Lilac Window

I am loving this new Elizabeth Shepherd album, and I know I am way past the times, but I am getting into all the previous Andrew Bird albums. I have his most recent (Noble Beast), but theres so much more. Plus, being a Bedouin Sound Clash fan, I am excited about Jay Malinowski’s new album. New music is so inspiring.

Im eating some re-toasted waffles, and waiting to steep some really dark tea to see if I can dye my raw canvas before writing more sacred scriptures on it.I should be doing some work searching for design jobs. I am working on building my network so I can return to doing architectural work in a way that fits my life. Yeah, it could be a long journey.

I am having a few internal debates. One that I have daily involves how much I should pick up after my family. I grew up in a home that embraced chaos, and I just feel out of my element when I try to keep a tidy home. I dont know how much to ask kids to help – I mean I always ASK, its just If I waited for them to help, I fear that the chaos will overwhelm us. I also feel that it is easier for them to understand and appreciate order if they experience it, then they can participate in a simpler way. My goal is to have a calm, clutter free home, that all of us participate in maintaining. I also want my children to grow up being able to look after their own things. I tolerate more chaos than many of my friends, but sometimes I feel that tolerance is what creates this cycle of me basically running around my home in circles, picking stuff up as fast as I can, before the tornado (two kids) catches up to me. Can you relate?

Hmm. Maybe this is a design issue.

I do edit what toys are out, but it doesnt seem to be enough. Plus, favorite activites are just messy. Maybe I need to be specific about what play activities will happen, where, and have specific supplies/toys for them. If I dont have toys out, then the kitchen pots and pans, food from the fridge, the flour and all the non-perishables become the toys. Thats cool, but maybe if I had a plan, it would be easier. I need to really take a firm grip on organizing the craft supplies. that would really help. I think.

OK. too much info. sorry. Just processing out loud. That probably makes for a lame blog post, but I am open to suggestions. I would love to be a fly on the wall of folks who seem to have all this together… is there someone with a whip getting kids to clean? how much is mom REALLY picking up after people? how many hours a day are spent cleaning in a home of two pre-schoolers? what are the patterns/habits/underlying conditions that exist to live in creativity as well as sanity? huh? just asking.

this was a fun little painting to do. Its been a while since I did it, and I find things always look better a few weeks later. I was working with brighter colours for an underpainting- more what you would do for oil or acrylic. It sort of leads to a dense painting in water colour that is hard to deal with a bit, but the intensity has got kick. I like the shifting light, representing in the cooler and warmer shades of blue. thats a fun discovery.

So, its GORGEOUS outside. Marcel needs training wheels on his rather large bike. I think we’ll do a search for that tomorrow. I know I haven’t had much time for the blog lately. I guess it goes to show Ive got a lot on my mind. I haven’t even been doing much painting. Just trying to get those old ducks in a row.

I just finished reading “La Perdita” which was a good read. I like Graphic novels. I love how they can make really difficult things seem really light – and then you think about it more and more. Like a very hard and subtle candy that sort of melts in your mouth. They are so easy to digest, and yet I always find myself thinking about them over and over. This book was less girl-y than “the imposter’s daughter” but still about a woman, and I like that its not autobiographical.

Isn’t this sunshine grand? I painted this before the whole hospital thing. Its amazing how green things can be even in the middle of winter.

Life is slowly returning to normal. Ive been reading Apartment Therapy blog and getting inspired to clean my kitchen. But it does make me wish I lived in a New York loft… or near a sunny California beach. Sadly I’ll have to make do with rearranged cupboards. – Which is actually amazingly satisfying in a pinch.

Hi all.

Here is another lovely painting made by a family of four.

Marcel comes home tomorrow. We are so excited to see him without any tubes or machines attached to him. What a trouper.

This past ten days have been a time of reflection and re-evaluation. You cant have an event like this without checking in on your ideals, goals and values.

I did this little painting last night. No need to explain what inspired it. My little guy holding his dad’s hand, in those adorable hospital pajamas. Hes doing great, but being attached to that machine when all you want to do is run and dance and play can be frustrating. I am admiring his patience.

I have been enjoying all the wonderful art hanging on the walls of the Alberta Children’s Hospital. There are days when I question what I do, and think – “man, for the years of university I have, and the effort I put into my work, I should have been a doctor. At least then I could be saving lives and doing something truly useful”.** Yup. I have thoughts like that. But seeing the art on the walls of the hospital and knowing that it inspires people and enriches lives makes me feel so much more proud of the career I chose.

