Whiles I am away...a new illustration

Hi ya all. I can't help it, ha ha...I will most likely blog as much as I can over the next few days off because really the blogging never quite seems like work, mostly it's just fun and really sets the tone of my days.

Here is a new illustration that I haven't shown to the 'masses' yet. It's not the best photo but it will be scanned in properly etc, for the 'What's New' section of my website soon.

My uncle sent me this 'poem' the other day and I just really liked it so I thought I'd share it with you.

"As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will.
You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time.
You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken.
You'll fight with your best friend.
You'll blame a new love for things an old one did.
You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love.
So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.
Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin. "

Thanks and I'll post again soon.

A Favourite Photo

Good Evening All. I just wanted to share with you one of my most favourite and recent photos. Those who know me aren't surprised when they see rabbits and books everywhere in our home. I love this shot because it not only gives you a glimpse of what I have in queue for reading, but it shows one of my most cherished things, a solid bronze rabbit sculpture and even better, if you look past the plant, our Ella-Luna sits quietly and peacefully in the background. I just love getting that perfect tidbit of a shot that gives the impression and feel of an entire space.

Anyhow, do any of you find that every once in awhile, no matter how positive or calm you try to be, you just experience a day that throws you for a loop. Yesterday was one of those days for me. It involved; a sliver, a sting, Roo hurting his paw, the clothes line breaking and dropping all the clean clothes into sand!, and well, I'll try to be polite here....neighbours installing a massive whirlpool in their yard, making my yard seem like it's next to an airport and causing a very annoying and loud 'hum' throughout our whole house. I mean seriously, what is wrong with people? I find it very easy to be considerate to everyone, it's only common sense in most cases. The old adage, 'do unto others as you would have done onto you' (or however it goes) is a very simple and lovely rule to live by I think. But I must digress, I am sadly learning that it's not something that works well if others aren't willing to go along with it too. Anyhow I do want to be honest about my days and experiences but I don't want to go on and on endlessly about them either so, today I wanted to write to everyone and let you know that I'll be taking a few days off from the blogging & my studio...but not from my work altogether don't worry. It is a much needed and well deserved mini-break I think. I'll come back fresh, renewed and with lots of new images to share with you. In the meantime, I hope that you'll check back in with me in about 5 days time. Although who knows, I may just not be able to stay away that long, ha ha. I wish you all well, with happy and creative days...be kind to your neighbours and yourselves. I'll be back soon.

(P.S. I feel that I much come back to this old post and add a postscript. Instead of sitting in my house getting madder and madder about the whole whirlpool noise, I went over right away and honestly told the neighbours what I was thinking and feeling. A few days later, they put rubber bricks underneath and presto the noise is now at a very comfortable and very tolerable level. I am so happy as I love these neighbours and regretted and worried about any problems between us. I feel thankful and lucky that it's bee resolved so nicely.)

Terrific Treat & Work Wrapped Up

Hi everyone. I open up my mailbox and much to my surprise and delight is a gift left behind by my lovely new friend Maria. She knows how much I love bunnies and she knows how much I love treats in the mailbox and I just think it was utterly sweet and wonderful, Thanks Maria, I love them. I of course had to take a few photos to show you all.

Late last week, I finally wrapped up a very big project. I've had a few people asking me what I've been up to and what's taking up most of my time. Well let me show you, it was all of this...

I illustrated a 23 page book for the MNR's Foresty department. It was an exciting project and all the illustrations revolved around conservation during tree cutting. All the images had to be in grey scale and so I did them all in graphite. I'll be posting them on my new website so you can have a clear look then, as I don't think the book will be published for a few months yet. I had to collaborate with 3 authors for this project and that was interesting and challenging. I put all of the sketches and final drawings on a weight scale yesterday and they measured almost 5 pounds! We had to go through so many sketches, roughs and changes. On retrospect I loved it all, the challenging parts, the 6 or 7 changes per images, the subject matter, everything and it really just reinforced the fact that I do really want to pursue more book work. So this is what has been keeping me so busy and close to my studio since January!

