Make your own darn robot!

This is a safe statement to make, as you now can do so. All you need is your handy dandy, brand spanking, hot off the press, copy of this month's BROKEN PENCIL MAGAZINE!!


I must say I am a bit biased, being the illustrator featured on the cover, but in all truthfulness, Broken Pencil is a great magazine featuring literature, articles, and artwork you wouldn't find in your everyday Maclean's. In this month's issue, the D.I.Y. issue, you can learn how to build a robot of your own. I wonder how I would construct these odd fellows.... likely with lots of plastic and love. Anyhow, I would definitely pick up a copy if I were you! Here is the final illustration prior to the addition of info:

Hope you like it!

I just finished working on some roughs for an upcoming illustration gig. Will tell you all about it in the next post because I have to get my butt up for work in only 5 short hours. Ahh, the joys of 9-5 (or rather 8:30-5).

M. Night Shyamalan, I understand now.

Do you remember a movie that came out a few years ago called "The Happening" by one M. Night Shyamalan? *SPOILER ALERT* It sucked total balls, so I don't recommend it. Anyhow, it's all about how the wind was making everyone kill themselves. Stupid, I know. However, after spending the week spray painting my frames for the big show out in my backyard, I know where Mr. Shyamalan must have found his inspiration. I didn't want to kill myself, but man oh man, the wind this week brought me to the brink of insanity. That being said, I am now finished the colour spray process- yay!!


I'm going to spray them all with a thick gloss to make them extra awesome, but I've decided to wait a week to calm my nerves and focus on my painting. PAINTING!! I haven't done it since moving into the new joint. Last weekend I found an awesome deal on a little corner unit desk and bought it as a temporary solution to my desklessness. I've started setting up my work space so I can whip out my acrylics, like, now. Here's what I've done so far:

Note my prized Jon Todd painting and Raquel Schmidtke bunny taxidermy. Very important, inspiration wise. Also, I love the nice big bay window. I think it's a sturdy start.

In other news, I just got the issue of Broken Pencil that features my illustration on the cover, and I'm as pleased as punch! Expect me to show that off later this week.

On to painting!

Antiques Roadshow meets New Yankee Workshop meets my backyard

Do you hear that? It's the sound of my heart beating a bit faster than usual. The long weekend is over and August is now in full swing. Where the hell did my summer go? I'm now in full speed ahead mode getting ready for the Queen West Art Crawl here in Toronto. I just got home from a lovely weekend split between my friend Brad's cottage and the Manning family cottage. So relaxing, and even a little productive. I've been searching for unique antique frames to refurbish for the show. Finding frames in Toronto has been time consuming and expensive. In cottage country this weekend, my Mom found bargain antique frame heaven. She brought me to this awesome sale outside of Goderich, Ontario that had, literally, thousands of amazing frames, all for $10 each! This is just one of many piles!


I wish I could have taken them all home (I do have a three bedroom apartment now, right?) but settled on four of them. That including a trip to the local value village, a Toronto antique store, and a generous donation from Brad I now have loads of frames. I have started the hard labour now. I've been in my new backyard sanding, staining, and prepping the frames for spray painting.



I have had a little help from a little friend.



I am (hopfully) going to start spray painting the primed frames tomorrow after work. I've just got to find a place spray:)

Will keep you in the loop of the process. Until then.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Workbook page up and running.

So, is it hot enough for ya?

It's perfect for me. I've been living in mostly kitty bliss mixed with a bit of kitty hell (damn you, fleas) all the while sanding and priming frames, and conceptualizing some cool paintings. Fun stuff!


I just wanted to give you the heads up on a new promotional gig my wonderful reps at Three in a Box have organized. The Workbook has been a staple in advertising your art for ages and ages. Their website now houses a portfolio of my illustrations for viewing and (hopefully) inspiring some new jobs. Here is a link to my part of the site. Stop by and have a look if you'd like.

Now go have a popsicle!

Meet my big surprise!

I am very happy to make an amazing introduction...


This is our new kitten, Ramona!

She's as sweet as can be, but is SUCH a kitten right now. She can play with anything, but enjoys our legs, under the covers, in bed, at 3 AM, when we are sleeping, the most. It was instant love.

I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of inspiration she will have on my work!

