Envirochic Design

I’m particpating in Art Every Day Month at http://creativeeveryday.com and having fun with it!

I’m a couple of days behind, so I’m posting two today.

Here’s Number #2:

Thanks again to the creator, Leah Piken Kolidas (@leah_art on Twitter for all you Tweeps) for creating and hosting this creative outlet! I hope to meet some others out there with similar interests as well!

I’m particpating in Art Every Day Month at http://creativeeveryday.com and I’m already having fun with it!

I’m a couple of days behind, so I’ll have to catch up but it should be no problem… it’s too much fun. Since I love textiles, patterns and design, I’ve decided to create a design on an Artist Trading Card (ATC) each day. At the end I will put them all together in a collage and make prints!

Here’s Number #1:

Thanks goes out to creator, Leah Piken Kolidas (@leah_art on Twitter for all you Tweeps) for creating and hosting this creative outlet! I hope to meet some others out there with similar interests as well!

I’m excited to participate in Jamie Ridler Studios - Full Frost Moon Dreamboards for the first time!

Jamie asks, “What do you want to bring to life in this final part of the year? Is it time to breathe some fresh energy into your 2009 goals and intentions? Is it time for completion and clearing? Are you already starting to cast forward into 2010? What will you dream of under the Full Frost Moon?”

Well, I’m answering! I quickly created a collage with some of my favourite hand-made papers, hand-made stamps and some cut up text and images from magazines and wrote my intentions on what I am going to focus on… starting right now!

Here it is!:

I should have taken some up close images as you might not be able to read it, but Ive included my intentions to take/make time to organize myself, focus on my art, get some help with personal coaching with Jamie, exercise, eat healthy, enjoy, work hard, and to just go for it. I’ve also included a statement that I should be proud of myself “I’ve dreamed… and now I create.” It may not seem too important to others, but for me it is a bold statement that shows what I have accomplished in the past year, finding my creative self once again. Now, I can move on happily and successfully and never again let go of this artistic ’soul quenching” I so need. I think that not too many people understand this feeling (and it may sound more than corny), but I do know that the people who do understand, agree with me strongly and passionately! I do have to thank my husband for supporting me this past year… you. are. absolutely. the. best.

In creating this dreamboard, I am intending to dive whole-heartedly into the next project I’m working on which I will share soon along with a newly revised site. Exciting things are coming for me in the next few months… I can just feel it! I love the fact that I framed it so I can put it up in my studio to remind myself everyday of my goals and that I signed it “Me”. It’s a good feeling to create something for myself as opposed to creating something to sell. Now, I should get to work!

I had a great time at the Goulbourn Museum today for their 2nd Annual Art Show and Sale. I saw a couple of wonderful, talented women that I met in the summer at another art show and met a couple of new wonderful, talented women! The best part of the show (other than selling some of my work) was seeing some friends that I don’t often get to see. Thanks to everyone who made the trip… you’re the best!

At the show I was telling some friends about my talented 14 yr-old daughter, Haley, and mentioned I would email some of her work… better yet, I thought I should post her photos here!

A few notes from Haley:

1. Haley says the scanner doesn’t do her pencil drawn pictures justice which I agree with
2. They are not traced… the digital art is all done from scratch using only simple brushes.
3. The first one below is her first attempt at Photoshop and she wants me to tell you she doesnt’ think it’s good (silly girl!).

A few notes from her Mom:

1. As you will see, Haley is obsessed with anything asian (music, language, culture)… don’t ask why… I can’t figure it out!
2. I think she is absolutely amazing!
3. Wow.

Enjoy!

Please come by the Goulbourn Museum in Stittsville this weekend for their 2nd Annual Fall Art Show and Sale and say hello!

I will be there with six other artists, artisans, jewellery makers and textile artists with my artwork that will be on sale just in time for the holidays! My pieces include large and small mixed-media collage featuring my most recent bird theme, as well as personalized custom order collages for anyone who is looking for a beautiful piece of art for their child’s room!

Goulbourn Museum
Sunday, October 18th, 2009
1p.m. - 4p.m.
2064 Huntley Rd (see map)
Stittsville, ON

To make a full Sunday afternoon of it, why not drop by an absolutely fabulous store in Stittsville that also carries my art…
St. Elmo’s Fire, Ottawa’s best kept secret for very unique, affordable, creative shopping!!! They carry Spirited Art and Decor, Food and Fashion. Experience the old world infused with modern chic and be spirited away with continually changing, one of a kind treasures.

Attention Ladies: St. Elmo’s Fire is also holding a Witches Ball on Oct 30, 2009. Reserve your tickets early as they are selling quickly! Have a wicked good time! Contact St. Elmo’s Fire for more information!!!

I hope to see you!

This is the first time I am participating in Wishcasting Wednesday with Jamie Ridler from Jamie Ridler Studios! Jamie asks, What do you wish to let go, and agreeably, I think you CAN be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes!

