The Birth of a Garden Gnome

I have a thing for Garden Gnomes. I love the tacky little sweeties and can't wait to one day have a garden of my very own. It will be filled with brightly colored flowers, birds, bees and butterflies... and of course, a family of gnomes.

In the meantime... Meet Franz, the latest illustration on my drawing board.

I love how cute little sketches can be transformed into something vibrant and fabulous with only a quick touch of colored pencil.

Franz is a gnome that wants to be seen, and he pretty much dictated how he was going to look right from the beginning. I don't think I even used my eraser, as he just seemed to draw himself. I love when that happens.

I'm using Prismacolor pencils for this gnome, unlike most of my other illustrations which are done in Design Spectracolor. Since my coveted collection of Spectracolor pencils is dwindling quickly and I have not seen any on Ebay lately, I am weaning myself over to Prismacolor. They are working out just fine, so I don't think I will be too depressed when my lovely Spectracolors are all gone. It has been 10 years this April since they were discontinued, so I think they have had a good run!

I just love Franz's bright red rosy cheeks! And he has the loveliest blue eyes.

Franz is complete, but his garden background will be a surprise for you, as I'm not going to show you until my gnome collection is complete! Yup, I said collection. Don't worry... this little garden gnome wont be all alone...

He has a little wife called Gertie

And he has a little mushroom house to call home, sweet home.

I have big plans for these little gnomes and their little mushroom house. Not only will they be in my shop this summer, but they will be on my living room walls as well.

I just love them! And I think they will look fabulous next the prints I plan to buy from my favorite photographer, Lorissa Longfellow, at LJ Design and Photo.

Aren't they beautiful?