Gabon Magazine Cover Illustration

Gabon Magazine contacted me to create a cover illustration for a special edition of the magazine to be distributed in China.  The issue was all about China/Gabon trade relations and they wanted the cover to portray this.  It was very interesting to learn a little bit about Gabon while creating the artwork.  It sounds like a very beautiful country with interesting animals and many natural resources.

The chosen cover image is of a Phoenix (a very positive Chinese symbol) holding a lucky coin.  The bird flys over a Gabon landscape highlighting some of Gabon's major trade assets (lumber and off shore oil).

It was a pleasure working with Mauro Perillo, the managing editor!

* The text on the above illustration isn't what was on the final printed version.  It was a general cover template I was given to design around.  But you get the idea.

Today's Parent Paper Cut Flowers

Yay! I am really excited to finally see (and share) this cover!

Back in February, I was asked to make 5 branches of paper cut flowers with little leaves for the May issue of Today's Parent Magazine.  I also spent the morning at the photo shoot cutting and folding last minute extra flowers.  Everyone was super nice and it was great to meet Alicia Kowalewski, the art director, in person.

My flowers might appear in a photo on the interior of the magazine as well.  I'll have to get my hands on a copy to take a look.

Art At Cardinal Rule

Gypsy Summer - Miss Fawn Cuttington's Rustic A-frame - The Gardener

It ain't easy photographing art behind glass.  But you get the gist.

So my art will be displayed at Cardinal Rule for the next 3 months!  Jesse and I put up the show earlier this week, and I gotta say, it looks real good.  There are 10 pieces up in total.

If you're in the Toronto area, you should stop in for a brunch or dinner.

Birds and Blooms

The Flooded Home of Corporal Cutty McCloud

Arctic Synchronized Swim

Amsterdam Map

Stand Fast

Seven Days: Vermont Magazine

Here's a new cover illustration I made for Seven Days, Vermont's independent magazine!  It was for the real estate issue, so I got to cut out a nice variety of little houses.  I think it turned out pretty cute.

It was art directed by Diane Sullivan, who was an all around wonderful person to work with.  The turn around time was really tight (maybe 4 days from sketches to final), fewf!

Today's Parent Illustration

Here's a quick little spot illustration I made for Today's Parent Magazine.  It was done with a very quick turn around time, and I think it turned out really great!

Thanks to the art director, Dave Curcio, for the great commission!

Savary Island Map

Savary Island Illustrated Map

I'm so happy to finally share my newest map illustration!  Click the image to see a larger view.

I created this piece as a gift for my dad and step mom, Janice.  Dad has been building a beautiful cottage on Savary Island for the past ... hmm ... I'm not sure ... maybe 7 years? He's built it all himself, sometimes dragging large, beautiful, drift wood logs from the ocean behind his kayak and incorporating them as beams in the house.  I could pretty much go on and on about amazing stories about my dad, but I should talk a bit about this map illustration as well.

So Savary Island is off the coast of British Columbia on the Sunshine Coast and is filled with beauiful wildlife.  I wanted to include and label some of the most prominent island animals.  Also, I included my sister painting, my dad kayaking, Janice looking through the binoculars and myself wearing my red sweater ridding a bike.

Below you can see the work in progress.

And bellow is my all time favorite Savary Island photo!  I was on that rock posing in the hot sun for 2 days while my bikini clad sister painted me.  (This was clearly used as reference on my map.)

And now you must be curious to see how Kristy's painting turned out ... take a look! Beautiful.  Can't wait to visit again this summer.

Anthology Magazine Illustrations

Early December, I had the pleasure of creating five illustrations for the Winter 2012 issue of Anthology Magazine.  Together with creative director, Meg Mateo Ilasco, I illustrated the Amsterdam Map and four spot illustrations on homesteading.  My favorite of which is probably the "Caring For Chickens" one.

I gotta say, I was super excited when I received this issue in the mail.  It's chalk full of great crafting, decorating and general hand making ideas.  Plus, the cover and a handful of interior illustrations were done by fellow paper cut illustrator, Chloé Fleury.

You should probably pick up a copy. 

Victorian Style Brooches

Arctic Fox Brooch

I've been wanting to create illustrated brooches for a few years now.  And I'm very pleased to announce that I created them at long last!

I love the Victorian medallion style.  Perfect for your coat or cardigan.

Each image is a miniature reproduction of one of my original illustrations and is protected with a clear varnish coating. The pendant hangs from a rick velvet ribbon and a colour that compliments the image.

The whole brooch measures about 2 x 2.5 in
The image area is about 1 x 1 in

Check em out in my Etsy shop, or at Scout in Toronto.

Bird Silhouette Brooch

Evergreen Tree Brooch

Horse Brooch

Rose Girl Brooch

Steller's Jay Brooch