all about matte medium...

It has taken me a week to write an update about The Grimsby Art Festival. I wish I had remembered to take some photos of our day there... but alas, I was scatterbrained and just forgot. Not really all that surprising since I often forget that my phone is a camera all in itself. The festival was a lot of fun. I had some fantastic help from Jen, Ash and Erin, though, I fully admit that I missed Thamo's ability to keep my completely organized.
The day was beautiful and sunny, but sadly a little windy which resulted in 2 broken hand-painted mugs and 2 shattered pieces of glass in framed paintings. Oh, and also, a broken easel, though I still have no idea how that happened. Honestly, I was okay, with the broken pieces; the glass can be replaced, the mugs weren't my favourite, and I have about 3 other full sized easels. I got to spend a whole day with my friends, meet some new people and share my art. It was awesome... and then...
A young girl came up and was flipping through my portfolio filled with the original watercolours from my books. She bought 2 of them. I was shocked. SO SO happy, but surprised. They aren't cheap. They aren't expensive, but not cheap either. I was so glad they were going to a girl who seemed like she really loved them.
And then she came back, and asked me what type of watercolours I used. So we talked a little... and then she left.
Until, she came back... and I was speaking to someone else, and I had thought she left...but I turned around and she was looking at one of my paintings. So I went and talked to her again, and she asked me about the cut pieces of paper in my work, and why I did it. And I told her about pigments and matte medium and origami paper... and she repeated things back to me like she was memorizing what I was saying....and then she left.
Until, she came back... and bought a third original watercolour from A Game for Amy. I was really shocked now. I asked her if she does art. She told me she does, and that she tries all materials because she hasn't found her style yet. The only thing that went through my head there was: "Your style?!?! You're 12!!!!" I only discovered my style a few years ago and its still developing. I told her not to worry about that. That it takes time and experimentation and willingness to explore and express with different material.... and then she left.
But she had made my whole day. So to the young girl, who's name I never got, if you ever read this: Experiment with every type of media - with ink, watercolour, masking tape, salt, spray paint and anything else you can get your hands on. Use feathers and twigs and paintbrushes....smudge, score, imprint, dab, blot and NEVER ERASE.... and always go for the matte medium!
Thank you for making my day awesome. Thanks to my friends for their help and peddling abilities. And thanks to everyone for just checking out my work. It really was a great day.

Maple Keys

So, it's taken me a few weeks, but I thought it was time that I uploaded a photo of my newest painting, entitled Maple Keys.
I love maple keys (I also, only just found out that they were called "maple keys" a few weeks ago - prior to this I called them 'Autumn Helicopters'). I remember opening the seed end and sticking them to the end of my nose when I was little. But thats a story for another day... when i feel like sharing more of my vast nerdiness.
Anyway, I finished this painting on Saturday morning at 1:30am, when it would be going up for sale at the Grimsby Art Festival a few hours later. It was a hit. Everyone loved it, and I was so pleased. I personally like it so much that I am painting an additional one (for myself, with a grey background) which I never do.
I hope you enjoy it too.

The Last Line of Holding Sky

For seven years I've been watching this band. For seven years I've observed as my friends created music. Last night, Holding Sky performed there last show as a band at Skal Bar in Toronto. It was a bittersweet but fantastic evening. So many people were there and they played on a stage with some individuals they have looked up to for years. And I got to witness it.

I can not imagine what this decision has meant to them. How hard it was for them to come to. Seven years ago, I was at that first show, before Holding Sky was officially 'Holding Sky.'

I remember meeting Ben and Bourke for the first time.
I remember when Jumo told me that the band name was going to be Holding Sky, and Tim had become an official member.
I remember carrying gear from the Mac student centre out to the van that seemed a mile away.
I remember sitting on the floor of that van, all of us crammed in the back like sardines, all of us laughing and cursing at that show.
I remember losing my voice at taste of chaos.
I remember laughing with Ash every time we got the stare down from 15 year old girls who were 'in love' with our hot friends.
I remember jumping around, screaming and hugging at the Annex when they won a $10,000 recording contract.
I remember sharing my birthday at the Casbah with Matty, and being sung happy birthday by my musician friends.
I remember the heartfelt messages they gave me when my world seemed like it fell out beneath me last summer.
I remember some amazing bands that played with them, and ones where I gritted my teeth and suffered through.
I remember amazing venues, and terrifying venues, and small venues and huge venues. And big shows, and shows when there were only 4 of us there.
I remember nights of laughter, and music, and beer, and good times, and nights were all I wanted was my bed, but my friends had a show, and there was no where else I'd rather be then supporting their passion.

And I wouldn't change any of it. I remember how talented these friends of mine are. And how much their band gave me - in music and experiences in the things I've seen and been a part of, and the individuals I've had the great honour to met along the way. It takes so much strength to share your art with the world, and I'm truly envious that they did it so gracefully - and so thankful that I got to witness the boys I met at the Cage, and along the seven year road, grow and shape themselves into the talented individuals they have become.

The band might have played their last chord together as Holding Sky last night, but each one of them as individuals has so much to offer the world, in music and in life. And I look forward to witnessing where the roads will lead them next, because this has been one hell of a ride.

So, to Ben, Bourke, Mikey, Kohji and of course one of my best friends in the world, Timmy, I wish you all the inspiration the wind can provide you and I love you all with every little nook of my heart.
Good night Holding Sky, my dear dear friends.

Misplaced 3

Last weekend, I spent most of my Saturday and Sunday finishing off my newest painting Misplace 3, an addition to the Misplaced Series. This piece was commissioned recently after my friends boyfriend saw my Piano in a Pond painting last summer at the Grimsby Art Festival. Once he decided that he wanted to purchase it, it was too late, as I had sold it to a dance studio. We talked about me painting a drum set one, as he's a drummer. I threw out the idea of a drum set in a snowstorm,,, silly girl. I didn't know if I'd every paint it... Until Erin asked for the commission to surprise Greg of a painting with his drums in it. I think she definitely surprised him - I even have an amazing video of the reaction. He loves it. And I'm so glad of that.
I'm really happy with this Series. It's not finished yet... theres a very good chance that Misplaced 4 will be unveiled this year at the Art Festival in September.

My Whole World

My whole world is in my many many sketchbooks.
They are every piece of me.
Every experience.
Every memory.
Every thought.
And they are completely mine.
Today, I chose to share some of me, with you.
Enjoy.

Little Stumps

So, I've been very busy lately doing new commissions, my website and starting to work on a new book!!!! woot! And usually when i am working on those things, I prefer to only be working on them... but this time I decided to take a little break in between all those projects to do something for me. So I painted this little stumps that my dad brought home from Montreal for me - I've done them in the colours that my new place will be in and I just love them. Hope you like them too :)

Brussels Jazz Marathon

I can't believe how quickly our holiday passed - I guess when you are enjoying yourselves so much, you don't recognize the time passing. One of the nights in Brussels, there was a Jazz Marathon going on and we sat and listened while we drank a few beers and enjoyed the music. This is what I sketched...