21 Day Creative Challenge: Day 1 STAN

I've decided to join the 21 Day Creative Challenge... started by amazing illustrator Gina Perry. Here was her inspiration:

"During Laurie Halse Anderson's keynote at the 2008 NESCBWI conference last weekend, she gave us a challenge. Think you don't have time? She does. At least 15 minutes. Pick a time of day and mark it in your dayplanner or calender. She mentioned that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. Also, pick a buddy or two to help you stay focused and on track. I challenge all of you who read this to join me."
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Jannie Ho was how I found out about the challenge: it's her first day too! Check out Gina and Jannie's blogs for more info.

Here's my personal challenge: To create a different character each day (non-human, non-animal). The first creature I'd like the "bloggers" out there to name... Any suggestions?

He's a bit of a nice guy and enjoys peppermint tea and granola with chopped up banana's (cut just so). Each morning he walks to his office and on his way feeds expired meters with spare change from his pocket. One thing he hates is socks, which he avoids at all costs.

New Work Released!

Work from 2003 - 2006 is finally available for all you lovely internet friends & clients to view! This is the big secret I told you about last week and yet I've suddenly become so busy that I don't forsee my website update getting finished too soon. You may either enjoy the slideshow or browse at your own speed in my newly created flickr 2003 - 2006 collection.

9 worst foods you can eat

I have a fantastic announcement coming as soon as my new website is published (almost there)! There's going to be so many new samples it will drive you hog wild!... just you see...

For now, my mind is obsessing over nutrition. I am involved in a publication for the Royal Alberta Museum called the "Wit n Word" whose current theme is food. I've taken the top 9 worst foods from Nutrition by Natalie in her video "Top 10 Worst Foods" and turned it into a quirky illustration. I still have to do her List of Top 10 Foods...

Paws and Claws Gala comes to a close

A huge thank you to the artists who created pieces of art for the first ever Paws and Claws Gala to raise funds for the Edmonton Humane Society last weekend!

• paws and claws gala website
• the painting I donated
• the edmonton humane society

Susan Stevens & Amie Kerman
Igor Woroniuk (pictured with his wife, Gillian) Michelle Schwengler, Marcus Cutler, Drury Straity & Nicola Marie Pringle
Above: Setting up required tying almost 400 bows on chairs... very pretty results.
the art of animals that once lived at the Edmonton Humane Society:
And to those who could not make it to the event, thank you for the donation and/or long hours put into your pieces (Danielle Inglesias, Rachelle Miller & Michelle McBride)!

(pictured: myself, on the way to the gala. photo by my husband).

To see picture of the art donated, please visit the paws and claws gala . I'm going to update it in the next week with the rest of the art and photos of the event.

Spring

It's been a long winter. I've hardly had any time to pick up my paint brush or to think about sketching in the last few weeks. The biggest reason for this is unfortunetly financial but I've been doing lots of creative things. I'm still a graphic designer at the Royal Alberta Museum (see some of my design work on the CKUA concert series poster for example) and am student recruiting for Grant MacEwan's Design Program (the program hosts five majors: Photography, Illustration, Digital Media, Motion Image and Exhibit Presentation: I took the Illustration program in 2000 and graduated in 03) which will mean I'm going to see lots of the province (I'll post some images) as well the Paws and Claws Gala is only days away (I've been organizing an art show for a local animal shelter) I have lots on the horizon (some very cool projects may be coming this summer) and will update you as often as I can manage. Stay Tuned! Oh and yes, this is a self portrait.

Spring Break Artist...

I forgot to mention that I'd be at the Royal Alberta Museum as a guest artist yesterday. I taught a little bit about acrylic painting to the kids who showed up (almost 60 kids by the looks of the filled seats). It was the most interesting experience I've done teaching thus far as I've never been trained to teach children... You might have missed it but I also got on the evening news yesterday doing my little lecture. I of course didn't turn on the tube (who likes to see themselves on tv anyway?). Does anyone know if you're supposed to look at the person interviewing you or at the camera? I never know and usually end up looking back and forth!