My studio is seeing activity the likes of which it has not seen for many years (and in fact it was another studio in another place far far away).... oil painting! I'm loving the luscious juicy painterliness of oils and having a great time ... here's how my studio looks... .. and here is a bit of painty goodness for you to enjoy Continue reading

I recently read Susan Striker (author of the 'Anti Colouring Book series)' 's book 'Young at Art', a book discussing early art experiences for toddlers and preschoolers. Striker advocates for allowing children to explore materials in a progressive way, rather than trying to force young children to engage in representation before they are ready e.g. providing pre-formed shapes, stencils etc. It has made me reflect upon the kind of activity I am doing with my children and to consider avoiding the kind of known outcome that can result from some projects. With this in mind, when I bought some plain... Continue reading

For the first time in about 6 years, I cracked open the oil paints and made a couple of eensy weensy little 'fine art' paintings (as opposed to the illustration work I've been doing the last few years). The paintings will be in this anonymous art show for North Vancouver Arts Council. Check it out, all paintings are selling off the wall for $100 a piece and half of the proceeds goes to funding really worthwhile community arts projects. Continue reading

Well, my exhibiting history may have been rather thin on the ground, err, make that non-existent in the last few years, but here's my little ones proving that its never too early to make a start on your exhibiting career. Opus Art Supplies, North Vancouver, offered all kids interested in taking part in an art exhibition a free square board for their creation. Here's Boo Two's sponge painting (he's not keen on the finger painting, constantly requiring a 'wash'! And here's Boo's piece, complete with pink ballerina and collaged fabric flowers (think I've seen them somewhere before!). I didn't make... Continue reading

.. and here it is, my latest illustration offering. The girl (based on Boo of course) rides on her beloved bear through the forest of North Vancouver. It's made with a lino print using oil based ink, coloured with watercolour and mounted on a background painted with acrylic. I've left the background more painterly than I usually do, and I'm not sure about this.. is it too much? I showed Boo the picture and she said 'but my bear doesn't walk like that, he walks on two legs like a human'. There's no pleasing some people! Continue reading

BEFORE my rampant toddler reached into the box containing my sewing machine (which I foolishly left on the floor) and SNAPPED off the plastic reel holder rendering it unusable, I did actually manage to do some sewing. Here is Boo modelling her 'Doves and Cherries' dress, now with new addition of matching outfit for Kitty Doll. If you like this stuff, check out clothkits which is where I bought it. Well, its his own fault (ok its actually me own for being quite so stoopit as to think he wouldn't get his hands into EVERYTHING)that he won't be getting his... Continue reading

I do believe it's time for somewhat of a re-invention of this blog. With these crazy busy days with two at home and an active boy toddler being one of them, I have found little time for planning and executing arty projects. I haven't wanted to force it for the sake of 'keeping up the blog' and know that things ebb and flow and no doubt in time we will be back again in that place. However, after some years of tinkering around with my illustration work in the 'margins' of my life, things are starting to come together, and... Continue reading

Boo has been sporting a 'wobbler' for a wee while now. I have to say it took me by surprise, she only turned 5 in March and none of her preschool chums have lost teeth yet, but wobbling it most definitely was. And out it most definitely has now come. She is so proud, especially as it came out at preschool so was quite the 'event' and Boo quite the focus of attention for a few minutes. Every lost tooth needs a pillow, so here is ours, fashioned from an offcut of a lovely echino fabric I picked up, complete... Continue reading

Boo received a 'window stickers' kit a while back and we thought we'd give it a go. The kit came with some templates for designs, which we used, but the really interesting things started happening when we started going 'freestyle'. We used lots of colours to make this luminescent heart. Then Boo did this cool little drawing of a man who appears to be jumping. She followed this up by making some black 'lightning' and I made a little star to go with it. We were soon out of most colours of window paint (you paint it onto acetate first... Continue reading

Ahhh, printmaking, its been too long. Now, I have to say, this method of printmaking is not my fave - I much prefer collagraph and monoprinting, but you can't knock foam printing for its simplicity and speed. Perfect, really for naptimes, especially the short ones my 2nd child seems to delight in! We used 'Scratch-Foam Board' manufactured by Scratch Art. You simply draw onto the board using a pencil or ballpoint pen, then ink up with a roller and print. The foam boards are pretty durable and stand up to multiple printing and washing. Here's Boo inking up her first... Continue reading

