much to be done.
...and you...the Holidays are right around the corner. How about a little something special for that special someone you love.

I'm officially taking commissions again!

Last Weekend at Books and Books

This is the last weekend my paintings will be on display at Books and Books.

Last night, D and I went to take a look--- as usual Books and Books was hopping. Their bar was full, the courtyard packed, and beautiful live Brazilian music filled the courtyard on a nice warm fall night in Miami.

It was the first time I'd gone to see the work since opening night.

I really want to thank all of you who have gone to see them. Thus far, two have been sold and will hang in someones home. Two Palms is one of the two paintings that sold.

Some of my favorites are still there....Nessie, Queen Bee, the mermaids...and Rolling Hills.

I'll be taking everything down on Wednesday.

More Pies...

There are three "pies" up at Books and Books right now. Most people have really loved them and so I went back to my sketchbook to revisit some of the original "pies" and some new "pies".

This first one, is a new "pie".
Can you figure this one out?

Well the one under it is one of the first "pies". This one was originally drawn in the summer of 2000, right after graduation from SMU.

I think they are both pretty clever.


There are others where these came from --I may load them all on flickr, I haven't decided yet.

Let me know what you think.

Julia's J...

So the night before Julia was born, Kiki was over at our house. Her final request before diving back into newborn mommy-hood was to come over and watch Twilight.

As Edward (the most beautiful vampire known to man) graced the screen...I started sketching Julia's painting.

I decided to go with a "J" since Olivia got an "O" before she was born. ...and since the girls will be sharing a room--- the paintings will compliment each other rather than compete.

So-- this is what I came up with.

Kiki ended up voting for the one on the bottom.

I added some color...and there you have it. The preliminary sketch for Julia's "J".

Final Sneak Peak...

So everything is done and ready for tonight.

Here are a couple of shots D took this morning after we installed the paintings.

It sounds like a lot of great friends and family members will be coming out and supporting me tonight--so in advanced I wanted to thank you!!

Thank you!


I can't wait to see you all.

What to wear...what to wear...

Ok--First I want to say I just spent nearly 9 hours with the Miami-Dade County Commissioners public budget hearing. ...so if this doesn't make too much sense...sorry.

Anyhow...some of you may know that other than art and my work at the museum the other thing outside of my family and friends that make me happy is...fashion.

People have been asking me, "What are you going to wear?"...well I am wearing something very special to me.

My dress is of my own design, hand made in Managua, Nicaragua.

My necklaces, bracelets and earrings are handmade by Kristin Pearce, a dear friend and talented designer here in Miami. You should take a look at her etsy shop for treasures you can call your own.

http://kristinpearce.blogspot.com/

Tomorrow morning I will be hanging the show at 9:00am...and then I will be arriving at Books and Books at around 5:45pm. I am beyond excited and overjoyed at the support I have received from you all this summer. I can't wait to share tomorrow night with you...and if you cannot be there physically I know you will be in spirit.

So thanks! I will try and blog before the opening...if not you know I will after.

Cheers!

Two Palms

Today I found out that I will be hanging the paintings myself. Chances are I will be doing this tomorrow afternoon if not Friday morning.

One of the paintings that will more than likely go up will be "Two Palms".

This is the painting in its middle stage...it is now finished...but obviously I can't show it to you since it will be up on Friday.

What I do plan on doing is posting pictures of all the finished paintings after Friday night.

Tonight I actually plan on adding another new painting to the list...something inspired by yet another friend of mine. Hint: Hip Hop and You Don't Stop...

Pumpkin Pie

So yesterday I finished up a painting inspired by my friend, Mark. He and I have a love...a passionate love for pumpkins...and all things pumpkin. He has a very special admiration for pumpkin pie.

I will ingest just about anything pumpkin...pumpkin bread, muffins, bagels, lattes,beer, soup, smoothies...well you get the picture.

So here is the progress of Pumpkin Pie...I'm not putting the final

one up because that will be unveiled on Friday.

The other excitement of the week...is that I've reached 50 followers! Hoorah! Thank you for following along and joining me in the day to day inspirations that fill my sketch books and eventually make it to the canvas.

So...tomorrow I'll put final touches on things. There should be some changes made to the main website, www.ceciliadubon.com and Wednesday I'm delivering the paintings to Books and Books.

Cape Florida

Monday I went up to the top of the Cape Florida Lighthouse for the second time.

The climb--though nerve wrecking for me-- is worth it...though the top is awfully narrow...to me...

Regardless it's a gorgeous view! It got me thinking, perhaps I should paint the Lighthouse.

It is so pretty and bright next to the blue skies on Key Biscayne...and then the water is turquoise at its feet...rather breathtaking when you come to think of it.

If you haven't been...I highly recommend it.

If you go in the summer...bring OFF!

Round and Round

I just had lunch with a friend who has a keen eye for art galleries, their set ups...and being on a committee for the arts, he also knows what he's talking about.

He was asking me about the show--and asking what was going to come back from my last show. I told him I wasn't planning on bringing anything...and he said, "You should bring back a couple of strong ones that haven't been seen in public in a while."

So with that in mind....these are two of the pieces I am thinking of bringing back.

"Rolling Hills" and "Redheaded Mermaid"

The nice thing about these is that they do thematically match up with some of my new pieces, such as "Double Banyan" and "Mermaid 3" . I may also bring back, "Key Lime Pie".

So round and round we go---where we'll stop---nobody knows!

Little Puffy Clouds

So...normally I use black marker to draw the outlines on my paintings. Well, not this time. This time I am taking the silver lining literally and experimented a bit.

The idea for this came to me when I was on a plane headed to DC. Looking at the clouds, I thought about the light and ow it bounces off of them...the silver lining.
"hey...why don't I try a silver metallic pen on clouds?" I thought to myself. When I got back home to Miami--I sketched it, showed it to my art critic--and once approved I put it on canvas. Little Puffy Clouds...live and in living color for you to see at Books and Books (Coral Gables) soon.