The good folks over at Fray are putting out their premiere print issue this coming January, and I got to take part as an illustrator. I’d love to tell you more, but that would just spoil the surprise! Why not head on over to Fray.com, check it out for yourself and subscribe to the mag?

Updates have been slow coming, I know… I’m going to make up for that. Firstly, there’s going to be a new version of this site – I started the design earlier last month, but put it on hold to see what the new WordPress release will have to offer. I’m hoping to incorporate some kind of store feature so that I can sell prints etc.

Secondly, you can expect a brand new drawing every day next month! Yup, to celebrate the coming of Autumn I’m going to post thirty-one original ghost sketches throughout the month of October – culminating on Halloween!

Today I was going over new artist links in my bookmarks and adding them to the 400+ list, and I’m delighted to announce that the list has broken five hundred links and will now be re-christened “the 500+”!

I’m sure the list will keep growing, and so I’m starting to pull together my thoughts for some kind of worthwhile charity project I can try and organize; perhaps some kind of collaborative art book.

Check out the list here.

They’re not the best photos, but here are the shots I got of the MotU show last month in Toronto.

There are also loads of awesome Flickr pages with much better shots of the show; here’s Miguel’s shots.

Hot off the success of the MotU show (I really gotta post my pics from that show) in Toronto, Reece Hobbins has put together another Charity event.

Vicious Delicious is Save By Art’s second auction in Edmonton with proceeds going to The Diabetes Association, and is loosely based on the theme of “negative indulgences”. For the show I put together a limited print run an original illustration entitled “Hansel & Gretel”:

So where’s the indulgence? I guess that depends on whether you take the point of view of the children or the old witch! I’ve hadten 11x17s printed and at least for the forseable future, that’s all there’s going to be. Three of ‘em are being shipped to Edmonton, and the other seven will probably end up for sale through the site… that’s right, I’m looking to open a little shop on ripsey.com!

Save By Art is putting on its first show of 2007, and the theme is Masters of the Universe, that old Mattel toy from the eighties. The whole thing is gonna go down 7pm, Thursday March 29th, at Magic Pony in Toronto. The roster of artists SBA has locked down for this show is an impressive checklist of upcoming talent, and I’m really looking forward to meeting some of these folks; that’s right – this time Im actually going to attend the show!

Check out the info site for details.

I was shocked today when I discovered that LCSV4, an illustration news portal, chose my Christmas card as their “Christmas Illustration of 2006“! theApe (LCSV4′s founder) and FeedMeCoolShit.com‘s Johnny Huntington chose the image from a pool of submitted illustrations on December 24th, 2006.

I never would have guessed that I’d come out on top – but there you have it! Thanks to everyone involved at LCSV4, FMCS, and Drawn! (where I found out about the award) – you’re still my top three sites for illustration news and events!

Today marks the first anniversary for me and online blogs! That’s right, 365 days ago I sat at my desk at work and logged into blogger.com and started my first blog. I had been hesitant to start blogging (man, I still hate that word), but finally caved in when I realized what a great tool it was for website content management – at least for a site like mine.

Oddica has released the third issue of their pdf magazine (previously blogged). The mag has more than doubled in size from it’s inaugural issue, but all the artists and works included are still of the same super-stellar quality! That being said, the editors did have it in their hearts to let my little submission make the cut.

Check out the full magazine here.

You may have noticed that the posts from the categories “apparel” and “branding” have vanished. I took them off the site because I found the blog a little unwieldly for a true portfolio site, and instead have created a temporary portfolio at intelligent.ca. I’m going to keep Ripsey strictly an illustration and painting site from here on in, and keep my professional designs in a proper portfolio (the highlights of which will be available at intelligent)

As for new projects, I’ve got several things on the go and will post some new stuffs once I have a little more time!

Cheers!

(Note, August 24, 2007: I’ve dropped the intelligent.ca domain name, and am working on incorporating a new portfolio section into ripsey.com. Stay tuned!)

(Note, June 29, 2008: Hah! The new portfolio site is up and running at stefangrambart.ca!)

In the wake of Oddica’s magazine release, I’ve added a page to this site with Ripsey wallpapers (available in three sizes). Currently there’s only one – the Oddica piece, but I’m working on a few others to follow up in the upcoming months. Check them out here.

I was featured in the first issue of Oddica‘s new pdf magazine (released today). Oddica’s a great site to check out – specailly if you’re looking for unique tees from emerging artists. A few months back, the good folks there decided to release an online zine, and this is the first issue thereof. If things keep going strong, we can expect a print publication in the new year!

Check out the full magazine here. Inside you’ll find art from a lot of Oddica contributors, as well as members from both Robotface and Sour Harvest. Looking forward to next ish!

Sunday, September 3rd Red Handed is having an art show here in Ottawa. The venue is going to be Art Engine on Argyle & Bank. The show is called “Arts & Parts”, and there’s about six of us locals as part of the “sights”… on another note, there’s going to be “sounds” as well – with a lineup of local djs performing (I’m even throwing down a set under my old monniker). Top that off with a garage sale and BBQ and you’ve got a full day of activity!
Here’s the particulars:

Sunday, September 3rd 2006. Noon – 8pm
233 Argyle Avenue (between Bank and O’Connor)
Art show – BBQ – computer parts garage sale – open house – DJ’s

SIGHTS
Kenji Toyooka | Aram Faghfouri | Ripsey | Anchalie Miles | Alexandre Mattar
Melody Hovey

SOUNDS
Bazso | Ben-More | AO | Zattar | Tsunami | JBradley | Terry Bevvan
Brahma Breaker | Fiver | Chris Rockwell

The list has been getting longer and by today’s (June 9th, 2008) count it’s just over 500 links! It’s getting a bit unwieldy, so I’ve decided to move it permanently from this post to a page (permalink: http://www.ripsey.com/?page_id=149) of its own. All comments have now been transplanted there as well.

I’ll keep this post around for those of you who’ve linked to it directly.

The verdict is in; The Insulin Show was a big success! Reece just got around to posting a recap and some photographs from the event. All the artwork donated was sold, which means some good money was made for the Canadian Diabetes Association; and some Edmontonians walked away with some great deals on art! I know if I had been there, I would’ve been bidding!

Both my pieces went for $100, I’ve been told. That’s a pretty decent price – not too low, but still a good deal for the buyer(s)… I wonder if they went to the same person… and where they are now!

So now I have to keep my momentum going and paint some more canvases, and get into some more shows… hopefully someone with Save By Art will organize another charity group show soon; if not I might just have to hold on here in Ottawa!