MELISSA RYAN

2011-02-15T21:50:00.002-05:00

I also participated in the Gift Giving Show at the Fort Henry in Kingston it was pretty fun but It was really cold and it was not that busy. I did pretty good but the cost of my table did not make it profitable at all. I am not sure If i will do it again.

winter craft fair

2011-02-15T21:44:00.002-05:00

I Have been slacking on my blog so here is the set up I did at the winter craft fair in november at the the kingston military gym. I was not that great i was competing with hand knitted dish rags so it kinda was a dud. But the craft show I was suppose to be in got cancelled last minute and I had all the stock and was able to miraculously get a table because of a cancellations.

Crow Nests

2010-09-23T15:14:00.004-04:00

We were driving home from my mom and dad's house a few weekends ago and on the side of the highway in the field was a bunch tall dead trees with crows nests in them. It was beautiful, it looked like headstone in a graveyard the long sticks of trees with the nests in them. So, last weekend I went to the Thousand Island Art Association art sale in Mallory Town and on the drive back I tried to find the area again but it must be further east on the 401. Any how here is the first in the series. I got some help with the composition of the nest from a photo taken by the awesome Photographer Christopher Adermark. Thanks Chris.
Here is a pic of the stop sign near my house. HILARIOUS

Sheep Dog

2010-09-08T13:31:00.004-04:00

Back to the dogs. One passer-by mentioned to me when I was working at the sheep dog trials that it would be nice to see black and white sheep dog pieces. She mentioned this while looking at my black on white sheep paintings. which looked like sheep in a blizzard. So here is a study of that idea.

Ontario Flower

2010-09-08T13:19:00.003-04:00

Well some people are very happy about the cooler weather. I could have used one more month. Here is the second last layer of the painting. I am never quite good with commissions in an emotional way. I feel I can never reach their expectations.

Ontario Flower

2010-09-02T13:19:00.003-04:00

Here is a work in progress on a commission for a 4 canvas of the Ontario flower. The 2nd pic is the back ground done in acrylic and the more muted painting all be it with a glare, is with oil bar. next step is the white of the flowers. I used a stretcher to keep the 4 canvases in line.

venus fly trap

2010-08-24T10:27:00.005-04:00

I did the fund raise for the Picton County hospital -Goddess of The County Show and did not get a tax receipt for my table nor for the item that went into the silent auction. I only do fundraiser for the tax receipt. Sad to say I am pissed and disappointed in the professionalism of the event organizer. Myself and the other artist's got screwed over by making donations and not getting a tax receipt. Basically 50 buck a table and a 75 dollar painting kissed good bye. No to mention not a very good turn out. Basically, the day was a right off I left the event with less money and the cost of gas and food for the day. I gotta shake it off. Here is a pic of my latest painting. A venus fly trap and my display at the winery, never again!!!!!~

Womens Art Festival

2010-08-16T08:23:00.005-04:00

Dead Girl by Melissa Ryan
I am so tired. I finished the Women's Art Festival yesterday and I was among 180 very awesome and talented females, oh my gosh. I rained on me for a bit. I lost my tent in a wind storm and had just tarps. it was very ghetto. I did very good even though it rained. now I need to unpack it all and dry it out. There was one girl there selling knitted food. It reminded me of "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" movie when everything turns to yarn. I bought a knitted ice cream cone for Lydia (she picked it out). Now she runs around the house licking a knitted ice ream. It's very funny. Here is another picture of dead girl I did. She was a hit.

Goddess of the County Art Show

2010-08-12T13:30:00.004-04:00

I am participating in a goddess of the county art show at the Casa-Dea Estate Winery that will raise funds for the Prince Edmward County Memorial Hospital. Not sure if the dead gurls would work for this event.

Dead gurl and Doll house

2010-08-12T13:18:00.004-04:00

Here is my lates work I did yesterday. Today I am working on a smaller version. I don't want to take the painting out of the house the white is so white and easily stained. this piece is all done with a paintbrush , no markers as well I treated the canvas with two coats of gessoed acrylic with a hint of unbleached titanium. And the Doll House I got online at Youbidlocaly.com pretty cool.

WOMENS ART FESTIVAL AUG 15 2010 KINGSTON ONTARIO

2010-08-11T11:05:00.003-04:00

deadgirl melissa ryan
This week I am getting ready for the Women's Art Festival. I am working on my dead girl series. The Art Festival is this Sunday and it is outdoors, I hope it does not rain cause I have no shelter, which is something I should invest into. I am having better luck finding frames for my prints and I hope to have full stock soon. Here is a painting I just finished today. another crack at the dead girls becoming angels. this one is a bit more gritty. Well back at 'er have more work to do before the show

Sheep Dog Trails 2010 Kingston Ontario

2010-08-08T22:30:00.007-04:00

It was an excellent and exciting weekend working in the crafters tent at the sheep dog trails. I am sorry I missed a lot of the trials which were captivation. It was like the chorus line of sheep out there. Very cool stuff and the most beautiful dogs showed up from all over. It was nice to see that everyone was in a super happy mood. All around we had a great time. I made 30 water colours of aerial images of sheep being herded and they were a big hit. I am proud to say the one of the judges and the family that owns a huge herd of 1500 sheep that supplied the sheep for the event own my art work. So cool.

Women's art festival Aug 15th

2010-07-22T09:30:00.003-04:00

For this festival I am going to revisit my meerKat series because "Meerkats live in matriarchal society, meaning that females have complete power over the groups, Which means that females choose their partners." sited from wikipedia
I also will research other animals that are matriarchal.

About/History
The Women's Art Festival was started in the late 70's by a group of women who were interested in promoting the work of women artists. This outstanding annual one day rain or shine festival has always operated the third Sunday of August. The original concept for the festival has, for the most part, remained unchanged.

This unique, rain or shine art festival has four facets:
Fundraising for local women's organizations
Celebrating women's creativity through the arts
Providing a forum for artists to display their work and meet other artists
Encouraging women to meet, exchange ideas and connect with women's organizations
This non-juried festival features original art designed and created by women and includes painting, printmaking, sculpture and pottery, jewelry, drawing, photography and fabric art to name a few.

The number of artists who exhibit has grown from about 50 in the beginning to over 200 in 2008. About 1/3 of the exhibitors each year are new to the festival. Several artists have inspired their daughters and granddaughters to participate, resulting in multiple generations exhibiting together!

Artists donate 20% of their sales to the women's organizations who have applied to the Festival for funding. In addition, they are invited to donate a piece of art to the silent auction. In the last 28 years, the Women's Art Festival has donated over $75,000 to support women and children who live in Kingston and the surrounding area.

The event has grown from its small roots to be a well-recognized and highly anticipated event. For many years now, we have seen a consistent turnout of approximately 3000 plus people for this one-day event. The crowd is always representative of the whole community and many local residents make it an annual outing for the whole family. It has also become a favourite with the tourist crowd. In addition to the wonderful artwork, visitors can enjoy an afternoon of music, a children's craft area, and a silent auction.

kingston sheep dog trials Aug 6,7,8

2010-07-22T09:24:00.003-04:00

here is the link to the site
Kingston Sheep Dog Trials

The Sheep Dog Trials run August 6, 7, and 8 at Grass Creek Park on Highway 2 between Kingston and Gananoque.

Mark your calendar for August 6, 7 & 8, 2010, and join us for the Kingston Sheep Dog Trials at Grass Creek Park (on Highway 2 between Kingston and Gananoque). The trials run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Over 100 of North America's top trial competitors will participate in the Kingston Sheep Dog Trial, the third largest trial in North America.
Admission is $10 a day or $25 for a three day pass. Kids 10 and under are free.
There's plenty of free on-site parking for those who are driving. Accessible washrooms and parking available on site.
Trials' food vendors offer BBQ, baked goods, kettle corn and cotton candy.
KINGSTON SHEEP DOG TRIALS
— A TOP 100 EVENT
The Kingston Sheep Dog Trials have again been named as a Top 100 Ontario Events for 2009 and 2010 (out of a field of more than 5,000 events that take place throughout the province).

Hard core Trials' enthusiasts enjoy three full days of competition, which pit North America's top handlers and their dogs against each other in Canada's largest Sheep Dog Trials. Beginning Friday, Aug. 6, the Trials run daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Side attractions run daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visitors can also look forward to a variety of interactive side attractions, along with our popular craft and artisans fair, ongoing sheep shearing demonstrations, spinning and craft demonstrations, a Sheep to Shawl competition, dog training seminars, a children's play area, pony rides, a petting zoo and so much more, this festival is one that you won't want to miss.

