The Week Looked Alot Like This

So, how was your week?

Mine was good than stressful than lovely again.

 

It started off celebrating my Dad's birthday with a great evening of good company & good food.

Which was was followed by snuggle time with bunnies in the sun....

 

 

...which was followed by art making time in the sun...

 

 

...than more sweet bun snuggles...Flynn has been falling asleep beside me in the mornings.

 

 

...which was followed by lots of ink drawing time with more Road To Avonlea episodes...

 

There was also a stressful vet visit (more on that next week).

Yuuji & I watched the grey squirrels wrestle and play every morning this week, so funny & sweet.

Spring is definitely here.

 

I am lighting a candle tonight for our Jin.  I can't believe she's been gone 1 year already.

Well, I hope your venturing off into a great weekend....see you next week I hope XO.

Pens, Sun & Pain

The sun has been shining, my head has been pounding and I have been drawing...

 

 

Drawing more sweet beautiful bunnies of course...now back to my pens, the sun and some Glee!

Fishy Inkling

I had an inkling to do something fishy...

 

 

Head pain has been bad...these little inklings have been all I've been up for this past week.

Duck in Ink & Dishes In The Bathroom

Hi ya everyone...

How's is your day so far?

 

Before I rush off to my treadmill, I wanted to show you another drawing I just finished up.

I am so happy I've discovered a love for ink drawing and doing so in black & white.

I am really feeling very pleased about these inklings of mine

(even if my last one was so horrible, I tossed it in the fire, ha ha!)

I am so loving them mixed in with my usual super colorful work...

I am honestly surprised because I never expected my color-loving heart to so readily accept B & W.

I've even been adding these new ink drawings to my Creative Source portfolio,

that's how confident I am in them...which is just awesome.

 

 

Well amidst some big projects outside being worked on furiously still....

Amidst a kitchen reno on the go (doing dishes in the bathroom for a week was long enough for me!)

Amidst long hours being put in on my new website...

Amidst lots of headaches, pouring rain keeping us all indoors, bunny snuggling, etc...

I did manage one last update on my current site, do check it out www.BijousWhimsy.com

(but keep in mind it's a flash site & not available on tablets or phones, hence the new one coming!)

I feel a little sad about leaving it but excitement over the new site will make it easier to let it go.

 

I hope your having a wonderful Wednesday...

the bunnies are happy, the jazz is tinkling, the sun is shining, the leaves are falling!

& my honey & I are anxiously waiting to see if his work-at-home app will be accepted or denied.



Starry Starry Night...with a Bunny

A new ink drawing.  I love this one...each new one becomes my favorite, I love that!

 

 

I am defiantly going to keep moving forward with these since I am enjoying them so much. 



The Swan & The Raven

A new inkling "The Swan & The Raven".  (I am L-O-V-I-N-G my new Sakura Micron pens)

 

 

Why look at that I can do something other than rabbits with my ink pens...ha ha ha!!!



New Inkling With Weekend Wishes

Just hopping in quickly today to show you a new little rabbit inkling

(these will be making their way into my Etsy shop as prints of various sizes VERY soon).

 

 

I wish you all a wonderfully awesome weekend, super busy or really relaxing, however you prefer it.

Ours will be full of rabbit bonding time, BBC travel shows & some gardening if the rain lets up.

 

Rabbit In Black & White

It's so rainy and gloomy out there today, I wish I had a splash of bright colour for you as usual.

But, I do have a new image to show you.

I've been playing abit more with my new Prismacolour markers.

I was thinking of adding some colour to it but I actually think it's a stronger visual in black & white.

I think this would make a really cool t-shirt image.  Do you think so???

I'd like to put some words on it too, like

"ANIMALS, For Love & Friends NOT Food or Fur".

Would you buy such a T-Shirt???



Your Existence Gives Me Peace

I had been drooling over a set of Prismacolour markers

and my friend Maria finally convinced me to splurge and get them for myself.

So I've been playing...

and just finished up this ink drawing which I call

"Your Existence Gives Me Peace"

...I guess the couple in the image does look abit like Jonathan and myself,

and I suppose that was intentional since the piece is about us, love, partnership

and how my honey's presence and existence gives me great peace & soothing hope.

