Transferring Time

Transferring some sketches...

 

 

Making the lines darker on one so I can see him on my light table.  I love this part of it all.

I've Joined an Art Jury and Another New Sketch

I wasn't sure if I'd have time to post today as I was suppose to spend the day running errands and jurying some work, but my plans have been cancelled which is fine with me, I happy to stay home and get into the studio for some work...did I mention that I was asked to be on an art gallery jurying board? I've been doing so for about a month now, and it's so much fun...I love going in, meeting the other jury members and discussing the current applicants artwork, I've never done anything like this before and it's nice to be encouraged to voice our true opinions, I am really glad they asked me to join their team. Otherwise today, I just wanted to keep today's post shot and sweet so here, I have something new to show you...

I wanted to share another sketch with you all today. This is again from one of my photos, taken a few years ago, when Jonathan and I had the extraordinary pleasure to nurse, ween and care for a baby robin who lost it's mother and was near death. We futility tried not to get attached to him so we never named it, just calling him "Bird"...he graced our house for almost two months...when he was healthy, could fly on his own and could catch his own food, we set him free...believe it or not he came back to our very yard for years afterwards...we could always tell it was him because we were sure we could recognize his little voice and when we called "Bird, is that you?..." he would chirp back excitedly and fly closer and closer to us...it was a beautiful and wonderful experience and it was a pleasure to stare at his photograph once again in order to create this pencil sketch. That's it for today...have a wonderful weekend.

New Sketch of Ella-Luna

I am so pleased to be able to pop in quickly for a post and to tell everyone that our Roo is much much better. It turned out, (through our own diagnosis) that his upper teeth were misaligned badly and we were able to rectify the problem ourselves by grinding the teeth down until they were the proper length and equally flat (I don't however suggest this to other rabbit owners, we had the proper tools and were confident in what we were doing, especially since the vet would only clip the teeth, not grind them and clipping can cause teeth fractures which in turn can lead to an assortment of other troubles). About an hour after doing so, he started eating with his usual gusto.

It never seizes to amaze me, that even after 15 years of owning rabbits, we still face new and challenging illnesses and situations. But even during hairy times like this past one, my heart is so so very full with love for not only our rabbits but all rabbits and how much beauty and significance they bring into our lives.

Thanks to Jonathan, no one but you could care for me or our furry babes like you do, Thanks to our Roo who was his usual strong self and didn't give up, and Thanks to everyone who sent little notes telling us you were thinking of us during our stressful and scary time. All is well now.

If anything a new and lovely routine has happened out of this situation, which is Roo becoming my 'studio bunny'. The basement of our house, which is where most of my studio is, is usually a rabbit-free zone...but whiles Roo wasn't feeling well, aside from bringing him for quick jaunts outside, we'd bring him downstairs because it being a new space made him move around abit more whiles he was sick...and keeping a rabbit moving when they aren't eating is crucial, it helps to keep their system going. Anyhow, he has been nothing but a gentlebun..not chewing a thing, or peeing or pooing anywhere and he's already picked out his favourite spot to lay all stretched out on the studio carpet, he takes off down the hallway and into the den every so often but never fails to come back to his spot...so for a couple hours a day now, Roo is down in the studio with me and I must say that I adore having his company.

Whiles Roo was sick, I spent alot of time on the floor with him and his partner Ella-Luna (as I will continue to do for the rest of this week just as a precaution to make sure he's eating his normal amounts). My sketchbook has been my trusty companion and I've been sketching alot...new dolls, new clay character, new card designs, new illustrations, alot of series work...but it was nice to switch gears and to just draw for drawing sake so here is a quick sketch I did from a photograph of ours of our Ella-Luna a couple years ago digging under our back deck. Enjoy...I am off to my beloved bunny filled evening...Until tomorrow's post..Happy Creating and Being.

Busy-ness & Belly Splotches

Hi Everyone, I can't believe I didn't post last Thursday! I don't know what happened to keep me from posting that day...but I must have been busy somehow! sorry about that. I am up to my ears trying to get my piece/s ready for the carousel exhibition and at this point I think I've succumbed to the fact that I will most likely only get one done...but I am hoping it's a magnificent one...let me show you the sketch for it...just as a sneak peek...

I was recently busy creating some new things for my studio...just this and that which is easier to get done outside in the garage when it's not -40 out. This is one of them, which I love. I have loved this old antique ladder for some time, so my honey sanded it down for me and reinforced it, I painted it white and voila, it makes a most perfect spot to hang my stars and greet any studio visitors through the studio door (which is hopefully the next house project, I have my eye on one perfect door and ohhh boy I hope I can manage to get it).

Here is another side project which I'll be playing with once the exhibition pieces are done.

