maple pancakes

My Flying Piggies Valentine

2012-02-08T22:12:00.000-08:00

I entered a little animated valentine into a contest with Toon Boom using their software Flip Doodle Boom which they offered free as a download until February 10.
I did download the free program and I spent several days learning how to use it in a basic sort of way, and finally I managed to put this little video together for the contest. I have posted it on you tube and I thought I'd post it on my blog.
The program is designed for kids and is easy to use. I must admit I spent a lot of hours figuring out how to get this little 30 second video all together. I kept changing it and even had trouble sleeping because I couldn't stop thinking about ways to make it work. My eyes are still fuzzy and recovering from all the focus and staring time and holding my breath time as it came together. I know it doesn't seem like much but it is mine and I did it and it took a lot of hours. A sound track would make it much better. But the contest has a rule to only use their software and it doesn't have a way to add music.

The voting for the contest entries begins on the weekend and the prize is an iPad which would be delightful to win. But there are many entries so the competition will be stiff.
In the meantime I feel happy to have finished this and to have had the opportunity to learn a little bit of this wonderful little animation program. Now I want to make more.

Happy Birthday Maple Pancakes!

2012-01-26T14:56:00.001-08:00

My little blog started in January 2005 and it is still here! So Happy Birthday Maple Pancakes.
It has been a most interesting experience to take part in blogging every week. I think I'll keep on going.
Today I'm posting two drawings I made on my iPad with my Bamboo pen for iPad and Sketchbook Pro APP. If you happen to have an iPad and if you love to draw I recommend this delightful APP. It takes a while to get used to it but once one discovers a favorite brush and gets a feeling of some control it starts to be fun.
Since I am a PC person and I have been for many years, I am beginning to feel a little guilty because I find myself wanting to switch over to an Apple computer especially with the announcement this week about their new free iBook creation APP. On the other hand I am telling myself to wait until the initial thrill of the idea wears off.
I hope your week is going well dear reader. We have sunshine in Vancouver today which has an amazing way of cheering us up. There are more smiling people walking dogs out there today. Still chilly but I am not complaining.

Oh and by the way, I discovered a free download of an animation program for beginners and a contest with Flip Boom Doodle program from Toon Boom. It is a basic fun animation program for kids and adults and it is free until the end of this month according to the information page. They also have a Flip Boom Valentine Animation contest you can enter to win an iPad! How's that for inspiration? Be sure to read the rules of the contest on their facebook page if you decide to enter. It is out of Quebec, Canada.
You can find the FREE download information here. because it is hard to find from the facebook page. At least I had a problem with it.

Flip Boom Doodle is an easy little program. There was a little bit of a problem downloading the free software because it downloaded twice and one download cancelled out the other. But it you just wait for the email to be sent to you with the second download be aware that it may stall the download. You can delete one of the downloads if this happens to you and the other should work fine. Once you have a copy into your computer and then open it and use the code they send to your email address and voila. There it is!
I would post my little test animation here but I haven't figured out how to do that yet.

Boxer Named Maximillan

2012-01-21T21:33:00.000-08:00

This is a vector drawing taken into Painter for details. The reference photo was posted on Wet Canvas this weekend on the All media Events. Thanks to For the DEWI who is moderator this weekend and who provided the photos and for hosting.

I find that WC keeps me experimenting and there's a bit of sharing among the artists which makes for a little social contact and when I am working it is good for me to step away to play every once in a while.

And I never know if something is going to turn out. But this fellow looks pretty neat I think. He was someone's beloved Boxer named Maximillan.

Turning Pages with Book Creator

2012-01-09T23:52:00.000-08:00

Here we are almost at the middle of January. This month marks the anniversary of this blog which I started in 2005 on January 23. When I began I had no idea where it was going and I am still wondering. What I do know is that blogging has helped me. I can't explain it exactly. But I know it's been a good use of my time to post all kinds of things that I find interesting and although I am certain a lot of it is not of interest to others, I think blogging helps me to stay grounded and learning. Maybe that's not a bad thing. And I would love it if anyone out there finds inspiration here.

Lately I have been interested in exploring APPS because I want to learn how to create a picture book APP myself.

Last month I bought a little program just because it allows one to create a personal project in a book like format with turning pages. Here are some photos of me and my first test run.

I brought in a few of my Christmas characters in jpeg format saved in my pictures file on the iPad, added some text on the fly and voila, a little book project. This is a neat app for kids of all ages for school projects, for poems, for photo journals etc.
I think it looks rather cool.

One adds text to each page using the iPad keyboard that pops up on screen.

I don't think one can import text though I may be wrong.

Once you have created a little book you can place it on your bookshelf on your iPad. i believe you can also post your book to iTunes.
The APP is called Book Creator by Red Jumper Studio.
If you go to their website you can see more information and a demo video. It is as easy as it looks. So if you have an iPad and if you have some jpeg files there is nothing to stop you from making a very professional looking virtual book with turning pages.

Stinky Dog Video on New Year's Day

2012-01-01T21:54:00.001-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
Starting off a brand new year I thought I'd post some old stuff with added music sound tracks.
This art was created with my Wacom Bamboo Fun tablet and using Corel's Painter Elements.
Every once in a while I saved a frame as I drew it.
I used Roxio's online Photo Show, a favourite website, to put it together with dissolve between each frame.
Ask me any questions.

Jacob in Watercolour

2011-12-28T21:33:00.001-08:00

A few years ago I painted this portrait of my grandson Jacob. He's now looking older and taller and he plays football in high school as one of the biggest players on the team. I didn't like this at the time I painted it but now I think it works as a likeness.

Christmas Greetings

2011-12-18T19:38:00.002-08:00

Best wishes to my blogger friends out there who are so kind to drop in here.
I have appreciated all the comments and good thoughts and encouragement from you all.

Thank you so much.

I wish you all a Happy Holiday and may the new year hold good things for all of us.
Good health.
Peace.
Lots of love.
Time with friends and family.
Projects ahead that fill our spirits with passion and energy.

Much appreciation to all.

Mary Jane

Merry Christmas!

My card this year. I titled it CHALICE. Can you see it?

Holiday Spirit

2011-12-09T23:17:00.001-08:00

I am trying to get into the holiday spirit.
Harry the snow guy asked me to put him back on the blog this year.
So this is a start.

IF - Vanity Paper Doll & Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T10:58:00.001-08:00

Annie has little vanity. She just appeared the way she is. Lucky me!

When I was young we didn't have Barbie dolls. Instead if we were lucky we had books of paper dolls to cut out and organize and play with. I am sure there are children out there who don't have Barbies.
I have been thinking about starting a paper doll blog. In the meantime, while I make up my mind, I am posting a paper doll I drew up yesterday. I can't figure out how to post a .pdf on google blogs so instead I will post the large jpeg version. It is Free for anyone to have fun with. You can save it and call it up and print it out.
If you click the image it should come up larger.

This is an experiment and in cutting it all out I discovered that Annie is very fine and requires good cutting out skills. Also I put too many tabs around that don't fit arms and legs exactly and can be left out. Use your judgement. This is an experiment.
Don't try to cut out her fingers and be careful with scissors around the arms and keep the base rectangle shape. Fold it around and tape the base so she will stand up.
A pipe cleaner or a pencil taped to her backside will help a lot and or she could be pasted to a card stock for added strength.
I am going to add a coloring page so that kids can color the outfits. And Annie needs friends and more wardrobe items.
Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends. If anyone finds this to be fun please let me know. I will add to this today as I progress with a line drawing coloring page for kids.

