Lots of getting-ready time

It's not that I haven't been enjoying the slower months of winter. But this is usually my most productive time when it comes to making art, and I feel as though I've been squandering my time elsewhere. Dim Sum outings with my friend Mia at Kim Moon, followed by thrifting adventures at Courage My Love. Ramen for Valentines Day brunch at Santouka (also bought myself some pussywillows and chocolate truffles, because I asked Manny to get me something practical for the apartment instead, and I still couldn't resist). Making big batches of Borscht and madeleines, and re-reading the ever-amazing Pullman trilogy His Dark Materials (I'm on the last book!). Much walking through the park, and much painting! I thought I would post a couple of days worth of painting, below my shots of the delicious ramen. The watercolour stuff is more personal, but the illustration works I started in January is still going on, and I will be putting prints into my shop in a short while.

I almost feel as if January 1st was not my new years, that Chinese new years is more accurately the time for me to be celebrating. The reason is purely timing-wise; come March 1st there will be some new and exciting events that will propel me into a more productive and happy environment. These new things have also been the reason for my lack of presence on my blog. I want to support my Vintage shop, Siouxvenir, but there have been a couple things holding me back. This is why:

1) I actually have no internet in my apartment. Now who has the brilliant idea to launch a business online without internet?! The internet is not only an important tool for me when it comes to showing off the goods I'm trying to sell. I'm an artist, and I find image resources online extremely valuable for daily inspiration, as well as a source for imagery (for those who don't have access to live models, and are too sensible to go jetting into the freezing day sketching landscapes!).
Well running across the street to Starbucks, buying a tea and madly fitting in all my internet activities into their schedule (it actually requires quite a lot of organization!), is going the way of the dinosaur (a fitting word for folks like me). I've resolved to get internet into the apartment in March.

2) My roommate is moving out of our apartment on March 1st. We will miss him! Good news is though I will be acquiring a studio space, with ample natural light, and room for all the watercolour/sewing/vintage-selling projects I've been dreaming of and working on. I've known about this for a few months now, and am so full of anticipation just to get in there and set up a proper studio. A friend is also moving and donating lots of neat furniture. I really want to deck out my place in simple, unobtrusive yet very functional pieces of furniture that will establish an environment of few distractions.  I can't describe how ready I am to finally have a studio.

I just have so many projects I want to complete. It is an exciting time! No hibernating for me (well.... maybe just a little of that too).

Muskoka Winter Wildlings

 

A few days ago, a group of buddies and I made the trek up to Muskoka to check out the Muskoka Wildlife Centre, to see what animals were kicking around in the dead of winter. Unfortunately for us the bear was hibernating, but there were plenty of other creatures milling about. Some of the animals were a little shy (or uninterested), like the Grey Wolves and the Fox, but the Bobcat and Lynx were oh so friendly! I'm glad I've got my wild cats straightened out now, because the difference between a Cougar and  Bobcat is night in day; Cougar is horror! Knowing the difference when hiking around Northern Ontario may come in handy some day. The Bobcat & Lynx were irresistibly adorable, with their giant paws and strange house-cat faces, and I kept fantasizing about a cuddle-fest with the Bobcat (who had an eye removed from cancer, giving him a permanent *wink). Another trip is in order, perhaps this summer, when we potentially get to handle the animals.

This trip left me fantasizing about keeping some sort of wild animal as a pet, my favourites being the Bobcat & Fox (and an Owl!). Of course it is illegal to keep any native wildlife as a pet in Ontario (for good reason), but it doesn't stop their images from being incorporated into any artists' visual repertoire (including mine). I thought I'd look for photos of some prolific artists who found a wild animal enter their life, and see how they incorporate this animal bond into their art. My favourite story of artist-animal bonding is of painter Suzanne Valadon, who kept a pet goat in her studio in Montmartre, and would feed her goat with carrots that dangled from her neck like a necklace. Too bad I couldn't find any photo documentation of this! Below is a picture of Frida Kahlo with her deer, and following is Picasso with his little Owl, who flew into his studio one day in  Antibes, France. Coincidentally, both Frida's deer painting and Picasso's owl visitation happened in 1946. I can't stand how fierce Picasso's owl is looking despite that it is just a twee bundle of feathers ! It has that same intensity that Picasso himself possessed, and in the same way the fawn echoes Frida's gentle and beautiful nature.

Painting: Frida Kahlo, The Little Deer, 1946

source for Frida images: here & here 

Photos: Michel Sima, Picasso and an Owl, 1946.

source for Picasso images: here & here

Russian Headdress

      

     

Russian Patterns. Source: http://forums.thefashionspot.com/showpost.php?p=8925415&postcount=59

Welcome to 2013.

I found these scans from what appears to be either Russian Vogue or a Russian pattern magazine. I especially love the last image, with the pearls dripping down the back and the gorgeous lace bonnet. As a symbol of the new year I thought it was fitting to show some way of bringing traditional into a new era. This new year should be all about creative energy, power, celebrating traditions, and bending the rules a bit, or at least thats how I would like it to go. I keep all these things in mind as I am building my shop to offer up some goodies in the near future. Stay tuned!

Lady of the Woods: Outfit

Coat: H&M

Cashmere Scarf: Brora

Sweater: thrifted

Skirt: thrifted

Boots: Ariat

Now is the last chance to go for walks through the park without the really cold bite of winter, the weather is warmer than usual this year. Last week friends and I were walking through the park at dusk and a coyote ran past! I was almost hoping to catch sight of one while I had my camera with me this time... 

I love winter: piling on the vintage furs, the wooly sweaters, and checking out the silhouettes of dried milkpods and evergreen trees. Nature has a whole new look and so does my wardrobe. There are ways of layering that means you don't have to hide under a Canada Goose jacket all season.