I hope you are all well and already in the process of haveing a creative day. For me, a tea and book awaits me out on the back deck and than I'll spend the rest of my day transferring some images onto my new favourite Waterford Saunders paper. Happy days all.

Pink Jinny

Good Monday Morning Everyone. Our weekend seemed to whip by abit too quickly, but it was good. The weather was wonderful and we spent most of our time outside with the 4 bunnies. The 'cabana' and 'gazebo' are pretty much all set up now and just awaiting some plants. We even had our Sunday dinner out there which I just loved. Whiles we ate Roo was sleeping almost upside down under my chair and Ella was eating any little piece of green grass she could find.

Finally I finished the pink bunny painting. I had fun with it. My work is usually very detailed and quite abit larger but I've been wanting to do some simpler, quicker things and this was a successful attempt I think. I called it "Pink Jinny". It is painted on kiln-dried pine with acrylic and has a uv protective coat. It's only about 5"x7"x1.5". It will be available to buy through my Etsy shop in the next couple of weeks.


With the sweetness and loveliness of the weekend however came some bitterness and stress. Friday I had a scare with Jinny. I was sitting at my little garden table finishing up my pink bunny...which I had just entitled 'Jinny'. When I turned around to see Jin laying in the corner of the room with massive tremors shaking her whole body. It was a double edged sword for me, first I couldn't remember seeing these symptoms before so my mind went to the worst case scenario and 2nd, laying there sick and being Noo's sister and looking alot alike, I just had a very vivid moment that I was there again with my sweet and dying Noo. Luckily, my husband rushed home when he got my urgent message. The rabbits are as much a priority for him as for me. I do think that Jinny favors Jon over me, just alittle bit. Anyhow, it just meant the world to me that he rushed home to help me and Jin. He reminded me that we've seen this before, that it is probably cramps and gas so we hurried Hazel and Jinny outside right away and made Jinny run around. The more she ran the better she looked, the shaking stopped and after about an hour she was playing with Hazel and jumping in the air ever so slightly.


Here is a shot of Jinny sitting on the window bench in my painting room. I took it yesterday in the evening and she just looked so peaceful and I was so grateful she wasn't sick after the Friday scare.

Well, with an eventful weekend like that I am looking forward to a hopefully quieter, event free week. I have alot of sketching to get done as I am off on a 'mini vacation' soon and I must bring some work to do whiles I am away.

Be Well Everyone and Happy Creating.

Where I am Going to be Today

Good Friday Everyone. I don't have any artwork to show you today, but I thought I'd give you a visual of where I will be working today, I am still working on the pink bunny I mentioned the other day. I thought I'd get it done yesterday but I got sidetracked by the gourgues weather and the furry babies wanting to be outside all afternoon...I gladly complied. I admit to being completely wrapped around their little furry paws. I love my little white garden table in the sunny front room, it feels cozy to sit there in the sunlight, working away whiles the world outside goes by and Hazel and Jin do their own thing. I am still doing the mini lino-cuts, I just haven't gotten around to actually printing any of them yet, but I cut all of them here at this little garden table. I have alot of work I want to get done this weekend. I am in the sketching mode so expect a few new illustrations to come soon. I am also trying figure out how I could do some 'daily' works, what size should I work in, in what medium etc. I am not very talkative today, so I shall get back upstairs for abit of yoga, my spice tea and than I'll get down to work. Especially since I have to wrap things up early to go out and buy a present, my sweet little niece is turning 6...time goes so quickly. I often feel like I am in a race against time to get all of my ideals out for everyone to see, with that said...Until Monday bye for now.

New Illustration & Glorious Thursday

Hi Everyone. I wanted to share a new illustration with you all, I haven't shown anyone this one yet. I originally started this piece to enter into a watercolour competition but I soon realized my watercolour skills are somewhat below par for such a thing, so I went off and just had fun with it. I added acrylics, red rhinestones, scraps of paper with stencilling on them and the fish scales all have pieces of a carefully cut Mexican map. The writing in the 4 corners reads as this "Whichever Direction You Choose To Go In Go With Good Company". Which is a firm moral of mine.