So, grab your lawn chairs, your kids, your dog(s), and your sun shade, and head out to Grass Creek Park on Highway 2 — just 16 km east of Fort Henry.
For more information call 613-546-4291 ext. 1700.

herding sheep

2010-07-22T09:12:00.003-04:00

I am going to be an artist in the crafters tent at the Kingston sheep dog herding trials. I know sounds like fun. So I thought I would do some art for the event. I am thinking more abstract as an aerial view of sheep herds and their movement of being herded. It is very organic and reminds me of my flock of birds series. I am just trying to unpack my studio and find the paint I need. This study here is done with the sheep painted on with drawing gum and then water color, pencil and paint over top then I remove the gum. It's still a work in progress. I can't get into the Kingston farmers market, its too late in the season and they are having no more juries. I am shocked its only July and they close in November. In our wee little community there is a veteran's market so I might check it out and do a mock set up to prepare for the up coming festivals. I am also in the womans festival in DT Kingston.

New house in Kingston

2010-07-04T15:50:00.004-04:00

Here is a pic of our new house in Kingston. Hopefully we will be all moved in by Thursday night. We are going to have a b-day party for Lydia on Saturday with all the Family so we will have to be quick unpackers. we are thinking about buying a kiddy pool for her b-day gift.

Thank you Toronto

2010-07-04T15:20:00.003-04:00

Well my husband is back from the 'Stan and all is well. During the past 7 3/4 month I have spent most of the time at my sisters house in the Annex in Toronto. I would like to thank St Alban's Boys and Girls club and the Ontario Early Years Program. Without you and Rachel I would have fallen apart. You could find me at the Early Years Program every morning where I watched Lydia learn to roll over, crawl and interact with others. You guys are life savers. I also want to thank my sister who let me stay in her basement flat. She once said to me "I never come down stair when I hear the baby cry, but when I hear you cry thats when I come and get the baby." On those occasion she save my life. As well I would like to point out that I love this city.
On another note, we got posted to Kingston Ontario ( two hours from TO) woop woop... and we bought our first house (very exciting) we got our march out this week and I am currently back in Toronto. We cleared out of the PMQ on Friday and My Husband has to report to work on Monday and the truck with all our belonging doesn't show up until Thursday. He is coming back to TO to get me Monday and then we are off to Kingston for 4 more nights in Hotels, exhale. Well thats the way it goes in the Army. So far my baby has been on five flights and she will be turning one this weekend.
So, good-bye Edmonton, Albert and CFB Edmonton. I loved my Job as a Centre Registry Clerk at LFWA HQ I'm is sad to go. Hopefully, Kingston will have a mess of files for me to dive into and sort and archive. I can't wait to start painting again and getting my art moving again, I have been neglecting my craft.
Lydia is taking a nap right now while I write in my blog. We went to Christie Pitts pool fo a swim and I need to take another shower and bathe the baby because I can still smell the stench of piss from the water on everything. Ugh yuck, I am never going there again, may as well call it Christie Piss.
Here are some pics of us at the best place to eat in town. Sushi on Bloor, I love their sushi pizza. and a pic of Honest ed's. which is not a place to go into if you have a stroller.

Count down is on

2010-05-03T22:18:00.004-04:00

My husband comes home from Afghanistan this month and I am very excited, seven months is a long time to be alone with a baby. I have been staying with my sister and her family in Toronto for some of the time. This past weekend I completed the Sporting for Life 10 km race (apparently it's pretty easy being that it's mostly down hill, I am still sore) but I have a 10 month old and I did a 10 km huzzah. There were 15000 people there and it was a rush. Felt good to finish, my time was 1hr and 5 minutes. Now I wonder what it would feel like to do a 1/2 marathon.I think that would feel pretty awesome to finish. We are getting posted to Kingston On this summer so the adventure continues.
I haven't been to Chapter book store in a while and we went this weekend and to my utter joy Melissa Marr has a new book (I am so out of touch) I have read all her books and I am excited about "Radian Shadows." I also got Holly Blacks new book "White Cat" eek giggle.
Heres is a pic of me and my sister and our neighbor Sonia who writes the blog
kevinandsonya.blogspot.com
at the Sporting for life run

In Almunecar Spain

2010-03-23T15:27:00.005-04:00

st patties day

As most of you know and of course the military bloggers, My husband is in the military. He has been in Afghanistan on tour. I was able to meet him on his break and we met in a small town in Spain called Almunecar. I decided to stay in Spain for a month and hang out with the baby since I am on maternity leave. We rented a house in the old village and near our house is the Roman sardine salting ruins and there was an old wall near the park that had the ruins and in this little door was a figurine. Well during a rain storm the "thing" fell and smashed. I decided when I went the the Nerje flea market to get a new creature for the box and here is the replacement I put in the box. Part of that wall is over 2000 years old. pretty cool. The top pics are the new tenant while the older now smashed one is the last pic. Here are some more pics of us in Spain

Bulgogi Marinade recipe Gluten free

2010-02-10T13:01:00.009-05:00

1/2 cup soy sauce (VH is gluten free)
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons of water
8 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 a cup
1 smallish onion minced
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds (don't be lazy and add untoasted sesame; toast them on low heat till a light brown)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 packs of chinese fondue beef (which is 700 g of eye of round thinly sliced) partly thawed it and then cut lengthways

First cut up the meat and put in large bowl
cut onions and garlic and set aside
put soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, water, oil in a separate bowl
put untoasted sesame seeds in a pan turn on heat and slowly toast
once toasted add to liquid mix, sizzle
Sweat the garlic and onion in that pan that is now hot until they are shiny turn the heat off and add the rest of the ingredients from the bowl to the pan so the sugar melts and then pour it all over the sliced Chinese fondue beef ( thinly sliced eye of round) and fold it into the meat. set aside till ready to use

let the beef set for an hour or more whatever but keep refrigerated if longer.
cook in batches in a wok or whatever you got.

eat with rice

or put on top of pizza dough (or GF pizza dough) with mozzarella on top and cook in the oven like a pizza 425-450 for 10-15 min
Heaven

Baby food in my hair

2010-02-07T11:07:00.002-05:00

OH that..thats just spit up on my shirt, slobber on my chin and cereal in my hair. I went for coffee with a friend the other day while I was in Toronto visiting my idea of the centre of the universe. Bloor street. Ahh cake at Futures. And she asked me "So have you been doing any art?" I said "Yeah I am doing an art installation with diapers and the compost bin." It took a moment but she understood. I am at my parents in Quebec for a bit waiting for my flight to Spain to meet my husband. It been 4 1/2 month since we have seen him. I will be staying in spain for a month it will be exciting. I would love to do some sketches while I am there but it will be impossible with a overly curious 7 month old. exhale, when do they nap?????

Flappy ears

2010-01-05T21:58:00.006-05:00

This is a video I posted on Funny or Die. I am not technologically suave so this was one way to send my husband video of the baby and it is pretty funny. Lots of people have looked at it too. Probably more people looked at it in a week than who look at this blog in a year. So just click on this link and I am sure you will get a kick out of it. P.S. The music in the back ground is Adele from the CD Adele 19 flappy ears

Baby Brain

2010-01-05T21:46:00.004-05:00

So some know and most don't I am staying with my parents while my husband is on tour. We will leave it at that. So I want to be creative and do some form of artsy but the majority of my day is spent breastfeeding. pureeing food, and changing diapers with lots of kisses here and there to a wonderful happy baby, How did I get so blessed? So I think to myself do I write in my blog when I am no longer creating? I don't have an answer but I think I might just use the blogging as my tool to be creative and well we will see. Here is a pic of Christmas day with the cat and the baby. poor cat, but funny.

Gloomy bear

2009-09-03T07:50:00.005-04:00

I guess its no surprise to a lot of people that we collect funky stuff. We found this pink bear in a funky shop on Whyte Ave in Edmonton. It's a Gloomy Bear By Mori Chack (His Idea is that Bears should not be in captivity and they will eventually turn on you because it is a wild animal and not a pet, so stay away from bears) this bear we got is 16 inches tall, hard plastic and we got it when we found out we were having a girl. awwwwe. It can go in her room and scare the boogy monster.

My husband as a surprize got me the Hello Kitty Cactus by Tokidoki as well as a gift. It is definitely one of a kind. The only Hello Kitty with a skull and cross bones.

Finally to add to the collection. After months of hunting I found a My neighbor Totoro doll. What I like the most is the hunt for odd objects. You never now what you will find. Sure I guess you could just click and get it online but finding randomly it by walking around and checking out new funky shops run by local people is even better.

