(After #4, cuz I'm a twit) Favourite Word #3: Calliope

Calliope:  A steam-whistle organ AND the Greek muse of eloquence & poetry!  How cool is that?  (Pronounced ka-lie-a-pee).  Next blog I'll introduce made-up words that should become facts of life.

When's the last time you had to watch out for a fast-moving island?

Bermuda-sized Island

I've mentioned this before, but SO excited about July 8 James Street North Art Crawl in Hamilton; ZOO art exhibit is happening, which includes several Sheridan Illustration alumni, including Jacqui Oakley and Dushan Milic...can't stand the wait.

ZOO Exhibit

Another Sheridan alumnist, Marco Cibola, whose work (and mentoring) I deeply appreciate:

Marco Cibola 

German director & actor Werner Herzog reads Where's Waldo?.  Seriously.  Very seriously.

Where's Werner?

On Kayla Cassivi's advice, I picked up Creative Workshop: 80 Challenges to Sharpen Your Design Skills from Chapters.  She and I are going to meet weekly to work through the challenges and absorb caffeine.  I'll let you know how we like it!

Favourite Word #3

Poo, I forgot #3.  Next post, #3 will secretly be #4, so please consider today's #4 to be in reality #3.
Isn't that nonsensical?

Favourite Word #4: Nonsensical

'Nonsensical' slips off of the tongue and has a meaning that I tend to live by most of the time, except for when I'm not, which is on occasion constant.  It's just a pretty word, dammit.

Suren Perera is an expat Australian animator who knows nothing about Canadian beer but a lot about quirky animation.  Check out some of the clips at Renmotion; especially the "Dukes of Broxstonia".  Disgustingly entertaining.  Dukes of Broxstonia

The Print Studio, Hamilton:  Where is your summer workshop info?  It's summer tomorrow.  I'd like to do a printmaking workshop, but I need to plan ahead!  Pretty please put it up?

Finding the need for more structure in my schedule; trying to fit in illustration, running, cycling, swimming, family, dawg, house, catching up with old friends.  No time for navel-gazing.  Two illustration pieces by the end of this week and lots of roughs.   

Favourite Word #2: Shenandoah

A beautiful word for a river and valley in Virginia; from the Oneida (Iroquois) word for 'deer'.  

In between working on illustrations, I run.  In between illustrating and running, I go for coffee with pals.  (I hate coffee, but I love my pals).  I've just signed up for the Niagara Running Series' Run for the Grapes Half Marathon in September, a picturesque, smooth run through wine country.  Dare I sign up for a full marathon?  The Hamilton Road2Hope Marathon in November has my eye; it's scenic and fast, including a run down the Red Hill Expressway on the Niagara Escarpment.  Am I brave enough?

Working on an illustration for 'Cook and Draw' a website where you can submit illustrated recipes; a great visual and culinary resource!  Yum.

Favourite Word #1: Nightingale

There are single words that I like the sound of, the meaning of and the feel of on my lips.  I'm going to throw them out there randomly, no particular hierarchy.  What are your favourites? 

To follow up on my last blog, I received Robin Clugston's book Adventures in Nutrition from Blurb pronto-quick: it's  fun to look at and read, and makes me hungry at the same time.  And thanks for the ideas for flowers to include in my going-to-be-book!  I'm going to use them all!

James Street North Art Crawl is tonight in downtown Hamilton.  Music, galleries, studios, coffee shops; just a few of my favourite things. 

James Street North Art Crawl

The Hamilton Print Studio is holding a lottery to raise money for art programs for high-needs schools in Hamilton; 100 works of art have been donated, and tickets are being sold to win one of these pieces in a lottery.  Great idea, great cause!  Consider donating a piece of art in the future if you can't manage the price of a ticket!

The Print Studio Art Lottery

There isn't enough digital content in my work for me to enter, but for those of you out there with a creative bent and a way with a mouse, the Adobe Design Achievement Awards is accepting submissions: 

Adobe Awards

Alex Holton, a family friend who came close to losing his life when he experienced an aortic dissection five years ago, and his girlfriend Vanessa Parlette are cycling across Canada to raise funds for Cardiac Health.  They're in the Rocky Mountains at the moment, and their blog is a great read.  I'll be following them all the way:

Alex & Vanessa Cross-Canada

Back to work; I have a bottle of Dr. Ph. Martin's Bombay Sepia ink and a pen and nib staring balefully at me.