In less than a month’s time, I’ll be featuring new work at Canteen in Ottawa! The show is called “The Curious Creatures called Combinimals” and is a project I’ve been doodling on-and-off for the last couple of years. Glad to see that it’s finally seeing the light of day!
1904, reknown explorer Lord Thaddius H. Herringbone III left on an expedition with biologists, artists, sociologists, geneticists, and a few other ‘ists’. His quest was to find the mythical creatures known as Combinimals. Setting sail on the H.M.S. Fortunata, Lord Herringbone and his experts were joined by a hearty crew of veteran seafarers. The last anyone ever saw of them was when the ship set sail from London in late June of that same year.
It wasn’t until many years later when documents were discovered in the estate of a recently deceased mail clerk in New York City. Apparently sent to relatives by a survivor of the Fortunata, the documents included detailed illustrations and a field guide to these wonders creatures!
Not many people know about the Combinimals, and few have seen enough to document them as Lord Herringbone and the passengers & crew of the H.M.S. Fortunata. On exhibit for the first time ever!
The show will be on display all month; I’m one of three artists being featured in the gallery next month. There’ll also be an opening night shindig from 6-9pm (shortdig?) Friday June 5th. Anyone who’s in town, it’d be great if you could attend. Stuff will be on sale, if you’re inclined to buy…
Lastly, if things work out, I’m going to have some prints and/or other goodies done up towards the end of June; maybe time to get that Etsy store up and running?
Been so busy, I haven’t been able to promote my new webcomic! Horrible! April 7th marked the launch of the first page of this new weekly and after an additional two weeks, we’ve had over 13,000 readers! I’m completely blown away by the reception the comic has garnered!
Gone to Ground is based on the Warhammer 40,000 universe, designed by Games Workshop for their line of games. The comic follows a squad of lowly grunts as they bumble their way around the battlefield, trying not to get killed by all manner of aliens, empires, and monstrous creatures!
A student friend of mine was working on a conceptual children’s book dealing with the issue of homelessness. She asked if I could supply some illustrations to go with her story – a story about a dog named Sammy who runs away from home and finds himself alone in the big city.
The story is rather interesting as it draws upon many of the issues that the dispossessed face in cities across North America, but it does so in a kid-friendly kind of way.
Fray Issue #3 is on the horizon, and this time I’ve contributed a couple of pieces, including the stand-alone image above! Looking forward to the mag hitting newsstands!
Tomorrow, Canteen’s hosting the Return to Sender show, just in time for Valentine’s Day! The theme of the show is “unrequited love”, and the only other caveat is that all the submission be done on envelopes! I was able to get my contribution (”Spidey’s Unrequited Love”, above) into the Gallery’s hands the last time I visited Ottawa… but unfortunately I won’t be around for the show.
Jut a quick note to let you know that there’s going to be an art auction tonight at the Gladstone Theatre in Ottawa – to coincide with the debut of a Company of Fools‘ “A Midwinter’s Dream tale”.
Come and celebrate the wonder of winter at the opening night of “A Midwinter’s Dream Tale,” a dramatic performance that pays homage to the snowy season! Inspired by the creative minds of Shakespeare and Lewis Carroll, local award-winning acting troupe “A Company of Fools” have written a family-friendly performance that promises to warm the hearts of all guests. Hosted at the newly-renovated Gladstone Theatre in Ottawa’s Little Italy, the evening will also feature a silent auction of original artwork designed in a winter theme.
I’ve worked with Children’s Wish before and it’s a great cause – if you’re in the area drop by (doors open at 7pm). I’ve included a new piece of my own for the auction – something done specifically for the theme Winter Wish”… but I’m not posting any teasers here! Yup, this piece is an original and there are no digital copies anywhere! so head on down to the gladstone to check it out! And while you’re there… make sure to catch the Fools’ latest production – Margo and Scott are two of the funniest clowns in town!
My good friend James is known as Mr. Craig by the Grade 12 art students at Nicholson Catholic College in Belleville, ON. He does a great job teaching and trying to inspire his students, at least one of whom has gone on to a successful career in the arts!
Last year he asked me to take part in a show benefiting Habitat for Humanity. It seems that when James was buying planks of wood to build a fence, he got them about a foot too long. After cutting them all down to size, he was left with these useless foot-long pieces of lumber. Not one to waste materials, Mr. Craig distributed the wood among his students to be used as canvases in an art exhibit!
I was among a few of the “established” artists asked to take part. This was my first piece done on wood, and I have to say – it was an enjoyable process!
I’ve been volunteering with the Canadian Improv Games off-and-on since 1994! I’ve even done a lot of the design for merch/adverts on the local level. This year I got to also design the national games’ t-shirts! After the Improv Camp staff/camper tees got such high praise, I was given free reign to do… whatever! The only caveat was that it had to be done in three colours for a white tee.
Canteen opened its doors back in October, and The Little Big Show was the first exhibit they hosted. Canteen’s a small gallery run by my friend Inaas, who’s also the owner of the hip Milk boutique in Ottawa.
The night was a resounding success; attendance was high, and sales were plenty. There were a lot of familiar faces squeezed into the small space, and a lot of new ones.
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