Margaret Tarrant "Strike up the Easter band"

2009-09-02T10:42:00.004-04:00

My husband and I love looking at antiques, he is on the hunt for a roll top desk. I was looking for bunny kins, particularly the two handle mug and a plate and wide lip bowl and a makeup suit case or hat suit case. I found them all.

We went to a place in Edmonton called the antique mall. Stalls and stalls of stuff, all be it over priced. By this time we new the value of some stuff and we were shocked at the prices of the stuff in this mall. As well all prices were fixed with no bartering. Who doesn't love a good haggle? So one day i saw this piece, just a poster by Margaret Tarrant called "Strike up the Easter band" 16"x20" (Margaret Tarrant drew the pics for the Alice in Wonderland book and water babies, ah just google her) and ever since I got pregnant all I think about is bunnies/rabbits/hares. I think it is her spirit animal 100%. So I walk away from it cause it was retardedly over priced. And thought about that piece for days and I thought if that poster in an old crappy frame from the 1950's gets sold it will be my biggest regret. So we went back weeks later and I paid full price on the most beautiful image for my babies room.

Its been a long time I know

2009-09-02T10:19:00.004-04:00

I have not been doing much art so I have been discussing in my head what is my blog for is it a diary of my life regardless of if I am actively creating or is it just for my art and what I create. I read a lot of books and have opinions on them and have often thought about writing about them. then I ask myself do I just create another blog then? when do I separate the two? then they may intertwine and I would be writing things twice. Anyways for the past year have been working for the Canadian military as a clerk I archive and log incoming correspondence and documents. Most of the civilians I worked with are children, husbands or wives of military personnel like me or former military members. Last fall I found out I was pregnant and wanted to get a secure income for maternity leave. I knew that working as an artist was a great job but it did not supply me with the benefits of a federal job. Incidentally my brain loved the job I did. The numbers and patterns of filing was meditative for me and like a puzzle. I had a baby girl in July we named her Lydia Jane. Here is a picture of my pickle. I never realized how much time is consumed by taking care of a baby. I have been meaning to write in my blog but I have had no time. It's either sleep when she does or pay for it later.

long time again

2009-01-30T17:15:00.002-05:00

Sorry again time just keeps on passing by. I love this pic. We were waiting for out connecting flight in the calgary airport going to montreal. right before christmas. thought this was pretty cute. I am not sure what is going except I feel I am slowly getting better and I had a major burn out. I also really am not a big fan of Edmonton. But we will suck it up and bear it and hope to get posted in the next year and half. Mostly I have felt that my art has been smothering me and I needed to step away and take stock. I also am tired of trying to find a supplier for my frames. I think in THE coming monthS things will change. I started getting visions a few days ago. they are Still foggy but different.

get well from Tanner

2008-11-28T22:09:00.003-05:00

one of my co-workers cats Tanner got my cat a get well card and some present to keep him company and occupied while he goes throught the transition of becoming an indoor cat. he went a little crazy when he smelled the gift and loved the blanket with the catnip inside. my kitty got very high. The cut is closed over but its squshy around the sides of it hope there is no infection trapped in there. only time will tell. Thank you Tanner and Kim

poor kitty

2008-11-27T18:43:00.002-05:00

well its been a while i know. i have a job in an office and i bike to work everyday. not necessarily putting my art on hold it just i have no time. anyways here are the pumpkins we did from halloween a storm trooper and bobafett. here is a pic of my kitty who got cut last night in a fight. i guess??? he is pretty pissed that he is an indoor cat right now. but i have had plenty of crying done last night and today at the vet. Cats fight. i just wish people in our neighbor hood would trim their cats nails so they don't do such incredible damage. I was almost thinking it was a rabbit since we have so many of them around. keep yah posted on the leaking wound. they say they wont do stiches because it might trap an infection so it has to stay open. yuck. i am a little emotionally scared and nauseous by this.

cat costume

2008-10-28T22:19:00.002-04:00

It is a star wars theme in our house this halloween. Here is the costume we got for Spartan. We also are carving storm trooper pumpkins. I think these pics are so funny.

meerkats

2008-10-28T22:15:00.001-04:00

long awaited blog entry. I know I am terrible. I started doing meerkat cause they are so cute. the telus commercials just got to me so here is a meerkat from the zoo posing with one of my paintings

Art in the Wild

2008-07-30T14:10:00.007-04:00

I will participating in the Fundraiser Art Event at the Local Valley Zoo in Edsters. This event will be held on Saturday Sept 13th from 6-9:30. I will be DIVING DEEP and doing a series on sea turtles. Come check it out. I am so excited to be part of an art show with a elephant. toot toot. check out their site Valley zoo

Folk Music festival festival

2008-07-30T14:05:00.005-04:00

Lets get folky. I am going to be sell my art at the Folk Music festival and this will be happening on Aug 8th-10th in Edsters Aka (Edmonton). I am excited that Aimee Mann will be playing. Here is the site for the line up and more infofolk fest

new stuff at my store

2008-07-04T21:28:00.004-04:00

so a month or so back trevor and I and all my military painting drove to Calgary for the weekend where we met up with Matt Greer a stellar Photographer, where he documented my paintings. and for the past month with the little free time I have, I have been slowly putting them up on my store here is a link to Matt's blog and his tutorial on how to properly photograph art.matt greer here is a link to my store and the new productsmelissa ryans store here are some of the paintings he documented and the quality is awesome.

more pics from the festival

2008-07-04T21:23:00.001-04:00

here are some more pics of the display

dead girls angels

2008-07-04T21:17:00.004-04:00

so I started doing these paintings of girls that are dead in classic nude poses. mostly backs with them growing/sprouting wings. or becoming angels. well they we the top seller at the festival. I contemplated not bring them out or making small prints of the paintings. but thought to test out the response. people ate them up. so I did my Geisha as a dead girl and here is a new one as well, dead girl in yellow. both of these i made while at the festival. I sold the yellow one and the blue one but i still have my geisha. I love her.

2008-07-03T22:02:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone. it been a long time. I just finished up the Art Works Festival in Downtown Edmonton at Sir Winston Churchill Park. It was a 12 day festival from 11 am to 10 pm at night. Here are some pics of my display. this wall trevor and I built and we measure to fit it in the trunk of the car. The wall compacts into 6 leafs books and in the set up one is stacked on another and the they are all attached. making a 12 panel wall. It worked out well. I have attempted to upload my images on my blog severa times but something always happens.

no time like the present

2008-06-26T10:46:00.002-04:00

hi all it was my b_day yesterday. I turned 34. I have been pretty busy. for the past few months I have had a full time job in a kitchen on the military base here working in the Mess. I also have been getting ready for the Works art festival in Downtown Edmonton. I am on day 5 and I am not burnt out yet but the festival runs from 11:30 am till 9:30 pm from June 20 to July 2nd. that calls for some long days. I got a case of meal replacement shakes to get me through it. here is a load of images that i have been doing. here is dead kitty. dead girl angel, the display of my set up and the awesome new wall we built

Pin ups

2008-03-28T19:23:00.003-04:00

I am on my way to Calgary to meet with the people from Suncor and present the painting. And my bestest of friends lives in Calgary and she asked me to do some Pin ups for her. She always loved my Vanilla cowgirl I did several years ago. so i did one with a back ground of hares and swirls, a soft painting. I also loved the lyrics from Peaches "I'm the Kinda" I wanted to put a girl boxing in front of the lyrics of the song. Here is the text and both paintings are 24" by 48"
I'M THE KINDA THAT YOU WANNA I'M THE KINDA THAT YOU WANNA I'M THE KINDA THAT YOU WANNA I'M THE KINDA BITCH THAT YOU WANNA GET WITH I'M THE KINDA BITCH THAT YOU WANNA GET WITH CAN YOU HANDLE IT? I'M THE KINDA BITCH THAT YOU WANNA GET WITH I'M THE KINDA BITCH THAT YOU WANNA GET WITH I'M THE KINDA THAT YOU WANNA I'M THE KINDA THAT YOU WANNA YOU WANNA PREDATOR GAMES, THE HUMAN REMAINS A WORLD PROVIDER, HE'S STANDING BESIDE HER ROCKIN' THE FOX, JUST GETTIN' MY BOX GIVE IT A WHIRL TO MY URBAN COWGIRL KNOCKIN' YOU OUT LIKE ROCKY BALBOA DROWN YOU IN A FLOOD DEEPER THAN NOAH KNOCKIN' YOU OUT LIKE ROCKY BALBOA DROWN YOU IN A FLOOD DEEPER THAN NOAH I'M THE KINDA BITCH THAT YOU WANNA GET WITH I'M THE KINDA BITCH THAT YOU WANNA GET WITH CAN YOU HANDLE IT? I'M THE KINDA THAT YOU WANNA I'M THE KINDA THAT YOU WANNA GIVE IT A WHIRL TO MY URBAN COWGIRL

OIL SANDS

2008-03-28T19:16:00.003-04:00

Here is a painting from a photo that i found on Suncor's website and I asked permission to paint the image and they loved the idea. here is the finished piece. it is 30" by 40" in oils.

grain elevator and power lines

2008-02-21T13:49:00.003-05:00

This is a winter scene, since these monuments of farming are going extinct I decided to do the painting in muted tones with just a gray scale. With soft color in the sky like lavender and aqua-marine blue there is more drama played in the heaviness of the sky. Stay tuned more to come.

