Dexter's Digger Dog

Finished the painting just in time! Dexter's second birthday party is tomorrow.
See the sketch here.

Eee & Bee photography

Twice in one week, who knew it was national "plug a friend" week? Yesterday, I plugged Alex, a bookbinder... today, my brother-in-law and his wife just put their website live - Eee & Bee Photography! I noticed, also, that because they are just starting up, for a limited time, all of their services are FREE! If you're in the Edmonton area, please contact them... engagement, event photography, maternity, new baby shoot, whatever, you name it. They're good, have wonderful personalities - just take a look at their website and let the work speak for itself. Good luck Liz & Brant!

Digger Dog

Next week my "doodlebug" turns 2! Last year, I painted him a train... and this year all he talks about are machines (particularly, "Diggers! Mommy, i love diggers"). He tells me he dreams about them, he screams in excitement from the backseat when he sees them on drives through the city and, yes, you guessed it, bedtime books are always machine related! So, naturally, I am going to paint a "Digger" for his birthday gift this year.

Alex McGuckin - book binder

A good friend of mine, Alex McGuckin, also from Edmonton (Alberta, Canada), recently launched his website. Alex is a professional bookbinder (yes, think traditional leather and embossing tools and elegant marbled paper so beautiful you just have to run your hands over it) and his studio is simple gorgeous! I wish there was a photo of it on his website - you'll just have to imagine the most incredible collection of tools and inspirational illustrations. He does period bindings, restoration, design bindings (example above), boxes and of course, you can commission him to create the book of your dreams...

May 2011 Colouring Page

Enjoy! Colour & share with your class, your kids, whatever! Email me scans/photos of finished artwork and I'll post them on my blog. On a side note, the Edmonton Public Library has picked up my colouring pages for their summer program called "Splash" which makes it the third place that the page will appear in print every month. Want to add your community newsletter to the list? Email me!

Check my "Colouring Pages" tab on my website for larger, more printable versions of the page.

Surtex Cards

Just got these in the mail from my agent, Elaine, at Cypress Fine Art Licensing. In love!!!
For those of you visiting the show - please stop by her booth and say hello for me - Booth # 527, show runs from May 15 - 17.

What is Surtex? Watch this video:

Illustration Friday - "Bottled"

Wow, it's been... years since I did an illustration friday sketch! Oh, the shame!

6th annual Doctors & Derrieres

Come join myself and several other Edmonton artists on April 15th (this Friday!) at Enterprise Square from 7 - 11pm as we auction off many fabulous nude pieces of art of local medical students. Every year the fun seems to double - there's wonderful live music, scrumptious food and the place gets packed with art enthusiasts sipping wine while bidding on art for a great charity. Go to doctorsandderrieres.blogspot.com for more information.

Copper Etching Class

I finished a copper etching class last week at SNAP. The traditional method of printmaking is very intense involving many steps and despite my resolve to create a nice, clean print, I managed to create something quite sloppy (the technicians call this foul-biting). I'm afraid I do not have the patience to take up etching on a more serious basis as I'm sure that only the rare and amazing god-like artists of my generation have the patience to do anything as dedicated as by-hand copper-etching style printmaking these days. A big shout-out to my instructor, Jill Ho-You, whose work is delicate, elegant and as near to perfection as this student can bare to look at.

Here's my attempt:
& The press:

April Colouring Page

Spring is in the air! It's been warm enough in Edmonton these last few days to go outdoors puddle splashing with my son, the "doodle-bug". All of this inspired this month's colouring page.

Get a printable version and download more colouring pages here.

Santa Series #3

Almost finished the four paintings for Surtex! Only a day away from scanning the fourth painting for my agent. Can't wait...

Santa Series #2

Here's painting number 2 for the Santa series going to SURTEX this year. Here's the link to the sketches for the series.

Had a great trip to my Grandparents & Aunt/Uncles homes in British Columbia last week. It was such a welcome relief to the craziness that has been my life this year.

6th annual Doctors & Derrieres

Currently work on my annual Doctors & Derrieres contribution... Here's the scoop on the event:

"Doctors and Derrieres is a unique fundraising event in its 6th year where medical students pose nude for talented local artists and sculptors. Art pieces in diverse mediums celebrating the human body are then donated by each artist to be auctioned off at the main event."

Here's the sketch, done from life. I was only able to attend one drawing session this year, sadly! I've never submitted a sketch of a man before, so cross your fingers that I can turn this into somthing great.

Oh, and as a side note - I've given up facebook for lent. Wish me luck!

Santa Series, painting #1

I've finally finished one of the santa paintings from my new series for my agent (she's taking them to Surtex in NY this year). Thoughts before I finish the other three (here's the link to the sketches for the series)?

March Free Colouring Page

Here's my March free colouring page. Print it, share it (with your school, library, etc), colour it. Please email me photos or scans of the finished coloured pieces, I'd love to post them on my blog! Printable copies are now available in the colouring page section of my website. Click here to print or view past creations.

First Linocut!

Had a crazy good time experimenting making my first little linocut seahorse. I'm hooked, going to buy a whole bunch more carving pads and go crazy in the evenings carving and stamping. Next on the list is making some herbs to put on teatowels to give as gifts. So much fun!!! Yahoo!

Winner of 3rd Giveaway!

Congratulations Mandy of Edmonton, Alberta! Mandy is an illustrator and mother to two wonderful boys. She is the lucky winner of the $60 gift card to CSN stores. Have fun shopping Mandy, thanks for following the blog!

$60 CSN Giveaway - CLOSED

It's that time of year again... CSN stores has approached me asking if I'd like to give my readers another $60 gift card to their online store. I said - why not!? The store is fabulous, selling things like swing sets, a cars themed art desk, and even Michael Kors bed set, with many items that include free shipping...

It's just too easy to enter. Simply visit the wayfair.com, find something you'd love to spend your $60 on and then leave a comment on my blog. Bonus entries for anyone who follows me on twitter, blogger or facebook (one extra entry per follow). You've already seen what I'd pick (links above), so get browsing! Good Luck. Draw is in one week, Wednesday, February 16 at 2pm.

Save & Close

Santa Series

Working on a new santa series for my licensing agent, Elaine. Coming in the next couple weeks is another CSN giveaway of $60 for anything in their stores... stay tuned!

February Free Colouring Page

Here's February's free colouring page. As always, feel free to print it, pass it on, colour it, use it for your classroom, local library, playgroup, whatever! Email me for a larger, more printable version. One day, I promise to set up a link on my website where you can download them right off the net instead of responding to all the emails.