The original for this illustration may be available through my Etsy store at a later point. Or as always people can just call or email me directly if they are interested. I won't dicuss or post about pricing etc on this blog as it's suppose to be an inspirational and whimiscal and fun blog and let's face it, pricing or negotiating is rarely much fun at all!

I didn't post yesterday since I happily spent the day over at my mom's. It was a lovely day despite a bad migraine. I went back and forth from the heating pad with the cat Maggie sitting on my hip meowing because I was apparently in 'her' spot, ha ha, to my illustration. We did sneak out during a lull in my throbbing head to go to the library and stock up on audio books. I just adore being able to spend days like this with my mom. I always get lots of work done, but get to chat it up with my momma and we usually eat pretty good all day long too.

Today, whiles I wait for a couple of emails and the rabbits are lounging around on the sunny back deck, I have free time so I am going to finish off a simple but cute little pink bunny painting that I started yesterday night.

Be Well Everyone and please pass my blog along to anyone you think would be interested.

New Items In My Etsy Shop

Hi again. Just another quick note for today. I've added a few new items to my Etsy shop. There are several original hand-burnished lino-cuts you can buy and also a couple new original watercolours. Click on my Etsy widget on the sidebar or go to http://www.bijouswhimsy.etsy.com/.

Here is just one example of the kind of lino-cuts I put on sale today. The editions are quite small, making them collectors items and all are easy to frame, so don't wait too long. Thanks!

"Time Carries On WIthout You" New Illustration

Good Tuesday Everyone. I would like to share a new illustration with you today. I finished it a couple days ago...this is just a digital photo, it'll be scanned in and viewed more nicely through my website at a later point. It is called "Time Carries On Without You" and as before, I'll leave my story out of it and let you bring your own to it.

Here is a detail...
If it moves you enough to leave a comment or send an email that would be wonderful. If not I hope it atleast inspires.

I am happy that http://www.5starblogs.com/ has approved my blog for inclusion at their site.

Well, my tea and oatmeal await and I have some bunnies to snuggle before I get to work in my studio for the day. Thanks Everyone and have a great day.

Monday Musings

Good Morning Everyone. We are having a lovely morning here at our house, Ella and Roo lay in the sunshine in this spot every single morning, it's pretty cute and sets our day off to a nice start. Although this morning they were naughty and I had to clean up some pee! Even after being a rabbit slave/parent for over 10 years now, I have to remind myself that 'bunnies will be bunnies'.

I hope you had a great weekend and are ready to face this new week with coziness and excitement. This weekend I had a recap lesson on how to NOT covet what others have, but I won't get into the details, ha ha. I do truly believe that there is something to learn, big or small from every single person we meet throughout our day. Luckily, lately my life is full of wonderfully warm and fulfilled people with successful careers and successful personal lives, it's lovely and empowering to be around, that's for sure.

So hmmm...let's see, our weekend was rather quiet, we spent Saturday at my folks, eating, eating and eating, my dad had to try out his new grill, ha ha...it was a lovely visit, I love my parents. They are the kind of parents who are there for you no matter what, they see a need and they fill it and that means alot to both myself and my sweetheart. They are also, our one and only trusted bunny-sitters, ha ha.

I was served breakfast in bed on Sunday, where we proceeded to watch "War of the Worlds", I don't know why, it seemed like an odd pick for a sunny Sunday morning but that's what we felt like watching whiles we ate and vegged out, it is one of our favourite movies. I didn't realize that that story is written by H.G. Wells, which I found funny because I am currently listening to the audio book of H.G. Wells 'The Invisible Man" and it's not my cup of tea at all!

Speaking of tea, let me share with you a new find and one that I love, "Yogi Teas". As you can see I have a growing collection.

