Space Bubblegum

I want to be a five year old. I’m convinced everything would be right again with the world and any disappointment with it would be replaced by  ignorant bliss of the most naive kind.. No bills, no rent, no cooking (Easy bake doesn’t count), no cleaning, no responsibility beyond brushing your teeth. Ahhh, childhood. The problem with this is people might look twice at a smoking, beer swilling five year old. Wait, no beer. Forget it.

A little sketch to satisfy…

It’s been a trying week so this might be a long one…

You see, I damaged my shoulder two weeks ago while working out. The first day I was okay with the sling. I took some time to relax, watch a few dvds and eat chicken. Not my finest portrait but, in this case, unavoidable and entirely appropriate.

The next morning I woke up and went about my morning routine, mildly annoyed with the sling, but all in all things were working out. I bundled up for the cold, hitched my arm up in the sling and trundled off to work.

Problems started here. First was the question “What happened to your arm? ” this has been by far the most prolific. Even complete strangers, people who wouldn’t be compelled to do so much as say hello on a normal day, will approach me to ask if it hurts and how I did it. By this point I’ve started making up creative stories such as wrestling with a bear in a Wyoming nature reserve.

The special reactions of course were from the state-the-obvious Club. “Oh my gawd! You hurt your arm!” They say. In high school I dyed my hair a myriad of colours from blue and purple to a full out rainbow and far, far to often I would get a disturbingly similar statement: “Oh my gawd! Your hair is Purple!” My reaction was simple. I looked at the person, my eyes widened and I screamed “DEAR GOD NOT AGAIN!” and promptly ran into the nearest bathroom. Sadly I think my only solution here is to keep telling people I saved a group of children from a burning bus rather than run screaming through the art gallery. Security might frown on it.

As of today it’s been 14 days since I first started wearing the sling and FINALLY I’m allowed to take it off! I feel like a semi-whole person again! It will take some more time to heal but things are looking optimistic. Spring is on it’s way, Space Age Rodeo is this weekend, I got projects aplenty and I’ve got some more art to share with you folks … Life’s pretty shiny.

You think I’m talking about Valentine’s Day don’t you? Sorry, you’re not invited to that party, but I would love to see you at this one!

and don’t forget to check out www.lovermagazine.ca. They’ve just launched their online magazine! Congrats Guys!

More boxes to come shorty…

This post comes a little late. These past two weeks have been a bit nutty, but in the best way possible. Part of this nuttyness finds me prepping for the up coming X and O Show hosted by Lover Magazine in support of the Toronto Womens Bookstore. I’ll have the latest heirlooms piece on display and another new piece for auction. Keep an eye out here and a lovermagazine.ca for details.

That’s all for now, but keep an ear out for a few photo updates as soon as my camera battery is charged.

It’s winter again. Every year when the cold first sets in I’m okay with it. I find myself thinking “My what a good Canadian I am, walking to work in the cold and smiling all the way. Bring on the snow!”. Then January hits, inevitably the heat in my building fails, I sit in my living room wrapped in blankets, wearing a polar fleece robe covered in teddy bears I’ve had since 1994, three pairs of socks and a toque, fake fireplace running full blast. My what a good Canadian I am.

But despite it all, this year I’m not in the living room, but in the studio, still wrapped in blankets and the heats not working, but I am.

While you’re here, check out the posters for the next Small Print event. It’s going to be a blast!

(Click to see full size poster and event details)

I’m going to make some hot chocolate…

It’s FINALLY a new year, a whole shiny new decade in fact, and I’m determined to hit the ground running. Last year was slow and I can’t say it was the most pleasant year in recent memory and I’ve been looking forward to the fresh clean sheets feeling of the new year.

What’s in store you ask?

Keep an eye out for the continuing of the Heirlooms work, promo’s in the mail, weekly blog updates (Yup, you read it correctly, I said weekly) and digital images to blow your mind….not enough for you? Just wait.

“One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this:  To rise above the little things.”

~John Burroughs

Take a gander at the apron I painted for Eat to the Beat, a breast cancer fundraiser centered around chefs, food and corsets put on by Willow this past October

What is the Double BLT? Bacon, Boobs Lettuce and Tomato.

Woo! The site’s been updated! There’s some shiney new digital works (A bunch more n the horizon) and some new traditional works to round it all out.

On another note, the breast cancer fundraiser Eat to the Beat (http://www.eattothebeat.ca) is tonight at Roy Thomson Hall! Check it out if you can and be sure to take a gander at the apron I painted for the occassion.

Coming soon….a fresh new website design! Stay tuned…

Things have been complicated, to say the least, but my faith in karma will prevail.

To come? A whole whack load of traditional work and a bludgeoning of digital delight!

Excited? I am.