2011 was an interesting year to say the least. I have gathered the best of the year here.
Welcome 2011!
I’m not sure what to expect this coming year but if it’s anything like the last, I’m looking forward to it.
So, my goal last year of hemming all my pants didn’t happen but better goals like surpassing my books read within a year and exhibiting some of my artwork within the community happened so I’m ok with it.
Any goals for this year? I’m going to be sticking around my city for a while it seems so I’m going to try to find different things that I can participate in. Next week I will be taking part of a painting class and I’m looking into cooking classes, which I think would be cool… One thing for sure is that no matter where I end up, I will try to put myself more out of my comfort zone – it makes life interesting. No regrets.
Here’s to a great year!
- Sylvie
Happy Friday. We’ve had our first storm of the year so maybe that can explain my sunny summer picture.
I hope your weekend is nice wherever you are!
- Sylvie
I am glad to have the weekend coming around. It’s been a crazy week around here. No complaints though, it has past faster than any in a while. This weekend, I will definitely be doing some sleeping in.
The picture above is a photo of an assignment for my photography class that I have been taking. I’m learning loads and today was only my 2 class out of 8. If ever you are in the greater Saint John, New Brunswick area and you have a chance to take a class from Noel Chenier, I strongly suggest it.
Have a good weekend!
- Sylvie
If I am not sure what to draw, I start with a curve and usually something like the above happens.
It’s mid month and I am starting to look forward to the crisp spring air soon. The days are getting longer and I welcome every minute. In the meantime, I will be listening to my Vampire Weekend CD’s I have to wash away the winter blahs.
Have a great weekend!
- Sylvie
Happy Friday! Originally, I was going to write you on how the hole population seems to be with a cold (at least most of greater Saint John) but something much better came along…
This week, I was informed by a friend that Radiohead was coming out with a new album this weekend. They managed to keep this under wraps from the media with no leaks somehow and tomorrow, you would be able to download the content from their site. Well, I’ve purchased the album through their site an downloaded a copy since they released it a day early. If you’re interested, check out the album's website at thekingoflimbs.com.
I purchased this album with no idea what the new songs would be like ( I’m sure most Radiohead fans out there did…) and thankfully I was not disappointed.
Study breaks (reading weeks or spring breaks) are starting to get underway through universities and schools alike so if you are partaking in any of those, I hope you are having a great one.
- Sylvie
It’s still freezing here in New Brunswick but at least it’s been sunny this week. I’m glad that it’s the last weekend of February. Roads are going to be getting better and hopefully the weather too.
The drawing this week is one I’ve been working on for a while. I’ve finally taken a picture to work with this drawing so here it is.
Enjoy your weekend!
- Sylvie
I bought a book last fall called Black Cats and April Fools by Harry Oliver in hopes that if I run out of ideas for my creative block section of my site, it would inspire an interesting illustration.
Well this week, I picked it up again and read an interesting one stating that eels prevent drunkenness. Apparently, if you place a live eel in your drink, you will prevent the effects of alcohol. All I could picture was an eel crammed in a beer stein looking uncomfortable, as I’ve drawn. Apparently, eels can be as small as 5cm but the largest ones can measure up to 4 meters. I was thinking more along the lines of the ones found here in the Maritimes that measure anywhere from 35 to 90 cm. Not a drink I’d be up for.
I hope you have a good weekend!
- Sylvie
Bon Matin! It is Friday and I am glad to say the snow is leaving! We are about to get a lot of rain this weekend, which will hopefully get rid of most of it.
This week, I’m featuring my painting that I’ve wanted to finish since January but I’ve only worked on bits at a time. Last night, I finished it and I can say I’m alright with the result.
I hope your weekend goes well!
- Sylvie
Welcome April! Oh the first of April. In French, this day is “le poisson d’avril” translated as “the April fish” where kids cunningly place paper fishes on other people’s backs until noon. Why only until noon I am not sure, but the goal was not to have any fish on your back. Long story short on why the fish was chosen was apparently was because originally, April 1st was an exchange of gifts for the New Year, which was celebrated the first of April and the swap was usually food. Meat was banned during lent so a fish was given.
The thought behind this drawing is a combination of the above statement and the fact that fish look like they are zombies with their eyes looking out oddly and so why not fish tv zombies?
I wish you the best luck out there today!
- Sylvie
Yesterday I walked around downtown Saint John on my lunch and ended up with the coolest pictures in the old loyalist burial ground. There are some pretty cool tombstones lying there like this one dating back to 1839.
