I’ve continued to add new work to the abstract florals collection and I’m slowly getting these pieces added to my print on demand sites so these works are available on a variety of items.
Please visit the Abstract Florals page to see the whole collection, or check out the links in the Shop section of the sidebar to visit my collections on RedBubble, Society6 or Le Galeriste.
This is a fun digital pattern, available in two colour-ways, on a variety of housewares, clothing, framed prints and even pet products.
Available from RedBubble, Society6, and Fine Art America.
More fun with digital art apps. The inspiration is the many artists I follow on Instagram who do this with real paint and canvas and make it look so easy. I’m learning, but I’m also frugal, so I hate painting irl and having it come out crap and wasting materials. This is much more satisfying… and cheaper.
Clearly I like the ruler thingie that allows me to make straight lines.
See what happens when I just paint freehand?
I’ve been playing with a bunch of art apps on my tablet, as well as in Paint Shop. This series started with the orange and yellow lilies that I did as a card for my Grandmother’s birthday. Then I just kept going.
Every piece is done with the same digital “sketch” brush/tool, so it’s similar to working with real paint and a palette knife.
These are meant to be loose and abstract. I’m very happy with them, and I’ve got a whole list of others flowers to add. I may upload them to the POD sites as prints or maybe notebooks or greeting cards, since that was the original intention with the first piece.
Is this thing on? Anybody still here?
It’s been a while, huh? How about that pandemic? That sure was something…
Anyway, like many people, over the past three years, I’ve seen my share of ups and down. Lots of downs. But so far, 2023 has been pretty decent, and things are looking up.
So this site has gotten a bit of an overhaul to better reflect what I’m doing now. I’m still writing – I’ve just started my fourth book, a mystery (hopefully a series) loosely inspired by a Toronto musician from the 30s and 40s.
I started making wacky jewelry pieces that probably nobody but me will ever want to wear, but I think they’re amazing. Some of these items are available on Etsy if you’re also the kind of person who enjoys rocking an outrageous statement necklace.
I also started making art of various types, including paintings and sketches but mostly digital art which I get the biggest kick out of seeing come to life on some garment or usable object.
All of which is to say that regular readers (all eight or so of you…) can expect to see more art and writing, and less food-related stuff. I’m not sure yet. I’ll see how it goes.
The Hiding Game
Naomi Woods
That first year at university, college or art school, when young people leave home for the first time and form new relationships with the world around them can become the framework for the rest of their lives. Thus begins Paul Beckermann’s journey through the Bauhaus school. It is 1922 and he and the other Bauhaus babies treat the town of Weimar and the surrounding forests like their playground. A quickly formed group of six offers up love triangles and jealousies. Paul loves Charlotte, Charlotte loves Jeno, Walter loves Jeno…
Told from Paul’s point of view decades later, he’s moved to England and is now Paul Brickman, famous abstract artist, The Hiding Game traces the life of the six friends and the Bauhaus school as it moves from Weimar to Dessau and finally Berlin, each time being pushed out by conservative (fascist) forces that dislike what the place stands for. Continue reading “Book Review — The Hiding Game”
Girl In a Band
Kim Gordon
The most refreshing part of Girl In a Band is that Kim Gordon is a really great writer. Not that I’m surprised by that – she’s written pieces for a variety of publications over the years – but so many rock star autobiographies are stilted, repetitive and trashy. Gordon approaches the story of her life as a grand piece of art, with different elements, mediums and characters, that are all explored, and related to the audience, with sensitivity and care. (Okay, there’s a bit of trash talk about Courtney Love that seems as if Gordon gave in to an editor insisting that she share the dirt, but for the most part, that’s the only point where there’s mud flying.)
As a California girl from the late 60s, Gordon is no stranger to gender stereotypes and misogyny. While the title comes from the oft-asked question from media “what’s it like being… a girl in a band”, the bassist seems to not have experienced much sexism from bandmates and peers (or at least none that she’s related), although her experiences growing up with a schizophrenic brother often left her feeling that she had to take on the traditional female roles of being docile and supportive within her family. Add to that the spectre of Charles Manson, who Gordon references on multiple occasions throughout the book, and you can see how she entered adulthood with lots of questions about her identity and her role in the world.
While people will know Gordon first and foremost as a member of Sonic Youth, and the (ex)wife of bandmate Thurston Moore, music is just one of her talents – she admits it wasn’t on her radar as a career until she met Moore. Gordon is also an artist, fashion designer, writer and actress. Much of Girl In a Band explores Gordon’s other projects, touching on relationships forged in the art, fashion, and music worlds. In any other book, this would seem like name-dropping but in Gordon’s case, it’s just factual, and allows her to give props to the creative talents around her.
Most of the people I know who have come out of alternative music scenes also tend to have an alternative sense of style. They work really hard to ensure they look unique, avoiding the mall or mainstream stores, as well as specific sub-culture clichés, in order to rock a look that is all their own. They usually do this by shopping from small artisans making one-of-a-kind goods.
Recently we had the opportunity to attend two events here in Toronto that celebrate indie artisans; The Wearable Art Show is a small annual, curated event that features designers and makers of clothing, jewelry and accessories. The Bazaar of the Bizarre occurs in Toronto 3 times a year, and bills itself as a “marketplace for all things different, interesting and macabre…”
While each event attracts a different audience, we found goodies at both that might appeal to anyone looking for some unique pieces to incorporate into a more daring or offbeat wardrobe.
Alright hipsters, enough is enough. I don’t care if it’s art. I don’t care if it’s all adorably cute… y’all really need to stop with the crocheting/knitting of unnecessary items and find a new hobby.
I get it. When you first learn a craft, especially a yarn craft, you’re so excited to make things that you soon have a plethora of scarves, mittens and sweaters. And probably blankets. More than you could ever need. And after you’ve gifted everyone you know with knitted goods, after you’ve yarn-bombed entire parks (for the love of all that is holy, people, stop putting sweaters on trees!), and you still just can’t stop knitting, even though every stitch sends a burning twitch up your arm because you’ve given yourself carpal tunnel syndrome… you think to yourself, why not? Why NOT crochet shorts for men? Or an entire kitchen? Or massive food-shaped headgear? Look at you, you’re like a twee hipster version of Madame DuFarge.
Continue reading “Step Away From the Yarn! I Repeat, Step Away From the Yarn!”
