Photo shoot day

Today my talented friend Janet shot a bunch of "in situ" shots of my prints at my friend Emily's house in Cabbagetown. Janet has shot for many magazines including House + Home, Gardening Life + Style at Home. I love the shots she took and can't wait to show them to you!

Pinterest + Tommy Smythe's bedroom

I joined Pinterest today. Pinterest is a virtual pinboard where you can collect + organize things you love. Decor types have embraced it with verve! I plan to use it to organize my renovation ideas. My first pin was Tommy Smythe's bedroom which I've long admired. Something about the dark walls + red chevron bedcover makes me just wanna cuddle on in there and read a book!

Comfort

Today was kind of a lousy day. I felt like I hardly got anything done.
When this happens I take comfort in this Fran Lebowitz's quote.

I needed to read this today.
via swiss miss and The Happiness project

Some sketches

This week I began working on a poster with the wonderful design firm Sali Tabbachi. They are the designers behind Azure magazine, Design Lines, IDS + all of the branding for Mjolk. (!)
I can't tell you the name of the project yet but can tell you that it involves music and booze!

I have been drawing up a storm this week. Here are a few rejected sketches.

PWYC YOGA on the Roof at the Drake!

Does this sound fun or what?
During the summer every Monday at 10am The Drake offers a PWYC Yoga Class on the Roof.
Even more exciting.... the class is taught by my wonderful friends David + Scotty! (and their lovely friend Andrew)
After class you can enjoy a fabulous coffee on the patio.
Guaranteed to be a great start to your week. See you there next Monday. :-)

Atom Egoyen at The Drake

Atom's Egoyen's talk at the Drake tonight was great.

He chose to focus on some of his lesser known side projects which he explained inevitably inform his commercial work. (A favourite theme of mine)
We saw some footage from his film Krapp's Last Tape (based on Samuel Beckett play) and also slides from 2 of his multimedia installation pieces: 'Steenbeckett' at the Museum of Mankind in London and 'Out of Order' from Musée d’art contemporain in Montréal.

Themes discussed:
The virtues of analog vs digital technology
The fact that documenting every moment of our lives is now a give in.

For young filmmakers he lamented the fact that there is no longer a process of apprenticeship but celebrated the fact that through the internet it has never been easier to get your work out there and to learn from other great filmmakers. (He singled out David Fincher's DVD commentaries as exceptionally instructive!)
Inspirational.

Sketch

Working on some illustrations with real fabric.
This is fabric from the j. crew retro dot bathing suit!

House + Home Photo Gallery

Canadian House + Home online now has a new photo gallery where you can view 100s of photos from past issues. Trish Magwood's home which appeared in the June 2010 issue is a featured home online this week. It contains 3 of my prints including Large Ochre mannequin above.
FYI
This print is sold out but I do have a smaller version of it available for 95.00.
See below.



Please send me an email if are interested in the larger version as in Trish's bathroom and I will contact you if I am able to do a second edition. Thank you!

New Client List

Finally got around to including a client list on my website.

Weekend Getaway to Otter Island

Off to Otter island in Stoney Lake
Here it is on a map


Our wonderful hosts Madeline (up top) and Kirt (above)

Dreamy dinner on the porch starring bbqed chicken, orzo + wild rice salad, + a bottle of rosé

Late night Desert (Peach cobbler)

Frog and Canoe Adventures!

Best lunch ever starring smoked salmon, St. Urbain bagels + fresh Ontario corn. yum.

Bliss.
Do I have to go home?

The process behind an illustration

This is the process behind my most recent book cover.
The art director's comments are above each sketch.

The book was originally called The Heart Wish.
The main character lives in Manhattan and works as a seamstress for a high end clothier.
She goes ice skating in Central Park one night and meets some special.

I choose to focus on the first point and drew some seamstresses.
(I draw the sketches by hand and then scan into the computer and alter in photoshop)


"We like seamstress 2.
Can you add a snooty customer and the title?"


Whoops -
The editor has decided we should concentrate on the Skating in Central park.
Can you draw some skaters?




We like 3.
Can you crop it more?

The title has been changed to "I wished for you"! Please change.
Also the heroine has a cat... Please add a cat.


Good. Go to colour.

After a few more colour tweeks the art director Justinia adds the author's name and pull quote.
Here is the final cover. (As you can see the cat didn't make it!)

Book Launch with Misha Glouberman + Sheila Heti

Sheila Heti + Misha Glouberman at last night's launch at the Garrison

Last night's book launch of The chairs are where the people go was very entertaining. I found Misha Glouberman to be insightful, hilariously self deprecating and instantly likable. Sheila Heti was charming, articulate and rocking her librarian chic style as usual.
Here are some favourite lines from the Q + A:

Q: How did the book come about?
Sheila: I just sat down and typed what Misha said. Lucky for me he speaks in fully formed paragraphs.

Q: Is there a main theme to your approach?
Misha: Well I don't wanna say something trite like "flattening of hierarchies' but I guess the answer is hmm... flattening of hierarchies!

Q: What are American Audiences like?
Misha: They used to be very taken with Canada. They'd often ask "Is it true that every Canadian smokes pot and is married to a gay person?!!" That's all changed now that they have a good president and we have bad prime minister.

Q: What would this book be like if it was illustrated?
Misha: It would not be illustrated! It's a book for grown ups! (Said very tongue in cheek)
Uh oh.... I'm gonna be beat up by a graphic novelist as soon as I get off this stage.

Quite great.

If you love libraries....

.....Please sign this petition.


"Libraries - a thousand universes in a single place. If that isn't value for money, what is?"
Margaret Atwood

New Book Cover

Last fall I worked on a book cover for Penguin Ireland + today it was released in North America.
It's the second in a series by Amy Huberman.
Below was the first in the series.

The art director for both covers was Justinia Baird - Murray of Head Design in the UK and in both cases I did both the illustration and hand lettering.
Tomorrow I'll do a post about the process behind the assignment.

Book Launch this Wednesday

Book Launch for
'THE CHAIRS ARE WHERE THE PEOPLE GO: How to Live, Work, and Play in the City'
by Sheila Heti +Misha Glouberman

The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St. West , Toronto
Wednesday, July 27, 2011, 7 pm

See you there.