Pumping units

2008-02-19T12:47:00.002-05:00

I am starting a new series along side of every other project I am working on. Anyways I am working on a body of work for the summer season and a festival I am in in the summer. So I am working on the industrial landscape, which is fitting for this environment and I have plenty of resources. There is a pumping station just down the road. I know in halifax I worked on power lines, oil rigs and light posts. This body will be an obvious extension but more graphic and will be more oil driven. I will be looking into the architectural imagery of the industrial landscape. Anyways here is some of my first ones. any comment??

Profiles Gallery

2008-02-12T21:06:00.003-05:00

Here is a pic on some of my paintings that are up in the Profiles Art Gallery in St Albert. my cat caught a bird yesterday and thought it would be a good idea to eat it inside, Yuck. He ate everything but the wings and bones and then went outside and came in with a mouse and ate it tail and all. Then he walked straight to his dish and ate more food. what a pig.

Art auction this this saturday

2008-02-11T14:02:00.000-05:00

I have my art in a gallery in the beautiful City of St.Albert. I live in the district of Sturgeon County (ward 4) in Lancaster Park which is north of Edmonton. St Albert is northwest of Edmonton and is 14 km from my house. I have my art in an up coming fundraiser and here are the three painting up for Bid two are small only 3 x5 (I call them snacks) and the larger one is 6 x12. I am excited to see how they do. I will have photos of the night of the auction.
flyer for the gallery's auction

JENN GRANT AND HAYDEN

2008-02-11T13:12:00.000-05:00

Last year around this time we saw Jenn Grant in Fredericton at UNB. I know her from Halifax and we met through my friend Jason Burns drummer from Down With Butterfly the opening night of one of my shows. Jason and Jenn dated whether they are still dating I cant be sure, but he is a very tall guy and he is the first guy you see in her Dreamer video. I love her music, her voice is like a clean glass of water. Trevor is is basically my date on this one and he is like whatever chick show. so I mention "yeah and some guy Hayden is performing as well (I have no clue who Hayden is and I am like whatever some guy). Trevor is like "What, I have his Cds , I like his stuff, COOL" (i am misquoting terribly but whatever). Some website I saw mentioned admission is at the door and says 12bucks. cool.
So we go for dinner at Edmonton's best kept secret "Japanese Village" before the show
I am a picky sushi eater so here is my review. The teriyaki salmon was amazing and the tempura, the edamame was not freshly steamed nor hot and not enough salt. The dynamite rolls were great but a bit too big for bit size. The spicy tuna was a mush but tasted great. The seaweed salad was too fishy tasting. the price was reasonable but one roll cost $4 for 4 pieces and one small small scoop of green tea ice cream cost the same, so don't order the ice cream. It was a great place we will definatly come back but is is not in comparison to Sushi on Bloor in Toronto. where tea and miso soup are free and the ice cream is some time free.
After that we went to the concert and it was sold out before hand by ticket master, little advice don't trust websites. We were able to buy two tickets from people in line and price of the tickets cost $25 each. The concert was great and funny. I was in a church and the setting was beautiful dispite the uncomfortable seats. We got Haydens new CD In field & Town and it is really good.
if you want to listen to her music and see her video here is her link
jenn grant

DEADGURL ANGEL #1

2008-02-01T18:56:00.000-05:00

Thought I would at least paint these images in my head just to see how they turn out. I know they are not for everybody but I think I this one turned out okay. Thought about detailing the background but I am not sure about it. I'll hold off on that for now. working on a new one right now the image will be up as soon as I am done.

Too cold for ice cream

2008-01-30T00:27:00.001-05:00

This has got to be the coldest weather I have ever experienced in my life. I walk to work and I literally have to wear so many layers and I still freeze. It only take less than ten minutes to get to work but I have to run. It is too cold and dangerous to walk. We had a terrible storm on sunday and the cat door in the basement blew snow inside we had to shut the cat door because the temperature was too severe; in the minus 40's for three days. Tonight it will be -37 before the wind chill. the cat has not been out in three days. he seems a bit depressed, but hanging in. i let him out and he can stand a minute of it and comes right in. I have been keeping a close eye on my bird feeders to make sure they don't run out. I get chickadee, nuthatches and so many other species. any given moment you look at the feeder there are over twenty birds.
The coolest thing happened I saw an arctic hare and then the other day I saw a large snowy owl, and there are deer everywhere near the base. And I finally don't here the chilling howls of the coyotes. I assume that this cold weather is normal for a person from alberta, but not for me. I lived most of my life in the maritimes a land where walking through slush is a daily activity. it is so strange for me to see all the roads covers with inches of solid ice and packed snow. It like you could skate to work. Gosh I just can't get warm

january blues

2008-01-27T19:21:00.000-05:00

I am just not creative or i am too picky with my ideas. I have over 40 canvases in my studio and i am just not feeling any drive to paint right now. how to be inspired??? it will come to me shortly right now i will just wait. I have a job on base that pays very well. it is keeping me busy during these winter blahs. Trevor is in Wainwright during the week days and comes home on the weekend. so i started drawing in the evenings and going to the gym to keep myself busy. I having been toying with ideas or images of the birth of angels in a contemporary thought. females that are dead and then sprout wings. i wanted the skin to have a hint of blue in the tone. I wanted them to look strung out or emaciated and exhausted from the pain of wings coming out of their backs.I don't know just passing images that caught my eye.

Happy New Year

2008-01-08T14:35:00.000-05:00

Its been a while but here I am. I just got back home from a long and excellent holiday in Quebec and Toronto. We started off the holiday shoveling the roof's of my parents houses one roof a day. 4 feet of snow each we got a great work out. Trevor learned to Snowboard and picked it up very quickly. He has a bruised tail bone but it will heal ( hope). I am just getting settled into getting back to work here. I will be working on some new pieces of work completely different that anything that I have done before. As well as work on some old projects. I am having a hard time with the time change in the sun rise so far up north. I checked the internet to see what the time the sun really rises and it is at 8:48 am and sets at 4:33 pm. check out this site.
www.timeanddate.com

You're in oil country

2007-11-23T11:55:00.000-05:00

Tickets for troops, is happening this saturday nights hockey night in Canada. It is military appreciation night and season ticket holders gave up their tickets to military member. it will be a sea of green. It will be cool to be there. The Rexall Place will be packed. We will be at the late game starts at 8pm and the Edmonton Oilers are playing the Chicago Blackhawks.

slide show

2007-11-19T18:33:00.000-05:00

I added a slide show application so we will see how that works out on my blog page. I am updating my photo album as well. Here is three new painting of my oil refinery series. I like em.

Pinks smoke

2007-11-15T12:15:00.000-05:00

Here are two paintings I did yesterday. The apple blossom is meditative and the other one is part of the body of work "Canadian Issue." I am not sure if i should shade the area around the guy so it is not so highly contrasted, or keep it so intense. I like it, never thought pink would fit in that painting but it looks pretty cool.

