On the road to Love...

"Follow Your Heart"

Valentine's Day Card Illustration

SCM Transportation, Somerville, MA

Mixed Media

© Laura DeDonato

The amazing people at SCM Transportation have a great program they run every Valentine's Day called "Paul's Ride."  A gift of $30 underwrites round trip transportation for a rider to visit his or her sweetheart in the hospital or nursing home and $100 covers five round trips.

This year, SCM asked me to create an illustration for their Valentine's Day card to support Paul's Ride.  I had fun creating a custom heart box filled with little chocolates in the shape of the SCM vans.  To create my reference for this illustration I had to take chocolates from different boxes and make the little ruffled cups from muffin tins.  You can view some of this process work on my twitter and instagram @LNDstudio. 

I hope everyone has a Happy Valentine's Day with those who you love, doing the things that you love to do!!

Make a Wish!

Birthday Bash
Illustration for 5"x7" printed card
Gouache and Acrylic
© Laura DeDonato

Here it is...fun and colorful, pretty much a birthday explosion. How could you not smile if you got this card in the mail on your birthday? Especially from an unexpected source, your local transportation company.

As I mentioned in my original posting about my sketches for SCM Transportation's birthday card illustration, I love cake! But, this was my first time painting cake as the focal point in a piece. Staring at it every day calmed quite a few cravings, though not all of them.

Surprisingly, it was the frosting that presented the largest challenge in this piece. The intricate lines and ripples of the frosting were interesting, but they were drawing too much attention. I had to simplify them. Once this happened, the candles got the attention they needed and a new star emerged, the oreos!

I can't wait to see it in print!!!

Confession: I have a weakness for frosting!

I just got the go ahead for my SCM Transportation birthday card illustration! I am very excited about painting cake, or at least a van that looks like cake. I might just have to bake some reference and late night inspiration :-)

This is the concept thumbnail they chose:

Here are some of the other submitted thumbnails:



P.S. I am anxiously waiting to post my most recent portrait piece, but I have to wait until the newlywed couple receives it! I can't wait!!