Happy 2017!

Wishing you all a 2017 full of love, health, and happiness...with silly hats, of course! These designs are done for this year's postcard and mailer. Next year don't forget to be creative and have fun!!!

Postcard front

Postcard back

Family portrait insert 

First Newsletter

I sent out my first Newsletter! Check it out for updates and holiday gift sales! Send your e-mail to HSoodak@gmail.com if you would like to be added to the list as I will do regular drawings for prizes and a portion of all sales help pets in need!

Thanksgiving  Nov 2016

Inktober 1- Fast

Inktober is back! Here is some info: http://mrjakeparker.com/inktober Join and create! What could be more "fast" (today's theme) than a seahorse race?  I used a variety of color inks and my zebra brush pen as pictured below. This scene is derived from a sea story I am working on. I can't wait to see everyone else's sketches this month. It will be great fun to participate!

"Fast" Ink 8x8" 

With Mat

Frida Fest Art Show

The Frida Fest in Hollywood this past weekend was great! So much beautiful artwork and performances really embracing everything Frida Kahlo, it was an honor to be a part of it.

"Frida Catlo" 8x10 watercolor original 250.00 framed

At the show 

Cristina and Stephen

We just celebrated a beautiful wedding with our friends, here is their animal portrait! 

City of Hope 19th Pediatric Picnic

City of Hope Pediatric Picnic Success! It was such a wonderful event for the families, it was an honor to meet some of the families, draw for the kids, and meet talented cartoonists and comic artists!! Thanks to Scott Shaw and especially to Paul Gagon and Sharon Gagon taking care of us and making sure we didn't melt of heat! Some talented artists I met were Talia Ellis, Ivan Camilli, and Terry Wilson. Can't wait for next year!

Spock Cat Appearance in Another Publication

  

I was so honored when Miss Judy Wilson member of Starfleet an international fan club for Star Trek and editor of the the USS Colombia NCC 2049 ship newsletter asked to feature my Leonard Nimoy cat illustration in the April 2016 issue. I am a Star Trek fan and painted this piece in honor of our beloved actor and character, Spock, he portrayed so well. There are some amazing articles about Leonard Nimoy and more! See information about the ship here: http://www.usscolumbia.net/ncc-2049/ and some screen shots of the newsletter below:
Oh, yeah and one of my favorite Spock scenes. What is your favorite Spock scene?


                           

May the Fourth Be With You

   8x10 watercolor 5/4/16

Sketch 

Process

Hummingbirds of Paradise and other Flower Adventures

With this artwork, I experimented with a different medium, drawing and painting on wood. Art is a journey and it is fun to take different paths of trying a new style, medium, or theme, and just "play"- this work was very relaxing and fun to create. I enjoy sharing the journey with my students in guiding them to dive in and try new things, take inspiration from many resources and spontaneously apply that in a lesson, and create an environment where my students feel free to create and "play" through their own journey of art making to discover new possibilities.This piece  expresses an appreciation for nature and it's beauty. It highlights the playfulness and magic of the hummingbird,  and symbolizes the co-evolution between plants and animals. I am still experimenting with more flower/animal pieces but  this final piece "Hummingbirds of Paradise" will show in the What Those Who Teach Can Do art show at the Art Institutes of Southern California in Costa Mesa in May 2016. Come check it out!

11x17" Colored Pencil and Watercolor on Wood $350.00

                                           

ferns

ferns

even the pencil shavings are pretty!

process 1

process 2

nasturtium beauty

start of nasturtium piece

Cartoonist's Lunch- March

Had a great time at the OC Cartoonist meeting today, such a great group of guys and gays that love reading, writing, and drawing comics!

From back left clockwise: Bob Singer, Marilyn Scott-Waters, Joyce Farmer, Alec Guarino, Roberta Baird, Jeff Guarino, Heather Soodak, Andy Mitchell.

OC Youth Art Month Reception 2016

As many of you know, I am not only an illustrator but an art teacher and one of the events I look forward to the most is the CAEA Youth Art Month student show where we get to celebrate our student artists! Our school, Fairmont Preparatory Academy was well represented at the Orange County Youth Art Month Student Art Reception on Thursday, February 25th, 2016 taking home 3 awards. Youth Art Month is an  annual national celebration of the arts to emphasize the value of art education for all children. Please join us in the month of March to celebrate the #PowerofArt and be creative!! Here is how our show turned out:

before

After

With the Young Artists

High School Section (Our students at Fairmont won 3 awards!)

Parents, Students, and Teacher enjoying the exhibit

The Art dynamic duo teacher team

Amberleigh, Hiep, Linda, and I

Speeches

Our guest speaker, Hiep Nguyen

Happy New Year from the Monkeys!

And also a special request by monkey friends, Jeremy and Kristin. Enjoy your year of the monkey!

6x8" Watercolor "Year of the Monkey" 2016

Catster Magazine Interview

I am in print! Thanks to editor and cat lover Annie Sherrifs of Catster Magazine that I met at the 100Cats art  show.

Scanned from Magazine

portrait of Annie as cat

http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/catster-holiday-obsessions-gift-suggestions-from-print-editors