Happy Colours

 

Spring is nature’s way of saying, "Let’s party!" 

Robin Williams

Sunshine on my desk, birdsong in our garden and a mix of flowers that spreads over on to my paper.

Experomenting with bold, right colors, botanical sketches and figures painted in a more detailed and naturalistic fashion.

Easter is just around the corner now and for me it feels like a time of enewal and fresh energy. Yesterday, i saw a beautiful moon rising and i hope it brings transformation,  joyous energy and peace for all of us! Yes spring - let's party!

I'm a Bag Lady

Had some fun with a new sketch yesterday, one that i always wanted to do  -  a "What's in my handbag" one.

This little combo is, what i mostly have with me, when o go out these days:

A little light orange basket, kitted out with an even lighter fabric shopping bag and a small umbrella (it rains a LOT here).

And a handbag i found in my favorite shoestore BURRESI. The handbag is not big, but magically, all i want to put in fits in, even a light coat or cardi, all the while it still feels light on my arm. It consists of brown quilted fabric material and colorful leather parts,  and it helps to set a chic and playful accent to almost every outfit i have. In summer, it went well with white and brighter shades, in winter it adds some optimism and good mood to darker and neutral colors.

In the sketch, you see the things i carry in it:

- Some pens,

- a timer - handmade by a dear friend,

- my i-phone,

- my orange Hermès purse,

- my orange cell phone holder, filled with not my cell, but some make up items like a small Dr. Hauschka Handcreme, 2 lipsticks, on in a very soft, peachy pink, on in a darker, berry pink,

- D&G sunglasses.

When i'm in town, i always seem to walk a lot, so it's important, that my "luggage" is light and easy to carry. The basket is very practical in case i want to pick up some fruits or veggies on my way home, which i often do, and for additional purchases, the fabric bag comes in handy.

If you're a bag lady, like me, you might be interested to dwell a little in the Rue La La Style guide for handbags. Care tips, a history of handbags and lots of info about our fave accessoire - have fun!

Meanwhile, i hope your week is moving along nicely and swiftly, leaving you time to enjoy the colorful leaves outside.  See you soon for a hot cuppa something - and a little chat!

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”

Coco Chanel

A recent illustration of mine that got featured on BLACK FASHION, an inspiring magazine and blog about black fashion and culture - check it out!  Those of you who know me know, how much my art has always been inspired by colorful women and works of art from Africa and Haiti. Even as a kid i used to draw black women in colorful clothes and my husband likes to say that i must have lived in Africa in a former life! This illustration however was inspired by gorgeous model  Lais Ribeiro on a cover of VOGUE Germany some years ago.

Hope you enjoy summer as much as i do and have a fun week!

Illustration: Martine Voigt-Schmid 

Yes Monday!

Summer is ...

where girls go barefoot and their hearts are just as free as their toes!

A new portrait i did for a beautiful woman called Anna. Let's get into this tiny yellow car with her and take a ride along the Italian Riviera. We'll have espresso and biscotti in this tiny caf'e on the market place. Shop for some fruits and a new bikini in shady arcades, head over to the beach and walk along the shores, barefoot, before going for a swim in turquoise waters ... are you with me still?

Thanks for all  the wonderful comments i got on the Italian Riviera post last week, for all the new friends that showed up - i so enjoyed meeting you! Cheers to a FUNtastic week my lovelies - will come visit you soon! 

Allora, let's go!

Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important. 
Janet Lane 

This is a new illustration i did for my dear friend Anne-Claire. She's a fabulous Lady who has lived through some hard times lately. Now, after a bad depression, she's getting into full swing again and i just saw her riding this vanilla scooter, wearing a pink dress and a fancy, handmade bag. This is a Look from Kate Spade - and it fits her so well,. She's  a talented needleworker and knits and crochets the sweetest things, But she also is a great writer and just started her very own blog to tell her story. If you'd like to laugh and cry at the same time, have a look at it here.

Have a sweet weekend my dear ones - can't wait to have a good blog-hop and come visit you all!

Monday Love: White Hot!

A new fashion portrait of my gorgeous artist friend Barbara von Enger,  who knows how to ad the WOW-factor to everything she's wearing.  When i last met her in town, she wore a little A-Line white dress under a bright red trench. along with beautiful red lips - and looked so fresh and cheerful. We visited our favorite Vintage-shop together and she found these earrings you see in the sketch - just perfect for summer! 

I wish you a bright and happy start to your week and to the lovely month of July!