Well dear readers (though I don't think there are very many of you at this moment!), I have to get my little fingers to work. I started on a new pastel this weekend and I am frustrated because it's been a long time since I played with pastel and I forgot how messy it is till I get to the coloured pencil stage. My trick also with pastel is to work with a tiny little keyboard vacuum. Because I have allergies and pastel dust can often aggravate me (but I am not willing to give it up entirely) and I really dislike blowing the dust into the air. However this weekend I couldn't find my vacuum, so every time I'd get enough dust to blow away, I'd run upstairs and out to the front porch to blow it off out there! Maybe I'll go searching for a new little vacuum today, as I turned my studio upside down trying to find my old one!

Have a good day everyone. I'll share a new image with you tommorow. Happy Creating in whatever form you choose to do it in.

A New Illustration

Hi Everyone. Usually I don't get quite as excited for Fridays as most people do because I like working, I love what I do. But typically when my sweetie doesn't work, I don't work because we are too busy hanging out together. I do find myself on Sundays, looking forward to Mondays, instead of dreading them like most people, because if I spent the whole weekend away from my work and studio, I am just really glad to get back to it. I am sure us "Monday Lovers" are not well received by the general population, ha ha but I am not going to worry about that.

Today's post will be short and I am really looking forward to this weekend, as I am not feeling very well again. I have a case of constant nausea, chills and a steady stream of headaches. But I really wanted to show you a new illustration that I haven't shown anyone yet. It's not even scanned in yet as you can see.

I thought, 'hmmm, if I were asked to design a wedding invitation what would I come up with'. This is my 'answer' to a wedding invitation.

Now, I shall either let myself go take a neo-citran and curl up with my heating pad under my beloved duvet, and I am sure the bunnies will snuggle down close by since it's snowing one minute and pouring rain the next and they just don't know what to make of it, ha ha. Or, I am going to sit at my drawing table and work on a new illustration, under my lovely full spectrum lights...hmmm maybe I'll do both.

Be Well Everyone and have a good weekend, stay cozy and kind.

A New Painting "Seal Sun"

Good Thursday everyone. I hope your all well. Let me show you a new painting that I finished yesterday. It is called "Seal Sun". It is 10.5"x9"x1.5". The sides of the wood are painted as well.

All of my images/paintings have a story or ideal behind them, and I love to share that when people specifically ask for it, but otherwise I really like people to bring their own stories to my imagery, I think it's more fun that way.

This painting is ready for hanging and is done with acrylic and coloured pencil on kiln-dried, gessoed wood, I also gave it 3 coats of a clear, water-bourne/resistant, uv protective coating.

To buy the original please visit my Etsy shop at www.bijouswhimsy.etsy.com , where I accept debit, mastercard and visa via paypal.

Thanks and I'll 'see' you at my friday posting. Be Well and Be Kind.

Fran Hanover, my friend and fellow artist

Hi Everyone, I apologize for not posting yesterday, I have no excuse, except a bad headache that just made me dizzy and slightly disorientated all day. Though I did get abit of painting done, I just had no energy left for anything else yesterday. I missed my blog though...somehow there was a little something left incomplete about my day.

I wish that I could work more quickly to have more 'daily' works to show you all but my methods are just slower than some. The ideal of people doing daily paintings for their blogs is very intriguing to me and I admire it but I don't think it's something I'll ever be able to do. But I hate to say never.

Today, I want to share with you the work of one of my pals, a North Bay resident and a talented, spirited woman to boot; Fran Hanover.

These are a couple of Fran's handmade cards that I have in frames in our dining room...they are so much fun and full of movement.

Her work is described as "a non-traditional stylized form of African, and Middle-Eastern subjects - primarily women – hence the term Afrocentric which is often used to describe her work. Fran’s continuous advocacy for the rights and empowerment of women shapes the subject to reflect the stories of women, their joy, sadness, and in many cases, restrictions".

I just adore Fran's work, to see more of her paintings check out http://afrocentricnorth.com/.