There! A black white Annie for coloring.
And you can find the pdf file .

and thanks to Celeste Bergen for telling me about how to do this.

Information Book Award Winner Tanya Kyi

2011-11-18T11:24:00.001-08:00

One of our most talented and prolific B.C. writers, Tanya Lloyd Kyi, a member of CWILL B.C. has just won the Information Book Award of the year for her book Fifty Burning Questions .
Members of the Children's Literature Roundtables across Canada voted it the winner.
I thought I would post this news in case any teachers or librarians out there want to have some of her excellent books on their shelves. Tanya's blog can be found here.
Way to go Tanya. Congratulations!

Chugging Along

2011-11-16T23:35:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I received my book proposal back in the mail. A very nice letter from the editor informs me respectfully that the story doesn't fit their current picture book needs.
I have to admit it is lovely to know so quickly about how they feel about the book idea. A no is hard but not unexpected.
I was thinking about re-doing all of the illustrations and I am so glad I didn't spend more time on it.
I am working on a new idea now and it is refreshing to get away from the pig characters because I was not really happy with them. I am kind of glad they never had a life out there.
I have been helping a friend with her book of poetry over the past few weeks. And I am working on a new picture book idea and getting back to writing.

Bearded Collie Drawing

2011-11-11T22:24:00.001-08:00

Wet Canvas all media forum this weekend. I thought I'd give it a try. CorelDraw followed by adding bits with Corel Painter is the medium.
Thank you to 'justjean' the host this weekend for posting this photo of her dog Duchess.
It is either a Bearded Collie or a Sheep Dog. I'm not sure and thanks to Jennifer for pointing it out to me.

Painting and Erasing and Angels

2011-11-07T21:22:00.000-08:00

Creative process today.
First - A digital painting on my iPad with Art Rage. I used my Bamboo pen for the iPad instead of my finger.
The pen allows for reasonable control of line drawing.
I made three copies of this image.
Then with the eraser tool I removed the 'paint' to reveal little doodle shapes of wings and trees and characters.
I sent them to my computer, took them into CorelDraw and Corel Painter.
I tried to cut and paste them over each other but a white box prevented it.
I repeated another angel wings using the original painting and the eraser tool in Painter. This time I had more control over the design on my computer because I have my Wacom tablet and my trusty Bamboo Fun pen.
Instead of giving up in frustration, I added the blue angel body shapes and feet and hands in vector format with CorelDraw.
Then I cut out some star shaped from the painting base in Painter and cut and pasted them onto the design.
In the end these characters revealed themselves to me and with a few additions to the painted wings...
I love technology and how it opens possibilities for creating new original stuff.

I never know if things will work out or not. Today I am happy.

Loud Noises and A Felt Effect

2011-11-02T20:31:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness Halloween festivities have finally ended and the midnight fireworks have stopped going off at all hours. My dog Maggie and my cat Babette are settling back into a more comfortable mode. They get frightened and seem a bit traumatized for a day or more following the loudness of the darned things.
To push the pumpkin down the blog page I thought I'd post a little heart drawing I did on my iPad with the Art Rage APP. I think it has a sort of fabric look in the final image.
A sort of seventies look to it maybe?
Easy and fun.
I like the Art Rage APP a lot and I can sit watching TV while sketching mindlessly and just fooling around with the colors and the brushes.

I also use a Bamboo pen for the iPad which is really useful if one is inclined to use the iPad for drawing.

Along the top you can see the stages.
I enlarged the third so you could get a better idea of what the effect is. In the early eighties I made a few wild and crazy banners with felt and applique. It reminds me of felt and beads.
Not great art. But fun and easy with the iPad.
I am thinking of trying some butterflies.
If you click the image I think it will come up even larger on the screen.

IF/ Scary

2011-10-31T13:32:00.000-07:00

Boo!
A scary pumpkin.
Well sort of scary?

For Illustration Friday.

Witches and Jack-o-lanterns

2011-10-27T00:11:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd try to make a video with a few pumpkin and witch sketches. The soundtrack was made with Garage Band on an iPad. The video was made with Corel Video Studio Pro X4. The software offers quite an assortment of styles and effects that can change a drawing to make things appear a little wild and less boring. And since this is a wild week for dressing up and trick and treating I figure it's OK to play around a bit. No harm done. Any thoughts?

Halloween Tricks and Treats

2011-10-25T09:44:00.000-07:00

My grandson had a birthday yesterday and now in just a few more days we will celebrate Halloween. At four years old the little guy is over the top with the excitement. First, the birthday cake and presents, and now it is time for dressing up and tricks and treats. How much excitement can a child handle?
I can't resist drawing pumpkins and witches as this week comes to the end of October. In Vancouver this coming weekend, there will be Halloween parties and fireworks in the dark and a lot of kids dressing up so before it is over I thought I'd post a few pumpkins and witches.

Updated Portfolio

2011-10-20T00:00:00.003-07:00

I updated my portfolio this week.
I have almost forgotten how much work I have done over the last three years or so. It is probably too long and too many images but it was fun to put some of them together. If you have any interest in looking at my explorations in digital art and colored pencil and watercolor illustrations please ignore the advertising for the video which comes up on that site, and many thanks for your interest and time.

Beautiful Weekend

2011-10-16T16:39:00.002-07:00

The sun shone this weekend. It is so beautiful outside!

I Mailed it Away!

2011-10-15T16:21:00.000-07:00

Overcoming my intense fear of mailing away, I made myself feel all the fear and I put that manuscript with my illustrations in the post box. Whew! I had no idea how much emotion I had over this project. I get stuck when I am almost done. For five years since I retired I have been holding back.
Everything seemed to get in the way.

The Interact Books Contest got me started and led to a picture book with seventeen illustrations completed instead. But I can not exactly express my thoughts about how hard it was for me to mail this away.
It was finished and ready three weeks ago. But then I decided to do the whole thing over in order to change the characters from piggies to children. The entire project changed in front of me on the screen and I realized it would take me to January to finish a new version properly. So I argued with myself thinking that maybe the story actually stinks and no one would want it anyway. And I have other projects I want to do waiting in a box.
But two days ago after setting myself the new goal of the end of October I decided to go back to the completed work I have spent so much time on. I packed it up with a few samples of my new character ideas. I spent a day composing a letter to the publisher. Then I packed it all up with a return stamped self addressed envelope and I headed out the door with it under my arm. While walking to the post office I had second thoughts and almost turned around because of something I wanted to add. But "No" I said to myself. All the words are there with the illustrations and it either works or it does not work. The worst that can happen is they will hate it and mail it all back. But I can handle that.
Now I am free to move on to other projects. I toasted myself last night with a glass of wine for putting the darned thing in the mail.
I took a picture of the envelope ready to go with some samples of what I placed inside the envelope when it was ready to mail. And on the screen I took a shot of the beginnings of my new character designs to replace the piggies. See below.
So now I will work on other things. And even though I never made that APP on time, this picture book idea came out of the effort. I decided a book is a better format for this project. I learned a lot about what can be done with Corel Painter and a Bamboo Fun low end price-wise Wacom Tablet. This was a good project for me to try.
Now I think I might try to create an APP with Interact Books regardless of the contest. But that's a whole other story. And it is waiting for me in my box of papers. I can't wait to see who wins the Interact best APP contest. It won't be me. But I wish them all luck! And I will wait to see what comes back in the mail. I will let you know one way or the other dear blog and any friends who happen by.