My wish today is to concentrate. Concentrate on each of my goals (I have several!) one at a time. To do this I will organize myself… organize my time… concentrate.

What’s your wish today?

I am working with my son, Owen, on my new Art lessons for Children! Periodically, we will share his masterpieces! We’ll be having fun with the following class:

Mixed Media for the Budding Artist: Children’s Book Illustrations!
Children will discover the world of drawing, mixed-media painting, plasticine art and collage by studying some of the most popular children’s books, from Eric Carle’s Hungry Caterpillar, to Barbara Reid’s plasticine art to Lauren Child’s Charlie and Lola series of books and more!
Ages: 4 – 6

Here it is!:

What a great job he did and he is so proud to have it framed and displayed in his room! We read a few Barbara Reid books and other similarly illustrated books and decided on illustrating a mouse in a field. We both warmed the plasticine in our hot little hands and he went to work on the background with very little assistance. We discussed what shapes we needed and I taught him how to make them, how to roll them and then smush them (carefully) on to the background. Then he applied all the fine details using some common kitchen tools. The final touch (Owen’s idea) was a pretty little yellow flower beside his little mouse.

During our lesson, on his own, Owen also drew a house on the workspace area of his illustration board. He said it was for the mouse and it had 3 stories, complete with stairs, furniture and it even had ghosts in the attic (yes, Hallowe’en must be near)! Of course I was not going to interfere with an artist who was so inspired, so I let him run with it and I really enjoyed watching his creativity shine. I look so forward to our next lesson.

For more information, please visit my classes and workshops!

Can I paint your wall? I need some samples!

This morning I posted an update on my Facebook account this morning that I am inspired… once again… and it gave me the urge to blog about it! I am so excited about my new artistic venture for EnviroChic Design… Wall murals!

I’m not talking about the typical kids room murals with children’s famous movie characters, fairies, princesses, castles, jungles and boats (although, please don’t think I think there is anything wrong with that at all), but I’m talking about oh-so-chic collage wall art… close your eyes and picture dramatic, zen-inspired rooms with cherry blossom trees or bamboo silhouettes and inspirational quotes, or mixed-media collage with beautiful handmade papers, birds and funky retro-inspired flower designs, or graffiti-inspired walls with funky lettering styles with enviromental messaging that even a teenage boy would think is cool. The possibilities are endless… and that’s where you come in…

I only have so many walls in my house - even I know that a house should not be totally plastered with wall murals - so I am looking for a wall to paint in someone elses house - in the Ottawa area! What I’m looking for is:

• One bare, clean, unblemished wall - not too small, not too big - in a child’s room, living room, den, playroom or guest room where I can pretty much have my way with it, although I will happily collaborate with you before putting a brush to your wall to ensure you are getting the mural that you want in the colour palette that you are looking for!
• Weekend access this fall to paint without too much interruption!
• A small $200 payment - a fraction of the price of the regular cost - to cover my materials and some design work.
• Permission to photograph the work - in stages and the completed work - and use for EnviroChic advertising.

I am looking for 3 - 4 projects to work on over the fall for a winter 2010 launch. Please do contact me if you are interested! Id’ love to work with you!

Blackbird (neat stuff for every nest) in Almonte is now carrying my artwork - a new series of inspiring bird mixed media paintings! Have you been to Almonte lately? Blackbird is a wonderful, funky little gift shop with one of the friendliest owners I’ve ever met. I’m grateful to have met Emily and her staff and I’m thankful to have my things for sale in her shop. These inspiring, framed pieces are perfect for gift-giving, whether it’s for an upcoming wedding, baby shower, birthday or just to show your love to someone special.

Blackbird is also carrying my line of inspiring necklaces, including my LoveBird pendants for $49. Each necklace is a hand-made, original piece of art (no prints) encased in a beautiful pewter pendant. The pendants measure approximately 1-1/2″(4 cm) wide by 1-1/2″(4 cm)high. The necklaces are doubled silver or black satin rope (soft and comfortable) that measure approximately 18″ with lobster claw clasp closures.

Who couldn’t use a little lovebird in their lives? This a great gift for a loved one or for yourself!

Custom orders for paintings and jewelry are also available… oh, and I almost forgot, the birds in my latest works can all be found in Ontario and other parts of North America of course!

I haven’t posted to Illustration Friday in quite a long time - a few years maybe (inexcusable!) - but it’s time for me to start participating again whenever I can. It’s such a great site to challenge my creativity weekly, and I hope to meet others in this same wonderful community. I’m always amazed at the talented artists who submit to this site and I’m so inspired each time I browse their postings.

The theme this week is impatience, and the quote that inspired me for this collage is:

I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. ~ Lao Tzu

As I always like to focus on positive energy and thoughts in my work and in my life in general, I have taken it upon myself to use the antonym of the theme this week!

All the best.