Wall Progressions

Arranging the design.

It's exciting to watch a project transform from pieces of materials into a physical object. This week, I sanded away the rough edges. Now past the dusty stage, the tubes are looking much more polished. You can see the before-after difference here:

Before sanding (left). After sanding (right).

Then came a few rounds of arranging. My intension is to make the design look organic, as if the tubes have just dropped into place on their own. Since it's not a symmetrical pattern, it's impossible to have all sides of every tube touching each other. This left for some interesting negative spaces and a realization... I'm going to have to paint the tubes before they're glued together! I had planned to glue them first, thinking the bond will be stronger between the cardboard than freshly painted surfaces. Let's hope it holds! Any suggestions?

And off I go to buy paint...

A Wall in the Making

Huy and his handy saw.

After some fun in the sun getting sprayed with sawdust, my builders tubes are now cut into 8-inch sections. They sit patiently, piled up in the centre of my living room, awaiting to be assembled.

Tubes awaiting.

The purpose for this wall will serve two functions: 1) to hide the back of my computer and all the lines of wires, and 2) the tubes will be stacked on top of each other to use as shelving. I love multipurpose!

Stay tuned for more progress...

Bloomin' Blossoms

Ever since my friend Sandra showed me the pathway of Japanese cherry trees in High Park, I have gone back to visit them every year. It was at least 10 years ago, before our two week adventure in Japan. The trees have become a reminder of our trip and the aesthetic quality in everything I saw there.

Visiting the cherry trees is an experience I cherish as it truly makes me feel connected to nature. Walking among them with the petals falling in my hair is like floating through a dream. Or, like being deep in meditation, fully engaged in the beauty of every moment. I allow myself extra time to inspect the flowers closely, admiring minute details in the thin petals and dark branches. The sun shines behind them, squinting between clusters of blossoms. A bird flutters in a tree, causing a cascade of falling petals. They softly swirl and eventually scatter themselves upon the grass.

Until next year, here are some photos to admire, including a few magnolias.  In this video I managed to catch a few falling petals :)

Please comment below and tell me your cherry blossom story!

BioCup Cuteness

This week's most exciting moment happened when Fedex buzzed with an unexpected parcel. The surprise came all the way from Australia--the BioCup samples arrived! Racing back upstairs to rip open the box and look inside, I squealed with delight as if there was a fluffy bunny inside. Out came a stack of small-sized paper cups, with my illustration printed all over in full colour. They're so adorable!

As mentioned in an earlier post, the cups will be used during Australia's compost week (May 6-11, 2013). More information about the event can be found on the ICAW website.

Please enjoy my BioCup photo shoot madness:

Now... time for a cup of Joe :)

mmm... Marimekko

At the Textile Museum of Canada until May 12,  2013. 

aaaaa... the colourful and bold prints by Marimekko get me so excited! This textile company has been around since the 1950's and they have created timeless patterns inspired from Finland's natural landscape. Jackie Kennedy once wore a few of their dresses which sparked much interest at the time, and they've continued to succeed enormously ever since.

They hold excellent values, creating enduring products, "... that bring people joy for a long time...", and as Janis Kravis states:

Is it necessary, do I like it, does it work, does it give me joy and pleasure, is it quality, is it good value?

Let me leave you with a lovely thought from Marimekko's founder, Armi Ratia:

There is only one responsibility – beauty.
There is only one reality – a dream.
There is only one strength – love.

A Week in Venice, Florida

Today, I feel warmed after finally editing my Florida photos from early March. My visit included only one cloudless day that reached 22-degrees, a temperature I'm sure will be hitting us here in Toronto very soon (fingers crossed!).

Had a few lucky peeks at some wildlife: pelicans, snowy egrets, a 15-foot aligator, a racer snake, a turtle, and the backs of two manatees swimming in the waterway.

Learned about the pioneers at Historic Spanish Point. Rode our bikes along trails and waterways, to beaches and a market. Explored the streets of Venice and visited the outdoor art show.

Warmed from the friendly Floridians and relaxed from a week of no responsibilities, we crossed Alligator Alley and then said our goodbyes.

Gettin' Blogged

By Michelle Yee Photography

Happy week! Featured as Awesome and blogged as Ethereal. Thank you Haley and thank you Michelle (a very happy, happy face :).

BioCup

This was a fun little drawing I designed for a paper cup. The cups will be distributed to cafes around Australia to promote their compost week, a cause I'm happy to support. This version is in black and white--showing the lettering and logos which are hand drawn as well. Once I get my samples, I'll show you the real thing in colour!