Along Marcel’s hallway there is a series of lithographs by Alberta artist John Snow. They caught my attention right away and I had to look them up. They are just gorgeous. I love the lithographic process, and the beautiful marks and colors he makes. His own story of making prints in small town Alberta, is inspiration in itself.

**I should clarify, this is a totally irrational statement, and by no means do I intend to say the effort and skill of doctors is easily attainable. After this event we all agree, there is a special place in heaven for doctors and nurses who dedicate their careers to helping people.

There is not a lot in the world that could make me happier than this smiling face right now.

We had a big scare on the weekend. Marcel contracted some random horrible bug that was so vicious his body went into shock. We are so happy and grateful for the doctors and nurses at the Alberta Children’s Hospital who literally saved his life.

Needless to say its been rough around here. We are coping. Marcel will have to be in the hospital for another week, but he’s in good spirits and enjoying the movies and munchies.

hugs.

Marcel pulling the sled got into this pic before I snapped it. It makes the picture so much cuter no? I hope its not too Hallmark-y. no matter. the light on the snow is fun to paint. I think I am working with shadow and light. And built-up texture with water colour paint.

I started my first blog a couple years ago. It was called Mammacomic, now I have this one. All through the process I have been resisting being too confining with it, and allowing myself to post whatever feels most important at the time. Despite encouragement from business teachers, etc, I held onto the idea that I would let the blog evolve, and that, at some point it would start to tell me what is truly at the heart of what I do. Being a person who has too many hobbies and interest, I knew that this little forum could help me narrow things down.

And now, here we are. I think this might be a few months now of posts almost entirely about art. Granted my family, architecture, even a little cooking is in there, but there definatley is more paint than anything else. And that’s just cool with me.

In that little space I showed yesterday, I have been churning out these little works. And I am having so much fun. These little projects are brainless, and I felt I needed that for a bit. With painting being my job I also need some paint therapy. So these ones involve going outside, snapping pictures of stuff I see everyday, and think – “wow, that’s pretty, I wonder how I could paint that?”.  printing contact sheets of the pictures, somehow, intuitively choosing a picture to paint, and then just going at it. I use the size of paper that fit the frames I like to buy, so that if one turns out great, its easy to frame. Its also easy to get painting when everything has been pre-set.

So. Here is another one.

I also have this gut feeling that if I just let go, and paint what my instinct beckons, it will lead me somewhere important. So I am taking the front brain out of this and letting go. Also I know the more I paint the better I will be at it. Already I learn so much with each piece.

Another little thought, that is sort of interesting to me, is how similar these pieces are to ones I did, over ten years ago in my undergrad. I feel Ive come full circle. wow. I did a series of drawings of places around my home in Vancouver. I also did a similar series in oil paint while living in the Yukon. I was struggling with integrating my education in neo-conceptual photography a-la Jeff Wall, Ken Lum and Roy Arden. And granted, I think a little of that still comes through. Though, I feel the intellectualism, that I admittedly, didn’t understand, doesn’t as much. Perhaps this is the path I should have been on all along. I’m glad to be back on it.

There have been times in my life when I thought I needed more space to paint. The funny thing is, right now I have more space, but this is where I have ended up. In the closet of the playroom! Its sort of been a process getting here, I started at an easle in the kitchen, then the easel in the play room and now here. I like to paint on a flat surface with water colours and so this is a space where I can leave it out, and its high enough that I dont have to worry about little fingers. I can paint in an instant as its already there and the kids play beside me. I haev a little light that is LED and colour correct, so that helps. Granted I am limited in size, but right now, thats OK. I am enjoying doing these little watercolor studies.

SO. moral of the story is: When one needs to paint… one will paint.

(Oh and thats not a MESS up top…OH no! its my paper supply and other boxes of paints and stuff… Also this particular dresser is completely FULL of art supplies. yes. I have a problem! hehe.)

here is another little study for the devotion series. I guess I could call it “community devotion”, or “children’s neighborhood prayers”, or something like that. But I admit, it doesnt sound all that catchy.

I included text in this one, and went for the directly illustration thing. Im having fun feeling my way around. The whole idea of houses in the background sorta came out of this one. I need to take another photo of it though, because I think its out of focus in some parts.

Some other stuff mark and I have been doing includes web design. He is learning to code, and well, I design, so it sort of goes together. We just finished our first project, for a designer friend that I went to school with. The website is here: www.thedesignhaus.ca. I will vouch for her, she is a fabulous designer, if you need a reno done. I mean, I’d hire her… and I’m almost an architect! Also it was fun working with my husband. Its so good when you can giggle about staying up late working on a project, just because it means you actually get to spend time with your spouse… alone! (Although, when its late, he does start singing 80’s pop-rock, and throwing the head around – while waiting for the jpeg to upload. … hang on a minute – I just remembered… that’s one of the reasons I married him! – my bad.)