I know, I know, Valentine's Day is history, but I'm still a-catchin-up, having been through a bout of flu. I had four of these little beauties in the production line for 'V'day, but I'm afraid only one actually reached being finished in time. For the one most likely to complain if something was not produced for her on the day! In fact, this was originally intended to be a 'Mama n Boo' project, but like so many of my little brainwaves, it turned out (no doubt due to the laboriousness of the papier mache technique), ended up being a Solo... Continue reading

Boo has been tadpoling a whole lot recently. No, not fishing for nascent froggies, but rendering what is known as a 'tadpole' in whatever drawing media she can get hold of. Tadpole drawings are the first emergent representations of figures seen in childrens' drawings and the interesting thing is that all children everywhere go through the same representational stages towards figuration. They require no tuition, it is simply a natural development inherent to the growing awareness of self in the small child. It felt like I was waiting forever for Boo's first tadpole, but I recorded back in October 2010... Continue reading

A den, a hideaway, a grotto, a shady secret spot. Isn't that what every child needs? Continue reading

Baby Boo Two is almost one and I thought it was about time for his first painting. We made some 'paint' using cornflour, using a great recipe I found here on a great early learning blog called Imagination Tree. There is a great section on different types of play on here too if you get a chance to take a look at it. I've made cornflour goop before but the addition of hot water takes you into a whole new dimension of cornflour goodness. It takes on a thick gloopiness that is just perfect for baby fingers. Yumm! So how... Continue reading

This week we have been enjoying some fabulous felty fun with these screenprinted animals which we picked up at Collage Collage. They were drawn by artist Sarah Holtom who also runs workshops there. I'd love to make some of these myself! Continue reading

My latest fave art material for kids is window crayons. Boo got a pack of these, made by Crayola, in her stocking this year and has been enjoying finding a whole new 'blank canvas' for herself on the window panes. The timing seems apt as well as I finally decided to put our seasonal window trees to bed after enjoying 5 seasons with them. They apply really well, the colours are vibrant and they screw up so there seems to be plenty for many drawing sessions, as well as keeping little hands clean. Here's Boo drawing a little red person,... Continue reading

Boo goes to a Waldorf preschool, doesn't watch tv, and has very limited access to other media, one result of this being that she doesn't fall prey to kiddy consumerism. This fact, along with the vivid imaginative life she lives with her 'guys' (soft toys), leads to her requesting gifts that are interesting... and usually challenging for me in that I have to make them. One year she asked for a new outfit for bear, simple enough. This year, she requested a 'bunny burrow' for her beloved bunny. Okay, no problem. Errrm, what exactly does a bunny burrow look like... Continue reading

This year, we have mostly been reprising favourite Christmas crafty/bakey goodies from previous years. Broken nights with the wee boy are zapping me of the energy to devise anew, but I'm reassured that seasonal rituals are just what small ones find most reassuring. So here,in the spirit of ritual, are some of our christmas activities from years past. Activity-based advent stockings Salt Dough Christmas Tree Ornaments Potato printed christmas wrapping paper Plaster cast christmas decorations Gingerbread House Origami Advent Calendar King Winter/Winter Waldorf Nature Table Hope you are enjoying some Christmas making rituals! Continue reading

Just a year ago (was that all it was?!), we created our window trees - see their first Autumnal incarnation here. My goodness, I look back at this and it seems me and the Boo had all the time in the world, now we snatch babe's naptimes as our together time, and to be truthful, mostly we are are outside hunting for spiders and worms rather than creating anything much. But the trees have been taken to heart as tradition so on they must go! My current motto for living 'keep it simple' was applied to the trees this season... Continue reading

If I have perhaps been feeling rather guilty of late in that I haven't been devising exciting art projects for the Boo, she has managed to lift my spirits and reassure me that given space, kids mostly just get on with what it is they need to do as and when they need to for their development. I've provided scissors in Boo's making space since she was two and have tried on numerous occasions to teach her to use them with little lasting success. Now, however, she has seized upon them and it seems to be all she wants to... Continue reading