Photoshoot at Dusk
As I was sitting at my desk this evening I looked out my window and saw the gorgeous sunset behind the silhouette of a tree. This image is one that I have loved for years and seeing it always seems to spark my creativity. I quickly grabbed my camera and captured this photo through the window to share the beautiful scene I was blessed to have. I will be the first to admit that my creative side has been hibernating for the last few months, and instead I have been spending most nights curled up reading or watching TV. Who knew that all it needed to wake up was glance up from my desk? Grabbing my shoes and running out to catch the last of the light I quickly became engrossed with the simplest things in my backyard. Like most artists, as soon as I started I couldn't be stopped. Before I knew it I was running back inside to grab some jewellery pieces and starting a product shoot in the quickly vanishing light. Below is a glimpse at the results that I really hope you enjoy!
Sketching Cont'd
I haven't had much work to show lately, but just as my last post in this section of the website stated I have been trying to work on my sketching. It was tough through the busy holiday season to sketch, and if I did sketch anything I wasn't in the mindset to be uploading the photographs. So I just wanted to share a few of my sketches from the recent months. As you will become aware the first one you will see is from the Christmas season, when my beautiful family home was decorated. I was enjoying a cup of tea curled up on the couch and it was one of those moments when I realized I needed to remember how things felt and looked around me. I am a very sentimental person, so whether or not the average person has those kind of moments when you want to take everything in so you never forget it I am not sure, but I find it necessary. I did my best to visually capture the room and tree. At that moment in time I only had a fine-tip sharpie so it is in black and white (I'm hoping that if one day I feel adventurous I will fill in the colour). The three sketches that follow are from the last few days, because even though the artist in me cringes at myself, I did neglect my sketchbook in the month of January. These sketches are my first with colour in a while and it felt so good to get markers and pencil crayons back into my hand. I started, like I do most sketching sessions, with a page of smaller 'doodle' drawings and then ventured into a full dress sketch (my favourite in a long time!). Once the dress was complete I was still in drawing mode, so I ventured into the feather at the end. With the stress of the world around us, it can be such an escape to open the sketchbook and put media to paper. It is in these moments of calm that I am reminded how healing art can be. I will leave you today with one of my favourite quotes from the one and only Pablo Picasso:
“Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
“Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
Sketching
Drawing was never my strongest skill, and I actually never took any straight art classes in high school. Recently though, I have been doing quite a few different sketches to try and develop. The majority of my sketches are that of dresses, and mostly wedding/evening gowns because that is where my heart is. I have added a few of those sketches plus some other non-dress ones to my RENDERING/SKETCHING tab. The drawing that you see here is one of my favourite as of late (You can ignore the notes I was making to myself in the corner). I truly do not consider myself to have a great drawing ability and am actually quite self-conscious about the majority of my sketches, so to share them on my website or blog is always a little scary for me. With putting pen to paper, like any form of artistic expression I love to just let myself go and put all I have into it. It is an escape that allows me to put my thoughts into something concrete. On most occasions what the final product turns into is not at all the way I had envisioned it. This can be a good things and a bad thing. Sometimes when it flows well you make an unplanned mark/mistake that transforms into something better than originally thought. Other times my abilities just can't do justice to the image in my mind. Nevertheless, each time I draw whether successful or not it makes me a better artist. Those sketches don't make it here, but please feel free to browse through and enjoy the select sketches I did share.
Recent Portrait Photography - 3rd Birthday Shoot
Summer Snapshots
I recently went to Presqui'le Provincial Park with my family and the scenery was absolutely magnificent. The weather was warm, the water had rolling waves and it was completely inspiring. I snapped a few photographs in between swims and have been playing around in photoshop with them. Nothing fancy, I just wanted to share a little bit of what I adore about this time of year. And if you get the chance, go out and take advantage of the great things in nature our beautiful country has to offer!
A Little Summer Sketching
With working this summer I haven't had as much time as I would like to be creative. Today I was home from work sick and even though I felt pretty crummy I decided to do a little bit of sketching. In recent days I have been looking through some vintage fashion drawings and felt myself becoming very inspired. It isn't much and it didn't take very long, but I thought I would share my final attempt with all of you!
Just A Few Shots From The 2011 Visual Merchandising Year End Show. Congrats to All GRADS!
Model Trade Show Booth
This is the scale model trade show booth that I created for a recent school project. The overall concept was inspired by the backdrop that Vera Wang had for her recent pre-fall line. The backdrop was a very vibrant blue water video and so within my design there would be water walls and water pillars with running water bubbling through them.
The material used for the floor was kitchen tile, cut into hardwood planks. The back walls were plexi-glass and the pillars were acetate sheets. To represent water texture I created a mixture of blue rock flecks and plastic beads. The draped fabric is a sparkling white tulle cut into strips. Lastly, the black piece on the back walls is a recycled grocery bag made into a slip cover, with vinyl lettering.
Overall, I am very happy with the outcome and I believe it really reflects the fashions classic elements with modern lines.
The material used for the floor was kitchen tile, cut into hardwood planks. The back walls were plexi-glass and the pillars were acetate sheets. To represent water texture I created a mixture of blue rock flecks and plastic beads. The draped fabric is a sparkling white tulle cut into strips. Lastly, the black piece on the back walls is a recycled grocery bag made into a slip cover, with vinyl lettering.
Overall, I am very happy with the outcome and I believe it really reflects the fashions classic elements with modern lines.
Spring Window Display
Sweet Seraphine Wedding & Design (Oakville ON)
This is the spring window display that I created for Sweet Seraphine. The 'poof' balls are made of tissue paper and wire.
Production credit shout out to Stephanie S. who helped make some of the coloured poofs.
To keep with the brand of the store I decided to keep the propping and decor very simple in this window. The blue, pink, and purple add a splash of colour to celebrate the spring season while also feeling very bridal and fun.
This is the spring window display that I created for Sweet Seraphine. The 'poof' balls are made of tissue paper and wire.
Production credit shout out to Stephanie S. who helped make some of the coloured poofs.
To keep with the brand of the store I decided to keep the propping and decor very simple in this window. The blue, pink, and purple add a splash of colour to celebrate the spring season while also feeling very bridal and fun.
Self Promotion Window Display
This project was to create a window that represented yourself as a brand. I knew that I was going to stay within the bridal theme for my display, and after looking through inspiration images decided to make a dress out of paper. This task was large and overwhelming, but 14+ hours later and many hot glue burns later the window was complete.
The bodice is made of regular blank white printer paper crinkled, ripped and glued. The roses along the bottom of the bust are also made of paper, twisted and glued into place. The pink colour comes from cosmetic blush dusted over the flowers. The skirt is made up of tissue paper sheets with the small roses in the pick-ups.
It was a lot of work, but worth every minute.
The bodice is made of regular blank white printer paper crinkled, ripped and glued. The roses along the bottom of the bust are also made of paper, twisted and glued into place. The pink colour comes from cosmetic blush dusted over the flowers. The skirt is made up of tissue paper sheets with the small roses in the pick-ups.
It was a lot of work, but worth every minute.