Gone Too Soon

This is a real quickie post. Just wanted to do an obvious shout out to all MJ fans out there. It's the one year anniversary of his death already and I can't believe how fast that year passed. He's gone but not forgotten. His music, spirit and compassion for humanity and the well-being of our planet will hopefully live on forever in the young people of our world. We never can say goodbye...



RIP Michael.
xoxo with love.

Bits n' Bobs!

The photograph that I've uploaded here is an example of my shoddy picture taking skills! I guess all that caffeine that I consume daily adds up to a real unsteady hand and blurred vision. Anyhow, it was meant to be of an acrylic painting that I did for Dana Martin's (of Dana Martin Writing from previous post) graduating daughter. I tried to include all her faves on an 11 by 14.5 inch illustration board. I didn't get to scan it in on time so I had to sew a series of really unclear photos together using Photoshop. If anyone has any better methods for getting good archival pictures of large art...by all means, I'm all ears.




The other illustration is for a business card that I whipped up for an ole' friend of mine who is now starting up her own photography business. She's the sweetest so please be sure and visit Kimberley Lynn PhotoGRAPHY for giveaways and other fun stuff!



xoxo With Love.

For Dana..

So kids, I've been missing in action for a while now but I must say that I have been a bit busy and uh enjoying the wonderful Toronto heat waves. Plus its been a month of excellent TV (FRINGE and LOST finales...don't worry no spoilers here) to catch up on and along with painting and of course the eternal job hunt...that's been all my days done up to now!

I did a little something for a writer friend of mine over in Cali that I think she will use for her business. I was quite happy with the outcome and hope to do much more work for Dana in the future. We already have another fun project in the works...details to follow soon!
You can catch up with her and all her writings at Dana Martin Writing.


Enjoy!

xoxo With Love.

Happy Mom's Day!

Just a quick note wishing all the amazing moms out there...and one in particular! We aren't going to be together today but she is always in my heart...speak to you soon MOM!

xoxo with love.

Invitations Ready!

This is going to be a really short post since I have a tonne of work to do and only just logged on now. I can finally post these wedding shower invitations that I created for a friend's party. I've been so busy just running around looking for a new job and apartment while trying to keep up with art projects and other commitments that I've been neglecting my online friends!

I had one of my good friends in town last week so that was really nice getting a chance to catch up with her. On a similar note, I've also reconnected with some really old friends from University. It's so strange to chat to them now...I haven't spoken or seen these girls since like '96 so it will be nice to actually see them in person too. We are meeting this Saturday at a BBQ so that should be loads of fun.

I'm thinking I want to do more of these cards. Not just for showers..but for all occasions. Birthdays, Thank you notes, Get well cards..maybe holiday cards...what do you guys think out there? They're pretty small, 4 x 6 and were relatively inexpensive to print.


Gotta run for now..
xoxo with love.

Happy Bloggerversary to me!!

Hey Everyone! I know it's been a while but I have been a bit busy and also a little under the weather. Aside from that..I've spent some time basking in the (albeit temporary) Toronto sunshine and then the rest of these past days holed up in my house just catching up on TV and flaking out on the sofa! I'm still wearing my Xmas PJ's to boot! I have turned into somewhat of a couch potato, I must admit. It's been the recurring theme in my art as well! Ah well, for today I will blame that on the rainy, stormy weather! I have managed to get some work done though.

Monday was the one-year anniversary for my blog and website. I didn't do much in the way of celebrations but I did eat a lot of cupcakes to compensate for not having a party!! Anyhow, I haven't been the best at keeping either site updated but promise to regularly to do so. Also I have set up a Facebook Fan Page so if you are on Facebook please join and show your support. I hope to have giveaways and frequent updates of events and shows that I will be attending.
I hope everyone had a fabulous EASTER long weekend!


xoxo with love.

Day Dreams..

Today has been one of those extremely lazy Mondays. Pajamas all day and wishing I could remain in bed for a few minutes longer. The weekend passed me by ever so quickly in quite a similar fashion. Where does all my time go, I have to constantly ask myself! I'm starting to really love playing around in Photoshop; the possibilities seem endless.