Illustration Martine Voigt-Schmid

Into the PINK

I fell off my pink cloud with a thud.

Elizabeth Taylor

Happy weekend flowers! And hurry up to make the best of your weekend! Wait a moment:Isn't the weekend ll about slowing down? Just find your own tempo and go with it - no matter where you go!

The day kind of overwhelmed me with a can of Espresso exploding on my stove and covering the whole kitchen in Coffee! This is why i fell from my pink cloud and have keep this post really short and simple - much cleaning to do!

Have  a super time and enjoy all the lovely moments of summer. And if you feel like chilling with a new magazine, check out the new Summer issue of Scarlet Pink magazine Some of my art is featured there

Drawing: Martine Voigt-Schmid

Fashion sketch: Trench Coat Look

A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.

Coco Chanel

Today, i'm headed to town to meet up with lovely fell blogger, artist and friend, Barbara von Enger.

Since  it has been so nice and sunny, i saw us sitting outside, having cappuccino, wearing Ballerinas  - but today it is raining, and a trench coat outfit just seems more appropriate. I don't really mind though, since, no matter where we walk and sit - we aways have a great time!

The above drawing is something from my sketchbook - a look inspired by Elisa Nalin. I colored it, using a painted background that i added on the computer. 

Have a great weekend - and if it rains or not - let the sunshine in!

Sketch: Martine Voigt-Schmid

Do something wonderful!!

Set your sights high, the higher the better. Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future but right now. Realize that nothing is too good. Allow absolutely nothing to hamper you or hold you up in any way.

Eileen Caddy

and than ...

Do something wonderful, people might imitate it!

Albert Schweitzer

Good morning Sunshine... und guten Morgen neue Woche!  Mit einem Blatt aus meinem Skizzenbuch wünsche ich Euch allen einen super Start in die Mai-Woche. Die Zeit fliegt - machen wir das Beste draus - indem wir heute etwas Wundervolles machen! Was wird das für Dich sein?

... and good morning brand new week! With this little drawing from my sketchbook i wish you a super start to a lovely week of may! Time flies - let's  make the most of it - by doing something wonderful today! What will it be for you? 

Drawing: Martine Voigt-Schmid

Paris in the spring

... because Paris is always a good idea!

Especially when combined with a wonderful person - like gorgeous Anita, from Castles, Crowns & Cottages, who won my Valentines Giveaway.

This is her fashion portrait in the city of LOVE, and she's wearing a  greige tutu along with a chic little sweater and white blouse to dance  beneath the blossoming trees.

I could also envision her as a  fabulous lady from the belle époque, someone who has a salon where artists and writers meet op to discuss their new work. More about this another time.

Have a bright and lovely start to your week -  can't wait to come visit and have a little chat with YOU!

a weekend in Paris ...

...would be just the ticket, non?

I, for my part am traveling by the means of art - using the magical powers of my sketchbook to take me, wherever i want to go. 

A new fashion sketch - a black & white story in the streets of Paris - just while i work on that portrait for Anita- hopefully over the weekend.

Do you have anything planned yet? I left it quite open, to have the space and possibility to work on my art a little - besides exploring the outdoors and looking for all these little signs of spring everywhere. This fresh, crisp green of the first leaves is one of my favorite colors in the world!

Have a fubtastic weekend ahead and see you all soon!.

Drawing: Martine Voigt-Schmid

Morning Coffee

Look I eat really well and I work out, but I also indulge when I want to. I don't starve myself in an extremist way. You're not taking away my coffee or my dairy or my glass of wine because I'd be devastated.

Jennifer Aniston

A new portrait drawing, playing with color and textures. It was done after an old picture of Supermodel Kate Moss, who continues to rock the world of glam ads and fashion with her nonchaöante air and cool sense of style.

In truth, if i was a smoker, i'd probably be chain-smoking now, for i'm so frustrated and nervous, that my internet still doesn't work and i'm so out of my usual wye of communication. Not to think of the giveaway i started, and was then so not able to promote ...

But - let's be grateful for the little things, right? For the first signs of spring here in cold germany, for little flowers showing their colorful heads, for sunshine beaming into my window yesterday, for lovely friends visiting -  and for your patient support.

You can still enter my giveaway and win YOUR OWN PORTRAIT here. I'm delighted to read, what makes you sparkle - and send you some extra brightness for the rest of your week! 

Valentine Giveaway!

Happy Valentines lovelies!

You are special, you are sparkling and you are wonderful!