Finding inspiration can be tough sometimes - but thankfully, Saint John is getting a new store that will definitely be helping me out in my moments of blank-page-complex. The store in question? Freak Lunchbox! If you haven’t been to the original in Halifax, the store is what you would expect of a very today candy store. They cover everything that is awesome about pop culture. It was my favorite haunt the 10 years when I visited the city regularly and now it’s going to be right in my back yard! They thankfully carry more than just candy too, such as the coolest mint tins and just wonderful novelty items. I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for when it opens.
Enjoy your weekend!
- Sylvie
I’m glad to say that I’m feeling the signs of spring, bringing me new inspiration that will hopefully stick. Winter was a long one weather wise and plans are starting to develop for the soon to be here summer. One exceptional trip with great friends next month, camping and other interesting events are soon to arise with friends from various areas of the country visiting. With that, I am sure my new pocket sketchbook that I carry almost everywhere will be full of interesting insights of the days to come.
I hope the weather is getting as nice over where you are in your corner of the world as it is here!
Take care,
- Sylvie
Good Friday morning to you! I am very fortunate to be spending today off – hopefully I will be doing something productive like at least enjoying the good weather that we are supposed to have.
I hope if you do have today off, that you are having a good one. Since it’s been the first long weekend in a long time, I will definitely be taking advantage of it.
Above is a new little personalized ornament I’ve painted for Spring. His head is about the size of an average marshmallow and he will be showing off his style by being displayed in my car. I have quite a few of these little buddies to paint for friends and I am looking forward to it.
- Sylvie
Happy Friday the 13th. I’ve been working on my portfolio to get it up the level it should be. That said, I have felt that one of my most favorite pieces had to go from the top five illustration’s portfolio. I still like it quite a bit so I’ve decided to post it this week in my creative portion so that I can keep it on my website somewhere. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the illustration is a little gloomy fitting the Friday that it is today.
One more weekend until the Victoria day long weekend!
Take care,
- Sylvie
Some people would have thrown out a picture of the ground but as for me, with this much colour contrast and random shapes, I say happy accident. I purchased a point and shoot camera to be able to bring with me to more places than my DSLR and it works well but every time I shut it off, it takes a picture. I’m thinking the shutter and on/off button are too close together but in this case, I’m glad it fired. The illustration of the little guy walking on a branch is mine; I added it in afterwards.
I hope that your weekends are nice and that the weather treats you well.
- Sylvie
Wow, it’s June. I am glad that it is too. Things have been a bit of a whirlwind over here in a good way. I am still trying to figure the fine details out but I am going to be moving from the Greater Saint John area of New Brunswick to Halifax, Nova Scotia!
I have always wanted to live in the Hub city but I know as a Graphic Designer it is one tough city to gain employment. I am glad to have a new opportunity arise to make it happen.
That said, I am going to be taking a bit of a break this month from my site to get on my feet. I should be back at the end of the month with some new adventures and new designs for you.
I leave you with a photograph of a funky building I got to see in New York, New York.
I wish you all the best this month and I will write to you soon.
- Sylvie
Hello everyone!
As promised, I am back at the end of the month after a writing you after a necessary break. I am now in Halifax and finding it quite nice. I have been familiar with visiting the city since I was in elementary school but I know living in it will be different. An investment in good shoes will be necessary to explore everything the city core has to offer.
Because I haven’t had that much time to draw these past few weeks with all the packing, unpacking and sorting, I have decided to take a picture of one of the places I enjoy seeing in my travels to the metro city.
I have missed pushing myself though my site so I will be back next week with an illustration of some sort for you all.
I hope your weekend will treat you well!
Until next week,
- Sylvie
Happy Canada day to you! Hopefully the weather will be good for us this weekend all throughout Canada for some good times around a camp fire and more.
This past weekend, I stayed up really late just drawing. I haven’t done that in a very long time and I am very glad that I did. I got 2 new drawings out of it, which I am happy with. This weekend, I’m hoping that I will be successful with my crewel stitch works.
Above is one of the sketches I worked on this past weekend. I’ve been listening to a fair bit of mellow music that could explain the colour pallet.
I hope that you enjoy your BBQs and friends where ever you are.
Here’s to a great long weekend!
- Sylvie
I love birds but pigeons are a different matter. I walked around the waterfront the other day to get pictures of different things and I saw pigeons perched at the top of one building and thought they were being cute… They are pigeons. My lens can zoom in and I didn’t realize; I think I was making them mad more than taking a nice moment between the two birds. It made for an interesting photograph! As long as they don’t fly over me and give me one of their gifts, I’m good.
I am going on some more adventures these coming weekends and should be back with some interesting compositions.
See you next week!
Sylvie
Happy Friday. Summer is in full swing here and I am loving it. Now, this past weekend, I was actually in Prince Edward Island which can explain the over saturation of red - there isn’t that much modification to this photograph, it is that red on the Island.
