The sketchbook project 2012

Last year I was going to take part in the Sketchbook Project, but things got a bit busy for me and I didn't get a chance to complete it. The Sketchbook Project is an art show of all the same size art journals from participants from around the world. I love being a part of shows like this. What made the 2012 show special is that they are going to take the sketchbooks on the road and have shows with them all over the world. One of the stops will be right here in Toronto, so I decided I just had to be a part of it this time!

I had some trouble getting going and came this close to giving up and not doing it again. I was getting all caught up on worrying about making it "good enough". Finally with the deadline looming, I decided to throw caution to the wind and just start drawing, something, ANYTHING! I did the above drawing quickly. Just a quick sketch of me trying on different glasses. The theme I was given for my journal was "in 10 minutes". I went with that and made each page in 10 minutes. FAST with no regrets.

You know what? I finished it. Is it my best work? Heck no! But that's okay. It was very freeing and I learned a few things along they way. Now I can look forward to the show when it comes to Toronto this summer. YAY!!! I wanted to show you guys the whole journal as if you were flipping through it, so I made a video:


Thanks for joining me today!

xoxo

hello sweethearts!
Love is in the air. Soon it will be Valentine's Day. I really love (no pun intended...okay maybe a bit of a pun) Valentine's day. I love making Valentine's Day art. Pinks and reds and lots of hearts.
I've been pretty busy getting some deadlines done. I'm working away on the Author's Series paintings. They are going to look great as a collection of cards. I also am working away on the Sketchbook Project.

It's a good way to just let loose and try different techniques. The sketchbook project is an interested art show featuring art from around the world. They are going to be bringing all the journals to Toronto, I can't wait!
I have a new Valentine's Day painting over at My Etsy Shop. Frida with one of her loves, her kitty!

I should have a few more lovey dovey things in my shop soon. xoxo

The Authors Series

Hello Friends! As you may already know, I've been working with the greeting card company Allport Editions for close to 10 years now. My current line of cards are really fun! It's called the "authors series" and features my rendition of famous authors painted on wood with collage papers added.

These cards are doing well in museums and gift shops. I throughly enjoyed painting them! If you are interested in getting a pack of these cards the company Bas Bleu sells them on-line. Now I am starting work on a brand new authors series. So many authors, so little time...haha... Here is a preview of Charles Dickens:

Here is Mark Twain too :) :

Wishing you all a fantastic day! It snowed here. The first time this year that the snow actually is sticking to the ground. I was hoping we could squeak through to Spring with no snow, but no such luck. Keep cozy!

Lily says "hi"

Lily requested a shout out. She wanted you all to know that she loves each and every one of you out there in blogland.

Silver Fox

Today I would like to talk about "natural beauty". Beauty that comes from within. Deep in the soul and radiates out like sunshine. This is what I strive for. I want to be beautiful on the inside....both spiritually and health wise. I want my body to be healthy and functioning at an optimum level. I want my inner peace to shine. This is a tough battle living in a society where looks are everything. The exterior. I am constantly having to *explain* my grey hair to people. They will ask things like "why don't you dye your hair?" and "What's going on with your hair?" or "what happened to your hair?" I say "I like it like this" and of course, they look at me like I'm crazy.

I know about hair dye. Yes, I've heard of it before. In fact, in college I had my hair purple. I liked being different....and I guess I still do. I like being a rebel with my grey hair. I like going against the grain of societies norms. But more than that, I like being natural. I am proud of who I am. This is me. My grandmother had snow white hair, she went grey early too. I feel a kinship knowing the grey hair "gene" was passed down to me. This connection I feel is far stronger than what some fashion magazine says I should do.

Sure, I may look "older" than I would if I dyed my hair chestnut brown.....but does that matter? Age is wisdom. Age is love. Age is enlightenment. As I get older I feel so much more compassionate and insightful. Why try and hide that by looking younger and less experienced? ;)

This is my life. I choose to look like this. I want to focus on my mind, body and spirit. It is all that matters.

I have a lot to say on this topic that can't be covered in just one post. I will post more later. But for today I want to leave you with this photo of a beautiful woman.
The author and illustrator Tasha Tudor. She aged gracefully. Pure beauty.

Welcome 2012!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Yes, I've been gone for a while....what? A year or two? I was kind of taking time off. My kitty-love-of-my-life Opie died in 2010. I got into a bit of a funk after that. Some may find it strange to be so attached to an animal. Those people must have never met a cat like Opie. He was magical. One in a million.


xoxo

I decided to start fresh for 2012. I am taking on a whole new way of eating, and I might try a whole new way of doing art too! I am so excited about nutrition! I am reading all kinds of books on it, I just can't get enough! I bought a juicer and that is my new thing. Everyday I make juice. Carrot, apple and ginger. It is sooooo tasty and sooooo good for you too! I am eating raw greens and all real whole foods. I'm staying away from anything processed. No canned, packaged, frozen or fast food for me. I'm *trying* to cut out sugar. I think I'm doing pretty good. I am also not eating meat. I feel so strongly about my love for animals and I just don't think I can eat them anymore. I had been weening myself off of meat for a while now. But I think this is it. No more. I want to get myself well. I bought a movie on itunes called Food Matters. I highly recommend watching it. They said something in the video that really resonated with me. It was "the body can heal itself." What, what? For some reason I never fully knew this, or believed it....Now that I do, I am going to do everything in my power to heal myself. I want to be healthy and strong. Here is the movie off of youtube. I highly recommend it:





I plan to post more frequently, thank you all so much for sticking around :)