Purple Pony Art Blog

On the Beach

2009-07-01T04:08:51Z

There's no better movie to assemble cards by than On the Beach starring Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner. It's a rather atypical movie about the end of the world after World War III - there's not much action or mutant zombies - but lots of angst and unfulfilled passions. It clocks in at just over 2 hours, which seems long for a 1959 movie. It was good anyway, despite the bittersweet ending.

I'm going to be at the Thorncliffe Greenview farmer's market on Saturday from 10-3 at 5600 Centre Street North. I have never been to this venue before, so I'm excited to see what it's like. I'm not sure if it's indoors and outdoors, but at the very least there's going to be Stampede festivities! I can never say no to free pancakes :-)

No more pencils, no more books!

2009-06-24T02:38:18Z

No matter how old you are, there's nothing like the liberation of the last day of school, especially if it's a perfect summer day. The sun and wind greet you, inviting you to romp in the grass and run far, far away from the school house. I popped by Michaels on my way home and bought a little gift to celebrate before stopping off at our neighbours' to feed their cats.

Despite what has been written about Andrew on RateMyProfessor, he's a darn good teacher and there were no surprises on the test. He was nice enough to give us four of the three possible essay questions and picked easy images. I'm going "doh!" over forgetting that Matisse was a Fauvist - he was the only one we studied so I forgot about that. But I did get the other right and I'm glad I decided not to change one of my answers after all.

Ah, sweet summer, I can finally enjoy thee! Actually I have a lot of work to do. I'm going to be at the opening of the Thorncliff Greenview Flea Market on July 4th, which includes Stampede festivities. I have a lot of new inventory to make!

Modern art, I get it now!

2009-06-17T04:15:46Z

The trouble with living in the future is that one can't fully appreciate the past - we're too sophisticated, too informed and too accepting now. It's easy to shrug and say "This art is crap!" but a lot of modern art, at the time it was created, was amazingly new and different. We've had about a hundred years of psychoanalysis, for example, but a hundred years ago it was amazingly revolutionary. As artists broke away from conventional art styles (or, like Salvador Dali, used them to display his bizarre imagery), each step was shocking in ways an audience these days can't appreciate. Jackson Pollack, for example, was hailed for his displays of individuality in a time when Communism seemed a threat. I try to put myself in the place of a viewer from the past, but the excitement and wonder just isn't the same.

Just one more lecture class and then the final. Our essays are handed back on Thursday. We've steamrolled through so many "isms" - Orphism, Expressionism, Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, Surrealism - that I feel like I'm going to come down with some sort of "ism" myself!

Drawing Day 2009

2009-06-07T00:09:55Z

Well, aren't I a Posty McPosteron today :-) I found out about Drawing Day 2009 yesterday and managed to get it done in time.

June 6, 2009 ::: Oil Pastel ::: 10x11"

Paisley Peacock ACEO

2009-06-06T16:07:42Z

Another Mission 101 thing done! He's also for sale on Etsy. Click for larger.

June 6, 2009 ::: Prismacolor Marker ::: 2.5x3.5"

Freaky Friday!

2009-05-29T23:19:31Z

Back in HUMN 124 we studied an essay by Stephen Jay Gould about the morality of nature. Darwin era thinkers were appalled that insects displayed such barbarism towards other insects. If you can stomach it, here's a bunch more parasitic critters. I managed to make it to the bottom :-D

The Sleeping Prince

2009-05-28T03:11:59Z

I'm as content as this peaceful young buck - I finished my research paper on Franz Marc and it's ready to be handed in. I wish I didn't have to hand it in early; another weekend to write would have been nice. There were all sorts of little errors to fix and I hope I caught them all. A book I had on hold from the public library didn't come in on time, and it probably would have helped things a lot. I'm pretty eager to read it anyway. I really identify with Marc's romantic and passionate nature, even if his visions of a new Europe were shortsighted. It's hard to believe that at the turn of the 20th century that people such as himself were disgusted by cities and longed for a more pastoral time. I think I would have taken 1909 Munich over 2009 Calgary sometimes ;-)

Goal Oriented Gardening?

