A Creative Life

Pet portrait project

December 1, 2019

Most years near the holiday I do a miniature pet portrait project -creating small pet paintings people often give as gifts. This year I am doing this project as part of my popup shop at Vintage Books, http://www.vintage-books.net Dec 7th from 12 to 4 – and using people’s phone photos as inspiration. This year I…

A Creative Life, animals in art, art techniques, artistic inspirations, business of art, cat portrait, dog portrait, Dogs in Art, fine art, small things

Aurora Gallery, bookstore, fine art, framed art, pet portraits, popup shop, Vintage Books
playing cards and pleasures

November 26, 2019

For my evening-just-before-bed holiday reading I’m re-reading “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen. Last night I read this: “Mr. Hurst looked at her with astonishment. “Do you prefer reading to cards?” said he; “that is rather singular.” “Miss Eliza Bennet,” said Miss Bingley, “despises cards. She is a great reader and has no pleasure in…

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playful and practical

November 19, 2019

One of the purposes of the Arts is to help us live well and, paraphrasing Kurt Vonnegut, to grow our souls. I’ve had this in mind as I’ve created my holiday stocking-stuffer stuff for my upcoming pop-up shop at Vintage Books Dec 7th from noon to 4 pm. https://www.vintage-books.net/ Making a whimsical, playful, calendar with…

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pop-up pet portraits

November 14, 2019

Dec 7th during my pop-up shop at Vintage Books https://www.vintage-books.net/ from noon to 4 I’ll be doing some “live drawing”; I’ll work in my sketchbook and if anyone wants a small portrait of their pet I’ll happily do one using a phone photo as inspiration. These portraits I’ll do at the pop-up shop are what…

A Creative Life, art commissions, art techniques, artistic inspirations, cat portrait, Cats in art, dog portrait, Dogs in Art, fine art, handmade papers, public art, sketchbook

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local stocking stuffers for readers

November 7, 2019

I’ve been having a blast playing at being a North Pole elf, designing gifts for my upcoming pop-up shop at Vintage Books https://www.vintage-books.net/ Dec 7th from noon to 4pm! The Pacific Northwest social scene has been inspiring and guiding my thoughts. Here in Vancouver all year long people get together regularly for happy hours, for…

A Creative Life, Art Licensing, art techniques, artistic inspirations, author illustrator, business of art, creative thinking, fine art, functional art, games in art, illustration, magic realism, reading in art

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barrelhouse cover art

November 4, 2019

It’s happening!!! I’ve done the cover art for Barrelhouse Magazine Issue 20 and the magazine issue is now available! You can see the cover here https://www.barrelhousemag.com/ – (and buy your own copy via that link) – of course when I get my printed copy of the literary magazine with my artwork on it I’ll share…

A Creative Life, dog portrait, Dogs in Art, drinks in art, fine art, functional art, illustration, publications – publishing, published art

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stocking local love

October 29, 2019

My local bookstore Vintage Books https://www.vintage-books.com/ is the first bookstore to carry my newest book “Dr. Bob’s Emotional Repair Program First Aid Kit” – and in advance of the Nov 1st release day too!! When I was at the bookstore talking with the manager she asked me if I did my art on “stocking stuffer…

A Creative Life, animals in art, Art Licensing, artist book, artistic inspirations, author illustrator, books, Books In Art, business of art, Dogs in Art, fine art, graphic design, mental health, pattern design, product design, publications – publishing, reading in art, small things, Sustainable creativity

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a familiar unfamilar language

October 23, 2019

My friend and neighbor, who has two grandchildren under the age of 2, was showing me a vintage toy that was purchased for the kids; a red and blue ball with shaped holes in it, with the yellow-block shapes inside the ball. You pull open the ball, the yellow-shape blocks spill out and you can…

A Creative Life, art techniques, artistic inspirations, Dogs in Art, fine art, illustrated shorts, illustration, magic realism, mundane and magical moments, reading in art, story, visual thinking, words and pictures

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First Aid in the bathroom

October 17, 2019

As I did the layout and design for “Dr. Bob’s Emotional Repair Program First Aid Kit” I was thinking about the bathroom. There’s even a part in the book that talks about the use of self-care phrases on the bathroom mirror. When it came to printing I chose a slick cover-stock and slick, thick pages…

A Creative Life, artist book, author illustrator, books, mental health, publications – publishing, published art, words and pictures

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the sacred stew dance

October 10, 2019

It’s finally gotten to be “soup and stew” weather here in the Pacific Northwest! When I was making a stew the other day I realized I was twirling, aka dancing, in the kitchen; popping quickly between the stove, the counter where I was chopping veg, the pantry and the refrigerator. I was so excited about…

A Creative Life, animals in art, artistic inspirations, Books In Art, Dogs in Art, drinks in art, food in art, kitchen art, magic realism, Narrative Art, reading in art, story, visual story

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