sun day

It was a sunny weekend, so we took advantage and played through most of it. How nice to sit in the grass and enjoy our surroundings again, after such a long winter.

There's much to be happy for. Happy Weekend!

creative lunges

Matt asked me 'which piece are you most proud of?' It was a tough one for me to answer, because I am not afraid to admit that there are many pieces I am proud of.

There are pieces which I choose not to part with, simply because they mark a time when I first started to experiment and grow comfortable with a new and unfamiliar medium. From keeping my swirly flower paintings, I am aware that I have always gravitated to the more abstract and representational, over the real and -what I say- predictable.

I am capable of drawing "real" things. I just find it terribly restricting to rules and accuracy. Because my mom loves this sort of stuff, and never throws anything out, I gave her my octopus; which I drew in college as part of a pencil rendering project. It was definitely a good exercise, which I'm considering testing out again, for something different. We'll see...

As for digital, I'd have to say that I'm most proud of my Log Driver; for what it represents. It's abstract, it's animated (you pick the legs that you want him to dance with, silly), it's a character from a story, and it goes back to the days of being a -Canadian- kid on Saturday morning. All things which I love in regards to who I am and what I do.

This was a very good exercise.

sunshine boy

Can't wait until it's sunny enough to go outside all day.

spring into the weekend

I brought some Spring home today, to make up for the winter that doesn't want to part with us just yet.
Happy weekend.

things

Buds, lamp, ruler, new purple collar. #thingsonmydesk

bunny invasion

I accidentally deleted a post! I'm getting older, so my skills in technology must be dying as well. Anyway, I made 18 bunnies in 2 weeks! I am so pumped at a successful Easter explosion!

Happy Spring!

the blair

I set my facebook status to "interview me!" because I'm sucking quite terribly at coming up with content. I just can't Doogie Howser this blog the way that I used to. Let's get on with it. 

Q: Which other illustrators inspire your work? 

A: Fun question, Liz Hover! This was a tough one for me to answer without writing forever and ever and ever (because I love SO many illustrators!) so, I chose the first name that came to mind: Mary Blair!

Who is she? Well Liz, she was a contemporary genius, who worked as an illustrator and concept artist for big shots like Disney. Her work is charming, bright, and most recognizable through her use of asymmetry, glorious patterns, and textures. I love her like no other (and her trees!)

When Disney saw her work, he ate it up. She worked on various films, like Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan. She also made her mark on Disneyland, when she was asked to design (the often unappreciated) It's a Small World. Love it or hate it, put on some headphones and enjoy the visual. She was so incredibly talented.

Mary Blair inspires me as an illustrator and a graphic designer.  She's -one of- the reasons I pick up my paints and let myself play, and why I choose abstraction over the more real and straight forward. She went against the rules of traditional art, combining so many beautiful and abstract elements that just work together as an image. She blows my mind to pieces! You don't have to make things look real in order to be an artist. Make it fun, like Mary Blair! 

*Also, check your Little Golden Books for her name. Betcha you have a few kickin' on your bookshelf without even noticing!