here, there, and everywhere

 The view from the cottage, having a much-needed rest after the crazyness of the installation. Learning to use my sewing machine (finally!), the result of using the sewing machine (kittycat pillow), and some my orchid collection, some living , some not so living. 

What do you do to unwind?

New pieces on Etsy

I have some new works up on Etsy! A mix of originals and new illustrations.

Finally, its been forever since I updated the shop. 

Photos of my Come Up To My Room Installation.

It was probably the most exhausting week of my life. 

We started installing on a Sunday, and had to be finished by Wednesday. I honestly thought that we would be done by Tuesday at the latest, but it turned out that we needed every last minute of time.

I learned that installations typically all follow the same pattern of process:

 Feel overly confident in execution, 

begin installation process, 

come up against a minimum of 20 challenges that you could not have possibly foreseen,

everything takes you at least 2 hours longer then you thought it would, 

add some last minute improvisation,

 a hefty meltdown or two and 2 sleepless nights 

and you have the recipe for an installation.

The installation is based on a story that I made up about an island named bonemeal and the young girl that was left to rule the island in solitude. The installation covers only part one of the story which is fictionally based on her journal.

If you want to know the story, you will have to just wait and come to my next installation. When will that be?

I don't know yet, so stay tuned.

All in all I was so proud of the final result and I could not have done it without the help of my amazing husband and the support of the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council.

Some process shots from around the studio

There is not much all that fun and interesting to say when you are at your desk, day and night

working away.

Your itunes playlist tends to get redundant, and your friends don't count on seeing you as much.



I haven't done many portraits. Honestly, it's something I am feeling more brave about doing.

There will be two for the exhibit at Come Up To My Room, and I am loving making them!
 It's something different from my usual routine of cutting fabric.
  Need to make more of these.

 

Gouache can be finicky, folks. Its unchangeable.

So if you screw up, you cant wipe it away like oils or erase it like pencil,

 its always best to start with your lighter colours,

because light gouache does not cover dark

 and if you try to remove gouache by wetting the paper, you will have a pulpy mess.

I also have learned to 'flood' my paper in advance.

This means coating my watercolour paper with water and allowing it to dry before painting.

This allows the paper to curl and pucker and establish itself before you paint,

 cause curled and puckered paper can result in a curled and puckered face.

 

I learned this the hard way, this is my second attempt at this portrait. 

 

Whats with the mirror? Maybe I just love staring at myself all day
(I was pretty into it as a baby. At my first tap dance recital I lifted my dress and stared at my ruffled underwear in the mirror the whole time),
 maybe I give myself pep talks and say things like 'paint to win! be number one!',
maybe it makes me feel less lonely when I am by myself all day hanging out with the oil furnace in my basement.

Or maybe I use it for facial expressions when painting characters.
 

I just realized this picture shows the reflection of my husband bent over.

Too bad ladies, hes spoken for.



I am in dire need of a new work space (but not in dire need of a new sweater, I wear this one every day in the winter, it probably smells pretty bad)
 Since becoming an 'artist' I have never allowed myself to have a really great art studio. I tend to prioritize things like kitchens and living rooms, which doesn't make much sense considering I spend maybe 2 hours a day in the kitchen and 8 hours a day working on art.
As of March I will be making myself a' proper' studio,
 you best believe I will be posting about it.
 



Bird Bat/ Bat Bird.... this was necessary for the bat and the birds survival
 



Come see all this stuff in person, next weekend for Come Up To My Room!
 

There will be a full-blown dance party on the 26th,
 and I love to cut a rug, come cut a rug with me.  

 

 

 



Bits and pieces of a work in progress

It's been many days of working on the artwork for the ship installation. Many days to go but finally the end is in sight!

Isobel wanders the street, searching for people

One of the many pieces ill be showing at Come Up To My Room. All she needs now is a frame!

 

Tom Haverford experiences art

"I have no interest in art...." Tom Haverford.