The Regal Canine

 Yesterday I did some preliminary work for a dog portrait. I like to start with doing some rough sketches of different poses so that's the story behind these drawings. I'm working from photographs, and man, does this dog photograph well. She looks so dignified. There's something kind of regal about this animal.

Today I wanted to get done a little watercolour sketch, which is the next step before I start on the final painting, but I just don't have it in me tonight. I fell asleep listening to my husband reading bedtime stories to our son. Curious George really numbs the senses. The other reason for my grogginess was today's unexpected supply teaching. I do enjoy the occasional classroom experience but tomorrow I plan on sleeping in!

Framed (and loving it)

I found a frame for my orange leaf watercolour painting and, as it happens, came across a frame that I thought would be nice for a giclee of my blue jay printing. Since doing two leaf paintings last month, I can't seem to walk across my driveway without seeing a leaf I want to paint. I think I'll do one more watercolour of a leaf as my farewell to fall. Without looking at the calender, I know fall is on its way out because today it was cold enough outside to make me wear my puffy, feather-filled winter coat. Gulp!

These two will be for sale at a Christmas Market I'm doing which is Nov 19 in Hamilton. More on that to come!

Fall Fiesta

Yay, it's almost the weekend!  And in case the weekend before Halloween needs a few more fun things crammed into it, there's a Marketplace happening at St. Paul's United Church in Dundas, this Friday and Saturday from 10am - 4 pm. The Church is located at 29 Park St. W. at  the corner of Park St. and Cross St. in Dundas. I've never done this market before but I was invited to participate a few months ago and it looks like it's going to be good! Dundas is such a great place to be, especially in the Fall.

I have some new things for sale so come check it out..

Lighting the Way for Frogs

It's been eons since last I wrote and there's really one reason... the OttLite. I looooove this desk lamp; it gives off a light that very closely resembles daylight. The OttLite allows me to do watercolour painting at night and when the day is very overcast. Time I would have previously used to write a new blog posting is now spent painting. I've been enjoying myself but I also have a bit of sore neck from bending over my work for the additional hours. I've had more than one art instructor in university who had a ruined back and that knowledge combined with the twinge in my neck is reminding me to go work out at the Y.

Some things I've been painting are...

This needs a few finishing touches (like a signature) but I figured I'd better show what I've been up to.

This 5 x 7 watercolour will be for sale at the Fall Marketplace happening next weekend at St. Paul's United Church in Dundas  (more on that to come)

 

The cards are hand painted and very little, 2.5 x 4 inches. A pack of them were on sale at Curry's a while back and I cannot resist miniature stationary. Painting the cards was a bit of busy work while watching a movie, X-Men: First Class. It's safe to say the movie was enhanced by my being lightly distracted, although it was entertaining; minus the uncomfortable feeling that comes from seeing fictitious elements introduced to the Holocaust. I don't know, I find it's somehow a little unseemly to add made up horrors to something that was so completely horrible in and of itself. If you haven't seen the movie, it isn't very graphic or gratuitous, but there's a character whose mutant powers are studied by Nazis. The movie is also ridiculously long so that I stayed up till 1AM without realizing it was so late.

Blue Jay Watercolour

Blue Jay, watercolour painting, 8.5 x 11.5

A new bird has joined the roost. Blue Jays are known for being on the aggressive birds, but something tells me this fellow isn't going to cause any trouble. One benefit of the overcast days we've been having here in Hamilton is that the cloudy skies provide perfect lighting for photographing watercolour paintings. Now to do some more painting while Clarence is snoozing.

AllSorts!

Lately, I've been spending a little more time on facebook because I started up a facebook fan page for my business. This partially explains why I haven't been sharing new things at this location as much, which is a little silly because it's so easy to post my blog entries onto the fb page. What I'm finding a little trickier is how to make a link from my blog to my fb page so that it's easier for people to find. If you feel inclined, please do look up me on fb under the name Stephanie Sikma Illustration.

Something new that I'm excited to share is that I've recently had my work accepted into AllSorts Gallery, a great shop on Ottawa Street North in Hamilton. The gallery has a range of gorgeous work from local artists that includes among other things, pottery, glass work and jewellery. There are seriously beautiful items on display at AllSorts and I'm delighted and flattered to be in such fine company. I met Tony, the store's owner, while being a vendor at a James Street North Art Crawl this past summer and I'm glad I did!

Timothy's Community Festival

Above is a photograph of a September sunset that I took last week. The clouds were spectacularly beautiful and there was an incredible glow in the air; I had no choice but to reach for my camera. I always like to have an image to share and since all my current pieces are works in progress, this picture felt like a good choice. Nothing compares with the artistry found in nature.

I'm working on a few projects at the moment, one of which is a watercolour painting of a  blue jay. As it happens, a number of people at the Grimsby Festival of Art this past Saturday asked me if I have any blue jay images. One lady in particular was on a search for a blue jay painting to give as a gift with special significance. She mentioned that she would keep an eye on my website to see when I'm done the painting. About a minute after I'd spoken with her, I realized I should have saved her the trouble by getting her contact info so that I can let her know when the painting is finished and there are prints available. So if you're out there waiting to see when I finish the blue jay painting, please email me and I'll let you know when it's done and there are giclees made.

This Saturday, Sept 17, there's a Community Festival taking place at Timothy Christian School. The event is going to have family friendly activities, great food and a vendor's market. And, you guessed it, I'm also going to be there with my art from 8AM - 2PM. So if you'd like to have some fun and do some shopping while supporting a good cause, come check things out on Saturday!