There are literally 5 boxes left to unpack at our new place, and have fulfilled my bridesmaidly duties and intend to be working like a mad woman from now on. A big freelance gig is under negotiations right now, the days are ticking down to the Queen West Art Crawl, new promotional work through my reps, and a new show is in the works.

Can't wait to share all the upcoming artwork!

New season, new home, new news!

Happy belated Canada day and Fourth of July! I hope that where you are is lovely and summery and full of fresh picked strawberries!

So, it may have seemed as though I was gone for good. Perhaps I had thrown in the towel? Not so much, my friends. I took a small hiatus to pack all my belongings and hightail it out of my old studio apartment and in to a beautiful new 3 bedroom. If I could please note that when you read the number three imagine that there are fireworks and stars shooting off around it. This is HUGE!! In 5 years I have not lived in more than one room. The addition of three glorious rooms means that I won’t have to sleep where I work where I sleep. Seriously- there were days where I would wake up to the vision of tubes of acrylic and pizza crusts. NO MORE!! WOOHOO! I can now have what every artsy girl dreams of... a studio space! Though I will be posting more pictures of my place when the boxes and mess has been put away, here is a shot of the room that will be my studio (be sure to focus on the fact that there is a door. A DOOR!!)

As a browser of many a craft and design blog I have had lots of studio space inspiration to pull from to make my space a true haven of illustration wonder. Here are a few of my favourite shots.

This beautiful studio belongs to Natalie Zee Drieu found on Apartment Therapy. LOVE the blue walls and the dueling work/computer spaces. This would really be a convenient layout for a gal like me!

Danny Seo's studio (also found on Apartment Therapy) is so cozy looking I could work in it all day. My inner 60 year old adores the plates on the wall. My outer 29 year old also does.

This is Angela Hardison's work room, found on Design*Sponge. I envy someone who can live clutterless like this. I love the layout. Alas, I have too much stuff. A girl can dream though.

I cannot wait to get started on this project so that I can get started on my next big art project. My new news is that I have been chosen to participate in a large outdoor art exhibition and sale here in Toronto called the Queen West Art Crawl. I have always loved going to this show and am super excited to be sitting along side the talented people whose work I oogled in years passed. I have a whole plan to create a load of new work and lots of fun ideas for themes. I will keep you in the loop on all my progress. I have one more bit of new news as well... it’s extra amazing and I want to tell you now but it still feels like a dream that it’s happening at all and I want to make doubly sure that it is before I share. Wish me luck with unpacking!!

June is busting out all over.

It really is! It's fully exploded and it's great. With the Ronaldo's sister's wedding coming up soon and our moving in to our new place at the end of the month I'm anticipating the rest of it will be a whirlwind. It seems like June is always my most social month of the year. I thought I might post some photos from the past few weeks (from my shiny new Lumix camera!) to highlight the explosion's aftermath.


This is the first photo I took on my new camera. This is a boat on a bike ride I took. I'm looking forward to some dazzling pictures in my future. Rest in Peace, old Sony. Your blurry days are over.



These are wedding shower cookies. I know. As you may or may not know, Ronaldo's family is of Italian heritage. I, as you may or may not know, am fifth generation south western Ontarian, or a "caker". A tradition at an Italian wedding shower is to offer tray upon tray of homemade Italian cookies. Apparently people bring their own tupperware and load up on them in a free-for-all style. Linda, Ronaldo's sister, wanted none of this, and decided to pre-pack the cookies so everyone got some. Let me just say that I have never seen so many cookies in my whole life. It was magic.





Our first bike ride on the Toronto Island. We picked a beautiful day to go. It was warm enough to dip your feet in the water! We packed a thermos of wine and some of the cookies seen above and had an awesome afternoon. It's nice that there is a place to get away from the craziness of Toronto, and it's only a ferry ride away!


I am a HUGE Dave Matthews Band fan. Big. I go see them every year. This year's Toronto show was extra special as not only were we FRONT ROW, but I was with the whole of team M, better known as my sisters. Between the three of us we've seen Dave Matthews over 30 times, but this is the first time we've seen them all together.

Best. Show. Ever.



You may be thinking that I've abandoned my art, but I saved the best for last. Yes, I am still working away! I finished this year's D.I.Y. cover for Broken Pencil Magazine. I thought I would give you a sneak peek at the inking. You'll have to stay tuned to see the final piece.

I hope that you are enjoying your Junes so far too!