Now, I've had a couple of people ask me recently...'aren't you afraid of competition, I thought artists try to keep other artists work out of the spotlight.' I think I used to be alittle bit like that but nowadays I find myself able to celebrate every artist and my own uniqueness in the world. There are so many artists nowadays, of all kinds and it's impossible to compete with all of them. So I've come to believe that we should support one another and help each other out. My work is different from Fran's and from that other artist's etc...so I trust that if a client is meant to buy one of my pieces or commission me for some illustration, that my work is exactly what they need at that time and they'll hire me, perhaps next time it would be Judit or Fran.

All we can do is to keep working away on our own thing, and to be true to our own authentic self (which is why I love Fran's work so much, it is just so authentic, it's totally Fran). I think it's when your true to your own work and voice, that your peronality and intent comes through and reflects through the work to the viewer and I think this is when people really start to connect with what your doing and just have to have one of your pieces.

As artists, I think the trick is to just believe that there is enough work out there to go around and that if we work hard enough and find our own vision, that we'll also find our own niche...

So with my two cents through out into the world wide web today, I shall go on and find my own little niche today...without a headache, thanks goodness. Be Well everyone and Happy Creating.

Good Morning this Monday

Hi Everyone, I hope you all had an excellent weekend? Ours was lovely, quiet but lovely (despite my still present flu symptoms), we spent some time outside with the bunnies, basking in the glorious sun and we went for a couple of country drives. On one of the drives, we saw a grouping of 8 or 9 deers, feeding in a distant field, that sight really made my heart jump and fly. I also loved to see people outside in their yards, toiling away, raking and cleaning up the winter debris, there was just something in that action that spoke of hope and excitement for whatever lays ahead . Spring is such a time of renewal....renewal of hopes and dreams. Perhaps by next week I'll even be working away outside.

I always get a kick out of the differences in the bunnies when we bring them outside. Ella-Luna is very very cautious and won't go anywhere where her little feet may get muddy. Roo isn't quite so cautious, he'll have fun and run around like a fool but after about 30 minutes tires and goes back into the house to lay on his clean indoor carpet, ha ha. Hazel and Jin on the other hand just go all out and get every part muddy with complete abandon, I just love that about them.

Well I must get my idle hands to work. I think today is a painting day and I am glad for that. I came up with 2 sketches over the weekend that I find so delightful and I am anxious to bring them to life, weather it be with paint or pastel or coloured pencil, I've yet to decide.

Above is just a photo I took this weekend...my artful way of showing you my current read.

And this is just another photo I took this weekend of one of my framed watercolours. I am going to try to get a couple of floral watercolours done this week, if not than a larger floral pastel.

I hope your week is off to a good start. Be Well and Be Creative.

Friday's Freedom and Coffee Friday

Good Morning Everyone. Wow, I don't know what I did to sleep so well last night but I slept like a baby and woke up bright and early feeling refreshed and excited for my day...I just love days like this don't you?

Let me just quickly show you the sight that usually awaits me when I go up the stairs from my studio...

What could be better, ha ha.

I feel abit free today and I know exactly why! I was putting off some work that I really needed to get done, but I wasn't sure how to go about illustrating what needed to be illustrated etc, so I just kept putting it off and putting it off. Last night I worked till about 11:30 and I got both sketches done and now I feel great. Whether they are going to be approved or not is another matter but I didn't realize how badly I was procrastinating and now that I did the hard part...filling up that blank page and getting them emailed off to the authour, I feel free today to work on other things I've been craving to get to, Yay.

I think this whole nasty procrastination thing is really something that I struggle with. Do most creatives suffer from it, I don't know honestly. My best friend is such a disciplined worker, she never puts off tomorrow what she can do today, and I admire that. My creative disciplines are defiantly better than most I believe, but I am aware that I still have some work to do and I welcome the struggle actually. If any of you have any suggestions or stories about how you over come your procrastination please feel free to share. I think for me, I get so overwhelmed with trying to figure everything out ahead of time, and you just can't function that way because well of course you never know how things are going to turn out. So I think I need to just keep listening to my heart and my instinct as to the next step to take, and than do just that...just take that next little step. Viewing things in tiny little steps/stages just makes anything scary melt away...projects and plans don't seem so insurmountable. Sure, things may move forward abit more slowly, but at least I am doing what is most important; constantly trying; getting back up when I fall and always moving forward.

