Fed with Love (Growing Up Show 10)

I can hardly believe it's been 5 weeks since my son was born! What a whirlwind my life has become. I feel so filled with love that I hope it brims over into all aspects of my life, including my art and my career. I've done so much growing up lately that I feel like a completely different person - complete with a new outlook and new priorities. It's only appropriate that I begin this new life with a painting for the Growing Up Show on the subject of feeding my son. What an opportunity to be selfless, enjoy a quiet moment and pour my love into my child.

Chickadee magazine illustration

If you pick up this month's issue of chickadee you'll see my illustrations featured in the puzzles & fun section. This is the version I sent before the typography was set. Here are some progress sketches as well:

sketches before client revisions:

sketches after client revisions:

Our first art show as mom & son

Dexter & I made it to the Grant MacEwan Faculty Art Show last week. Still trying to find the time and energy to pick up painting where I left off for the Growing Up Show. I'll update with new art as soon as I can!

Design Faculty Show for Grant MacEwan College

I have one painting featured in the show "True Stories" alongside other talented Design Faculty instructors at Grant MacEwan College, at MTrac Lofts and Interscape Interior Design. The show is open to the public June 9–15, 2009 at 11625–105 Ave., 12 noon to 5 p.m. If you're interested in seeing more work and you're in Edmonton, Alberta please feel free to drop by otherwise view more work here. For those of you who don't know, I'm a part-time instructor at the college in the fall session under illustration techniques.

You may remember the following piece which is featured in the show:

I'm a MOM!

On May 24th, 2009 I gave birth to my lovely son, Dexter Nolen Driedger. Birth was a profoundly spiritual and empowering experience and being a mother has taken me by surprise. I'm grateful for this experience and can hardly wait to paint and draw my memories of labour and early motherhood for my growing up show come this fall. Of course, I should probably try to catch a few zzz's before I crack open the sketch book. This parenting business is really lots of hard work! Thanks for checking in!