Windy Days

2007-11-14T12:22:00.000-05:00

We had a wind storm yesterday and it was a whole new experience to cold wind. I am from the eastcoast so if there is a wind storm and it is chilly out with blowing snow. That wind is going right into your bones. Eastcoast wind is wet and chilling, where you shiver. The wind here was fierce and blew over the farm fields surrounding the base. It was intense shaking the house and I felt the roof shingles creaking. The lids on the recycling bins in the parking lot across the way bent right in half. But the wind was not as cold as out east, it was not chilling and crappy. But I hear it gets really cold out here, so we are in for it. I had a meeting with the base commander yesterday about being an artist in residence and it was short and I got good feedback. But things here are going to take a lot more time, care in wording, and paperwork. Hopefully in January I will be able to get access to there photo, Nyalas, TOW and EME equipment. Here are 4 new painting.

new red bamboo painting 8 x16

2007-11-09T16:59:00.000-05:00

Just working on my my holiday line. Tonight we are going to a semi-formal meet and greet dinner at the officers mess. This will be fun. Still have a sensetive stomache from the flu so I don't think I will be drinking. Oh well. I will be posting the pic of the paintings as I finish them. All of the holiday painting are for sale so if you like one just let me know. Mostly they will be bamboo, sea turtles and apple blossoms. Well got get ready.

artillery painting

2007-11-07T16:45:00.000-05:00

Trevor who is in the infantry was like "Man, why you make the artillery painting so cool?" I thought that was pretty funny. Finally met some people on base and hopefully I will be able to finish this body of work. I am starting from scratch all over agian moving to a new base making new contacts, presenting proposals. It is going to take some time but I am up for it. I also am looking into some galleries to carry my work and I am on the waiting list for a table at the Old Strathcona market. I decided to get a job on base and at least make some money. I will be working in the kitchen, I am shocked at how much I will be getting paid. It makes me a little giddy and fuzzy inside. Still getting over the stomach flu, yucky. I started a book club on base which will start up in a week. I hope to meet new people and friends. I was not that successful in Oromocto, so isolating there. I have a good feeling about this place so keeping positive. Thats it for now hope you like the new piece it think it is a break through in my style.

New work

2007-11-06T13:32:00.001-05:00

Here are some of the paintings I have worked on this week. I have 7 more ready to work on and about 15 blank canvases. I am working on applying for different festivals in the area at this time. I am also looking in to any openings for submissions for group shows.

LONG TIME

2007-11-06T13:19:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the delay in keeping up with my Blog. It has been a life changing experience to move out to Edmonton. We moved in alright and got unpacked and now it is feeling like home. Trevor went away to Wainright for two weeks which is 2 1/2 hours south of here. He just got back on Nov 1st. Here are some pic of the new sectional (with pull out couch) we got at the Brick. and the view of the gym from my house. Which I am not going to Today because I have the stomache flue and I feel like ass. I am trying to figure out what I can eat that won't grose me out when it comes up. So far its lots of herbal teas and cereal. I have been looking at Galleries to sell my art in and I am just painting mostly turtles, bamboo and apple blossoms. In time I will start on the military painting but right now I would like to get established in the city and have a place that will showcase my work permanently.

last night in a hotel

2007-10-09T02:42:00.000-04:00

We are finally moving into our new place tomorrow after staying in hotels for over 3 weeks. we hope to have internet installed and all that jazz in the next two weeks. So if I have yet to respond to anyone's emails it is because it is a pain in the ass to find a computer. Everthing will be up and running and back to buisness in two weeks at the latest. My new number incase anyone need to call me for question is 780-405-2110

september

2007-10-01T21:30:00.000-04:00

Trevor was finishing up his Phase four officers training in CFB Gagetown and was soon to be permanently posted. He got posted to Edmonton with the 3 PPCLI. He asked me to marry him and I said yes, we decided to get married in Halifax and after only three weeks we had an awsome wedding. two days after the wedding our house was packed up and we drove to edmonton. we have been in a hotel since looking to find a place to live. We will be moving in to our new home in a week. blah. so much has happened in a month. we have slept in 20 different places so far. and I have driven in 7 different provinces....we have yet to check out a museum but we have seen all the malls.... looking for job and everybody is hiring...we bought a sectional sofa from the brick. That all for now, from the new army wife.

so much has happened

2007-10-01T21:19:00.000-04:00

Well here goes, a long overdue update and so much has happened. the summer went well in Toronto, I took care of my sisters kids for part of each week and then worked selling my art on the street. here are some pics of the last few weeks of that. I started doing paintings with sea turtles and apple blossom trees.

Still in Toronto

2007-08-18T23:10:00.000-04:00

I have not been able to go online for weeks. I am so busy. sorry for not keeping everyone posted on what is going on. I am still selling on fri-sun on queen st and during the week I am hanging out with my nieces and nephew.I will be here till then last week of september then i am back to oromocto.

Hot Days

2007-07-31T21:55:00.000-04:00

I am on the street everyday now on Queen near Soho St. The heat is killer. I am usually there from noon till 8pm. I am getting a lot of great responses from the people on the street, so I am having a great time. I am pretty tanned and not eating too much but it is only for another month. There is a guy who stacks rocks on the street as a busker and they are really cool, I might draw on the side walk with chalk around his work as a collaborative perfomance in August.

latest pics

2007-07-24T14:13:00.000-04:00

here are some of the new pieces i have finished.

warm july

2007-07-23T18:28:00.000-04:00

I feel like I have brought the maritime weather to Toronto. It is not that hot here but not to worry apparently this week will be a hot one. I am very tanned now from being in the sun for 8 hour four days a week. I am doing some pretty cool new paintings and I should have some pics of them up this week. Sorry I haven't been writing to much on my blog. I am having serious separation anxiety from my computer that is in NB and I officially hate PC, I miss my Mac. I am thinking about buying a mac book they are so cute, i think that might go under a toy purchase. but i need it right about now, I hate going to a PC Internet place to write on my blog. It just feels wrong. I gave some of my art to go up for auction at a function at the Drake Hotel and that was pretty cool, it was for an interpretive dance group. I was interviewed by the daily gleaner in Fredericton and you can Google that and read the article online, I was interviewed by the CBC Radio this week about my body of work "Canadian Issue" it was the Fredericton CBC radio, I have no idea if that was aired or when. so far thats whats going on, thanks to everyones support out there you guys are my rock.

new gallery

2007-07-14T20:21:00.000-04:00

Well I have been in Toronto for a week now. The bike ride home with all my gear is getting better. It takes me about an hour to get home from work. I live in the Annex and I sell on Queen and Spadina so it is a slow incline home. Twice I have made in home just before a crazy rain storm arrived. Just peddeling like crazy, too funny. I am have a great time selling, meeting some really cool people and getting in the groove of making some cool paintings while working. So far I have painted 6 canvases on the street. I would love to share them with you but I am not sure how to do that. I'll figure that out this week. I have a gallery that i sell my originals at and an agent. check out Norman Felix gallery at www.normanfelix.com

2007-07-08T18:59:00.000-04:00

We stopped in Morin Height for Canada day and had an awesome time, fireworks and all. I Just arrived this week in toronto and I have been selling on Queen and Spadian for two days. It has been great, I am not to keen on how dirty I get by the end of the day, I am black all over. Today it rained for most of the day and it gave me a good 9 hours of work in to prepare for next week. Should I indulge you all in the bylaw chaos of Toronto. hmm that would be a very long rant, make a comment on my blog about what you think. Okay here goes, Basically there is no licence for a peddler. you can get a busker licence 88 bucks but its donation only by passer byes, you can't get a venders licence cause there are none and there hasn't been for 5 years. You can get a portraiture licence 500 bucks but you can't sell any art except what you draw of someone and the images you dispay can only be examples of portraits you have done. you also need 2 million dollars in insurance before you even can apply for the licence and get approved about 600 bucks. So my question is where is the peddler licence. So the people at the main office say i cannot have a portrait licence and the bylaw guys on the street say go back and get it and lie and say you are doing portraits. WTF??? SO I am doing it all basially by the end of it I will have several licences, this is nutts. I brought the cat and he is great, no problems on the drive or the move, I love my kitty. Oh yeah so cool I sold (got a donation for) one of my favorite painting this week, my Dead Kitty. I loved that piece. I got a new cell number if anyone cares 416-889-3175.

Packing for Toronto

2007-06-28T14:17:00.000-04:00

A few years back I bought a computer, I saved for a while and after the Xmas expo I made enought to get me an emac. 14inch and it weights 55 pounds exact. Now at that time i did not think I was going to be moving about or yadadada. well here I am on my way to Toronto and I am not going to bring my computer. I am going to go with a stock of prints and stuff on disc and thats it. I hope to buy a mac book up there. Well thats the goal. So far I have over 400 images to take with me. I am already going through bouts of sadness on leaving my beast behind. Oh as you can see Here are some images I did this week. I did not have time to finish the other paintings. I also think the M777 and the chopper one need more work I think I will go to a finer level of detail. I started two new stores on line with my product and we will see how that goes. you can check em out on the side over here. My skate board sold for $135 at the auction. Pretty cool. I don't really want to go to Toronto, I like it here, slow paced relaxed. humph poop.

proskates blog

2007-06-24T11:16:00.000-04:00

proskatesblog
Click this link to check out their blog. It shows all the entries into the Skate Auction and some really cool stuff was done to some of the boards. oh and you can see mine too.