I wish you the best in your summer adventures!
- Sylvie
Bug bites, sunburns and campfires. All signs of summer and all accomplished last weekend.
For the bug bites, I would have preferred the lovely mosquitoes to the horseflies that found me – I am still scratching from those horrible creatures’ bites. (I got the worst ones at the location where I drew the picture above) I have tried to find calamine lotion but they were sold out the places I have checked. Go figure.
It’s not that bad though despite the complaint above. It seems you can’t call it summer without the lovely critters.
And I can say I have eaten authentic s’mores over a campfire. Make it even more genuinely New Brunswick with some melted Ganong chocolates. Mmmm!
Unfortunately, this past weekend was the last one with the large group of friends that came down from many parts of the country but I loved every minute of these past three weekends with all of them. Now, I really need to get everything straightened out for the fall to figure out what I’m going to take part in and discover Halifax that much more.
The picture above was drawn on one of the wonderful properties that marvelous people shared with all the artists for the Bloomin’ Artists’ festival in Hampton, New Brunswick off the Kennebecasis River.
I hope that you enjoyed a great July and here’s to a great August!
- Sylvie
This summer I think falls as one of the best. I absolutely love the fact that everything in the Maritimes is usually not that long of a drive away.
Above is a mash up of some photos I’ve taken while being in Halifax so far.
I wish you all the best and I will write / draw to you in October.
Take care,
- Sylvie
Welcome October!
As promised, I am back in October and ready to conquer! Ok, that line was a little cheesy but I am really looking forward to updating the website again!
A fair bit of things have been happening with me which makes me glad that I decided to take time off these past months. For one I’ve had to move to a different abode but I am ok about it. I am now able to explore my new city easier which I am going to be taking advantage of.
Also, I have been able to get my count of artwork for the craft sale to an acceptable amount. I still have 1 week to go but I am ok with what I have.
I hope the rest of your summer was full of sun and lots of great memories. Here’s to one remarkable fall!
- Sylvie
Things are still a little on the chaotic side as far as being settled simply because I had placed creating crafts higher on my priority list than say, oh, keeping my place in order. I just spent the last hour and a half trying to find part of my costume for the weekend with no success. The only other place I didn’t check was the trunk of my car… I’m guessing I’ll find it on Sunday when I don’t need it anymore.
Until next week!
- Sylvie
It’s December. This time of year, I can’t help but reflect on the year that has passed and how eventful it has been. Pretty much from the get go I’ve had some adventures. Last winter, for the most part, I was very bored which after an eventful February, I was ok with, but I knew by the fall I’d try my best to have something different going for myself and that happened really fast; sooner by moving to Halifax in the spring.
A good friend told me that it takes 6 months to really get used to a new place to live. Well, it’s been 6 months and she was right. I don’t think I would use the word settled but used to - yes. Out of all the places I’ve lived since college, I can say that Halifax has definitely kept me from being bored out of all of them.
The people, friends I’ve reconnected with and the new ones I’ve made are all wonderful. There is a part of me that misses those that mean a great deal to me that aren't around. By many different circumstances, they are in all different provinces and some in different countries even. With that, I can’t help but think of all the people I’ve met along the way. If it was years, a season, a day or even a few hours to minutes, quite a few people have made me who I am now. I’m guessing you are one of the mentioned and as such, thank you.
This holiday season, I wish that even if you can’t spend it with those you care for the most, know that if they care for you as much as you care for them, they will be wishing you the best.
- Sylvie
Good morning everyone! I hope everyone is doing well and are getting ready for your holidays. As for me, I’m getting there though I still have a fair bit to do. As long as I avoid the weekend fiasco of the mall, I’ll be all right.
So, that said, because most of my gifts are hand made, I will be taking some time off from my website and I will be back towards the end of the month of January all full of Christmas cheer and lots of frozen turkey leftovers.
I look forward to putting myself more in my illustrations and developing my little world online. I’ll have more time this coming year as I realized my time should and will be focused more on my illustrations. I missed drawing too much in 2011 to neglect it again in 2012.
Keep an eye out for me on my tumblr account where I might post random artwork finished for the holidays (after giving it to those it’s intended for).
The songs I leave you with this week are Happy Holidays from Bing Crosby remixed (Beef Wellington Remix) and another, Walking in a Winter Wonderland 80's style by The Eurythmics. The latter is played it every year in my hometown many times over and it reminds me of time with my family and friends as a kid since it was the song that they played at least 3 times a day in December then.
I hope your Holiday cheer is sublime. Enjoy some eggnog (or soymilk eggnog if you are of the lactose intolerant kind) and good times with friends and family.
Until next year!
- Sylvie