What am I day dreaming about? Lots of magical new stuff that you will see on here very soon. Tell me what you are all dreaming about....





xoxo with love.

Strange..

It's been a strange and kinda sad week for me. Have a lot going on personally and professionally and not sure who I'm more angry at: myself or the cosmos. Have you ever heard the saying..God either doesn't know we exist or despises us?? Not sure. Ultimately, I only have myself to blame for where I am at this point in time in my life...but it always feels better to point the fingers at someone else . Sigh. Anyhow, had to apply for a retail job the other day in order to supplement my rapidly declining finances. It's at a bridal boutique and so I created this image as my self-promo piece...HOPE IT WORKS! I think I will continue to gear my art toward specific projects from now on...


PS...this was supposed to be me in a wedding dress...either a very scary omen or a warning!! Definitely never going to happen again!!HaHa!

xoxo with love.

ODE To LOST

Has anyone been following the TV show LOST for the past few years? It's soooo addictive and I'm embarrassed to admit that when it comes to an end in a few months, I will really miss it. All the conspiracy theories and the utter confusion that formulates at the end of each weekly episode have become something that most fans look forward to! Anyhow, for those of you that do watch, here's my take on some of the lovely flora and fauna on the island..ha ha. Well anyway, back to work for now!


xoxo with Love.

Happy Happy March!!

Every week, I think to myself that this will be the week that I make the most productive and yet by the time Thursday rolls around, I haven't even begun to complete (or start) all that I intended to on Sunday! I really cannot believe that March is already here and I'm still in the process of looking for another apartment and another job in the city and have had no luck. Basically, I planned to be moved by May 1st...and hopefully this is still in the cards for me.

I've taken down another installation of mine yesterday at a cafe downtown. The show went well enough; made a lotta contacts as usual but will have to wait and see if any actual business stems from it. Now I have another to prepare for as well as a friend's bridal shower invitations and another friend's website illustration! At some point I would finally like to update/alter my own site.

How great were the Olympics by the way?? Hooray for Team Canada... I couldn't be prouder! But thank goodness it's all over...I cant afford to waste another day in front of the tube.

More to follow. I hope you are all enjoying the lovely spring like weather (at least here in Toronto) that we are having. Biking and lounging in the sun!

PS. I changed her up a bit so I thought I would share!

xoxo with Love.

Think days @ Starbucks

Lately I have been spending my free time thinking about the paradigm for my success..mainly as an artist but also pertaining to life in general. I'm not sure what it is about Starbucks; their coffee, ambient music and atmosphere..don't know for certain. Yet somehow they always send me into a deep pensive state that I rarely recover from. I mean I have had an unusual amount on my mind as of lately but still, this is pathetic even for me.

Right now my reality is as follows:

*working a part time job with no benefits
*making art but not garnering enough attention
*not making the cut at my local (small-town) gallery
*making some sales but not enough to move me into a penthouse loft with studio in Paris
*Dying with a studio full of art that gets thrown out when the new tenants come to clean out the space

Cue the violins now! OK, OK..you're all sick of hearing me whine but I mean with all the latest setbacks coupled with my less-than-lacklustre-love-life, I feel tragically lost.
Sigh...at least I will always have Photoshop. I have decided (at least temporarily) to revert back to my old familiar style of cartooning with a strong emphasis on fashion and put gallery shows on hold.

How's that for spotting a small rainbow through the clouds...my READERS please don't give up on me yet!

xoxo with Love.

Brief Snippit...

I'm trying to decide on a bicycle at the moment and after shopping around used bike stores and online markets for something special..I think I may have found something!
It's vintage and blue and all it needs is a bell and a basket.

I will hopefully pick it up later tonight, um before buyer's remorse sets in that is. Your thoughts on this one please?


xoxo with Love.

Day after Valentines...

I hope everyone had a great Valentines day! Mine was pretty interesting to say the least. I'm attempting to get out into the dating world again and have put my profile up on one of those online match-up sites. You really get quite a few "interesting" characters on these sites and I'm just not too sure how much longer I will let myself be one of them! It just seems as though you are meant to put your best foot forward so that initial matches can be made and then once you meet the person in the flesh (no pun intended!) ...they are not at all who/what their profile said they were. Sigh...back to the drawing board I guess.

