Many apologies!

I am terribly sorry I have been on what seems like an unannounced hiatus but I assure you it was unplanned but also very necessary. I went through a pretty traumatic experience about 10 days ago and honestly have thought about nothing else since then until a few days ago. I can't really say what happened but everything is okay now! Once again, I am so sorry! I hope to get back into the swing of things very soon.

In the meantime, I am still working on painting three roses on mini canvases for my boyfriend's room. Above is the first one I have "completed"... I say that with quotations because I really don't like how it has turned out. What I thought was going to be a fun, and cute, little project, has turned into an absolute nightmare. I can't tell you how many times I have painted over these canvases. There must be 3 or 4 layers of paint on them by now. It might be because I feel completely uninspired lately or feel rushed to do them since my life has become much busier with my new job, but maybe by the time I finished the other 2, I will have a change of heart.

August Already..

I can't believe it is already August! Time has seriously flown by since I finished school 3 months ago. I am on my way out the door, to pick up my little kitten from the vet (today was neuter day, I hope he still loves me after this!) but I wanted to do a quick update first!

I haven't been as productive as I would have liked to be, and obviously did not make good on the promise I made two days ago... oops! Note to self: no more promises. But I do have a good excuse however! I started my new job yesterday and I have to say, I am feeling pretty good about it. I will talk more about it once I get the hang of a few things. My shift was information overload! And I am still trying to sort through all of the thoughts swirling around in my head. My next shift is tomorrow and I am diving right in.

I finally have a little art update for you too. Below is the start of a three piece rose set I will be completing this week hopefully (Only 2 canvases are shown). Although they are still in their very early stages and not near perfect I can already see the vision in my head coming to life on the canvas. The next steps are completing the backgrounds with leaves, buds, shadows etc. and then to begin the red-orange and yellow roses in a traditional style. Can't wait for it to be complete!

Joey the budgie.

Just finished rendering the drawing of Joey I posted yesterday and thought I would post his new, colourful look! Hopefully this gives Spencer a good idea of colouring. I haven't seen the underside of his wings as he was in his cage so I improvised but I think it turned out great incorporating the same blue that is on his chest. (I added pictures of Joey for reference.) Now I am off to Curry's to find mini canvas' for another project!

Blog makeover! :) & another budgie!

I just got finished scanning this new budgie study and I think this is my favourite budgie thus far (I can bet you it will be Spencer's as well!). I hope no one is too sick of them just yet (Sorry!) I was actually a lot more loose when I drew him. I didn't spend a lot of time getting the perfect proportions from the start and achieved that as I kept sketching. I started out with a lot of gesture lines and I think when I am able to draw like that is when I am most successful. I quickly added in "Nana" to start thinking about placement, size and type. I'm contemplating making a copy and rendering him complete later tonight so expect an update!

Still waiting to hear back from my interviews (I mean, it has only been a day.), I am assuming they are contacting my references and everything so I am not stressed out yet! Still so excited though! And in case you didn't notice (which is actually impossible) I changed the appearance of the blog. I think it looks a lot more refined and polished now compared to what I threw together quickly when I first created it. Definitely keeping it like this for a while.. It kind of feels like I have found myself in a way, and now know how I want to represent my work and life to the blogging world!

P.S. Just realized I am featured as number 2 on the "Up and Coming" Art blogs in Canada on Blog Lovin' :)! 

Budgies: WIP.. & a quick update!

Although I haven't updated as much as I would have liked to the past few days, I have been very busy and have continued to work on Spencer's budgie designs and a few other drawings I have been wanting to do. Above is a sketch of a budgie in flight.. it was a little bit more complicated to get the proportions and foreshortening right than when I was drawing sitting budgies. I want to redo the left wing and add a bit more detail to both of the wings but for now, I am very happy with how it came out. I showed it to Spencer yesterday and he liked it as well, even better than my previous sitting budgies. I am going to draw a few more and use tracing paper to place banners in their mouths and different areas to place Nana in script.

Aside from drawing, I have had 3 interviews over a 2 day period! Can you believe that? Like my mom said, "When it rains, it pours!" And I guess that is the case when it comes to me getting interviews. The interviews went a little something like this:
1. The first was for the job at The Hamilton Spectator which in the end wasn't the right job for me.. besides not being able to do it, the man who interviewed me made me completely uncomfortable (Asking me if I was a "party girl" doesn't seem like your standard interview question..) and when he called me to either give me the job, he was very rude and arrogant. Not someone I would ever consider working for, no matter how good it may look on my resume.
2. The second interview was to work at Urban Trade.. a trendy retail store throughout Ontario. Going into the interview, I believed it was only for a sales associate position but it turns out they are looking for someone to fill a manager on duty position. As soon as he told me this, I knew I had to go for it and I believe I nailed the first interview as I was immediately set up for a second interview for tomorrow! Fingers crossed it goes just as well.
3. My last interview went just as well but I am not as excited for the job as my last. It is to work in a specialty bakery in downtown Hamilton. Although I think it would be very cute and interesting to work there I don't see myself loving the position as much as I would at Urban Trade.