2009-05-24T23:33:47Z

I have proof that spring is here! We went to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and it was wonderful. I'll be uploading pictures soon - we heard more birds than what we saw, and we did see a pair of deer :-)

I tackled my garden for the first time this year today. There's so much to do, I didn't know where to begin, so I started with my wild rose bushes, which I love and hate. Wild roses are Alberta's provincial flower, but mine are just too determined. One has tried to come up through the sidewalk and split a sandstone rock. The other just takes over where it can. It's hard to keep on top of. In the corner flower bed, everything is duking it out for space. I should have pulled up the parasitic windflower when I first spotted it years ago. On the other hand, it's easier to let Mother Nature try to be the gardener - it's hard to win with such wild flora. Maybe next time I'll tackle the dandelions and then cut down the old wild flax as well.

Five Things I Bought Today

2009-05-23T02:47:52Z

I really like a local scrapbooking store because their inventory is always changing and they have things that Michaels doesn't have, like exotic paper and intriguing tools. Plus membership entitles me to 10% off - but today I got an extra special 30% off for renewing my membership. At first I thought it was just off one item, but when I found out it was off of everything, I sailed around the store again and picked up...

A few American Craft Memory Markers in horsey colours. I certainly don't need any more markers, but sometimes you just don't want the same old browns!

A "design ruler" by Tim Holtz that's clear plastic with a grid on it. There's also evenly spaced holes for paper punching. Here's a video of it in action.

A jar of some fancy glue. Apparently it's like Modge Podge but without the long lasting tackiness. Decoupage swans here I come!

A nifty little prong thing by Pebbles Inc. You press down at the top and a three pronged grasping hand pops out. This would have been really useful in my metal working class, instead of using the third arm and a pair of tweezers. Mind you, it would have to be made out of titanium!

Two dies by Spellbinders. I really love their styles - they're reusable and not too cutesy poo, and most of them can be used in three ways - stencilling, embossing and diecutting. I don't see mine on their website though.

I have a 40% off coupon for Michaels that can be used tomorrow. I'm awfully tempted to get a Darice craft vacuum! It separates out dust from the itty bitty stuff spilled all over the carpet :-)

Papercraft Unicorn Birthday Card

2009-05-18T13:55:06Z

One of my Mission 101 goals is to practice papercutting more. It's a hard goal to quantify though as not every picture or idea is good for the technique. This one was, and it was my first time using handmade paper. Oooh...it cuts like butter and is much like fabric.

Paper ::: 5.5x8.5" ::: May 16, 2009

Turkish Tea Glass

2009-05-11T02:15:57Z

I don't always post as much photography here as I should, but enjoy one of the six Turkish tea glasses my dear husband bought for me :-) As always, click for larger.

Don't giggle when I say Poetess Ono-No

2009-05-09T13:59:00Z

I was really surprised by how much of my second class was made up of Japanese art. One thing that people forget is that art doesn't occur in a vacuum. When the first Japanese prints were exhibited at the Crystal Palace in London in 1851, it ushered in the era of modernity and Western artists began to borrow Eastern elements depicting time and space. Similarly, Japanese artists gave perspective a shot as well as shadows and value. It was such a fascinating class - the differences are obvious, but sometimes one doesn't know until someone tells you!

Just going over a bunch of journal articles on Franz Marc that I printed out. Thank goodness the ACAD library can be accessed from home :-) I really feel that he's an under-appreciated artist and unlike other artists of his time, he has few massive tomes devoted to him. I'm researching Fate of the Animals because it is the one that I can find the most references for. It's just not that he painted horses, but I'm touched by how he used colour to render them as well. There's an intense spirituality to his paintings as well, and as I'm discovering while researching, he had visions of an apocalypse. I was shocked to find out that he volunteered for service in WWI - where he was killed - literally greeting catastrophe head on.

Me, My Mess, and My Model Horses!

2009-05-07T03:44:05Z

I'm having almost too much fun making movies now. Here's one from a few weeks ago as I aim to clean up my downstairs work area. I'm hoping that organized will equal productivity, especially as I have a contest deadline coming up. Eek!