Regardless, I had HUGE computer issues these past few weeks..I'm talking my entire system was wiped clean...no more pictures, no scans..all original files LOST!! It was traumatizing and I was devastated but lesson learned: Always back-up your work! Everyone seems to know and do this (except for me of course). I'm not sure how but somewhere along the line, I never seemed to have got that memo..You think I would have learned my lesson from how often this happens. So now its daily installations of all programs and software in an attempt to recreate my machine as it once was!



So this is something that I worked on for a gentleman's wife and kids for Valentine's Day..hope they liked it. It's not the best photo since my scanner is also kaputz but you get the idea.



xoxo with Love.

What the Heck I've been up to...

Ok ok..I know that I had promised frequent updates but I've been crazy busy with a few things. First off, I have booked several group and solo shows for the next few months that will feature larger pieces of my work. This has been driving me bananas and the pressure is on to create pieces that are in my style but on a really large scale!

I was also attempting to sell my house and car and then move out of the burbs and into the bustling city (finally)...but as it stands right now, I don't think that's a possibility anymore. Long boring story, best saved for another day. Rest assured, once I am finished prep for these shows, I will rent this place out and move regardless. I really need to start accepting all that I cannot change and just move on!


Here's the event flyer for the first show (since I cannot figure out how to add the FACEBOOK Fan page). It will be a group mixed media event! There will be more details to follow on the next few shows.


How is everyone out there? Send comments and your thoughts!

xoxo with love.

Happy 2010 to Everyone!

I hope that the start of this new year finds everyone happy, healthy and ready for all that this year promises to bring. I hope you all had a wonderful and Happy season with your loved ones.

I'm so sorry that I've been missing in action for the past month but I was working double time at 2 jobs while trying to squeeze some time in for family and friends as well! I did manage to get away to Detroit to see my fam for a few days but it was just not enough time together and I really miss them..

The truth is that I just haven't been able to get back into my painting. There are no deadlines looming and aside from a few mailers, I have nothing really going on. I feel unmotivated, uninspired and worst of all, unsure. I've had a few setbacks in the past few weeks and been thinking of nothing more than quitting. I feel like as hard as I try...as much progress as I think I have made, something happens to set me right back into my place in reality. I know that I am a lot further than I was a year ago, but it still doesn't feel like enough! I just haven't been able to bring myself to log on..What does everyone do to escape the cold winter blues???

I have missed everyone though (my blogging friends that is); missed reading all the blogs and getting all your comments and feedback.

For now, I will post some GOOFY pics of my sis and bro from over the break. As soon as I get back into painting, I will post some follow up pics!






xoxo With Love

My Magazine is finally here!!

The copies of my magazine spread finally arrived in the post today! I could not have been more excited to receive my copies of HER Magazine (New Zealand) with my 6-page spread featured in it! There is actually a tiny black and white head shot photo of me as well....I haven't been able to stop smiling since I picked it up...I'm soooo incredibly happy!



In other news, Toronto is trapped under a huge cold and snowy blanket that appears to have not let up in the past 24 hours. Sigh, now that the first official snow has fallen, I suppose it will begin to look a lot like Christmas. Although, I must say that long these harsh winters are what I most dislike about Toronto. They send me to a really dark place and I often wish that I could spend the next 6 months just hibernating in my house, not resurfacing until the blossoms of spring awaken me. I think too that because I have been so sick and then working 2 jobs while trying to keep up with my painting, everything has just fallen to the wayside. And by everything I mean, mostly my health and of course the creating of the art. I feel so bleh and uninspired at the mo and just cant seem to shake this funk. Calling all suggestions please!!



Will also be having a ETSY sale and try to get rid of some pieces lying around my studio.

Gotta run for now but will start posting paintings again really soon....





xoxo with Love.

New on ETSY

These past few days have been pretty horrible for me. I have been so incredibly under the weather and finally had to give in and take some much needed time off to recoup and just relax. I think the worst of the flu may finally have passed but it has left me feeling slightly weaker than normal.

