cooking up sketches

Lots of things to do in the studio these days. I'm cooking up better plans for my students this November (yup, I've decided to go back to work once a week on thursdays during November). The dragon sketch is for an acrylics wash techniques sample.

Growing up show is about one month away (yikes!) and I still have two paintings to do. The top sketch is my very oldest memory. I'll let you know more about it when I don't have a fussy baby on my lap... ;)

Becoming Mother - Growing Up Show (FINISHED)

Becoming Mother Finished, originally uploaded by crystal driedger.

The birth of my first child was the most life changing event I've ever gone through in my life. Labour is hard work, and if you let it, it's so beautiful it could make you cry just to think back upon it. When my water broke late at night this May, I took a deep breath and allowed the process to overtake me. 16 hours passed swiftly and before I knew it my exhausted body was completely naked for all the world to see and my son was being placed in my arms. He was covered in all manner of things that would normally make me pale, but all I wanted to do was kiss him, stare at him and hold him. He became, in that moment, the very perfect definition of love.

Growing Up Show is coming soon...

The pressure is building! There's labels to write, paintings to finish (and some to start) and a slideshow to build. Here's some of what I'm working on or finished and have not yet shown you!

Becoming Mother Painting in the works (Dexter in his chair behind me):

Becoming Mother

Here's a sneak peak at what I'm working on right now. It's a small painting that captures my husband and I moments after the birth of our son. It's a part of the Growing Up show this November. I feel that there have not been many things in my life that have cemented the feeling of being "all grown up" than having a baby. Labor was a beautiful, life changing event that still completely empowers and rejuvenates me when I stop to recall it.

A wee little card

I'm braving a road trip with our little bundle this weekend to attend a wedding in Saskatchewan, (that's in west-central Canada for you international visitors). It's going to be a 5 hour drive and that's something I have not yet attempted with my baby (who actually does not fall asleep easily during car rides)... wish me luck!

Here's the card I've made for the newly wed couple. Hope they like it.

See you at the Alter (Growing Up Show)

Shortly before walking down the aisle I was able to read a love note that my husband had scribbled together that morning. It hit me in a sweet, romantic way, how the little details would fall into place and there was nothing to worry about. My husband is da' bomb! hee hee

(Painting for the Growing up Show this November at the McMullen Gallery)