Back to school!

2009-05-05T23:55:23Z

I was a woeful ball of nerves today until I actually got to class. I was walking around in pointless circles trying to remember if I had forgotten anything, and then even catching the train caused some anxiety. As Calgary Transit is a relatively poor system of public transportation, I just couldn't trust that it would get me there in time. I work just down the road from the art college, but on Tuesday mornings I'm on the opposite side of the city.

I think I'm going to like this class! There is only one assignment, a research paper, and there were lots of good topics to choose from, but I think I'll take "Option 2" and pick a painting to write about. I could pick a Eugene Delacroix or a Franz Marc - they render horses so lovingly :-)

One of the reasons I'm so enthusiastic about this class is that I think it will answer a personal question for me - "How the heck did we get here?" Modernity spans 1851-1933, or perhaps even 1945. Although there really hasn't been a time when humans have not been under stress, this period was particularly stressful due to industrialization, war, political changes and changes to the social fabric. It's going to be a fascinating journey!

Five Craft Room Ideas

2009-05-01T12:35:23Z

I have been neglecting my Friday Fives! As I spend every spare minute tidying up the basement work area, I hope that orginization will equal productivity. As I toss, recycle and sort, I'm looking for new ways to organize things, especially the itty bitty pieces.

Better Homes & Gardens has tons of slideshows of craft rooms, but they also have annoying ads that pop up every second slide. It's almost worth it for the ingenious ideas - here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. Their quiz also confirms I'm a piler, not a filer.

Speaking of itty bitty storage, I need to start liking Altoids as Design*Sponge's Altoid Tin message board seems like a perfect solution.

Now, I have a lot of paper and I thought about buying a new paper tower, but this solution is much more thrifty. I actually have a set of grid cubes like this, and zip tied them together in the past to make a display.

LJ has it's own yourcraftroom, although it looks like it could use a boost!

And lastly, when everything is spic and span, I'll post some pictures to the Craft Room Flickr Pool.

This makes me angry

2009-04-30T23:27:54Z

Unfortunately for feral horses in Alberta and British Columbia, someone is out to get them, and have been since at least the 1970s. Every year there are a few stories of horses found dead and this latest shooting where a stallion, yearling and pregnant mare were shot, is just absolutely sickening. Fortunately for the horses, they do have a voice with the Wild Horses of Alberta Society. Maybe next year I can donate something if they have an auction again.

Presenting: My Hobby Room

2009-04-22T03:33:08Z

Enjoy this little slice of my life!

Are You a Dreamer or a Doer?

2009-04-21T04:01:34Z

You Are a Dreamer

You are primarily concerned with possibilities. You tend to be a fanciful person.
All of the world's opportunities sometimes overwhelm you.

You are obsessed with ideas and tend to be a big thinker. Theories interest you greatly.
You crave intellectual stimulation. You are drawn to a philosophical way of life.

Are You a Dreamer or a Doer?

Happy Easter! Happy Spring!

2009-04-12T18:27:48Z

I went walking this morning after Easter services and it seems spring is most definitely here. There's a little green in the irises, the birds are working double time it seems, and the last of the snow is gone. Winter, I banish thee!

I don't have any Easter art, which I should, but I'll share this whimsical entry for the ArtFire ACEO Guild's monthly contest - "April showers bring May flowers". I think I achieved the childish and whimsical look I wanted.

2.5x3.5" ::: Marker ::: April 12, 2009

Foiled by Fowls (x-posted)

2009-04-12T04:37:32Z

Today my camera and I went for a walk up to the creek in hopes of finding some photogenic specimens. The creek's banks are relatively unsafe, so I positioned myself on the bridge. The bridge was the site of a shoulda coulda woulda moment a few years ago. It was duck stamp perfect - a male and female duck floating between snowy banks, with just enough grass sticking through to mark the coming of spring. Argh!

I was just about to move on when I saw a drake riding the swift current from the north, and then I realized his mate was just underneath the bridge.