Anyway, I have to really get back into painting and adding new stuff to my site and getting ready for the holidays etc. I have added a few more $25 Limited Edition Prints to my ETSY store and also dropped some prices on some of the originals, just in time for some great XMAS presents! I will be adding new prints to the site as soon as I receive them so keep checking back..

I entered a competition a while back for an Ontario winery. They were looking for local artists to feature on the labels of their wines and I made it to the short list of finalists! I really hope that I am one of the 12 winners selected for the bottles but it has been really great getting the nod up to this point. Can you imagine one of my "ladies" gracing a label on a bottle of vino?? How fun would that be! Check out mine and the other finalists at the FACEBOOK Fan Page for HILLEBRAND Winery Artist Series. Some of the comments are a bit harsh but I suppose that's to be expected in this sort of competition!


Until a bit later then...
xoxo with love.

Twilight New Moon

Today is the darkest rainiest day ever and it seems fitting since I'm heading to a double feature screening of the Twilight movies tonight! New Moon opens at Midnight so that should be fun! I haven't really been a die hard fan or anything and haven't even seen the first movie. Tonight I will hopefully see what all this fuss has been about.

In honour of vampires and the dark arts, I have started this small shoe painting (very rough still). I should hopefully have it finished by tonight if all goes as planned...but uh when does that ever happen! Lots of coffee in prep for this evening, although since I am quite the insomniac, staying up till all hours shouldn't really be an issue. Speaking of vampires......


xoxo with Love.

Another week has begun...

I was recently given an award from the wonderful, always inspirational and super creative Kolleen from her blog over at HeartWingSisters and also from the kind and talented Janine at her blog Join Janine. Thank you so much to Kolleen and Janine ! It never ceases to amaze me the amount of support and encouragement that Bloggers have brought me in the past few months. Please check out both artists' work and inspiring words/thoughts daily..

To accept this award I have to do the following:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreative Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.

So here goes with 7 things about me:

1. I absolutely hate to fly but adore travelling and jump at the chance to explore new countries and meet new people. My goal is to eventually travel to every country in the world...
2. I've always secretly dreamed of being a singer/dancer and have spent many a night in front of the TV trying to emulate my favourite performers!
3. I love to shop. I think it may be a problem for me at this point. I have to buy something new every day (even if it's small like a magazine or a paintbrush)!
4. I looove food um especially sushi and pretty much anything my mom cooks when I visit. I also can't make it a day without coffee and would walk around with it attached to me intravenously if I could in an IV drip bag!
5. I want to be great (not good) at everything I do and often struggle with feeling defeated when I can't make that happen.
6. The unknown future, (my unknown future plans) and the feeling that you aren't in control of your own life at times...this really terrifies me.
7. Even though I have been burned many times and have not yet been successful at it, I will always believe in true love.

And now I must pass on this lovely award to these creative and fun-to-read-daily blogs. I found it really difficult to pick just these 7 but here goes....

1. Kaili: Kaili Art and Illustration
2. Melissa: Wild Dalliance
3. LuLu: mypinkturtle
4. Heather: Life Abroad
5. Tascha: Time with Tascha
6. Kocomo: Brilliant Farmgirl's Beauty Secrets
7. Cheryl Lyn: Dream Out Loud! Design Studio

Also, here are some pics from my art show this weekend. I did not sell my submission that night but I hope it moves sometime this month when I list it in my Etsy store!









xoxo with Love

Yikes!

I'm not 100 percent sure how this came about, but I am one of the artists featured on Diane Kennedy's fab blog Blossom Style. It's basically a Graphic and Website Design Boutique dedicated to creating beautiful graphic design that is stylish, chic and girly for print and the web. It is right up my alley and I really cannot wait to work with Diane and her clients in the future!(scroll down on her blog for my bio and images..)

I entered an online art competition ages ago and the results are in finally. And while I am not a finalist, I suppose I should be happy with an honourable mention commendation. Over 12,000 images were entered for international judging and only 40 artists were selected for the final stage of this competition. There were only 50 commendations in the end so I think it was still an honor to be considered. The magazine will be out in publication in December! Check out the site and details about the competition at Aesthetica Magazine.


Until Later,
xoxo with Love