I also have another lead on an interior design related job.. but I will keep that a secret until I know more and if anything comes of it. I see employment in my near future and after having not worked for a full year, it feels very good! I can't wait for that first paycheck.

Budgies: Work in progress.

I have been pretty busy the past 2 days. First spending Saturday in the states where I picked up some things for both me and Spencer and then second spending Sunday with Spencer and his family. But I did manage to sketch out some ideas for Spencer's budgie tattoo this morning. I put them in order from my most to least favourite (although I do really enjoy the curving branch in the third one).. Maybe I could incorporate that with a different pose of some sort. I plan to do some more sketches with budgies in flight and holding banners that have "Nana" written on them. 

I think it would be pretty amazing if Spencer chose one of my designs for his tattoo. I wouldn't be offended if the tattoo artist were to redraw it at all (especially because he wants it very realistic) but it would be very neat to have come up the layout/idea of it.. I will keeps my fingers crossed!

Also, Follow my blog with Bloglovin!!

Nana & her boy Joey.

My boyfriend Spencer has been thinking about getting a tattoo lately as a tribute to his Nana. She is 91 years old, still wears high heels and is so full of life. I don't think there is anything that could bring her down. After spending so much time with her on birthdays, Sunday night dinners, and escorting her home afterwards, I have (in a way) adopted her as my own Nana since my grandmothers have both passed away and I never had the opportunity to meet either of my grandfathers. I admire her strength, independence, and ability to laugh about her age and hope she lives to actually be 101 like everyone tries to convince her she already is.

She shares her little apartment with her boy Joey, a bright blue and white budgie who is a little camera shy. You can tell by the way she talks about him that she really enjoys his company and wouldn't trade him for any other bird out there. Therefore, it is only fitting that he be apart of a tattoo about her. Spencer plans to get a portrait of him, possibly on a branch, with "Nana" in classic script beside. Last week, Spencer and I attempted to catch some pictures of him as reference for his new tattoo. I have then taken it upon myself, without Spencer's knowledge or request (until he reads this) to begin designing and drawing little Joey. I started out drawing more basic birds, and then began sketching little Joey. These are some of my sketches so far, I think I am on the right track. Sorry for the poor quality, I had to use my point and shoot camera. Once I sketch more and have the chance to perfect and outline them I will scan them!

Left: Joey / Right: Sparrow-like bird

For reference, this is Joey!

Roses

 

I finally mastered the art of drawing traditional roses. I drew both of these (minus the ugly one cut off in the corner) freehand without any reference. I might even do a small painting of roses later tonight.. I know this doesn't seem like a great accomplishment, but too me it is.. Every time I succeed with something small, I gain more confidence in my artwork, something I have lacked and what has kept me from progressing.

Hopefully one day, I can finally say "I can do this!"

Side note: My boyfriend's mom makes the best nacho dip ever.. Full of cream cheese, sour cream, hot pepper, tomatos, cheese and green onions. This was my own personal carry home package from yesterday and will make for possibly one of the best lunches I have had in a while.

Panda: Complete!

This is the finish product of my painting for my boyfriend Spencer. There are some changes I wish to make eventually after I complete the second painting... but only if he agrees and wants me too. This is the best picture I could get but I think it represents the real thing well enough. The painting probably took me around 10 hours all together to complete. I am not completely happy with it, there are things I would like to change or be better at in general ultimately.. but practice makes perfect, right?

I am in a rush to get ready and go out, but I will probably add more pictures later tonight! For now, here is a close-up of the panda's finished face.

UPDATE: Spencer loved it and the panda now has a new home above his television! 

Oh, panda bear.

I started this painting a few weeks ago for my boyfriend Spencer. He recently redid his room which was originally steel grey and red, to pay homeage to his favourite football team as a child. Thankfully, he enlisted my help and the walls are now a soft, almost minty, green colour  and the furniture is a medium oak brown and white inside his closet. He asked me to do a series of paintings for him (since his walls have been left bare) and this is the beginning of the first one. It will also feature a panda bear, munching on some leaves, when it is finished. As it in not finished, this is a little sneak peak I put together.
As for the subject of the next one in the series... you'll have to wait and see.

Painting seems to be my biggest stress relief these days since I can't afford retail therapy. But I am glad I can spend this time focusing on something which I had become a stranger to during my college years.

Painting.

I painted all day yesterday.. which in the end gave me a migraine from the spotlight. I am really trying to perfect my skills and go back to school for art... or maybe do tattoos, I'm not sure!

I'm back.

I realize no one realized I was gone, but I am going to keep this blog going simply for myself. A lot has happened... I have finished and graduated from school but have realized that Interior Design is not right for me. I am taking the summer to figure myself out, and create a new plan for what to do with my life.
I am still young I have time, I hope.