I found a great little APP for kids

2011-10-11T23:32:00.000-07:00

.
One new APP for my iPad purchased from iTunes last week is a picture book of The Three Little Pigs by a company in the UK called Nosy Crow. It blew me away to see what can be done with art and music and animation in a way that children can become completely involved. I think it is so new and so wonderful and I hope anyone out there reading this might check it out to see it and enjoy the creativity of these people.
There is a video on Nosy Crow's website that gives you an idea of how it works.
Their new production of Cinderella is an APP that is winning numerous awards. Nosy Crow's 'Cinderella' is one of eight new best APPs for kids recommended in the New York Times this week.
If you have an iPad and children you may want to check out these wonderful creations.

This is my grandson at three years old using what he calls his 'computer' (iPad).

Exercise

2011-10-08T22:11:00.001-07:00

Today I went with a friend to a NIA class just to check it out and wondering if we were up to doing something we had never tried before. Neither of us would have gone alone.
I was surprised at how smooth and easy it was to move into it. The workout is a cross between dance class and aerobic workout. But it is slow and easy to follow. The music is pleasant and the workout is energizing. Now I feel so much better physically after weeks of sitting in front of the computer. Of course Maggie gets her walks but the Shih Tzu is not exactly a workout kind of dog. So another goal is in place now. NIA classes.

Here is my Maggie with her recent Dr. Seuss style pony tail. The groomer has fun with her at times. Everywhere we go she causes smiles and giggles.
She is my best buddy.

Setting a New Goal This Week

2011-10-07T20:55:00.000-07:00

Hello out there. Is anybody there? I have been working on a book and got lost in it revising and changing and editing and I've been wondering when I will finish it. What first began as an idea for an APP turned into so many illustrations I realized I had enough for a book. So...I finished it as a book. But then I started having second thoughts about the character design.
And then my computer had major problems and I ended up with a new computer which is absolutely lovely so far. Fortunately I saved and backed up files all along the way. So nothing was lost. I must have created over six gigabytes of files working on this.
Then once I had the new computer up and running I changed all the characters from piggies into kids. And I like the kids much better. This led me into doing some research about costume and current fashion.
Now it is October and each day I get closer to an ending of this project.
I have set a goal for finishing by October 31.

On and on and on it goes. I need a support team.

Dancer at the Market

2011-09-13T20:12:00.001-07:00

Yesterday at the market.

Second Thoughts

2011-09-12T19:32:00.001-07:00

I felt as if I'd crashed over a cliff last week when I came to the finish line on this project I've been working on through July and August. After so much intense activity, when I came to the end of the drawings it was like jumping off a merry-go-round. I wanted to keep spinning but I was all spun out.
And now I realize I have enough for a real book and I think it looks pretty good. This assessment is purely from my point of view and not necessarily what others may think. It may suck. But I don't think so.
So instead of taking the story into an interactive APP program as planned, I am first going to send it around to a publisher just to see if maybe it might have life as a real book.
I have been trying to compile a letter to go with the package. Wish me luck because I have no idea what to say.

I kind of feel like the character without the hat. It has been lovely and hot in Vancouver this week.

Still Working on the Picture Book

2011-08-20T21:27:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd post a photo of the illustrations I am working on so far. I know you can't see much of it but I think this is OK because it is copyright protected at the moment. My shoulders hurt and my neck aches from spending so many hours on my computer. Next step is to lay down the text, record it in segments, make new files for the sound and effects and then figure out the software for Interactbooks. They have extended the deadline to October for their contest. My goal is to get this working and to take it to the finish line. If I can get that far I will be very happy.
The story is a collaboration between myself and my adult son Stephen. We wrote out the basic idea and then I did the rough sketches about twenty years ago. But for some reason we got busy with our lives and forgot about it. Two weeks ago, having been inspired by taking two webinars with InteractBooks, I started to develop the drawings into full colour illustrations. Now the time has almost come to see if it might have a life out there as a book or an App for children from five to eight years old. What have we got to lose? As I talk to myself about the craziness of getting back into drawing pig characters I think perhaps it is better to do something with this story than to let it sit alone in a dark drawer. And besides, it is fun to do this.

Getting it together piece by piece

2011-08-16T21:38:00.000-07:00

I apologize for not posting much this month so far. The reason is, I've been working on the illustrations for a little book that has been sitting in my portfolio for many years along with several other stories and ideas. I am hoping to meet a deadline with Interact Books and I am hoping I can figure out how use their software. The story is for kids from K to grade 3 or so. I can't say much more about it while it is in process. But I hope there are good vibes out there because this is a pretty lonely business when it gets down to the wire. Wish me luck please. No matter what happens, this has been an excellent exercise for my brain and it is fun to work on something that may bring delight to kids. I hope.

Meanwhile, to perk up the boring look of this post I will post these sun bathing turtles captured at Van Dusen Gardens three weeks ago.

Making art with my ipad

2011-07-29T22:22:00.003-07:00

I have several painting APPS on my iPad. So far, Art Rage for the ipad is my favourite App for drawing. I played around with it yesterday testing out my new Wacom pen for iPad. Today I am posting some of the little drawings I emailed to myself. With Corel Draw (in my PC), I organized them into this arrangement.

Realizing there were enough little characters for a quilt type design, I thought what the heck. I'll post this. I get a little obsessed with an idea at times.
But I did learn a bit about using the APP with my new pen. And it was peaceful working on these little characters. The centre design is the base for each design. I erased with white in the negative space. I saved over and over again always beginning from the original base digital painting.

Playing with line drawings

2011-07-19T09:47:00.001-07:00

There's a beautiful new toy for artists or kids or anyone who is willing, to play with online. Scribbler Too is a lot of fun. Check out the website and give it a try. This version allows for saving and one has more control over the line drawings.
What a way to waste time! Yet it can get creative juices going and I think that's the point of the fellows who created this magical drawing software. These are the results of my first attempt to try it out. FUN!
(With a wacom tablet and pen it is a little easier I think. I have a small Bamboo Fun tablet)

Scribbler, the first version by Zefrank is now available as an iPad App and I have tried it out and think it is absolutely terrific. Thanks Zefrank and Quasimodo!

Canada Geese On The Pond

2011-06-09T22:18:00.002-07:00

There is a family of Canada Geese living on the pond on Granville Island near the Kids Mart. I've been going down there weekly and have been following the growth of the goslings with my camera. I had to try this with CorelDraw and Painter11 and my Wacom Bamboo Fun tablet. I'm not sure if this works. But it is a always a learning experience.
Step one was the photo reference. Step two - Vector shapes in CorelDRaw. Step three - Blending a base in Painter. Step four - Adding pastel colour and adding details with coloured pencil.

Down at Granville Island

2011-06-02T10:34:00.000-07:00

I photo shopped some photos I took yesterday on another visit to one of my favourite places in Vancouver. The Children's Festival is on and I could not resist the colour and sense of fun. I made a little video last night using Corel Video Studio Pro. I threw in a primitive sound track made with Garage Band on my sweet lovely iPad.

Dog Walking Perks

2011-05-29T17:00:00.001-07:00

An Evil Queen Speaks

2011-05-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

I love reading the Blue Rose Girls Blog because you never know what you will find there and it is always interesting and inspiring. Today there is a lovely poem listed today. Titled The Evil Queen Speaks To Her Magic Mirror by poet Elaine Magliaro and it made me smile today and this is good because it is raining again and I am longing for some sunshine.
A smile is almost as good. I imagine it is good for the endorphins.

Drawing on iPad

2011-05-25T19:20:00.003-07:00

Feeling a little blue with all the rain we've been having. Missing the sun! Playing with the iPad.
Art Rage with a small digital pen for iPad...Looks like I have a lot to learn.