These new markers are perfect for those days where my heads quite sore

and I just can't bring myself to work at my desks or easels
but when I want to get something creative done.

I can just curl up with a small piece of paper and the markers whiles on the comfy couch or bed.

I am going to print out the black and white drawing and then take my watercolours to the print. 

I can't wait to do so...I'll show you the results here of course.

I have another black and white to show you soon...it's one for animal lovers/advocates.

P.S.  I just updated new shots to my Flickr account for anyone interested in my photostream.

XO Mandy whose heart is full 

A Foresty Guide Illustrated

Today I wanted to show you the black and white illustrations which I painstakingly worked on around this time last year. I was so very very happy for the experience. Working with 3 different authors via email, phone and fax was challenging and there were many many revisions before reaching any of the approved finals but it was a challenge and task I enjoyed. I started out not even knowing what a 'stub' was, but after working on the project for almost 4 months, I learnt alot and I am happy that the illustration will perhaps help loggers be more careful and aware when in their forestry profession and that the guide and pictures will help protect the wildlife that lives and needs trees, etc... Here are the illustrations that 'made' it into the MNR Forestry Guide.... This illustration depicts a forested area with different soil erosion's and the damage of trucks and too much cutting on the land.

This illustration depicts a tire rut made by the forestry trucks and how deep they should or should not be so as not to leave permanent damage to the forest bed.

This illustrations depicts and shows miles and radius of tree cutting allowed around marshland areas.

This illustration shows how much cutting and how far back cutters must stay from nesting areas found along shorelines etc...

This illustration helps to depict how streams and shorelines along the streams are affected by different types of cutting and what type of trees, shrubs etc should be left to ensure a strong bank, no soil erosion, etc...

This illustration is for eagle or osprey nests and the no-cut radius on cliff faces which cutters must abide by.

This illustration shows primary, secondary and 3rd nests of a bird species and how all nesting areas must be located and a certain radius/miles of no-cutting is enforces around these nests to protect the birds and its natural habitat.

This illustration shows different types of tree cavities and how different species use the holes as a home, so trees with large or even small cavities are suggested to not be cut so that animals, birds, etc homes are left undisturbed.

(This was one of my favourite illustrations, so I just wanted to show you the larger size so you can see the detail abit more...)

This illustrations depicts another cavity tree and how some cavities are born over time, whether it be healed over damage from burrowing or lightening strike...or a freshly fallen branch and the cavity it leaves on tree can become a quick home for a bird or little animal.

This illustration is of a stub tree...showing that cutters must try to leave stubs at 6 feet to allow for decay of tree and therefore future cavity function, especially suggested is to cut above any already present cavities.

I was commissioned and compensated for 23 Black and White Illustrations, where I retained copyright and usage for self-promotion etc, however only 10 illustrations made it into the book, 2 were dropped...and here's the other ones that were indeed approved but for reasons unknown to me did not make it into the book!....

This illustration shows a forested area and it's stubs. Some of the larger veteran trees with cavities are left behind to house local animals and birds and stubs are left behind for future cavity usage or decay which can also become a home. Larger trees are left behind because 10 years down the road....

...half of those will fall and again become hiding places and homes for various species, therefore responsible forestry which is considering the future of the forest habitats.

This illustration is of a pileated wood-pecker making it's hole in a jack pine tree.

This illustrations shows cavities and tells the forest cutters that they must be vigilant and observant, that not all cavity trees are easy to find and therefore mark for no-cutting.

This one shows a mast tree. Mast trees are often large veteran trees which have a good crown that are fruit or nut bearing. Mast trees can be spotted easily to the cutters because often a bear will leave marks either on the ground or on the tree it's in the way of claw marks, or damaged bark etc...These trees are not cut and left along because the cutters will know that a bear relies on this area as a food source.

Just another mast tree illustration, clearly showing damage to the bark, claw marks and yes even a small cavity near the base.

These 3 illustrations show Super Canopy trees, which are also not suppose to be cut because the are also veteran trees and serve a multitude of purposes in protected smaller fellow trees and are often home to many cavities/homes.

