Wednesday, December 1, 2010

New Artworks and they're up for sale!

Hello!

I've been working on some new work in the area of children's illustration.  I decided to experiment with different medias and this is what I've come up with!
This is done using graphite on Mylar, placed on a texture I made on wood board using gesso and acrylics.  The colouring was done in Photoshop. 

Also, as mentioned on the upcoming shows links to the side of this blog, I currently have works for sale at holiday art shows (three pieces at each location).  The work above will be for sale at these events.  Come to the exhibits if you want to see them in person!  Here are the details:

26th Annual Holiday Fund-raising Art Sale 
(2 locations):

1) Byward Market OSA Gallery: 35 George Street, Ottawa, ON
Show runs from: December 2 -19, 2010
Opening Reception: Thursday Decempber 2, 5pm - 8pm

2) Shenkman Arts Centre OSA Gallery: 245 Centrum Blvd. Orleans, ON
Show runs from: November 29 - December 18. 2010
Opening Reception: Sunday December 5, 2pm - 5pm

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Artwork up for auction at Gallery 101 this Saturday Night!

Saturday, December 4, 2010 
240 Bank Street
Doors open at 7pm – 1am

Featuring: DJs The O’Malley’s and Jas Nasty
MC: Rob Clipperton

Tickets:  $10 or $15 at the door
or at After Stonewall- 370 Bank Street, Collected Works – 1242 Wellington St. W., Mags & Fags – 254 Elgin


Mad about the arts: 101 Frames gets a little bit ‘wrath’ful
101 FRAMES, Gallery 101’s largest annual fundraiser, is thinking outside the frame with its 7-year plan to shake things up in downtown Ottawa.  On Saturday, December 4th, 2010, Gallery 101, with title sponsor Knowledge Circle, will host this highly respected and anticipated event–the third of its seven years of THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. Each year, we ask artists to interpret a different deadly sin. Last year’s event, PRIDE, followed year one’s LUST, and while we don’t want to get a swelled head, it was an outstanding success, with pride-worthy artworks, performances worth boasting about, uppity DJs spinning bold tunes, and a bar to brag about. This year, G101 invites artists to make art that engages with the most vicious sin in the bunch: WRATH. You wouldn’t like us when we’re angry, so please help us spread the word that Gallery 101 is proud to support the arts community in Ottawa for over 30 years.

This year, 101 FRAMES has invited local and regional artists to open up a can of whoop-@$$ by creating artwork with a central theme of WRATH for this year’s silent art auction, which is to be followed by a raucous dance party.

Other sinful features of the event will include door prizes to fight over, smoking hot appetizers, vicious beats, and some surprisingly sinful entertainment and performances. Our over 400 guests will gratify themselves with a night of arts and culture which showcases the talent of Ottawa’s arts community and also supports G101, a local, non-profit artist-run centre.

Proceeds from the auction help Gallery 101 maintain its services to artists and the community. This event is supported and made possible by our local artists, volunteers and friends.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Matte Painting Project - The progress

Matte Painting: scene for the design document
My photo reference for the matte painting:
Changed it a bit in photoshop (got rid of the people, bus, changed the colours, etc):
Painting the foreground (in photoshop):
Finished matte painting:

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Design Document: Characters

Illustrations: Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby (Waterfairy character), Mr. Dragonfly (Narrator/Tom's moral guide).

A bit more about my adaptation and tone of the film:  I would like to center this project around themes of fantasy, magic, Victorian England, and the golden rule...

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Charles Kingsley's The Water babies ... my adaptation

For class we had to create a Design Document.  I decided to pitch a film adaptation of Charles Kingsley's "The Water Babies,"  a children's novel completed in 1863.  The story is about a young chimney sweep named Tom. Tom lives a rather harsh life in the city under his abusive master Mr. Grimes.  One day they receive a job to clean the chimneys of a large estate in the countryside.  During this job Tom frightens a young girl and is chased outside of the house into the nearby forest.  He stumbles and passes away from falling off a cliff into a stream.  However, he has actually been turned into a "water babie."  As a water babie, Tom goes through various adventures which have to do with good and moral conduct.  In the end he makes a decision to do something that "he does not quite wish to do," earning a return to human form.

So that's the idea in brief.  I will be making changes to the original plot, but my plan is to keep the original theme in tact, which I've interpreted as the Golden Rule.  First thing we have to draw are the main characters.  Here is my finished character drawing of Tom:

Thursday, August 26, 2010

"Soundscape" Artist Statement

Soundscape: a melange of musical and sometimes non-musical sounds. - Merriam-Webster Dictionary

This series of work is a study on how to communicate visual and musical concepts such as space, tension, movement,and emotion through figurative drawings.  The larger figurative works in particular are meant to draw attention to those moments in time when listening is crucial, special, or perhaps emotionally difficult.

The overall goal is to create "listening" environment for the viewer.  Although the pieces are technically "soundless," I hope that sound can be evoked from the imagery occupying the space - a soundless soundscape so to speak.

Maya

[My statement for the show at Blink Gallery, see previous posts for details]

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Setting up for the show tomorrow

A sneak peek at what to expect at my first Solo exhibit in Ottawa.  (I was still setting up at this point)

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Solo show this month!

Title: Soundscape

Location: Blink Gallery (Header House in Major's Hill Park - Downtown, across from the National Art Gallery)  Click on the promo card to see it enlarged with map.

Opening: August 26, 2010
Time: 6 pm - 9 pm

This show runs into the weekend.

I hope to see you there!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

WaterCan Embassy Dinner

Hello everyone,

I wanted to let you know about a great fundraising event on Friday, May 7th - the annual Embassy Dinner hosted by WaterCan, in support of their projects in eastern Africa.

For those of you who have never attended, the Embassy Dinner is a great event where 600-700 people (including many dignitaries, business owners, NGO workers, and politicians), gather to taste culinary creations by 30+ embassies, participate in live and silent auctions, and get a chance to mingle and network, all while supporting a great cause.

This year I have donated a monotype print to the auction. 

If you are thinking about attending but haven't bought your tickets yet, this is to let you know that you only have a little bit of time left - the tickets are almost sold out!!!

For tickets visit:
Watercan Embassy Dinner Tickets

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Happy Chinese New Year!

For the third year I am participating in the International print exhibit hosted by Proof Studio Gallery in Toronto.  Each year they have a call out for print makers to celebrate the next zodiac sign and Chinese New year.  This year, it is the year of the tiger:

 

It is a traveling exhibit.  Currently I am only aware of the main show in Toronto and participating artists from Ottawa are also represented at the Ottawa School of Art in the Byward Market.  Prints are for sale.  
Happy New Year:)