The Sketchbook Project

As a participant in this year's The Sketchbook Project, my sketchbook ended up being the first childrens book I've both written and illustrated! It was much fun!

The idea started with drawing birds from the photos I've been taking of pigeons flying by my windows. The various shapes and gatherings of these amusing birds inspired this story. It then evolved into a new style... in just black and white, I combined tonal, abstract-ish, bird shapes with silver line patterns. The graphic lines help to lead the story from beginning to end, while also serving a different purpose on each spread. 

Tiny, silver beads were scattered onto the title page and last spread to tie in the meaning of "To Be...". 

Enjoy the story! The whole book (plus text included in the captions) can be viewed on my website in the Sketchbook section. In a couple weeks, it will also be posted on The Sketchbook Project's website.

Some Comments to Share

Along with some charming compliments, were some surprising reactions as people looked at my artwork during last year's exhibitions. I will remember them all fondly, as they really do solidify that my work is worth making. Like the 21 year old college student who immediately smiled ear to ear, saying "You are amazing!" and continued to laugh as he found subtle squirrels within the Maples paintings. And the woman who stopped in her tracks, as her eyes widened and mouth dropped, completely speechless before whispering "They are all so... beautiful!"

These are comments to look back on while I'm tackling those inevitable moments of doubt and "artist blocks":
Magnificent. / You're the best artist I've seen here. / Ethereal. / So clever, I love it. / Your paintings make me think of water, rain, spring, summer... everything, it's elemental. / Delicate. / I feel so happy! / Lovely. / There is so much going on and so much to see but without being cluttered. / Beautiful. / Absolutely fantastic. / Fresh. / It looks better than life--than the real thing.

Hello 2013!

Looking back on my 2012, it's hard to forget the multitude of struggles that seemed to have made it an exceptionally hard year. I look forward to this evening's party where I'll dance with friends and hopefully drink away some of those bad memories!

But instead of forgetting, and as it's been said before, struggle makes you stronger. With every bad turn, there is a lesson, which teaches you something new. Once the lesson has been learned and the struggle has passed, you can only be stronger for getting through it.

In this light, it makes it a bit easier for me to actually appreciate these struggles for what they have given me! Here are a few:
1. When I finally decided to go completely freelance last January and let go of a secure income, I became available to work on many new and exciting projects.
2. While dealing with other's expectations of me, I was forced to confront my fear of conflict.
3. Going through a break-up, made me put time towards learning more about myself and gave me more confidence to just be who I am.
4. Spending a lot of money on business prospects that didn't bring the expected return, gave invaluable experiences.

And really, there were some great times. Spending quality time with family who lives on the other side of the world; Moving into a great apartment, decorated with no compromise; A fabulous trip to NYC with the girls; Being in 3 different art shows for the very first time; and being with the people who make me feel happy. I guess perspective can change everything!

So thank you 2012, for preparing me for 2013 :)

The One of a Kind Christmas Show

For the very first time, I will be in the One of a Kind Show! Check out booth O35 where I will be selling artwork and drawings. It officially kicks off on Nov. 22, but I will be there for the last 6 days, starting November 27th to December 2nd.

Always a fun event to find lots of gifts for friends, family, and maybe a little something or two for yourself!

Show Hours
Weekdays: 10am - 9pm
Saturdays: 10am - 9pm
Sundays: 10am - 6pm

Late Night Shopping
Thursday November 29th, 10am to 11pm

My New Apartment/Studio Reno

It's been a month now but here I am all moved in and decorated! I feel like I was able to completely transform my new apartment for the better and now I'm ready to share some before/after pics with you. Every wall was repainted, every cupboard scrubbed inside and out, and every window, floor, and light switch plate looks so much brighter now without a yellow film of old smoke.

Entrance:

The final touch was this beautiful bench that sits so perfectly just inside the front door. The wood was found when picking up free firewood from Craigslist. Then Huy spent hours sanding down both sides and applying several coats of Tung oil. His brother-in-law made the iron legs and... voila!

Bathroom:

All of the walls (and ceilings in the bathroom and kitchen) were repainted Natural White. The cabinets were painted Jamaican Aqua which is also used in the entrance/studio area. I caulked the bathtub which made everything look much whiter. Even cleaning the light fixture made the light look less yellow!

Bedroom: 

A new bed from Sleep Country and curtains from Ikea. I love waking up and seeing the leaf pattern back-lit from the morning light. The nightstand was found on the street and then repainted... a cute little owl knob is on it's way from Etsy. The large painting was a trade I did with Laurie Skantzos. I just had to get the faux sheepskin rug at Ikea... it's a fun and soft landing before jumping into bed. Both the blue armchair and dresser were found on Craigslist.

