death, taxes, and a skinny no-whip latte

Death, Taxes, and a Skinny No-Whip Latte has been released today! This is the next novel in the Tara Holloway series by Diane Kelly that I did the cover illos for.

"It's all in a day's work for Tara Holloway, the U.S. Treasury's latest, greatest, soon-to-be-skinniest weapon against the biggest tax cheats in the nation..." This time she goes after a loan shark with connections across the Mexican border. "Fighting crime, like drinking a cup of coffee with low-fat mile and artificial sweetener, is often bittersweet."

The reviews are in and people are immensely enjoying this light and hilarious mystery series! Look for it at your local book retailer or order it online!

capable

©2012, Monika Roe

If there was a sale, she was capable of doing considerable damage!

For this week's Illustration Friday topic of "capable" here is an illo I did for this month's February issue of Ideal Home Magazine.

happy pancake tuesday

©2012, Monika Roe

It's Pancake Tuesday (also known as Shrove Tuesday in the UK)! This day of Mardi Gras feasting is traditionally kicked off by a tall stack of pancakes. Why pancakes? It was to use up all of the rich ingredients like butter and eggs before Lent.

Oh how I wish I was eating pancakes this morning!

fluid

©2012, Monika Roe

The topic for Illustration Friday this week is "fluid". This is a slightly grosser take on the word! It's an illo I did for the February issue of M Magazine. Every month I illustrate embarrassing and gross stories that kids send in to the magazine for M's LOL Stories column. This month a girl writes in telling of a snowball fight she was in. It was fun until she got hit right in the face by a snowball made from "yellow" snow. Getting hit by a pee-soaked snowball is one thing, but right in the face?!? Can you say GROSS?!?

a great valentine's day gift

Roses, chocolate, candlelight dinner or finding out you won TheyDrawandTravel.com's You-topia Map Contest? This morning I had an email waiting for me in my inbox telling me that I had won first place in this illustration contest! Yay!

I recommend that you go to TDAT's site and give your eyes the gift of seeing all of the gorgeous entries! There are such beautifully illustrated maps for places all over the world in every possible style, it's definitely worth the time to go through each and every one of them!

Thanks to Nate & Salli for having this contest, and a big thanks to the sponsors Great Big Canvas and Pentel!

gardens

I just finished this piece for an upcoming Paso Robles Art Association gallery show called "Gardens". This will be used to advertise the show. My plan is to create another piece like this (without the type) with even more "secret garden" details to enter into the show. I love the idea of a secret garden! Here's a closeup detail:

my favorite spots in santa cruz, ca

Here is my new illo of Santa Cruz, California, finished just in time to enter in TheyDrawandTravel.com's You-topia map contest! (Click on the map to get a closer look!) I have to admit that this one was extremely labor intensive but I love the result. 

There are so many things to do in Santa Cruz it was hard to narrow down a list of my favorite places. One of the hidden gems I highlight on my map is Cafe Limelight (1016 Cedar Street). They make the BEST paninis! They also make the most delicious soup. The owners take their time and craft their food with exceptional artistry. My man and I love going here.

If you have a favorite spot in Santa Cruz I'd love to hear about it!