Lilac Window

I was mucking around with paper yesterday, seeing what I can do with these little drawings. I had so many ideas, but the paper I was using wasn’t holding up well. I ended up going for the good old arches, and including a painted tone on a pencil drawing. Now I think I am in love. This little drawing went from a sketch in my book, to a sacred little object. The amount of clean white paper on the border, the simple lines, the reserved paint, is so restrained and minimal, it makes the sweetness and simplicity of the image so much “louder”.

As you know I have been struggling with finding a way to print drawings on the printer. It just brings so much more to the table than I really want to deal with. Its adding a whole process to the production of the “thing” that I just don’t want to deal with. I want to create objects of art that have lives of their own, and that exist because I handled, loved, and crafted them. Not that I am against reproduction, its just that I have mountains of original work that I would love people to have on their walls, rather than a photocopy. So. I have been thinking about creating these precious drawings, that can be reproduced by hand. At this point that seems more feasible than paying premiums for a print shop to do it. And this way the product is an “original”.

In a way.

But then, that also seems weird doesn’t it?

three little paintings. the whole suburbia, car dependency, road, interchanges, and sprawl “thing”. It gets to you sometimes. but then, these are some pretty little paintings. So maybe its not all so bad.

I did these on the 300bl rather than the 140. Its completely different to work with. I didn’t realize how used I am to the 140, but I think I may fall in love with this. (hello $18.00 a sheet…)

Also, I imagined paintings that were much more developed but am entranced with the thrill of the fresh first layer, and so, for these I decided to keep it.

The signs are place-less for a reason. But I am sure you already got that.

thinking about green tea, I painted this yesterday. Also inspired by the wet green I see through the window.

Its SNOWING!

Hey. I have been doing these little studies with scraps I have lying around. I am loving the “object” quality that happens when you paint small. They are like little Polaroids.

What do you think is essential to where you live? Sometimes I feel like a foreigner in Calgary, even though I am Albertan by birth. But I think that sentiment is not uncommon. So many people come here from other places. I always thought helping new immigrants would be rewarding,and help me feel at home here, but I cant figure out how to do it with kids, or in my schedule.

Here is a painting I did as a commission for a friend. She bought it for her husband for his birthday. They are the proud parents of a new baby girl. Yup, thats them in the picture. The text is a prayer for children by Abdu’l-Baha.

Hiya!

how are you doing? I always gotta ask, even though I am going to talk about me for the next while. I actually honestly care how you are. Its just weird if I start pretending to talk to a real person. really weird.

Yesterdays idea of having models pose with my paintings has got me thinking. I actually put together a proposal for a submission to “The New Gallery” an artist run center in Calgary. I have no idea if it would fly or not. I have to work out the details. Also, that might not be the best venue for the work, but you know, I gotta try. The idea includes my paintings and some photography. I am on the prowl for a photographer to collaborate with.

In the mean time, I am working on the little paintings, and decided to tweek up the presentation of these a little. You know, iphoto’s vignette option, with a little edge blur. I so want you to like these paintings. I got a lot more in my head!

In this painting there is a little dialogue:

“good morning”

“good morning, love, how did you sleep?”

splash splash

“pretty good, after I carried Em into the other room, and got Marcel some water.”

“After that he came and slept with me. He wanted to cuddle”

“yeah. me too.”

I drew this picture, and then made the image in photoshop. I am really digging the pencil sketch with simple graphics. Its a immediate and raw way to get ideas out there. The image of daddy and baby, out for a walk in the burbs is both sweet, and telling. There is just so much mixed up emotion for me in the way our cities are designed and then how we use them. We create our own path, with those that have been created for us.

This brings me to my next point. I have been biting my nails and stressing myself out, trying to find a solution for someone who may like to buy a print of one of these drawings. I have been torn between printing them all fancy at the print shop, who will do an amazing job, but its pricey, and trying to figure if I can print them myself. Our printer is not top-of-the line, but is adequate, and I could make the things so much more affordable. Unfortunately it has been jamming everytime I try to put nice paper in it, also the quality is just not up to par. eeerg.

So. I have not yet made it so that I can print them at home. I will continue to try, so I can offer these for less money in the future. But as it stands, I can offer this drawing (or any other ones I have) at $35.00 cnd plus shipping. They will be the highest quality print, archival, on 100% silk cover stock. They will be printed on 8.5 x 11 paper, but the image will be smaller to leave room for a border, and the fact is, they are small originals, so the image quality will be lovelier like that.