This is the only shot of the female that I was able to get. Great camouflage, eh? She was so close and apparently too close for another male's liking. He shot out of nowhere and practically landed on her tail! She and her mate took to the sky and several times they tried to land in the same general area, but this male was not going to have any of that! It was absolutely thrilling as they flew over me :-) Maybe I'll have better luck next time. This is her mate below. I was able to get three pictures of him before the second male came back around. I didn't know ducks were that territorial.

TRIM - Toss & Recycle Information Management

2009-04-10T22:34:18Z

Cleaning up the hobby room is on my Mission 101 list, and while there's a few bits here and there that need to be fixed up, it's mostly done. I found the energy to do this from mrs_dragon and a rather unlikely source - a records management luncheon I attended this week.

The presenter was from a major oil and gas company. She and her team organized a "TRIM Day" for the entire company. No meetings were scheduled, and t-shirts and prizes were printed to make it fun. Apparently I have a lot in common with geologists and engineers - stuff everywhere! The RM team helped their co-workers by running shredding and recycling carts around, as well as helping them determine if something was important or not. It's easy to organize something - but only the document holder can tell if it's vital. The results were staggering - 9 offices were freed, 70,000lbs of material was recycled and about $81,000 in office furniture was reused or repurposed. I'm sure they found lots of pens and staplers along the way.

For one person, just attacking one office, I think my results were pretty good! I hauled 5 cubic feet of material to the recycling station, reclaimed two Rubbermaid totes, 5 box files and got a good start on a box for the Salvation Army. And best of all, I found something very precious to me that I had lost - a vintage wallet full of ACEOs. I can't tell you how much it means to have this back!

Byhand.me

2009-04-08T02:18:04Z

I've been noodling around with a site called Byhand.me, which I found through my ACEtsy. It's kind of a handmade craft aggregator. You can add RSS feeds to your profile, post blogs, follow on Twitter and create "spotlights" which are similary to Etsy's Treasuries. Spotlights can be created by anyone at any time, and by using the product IDs from any site. I love that ingenuity :-) Here's a spotlight of my favourite greeting cards:

The Etsy Fee Calculator

2009-04-04T12:28:19Z

Well if you're a little mathematically challenged like myself, you'll definitely appreciate the Etsy Fee Calculator. You can easily adjust the numbers for other sites such as eBay as well, although the calculator seems to need a browser refresh after changing each percentage (a recalculate button would be nice :-))

Oh happy mail days!

2009-04-03T02:44:59Z

Yesterday I received the sketchbook for The 100 Artists Project, which raises money for creative endeavours. I participated in the first book, submitting a playful pony character. However, I feel this is my first real mail art thing! The sketchbook is lovely and filled with wonderful art and I'm so proud my drawing can be among them.

Today I popped open a tube filled with paper from my friend Scott. Oh, it is wonderful, Y'all can't know what heights of excitement paper can send me too. The papers are all handmade, and interestingly enough, they are as soft and supple as fabric. It will be a lot easier to cut with than cardstock, that's for sure. I can't get too precious about this paper, I must use it instead of hoarding it.

The cold front is coming in again, we'll probably get a little snow overnight. My budgie, Mr. Jill, spotted a robin in the flowerbed, although I only saw it when it flew away. Should have listened to the little bird brain earlier - he feels it's his job to tell me what's outside :-)

So how 'bout that first quarter?

2009-04-02T00:04:38Z

At work we have an inspirational calendar with the usual cliched photos of mountains to climb, beaches to aspire to, etc. If I recall right, January was the month of courage and March was the month of performance. Here's how my Mission 101 list is coming along!