Landscape with Eagle

2011-04-21T22:31:00.000-07:00

Today's project. A card design I've been working on.
All digital.
CorelDraw and then Painter11.
I started playing with it.
Had fun.
Not sure if it works.
But it feels so good to have something to post.

The days go by so fast.

Card Project two

2011-04-15T15:36:00.001-07:00

Today I scanned this pencil crayon drawing from a couple of years ago. Then I worked with it in painter to lighten it up to be more suitable for a card design.
I did the same with a watercolour of pansies adding white to lighten up the heavy darkness of the piece. The pansies are posted on my other blog at paintingpuppies.
I think I need to stand back for a while because my shoulders hurt and I am not sure if it is improved. But I think it is. What do you think?

IF / Bottled

2011-04-09T22:58:00.001-07:00

After the fierce singing competition, four finalists stood in front of the audience holding their award boquets of spring blossoms. Gerty, Nancy, Helena and Annabelle bottled up the high excitement of their emotions as they waited for the judges to make the final decision. Each contestant was determined not to cry if declared the final winner of the Snort Hall of Fame Singing Championships.

For Illustration Friday's word of the week. Bottled. I know. I am stretching it a bit.

IF / Duet

2011-04-06T23:16:00.000-07:00

A little late but I managed to get this together.
Robin has a lovely deep base voice and piggy is soprano. Her voice is slightly grating and it is a little on the sharp side. But they have dreams of being on TV and they practice a lot.

I sketched this with Corel Painter using coloured pencil and pastel brushes.

Developing a Character

2011-04-05T23:02:00.000-07:00

This little character is from my sketchbook. I took him into Painter and had some fun today. Now he needs a background and some friends. I think his name is Freddy. Maybe I will try a different approach tomorrow.

Waterscape With Gulls

2011-03-23T14:03:00.000-07:00

As I ponder the events in Japan I find it helps to make marks and keep working. I once was a liturgical artist and I can feel that process of meditation coming back into the creative process. I have been playing with this image and the field image as well. Today this emerged on my computer pages.

Seagulls are not the nicest birds, but I think they can be beautiful to draw.

Prayers For Japan at Vancouver's Christ Church Cathedral

2011-03-20T21:57:00.000-07:00

Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver held a special service of prayers for the people of Japan this afternoon.

The paper cranes and cherry blossom centre piece was beautiful. After the service ended, many people with cameras came forward to take photos of it. Perhaps there will be many more creations of beautiful art to come forward out of the tragedy that has touched people around the world.

It was a beautiful service and I am so glad I attended.

Playing With Colour

2011-03-18T23:58:00.000-07:00

Today I was playing with Corel Painter.
The sheep are vector images pasted over the design in CorelDraw.

Fur Coat Sketch

2011-03-16T21:35:00.000-07:00

In the nineteen forties, before animal rights groups fought to save animals, my mother owned a beautiful beaver fur coat. As a child I loved the feel of the fur. It was so soft and so warm and so perfect. It smelled of her perfume and when she died at the age of thirty nine years old, I remember sitting in the hall closet holding the coat between my hands and burying my face into the fur trying to hold on to her presence, at least for a little while longer.

Sweater and The CWILL Blog

2011-03-03T23:56:00.001-08:00

My sweater video is posted on the CWILL blog this week. Thank you to Tanya Lloyd Kyi, the editor of the CWILL BC blog who kindly posted it. CWILL BC is a group of published BC authors and illustrators who support each other and learn from each other and who get together regularly to discuss Children's Literature and the process of writing and illustrating books for young people as well as all areas related to the topic.

Tanya Lloyd Kyi is a talented writer and editor who also maintains her own delightful blog. Tanya is prolific in the writing of many books for young people both in fiction and non fiction. Her most recent book project is titled 50 Poisonous Questions, A Book With Bite.

Whatever Happened to Albert's Old Shoes?

2011-02-23T20:12:00.005-08:00

Albert's Old Shoes is a beautiful little story written by my son Stephen when he was in his late teens. It was a very succesful book and thousands of children loved the story. It continues to be relevant even twenty four years later. It is about bullying. Kids loved the story. The book was always a great way to start discussions and stories about bullies. All kids know about bullies.
We all know how they can appear out of the blue. They keep popping up all over the place.

I suppose there may be a way to get the four thousand copies of Albert out into the market place. They are stored somewhere in boxes at Fitzhenry & Whiteside who received them from Stoddart Publishers when that publisher closed down a few years ago. Albert's Old Shoes was a popular book. It sold over 67,000 copies when it was with Scholastic.

For over fifteen years I was often asked by teachers to go to their schools to give book talks and to entertain the students with my drawings of Albert and his friend Bill the bully. The children loved Albert and I always came away energized and so surprised at how the book was loved. But now, when no one except Stephen and I know it is there, I doubt the book has much chance of selling. And picture books are not selling well at this time if my information is correct.

Yesterday I found myself organizing the Albert illustrations into a nice little slide show with music. But it takes up a lot of memory so I have to figure out where and how to post it. It makes a lovely pdf. It would make a beautiful ebook. I wonder how that could happen? I am curious. I may see what Stephen thinks about the idea. A good story is a good story and Albert may be ready to go out there in a new form perhaps? I wonder what is involved? I have to do some research.

Drawing Sweater with Painter11

2011-02-15T14:56:00.003-08:00

I thought I'd post the drawing process of the previous illustration. And I added a sweater to the little dog. It was fun to do and while I sketched out this sweater theme, I had no idea what it would turn out like. But isn't that the way with just about everything we make? A cake? A poem. A paragraph. A creative story. I guess the thing is to keep on going just to see what happens.
Later post
It looks like ROXIO photoshow, the software and website I have an account with is down tonight, Thursday, March 4, so I am not sure when it will be back up. My apologies to anyone who might be by to check out this little video. Hopefully it will be up and running again soon.

IF / Sweater

2011-02-12T16:06:00.001-08:00

For Illustration Friday this week.

What To Do If You Are A Sweater

Be wooly and warm.
Snuggle up to chins.
Tickle a little.
Be soft.
Wrap around cold shoulders.
Cuddle a tummy.
Lie in a drawer all summer long
or under a bed in a pile of stinky socks.
Ball up with fluff balls.
Get tossed into the give away pile.
Live in a plastic garbage bag filled with old clothes.
Be lifted up and out.
Be washed and folded.
Be found by someone who loves my colours and softness.
Be worn for two long winters keeping my new owner warm and cozy.
Be found by moths.
Be nibbled at bit by bit, strand by strand.
Become thread bare.
Be tossed into a rag pile.
Be found by a jewellery maker who makes felted jewellery.
Be felted along with other wooly bits.
Be added to pearls and bright buttons in a necklace.
Be bought by a distinguished gentleman of good taste.
Be presented to his lady as a Valentines Day gift.

I guess I couldn't stop! I know. Strange story. Thanks for bearing with me. But it is raining and raining and raining in Vancouver today.

An Image of Swans

2011-01-10T14:55:00.001-08:00

Still working on this week's Wet Canvas All Media Event.
I am thinking that I could use this as a base for beginning a real painting with oils or acrylics or pastels.
In the meantime it would make a nice card I think.

This is the vector file I took into painter as a jpeg and painted over.
I separated the background from the swans with reflections.
I worked on the backgound in painter using blends and pastels over what I had laid down.
Then back to Corel. Combined the two and took it all back into painter as a jpeg for touch up of feathers and shadows of the swans.
Then back to CorelDraw for a frame and then back into Painter to play with oily blenders around the frame.
I've been having fun with this.
Is this a bad thing?

