CSN Stores Giveaway!

It's been four and a half years since I left my job and opened my illustration studio. When I first started by blog, it seemed that the words I typed were going to sit in an empty room on the internet, all alone, forever. But, as I found friends and communities online, I gathered a wonderful group of readers & followers. To this day, they (YOU) have given me the motivation and support to continue living my dream.

This giveaway is a gift to you! One of my very lovely readers/facebook followers is going to receive a $60 gift certificate to CSN stores. It you don't know what you would spend your money on - I'll give you some ideas: there are hundreds of nightstands, kids toys, & shoes (take a look at the over 200 stores for yourself).

How to enter:

1) Leave a comment on my blog and answer this question:
What is your favorite children's book?
* If you don't have a blogger account please leave a way I can contact you.

2) Extra entry - become a fan of Crystal Driedger Illustration on facebook.

3) Another entry - become a follower of Crystal Driedger Illustration on blogger.

Contest Ends October 16th, 2010 @ 1:00pm MST. (US & Canadian participants only)

For Amanda & Davey

I recently did two little paintings for my friends Amanda & Davey of their dogs as a thank you. We meet up once a month to talk illustration, life and to cook for each other. It's pure bliss.

Sketchbook Project Pages 8 & 9

See the entire story here (as it progresses).
What is the sketchbook project?

In order to make sure I complete the book before the deadline in January, I have decided to finish 10 pages a month. I'm right on track, completing 2 - 3 per week, and have devoted time in during evenings after my son has gone to sleep. I'm finding the most challenging part of the sketchbook project so far has been working on the storyline. I sometimes sit at my desk staring at blank paper waiting for inspiration while watching Modern Family and True Blood. Maybe that's why my next page (page 10, not yet scanned) takes a darker turn...

Sketchbook Project Pages 6 & 7

See the entire story here (as it progresses).
What is the sketchbook project?

Somber Revelation

New painting for My Life in Colour, a show at the Arts Hab coming this fall with illustrators Amanda Woodward, Davey Thompson and Roger Garcia. Date TBA. See progress sketch here.

Sketchbook Project Page 5

See the entire story here (as it progresses).
What is the sketchbook project?

Sketchbook Project Page 4

See the entire story here (as it progresses).
What is the sketchbook project?

Kaleido Arts Festival Show Opening

Just got home from the "No-Tie Gala" at the Kaleido Art Festival on 118th. Many pieces of art, many really good pieces that I just drooled over and wished I had spare change to buy them... I love the local art in Edmonton. So many hidden and wonderful gems.

Here are two snaps of my artwork

Artwork by Oksana Zhelisko, an artist I'd never heard of but whose work I fell in love with immediately!

Friend Amanda Woodward next to her three pieces. Love her work and her studio is currently hiring a designer too!

Illustration Friday - Dessert

Two twin cupcakes, my little almost edible sculpted acrylic paintings. See the progress here.

Close-up:

Anura & the GDC Creative Cause Art Show and Sale

Meet Anura, whose name means knowledge. She is calm, independant and lives in a mystic forest.

Here's your chance to purchase the original painting of Anura at GDCs, A Creative Cause (buy tickets for this Alberta Art Gallery Show and Sale happening on October 7th).

Kaleido Festival 2010 | Arts on The Ave

I have two pieces of art for sale at the Kaleido Festival 2010 | Arts on The Ave this year (118th ave and approx 91st street in the Old Cycle Building). Stop by, see the art and then check out some of the performances too. See their website for more details.

These are the paintings up for sale this upcoming weekend:

Sketchbook Project Pages 1 - 3

Three finished pages, in sequence, for the sketchbook project.
(My subject is Jackets, Blankets & Sheets)

Also, please scroll down to see my finished mermaid piece and where it's going to be for sale this fall.

Cordelia & the GDC art show & sale

Meet Cordelia (meaning sea jewel). See the creation of the mermaid here on a previous post.

This piece will be up for sale at the upcoming show and sale for the Society of Graphic Designers called "A Creative Cause". Sale is on October 7 at the Alberta Art Gallery from 6:30 - 11pm (click on the link to purchase tickets to that event). I donated a piece called "Lina Medina" that will also be for sale.

Close-up

Another Close-up

Sketchbook Project

My sketchbook arrived for the sketchbook project this Friday. I was quite surprised that it had arrived at all because with the simple slip of my finger, I typed a "2" where a "3" aught to have been in my address line when at the check-out. Remarkably, the workers at Canada Post figured out where I lived anyway.

I plan to sketch most evenings after my son has fallen asleep and shall scan the pages as I have time to post them. I hope you enjoy the story.

As a side note, the sketchbook is much smaller than I thought it would be. It seems I'm going to have to keep my pencil quite sharp in order to maintain details!

Cute as a cupcake

Four new little acrylic sculpted paintings in the works. Ready for colour!