1. Take 14 or more hours of driving lessons.
~~2. Finish painting "Masks".~~
3. Create self-portrait.
4. Create at least five figure drawings.
5. Create set of 9 QH ACEOs.
6. Design pansy stationary.
7. Create and list a digital download of a pansy box.
8. Try to take one Sunday a month for batch cooking.
9. Organize the closet in my hobby room.
10. Organize my downstairs art space.
11. Clean the basement, so I can actually use the Dremel again.
12. Put up last shelf in laundry area.
13. Use Outlook daily to manage my time.
14. Become better at meal planning.
15. Try to go swimming at least once a month.
~~16. Finish watching Hetty Wainthrop Investigates.~~
17. Make at least one trip to Edmonton.
18. Write a weekly email to my friend Shiela.
19. Update my brochure for 2009.
20. Re-design calednars for 2009.
21. Create a picture based on St. Hubert.
22. Give making Scrabble tile pendants a try.
23. Make clay bases for painting.
24. Paint the clay bases :-).
25. Make another clay relief sculpture.
~~26. Make a budget for 2009.~~
27. Make a budget for 2010.
28. See a financial planner about the tax free RRSP.
29. Visit Lethbridge again.
30. Carve a unicorn rubber stamp.
31. Create a landscape drawing for my college portfolio.
32. Take the one non-studio class I need to finish first year extended studies.
33. Apply to ACAD.
~~34. Finish Mrs. Dragon's magnet and sticker sample.~~
35. Stop eating carbs after 7pm.
36. Donate $12 to Greenpeace every month.
37. Send "unwrapped" charity gifts in 2009.
38. Send "unwrapped" charity gifts in 2010.
39. Prep four more pictures for online greeting cards.
40. Design a new display for 2009 sales.
41. Try 5 recipes from the Low GI Cookbook one :::.
42. Try 5 recipes from the Christian Home Cookbook (two so far).
43. Finish pink knitted bag.
44. List two things to Etsy every month.
45. Figure out how to feed LiveJournal to Blogger.
46. Give paper twilling a shot.
47. Practice paper cutting more.
~~48. Play Fallout and Fallout 2.~~
49. Play Lionheart.
50. Go to Las Vegas with our good friends.
51. Take Mom to an art class in 2009.
52. Take Mom to an art class in 2010.
53. Make Sunday truly a day of rest.
54. Create a list of books I want to read.
55. Go the zoo once a season.
56. Go to the bird sanctuary at least once in spring and once in summer.
57. Create a list of craft sales for 2009.
~~58. Archive a list of 2008 craft sales.~~
59. Update my website and Facebook page once a month.
60. Keep a sketchbook at work.
61. Make something cool with my Dremel.
~~62. Acquire all the Marvy Uchida circle punches.~~
63. Finish cockatoo picture.
64. Make a run of 10 black and red robin cards.
~~65. Create blue jay ACEO.~~
66. Make peacock ACEO.
67. Create purple chameleon necklace.
68. Attend at least one model horse show.
69. Finish pastelling model horse.
70. Snail mail Grell his badge.
~~71. Buy a colour laser printer.~~ This happened waaay sooner than I expected!
72. Create a perspective drawing.
73. Participate in Illustration Friday once a month.
74. Create prototype ACEO wallets.
~~75. Participate in Thing A Day 2009.~~
76. Participate in Thing A Day 2010.
77. Try to go to 2 First Thursday events by 2011.
78. Create a bookstore on my website.
79. Do something with my paper stash, ala Jenn Stark or like this.
80. Submit a pattern to Loom Knitters Circle.
81. Post the French instructions to my Knifty Knitter Glove.
~~82. Finish six pairs of red and purple slippers for friend by April 2009.~~
83. Finish designing my horse cross-stitch pamphlet.
84. Get another Benno unit from Ikea.
85. Think more positively.
86. Expect less from others (then I won't be so disappointed).
87. Become a better penpal.
88. Plant something new each year in the garden.
89. Re-caulk the patio doors.
90. Meditate nightly.
91. Design upcycled items or crafts from reusable items.
92. Learn how to use resin.
93. Make design templates...so I'm not making them a couple months before craft sales.
94. Use Outlook to keep track of tasks.
95. Say no to information overload!
96. Say no to more requests that I can't handle - and know that someone else out there will do it.
~~97. Get a library card for my mentee - I mentor a teenage girl :-)~~
98. I feel I am a good listener, but I'm feeling that I could be listening better.
99. Don't sweat the small stuff.
100. Contact Coleman and see if a replacement part can be had for the broken lamp.
101. Get a driver's licence.