And the joys of hitting enter trying for a 'woodcut effect' and voila. A surprise again.

Thanks for coming by dear friends.
It's been hard trying to get moving since New Years. But it feels good to be back here making swans swim.

Two Sheep In A Green Meadow

2011-01-08T23:30:00.001-08:00

This weekend the Wet Canvas All Media Event forum has so many beautiful photo references I can't resist taking part. Since I have been into sheep lately for reasons I can not explain, I chose a photo of some sheep to work with. I started by creating a vector drawing of the sheep using Corel Draw and my little Bamboo Pen Tablet. I was not pleased with it. But I decided to not give up just because it was not working for me. I took the vector into Corel Painter11 and using the pastels and pencil crayon brushes I painted over it.

Then, when it was finished as far as I could take it, on a whim I tried the 'woodcut' effect. I never expected what happened. But I think it is rather fun and different.

Happy New year to my friends out there who come by. I really appreciate your thoughts and comments.

Thanks to Maureen Whittaker of Wet Canvas for her beautiful photo references this week.

IF - Resolutions

2011-01-01T22:41:00.001-08:00

Albert sat up all night on New Year's Eve writing his list of resolutions for the year ahead. His art was on the top of the list. He knew he had to focus and make himself finish one project at a time. It was obvious he had started too many projects. Multi-tasking was not working. Even the latest research showed that multi-tasking didn't work. Albert knew he was proof of that fact. He mumbled to himself over and over "2011 is my year to get organized!"

This illustration fits the IF so I thought I'd post it. It is from a story board I developed a few years ago. Maybe my resolution this year will be to do something with it.

This was drawn in pen on paper. Then the sketch was scanned into Corel Painter11 and reversed to white line on black. Then I filled it all in with pastel and pencil brushes.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-21T19:03:00.002-08:00

Wise Men

2010-12-14T22:05:00.000-08:00

My wise men are ready for cards now. I thought I'd post them.

Christmas Cards

2010-12-11T21:41:00.001-08:00

A log time ago, early 1980's, I had a position as a Liturgical Artist and Arts Coordinator at Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver. At Christmas time in the midst of pageant involvement with costumes and sets, and banners for services, I was responsible for creating designs suitable for the leaflets for the many Christmas services. They had to be black and white line drawings suitable for printing out by photocopier. We didn't have PC's at that time so I did everything with pen and ink.

Last week I pulled out a few of those old designs and I began adapt them and to play in colour with in CorelDraw and Painter11.
I have also been doodling as you can see, in those three wise fellows on camels. Colour brings them alive. They seem to be wanting to emerge from the page into my life or at least onto cards.

Waterlily Goes Too Far

2010-11-17T22:10:00.000-08:00

One thing leads to another. It rained this morning and I felt a little depressed about the darkness of the day but then the sun came out so I took my little dog outside for a walk. It was cold and we know winter is arriving early. Tonight I posted this waterlily design to Wet Canvas website for this week's All Media Event as explained in the previous post with fish.
Then I took the image into Corel Painter11 and added some lines.
Being my usual obsessive self when I overdo things I wondered what it might look like as a quilt design. I think I had better stop now.

If anyone has any thoughts I'd love to hear them.I kind of enjoyed this little adventure with the waterlily. And many thanks to Li of Wet Canvas who provided the reference lily photo.

Fish on a Sunday Evening

2010-11-14T22:25:00.001-08:00

It is Sunday night and my eyes are so tired but I I've been working on this today. A new fish illustration to add to the Pink Flamingo below this post. Goodnight out there in cyberland. I hope you had a good day.

The older I become, the more I treasure each and every day. This weekend I am remembering Edgar who died at the age of one hundred but who was wise and smart and gentle and kind right to the end of his long and eventful life. He wrote a weekly column for his newspaper right up to the day before he passed away. What an inspiration he was to everyone.

Pink Flamingo

2010-11-14T10:46:00.002-08:00

Wet canvas has some beautiful photo references this week on their All Media Art Event.

Using Corel Draw X4 in vector format I came up with a couple of versions of a pink flamingo in grass.

I converted it to a jpeg file and took the design into Painter11 and then changed it with a little line work using the coloured pencil brush.

I think this would make a nice card don't you think? I'd be glad to send this to anyone as a pdf gift card file if you let me know. I'd like to thank Lisilk for the beautiful photographs this week. I am about to tackle a few more.

Walking With Maggie

2010-11-05T11:32:00.000-07:00

I took a few photos while walking with Maggie this week. I thought I'd post them. The leaves are falling fast and soon the colour will be gone. This is one of her favourite places. Me too!

Woman In A Yellow Hat

2010-10-17T17:31:00.001-07:00

I joined Wet Canvas this weekend for the All Media Event. I combined images from two reference photos, one photo a woman wearing a big hat, and one photo a row of tulips.

As I worked on this I remembered my grandmother who always bought a new hat in springtime. She loved hats with lots of flowers and wore them with pride. That was a long time ago.

Red Ball

2010-10-09T23:36:00.001-07:00

I managed to get this done today. It is for the Wet Canvas All Media Event for this week. A combination of three reference photos. This is done with Painter and CorelDraw. A little different from my usual way of working, but I like to experiment.
I used the pastel brushes, the blender brushes and the pencil brushes in Painter11. My dog acts just like that little dog. Maggie isn't interested in chasing most balls. But she does like to watch the people go through all the motions of trying to get her to chase it.

Thank you to Bonnie at Wet Canvas this week for the reference photos.

A Project From the Past

2010-09-24T09:19:00.000-07:00

I keep playing with old drawings because of my constant need to experiment with images. Yesterday, while going through my portfolio, I pulled out a couple of drawings from a little story I wrote way back in the early nineteen nineties for a video class at Emily Carr College of Art And Design. It was a short story with images drawn very quickly with coloured pencils to meet a deadline for class. I finished the story but I never finished the final video. I made a promise to the instructor that I would finish it but I never followed through and it has haunted me for years. Now, with the technology at my finger tips, I think I might give it another try just to see if I can do something with it in video form.
These are two dusty old pencil crayon drawings scanned into Corel Painter11 and 'painted' over with the pastel brushes with my little Wacom Bamboo Tablet and my little plastic tipped pen. I do love technology. But I must get my portfolio together and I must stop experimenting. Oh my.

Simon's Cat in 'The Box'

2010-09-22T09:38:00.001-07:00

A friend on Facebook noted this animation today and I think it is brilliant. Cat lovers everywhere will laugh and relate. Simon the animator certainly knows his cats.
He has a series of them. Enjoy!

Pencil Sketches to Vector Shapes

2010-09-10T09:23:00.001-07:00

I am working up some ideas for a story board and it's been a while since the last posting here so I thought I would share this.

Pencil sketches scanned into CorelDRAW and then turned into vector shapes.

A Sweet Cat Portrait Commision

2010-08-12T16:36:00.002-07:00

I have not used my coloured pencils for a while but when my friend reminded me about a promise I made to sketch a portrait of a favourite cat way back in May...I realized I had to get my act together.
I have spent about ten hours on this so far. The weather is getting HOT again so I am glad to have managed to beat the heat before the sun begins to beat against the roof of my top floor apartment.
I am hoping my friend is able to give this to her friends who will be arriving soon for a visit from a far away place.

The size is about 12 inches by 10 inches on Arches smooth hot press paper. PrismaColor pencils. From a photo reference.

Maggie's First Birthday

2010-08-09T14:25:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Maggie had a birthday party. The three adults present enjoyed quiche and salad and cherry pie with vanilla ice cream while dogs Charlie, Maza and Maggie played.
My Maggie is one year old. I dressed her up with pink thingies on her head.
Today I am trying to ignore her as I try to get some work done.

