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Even though the realities of social and physical distancing will continue on for many more months, we all desperately look forward to reuniting with our friends, families, relatives and colleagues. Meet Basil 🌿, a black labrador originally from Houston, Texas, USA, adopted by my brother from the Toronto Humane Society (she’s Canadian 🇨🇦 now). She has come a long way since then after spending months “learning to be a dog again”. Loud noises and men startled her, and she never barked (still doesn’t). She’s a sweetheart who loves the snowy outdoors and always looks at you with kind eyes. This painting was a personal joy for me to create as it doubled as a bithday gift for her (yeah, I painted a picture of a dog — for the dog). It is more common to use gouache paints on a wooden surface but I foregoed that as I was missing the colours I needed. So I opted for acrylics instead which made the colour mixing easier but left some thick globs and textured surfaces in some areas. Nonetheless, I am pleased how her head and facial structures, and fur texture all turned out as I was most focused on capturing her soft expression. I also like the simplicty of the composition and the exposure of the wooden panels for a rustic look. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BASIL! 🎁🌿
Dimensions: 11”x14”
Acrylic Paints on Wood Palette

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In a different light

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Progress Photo #1

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Progress Photo #5

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Progress Photo #6

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Original photo of reference

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I finally put to use the pack of Ohuhu watercolour pens that I ordered four weeks ago on Amazon. It took a long time to feel inspired enough to pick them up but as they say - better late than never. Usually at this time of the year I would be attending a handful of Blue Jay games at the Rogers Centre/Skydome or watching the team play on TV almost everyday. So I figured one way to get out of that art slump and fill that baseball void was to paint an actual blue jay. I don’t even remember the last time I drew a bird but after a few failed attempts with the watercolour brushes I think I nailed this one. The challenge was controlling the right amount of paint flowing out of the bristles to achieve the perfect opacity. One minute your using the brush to cover a large area, the next minute you are using the same brush and its tip to add fine hatching strokes. I like the textures and variation of blue tones, and the belly of the bird looks like it has volume. A white gel pen was used afterwards to add some final touches to emphasize the white areas of the feathers. I only realized then that I completely painted over the white patches of the feathers so I had to "add" in the white...oh welpz. But it's done!
Watercolour Pen and Gel Pen on 140lb Cold-Press Watercolour Paper
Dimensions: 10”x7”
Completed: April 20, 2020

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Collage of progress photos

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Progress Photo #1

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The final product.

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Ordered the Ohuhu watercolour pens from Amazon at $24.99 but they always get you with that minimum of $35 for Free Shipping...

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I referenced this photograph by Teresa Considine for my painting.

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A short stopmotion I created as an exemplar for my Grade 10 Media Arts Class. Inspired by the movie “Now You See Me”.

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On April 6, 2020 all students, school staff and educators were expected to transition to online learning for two weeks, which became another two weeks, then another two weeks. Mind you, that “transition” was given a one-week notice prior to April 6 and everyone was scrambling to make sure that all the small parts were in place, i’s were dotted and t’s were crossed. Nothing was ever expected to fall into place perfectly, anyway, and it’s been a different online learning journey for everyone. This ink line -based drawing captures “something different” for me because it reflects how much my “office space” looks now compared to before. My current desk has been around since the late 1980s when my parents used it, and I continue to use it until today because it’s still pretty solid and it has become a family keepsake. Before this office was set-up I only had my laptop and office supplies on it, now it’s transformed into a full-fledged space to virtually connect with my students. I always knew from a young age that I did not want to end up working fulltime at a desk from 9-5 but here I am! In an effort to prevent bad posture, back pain and any harm to my 20/20 eyesight, I invested in a larger computer monitor (elevated on a stand) and would occasionally substitute the office chair with a stability ball. I wanted to keep the illustration simple—and simple was what my desk and non-existent “desk life” used to be like. I enjoyed using the ruler, drafting and measuring things out into the wee hours of the night while watching “The Last Dance” on Netflix. I stuck to the .02 Pigma Macron Ink Pen because of the smaller fine lines. I had a .03 nearby ready to go but I never touched it. By no means is the perspective 100% accurate but I like the way the shelf and desk angle inwards in the photo. I also omitted a few things for the purposes of simplicity. I may add some textures and other line strokes much later down the road. As a final note, the virtual classroom will never replace the valuable and meaningful connections made in the classroom. But I hope that the work produced during this time allows all students and artists to reflect on their individual strengths and continue to find ways to become independent learners.
Black Pen and Ink on 65lb Canson Sketch Paper
Dimensions: 5.5”x8.5”
Dates: April 4 to April 6, 2020

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Progress Photo #1

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Photo reference