Whiles our friends Judit and Ed were here we stopped by some yard sales in the next court over from ours and I was happy to purchase this mirror for only a buck...well actually Ed was the one who bought it for me, since my pockets were empty and my purse at home...thanks again Ed, I think I know already where it'll live once it's painted up. As much as I love colour in my images, I love white accents around our home, so I think the mirror will be coated in a nice glossy white paint..sometimes simplicity is the key.

So I am quite sick...I think I have a stomach flu or some kind of viral infestation (oh that sounds gross or bad doesn't it, ha ha!!!) I've been feeling awful for 3 days now and I have my usual tummy rash. It's weird, the last 5 or 6 years, this rash has started to show up and only when I am really sick with flu or cold. It's so cute though (and yes I can even find joy in a rash!) when I am laying in bed moaning and groaning (no no...I am pretty tough I think, ha ha) Jonathan will lift up my shirt to look at my rash and depending on it's severity I'll hear 'Oh boy you are really sick aren't you' and even that little bit of validation when your sick makes one feel better, ha ha!!!

So with that being said I am getting back to work to get as much done as I possibly can because the evenings are usually more turbulent than the days. I think I am going to drag all of my supplies and picture outside today, it's a beautiful day and the bunnies are out there and my honey is home from work early and he too is toiling away out there, so I think that's going to be the perfect place to be...plus the sun will soothe my slightly achy body. Wish me a speedy recovery and I'll see you again here tomorrow. Be Well.

p.s. Join me tommorow and you'll learn of a speacil giveaway from yours truly.

It Doesn't Take Much & A New Sketch

I always pride myself on being a complicated person who enjoys simple things...Jonathan always says it doesn't take very much to entertain or make me happy and I think he's right. As artists, I think we gather visual inspiration for our creations from a myriad of things. And as a very visual person, I believe in surrounding myself with beautiful things, great colour and things that make me smile inward or outward. Well this week, I am being thoroughly entertained and filled with joy by 2 new studio items....

This adorable and fun watering can, apparently hand-made and painted in India.

And though I plan to spray paint it white to blend into my studio abit more...I just love this new display easel I got the other day....

Oh I know I know....the old adage that things shouldn't bring one joy...but heck they do and I am not ashamed to admit it. A fancy new display easel to hold my Miss Penelope Posy, or a favourite new creation...perfectly positioned to greet studio visitors into my world, why wouldn't that make one happy, ha ha.

So I am trying a new thing here this week, because I've been feeling so neglectful with showing you all new imagery on the regular basis in which I planned to do so. I am going to try to get a new little sketch done everyday for you...teasers before the colour work is done. So here is today's quick sketch....

So I'll see you all here again next Tuesday...I am still only posting 3 times weekly, especially since I am so busy with an upcoming group exhibition and a new client. So Be Well everyone and until next week, take good care, xxoo, Mandy

A New Photo, Beautiful Wallpaper on a Table and a Sneak Peek Sketch

Hi Everyone...I've been missing my blog and have felt my absence from it more than I expected too but aside from being away Monday's and Fridays still for summer holidays, things have indeed been abit crazy around here.

So today's post will be a short one. I just wanted to share a few things.

This is one of my favourite new photos. I saw a moth flying around our gazebo so I caught it in this little jar and put it outside on a bench, I guess it tuckered itself out because it decided to just sit inside and take a rest...just long enough for me to run inside grab my camera and snap this shot of his cute little face.

With this shot, I am toying with the ideal of introducing some of my photographs as matted prints in my Etsy shop, because I've been getting so many compliments on them. That will come soon if I decide to do it I think.

My best friend Judit and her partner Ed came to visit us this past weekend and we had such a wonderful and excellent visit with them. Judit was happy to see that I used her wallpaper on some recent projects like this little coffee table for my studio...

This koy fish design is one of Judit's most popular designs. For the table I just added hints of my studio's green and blue paint to help tie it in more. I am happy with how it turned out.

Also, as many of my friends who've recently visited my studio can vouch for, I've been sketching up a storm and have alot of new and exciting imagery planned out and ready to emerge into colour. I like to keep most illustrations a secret till they are 100% done but for the sake of showing you something new, I'll let this little sketch show itself, it was inspired by the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics...

Expect the coloured version very soon...in the mean time however I am going kind of crazy trying to get pieces done for an upcoming exhibition and that is currently taking most of my concentration and time as I know the calibre of work in this show will be extremely high.

Today included an interview out at Edna Scott's Studio and Home. It was an interview for the Carousel project I am involved in. It was a lovely and relaxed interview followed by coffee and cake made by our gracious and kind host and a group of ducks pecking at the kitchen door screen because it was apparently their snack time too! Moments like that just make my day.

Thanks for dropping in, I know the new schedule is abit silly but hopefully we'll get back to 5 posts a week once things settle down and I am back into the studio 'full-time' in the fall.

See you here tomorrow..Be Well and Enjoy Each Day. XXOO Mandy.