35 DOWN 7 TO GO

2007-06-23T10:06:00.000-04:00

Holy cow did it rain yesterday. Down poured and thunder and lightning, it was like three different storm. I went for a run later in the day and got caught in a sheet of rain. Fearing for the life of my ipod. Thinking I don't want to ruin two ipods in one year. I sprinted home with my ipod in my pants. I got home soaked but I save the ipod ...phew. Finished the Howitzer and yesterday I preped 7 canvases to finish of the body. I should have 42 in the collection. I am now working on the LAV III, LEOPARD, GRIFFIN, air born, anti air craft tank thingy, M777 and some more Howitzers. The auction yeaterday apparently went well, I didn't go to it. It is a long drive from Oromocto to Halifax and I was not in the mood to be travelling for that period of time. I would of had to take a 6 hours bus ride there. Yuck 12 hours on a bus no thanks. Apparently my deck was up to $120. So will see how much it fetches. What else, oh yeah we taught the cat to tap the door knob when he wants to go out. I went to CTAPC on base and I was able to look at some of there better files and photo which is were I got the material for the last 7 paintings. They offered to photograph my painting professionally so I can have it on a digital file. I squeeked with joy. Well I need to go through the proper paperwork to do it but how fricked cool is that. I am going to the base museum this coming week to see what they have there and if we can work on a show. fingers crossed.

105MM HOWITZER (in progress)

2007-06-19T15:05:00.000-04:00

This is my work in progress it is the largest canvas in the entire series. It is four feet by two feet. I like the brown in the back ground. I am using a mix of Gold green and Hookers green. I am also seeing if I can get my work on a poster website. I registerd at art.com and I am waiting to see if they like my art enough to sell it. You can have a free gallery and have 50 images for sale. I looked at some of the artist work and I think I will be able to sell on their Artist Rising section. Well will see. I was going over my stock of prints and images I have and they are way over 50 ways.... way way over 100 so if i do good I may just pay more to add more images. its like $50.00 a years. Gosh but I am so cheep, what to do what to do?? I have had my bombgurl book sent to a lot of pubishers and it has been refused. Even thougth she is very popular. Fingers crossed on all this lot. So I finally bit the bullet and went to drivers Ed and I drove on a highway and in Oromocto for the first time this week. I liked it, I was really nervous but I liked it. When does the sounds of artillery fire and gun fire from the base blend into the background?

Halifax Skatepark Coalition

2007-06-18T10:45:00.000-04:00

Doors Crash Open on Friday, June 22 at 6:30pm. Art on Skateboards! What a great idea! Each year the work just gets better and better. Come out on Friday and enjoy the silent auction as well as the LIVE AUCTION that will get underway at around 7:30-8pm.

This event coincides with the Grand Opening of the Halifax Skatepark at the Commons on Sat, June 23. Then come back to finalize your silent bidding wars on great decks- turned- works- of art on Sunday, June 24. All bids end at 4pm!! Check www.argylefa.tk, Pro Skates and www.halifaxskateparks.org for more details and previews of decks soon!

CH 124 Seaking

2007-06-13T09:01:00.000-04:00

This was the largest in the series and the most difficult. The size of the painting is 2feet by 3feet. I had some accidents that were fixable but indicative of the characteristics of the Seaking. I found myself walking away from the painting and completed five other one and then finally resigned myself to finish it. I like the color, under other circumstances sea foam geen would be tacky, but here I think it is fitting.

Pro Skates Art Auction

2007-06-12T10:06:00.000-04:00

Along with the series I am working on, "Canadian Issue" I also participated in the Pro-skates Art Auction. This auction will be held at the Arglye Fine Arts Gallery on Lower Water Street, Halifax NS. Local artist paint on a skate deck and the paintings are auctioned off to Fundraise for themaintenance and constuction of the new local skatepark. The live auction will be FRIDAY JUNE 22 AT 6PM, and you can continue to bid on some of the boards on the 23 and 24th. This is the deck I have done for the auction. It is one of my favorite images I have done in the series I call it ARC. Last year I did the AH64A APACHE. If you can make it to the auction it will be a blast. And my birthday is the 25 so bidding on the deck would be awsome. I will be 33 this year. Here is a pic of last years auction.

Canadian Issue- A remarkable endeavour

2007-06-12T09:38:00.000-04:00

I was in the Oromocto Post Gazette this weekend. A very good article. Hopefully it will generate enought buzz to get the paintings a place to be exhibited or go on tour. I tried to find the article on line of it but to no avail.

portrait

2007-06-11T09:21:00.000-04:00

I am never comfortable with doing portrait. I took this contract on to shake off that uneasyness. But, I can't shake the feeling of "are they going to hate it?" This one was super hard a lot of emotions of different types were felt, RAGE was one. There is always that problem with contracts. The person that wants the painting has an idea in their head and well the out come will never be that image they think of. The background and the guy on the right was from one photo and the two guys on the left are from another. I am struggling with adding more detail to the face then there will be an inbalance in the detail on the face and the rest of the paintigns loose lines. I like the way it looks, there is a softness to it. OH well keep yah posted on the out come.

Ch146 Griffon

2007-06-01T11:06:00.000-04:00

These paintings were a blast I love the color. Again Cudo's to Gold Green, love that color. I am working on a contract a portrait of some guys serving in Afganistan I am excited about how it is going to turn out. So far I have done 34 painting in the series and some days I feel that I am almost finished and then most of the rest of the time I feel I have just scratched the surface and I have only just begun. Tonight is date night and we are going to see the movie Knocked Up and mexican food. I can't wait to see the movie.

Oromocto mall craft show

2007-05-28T11:16:00.000-04:00

This past week end I did the Oromocto craft show from Thursday to Sunday. I did pretty good. I raffled off a painting to help pay for the rental of the table. That helped a lot in the end. It was a very slow weekend but I got a lot of good responses from the people about the paintings done thus far for the Canadian Issue body of work. The only thing that drove me near to insanity was the music playing in the mall. Country music over and over all day long for twelve hour for four days. This week I am working on the Seaking painting aka thorn in my side, a Griffin painting, a commision and a LAV III. Trevor started his Phase 4 couse this week so I will be home alone working my way to finish this body of work. I am sending Bombgurl out to many publishers and well, will see what happens with that.

Toronto

2007-05-23T08:58:00.001-04:00

Here I am on the streets of Toronto last week. I set up usually infront of or next to Mis De Meaner between Soho st and Spadina. It was a great week I did really good and I miss working and interacting with people terribly, aside from the kookie people and their life stories I had to endure. We left our cat in Morin Heights at my parents house duing our time in Toronto. My parents have 3 acres on the simon river, it is very woodsy. The cat was in heaven, every tree was climbed. On our drive back to Oromocto he cried for the first two hours and then sulked. Today he is back to his old self and he seems very happy to be home. When we were at my parents I decided to sell at the large Prevost market. This was a loss and a bad idea I did not make one sale. The people did not know what I was selling, no clue. We resigned ourselves to the fact that this was not the place for selling art , in betwen underwear 3 for 10 bucks and 5 buck cell phone leather cases?????? Trevor and I decided to people watch and we lost count of the freshly cut mullets. We finally got bored and went home to eat guacamole and salsa and drink Corona.

On my way to Toronto

2007-05-11T12:54:00.000-04:00

I am leaving for Toronto this weekend. I have a complete stock and I am going to be on Queen and Spadina for next week, weather permitting. here are some of the bamboo paintings I have available and I will have a whole new sleak look. Here is a picture of the painting I did for my brother. He got me and Ipod for xmas and the deal was to do a painting for him. So one of the subject matters was Dirty Harry, 44 magnum 29 special. I hope he likes it. I hope he doesn't see this blog before he see he painting.

