MAC – Day 9

It's so exciting to hear some of the feedback from those who have been following me along this Make Art Challenge! It gets me super-inspired to hear the things that you like, and well, just that you like these... outputs of my Challenge.

Sometimes when I start to paint I really go in without any tangible plan of what I'm going to do. I may think about colours I'd like to use or a shape or something, but often I just let whatever is going to happen when I show up, just happen.

Today's offering is one of those cases.

Ovals, pods, seeds, spirals, circles, flower buds. These are recurring motifs that inherently emerge in my work when I just let it go.

Coincidence that both my parents are avid (serious) gardeners?

Perhaps not.

BTW, a big thanks to all of you who are following along, it means a lot to me!

MAC – Day 8

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love my Dog, Lucy.

Of course, all dog owners love their dogs, right?

Dog parents who love their dogs are great at making small talk with other dog parents. We know the names of all the neighbourhood dogs, often years before we know the parents'. We know said dogs' favourite toys, what kind of treats they like, whether they sleep in the owners' bed (a no, no, no!), and whether they prefer rawhide to real bones.

A very common question among the dog parents is, "So, how old is your Dog?". I've really been conscious of this particular question the last couple of weeks because this Friday, August 12, will be Lucy's 7th birthday.

Seven!

How can it be I have loved this Sweet Girl for seven whole years?

It seems I've loved her always.

How can it be that I have loved this Dear Dog for only seven years?

It's gone much too fast.

Today I was at my desk for most of the day working on some tedious, finicky work (yeah, the paying job). I really needed to do something loose and free. So, my favourite subject – always ready to pose – gave me my inspiration.

These are a couple blind contour drawings. For those who may not know, a blind contour is made by following along the contour of the subject with your eyes, but without looking at what you're drawing. They usually come out very loose, free and whimsical.

And these are also full of love.

MAC – Day 7

Day 7!

My LOVE reminded me yesterday that the purpose of my MAC isn't to create an incredible piece of art everyday. Just MAKE ART.

So today I was playing around. I mean, really just playing around. I worked with a few pieces but this one was the one that looked far enough along to post. I have been trying to get more comfortable working with multiple colours on a loaded brush, and I'm enjoying it! I have no idea why these colours seem to be recurring... hmmm.

MAC – Day 6

Ok, so today was just SOOOO damn nice out, it was hard to hunker down to some art.

So I decided to offer some photo art, in honour of one of my favourite women, ever – Lucille Ball.

This weekend is the 100th anniversary of Lucy's birthday. She holds such a special place in my heart – I loved her as a child and I still do today. She really paved the way for all funny women to come after her. Sheer comic brilliance, I think.

As much as I love Lucille Ball, I must admit there is another Lucy that holds an even dearer place in my heart. My sweet dog, Lucy. And so, she is today's art. We went to Crab Park this afternoon so Lucy could swim, it was such a beautiful summer day! I love the way Lucy's fur goes all wavy and swirly after she swims. So today, in honour of my beloved human Lucy, my canine Lucy is a redhead too.

MAC – Day 5

What a beautiful summer day, I hope you got outside to enjoy it!

My day started with watching the Pinoy Fiesta, the Filipino Cultural Street parade. It went right past our building and was very boisterous and the COLOURS! Wow.

Today I played around with some oil pastels. I don't have a lot of experience with them so it was a good exercise in just experimenting around with a different media. Oh, and that colourful parade was a great inspiration!

Day 4 of MAC!

Are you ready for the weekend? Judging by what I worked on today, I would say I am!

I salvaged these 2 little pieces that had been hanging around the studio. They were fun to do and I think they exude a happy feeling. Maybe I've been inspired by the fact that the Fireworks have been on this week in Vancouver. Anyway, I do love working with patterns (as you may have noted in yesterday's doodle), and the colour palette is uplifting.

Yup. Makes me happy. Hello weekend!

Day 3 of MAC!

Yay! It finally feels like summer! Of course today I was stuck at my desk for most of the day (doing that other, paying job), so good and bad I suppose.

I did this doodle whilst sitting on our sunny balcony sipping a Corona.... yay for cold beer with lime! I had been admiring my FIRE ENGINE RED! geraniums – which have been enjoying this cooler summer we've been having – I haven't killed them yet!

My doodle doesn't look ANYTHING like geraniums but what the hell – they inspired me and – it's a doodle!

Oh, and the helicopter? Yeah. That. That is the helicopter that was circling my building ENDLESSLY last night before the fireworks. I could almost count the pilot's whiskers. Almost.