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!

Sign Me Up

This is painted with acrylic on a piece of primed canvas about 3.5 ft x 4.5 ft.

t is for rose

A few days ago, Jean's Flower Shop, a floral place near my house, was giving away free bunches of a dozen roses for good neighbour day. If you show up in time, there's many different colours of roses to choose from, as well as complimentary timbits and coffee. There's also a food bank donation box where you can bring your dry-goods. So Clarence and I walked over with some non-perishable food items in hand and picked out some lovely pink roses. After arriving back home and arranging the flowers, I was struck with a design idea for a new sign to hang by my display at the upcoming Grimsby Festival of Art. Two words: Flower Alphabet! I've done the flower alphabet before on a thankyou card, and the beautiful pink roses reminded me to use it again for my sign. The late night photograph that I took of the banner after I finished painting it last night would have looked better if I'd taken it in daylight, but c'est la vie. 

The Festival tomorrow takes place on Nelles Blvd. & Central School in Grimsby. I'm going to be located inside at the School. The GFA goes from 9AM -5PM so you can check it out and still be able to go to the SuperCrawl in Hamilton that's happening at night. I thought about having a display at the Supercrawl, but I think the emphasis there is on all the free, live musical performances that will be taking place. If I have some energy left over from the day, I hope to go have a listen. 

                   

Midday at Gore Park

A sunny lunch-hour was well spent today at Gore park in Hamilton listening to jazz music and admiring the fountain. I didn't take a picture of it (I should have!) but there was also a bright pink truck selling cupcakes and cookies. How sweet it is. These photos encapsulate what's needed to keep the creative juices flowing (it's the weekend, so I'm allowed to use cliches that are extra cliche).

Live and Learn

I´d been thinking about doing a watercolour painting of a blue jay when last week I found a blue jay feather in my backyard. It was pretty much impossible to look at the feather without wanting to paint it, so I did a quick little watercolour... 

After the feather was done I started on the whole bird. I think this piece might turn out to be an elaborate preliminary because I´m not please with the composition. I misplaced the bird and now his tail feathers are getting smooshed into the edge of the picture frame. Hmm, so maybe the week your two year old has been sick and cranky and wearing you out a little is not the week to start a finicky new painting. When I´m doing a watercolour I don´t draw the outline of what I´m going to paint because I don´t what there to be any pencil lines in my painting, but this is one time when it may not have hurt to pencil in the bird before I started painting.

Dog Days of Summer

Phew, it's been a fun summer! I know it still is summer, but for my own part I'm feeling the need to buckle down and get things done, a feeling I associate with September and the return to school. I like that feeling-- it makes fall feel like a second spring in the sense that you're ready to start things afresh. The fact that the weather is starting to get a little cooler is also preparing me for the surety that summer has to end some time. And since I did some camping last week, my summer is feeling pretty complete. Although a trip to the zoo would really top it off nicely.

Something I'm looking forward to in September is the Grimsby Festival of Art which happens Sept 10. This will be my first year as an exhibitor at the GFA and between the beautiful setting and the throngs of people who come to admire and purchase art, I think it should be a good time. I'll write some more about the Festival and what I'll be doing there when the date gets a little closer.

In the meantime, here's a watercolour painting I did of two pet dogs that was commissioned as a gift for the owner who lives here in Hamilton. I'm pleased to say the painting was a gigantic hit! Because the gift was arranged as a surprise, there weren't many photographs to choose from for source material so I worked from one of the toughest photos I've used yet, see below...

Sketching in the Rain

Yaaaay, the chord that connects my camera to my computer arrived in the mail today! It was mistakenly left behind in British Columbia when we returned home. Now I can download the recent vacation photos I took and pictures of some of my artwork. As I think about it, the list of things to be thankful for is limitless. That was clear to me as I sat in my backyard this afternoon sketching birds and trees while Clarence napped. After something of a dry spell, there was a good long rain today in Hamilton. Sitting under a big sun umbrella on the deck, I was able to do some sketching and stay dry. Now that's what I call summer vacation. The birds looked happy too, as they cooled off in a light rain and snacked on some bird seed.

There's also a new little painting that I'd like to share but it will have to wait a few days since the piece is a commission that's intended as a gift for someone who hasn't received it yet. I had better not ruin any surprises!

p.s. What's something you're thankful for?