I was thinking one day how much I love to learn about people's lives. I am really interested in someone's background stories and their history. I think this is why I am always drawn to autobiographies and documentaries. You can learn so much from what someone has done during their lifetime. One day as I was sitting listening to a panel of artist talk about their life journeys and how they got to where they are now I thought of an idea to illustrate people's stories in a timeline style. The first one I ever created was for my father-in-law and mother-in-law's 25th wedding anniversary. I illustrated just a few of the events in the 25 years they have been together. My goal is to have other people ask me for their life timelines illustrated. I believe it is a wonderful way to learn about someone, share significant events and create interesting artwork. A life timeline would be a wonderful birthday, graduation, anniversary and wedding gift to yourself or others. What events would you illustrate in your life timeline?

I made a video on my favorite illustrated books from my childhood. As a child I would look at the same books over and over and even when I look at them as an adult they give me a special feeling of comfort. I have saved most of these from my actual collection as a child but I did have to go and purchase some of these again because I lost them along the way. What are your favorite children's books from your childhood?

Growing up in California it was a common event to go out to a Mexican restaurant for special occasions. At the end of the meal, if it was a birthday celebration, the waiter or waitress would bring out a small flan with a candle on top. I always loved how flan looked very shiny and how it tasted. I only have flan when I am at a Mexican restaurant, I really should try to make it myself one day. People seem to love flan or hate it, I am guessing that is because of the texture. Apparently, flan was created during the Roman empire when chickens were being domesticated and there was an excess of eggs. The Romans started creating more egg based dishes and desserts and flan was born. The recipe was adopted in Spain and then brought to Mexico. Do you like flan? 

I loved egg rolls with a side of yellow mustard when I was growing up. I still really like them but I hardly ever have them. I feel like you can rarely go wrong when you order an egg roll from a restaurant and they are perfect freezer food.That crunch and the tanginess of the mustard is a great treat. I am, however, totally against the egg roll's cousin, the spring roll. I describe a spring roll as a bunch of veggies rolled up in a wet paper towel, yuck. I made the mistake of ordering a spring roll instead of an egg roll only once. 

I only crave a donut about once a year. When I crave a donut it always has to be a cake donut with frosting and sprinkles. When I think of having a donut from a donut shop I think of those small ma and pa shops. I used to get a donut every time my family had a garage sale. We would get up early and go get donuts. I would always request a cake style with frosting and sprinkles with a side of apple juice in those apple shaped jars. Wow, that sounds way too sweet to me now. While I was researching the donut I was going to illustrate I started to get that once a year craving, I need to find my perfect donut soon. What is your favorite type of donut?

I haven't met many cupcakes I didn't like. I picked a cupcake for the letter C because they are fun to draw and paint. Each cupcake has a unique design, shape and color combo. I think my favorite cupcakes come from Frosted Cupcakery. They have a carrot cake cupcake that is sooooooo good. Oh no, now I want one. Please enjoy my illustration of a cupcake, maybe while eating your favorite cupcake. Prints are for sale on my Buy Artwork page.

My next illustration in the Alphabet Food series is B is for Burger. Burgers came right to mind when I thought of what could stand for B. Of course someone already mentioned they are called Hamburgers so it should be an illustration for H, but I never say hamburger so it's burger, ok? I love all kinds of burgers. I like my burgers well done with lots of produce. When I was little all I ate when my family went out was a plain burger off the kids menu. I am glad to say I am much more adventurous with trying food now and I can't imagine eating just a plain burger anymore. Enjoy this illustration and I am sorry if you are instantly craving a burger now. 

*Prints of this illustration are posted on Society6, the link is on my Buy Artwork page.