Anne Thériault's Forest Commission

I'm really happy to share this new commissioned piece!  I created it for my super talented friend, Anne Thériault.  She's a writer and generally wonderful/interesting lady.  You can read her blog here.

She really liked my forest illustrations and wanted me to create something special for her business cards and website.  But she also wanted to have the framed original in the end.

The way I create my illustrations is I cut, paste and draw with pencil crayons on coloured paper pieces.  I paint the background in acrylic paint, then I figure out the final placement of the paper pieces before I paste them down.  It feels a bit like solving a puzzle or building a stage set.  And it always feels great to see it all come together in the end.

And here's Anne's framed original.  This is one of the most beautiful frame I've ever owned.  My mom found it during one of her thrifting missions.  She's the greatest at finding treasures.  This pieces measures approximately 13 3/4" x 10 1/2".

Thanks Anne, for such a great commission!

Gypsy Summer Framed Original

Lately, I've been working hard framing up a bunch of pieces.  I'll be putting them up for sale in my Etsy shop as each is completed and photographed.

Here's a new original illustration I've put up on my Etsy page, entitled Gypsy Summer.  It looks really great in the painted white, vintage frame, with lovely scalloped edged details.  The artwork is 9" x 12" and is behind unbreakable, gallery quality Plexiglas.

I had a great time cutting out and making each little flower.  Lot's a great details in this piece.

The Bouquet Framed Original

I've been adding more and more items to my Etsy shop lately (just in time for the big gift giving season!). Today I just put up my framed original of my illustration, The Bouquet.

This piece measures 9" x 12" and is framed in unbreakable, gallery quality Plexiglas.  The frame is an antique, art deco, gold toned wooden frame with lovely carved details.

Portrait Oil Painting

For me, August was the month of oil painting!  My over the top talented sister, Kristy Gordon, taught a three day oil painting workshop in Nelson.  I rarely paint in oils, and I hardly ever get to paint from a live model, so I was super excited to take it.

Above is the outcome.  And I must say, I'm pretty happy with it.  The model, Amber, had such a great look.  In my painting, she really looks like a proud viking woman.

It feels so great to keep pushing my skills and trying new techniques.

Her Nashville Cover Illustration

My Illustration is on the cover of the July issue of Her Nashville Magazine! The theme was Choose Your Own Adventure and features a flip book style of illustration. It was a pleasure to work with the art director, Heather Pierce, again.

TIME Magazine : The Best of Asia

I came back from my Beautiful British Columbia vacation to find a copy of TIME magazine with my illustration on page 20! May Wong, the art director I worked with, was so wonderful.

The piece was for a write up about a spa that uses ingredients found in a Bloody Mary in their treatments. The half page illustration has the feel of the old pin-up girl in a martini theme, but with a more relaxing, spa type spin.

Her Nashville Magazine Cover

Way back in April, I was contacted by Heather Pierce to illustrate the July 2009 cover of Her Nashville magazine. The theme for that month was "The Men's Issue". I had a great time doing paper cut undies and little drawn details.