On Repeat - #5

I'll have you know I just spared you from a pun about "bearing it." sometimes I catch myself before I go to far...sometimes! 

Here's a pattern about bears. Inspired by the book "big bear hug" which is my all-time favourite feel-good children's book! I went a bit fluorescent, I hope you don't mind.

On Repeat - #4

I promise, I will have something other than patterns to post about soon. (...my first refinishing project??!) But today I went a little ways into the archives and pulled out two of my favourite characters. And then went a little further into the archives back to my driving school days and added a caption. ha!

As a little background, this illustration was based on someone's insurance claim after a car accident, in which they claimed they were just driving along when the telephone pole hit them. suuuure.

On Repeat

I seriously hesitate to say this: but I'm going to try and start something.

:O

I am notorious for starting things and never following through. Except...I'm mostly only notorious in my own mind, because most of the things I start don't even make it out of my head. What I KNOW about myself is that I get carried away wanting to accomplish these things that don't have anything to do with me. Like wanting to start an etsy store, or build furniture, or have a photography business...all things that I only wanted because someone else had them. Thankfully in all these cases I realized before even reaching "start" that they weren't for me. I don't have anything to sell on etsy, nothing about building furniture appeals to me, and starting a photography business...? Well let's just say I'll leave that one up to everyone else. The point here is, I'm going to tell you about this new thing I'm starting, but there is a very real chance it won't last very long. I'm just being honest!!

Last week I was thinking about how much I like patterns (I REALLY like patterns) and I started lamenting how I can't ever seem to come up with cool patterns. But then I realized that I only ever try when its crunch time and I've already seen another pattern that would work and just want to re-create it but not copy it... Usually I fail and end up purchasing that pattern. Or just trashing the pattern idea (the hard thing about patterns is that the really cool ones don't really work as supportive elements...they need to be the focal point!).

Suddenly it dawned on me that I don't need to give up on pattern making. Its not like its something you're born with... "those with blue eyes stand on the left and those with pattern making on the right..." its something you can learn, study, and get better at. Or so I think. So my plan is to start making patterns for the sake of making patterns. I think I get so excited about this idea because a pattern isn't JUST a pattern. It's character creating and form studies and colour theory and balance and organization all in one! So ANYWAY, here is my first pattern, based on this adorable ceramic owl I saw at the garden store the other day. I still might have to go back and get it.

Maybe if I do keep it up for a while, I'll be able to look back on my patterns and see what I've learned. The owls on repeat are pretty basic...I'm pretty sure I can get more creative. Yay!

Something Different: Positively Parkinsons

A few weeks ago I got to participate in "something different:" Creating/refining a cartoon mascot that will travel the globe!

Bob Kuhn, author of the "Positively Parkinsons" blog (and incidentally Chairman of the Insight for Living Canada Board) contacted me to help bring his vision to life. To quote Bob, "Petey will be traveling with me on my upcoming trip around the world. Now lest you think that he is simply a prop, a self-aggrandizing photo opportunist, or purely a promotional gimmick, I want to assure you that you're right. Petey’s purpose in life is to promote World Parkinson Congress 2013 (WPC 2013), happening 18 months from now in Montréal."

On that note, I am sure he won't mind if I join the cause and fill you in on some details! Bob was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2006. His blog has encouraged countless people: myself included. His honesty and way with words communicate the journey of living with Parkinson's in a tough but touching way. If you know anyone walking this road, I have no doubt that Bob's blog will provide encouragement! And if you don't: you'll still find it encouraging.

Where does Petey come in? Well this year (very soon!) Bob will be leaving on a world tour. He'll be meeting up with Representatives from different Parkinson's organizations as he travels, to help raise Parkinson's Awareness and promote the World Parkinson's Congress happening in 2013. Petey is going along as a bit of a 2D guerilla marketing expert. Please, visit Positively Parkinson's to get the REAL details and check out his first stop! 

Bob and Petey in Israel

Parkinson's is a rough disease. Its not well understood and it can be devastating to live with. Bob's approach to "live with hope and a positive attitude despite this unwanted and challenging companion! ...be truly positive, pursue adventure, and have genuine reasons to smile (at least inside)?" is an incredible example to all of us of how to face life in all its complexities.

March Insights Magazine

Here we go! Posting the March Insights magazine -- which is just hitting mailboxes around Canada -- on the same day as I wrap up design of the April issue. I am in a perpetual state of bewilderment when it comes to what month it is. I've pretty much given up, and rely on my iphone for the date. When I'm working on May in March, things start to get a little mixed up inside my head: I've pretty much already celebrated Easter and Mothers day and am looking forward to summer! ...And then it snows and reality returns! :D

But anyways, a few highlights for me in this issue were playing with my new portable (flash) umbrella, putting a Polariod camera on the cover (who knew?!), and doing some fun illustrating in a "superfun" colour palette!

Here are some snapshots of the graphics, but don't mind if I direct you to the digital issue here to read these insightful articles on marriage, traditions, and conflict! 

Where would you leap if you could leap anywhere on Leap Day?

Leap years are an interesting thing. This morning we were trying to decide if we are actually working an extra day this year because we're on salary. On the radio they were discussing whether it would be more practical if nobody had to work on leap day, since its basically a "free day" and it would be a great opportunity to do something you'd never normally do on a week day. I think if that were the case, I'd probably do something CRAZY, like go bungee jumping, because I could probably convince myself that leap day is the only possible day I'd ever go bungee jumping. I mean...its LEAP day.

However. I do not have a free day off, so instead I channeled those positive ideas into some illustration fun. Happy Leap Day! Now that we've got family day, I vote we start pushing for leap day off. Its totally doable, i mean, we have four years to make it happen.

But what about you? Where would you leap if you could leap anywhere on leap day? (aka what would you do if you had today off?)

Go Play Outside.

A doodle cus its Friday! (Can you tell that lately I've been inspired by my heroes, Invisible Creature?)

The best part of this illustration is that I started it on a new ipad app (well new to me) that we loaded onto one of the ipads at work. I'm excited about the possibilities!! The only reason I moved to my mac was that I was getting a headache from looking down at the ipad...that could be an issue. And at this point I'm still much faster in illustrator. ok and also, I wanted to finish it off in photoshop.

Ship Ahoy

Sometimes great ideas abound, and sometimes they don't. When they do, it usually means I have left-overs! Here is an illustration concept that got rejected (by me) today. I was going for an "art deco" feel but also inspired by some more modern trends...anyways, I enjoyed the result and thought I'd share! 

little birdies

Just for fun, a little illustration. I guess its a sneak peak of my latest painting project, which follows the same "little birdie" look. Maybe someday I'll make a series of cards.

Oh. and by the way...4 months, 16 days till i get MARRIED!!!

Illustration Happiness :)

Yesterday was a good day. You know why? I've been illustrating. I'm working on another piece for Insights Magazine and as usual its been a wonderful blur of a few hours creating a new piece. Its funny...I never set out to illustrate, but I'm finding that I enjoy it more than anything else I get to do at my job! Almost more than using my new work camera. ALMOST. So here are a few screen shots of what I'm working on. Keep your eyes peeled for the finished digital issue, or sign up to get it in print (for FREE!!) once a month. Not just to see the work I do, but to get a good dose of solid biblical teaching in an engaging format.