One Billion Bees and a Swatter

Life has updated itself, I'm now on version 3.1. We are moving this weekend into the largest space we've ever lived in on our own, with the mighty task of furnishing it, I started a weekly writers' group, I've begun contracting on lots of jobs (more than full-time), I have yet to hear back about my visa (so I may not even BE in Canada in a month), I have about a million other things on my to-do list including age old commitments for Lamay Clinic and Black Kettles, in fact I have several to-do lists, and in the meantime I am neglecting what is most important to me (friends and family) and being hard on myself for doing so. Ah well. If you're reading this, please forgive me for not keeping in better touch.

Moses was a Beaver

Jesus Was a Bear

Corkboard illustration. Thanks to Gwenny poo for giving me the idea to draw on cork.... Next up: Moses was a Beaver

Things to Remember from FITC 'To, 2009

What the heck am I gonna do with this poster, these lessons? I'm gonna learn AS3, that's what I'm going to do, and I'm going to make this sucker interactive. Mark and I watched some tutorials last night, bless him. He already knows all of this stuff. But the first bit, with variables and functions I already knew as well from working on my portfolio, but it was nice to reinforce the knowledge. I also have pretty much no idea what's changed in AS3 (I know, I'm soooooo behind the times) but these tutorials are going to fix that right up. I'm glad technology and I have been reacquainted. Feel like it's a long lost friend. Or a friend that I had very much under-appreciated. Anyway, look for this poster to develop and become interactive some time in the future.

Taking Care of Biznass

Printing in progress...

Something to aspire to

This past weekend I was greatly inspired by all the Group of Seven Canadian artists, whose work I saw while traveling around with Mom, Grandma, and Mark. We visited the AGO, which of course is free on Wednesday nights, and they have a lovely Seven collection. Plus we went to Kleinburg, where the  McMichael art gallery lives (Mark's company - ecentric arts - did the website). Spectacular exhibit, especially Tom Thomson's room. I love loved his Waterfall painting (below), which was I believe nearly as tall as me, and much more colourful in person:

The Group of Seven aimed to establish a national identity through their paintings. I couldn't figure out whether it was a convenient excuse for them to paint outdoors, being that at the time, Canadian wilderness was so different from its European counterparts... But it doesn't matter. It worked. The Group would travel up to Algonquin park and Georgian Bay and paint these beautiful Canadian landscapes, often on smaller boards or canvases as quick sketches before incorporating them into larger paintings. And it separated Canadian work from every other national identity.

I also learned that most of these artists had completely different careers in addition to their painting, just like me. In fact, many were commercial designers (also just like me!). Thomson had a beautiful typographic/illustration piece at the McMichael. Only one artist - Lawren Harris - had any wealth/luxurious-free-time at all.

Here is an attempt of my own quick landscape, during our trip to the Toronto Islands. Painting watercolour on canvas was a first for me, but I liked it... More flexible than I thought it would be. My travel buddies patiently watched me put it all together while feeding me cheese and crackers, and for that I'm ever-grateful! This was probably about 20-30 minutes in total, with finishing touches done at home. Grandma took it home with her, but I'm glad I kept a record, so I can see how I can improve.

The Type of Words That...

I do love libraries. And I think art and literature are perfect companions, always have been. The Toronto Library System is holding a competition for artists to display their art in libraries across the city... I submitted three pieces I've done since I arrived here, the Shivering (big fat) Tree below in the post previous to this, and the two here (one is a re-scanned version of my No Gardening 'til May?!? post, so you can actually see the paper color).

The theme, which I would like to continue in my spare spare-time, is based around image and type - reconciling art and words, which is not that different from what I do professionally, but in a more artistic vein. I've heard people say (and for me, this was certainly the case) that when first learning graphic design, one of the easiest ways to distinguish it from art is by its inherent use of typography. This is perhaps not the most accurate way to describe design. Because I do consider graphic designers who create beautiful posters and wall artwork to be artists, as well. There exists a fierce competitiveness between designers and artists and how to define (or not define) each occupation, but as a person who loves words, type, art, and graphic design all equally, the relationship makes for an interesting avenue of exploration.

And I am also continuously inspired by Toronto. The buzz in the air about the coming spring, the shadows of trees on beautiful old buildings, and the geese in High Park, returning from their winter hiatus.