Maggie's Haircut

2010-07-27T13:11:00.000-07:00

My sweet Maggie has a new hair cut. It broke my heart to have her flowing hair cut back but it has been hot and I think she is a little more comfortable now. The groomer placed two black bows on her head and she looks pretty cute. I am sure Chralie will soon pull them off but until then here is my Maggie at eleven months old.

Busker Banjo Pig

2010-07-19T15:50:00.003-07:00

Here is my contribution to the funny and wonderful blog Duelling Banjo Piggies. I don't know if they will post it but at least I have submitted it.
And it's my birthday today!
I feel as if maybe I am not procrastinating so much these days. At least I tried the piggies thing.

BUSKER PIGGIE STORY

It all began when Albert received a banjo from his Aunty Porky.
Little did anyone realize the talent that had laid latent for so many long years.
Albert wasn’t a kid anymore. No. He was almost fifty and not happy
at all about his long career as an insurance agent.

But when he sat down to play that banjo, everyone had to stop and listen.
Albert was absolutely amazing with the instrument without any lessons at all except for the time in his teenage years when he had secretly dabbled with a set of drums in the garage which wasn’t as secret as he assumed because the noise had kept everyone awake nights.
Fortunately no had called the police to complain because they were good neighbours who liked Albert’s mother especially because of the rhubarb pies she left around on porches laced with gin.
And then there were the beer laced pumpkin pies in fall and the rum laced minced meat pies at Christmas. Albert's mom kept the neighbours happy.
So Albert went on playing drums until the age of twenty when he suddenly stopped playing drums. It was to everyone’s great relief.

When he started playing banjo at a late age he was transformed. Albert was definitely a banjo musician. He quit his insurance company job and headed for the downtown subway stations where he plays as a busker to this day making enough to cover his modest cost of living since he still lives with his mother.
They say she keeps him happy with her pies.

Colouring Sketched Banjo Piggies

2010-07-17T23:01:00.001-07:00

I coloured three of my piggies with Corel Painter but I think I will try some vector interpretations of these sketches as well.

Sketching Piggies

2010-07-17T10:22:00.002-07:00

I thought I'd give the Pigs Playing Banjos Challenge a try. I'm not sure if I will submit anything but at least I have started doing something after so many hot days. I felt as if my brain had melted for a few days last week. Thank goodness for cooler sunny weather.

Today is absolutely beautiful. We have sunshine and cool air with puffy clouds floating by.
OK. So if one looks at my piggies one might come to the conclusion that they are from a fried brain.
Maybe so.
I drew these characters sort of half heartedly because my dog Maggie wanted attention and kept begging to be up on my lap. Drawing was a juggling act. I also had the TV on. I was watching the Girl In The Park on one night and then the special effects bonanza and crazy story of the movie 2012 last night.
Note my Lady Ga Ga atttempt. It failed.
But I think CLOWN pigs playing banjos might be a lot of fun to do?
I think I might clean up and colour some of these in Painter. I didn't realize how many piggies in my head have been waiting to come out to play!

Playground Sketches

2010-07-04T21:56:00.001-07:00

I sketched some children at a local playground last week and tonight I painted some of them in Painter Elements using the 2b pencil brush in various sizes.

Adventures with Charlie and Maggie

2010-07-03T10:30:00.001-07:00

Our adventure in the sunshine yesterday.

Me and Maggie and Charlie and his mom and various park residents and visitors.

I am loving Comic Life. After trying it out for free I decided to buy it. A neat way to use personal photos.

Sketches from the Park

2010-06-28T20:35:00.001-07:00

Maggie had a hair cut today. She came out looking like a princess.

While walking the dog at a local park last Sunday, I saw a number of girls involved in soccer practice. They seemd to be having so much fun.
Now I have some new sketches to work with.
I scanned the sketches into painter and added colour.

I am working on two other pages of drawings.
I might add them later. These feel too rough and I am not happy with the colour. But I can change it.

Old Memories of Paper Dolls

2010-06-23T09:15:00.000-07:00

For the past two weeks I have been putting a new portfolio of my stuff together. I decided I needed to put more sketches of children into the mix. I am wondering if I will ever get the portfolio finished because new ideas keep popping into my brain and onto the screen.
I think it is a process and a journey.
I think I am still in the exploration stage.
These characters came out of some old pencil line drawings I made way back in the 1980's. Once I started with the shape of them, I started remembering what I loved to do when I was a kid so long ago just after the war. The thing I loved most to do was to design little outfits for my paper dolls.
The old fashioned kind.
Before Barbie.
The outfits with little tabs you folded over.
These little kids that appeared on the page brought out the old memory of childhood play.
I have to admit I am having fun.
Maybe that is OK?

Some things brilliant and wonderful

2010-06-08T13:20:00.000-07:00

The artist Jana Christy is creating such an interesting blog about donating a kidney to her brother. While browsing her website I found a page on it about how one of her recent children's books was turned into a HUGE display in New York City. The photos of the event give you an idea of how they enlarged her wonderful kids art and presented it in large posters, banner style hangings, enlarged book format and display cut outs at the event. As someone who once created nickel and dime glue and paste displays way back in the 1980's for a school board, I think it is sooooo wonderful to see what can be done now.

And her children's art is so wonderful and free and colourfully child friendly and so BIG.

Check it out for inspiration.

In the meantime I think her blog about the kidney could possibly help so many people who are worried about going into a hospital.

She lays it out so well with a delightful style of drawing and writing.

Sorry for my enthusiasm. I can't help it. Her portfolio art website can be found here.

I think I will put this up on my blog. haw!

MJ

A Picture Book Related Discovery

2010-06-03T21:45:00.000-07:00

I came across a new website called A Story Before Bed where grandparents or aunts or uncles can read picture books to children and record this and then the child can have access to the book online with the recorded bit appearing in the corner.
I may sound crazy but it seems to me that this is going to be a useful way for small children and reluctant readers to get interested in reading and books as well as online books. It is worth checking out. One can view sample pages of some beautifully illustrated picture books.
Orca, a Canadian publisher is offering some of their beautiful picture books at this website and I am sure many more books will follow.

I thought I'd mention it here in case anyone out there is looking in and maybe interested.

Poppies in The Sunshine

2010-05-18T22:57:00.001-07:00

As I was walking to the video store on Saturday, I spied some beautiful poppies that seemed to be calling out to me. I went home and grabbed my camera and went back to the spot to capture these babies. For two nights I have been playing with these poppies. I turned them into graphic versions in vector format. I use Corel Draw and my Bamboo Fun Wacom tablet and the pen that comes with it to draw the shapes.

Geese Bringing Joy Back

2010-05-03T20:34:00.002-07:00

Wet Canvas has some neat photos this week. I chose the geese photo posted this week by bunny. Making images is helping me to get through this week as we mourn the loss of a much loved family member. I think my now forever beautiful niece Elizabeth would have liked these wonky birds. I hope she is looking over my shoulder and laughing with her blond hair flying in the winds of heaven.

Maggie Loves Charlie

2010-04-28T15:07:00.000-07:00

My Little dog is in love with Charlie, a sweet gentle dog at the park. We now make play dates so they can have a run together at least once a day. It seems to be good for Maggie to have social time. Other dogs usually come by. But these two really connect.

A Sulky Cat

2010-04-09T16:27:00.001-07:00

Well, it's Friday and Wet Canvas has provided some new photo references for artists around the world and thanks to Mary of Ohio who goes by the name misswiss, I chose to sketch this cat digitally. I used Painter11 again with the pastel mode using my Wacom Bamboo Fun Tablet and my little blue pen.
To see the original reference photo you can find it here on the All Media Events thread for today.