.50 Cal

2007-05-03T14:36:00.000-04:00

So I set up a new blog, It is just on the right, where it says links it says Bombgurl website. I am trying to find a pubisher for the book I wrote s few years ago. knock on wood. Here is the latest painting, I truely love the color, it just keeps getting better and better. I am working on the CH-124 SEAKING the background color is making me giddy already. It is seafoam green fading into white. Yes, quite the lame color but it is a Seaking, and it flies over the ocean. Quite fitting, hahaha

sig sauer 9mm

2007-04-26T14:05:00.000-04:00

I just finshed this one today as well. The cat loves to chase crows and it is pretty funny to watch him jump 7 feet into the air after a crow then almost get killed by them nose diving over him. I think he rolled in crap cause he smells like ass so I gotta go give him a bath. Stinky kitty. I just finished the book "Great and Terrible Beauty" by Libba Bray and I am now reading Rebel Angel the part two of the trilogy. Oh they are a good read. and I just finished Inkheart, next book is Inkspell. by Cornelia Funke check out www.Imdb.com the movie data base website and check out the cast for the upcoming movie of the book Inkheart. She also wrote the book The thief Lord whick is a great movie as well. Now she was the producer in The Thief lord and the rendition from the book is exact, and the casting was impressive. She is also the producer on this movie Inkheart and i think it is going to be exciting. Bendan Fraser plays Mo. I am just giddy. Not like the terrible disappoinment of Eargon ( what the hell was that) nothing like the book whick would have been an awsome epic movie if it was rendered exact.

sniper .50cal

2007-04-26T10:12:00.000-04:00

Your not allowed to let your cats out in this community. I find that is a form of torcher. We live in a rural very grassy fun area with lots of trees to climb and squirrrels to chase. I trained the cat and it does not leave the yard. It took over a month, of having it on a leash then a harness and a rope tied to the clothes line. Now he goes out a stays in the yard. I only let him out for a bit and I am always with him and he never goes out after the sun goes down. I have a string and he chases me around the outside of the house until he plops down exhausted. I also only let him out right before I feed him so he is hungry and will want to come in when I shake a jar of food. I worry cause cats can eventually get stubborn, you can only play fetch with them for so ling the they don't listen.
Here is my latest painting. it is the snipers .50 caliber rifle. I love the colors.
Here is something I do to remind me of Korea I make Bulgogi pizza
I love to cook,
I am not sure if you make you own pizza dough or buy the dough. I make my dough
you get fondu beef 5 bucks worth(you can get at every grocery story, its hard to find so ask the meat guy) its usually frozen
go to a korean grocery and buy a small bottle of Bulgogi BEEF (not pork) maranade sause.
OK maranade the fondu beef
to add a bit of taste to the maranade
two cloves of garlic minced
one small onion minced
if you have some sesame oil and soy sause add 1 tbl spoon of each with 1 teaspoon of brown sugar
if you dont have sesame oil don't add the soy sause without it
maranade for 2hours or make sure the meat is thawed
cook it up in a frying pan, let it simmer till the sause reduces. (don't want the pizza soggy)
add it on top of the pizza dough
add mushrooms if you like
mozarella cheeze and diced Jalapinos if you dare (all over)
cook in the oven for 12-15 minutes at 425 degress
yummy

30 hours of Hail

2007-04-18T09:22:00.000-04:00

Oh my gosh the weather sucks we have had 30 hour of freezing rain, hail and fat wet snow. I have yet to see the sun in days. I am on my way to halifax for the last time in a while. Trevor is going to a funeral for one of the boy that died in Afganistan and I am picking up supplies and going to meetings. In the past two weeks or so I have done eight paintings, here are some pics of them. The walls here are getting pretty full and I have more work to do to finish the body of work. Last week I was able to view a lot of the infantry schools photo archive. Thanks you guys for all the help. I also was able to take pics of the LAV and the 50 Cal rifel. Oh my gosh that gun is heavy. Did you know the gun with its three parts weighs 148 pound this does not include the tripod. Can you imagin carrying one part of that gun for 5 KM. You would have to be a big guy. Thats like carrying a keg plus all your gear. I am currently working on the Sig Sauer 9mm pistol P223. It going alright, it will be done today. next two weeks I am doing the 50 Cal rifle, the 50 Cal sniper, the LAV, the leopard, Nyala and three artillery pieces. That should finish up the body of work. I still would like to do at least 50 more pieces. I have to get new paint brushes cause all mine have been worn down. Well back to work.

sad day on base

2007-04-10T09:12:00.000-04:00

The town is very sad for the six guys who died this weekend, all flags are half mast some even in Fredericton. Trevor is teaching on an exercise for three day and it is gonna be lonely. We watched the three season of Entourage this weekend. It was great. Anything from HBO has so far impressed me. I would ge the channel but I prefer renting them on my own time. we also rented the matador. Too much dialogue and it was the worst movie ever, we had to watch it in fast forward. Ugh just terrible. So I check out the face book, its cool, I can chat with people I haven't seen in a long time and they are not on msn so I like it. I like that i can leave a note and not have to chat with them, most of the time, I have like half hour to fart around online when I am having my breakfast in the morning. so long chats, any chats are just to wordy for me. I am checking to see if I can photograph the 50 kalibler rifle today, some hand guns and check out their library of stock photos, wish me luck. Oh yeah here is two pics of my geishas I did this week.

Working on my summer line

2007-04-03T09:37:00.000-04:00

I am taking a break from the project for the next three days and I am working on my summer line. I have 6 soft pink, 7 lime green and 4 blue canvases preped. I am doing a series of geishas on the pink here is one I started yesterday, It is very far from completed but you get the idea. I think I will do some bamboo on the lime and some Koi fish on the blue ones. This is just to get my feet wet in the production for the summer. I will be in Toronto on the street near Queen and Spadina on June 1st- September. This year will be more of a busking event rather than a selling event of prints. I will have the prints but in poster format. I cannot find a frame supplier that is affordable anymore.
Here are some pic of my kitty. We looked up what breed he might be and he may be a bombay cat or he may just be a solid black cat. He is very vocal and has human like characteristics. Here is a pic of him in a box and in his new house which he is always on. They say Bombay cats have a tendency to get obease. So we ration his food throughout the day and only the specific amount. If I put any amount two table spoons or half a cup of food, he inhales it. I really don't want a fat cat so we are monitoring his food from the start. Pretty funny cat, he has a black toy mouse he carries with him and plays will for hours, and if you throw it at him and he is on the bed he will leap in the air three feet, fly into the wall in mid flight catch his toy and land on the floor, and ready to keep on playing. We have to stop because we can't stop laughing.

C14 Timberwolf

2007-03-29T13:52:00.000-04:00

All done the sniper rifle. I think I have had my fill of painting guns. The cat keeps on trying to get out. In the town of Oromocto you are not aloud to let your pets out without a leash. We got the cat a harness and a leash but that has been a retarted experience. I would love it if my cat was an outdoors cat, but I think the cat is just going to have to stay in until we move to a different area. We might get a collar and just let it out and see if the cat comes back. I don't think it will get picked up by the municipality. Up next artillery.

TIMBERWOLF

2007-03-28T08:41:00.000-04:00

This is the background for my latest painting. The canvas size is 18 by 36. The color in this is awsome I am so happy with it. I am doing the sniper rifle with camouflage paint on it and so I wanted to blend the background and make it have a pattern rather than be layered. I used 4/5 Cerulean blue hue mixed with 1/5 Neutral Grey Value 5 for the words Timberwolf. For the words C14 I used just the Neutral Grey Value 5. The colors that is the blend of both is just that. The exact mix of both colors. It makes the letters C14 look transparent over the canvas when really it's three different colors. I love how the blue makes the grey look like its a tan color. I wonder if in different lighting will it ever show itself as grey. I am starting the gun today. It is neat the change of a color when it is next to another. When the sun comes in our bedroom through the beige curtains it makes any black fabric look like deep red.
Like in the installation done by the artist Ann Hamiltion, she had live peacocks walking around the Contemporary Museum of Modern art in Montreal and over head was waving red fabric. The red Muted and dulled the peacocks brilliance.

C14

2007-03-27T09:59:00.000-04:00

Today I am starting the C14 it is the standard issue sniper rifle. it is going to be fun beacuse it is painted in camoflage. I have had a sinus cold forever now and I can't seem to shake it. It is a pain to sleep. The cat is crazy as ever, if it is not sleeping its doing laps all over the house. We went tohalifax this weekend and had a great time hanging with our friends. its always good to stay in touch.

Carl Gustav 84 mm SRAAW(M)

2007-03-21T17:48:00.000-04:00

Just Finished it. Blah, going to go take a break and rent Eragon. This the 84 Carl G it is an anti armour weapon. Basically a rocket launcher. I love the contrast between the bright orange background and the black green of the weapon. When the rocket thingy is fired a blast of flames comes out so I chose the background to refect that.

