Gone With The Wind

I'm pleased to share some illustrations that I've been gradually working on in my free time since October. I dreamt/ thought up this idea for a series of three pieces, two of which are finished. I don't normally share progress work, mostly because my sketches are so sloppy. But I always love it when other illustrators share their progress, so I thought I'd do the same.

The first in the series is of Harold Washington Library in Chicago. When I lived there, I occasionally went to the library to work. One night I dreamt this image, possibly inspired by the daunting figures perched on the library's roof.

Years ago I wrote a playful poem, one of the lines was "the girl with tortoise shell glasses and a turtleneck sweater." I decide to base the second piece in the series off this imagery, making the girl in the poem, a librarian charged with the task of protecting the books.

Most of you will notice the resemblance between the librarian and myself, and though I didn't originally plan it, she did become a sort of fantastical self-portrait.

I've got the third and final piece of the series sketched up. It will reveal the cause and purpose of the storm and hopefully offer a playful twist.

At the base of the Mountain

I've been pull-my-hair-out busy, so I haven't had a chance to post in a while. I'm chipping away at my to-do list and making good progress on small illustration jobs here and there. But the real work is my graphic novel. I've been illustrating it steadily this month and feel like I have comparatively little to show for it. I've already spent a year on this book and when I look around, I still feel like I'm at the base of the mountain.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not afraid of this mountain and I see a pretty clear path up. It's just that now I'm accustomed to projects with quick turnarounds and I love that feel of satisfaction of when I finish a work. It will just be a while until I get that feeling with Photobooth, A Biography.

Here's a snippet of a page of a chapter I just finished (sans text). Now I've got to get back to base camp!

One Year of Mail Art - January + February

 
Admittedly, it was tricky to get January's Mail Art out. I was still recovering from surgery and was in a bit of a post-holiday lull. Unfortunately I didn't take great documentation of January's pieces, but the theme(s) were Old and New. Within the main envelope were two smaller envelopes, one new and the other old and tattered. Inside each were a set of drawings; the New envelope containing drawings of things when they were young and the Old envelope with drawings of how they've aged.

And per usual, I included  two puzzle pieces and the series of letters on the back of the envelope (which, with all twelve months and the arrangement key, spell a secret message.)

At the start of this month, feeling more up to it, I had fun putting together February's Mail Art. The theme was Hearts & Arrows, but I decided to take a non-romantic approach to this Valentine's Day related idea. I used some new air mail envelopes I bought online from Thailand and put together a little booklet of watercolour paintings and made a word search puzzle.

From the Archives: 2009 Comic

I recently found this short comic that I made 4 years ago while I was finishing up my BFA. It's about a brief incident that happened in 2008 while I was living in Toronto. When I made it I was really focused on fibre arts and not at all serious about comics, so it's funny to look at it now. My storytelling and illustration skills have improved, but I don't mind it at all.

My Engagement(s)

This morning I got up at 11 AM and ate a piece of chocolate cake.

Yesterday afternoon I handed in a grant application that I spent weeks working on. When I got home my body had an allergic reaction towards my to-do list. So, I brushed it off for the day and  instead I cooked myself a nice meal, made the illustration here just for kicks and watched Moonrise Kingdom, again. The relief I feel is nice but will be short lived.

I have so many deadlines coming up that it's sorta overwhelming, but I'm also really excited for the projects. Aside from work for clients, I'm making some new portfolio pieces before I send it out to editorial Art Directors. I'm also finessing a stop-motion animation that I will be submitting to film festivals. I'm very please to say that Jason MacIsaac of the Heavy Blinkers will be composing the animation's score! (Seriously, this is amazing, I feel so lucky.) And, now I'm working full steam ahead on the illustrations for my graphic novel, Photobooth, A Biography.

I haven't had a break in a while, so fortunately, my brother Kieran and I are taking a three day trip to Saskatoon next weekend to see my lovely extended family. It's not exactly an exotic destination but the break in the routine will be much appreciated. I can't wait to hug my grandma.