I'd like to celebrate this day with a special giveaway:

A colored portrait sketch of YOU!

If you win, i'll do your portrait and post it here. 

I'll also send you a high quality image of your sketch 

and a high quality print for you to frame if you want to.

To participate in this, you have to tell me, 

what helps you to feel SPARKLING?

Also, you have to follow my blog - or tell me, if you already do so.
You win 2 additional entries,
 if you post about this on your blog or on facebook -
and send me the link.

Am so looking forward to your entries and - don't forget to celebrate LOVE!
 The winner will be announced at the beginning of March here.

P.S: Loved this Russian fairytale outfit above - it's a style by Ulyana Sergeenko and i colord it due to my own inspiration. This is, what i'd wear on a carneval ball!

Drawing: Martine Voigt-Schmid

February fashion

Hello lovelies and welcome 

to a sparkly new week! 

February, here in germany, is a carnival month, were people dress up in costumes, have parades and try to not take everything so seriously - hard for the germans ;)

It also is officially the last real month of winter, where the days start to become longer and brighter again and we all start dreaming about spring.

And - of course it's also and maybe foremost the month of LOVE and celebrating Valentines.

So, there are many good reasons to shake of winter gloom and trat yourself - maybe to a special outfit - today. Even if you don't feel like buying anything - sometimes, just combining the things you have in a new way, makes - the special LOOK

Have tried my hands on a new fashion sketch these days, featuring a playful winter look with a super-thick wool jacket, layered over a jeands jacket over a little dress with black tights.

Do you have a look, you specially like for this time of year?

As you may have noticed, i'm still very slow in blogging and commenting BUT this thursday someone promised us to come to our house and fix our phone and intrenet connection. It's been a long stretch of time now, so THANK YOU so much for sticking up with me still.

Am sending you sprinkles for todays cupcakes - and - 

will have a special Valentines giveaway for you this friday!

Drawing: Martine Voigt-Schmid

Fashion portrait

One is never over-dressed or under-dressed with a little black dress!

Karl Kagerfeld

I'm currently working on more fashion illustrations and portraiture art, playing with a combination of figures and backgrounds mixed together in a whimsical style. Here, i've put Franca Sozzani, editor in chief of VOGUE Italy, in a little square in a town i love, named Finale Ligure.

 I love her style and her way of looking fabulously refined and "en vogue", but girlish and casual at the same time.

So, since it is icy cold here today and the garden is frozen, this work brought back italian sunshine and dolce vita - how fitting, that we had lunch in an italian restaurant today, for which i do some brand-design.

Excuse my slowness in posting and commenting at the moment, but things and friends around here demand more of my attention at the moment, plus my energy is somehow a little mellow, as winter kicks in. The next thing i'll show you here will ne a freebie for christmas season. Can you believe it is coming so close now?

P.S.: Since i started on my little fashion illustration series, i've had a number of requests to do custom portraits - which i love doing. Should you be interested as well, drop me a note!

Artwork: Martine Voigt Schmid

Ulyana in Paris

Stepping out  ... with glamour, with candor and a good dose of "joie de vivre". 

How was your weekend dear ones?  Mine was cozy and lovely. Saturday was so warm, that we could have coffee outside, wearing nothing but a T-shirt. Saturday brought on a lot of wind and leaves and nuts were falling down from the trees. Besides eating a lot of good food, taking walks and just cocooning i've  been working on another fashion illustration, this time featuring a street stylee from Ulyana Sergeenko.

 I love how she combines a glamorous cape and salmon pink heels to an all jeans outfit here. And how she steps out in those heels - tee hee - must work on that a little still! Have a super start into your week - and should the last days of october ruffle your leaves a little - let them fly with the wind!

Illustration: Martine Voigt

Barbara in Paris

I never go anywhere. I do sketches and make phone calls, and people visit. It's more fun to come to Paris.

Karl Lagerfeld 

A fashion illustration i did last week of Barbara von Enger, walking the streets of Paris. Barbara is a painter as well as a hot fashion muse and her unique mix of  haute couture, vintage treasures, hip hop style and caribbean spirit is often photographed and posted by style bloggers, like Fred from "Easy fashion" and magazines such as VOGUE Italy . 

The look i was drawing inspired me, because - yes, i love red and pink and her sleek, relaxed way of wearing it, as well as the way she carries her Baguette - like a Baguette-bag from Fendi!

Hope it adds a little french "Oh la la" to your day - can you smell café au laid and a warm croissant?

Drawing: Martina Voigt-Schmid