If you are interested, my shop is here.

thanks all.

we had a wonderful time at my brother’s wedding.

I heard many people say it was the most profound and moving wedding they had ever been too. I felt the same way.

Not just because its my brother getting married, but they did it in such a genuine and beautiful way. Being Baha’is, a new religion, we don’t have many traditions, and no rituals. There is no Minister or protocol to follow. We have a simple vow and that’s it. This leaves it all open to the couple to do as they wish. I have been to many Baha’i weddings, and though the opportunity is there, most people just dont know what to do other than what we see on TV, or in other religions. Not my brother and his fiance! The ceremony consisted almost entirely of a “Talking Circle”, where they handed the rings around the room and EVERYONE got a chance to say whatever was in their heart to the bride and groom before they got married.

This process may seem laborious, and it did make for a LONG ceremony, but I tell you, it was worth it. Everyone said the most beautiful things and we all cried more than we have in a long time. By the end of it we had all emptied our cup, having expressed all that we could about how happy and excited we were about these two coming together. Both families had a chance to bond, get to know each other, cry, and laugh together, and say all they wanted to. It was honest and moving, with advice, jokes, stories, words of strength and wisdom.

Then, by the reception we were all one big family, we ate together and laughed and the unity in the room was palpable. No need for much else. It was truly unique and a day we will all remember.

The painting is the gift I gave them, but I photographed it with glass in front, so there is a glare. The scene is from a photo of the place where they got engaged.

I did a painting workshop last night with  group of moms. What fun. Nights like this make me just so happy to do what I do. The painting above is the mock-up I did for the class. Because it was a group of absolute beginners, we had a pretty rigid structure. This usually makes things less intimidating for people who find paint rather daunting. We did a step by step process, using masking, and traced shapes for a composition. I also restricted people to three colors, which helps with preventing the painting from getting muddy or too busy. The ladies each completed a piece by the end of the night, that they can frame. All of the work was lovely, and it was a pleasure to see what people produce within such parameters.

I have found a place to print my work, and will be putting some prints for sale next week. I am off to Kelowna today with the whole family to celebrate my brothers wedding. We are all looking forward to some quality time with people we love, and taking a bit of a break. If things are organized, perhaps I’ll post some updates along the way. The two families of the bride and groom are going to have a retreat for the week before the wedding, and Iwill be doing painting workshops there too. Also during the wedding, the bride and groom have some beautiful ceremony ideas, including everyone invited to the wedding doing a brush stroke on a painting that they will take home. I am going to be orchestrating that… so I’ll keep you posted.

Everytime I do one of these I learn so much.

This 4′ x 4′ painting was painted in an adult painting workshop. He wanted to make a piece for his mother, to hang in her home. He selected a colour palette that I worked with. He also had the idea that he wanted to create a sort of forest, with vertical “trees”

We used a new masking technique that I developed for the project, and had a lot of fun working together to make it. Carlos has never painted before but comes from a family of artists. He had some ideas of what he wanted to achieve. This is such amazing process as an artist. Where I provide the know- how, and advice. There is a give and take. Lots of communication about what will actually work, what affects one can achieve, and in the end, come up with a great piece.

I have not heard of this kind of thing being offered before- where an artist volunteers to work with a beginner, to help them realize their vision in paint. It is a really great, educational and fun experience when the communication and energy is right. So many people have a vision, they have inspiration and the desire to be creative, but are held back by fear, or inexperience, or simply time and knowledge. Its so great to open the doors, release those barriers and let out an artist! (Be it even for just an hour at a time!!)

Fun times. (sorry the pic is blurry, I actually didn’t get the chance to see it dry as we left the city that day… I’ll try to get a better pic from the artist in the future…)

We did a last minute trip to Edmonton to do some painting workshops.

It was a good chance to see friends and to learn about doing painting on the road. I will be back in Edmonton to do more workshops June 19 and 20th.

Thanks to everyone who helped make the weekend possible for us!

wishing spring would hurry up.

MAN sometimes this house feels too darn small! I can feel the wind in my hair, swing open the doors and let in the breeze!

Inspired by recent posts and comments I drew this today.

Its still a sketch, but I think it would be cool to print it and colour it, or photoshop it, or even print it on a tee-shirt.  Drawing is awesome. I am going to do more of it in the near future.