This picture shows a veteran tree...the cavity at the base is old and worn and most likely home to some animals. There are also 2 other cavities on this tree which I am sure by now you can spot yourself. The bark shows signs of a lightening strike that the tree strongly survived. Most likely this veteran tree would not be cut because it will eventually most likely grow into a super-canopy tree and dwarf all the others around it and continue to serve it's purpose as protector and home.

This is an illustration which was suppose to accompany one of the pictures that made it into the book, but it again shows the land after tree cutting...the left behind branches etc will become mulch and encourage future growth etc.

So there you have it...my first book illustrated and now universe...send me a children's book to illustrate, ha ha...Thanks for having a look today, join me next week, probably Tuesday instead of Monday for new inspirations, aspirations, illustrations and creations from yours truly, Mandy Saile of Bijou's Whimsy.

Some More Older Portraits

Good Monday Morning. After a busy weekend of 'playing' outside, having my mom over for lunch in the gazebo, letting the furry hearts run around the yard and visiting a friend in the hospital, I am really looking forward to a busy and productive week in the studio. However, I must admit that part of me is over in Germany with my dad right now, so in that vein I thought I would show you a few more of my old portraiture work and then we'll get back back to some brand spanking new imagery. The above portrait is my grandma and grandpa.

This is a dog portrait that I did years ago. The family had it commissioned as a surprise for their dad, it apparently hung in his office for years.

I love doing couple portraits, this was a local couple whose daughters commissioned me to make this as an anniversary surprise.

This was another commission which was unfortunately not accepted or paid for! The woman wasn't very happy with it but in my defense the reference was horrible and I did the best I could with what I had to work with. Regardless, I think it is still a pretty nice couples image, apparently it was taken shortly after this couple was engaged in 1944.

And I'll end with another family portrait. This is my dad's great great grandmother I believe. The background of the photograph was very cluttered and busy so I just added a few of the simpler items which I think brings the eye towards the lovely woman and her handcraft.

Well that is about all for today. There is alot to catch up on and get into so I shall get on with it right away. Be Well everyone and happy creating.

A Few Of My Portraits

Hi Everyone, I don't have time today to conjure up a new painting unfortunately, but as I tried to sleep last night I did conjure up two more possible children's book ideals. I am so excited to have started work on them, though it took me a long time to decide which one to work on first as I've had many ideals over the past few years. However, I probably won't want to show anyone until it's all complete, that's always been my way!

Anyhow, today I am busy getting some things together for my dad to bring to my grandpa, just some old black and white portraits I've drawn up over the years. I love drawing from old black and white photos. After I am done this, we'll head over to my parents place for lunch and to hang out abit, before we go to the airport to see my dad off, he'll catch a flight here in North Bay to Toronto and then from Toronto straight to Zurich. I wish that I was able to go with him for support and to my beloved Germany and our people there, but there was simply no time for me to get my passport in time so I stay behind with a heavy heart.

The above portrait is my beautiful grandma Katie when she was quite abit younger, maybe in her early 20's. Let me show you some more (don't forget you can click on the images for a larger viewing)...

This is a picture of my grandma with my handsome grandpa, when they were just a young beautiful couple.

This is my grandma again (as you can see my grandma Katie is one of my most favourite people to draw from) here she is with her youngest son and my uncle, Rolf.

And here is my uncle Rolf as a little boy again. I just loved the composition of the old photo and though I changed it slightly, it's still pretty true to the original.

p.s. I do indeed take portraiture commissions.

Well, that's all for today. I think I'll share a few more portraits over the next couple of days. But for now, I just need to let myself be how I need to be and I look forward to an evening of just cuddling up with my honey and watching some movies. Take Care Everyone and until tommorow or Monday, Be Well....and stay cool!

Some Favourite Old Photos Found

I recently found two of my all time most favourite photos. Unfortunately, they are just black and white photocopies that I found, but it's better than nothing. The originals were digital photos, we never got good print outs made and now sadly all of those old photos are gone, which is upsetting because there was alot of imagery of our lives in Toronto with our very first bunny Beanie.

This one is one of my most favourite shots of my handsome sweetheart, Jonathan.
And here is another of my favourites, me taking a snooze on the floor with Beanie in my old studio in our Toronto apartment on Leslie Ave...Ah good bunny-filled old times:D

My best friend Judit is always saying people like to put a face to the name and work. So in that spirit I am sharing these with you today.