And I am adding this quick slide show to explain visually the process of using Painter11 to create this Kitty with attitude.

Inspiration This Morning

2010-04-08T10:22:00.000-07:00

I have just come across an interview on the Blog Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast with artist Christopher Denise I have to share it. His character design and his landscape backgrounds are so beautifully painted. The interview includes many of his beautiful paintings. Any artist might find this worth browsing. If anyone loves great children's book illustration, one can not help but be inspired. Check it out here Christopher Denise.

An Easter Bunny for you

2010-04-02T17:20:00.002-07:00

On Wet Canvas this weekend a beautiful angora rabbit photograph was posted and I could not resist giving it a try using Corel Painter11.

Thanks to Wet Canvas member Wendy, who goes by the name of Sundiver, for the beautiful selection of images this week. I recorded the steps along the way and uploaded to my Roxio Photoshow account where I placed them all together to give you an idea of the little fellow as he appeared in pastel mode. The images are created with a pen on my Wacom Bamboo Fun Tablet which feels almost as if one was using real pastels but with no smudged fingers at the end. I added a sweet bit of music as I thought of my two year old grandson.
I am thinking maybe I should add some Easter eggs to it. But for now I hope you will enjoy this. I had so much fun when I put it all together.

Sketching Tulips Today

2010-03-31T22:43:00.001-07:00

I like the look of these tulips sprawled against a wall. I made a quick sketch of my photo this morning with a felt pen on bond paper while my puppy Maggie pawed my knees and begged me to take her over to the park to play with Charlie.

When I got back from the Park I scanned the sketch with my Epson scanner into CorelDRAW.
With this image on the screen I chose the trace feature.

I added a little colour and got this 'look' which I think is sort of 1960's.

I created a vector from the sketch and this is what happened. I think it feels like an Easter image of light and life.

Played a little more with colour.

It is now the end of the day and I thought I might as well post this.
I hope this is in some way interesting and perhaps even helpful to someone out there.

Family Gardener

2010-03-26T13:51:00.000-07:00

I have an old photograph I've been meaning to do something with. My original idea was to paint this subject with acrylics and I may still try. But for this week, while I am into vector mode here is my interpretation of what I am calling 'Family Gardener' using my Wacom Tablet and my pen and CorelDRAWx4.
It took a while. Maybe five hours of holding my breath? Using vectors for me is like paper cut outs. If I did this with coloured papers I would cut out shapes and paste them in layers. And this is sort of what it feels like to work with vector shapes.
I added the daffodils from designs I posted on maplepancakes, my other blog. One of the things I love about vectors is that once designed they can be any size, any number and placed anywhere on other designs.

A Digital Fish Design

2010-03-06T10:19:00.003-08:00

Last night I joined WetCanvas All Media Event of this week. This is a fish I created in vector format with CorelDraw X4 using a photo reference provided by Alain J. Godbout. You can view the photo from his thread linked to WetCanvas.
I decided to remove the background after realizing the color was going to be a little over the top.
I like this little fish fellow and it was easy to duplicate him once he was all together. I may try a few other layouts and backgrounds today just to see what it could look like. I can't believe the happiness I feel as I explore these vector things. I am so scattered lately. Trying this and trying that.
I must FOCUS on one thing.
My blog is helping me to keep trying things. This is good.
I find so much inspiration from artists who blog new paintings on a regular basis.

Thank you people!

A Digital Peony

2010-03-03T23:33:00.000-08:00

The Olympics are over and things are getting back to normal. It was a wonderful two weeks here in Vancouver and the fairy tale ending of winning the hockey game was the icing on the cake for Canada.
Over the weekend I sketched a big horn sheep with pastels and pencil crayons. I posted the drawings on my other blog.

I also took part in Wet Canvas and because of a previous request from a moderator there, I created a thread explaining how I make a vector illustration with Corel Draw as I took part in this week's All Media Event. I am posting this information here as well just n case anyone is interested.

With credit to JustJean on Wet Canvas who provided the reference photo this week.

1. I draw shapes looking at the reference and thinking of the flower as a number of shapes. Each shape is a line which needs to connect to close it off to hold colour. Here I have overlapped them to see if they will work as a flower. But they need to be separate and closed for step two.

2. I colour the shapes with graduated fills. I remove the outlines.

3. Then I arrange the pieces like puzzles. I add shapes if I need them by duplicating or creating new shapes. When I like a flower I group it to make it stay as one piece. I can duplicate a flower as many times as I want. I can flip them and stretch them if I want to create something like the illustration at the top.

4. I created this background by drawing shapes like the shadows in the photo reference. I placed a box behind them and gave it a soft purple colour. I removed lines once I was satisfied. I created this image to a bitmap, gave it a gaussian blur and placed it behind the peonies.

And there you have it. A vector illustration with CorelDRAW. I hope this is useful information. One can get much more detailed with added blends and other wonderful effects with Corel and I haven't tried them out and I doubt I ever will. CorelDraw is a powerful program. But for this little demonstration I just wanted to explain a simple approach.

Unexpected Delight

2010-02-18T11:22:00.002-08:00

Yesterday I took a walk down the hill to False Creek and Granville Island. The Olympics are happening in this city and many things are unexpected and magical. The weather is unexpected and warm and the rhodos are unexpected mid February and I certainly didn't expect to see a parade of monsters with happy children following along. It was certainly unexpected to see a group of drummers suspended from a crane banging out wonderful rythms as well as an acrobat performing higher above them while an audience cheered below. As the sun set in the west I headed back towards home with the sound of Aboriginal drums coming from David Lam Park across the water and more cheering crowds.
I realized I could have stayed on into the evening because this beautiful city is having a party. But Maggie was waiting for me by the door at home and I knew she would be hungry.

A Fish

2010-02-15T17:36:00.001-08:00

A little play with a fish image from wet Canvas this past weekend..
Pencil crayons on Stonehenge paper. Around 4inches by 5 inches.
I'm not pleased with it but there it is.
Some projects turn out better than others. My skills need upgrading I think to myself.

I have been distracted by my grandson's birthday yesterday and the Olympics are in town.
We met and enjoyed Dim Sum at the Flamingo on Cambie at Jacob's request.
He was off later with his mom waving a Canadian flag and wearing his Canada T shirt heading for downtown where they were going to enjoy the free entertainment.
And there is lots around for the next while.
I headed home and fell asleep overwhelmed with the MSG.
When I woke up it was supper time and afterwards I worked on this fish until around midnight while trying to keep the puppy from getting into too much trouble. She ate a blue pencil crayon and had green poop. Thank goodness she left the slivers lying on the carpet. She loves toilet paper rolls, kleenex, socks,hair brushes, plastic dishes, and just anything she can steal. She has many safe toys but she seems bored with them. I am realizing how much of my day goes to watching over her to keep her safe, exercising her, training her.

But she is worth it.

Two Cats / Creative Drawing Process

2010-02-02T09:53:00.001-08:00

As I worked on another cat drawing last night, I thought I might post the process of how this evolves when working with Painter. This might be of interest? So I have made a little slide show of the drawing of two cats. I hope this works! If it takes too long for the page to load I will take it out. But for now...