I do notice a difference in the last few months in my attitude towards work, a change for the better. Because I suffer from Chronic and Acute Migraines and on average have a throbbing head 4 out of 7 days a week. I find myself working really hard on days when I feel great because I know when that migraine kicks in, sometimes 2 week long ones at a time, that I work alot more slowly and sometimes I can't work at all. So yes, what I am trying to say is 'seize your creative day, don't take it for granted, and just suck it up and get to work'.

Now let me show you this week's stamps;

I am really happy with this morning's stamp of the bird. I almost stopped doing them because the 'slave to the industry' side of me poked about it's not so pleasant face and said 'this is a waste of time...' but I kept going, because I am doing these linos strictly as a creative flow exercise, I promised myself that I wouldn't worry at all about their intended application. So next week, I'll do 3 more and than 3 more the week after that...

This morning when I was making my breakfast and mixing orange juice in my favourite new glass pitcher, I realized that I should share this website with all of you. It is called Ten Thousand Villages, an online market providing third world artisans a fair income by marketing and selling their handicrafts. My friend Becca bought me a couple wonderful presents from there and I was thrilled not only at the gifts but at the whole ideal behind it. Check it out at http://www.tenthousandvillages.ca/.

I was quite excited last night, as a woman from France actually came across my blog and wrote me a quick note saying she really enjoys my blog and work. I want to send out a thank you to her and also remind myself and everyone else that leaving comments behind or sending quick emails to people you admire and whose work you love is really important and uplifting to the artists/designers/illustrators. It is my firm belief that you can never get or give enough encouragement.

Last but not least, "Earth Hour"...did you all participate? I hope so. I loved it. I heard of it briefly on the radio and automatically thought "What a great ideal...and so easy to do". I kept running to the windows to see if everyone else in our neighbourhood turned off their lights too...honestly half expecting most to not care enough. Much to my surprise and happiness I would say 97% of the lights were off in the neighbourhood. It just filled me with a lovely feeling, that people do care about the earth and they are willing to make these small efforts, it really did mean alot to my spirit. So to go abit farther my Jonathan and I have decided to do an "Earth Hour" every week. Friday nights from 8-9 or maybe even till 10pm, we are going to turn off all of our lights.

Well, with my day of freedom I am going to sketch out some long-awaited things I've been wanting to play with. Than later this afternoon is my usual Friday coffee and cake date with Maria, I always greatly look forward to this time, especially after a week of being in my studio alone.

Have an excellent weekend all, be safe and be well.

Custom Boxsets Available

Good Afternoon All. I think I only got 2 hours of sleep last night so I let myself sleep in this morning knowing if I didn't, I'd be completely useless and aimless all day. I get what I call 'The Nighttime Natters"...when my brain, my heart, my creative spirit is just talking to me all at once, about 10 different projects at once and I get so excited that I just can't sleep. However instead of getting up and getting to work, my stubborn side pokes its head about and says 'no stay in bed, you'll fall asleep soon and you'll be better rested to start fresh on all those things tomorrow..." Never happens that way though because soon after the nattering begins, I start to worry at the same time....did I send that email, why isn't that supplier getting back to me, should I get a new printer, when will my check come, sure that's a nice ideal but will it make money, when will I find the time to do that, etc etc...aha see everyone, creative people don't have it super easy, we have our stresses too.

Today I must get some cards prepped and sent away to a charity auction fast approaching. I must get some painting done. Linears finished off and emailed. And a painting ready for delivery to it's new home.

