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Friday, November 14th, 2008

Sidewalk Artist

Now this was just jaw dropping! Check out these amazing chalk works on various city sidewalks! Total hottness!!! I really luv the piece depicting a frog on a lily pad.

Friday, November 7th, 2008

Bermuda Reading Clinic - Silent Art Auction

The Bermuda Reading Clinic will be celebrating it’s 40th year! They will be hosting a silent art auction on November 21st, from 5:15pm to 8:00pm.

Artists were asked to donate work for the wonderful event. For such a great cause, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity, So I have donated one of my original pieces "Express Yourself" along with 5 prints of other works. This should be a wonderful event, pop by if you have time!

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

My Wedding Invitations

So why have I been "missing from action"…noticed I didn’t say "missing IN action". Well, amongst other things, I’ve been busy planning a wedding!!!

I searched online for days to find some inspiring ideas that I could use to design the invitations for our fall wedding. I wanted to create something natural, earthy, warm and elegant to suit the theme which is "Warm Fall Vintage" … you know I had to put my artsy creative spin on things!

The main colours are gold and burnt orange with slight accents of ivory and brown. I decided to design the invitations myself to cut costs and make them more unique. After finding the perfect graphics and text this is what I ended up with:

There were 4 items in each invitation package: the invitation itself, an RSVP card, a menu and a save the date card. The menu and RSVP cards have the standard text with a floral design consisting of a bouquet of red, orange and gold flowers. The invitations have the same floral design on one side with the wedding info printed on a burnt orange background. The centres were tied with 1 satin and 1 organza ribbon.

Now the Save the date cards are my favourite!! I used dried pressed leaves for these.

1. I picked a bunch from a hedge which were multicoloured, reds, pink, green and hints of brown.
2. I placed the leaves in between two layers of paper towel and microwave them under a flat dish for 30sec. This dried them out but preserved the colour.
3. I then took two dried leaves and placed them in between a layer of saran wrap.
4. Next I placed a piece of paper towel over the saran wrap covered leaves and ironed them (no steam)
5. The saran wrap sealed the leaves and I simply cut the excess off from the leaf arrangement.
6. The final product is shown below. I punched a hole at the base of the leaves and used ribbon to secure them to the "save the date" cards.

And here is a shot of the final invitation package

Aren’t they stunning for a "do it yourself" product. Granted it was VERY time consuming but I definitely cut costs by doing the invitations myself. Of course the greater plus is that they are uniquely designed to represent our own special day, can’t wait!!

Sunday, September 28th, 2008

Desiderata

I’ve been soooo busy and had to take a much needed break, to readjust to a multitude of changes, but I’m finally back!!!

It’s 3:48 AM and instead of getting the highly  under rated sleep, that I’m in need of, I decided to unleash the day’s thoughts in my sketch book and get back to blogging… It’s late, I’m tired and yes I should be sleeping but I don’t often find time for myself …

Anyway, I always remember reading "Desiderata" as a child and had an appreciation for it even at a young age. I haven’t seen the piece in perhaps years and came across it again, what a nice surprise. I read it slowly, taking in each phrase and it almost seemed to complete my evening… or shall we say start my morning, being that it’s 3:51 AM now… mmhmm should be sleeping.

For all to enjoy, and so that I can always return to read it, I have shared it below. Hope you find just as much comfort and solemn in this beautiful work as I do.

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others,
even to the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be
greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career
however humble;
it is a real possession in the
changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you
to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit
to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham,
drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

by Max Ehrmann

Sunday, June 29th, 2008

~ Updating Blog Soon ~

I know I know, it’s been so long…My blog is currently under construction, and probably collecting dust! Actually, I had deleted it sometime ago but since deleting it, I have found that I’m not dedicating as much time to art as I should be, for my own sanity even LOL. And I have come to like the whole blogging, share your life, express yourself in cyberspace idea…

Even if no one cares about artwork or what I do, that’s fine too at the end of the day if it makes me happy, that’s reason enough right?

I hope to have it up and running again soon in the next few months. In the meantime feel free to browse the remainder of my site. Thanks for stopping by!

~BLESSINGS~

Monday, May 26th, 2008

Bank of Butterfield Art Festival 2008

The Annual Art Festival was wonderful! The numerous events and activities suitable for all ages made for a very full and entertaining day. Events included everything from quick art competitions to capoeira performances. The artwork on display was beautiful with a wide range of mediums.

Notable artist entries included Vaughn Evans, Dean Walker, Betsy Mulderig, Frank Dublin, Nicole Busby and Robert Rodgers. I ended up placing 2nd in the adult category which made for a great surprise. Hopefully I will find the time to enter again next year. Congrats to all the winners and a big thank-you for the event organisers.

Stay tuned, and keep watching this space for a glimpse of my latest piece "Bermuda Lilies".

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008

Tie Dye Shirts

I decided to visit an old past time of mine and tie dye a few tank tops. And yes I love tie dye, it didn’t die in the hippie era for me hehe. So I purchased a few white tank tops along with some tie dye paint.. and got to it. I tried a variety of patterns and colours. I left the die to sit for almost a week so the colours were quite vibrant. The shirts were sold through Natural Expression’s online store to three lovely ladies.

Sunday, April 6th, 2008

Illustration Fridays: "Saved"

This week’s topic at IllustrationFridays.com was "SAVED". I chose to do an illustration representing the mass exodus of refuges from Darfur. The illustration shows a small boy, no longer in the care of his mother and father whom were killed in the violence. He is held by his grandmother, and together they take one last look back at their home town. The little help they have received from the rest of he world has far from "saved" them.

(Graphite Pencil and Black Ink, Size: 18×12in)