I’m here! Come visit!

It was so hard to choose! When I first read Maraysha’s submission on Friday, my gut response was “yes! that’s the one!” But then there were so many other great title ideas, and I seriously agonized over the decision.

In the end though, it was clear: she was grandma’s favourite.

Thanks Maraysha for the title! (“she only eats wild, organic, free range olives” was a major contender too.) I have two tickets to the One of a Kind show for you! I’ll connect with you elsewhere to arrange delivery.

I really love this girl. Problem is, her portrait’s title eludes me. I’ve got nothing.

Any ideas dear friends?

Over this weekend, suggest one or two titles for this dear portrait in the comments section of this post. For ideas on how I usually title my pieces, check out the portraits section on my portfolio site.

On Monday at 3pm pacific, I’ll choose the most fitting title and the writer of that title will receive two free tickets to the One of a Kind show! (value $24)

She came into existence late last evening. The background of this painting is still in progress, but she is perfect to me. Come visit my studio next weekend to see the finished portrait!

Another peek at paintings in progress: Portraits I’ll be showing during the Eastside Culture Crawl.

It’s because Fridays are when Sarajean comes over to my studio and together we paint, draw, chat, drink coffee/tea and eat butter tarts.

Sarajean and I went to college together. An amazing artist, she draws the cutest/creepiest large-headed characters you’ve ever seen – the kind you want to hug and also hide from, at the same time. She is an unapologetic gamer, and, in fact, in the process of developing a new video game. I’ve seen some of the artwork for it, and it looks pretty rad.

Sometimes it’s nice to turn off that pressure I often put on myself, as an artist, to have to create something all unique and artsy. Sometimes all I want to do is carve a cute, regular old jack-o-lantern.

To meet these two, and others, come visit me during the Eastside Culture Crawl and the One of a Kind show! Details coming soon…

This is a local East Vancouver family. I haven’t properly met them (the portrait was commissioned to be a surprise gift from their friends), but I heard beautiful stories of them that impressed on me their strong sense of home, and their creative spirit.

This painting reflects what I really love about this city, and I see a lot of it in this neighborhood. The vegetable gardens, the chicken coops, the home-roasted coffee beans, the art projects, the potlucks, the knitting/sewing/felting of garments, the home-made soaps… I could go on.

It’s creative people nurturing their home, family, community.

This awesome party was imagined and drawn by a young artist named Ava, and yours truly.

I love collaborative drawing.