C9-A1

2007-03-21T12:23:00.000-04:00

I have had a sinus cold for a week now causing a lot of frustration. I am not sure how I got it but I can't breath throught my nose most of the time. I finished the C9 A1 last week and I am on the finishing touches of the 84 Carl G once finished I will have completed all the guns in the series and so far since I have been here I have completed 17 paintings. Next week I am going on base and looking into their archives of photos. I am grateful and I feel privileged to be able to have so much material to work with. I am excited to see what will come of this exploration. I will be doing the artillery guns next. Like the Triple 7.
I started runnning everyday and I have toned up quite a bit. I am confused because I weigh the same but I have lost 4 inches on my waist. That is so discouraging. Trevor put a chin up bar in the door way between the bedroom/bathroom area and the livingroom/ kitchen area. Everytime he goes under he has to do a chin up. I do it as well, and I am getting pretty strong. At the the gym there are some crazy ass G I Janes working out. I call them the meat eaters. All they do is look at themselves in the mirror while they workout.
I am having new dreams lately they crop up daily. They are of women sprouting new wings. Tulips growing from rubble. I see a change in the way I work on the street. This summer I will be more of a busker and doing live canvases and I may have to switch to investing all my funds into a printing company and sell posters of my work than framed prints. The benefits of the change are plenty. I will not be spent time matting and staining frames. I won't be carrying so much weight and having the problem with glass breaking. The posters will be water proof incases of the sudden Toronto rain. I see some of my work better suited in large poster style. I am looking into different poster companies right now. I also can't find the frames I use to purcase anymore.
I am wondering if I put the painting I do up on the internet does that stop people from going to the unvailing of the series. Should I not be showing them at all? Should I be hiding some of them? Sometimes I think about this. Then I just think that it is best to share the time and process of a project and live in the here and now.
Here is a pic of Trevor and Spartan taking a cat nap.

New name Spartan

2007-03-11T10:19:00.000-04:00

Holy coolest Kitty on earth. It doesn't flinch at anything. In fact it chases the broom. He sat in my office chair and chilled while I painted. very cool kitty. Trevor is in Cape Breton visiting Family. He knew I was getting a cat but he didn't know I named him Sparta. He called me after going to see the movie 300 and said I know what to name the cat Spartan. Its kinda weird we thought up the same name. Its ever weirder the cat comes to that name. Today I am working on the C9 A1 today and the CARL G.

SPARTA

2007-03-10T12:35:00.000-05:00

Here is Sparta, he is all black and has a bit of siamese in him, he is loud and talk quite a bit, and he is a little crosseyed. very affectionate. I got him today from the SPCA in Oromocto. I just gave him a bath and he was fine with that. He is a lap cat. He has been sitting sleeping and purring on my lap for a half hour now. Soo cute. He is almost two. He was a stray when they got him at the SCPA on Feb 14th and they named him Titius. That just reminds me of the TV show that I hated, so lame. So I was thinking Sparta would be a good boy name and tough. So at the SPCA I said Sparta to him and he meowed loudly. Sot there yah go. I also always forget the age of a cat and how many years old it is. So calling him Sparta the same time the Movie is coming out is a great way to keep track of his age.

GPMG C6 PIG

2007-03-08T14:59:00.000-05:00

Holy cow that took everything out of me to paint. blah so much detail.

M-2O3 C7A2

2007-03-05T08:45:00.000-05:00

Sorry It has been a while. Just sitting pretty in my winter. This is all my brothers fault. We bought the game Carcassonne and it is awsome. We played the game Catan at xmas ( my brother brought) and it is a game only to be play with four players at best, two players is not fun because you can't trade cards with just two people. Anyways we went to Strange Adventures in Fredericton and found this game Carcassonne that is great for two player and its a lot of fun. We got hooked so we added to the game with the river II expantion pack, we had River I, and the expation pack with Traders and Builders. We also got the game Carcassonne -The City which is just like the original but you are building within and city wall. We think my neices and nefews will love it. You just match the tiles so they have the same landscape and build cities and get points. So we are bringing this at xmas. The Guy ( a self proclaimed Geek) working at The store said "Yeah this game is very Popular, different people are coming in here to buy these games and it is selling by word of mouth." We were like do we look like "different people" and he was like yeah but also university students are getting the game Carcassonne and Catan and you don't see that very often. I said well we wouldn't normally buy these games but my brother introduced it to us and he plays games. He said it was amazing how popular the games are just by people sharing and talking. We also Found out another game that is apparently the best ever called Puerto Rico but you need more players than two.
We have been visiting the SPCA and looking at their cats and dogs and looking at our lives and see if it can work out. We think a cat can work for now but we are still thinking. We have this empty house and all those cats in the shelter, its so sad. Here is a pic of Blossom, who is funny looking we spent time with her but she has no personality, she ignores you. Trevor liked one of the cats called Spook. We are now dog walkers as well and have started taking the dogs for walks. The Fredericton SPCA is very clean but very sterile and prison-like for the animals. The Oromocto SPCA is shanty but it gives the pets a more comforting homey environment with accents of plywood. We walked a dog from there too this weekend. You can look at some of the Animals by googling SPCA Oromocto and Fredericton. Here is a pic of the gun I finished last week I am currenty slaving over my C6 GPMG THE PIG painting.

C7A1

2007-02-21T09:40:00.001-05:00

Today I am working on the Lancher,Grenade,40mm,M203A1,w/rifle C7A2. I have to go on Base and photograph the rifle itself I can't find any image with the launcher on a C7A2 facing left. They are using the M203 on the C7A2 in Afganistan and are phasing out the use of the C7A1. Anyways I have to take pics of this facing to the left as well. the sight is on the left side. I go to the gym all the time and I am still a cow, I even only drink beer (coors light) on the weekend. I don't think its what I eat, it's how much so I am going to cut my meal sizes down now. I found this really cool website. it is pandora.com and I love it. Random music, customized to what mood I am in. Anyways back to work I go. Here is a Pic of the C7A1. oh yeah, I am hunting the web for a recipe for Tabouleh and some say to put garlic in it and some say not to. Majority say not to, but I love garlic. Is there garlic in Tabouleh?

Sha Blam

2007-02-15T09:58:00.000-05:00

By far this is the best piece I have done in the series yet. I am so happy with this piece. It took a lot out of me. I would say I put around 15 hours into it. Today I am starting the C7A1.

Badminton pains

2007-02-13T09:46:00.000-05:00

So Trevor and I started playing Badminton, just as a change of working out in the gym. Its really fun and your like sweating in ten minutes. We played for an hour last night and both of us can't walk. Sore back sore arms, sore all over. What is going to kill me is that Trevor wants to do the SPIN class tomorrow night. You know the one on the bike, where there is a puddle of sweat around your bike when you are done. I am scared, but stubborn so I will be stiff in time for Yoga on Thursday.
So I made pizza (and the dough) this weekend and I did something really cool you should try it. I bought the President's Choice Artichoke and Asiago Tepenade, its a small sizes pasta sause jar in your pasta aile. mIxed a bit of pasta sause with it and put that on the pizza as the sause, one jar make 4 pizzas. Then I added chicken ( I like the barbecues chickens ready made) mushrooms then mozzarella and feta then jalapenos all over the top. mm....mm good.
Here is the base coat of the C7A2 and the C7A1, I am going head first into these two for the next two days and they are going to rock. THANK YOU COLT CANADA for sending me the visuals and the text and all that stuff that I know so little of. The image through the C79 is awsome and the Image and text for the M203 is so appreciative. I am doing my first Bilingual piece. c'est cool, No? If you don't know what the C7's are just google them or checkout Colts website its cool.

Portrait Of Girls

2007-02-09T09:16:00.000-05:00

I just finished portraits of the carpenters, that maintains our house and many others, two daughters. I am always uncomfortable doing commissions like this, it is so intimate and personal that your interpertation of the photo you have and what the person who hires you expects may be totally different. Anyways it is a valentines gift for his wife I hope she likes them. I made her youngest look like a tree Faerie, she is an outdoors type and love butterflies. The oldest loves dolphins so I put a sea shell in her hair and on her neck. Today I am working on paintings to sell in the summer.

Apple Blossoms

2007-02-07T13:44:00.000-05:00

I am waiting to work on new material from base and from my mind. I did this painting today for fun. I have always loved apple blossom trees. And well I totally love pink. I think I will do many more like this painting to discover the balance of its essence. I think I might be revisiting the Koi fish as well. I was thinking about my carbon foot print on the earth and I think I am going to try and plan a tree for every month. So when the ground thaws I will plant from January. I will plant all kinds of trees, apple, fur, oak, pine, bushes, etc. Could you imagine if one of the trees I plant become a great tree. Who knows. So I would plant 12 a year for the rest of my life. Well that is my New Resolution, only time will see if I stick to it.

Tanks in the sun

2007-02-06T09:58:00.000-05:00