I need your help & votes!

I recently was accepted to a call for art at 464 Gallery in Buffalo, New York, United States.  464 Gallery's Online People's Choice Awards is an online competition through Facebook where the work of accepted artists is anonomously grouped in a gallery and subject to viewers "likes."  The artist who's work receives the most Facebook "likes" wins a free 2-week solo exhibition at 464 Gallery in Buffalo along with some other neat things.  

I really want to win the free 2-week solo exhibition!!

I've submited three different illustrations (shown above) and am now at the mercy of whomever votes and "likes" my work.  I'm asking all of you who look, scroll, read, follow, or just randomly browse my blog to "like" my work in this competition.  
Voting runs from August 23rd-September 6th @ midnight.

I need all the artsy support I can get!!

How to vote/"like" on Facebook:

1. Log on to www.facebook.com

2. search for 464 Gallery (Buffalo, NY)

3. hit "like" on the 464 Gallery page

4. scroll down to the photo gallery labeled,"Vision Art Awards 2013"

5. hit "like" on my illustrations (the ones shown above)

Thank you for helping to support both myself and my art!  I am truly hoping for a great positive experience through this competition and have strong confidence in my art.

I genuinely appreciate the support!

New Illustration: Melt

"Melt." 2013
Prismacolor marker and pigment liner on paper. 5 x 7"

Started this about a week ago, but once again coloring the piece halted my progress for a bit.  I'll honestly say I can be slow when it comes to coloring an illustration trying to carefully choose each color and making sure it compliments the next. 

Each individual illustration I create is hand-drawn and hand-colored.  Hence, making the decision of what colors to use and the physical application of a color very important.  Whatever mistakes or accidental marks I make, espeically if it's near completion, are permanent.  When it does happen I have to adapt that mark into the piece or try and mask it to the best of my ability.  Sometimes it isn't too bad while other times it can throw a wrench into everthing.  These smaller illustrations I've been creating lately have just been for fun making them almost stress-free and silly.  

I love the combination of black raspberry ice-cream with chocolate sprinkles in a cone (my favorite being a big waffle cone).  It's delicious, iconic, and a delightful memory of getting ice-cream throughout my childhood.  I can still remember the first time my elementary school friend Desiree's mother introduced this combination while getting ice-cream at the local Stewart's (a gas station convenient store with an awesome ice-cream shop inside).  I've been loving it ever since.  

New Illustration: Soup Loving Mouse

"Soup Loving Mouse." 2013.
Prismacolor marker and pigment liner on paper. 5 x 7"

Fresh from its completion is a new postcard-sized illustration! 

 I started this couple days ago while watching some favorite family films of mine.  Yes, I love watching children/family films especially if they're animated well.  And yes, I am guilty of watching them over and over (or as background when I'm drawing).  This little guy was specifically inspired by Pixar's Ratatouille.

Ratatouille is one of my favorite Pixar movies from it's content (cooking), to it's animation style, voice actors, and ultimate feel of the film.  It gives me a warm cozy feeling watching it.  The first dish Remi, the rat, helps with in the Parisian restaurant is a soup (specific kind unknown to the audience).  I, too, have quite the fondness for the comfort that both making and easting soup entails...so I created this little piece.  
Who doesn't get all warm inside with anticipation of a hot mug of homemade soup?