Anyways, all is well in paint, poop and html. We really like all our new board games. LOOT is becoming a family favorite. Mark is so totally going to be into me, now that I linked to “board game geek.com” I am sooooo exposed right now.

The family that did the last workshop actually painted two pieces. This is the second one measuring 4′ x 2′. Now the memory of the event can be on the walls of both homes! Cool little matching set.

I want to update about some other topics of interest. I have sort of been out of the architecture loop. But I am still doing my best to learn little by little about sustainable building. OUR eco village just posted its summer calendar, and I would love to to the straw bale course… we’ll see. Also I have been looking into Rammed earth. Such a beautiful medium.

I am so inspired by all the painting that my students are doing. I realize that I have got to put brush to paper myself. I am working on another book – or perhaps series. I realize that I need to work differently than the last project. My process before was:

1. Sketch out thumbnails of the story board
2. try to draw characters, using my imagination or photos.
3. draw each character from different angles
4. more thumbnails of each page
5. draw/sketch charcoals of each page the correct finished size
6. trace charcoal sketch onto trace, as a line drawing
7. transfer drawing to water colour paper
8. paint the pictures, finding a colour pallet that worked
9. repaint paintings that don’t fit the series.
10. draw in ink over painting.

As you can see I didnt start painting to step 8. And this sort of drove me crazy.

I don’t know, but I am thinking this is pretty standard process for illustrators, but for me, it was very confining, and by the time I started painting, I had to spend a lot of effort loosening up again, to really enjoy the process.

though, there is no doubt all that drawing is good for me. But it hurts my brain.

So, for this project, I wan to start with the painting. I have a theme, and some general ideas. I have a little story to follow, and some image ideas, and then I want to let the paint and the process take me somewhere.

This book is about the devotional gathering we have weekly, as told through the eyes of my four-year old. This gathering is the highlight of his week. The love of his life-( his little female friend), attends regularly with her family, who also live in our condominium complex. It is a sweet little evening complete with tired children, who are often too excited and hyper to sit and pray. But it is lovely. I especially love the lighting of the candles process.

Anyways, this painting series focuses on our little complex, and the story of these children, coming together to pray, to think about unity, to make our little contribution to the world.

When I started this art school in September I knew that it would have a life of its own, and would change as it developed. I just had no idea it would become something so unique and so unexpected so quickly. Its only been a few short months of trial and error. Trying to figure out what I can offer, what works in my life, what people want and need, and how I can get it to them. I have done door-to-door sales in my neighborhood, cold calls, press releases and media promotion. All things that are very new (and scary) for me. I have offered all sorts of classes, and its so cool when something sticks, and then changes.

I started doing toddler workshops which I still offer and think are just so great. But these workshops led the way to group painting workshops that I am now offering. The idea of creating a simple art piece, without tension or expectations is thrilling to people, and I just love being a part of that. Its unique in that its not an art class, but a painting experience. With the additional bonus of fabulous results. Its so nice to show people they can make something beautiful. Especially people who have never painted before. Its awesome to witness people working together, discussing whether its finished, if a corner needs more or less, if a certain colour dominates.

I think this is an area that my little school will definitely be moving into. Groups of all ages. Couples, parties, offices, friends, families, birthdays, healing circles…I cant wait to see what future holds.

The above painting was completed for a Grandmother’s birthday. 6 adult family members and 2 little ones made it together. An amazing representation of the beauty and unity of a family.

I know I have already mentioned this, but I thought I would put out another call. I am so excited about the water colour workshop I am teaching this Saturday. You are more than welcome to join us. details below:

So, Jan 23rd (noon – 3pm) I am having a watercolour painting workshop.

This will be for beginners, it will include use of beautiful artist-quality supplies, (300 lb. Arches watercolour paper, brushes and high quality, honey based watercolour pigments made by M. Graham & co.) and a three hour session with instruction. By the end of it, you should have a beautiful abstract-ish painting you may even want to frame!  (psst… I will also have frames available for sale to fit the paintings we do, so if the urge hits – after it dries…you can take your picture home ready to hang! eeee! so cool!)

We will talk about the unique qualities of watercolour paint and how to use it to make incredibly beautiful marks and textures. You will also learn a little colour mixing.

email: angie@lilacwindow.com

When the king sat on his throne, trumpets were sounded, fireworks went off, and shots were fired.

I was trying to make a greeny-blue that evoked the turquoise you find in old books. it didn’t really work, but in this image, I like the way the colors are bright and almost Mediterranean.