Studio/Living Room:

Painting over the dark walls really brightened up this room. Even though the windows face North, the light is quite bright even on a cloudy day. These curtains are also from Ikea. My first-ever couch is from GH Johnson. The shelf is one of the few pieces I already owned and I had made the small table a few years back. Looking at the other corner is my work area. Thank goodness the S-shaped light fixture happened to break which the landlord generously replaced with a more subtle one. The 2 matching tables were bought for $40 each from a company about to relocate. Huy made the 3rd desk by the window, custom designed to fit all my large format papers and some equipment. Sometime soon, I plan to make a half-height bamboo wall to hide the wires and clutter behind the computer.

Kitchen:

The light fixture was fixed and a major clean was needed under/behind the fridge and stove. The edges of the tile area were caulked and there was lots of scrapping off of old paint drops. From the over-the-island view, the once looking yellow buzzer now looks off-white. The bar stools were bought for a discount from a small shop on Bloor Street and the large mirror was picked up just outside of Goodwill a few years back. My favourite colour of blue wraps around 2 walls from the entrance into the studio.

So that is my home sweet home :)

Elle Interior

During the last few weeks of frantically moving, painting, and shopping for necessities, I completely missed this Elle Interior post back on October 6th. Originally in Swedish but easily translatable to English with Google Translate. Go mountains, go!

If you cannot get a direct link or translate, scroll to "Categories/Kategorier", then click on "Posters and Prints/Affischer och prints".

One of a Kind Discount

Next up, is the One of a Kind Show! If you plan to go, please book online and use my promo code to get $11 tickets (regular onsite admission is $14). Thank you!

Queen West Art Crawl

This weekend is the 10th annual QWAC art show. I'm looking forward to being outdoors, in Trinity Bellwoods, with other artists and art fans. Please come by to wander through the park and stop by my booth (number N6).

Trinity Bellwoods Park (map)
September 15th to 16th, 2012
11am - 6pm

As well, there is an opening Gala Art Auction this Friday, hosted by Jamie Gutfreund of CP24. Stop by the Drake and watch one of my pieces get auction off. Hope to see you there!

The Underground, The Drake Hotel
1150 Queen Street East
Friday, September 14th, 6 - 9 pm (auction starts at 7:15pm)
rsvp@queenwestartcrawl.com

2013

Mountain Calendars are back for 2013! A new year and four new colour options: Golden Morning, Silver Dew, Coral Haze, and Lavendar Eve. Choose your favourite here on Etsy.

Art Brownie Rainbow

"Art Brownies are miniature objects of art created by artists." All of the work can be viewed on the Art Brownie Shop and at the exhibition from July 28 to August 31. Please join us for the opening at INDEXG Gallery on Saturday July 28, 3-8 pm. Keep an eye out for my 4 little pieces (clue: they all join together to make 1 painting!).

My brownies:

Turning on the TV brownie!

WATERTABLE

I saw "WATERTABLE" for the first time last night. It's a beautiful light installation that transforms an otherwise dark and ugly underpass into a magical find in the city. Wave lines made of LED lights softly transition from bright blue to darkness with a soothing sound of waves washing in to shore. I love this idea of breaking barriers by integrating them into art and parks. I hope to see more, our city needs it!

sewhavok + art + designs

Mountain Calendar has been posted here, a feature on paper things.

What's Happening

Here we are well into June already! Although I don't have any new work to show, there are exciting projects in the works... I'm illustrating 100+ stylish dresses and accessories for a wedding planner, as well as drawing fun characters and scenes for a children's book series. Followed with a line up of shows, starting with Art Brownie Rainbow in July, then my first time in both the Queen West Art Crawl in September and the One of a Kind Show in November.


An integral part of my art process is to visualize ideas in my head and then record some of them into a sketchbook until I go back at a later time to make them 'real'. They could be notes for a proposal, diagrams for an exhibition booth, or thumbnails for a series of paintings. Usually these sketches remain buried within a pile of sketchbooks, sometimes referred to but never shared. Now I'd like to start  sharing them with you, starting with this proposal for a hanging, glass wall in a library. Birds made of words that refer to the local community, assembled into a swirling flock, cut from coloured vinyl:

Wedding Illustrations

My friend MJ has been designing wedding invitations for almost 10 years. Recently she launched a new website showcasing her uniquely beautiful designs and processes. As well, a blog including tips and suggestions, with the latest post featuring my illustrations. I love how she has incorporated drawing, fonts, and colours, to create a stylish elegance that is appealing to both brides and designers. Thanks MJ!