A Sweet Dog in a Sweater and a Cat

2010-01-29T15:16:00.003-08:00

Last night I worked on two photo references on the wet Canvas All Media Event for this following week.
I used Painter11 with the 'pastels' format on 'sand pastel paper' format and my small blue Wacom Bamboo Fun tablet. It is a switch from the vector files but fun and quick with no messy hands covered in chalk and pastel to deal with. I will come back and credit the person who provided these reference photos later. The cat's eyes are closed and in shadow. I am not sure if it works. I'd love any comments.
These are supposed to be quick two hour sketches and I stayed with that. I am not sure I want to take them farther.

A Blue Grey Parrot Named Smokey Joe

2010-01-26T20:16:00.000-08:00

I finished this parrot last night. I used Corel for so many years and I rarely used the vector format for making designs other than text and images for logos. Technology has improved greatly because something like this would have taken too much computer memory and I would not have had the patience. But now I am older and more patient because I have no client breathing down my neck with a deadline and now computer memory is no problem (even thought my memory isn't so great anymore). This is converted of course to a jpeg for the web and much smaller than the CDR file.

I am wondering where this is taking me. It feels like maybe I am heading for a good place.

White Cokatoo and Parrot

2010-01-23T11:25:00.003-08:00

Wet Canvas has some bird references this week.

There are two birds. I am still working on the second but I thought I'd post it. This takes a lot of patience and I just have to remember to breathe!

One Rose

2010-01-14T07:52:00.001-08:00

While the news is filled with the tragedy in Haiti I sat at my computer last night and this rose was the result of an evening of half watching TV while my mind waas on the events of such a sad day.

I think a prayer emerges.

My Elegant Peacock

2010-01-09T14:56:00.000-08:00

Last night I joined up again with the Wet Canvas group's All Media Event for this week and from one of the photos I selected the peacock to experiment again with vector drawing in CorelDraw.

I can't stop playing with this. I am having so much fun! I don't know why but when a day comes to an end and I haven't made any art, I get sad and even grumpy. So doing this keeps me in good humour and I sleep better and it must be good for my brain to keep on making new designs. I hope. At my age I worry.

Maggie my puppy is doing really well. She is a darling little dog with a happy joyfull spirit. She loves everything and everybody except for the sounds on the street. I am teaching her slowly not to be afraid.

Ducks in Painter

2010-01-04T17:09:00.005-08:00

I took a break from vector drawing yesterday and went into Painter. These ducks are from a photo reference I took recently at VanDusen Gardens in Vancouver.
I used the watercolour brushes with a bit of pencil line. I recorded each step and I think I will make a short slide show of the process.

And last night I went back into vector drawing and the results, a parrot drawing and a wolf drawing are posted on my other blog paintingpuppies.

The New Year has begun of course and along with everyone else I have been giving a lot of thought to assessing the past year and looking forward with new goals.
Among other things, I hope to keep growing and learning and my blogs help me to stay motivated. I thank you dear people who do stop by from time to time. And I love to receive your comments.

A Holiday Week Vector Cat

2009-12-29T10:41:00.002-08:00

Last night I joined up with the Wet Canvas weekly all media events projects under my name bluelilac. I tackled a photo reference of a beautiful cat. And here she is. And it was fun. I think it would make a nice card? Thank you to Elizabeth of Wet Canvas for the reference photo of her beloved cat in her garden.

Vector art in CorelDrawX4. I had trouble with the fur and I may try to adjust it today.
I hope everyone is enjoying a week of Peace and good things.

Maggie Comes Home

2009-12-13T11:06:00.001-08:00

I have no idea how this happened so fast. But the offer came over the telephone from a trusted friend who is a certified Canadian Kennel Club breeder and I was missing my Tamara so much. It was as if a piece of my heart was gone.
So last night I brought my new kid home.
No sleep last night but settling down.
Here is my adorable Magnolia...Maggie for a nickname.
When I get her to sit for a grooming still I will arrange her adorable top knot. She had just taken a drink of water and her beard is wet and her top knot elastic came out. I had just introduced her to her bone toy and she was delighted. She played with it for an hour.

Tamara, My Fathful Little Friend Is Gone

2009-12-07T18:58:00.004-08:00

My little dog Tamara died today and I am missing her so much. She was the sweetest friend to me. She came to me four years ago when her previous owner went into a home with altzheimers.
She became a part of my heart. From the beginning she had physical problems but the vet always had a solution until recently when her diagnosis of Cushings Disease pretty well explained the reasons for her skin problems, the weakness of her back legs, infections, dry eye problems, skin lesions and an inability to walk very far before her back legs gave out..
But she was a trooper and I tried to keep her comfortable. I bought a little dog buggy which enabled me to take her for long walks. She loved her buggy. She'd sit there with her nose sniffing the neighbourhood smells. And I'd let her out to sniff her favourite trees and she'd say hello to neighbourhood dogs. Her little tail wagged all the time.
In October, The vet prescribed a new drug for Cushings which helped her through the days and then into November. Her skin cleared up, her fur grew back in thicker and softer and she started walking farther each day. But when I renewed the very same prescription two weeks ago, it seemed the new pills did nothing and she began to crash.
She got an infection, her skin broke out all over her body and the itch drove her into a frantic state. Her one seeing eye became blind and her total deafness closed her off from her world with the passing of each day. She wanted to know where I was and she began barking at strange moments. I think it was her way of calling me to her to comfort her.
I made the decision today when I woke up to see her struggling with collapsed back legs along with an intolerable skin itch. It was so hard to decide!
This morning I took her to the park in the buggy she loved for a last tree sniff and a pee and then I took her to the vet. He said it was the right decision. And after she was sedated and comfortable in my arms he injected the fatal dose.

I am so very sad today. I can hardly bear it.
She was a true and loyal friend right to the end. I guess this sadness and grief is the price one eventually has to pay for the gift of joy from the comfort of a pet that gives only love and shares a sweet life of joy in grass and bushes and trees and other animals and people. And most of all the love they give to us is unconditional and irreplaceable.

Thank you Tamara. I hope there is a dog heaven.

IF / Entangled

2009-11-29T12:36:00.001-08:00

This week the word for Illustration Friday is entangled.

Santa's enthusiastic elves got carried away with decorating.

I drew a line cartoon on paper, scanned it into CorelDraw and then into Corel Painter and using watercolour and impasto brushes coloured it in
I admit it is kind of messy but I don't have much time because I my grandsons will be playing trumpet and French horn in a gala Christmas concert.

I think I will take along my camera.

Overcoming a Rain Slump

2009-11-26T17:25:00.002-08:00

Yesterday, while the rain poured down outside, I sat at my trusty computer and went through some of the photos I took when the sun was shining. This one I took just before the maples shed all of their leaves. I had some fun creating this little scene from my photo reference.

AND

I have just come across a wonderfully illustrated book by the gifted artist Tomás Serrano He has actually posted all of the story with illustrations on his special book blog. It is beautifully rendered with colourful illustrations and beautfully drawn backgrounds and it is a story to make anyone smile.
You can find it HERE.

Illustration Friday/Music

2009-11-22T16:29:00.001-08:00

With music as the theme for this week's illustration friday here is Christmas Bird singing Jingle Bells, the only song he knows so far.
After a while his singing gets a little tedious. But he means well.

Canada Geese Card Designs

2009-11-20T12:50:00.005-08:00

I wish I knew where I was going with this. I am afraid I am lost in a creative process that has taken me around in so many directions. Last week's Santa illustration for Illustration Friday bothered me because it is so stiff and set. Let's face it. BORING!

So I started drawing shapes in vector format with my favourite program CorelDRAW. I love sketching Canada Geese as they are abundant in our city of Vancouver. They are bothersome in many ways yet they have such an elegance and beauty. I am thinking perhaps I might turn these into cards for family this Christmas.