The Snow Lamb

Well,...it’s been quite awhile since I last blogged. Years actually. Funny how when you leave something for awhile it gets harder and harder to jump back in. 

Since my last blog entry I’ve moved across Canada from Nova Scotia to British Columbia and, for about a year and a half now, I’ve been taking classes online toward a Master of Fine Art in Illustration. In a class last semester I began working on the pictures for a book that I wrote. Right now the story is called “The Snow Lamb” and I may or may not keep that title. I developed a few illustrations from the middle of the story and I’ll work on more of them to be part of my midpoint review portfolio this Spring. I’m doing a lot of experimenting right now so I’m not sure how I’ll rework these illustrations for my final project. One of the most exciting things about illustrating my own stories was how much the text automatically changed for me once I started working with the pictures.

I’ve used watercolour and ink on Strathmore multi-media paper. The roughs were done in a mixture of ink and watercolour as well. I was having a hard time working out my ideas with just pencil. Using watercolour and ink in blacks and browns helped me visualize the direction that I wanted to go. 

Miniature Silverpoint barn scene 3.5" X 5"

Well...I haven't found it that easy to keep up with drawing, blogging, or tweeting lately. I keep thinking it's about to get easier but there's a lot to organize moving from one coast to another. It's emotional too and sometimes I find myself just staring out the window when there are so many other things I can and should be doing. My current project is the top floor of the barn. Trying to decide what to keep and what to get rid of.

Doing some drawing too though. This is a small silverpoint piece that I completed recently. No title and for some reason I find myself reluctant to give it one.

For me, this piece has a sense of calm quiet expectation. It reminds me of much of what I enjoy about being in a barn and just having horses.

Rabbit in silverpoint

A lot has been happening lately and I'm afraid I've rather neglected my internet activities. My husband and I took a vacation and, since then, we've decided to list our home for sale and move back to the west coast of Canada.

I have mixed feelings about this and the decision was not an easy one. We've been very happy here and I love my home but most of our family live on the west coast. We moved here to Nova Scotia for my husband's work but his employment no longer ties us anywhere. I'm very glad that we've had the opportunity to live here these last three years and I will miss it.

So...I've been scrambling around trying to get things ready in a hurry. My home looks very tidy but nothing is where I usually keep it so I can't find a thing!

I hope to get back on track with my artwork now that most of the work is done.

4"X 4" miniature silverpoint "Mare & Foal"

2"X 3" miniature portrait in silverpoint on parchment.

2"X 3" miniature in silverpoint on parchment.

"At the Fair" 4"X 4" Silverpoint on 140lb Arches hot pressed coated in 8 layers of Golden Silverpoint Ground