From iphones to Posters

I recently pulled out my old watercolours to try something a little different. I did have a plan in mind, along with a personal obligation to create something uplifting. These economic times have been rough for a lot of us, and with the days starting to warm up but still quite chilly, the plan called for some colourful, motivational posters! Including my favourite (and shortest) quote, "Keep Going" has been my mantra for the past few weeks.

Watercolour is unique from other paints, creating beautiful and vibrant textures. There are many techniques with different results but the secret is not to use too many in order to keep the colours fresh and let the paint flow naturally. Using bright, painted shapes against fine, black and white pencil lines, an upwards pattern emerged, through the use of colour, contrast, and form. They definitely cheered me up while I made them, I hope they make you smile too :)

Sold as posters on Etsy and modified to a cuter scale on Society6 products.

Cherry Blossoms in the Fog

I ventured over to High Park on Sunday, half expecting the cherry blossoms to be finished. To my surprise, they were still out at their peak, in full bloom! The heavy fog created a white backdrop and made the pink flowers look more vibrant. I decided to do something different from my usual close-up shots, to stepping back and getting more of the landscape. As well, instead of using a shallow depth of field, I lengthened my focused area, as the fog was naturally making the trees get lighter and disappear into the distance.

Every year I visit the same Japanese cherry trees and every time they show me something new. They are exceptionally beautiful, magically delicate, and delightfully cheery (cherry!).

Website Launch

After much photographing, editing, selecting, writing, and uploading, I am relieved to present my website! My portfolio includes art and graphic design work, to showcase how they are equally important in demonstrating my past experience and future goals.

Please take a look, I am available for freelance graphic design work, illustration (or drawing), and art commissions. Thanks!

The Finale

Now that our trip is over, and I've had the chance to relive it several times over while sifting through hundreds of photographs (really, 60 G's worth!), I'll summarize the last 2 weeks. After Cianjur, we took a winding bus ride through stunning tea plantations up to Bogor. A thriving metropolitan city filled with malls and trendy restaurants, Bogor is uniquely designed with a massive botanical gardens, placed smack in the centre of the city. After an afternoon filled with orchids and lily pads, we ate the most delicious, tender, white fish at a Chinese restaurant lit up with glowing red lanterns.

We completely bypassed Jakarta and flew straight back to Bali where we were greeted a second time by Aunty :) Staying at her place in Ubud, with a rice paddy steps away from the porch, was paradise. Especially so compared to some of the guesthouses we stayed at in Java! Then we filled our days walking through the rice fields, eating ice cream, catching up with the cousins, and experiencing a beautiful ceremony, following the Balinese to the temples where they assembled their colourful offerings and were blessed by priests. We visited the extra green fields in Jatiluwih, took goofy shots of us wearing tails and acting like monkeys, and went on the most pleasant bike ride possible--riding downhill the Mt. Batur volcano back to Ubud. And then one sunny afternoon, along a lush gorge, surrounded by rice fields, guests through flowers in the air, and my sister got married :)

Click here to see a slideshow of our adventure!

Cianjur

We left the relaxed, surfing town of green waters and vegetation to head upwards and westwards over deep rivers and heavier traffic. A little lost and confused on a late arrival in Cianjur, we only had 1 hotel referral which was full and nobody spoke English. Out of the blue (or should I say, out of the dark night along a busy highway), a young guy asked if we need help. Ahhhhh... our guardian angel! Jay works as a manager, just across the street at a trendy cafe. His English is excellent from watching movies and helping out other lost backpackers who end up in exactly the same situation as ours! He has surpassed all his classmates in a hospitality program that will send him to Italy in a few months to work on a cruise ship. He is incredibly busy (school 8-1 pm, work 2-12 am, watches a movie until 2 am, prays 5 times a day, then up again at 6 am) but still managed to help us out tremendously during our stay.

After a very long day, we were rewarded with a homestay arranged with Jay's Parents! Following a very warm welcome, we crashed in a little pink room covered with cutout hearts and stars :) The next day, we went on a fruit-hunt and then headed to Jay's Aunt's house to play soccer and draw with his cute cousins. Jay's mom closed the door to the kitchen while she cooked up a storm, then emerged a couple hours later with a traditional Sudanese meal--the best I've eaten in Java. Delicious crispy catfish, homemade tempeh, a tamarind-broth-vegetable-bean soup, various vegetables, and hot-red sambal (wow the kids loved that!).