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.
Working at Fenix Solutions for the past three years, I’ve created a lot of advertising pieces for Carlingwood, a local shopping centre. Usually these involve taking a lot of art direction from the centre’s Marketing Director, but this past September we got to implement a nearly complete branding overhaul!
Aside from their established logo, the only other direction given was the tagline “Shop Together”. Having just returned from ICON5 I was really pushing for illustration over photography.
The campaign (including posters, directories, a website, and flash animation) was launched in September to very positive reviews!
Wow, it’s been a long time since I posted anything – work has been keeping me way too busy. I may have to rethink my whole blog strategy… But before I get to anything TOO drastic, let me get some recent stuff online!
First off, I had my first solo art show at the end of August and it was a big success! I’ve collected the series as scans and put them up on Flickr for public enjoyment. Hopefully I can clean up my HiRez scans and get some prints made in early December… still wondering if there’s going to be enough interest in them!
I took some pictures of the vernissage, however I’m stuck in the dark ages and still have a film camera… and have yet to develop that roll of film – but I’ll post the photos once they’re done.
As part of her of the ICON5 program, Toronto-based illustrator Julia Breckenreid organized a collaborative book under the title New York City, Real & Imagined. The idea was to have artists contribute their own visions and interpretations of the big apple to the book, which will be on exhibit at MICA sometime this September.
My contribution is this little piece of retrofuturism; a theme that’s close to my heart. The piece was done in pen and watercolour pencils, which is a medium I’m growing to love. I really like the control it gives me! Now… back to work on my pieces for the La Petite Mort show!
It’s almost arrived – my very first solo art show. Since last October I’ve been on the roster at La Petite Mort, a heckuva gallery here in Ottawa. I’ve only had a few pieces on display – mostly because life’s been keeping my busy elsewhere in 2008, and partially cause I can be a lazy bastard… but no more! Over the past month and a half (since just before ICON5), I’ve been bitten by the creative bug again, and besides filling up pages in my sketchbook, I’ve gotten to the business of painting some pieces for this show! I’ve still got a ways to go – so it’s going to be a busy few weeks for me.
One Night Stand with Stefan Grambart (link) August 29, 2008 | 7 – 10pm
“Anja and her sisters traverse the Ghostwood, pursued by the wolves, Dust, Smoke, and Shadow”
A collection of new fantasy/folk-tale themed paintings that follow a single encounter between the entitled characters. Like the panels of an illustrated story or modern graphic novel, each piece allows the viewer to experience the wordless story as it unfolds, all the while representing the overall theme on its own.
Proudly sponsored by CKCU 93.1 FM
Here’s the deal; being a “One Night Stand”, that means the artwork is only up for a single night – Friday August 29th. After that, they’ll be taken down (though a select few might stay in rotation for a few months). The pieces will be available for sale, in case anyone feels inclined to buy something, and that all gets worked out with Guy (the curator/owner of LPM).
I’d love to see everyone there; where possible – If you’re in town, please drop by!
This past weekend we family reunion & multiple birthday party at my sister’s place out in the country. About a hundred family and friends showed up in cars or campers. Kim and I brought our tent, so technically these sketches are still “camping” sketches!
Above, we have a landscape depicting the view from the back porch, a shot of someone fishing down at the waterfront, spectators (to the Newfie Horseshoe tournament) sitting beside an ancient camper, Norton the dog, and a half-finished study of the kitchen.
Here’s an earlier page… more views from the back porch, including a few quick studies of the fleeting Chickadees that were zipping to and fro by the feeder.
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