end of year party

It's been a pretty good year. I hope in 2009 I push myself even further.
Happy new year folks!

Silly Bears

After a semester of working on projects that felt really heavy and (personally) meaningful, all I can do now is paint and draw animals wearing silly hats and other silly things. Huh.

I'm enjoying it too. Tee.

A Burst of Colour

Eye Spy: A Burst of Colour

Ok, how about a lot of colour?
Mr. Jones amazingly matches our friend's wall. Sometimes.

Recycling into Bookmarks

One of my favorite items to collect are old books. I have a ridiculously huge weak spot for them. Since living in Montreal I have gathered books from thrift stores, the side of the road, and even got a few great oldies from an art installation that was made of them. Sometimes I paint on the old pages, or I use them for collage. Last year I thought up the idea to make bookmarks from them. I made a bunch then, but the project quickly lost priority with school and all the pressing assignments I had to do. A few days ago I decided to give the project another go, and I have to say, I am having loads of fun with it! The first set are from a book about animal ecology, the second from an encyclopedia from the 1950's and the third set (they haven't been laminated yet) are from an old children's book that I found in my friends apartment, which had been left by the previous tenants. I am excited to branch out even further and make bookmarks out of old maps, of medical illustrations, the possibilities are vast.

Now I need to decide what to do with all these little guys. I was thinking of selling some of them on Etsy, or maybe just adding a random one in when people make a purchase. Also thinking about giving them away for Christmas (they'd make great stocking stuffers!). It's going to be difficult parting with them, though. They're so precious and one of a kind.

In the tub

Oil on canvas. 4'x3' I think.

Who doesn't have one of these photos laying about? Seriously.

I don't think I'm satisfied with this painting yet. Not sure if it's done, not sure if I care to go back to it or move on, though.