May 23, 2011

Work work work

What is it about the creative sort and a total unwillingness to abide by holidays and rest times?  I have no idea...but I have used this long weekend to really get a move on a few things.  The most important being the invites that I have been working on for Kyle and Melissa.  I am always excited about these things, but it isn't until I finally see the ink on paper that I really know that its going to look awesome.

This is a quick photo of some of the trees drying in my studio.  I have like every surface in here covered with some part of this invitation process.
I also decided to make my own ink to print with (damn you speedball and your lack of copper inks!) So I mixed some lovely Iridescent Copper acrylic in with my silkscreen base and it is working wonderfully.  However, where my base said "severely retards drying time" what it really meant was that anything I am printing in copper is going to need to dry overnight.  Thus my table space is at a premium, but hey, the colour is great!
But right here is what really makes me happy.  I just got my first chance to see the two designs put together.  I have an image here of the RSVP cards with both layers printed.  I think they look amazing, and I hope that Kyle and Mel think the same.  I also have a few of the circle pieces that will be used to afix the envelopment closed....again, its looking great!
I think for the rest of tonight I am just going to keep working away.  While I have the energy I might as well tackle it!

Thats all for now!

Love and Kisses

May 22, 2011

The start of something new

I found some inspiration on my walk with Abby today.  I wont ruin the surprise by telling you what I will be using them for...but keep an eye out.  Something new is coming!

May 19, 2011

Needing some art time.

Well Hello Friends, 

Where have I been?  I have been spending my time working away at getting caught up with all the things in my life that I have put on hold the last while.
I spent some time with Ryan, Aaron, Abby, Kouki and Sakura- which was incredibly good for my soul (and long overdue.)  I have also been teaching like a mad woman - which while it often exhausts me, also nourishes my creativity.  The chance to inspire young people is an incredible motivator.  So tonight I settled down in my studio to get a wee bit of art done.

I created a series of book prints last year that really haven't sold well.  I believe that they are just a little bit too simple for most people.  So instead of storing the things in my studio any more (or throwing them away) - I decided to repurpose one and just see how it went.
I have been working with book pages to make small, quick, mixed media works that are intuitive rather than technical.  I have no idea if other people will respond to them, but hey - its worth a shot!

This is the piece that I came up with tonight.  I am actually fairly pleased with it (though I do need to take a less yellow photo once its light outside again.)  The blue is actually a cobalt colour and the rust (as it looks on my screen) is a shiny lovely copper. 

In the piece I have used acrylic paints, gloss medium, cobalt blue "soft lumps" for drawing, gesso, and watercolour pencil - all on top of a limited edition silkscreen print on a book page.  To give it some stability, it is mounted on a piece of Fabriano paper. The whole thing is coated in 2 layers of gloss medium, but it may well get a few more coats before I am done!

Who knows if these little experiments will end up being interesting or not, but for now I am just having fun playing with my paints!

There will be more to come this weekend as I go into production for Kyle and Melissa's wedding invites and hopefully finish up two pieces that have been sitting in my studio for far too long.

I also had a few helpers in my creative space - they wanted to share my time too I think.  The photo of them above and now one below made me giggle when I saw it.  They slept in baskets together as young kittens - but as adult cats it looks rather hilarious!
Just a little smile to finish my day!

Love and Kisses,
xoxo

May 12, 2011

Mural Mosaic - Work #2

Hello Friends!
Just a quick update from me today.  It has been a rather hectic last 2 weeks.  My grandfather passed away quite suddenly last Tuesday, and I hopped on a plane to Ottawa for the funeral.  This meant that I was working on this final Mural Mosaic piece in the midst of all of that.  I did manage to get it finished, and I am actually fairly pleased with how it turned out.  I guess it means that I can draw faces.  Good to know!
For whatever reason, the photo seemed to stretch out the face, so its a bit out of proportion from what it was.  I will post a link to whatever the final image they end up taking is.  
This lovely woman is Jean Fraser who was on the Board of Directors at MRC for a number of years in the late 1970s and early 1980s.  She had a passion for education, so I am pleased that I was able to have her as my subject.
That's all for now!
xoxo

May 3, 2011

Productivity!

Well, in addition to the mural works that I have been trucking on through - I have also been slowly working at getting things ready for final proofs - most specifically for Kyle and Melissa's wedding!  
As I mentioned in my last post on the subject, I was able to hire my incredible sister Kim to do all of the writing for this creation, and I think that she has just done a fabulous job.  The lettering is light, fun, exciting and has that whimsical feel I was going for!  

Here is a sample of what she did for me:
 
Looks amazing doesn't it?
xoxo
Jen

May 1, 2011

Wow, I actually got it finished!

Panel one for the MRU Mural Mosaic is finito!
It looks pretty ok.  I was kinda stuck with the colours/scheme that they gave me, so while it wouldn't have been my first choice in backgrounds, I hope that I did it justice!






Thoughts?  I also put some gloss medium on the windows for a bit of extra shine.  At least this one is done.  Now on to my portrait!
xoxo
Jen