Exploring Henna...

I've often felt that in order to stay inspired artistically, one must present oneself with challenges. Sometimes that means exploring new subject matter, new lighting situations, new perspectives, new color palettes or new mediums. I happened upon henna recently as a means to expand my growing side-business (now front-running business) of belly casting pregnant women: henna (or mehndi art). I've been practicing so far on just myself and close family members and it's been a fun experiment. I even bought premade henna cones that would "wear off quickly" (is 2 weeks really that fast when you've experimented and drawn something ugly on your hand and have to walk around like that without the ability to wash it off?) and some powder to mix fresh stuff. Finally got brave enough to meet with a potential client, and did a practice run with her (because she's interested in... gasp... wedding henna). She's a wicked birth, wedding, newborn, everything photographer here in Edmonton (Nordstrom Photography and arrivals birth photography). I admire her work and was so happy to meet her. Here's the results:photo by Hailey's fiance.

Sweet Ladies Dessert Show

I belong to a group of women whom I cherish dearly. We all happen to be illustrators but spend most of our day doing either graphic design, teaching, or tending little children. The group grew out of a need to create art that wasn't restricted to client deadlines or wishes and also because our profession is rather anonymous. Our first show was at the McMullen Gallery at the UofA hospital (the "Growing Up Show") and this lighter subject grew out of that experience, which was rewarding for all of us. We added three more fabulous ladies and then the Dessert Show was born. Here are the pictures from the opening reception. Felt great to have a showing of art again, even if there were only two tiny pieces submitted from each of us. Show is up all month if anyone missed the opening!

Hand Print Ornaments - a pinterest experiment

Been waiting for some time now to post photos of these santa "hand-print" ornaments that we made after surfing pinterest (here's the link to the recipie and original idea for them). They worked out fabulously and I'm thrilled that we made an extra copy to hang on our own tree.

Here's the poem that we printed from the original post as well, taped inside of jewelry boxes I bought from a local creative packaging store.

And hanging on the tree.

Owl Belly Cast Finished

The painted owl belly cast is finished! I sculpted the flower from scratch (it's not a flower dipped in plaster) and am quite happy about how sturdy it feels, never having done sculpture before. The belly looks so beautiful, so amazing! The even more amazing part is when my doula, Suzanne Moquin (of Gentle Touch Birth Services), came for a visit today to help present it to the new mom, touched the cast and could feel how the baby had been positioned inside her body- where the bum and where the head was. So ridiculously amazing. What a way to capture your pregnancy, hey? Can hardly wait to get these casts professionally photographed!

 

 

Easter Colour Page - Free

Here's a free easter colouring page, done today for the upcoming April Issue of my little local newsletter. Feel free to print and share. Larger version available here.