If you live in Toronto (or happen to be in town), stop by IndexG gallery this Saturday, November 19th between 3 and 6 pm for the opening reception of Art Brownies (click for more [...]]]> Time for a wee break from the commercial work and in with some personal painting…

If you live in Toronto (or happen to be in town), stop by IndexG gallery this Saturday, November 19th between 3 and 6 pm for the opening reception of Art Brownies (click for more info). The show features a lot of talented locals and wouldn’t you know it, I’ve got work in it too!

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the work going into the show.

So come by, get some early Christmas shopping done and check out some fantastic art. Show runs until December 18th.

Last week, in between assignments and paintings, I had a chance to work with Phillip Mondor and the lovely folks at Somerset Graphics to promote [...]]]> Remember last week when I talked about my super busy schedule? That doesn’t mean I’m not taking on clients, quite the opposite in fact! Bring on the fun!

Last week, in between assignments and paintings, I had a chance to work with Phillip Mondor and the lovely folks at Somerset Graphics to promote their latest printer. Four illustrators, including myself, were asked to create patterns for the inner flaps of note books to the theme of Genius (The name of Somerset’s new baby). From start to finish these took approximately 48 hours, it was crazy amounts of fun and I’m so happy with the results I’m going to give you the whole process, blow by blow.

Thumbnail (Chosen from a set of 5)

Colour Comp/Linear

Final Pattern

Final Glasses for Cover

As soon as I have them in my hot little hands I’ll post images of the finished product, but until then if you’re attending the Design Thinkers conference this year (Chipkidd!!!), pop by Somerset’s booth and grab the finished notebook for yourself

Also stay tuned for a show announcement later this week, if your looking to do some unique and down right cool Christmas shopping I’ve got an event for you!

Don’t worry your pretty little head ’cause it’s online!

Check out the other helmets and place a bid to support Kids Help Phone!

Coming up this weekend is Small Print’s Roald Dahl Festival. Festivals celebrating the wonderfully bizarre tales of Roald Dahl are held yearly across the UK and we’ve decided Toronto needs one of it’s own! Come to Wychwood Barns next weekend and check out the plethora [...]]]> Finishing up with one project and on to the next!

Coming up this weekend is Small Print’s Roald Dahl Festival. Festivals celebrating the wonderfully bizarre tales of Roald Dahl are held yearly across the UK and we’ve decided Toronto needs one of it’s own! Come to Wychwood Barns next weekend and check out the plethora of workshops, dances and readings we’ve got lined up. Not to mention a workshop given by Patricia Storms and yours truly that will focus on showing children how illustrators take great stories like Dahl’s The Twits and translate them into pictures.

Head to www.smallprinttoronto.org for a full schedual and advanced tickets…

And don’t forget that Friday night is the launch of the helmet auction for Kid’s Help Phone (See my last post for a preview of my helmet). Show starts at 8pm at Longboard Living. Come pay me a visit and bid on some hand painted protection for your dome.

One of these move related happenings I’ve [...]]]> Some of you (There must be at least three people reading this…Hi, Mom!) may have noticed, or know already, that I recently moved. While not a pleasant experience, lets be honest moving rarely is, there have been some fantastic happenings to balance things out.

One of these move related happenings I’ve enjoyed: The cleanse. The purging of material items you have not used, touched, or in some cases don’t remember at all. Basically, If you haven’t touched it in over 6 months, TOSS IT! For example: the ukulele you bought to learn ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ but never progressed beyond the first bar or the burnt orange sweater from that sale on Boxing Day you still haven’t worked up the nerve to wear. What’s the point of this little rant? Well, In the process of my purge, somewhere in between the burnt orange sweater and my collection of unused bath products (Seriously, how many loofahs does one person require?) I realized I have many a painting without a home! And the space for them in my home is quickly becoming non-existent. So, dear readers (Maybe four people by the time I’ve finished writing this…Hi, Dad!) I’m having a painting sale! Please stop by the page and check it out! I need some room to store more work and my landlord wouldn’t mind a rent check now and again.

Prices and sizes are below the images and I am more than happy to ship or personally deliver the works. Just call or email me and we’ll get it in your hot little hands. So click the painting and GO SHOPPING!

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 [...]]]>

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.

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