Last little

Garh! I just realized how many time I have used the word "Little" in my posts' titles. Too many! so I will look for synonyms of "little" for now-on!!! ...cute? sweet? small?

a little drawing for Brice

Brice my big brother who is mentally handicapped, made me (he is an artist) a beautiful drawing for my birthday. I thought I should try to say thank you with a drawing as well, and though mine is not quite as special, I think he might like my red wolf. What do you think?...

little acorns full of hope

Here is my little whimsy. It did not turn quite like I thought. Ok I guess. I'll have to revisit the idea some time soon.

Grange's raging rant

Last Sunday I went with Irina to the Grange. On a perfect day. Part of the AGO, this is a historical mansion one of the earliest building in Toronto. It is being renovated and therefore, excavated. The Grange's exhibit was filled with wonders basically presented as scientific fact complete with curator's desk, casts of findings, analysis, maps... and the subject so quirky and wonderful: a maid in the 19th century had made all these wax creations and the anthropologists were trying to find out who she was and why she did this: so wonderful!!! ...I was in rapture, in love with this quirky maid... they gave us explanation notes at the end, which I didn't read until I got home many hours later.

And that's when I found out that it was all a pretend set-up, an "installation". I felt so confused, humiliated, and betrayed since I had gotten so in love with a character I thought was real. I had already made plan to work on it in my Art, let everybody know, write about it... so I felt that I really fell hard from that illusion. I deeply disagree with such intellectual concept that takes on all the means of something genuine but isn't. It would be alright if you were told during the exhibit, but afterward like that, with this guy lying to you the whole time, that was way beyond anything ethical I feel.

hmmm no... I really don't know what was meant to be the real point of this big lie, but it has slipped into something else. I could tel the presenter was uncomfortable with me, I asked a lot of questions. He wouldn't make eye contact long. He had doubt about the validity of it all I am pretty sure. Perhaps this kind of experiments are good to the kind of people who live life never questioning anything? What do you think?

...And yes I am naive, but I don't want to be any-other-way.

little art project

I've been playing with my little fingers... and that's what it looks like now...

doll face

For someone who takes for ever to finish a complete doll, I probably shouldn't be so eager to make a doll face, but I had my box of paper clay in my hand one evening last week, I was in the kitchen, I grabbed a walnut size chunk of it and grabbed a lime in the fruit basket nearby. Standing up in the kitchen, my hip resting on the kitchen counter, I lay the clay on the lime and flattened it a bit then started to work on the clay which I have never done except for one failed attempt about a year ago. Being set on the lime it was quite easy! I wanted a simple ordinary face but the face kept taking on definite aboriginal features, perhaps the shape of the lime and my fingers made it so... I don't know. I immediately got a very good feeling about it, that it was going to turn into a great doll face. I painted it this morning feeling I could do no wrong: it already had great form. I am very happy with the result.

I can't show you but I put it on my green doll in place of her face for a moment and it was just stunning! I can't wait to make a body for it!!!

Seen, anew

I was thinking about this old painting of mine yesterday. It just hit me how close it is to what I currently do. I had done it in a very free flowing way which was a big departure from my usual highly detailed illustrations of that time. It was a project for a video game company who wanted some backgrounds. Didn't go through in the end, but I liked what came out of it. It's a most unhospitable land with the greatest riches on it, I liked that contrast! These greens are, of course, highly poisonous, and so is the rain. Of course.

my little shop's offerings: pretty vintage and folky things

Yay! See that? The little gift box is finished now!!!

little red box

The little red box I painted while waiting for my mom to call back. She didn't. She often forgets! hehe! But it worked out! I started and (almost) finished this little box in the mean time! (needs varnish) It will be in my Etsy store shortly!

Glorious June: Painting in High Park

It was planed well ahead: Saturday: it was going to be "Painting in the Park"!!! ...I left the house around 3:30, perfect time when the sun is low and the light warmly coloured and angled. I found this peeeeerfect little spot, attracted there by a gorgeous huge pine tree with sweeping blue branches cast over a little bench. Behind the bench was a great scene: the sweeping branches, the second pine with it's horizontal branches, the weeds and the birds fighting for my nuts.

A little island of hidden paradise.

The picture above was the spot before that : in front of the old institute for the blind. Such a typical example of an old Canadian institution: so charming, all made of wood, with cracking old paint, large beams, sloping roof, set among old trees... I hope I can finish that sketch.