I thought I should mention at this point that I do offer custom box sets. Each of my box sets comes with 4 designs (12 cards and 12 colour envelopes)...you can choose which four designs you want in the box. There is no extra charge for the custom boxes, just allow me a few more days to make them. If you want the box to be sent to a friend or family member, I can do so also. For imagery to select from just go to my website. Soon, on the new website there will be a lovely section just for the art cards, I can't wait.

I thought I would add this older photo...I like to do little local art markets once in awhile, espeacially at Christmas time. I always enjoy meeting new people and also hanging out with all of the other vendors/artists. I always end up trading with half of the people, which is great fun.


My awesome lentil soup has been consumed, my blog updated, my recent audio book of Henry James "Portrait of a Lady" finished off, the bunnies snuggled...now, with a slight headache, I can get back to work.

I hope you are all well and until tomorrow...when I'll be posting this week's mini-stamps....Be Well and Creative.

Buddha Watercolour

Good Morning Everyone. Well I think my flu is finally dissipating leaving me with just a slight migraine to deal with. Our April Fools Day brought us a flooded garage, a burnt out car headlight which you apparently can't buy anymore and Jonathan's computer deciding on top of everything else that it was a good day to die for no apparent reason! My mom always did tell me that bad luck always comes in 3's and I admit to being every so slightly superstitious and sometimes I do find myself watching for that pattern of 3 but I snap myself out of it quickly because I refuse to look into the future, espeacially my own future with any kind of negativity.

I must note here that I really want my blog to be an extension of myself, I want it to be authentic. When I am having a great day I want to post about it and when I am having not such a great day I want to share that too. Because let's face it life is difficult and not always easy and I wouldn't feel true if I put on a happy face or tone all of the time. I hope all my readers don't mind this.

For today let me share with you a watercolour of a Buddha that I've been playing with here and there on Monday and yesterday. The watercolours and mini-lino cuts that I am sharing with you aren't necessarily images that I will use in my illustration portfolios, they are really just projects for me to keep my creative spirit fully active. Sometimes it is so easy to become a slave of your industry and to just do work that you think will sell or be good for your portfolio and that is fine on some level, that is just a part of the business but I think you get more results and satisfaction when your working more from you heart and tapping into your creative well without over analyzing too much. And, since I work mostly with coloured pencil little side projects in other medium is really fun for me. A week working in some other medium and my fingers are craving to get back to my beloved coloured pencils.

I did this watercolour from a photograph I took long ago. When the ROM used to have it's free Tuesday admissions I'd go there often on my own and sketch and photograph things. I loved the oldness, the quietness and I was particularly drawn to anything Egyptian or Buddhist.

I have a somewhat busy day ahead of me so I shall say bye for now...till tomorrow. Have fun creating and thanks for reading.

Tuesday Troubles

Hi Everyone. Well I must admit to not getting off to a great start today. The nasty flu that started on Friday is still present and I am not feeling that great today. On top of a migraine, I find myself constantly drifting back to my cozy duvet and heating pad, listening to the pouring rain, with the bunnies dozing nearby and worrying about the basement flooding!

It is an on-going lesson and one which I have yet to master, to not let outside stresses deter me from my creative days and work...but once in awhile and naturally so I think, things just build up on top of you and you can't concentrate as well as you should be.

Our garage is flooded with about 3 inches of ice and I know we'll be spending most of the evening out there trying to chip it away before it starts to melt. The solitary raccoon that's taken refuge in the garage attic has his very own personal skating rink, ha ha.

I am slowly learning that as creatives, we must allow ourselves these 'bogged down' days, as long as we don't dwell in the bog too long and get back to work the next day. On days like this I find that reminding myself of some recent successes helps...so today let me show you a tiny little coloured pencil I did that was winner in the Waterford Saunders Postcard Competition just a couple months ago. I had no ideal that I had placed, till a delivery man knocked on our door with a large package and much to my delight and happiness the package was filled with complimetary watercolour pads and a congratulations note. I've recently stuck the little 4x6" original in a white frame and it's been living in our dining room, however I think I may just put the original up for sale in my Etsy shop soon.

Thanks Everyone and Take Care of Your Creative Spirits.