Mess ups and Macarons

one flower.

I cannot believe that it's been almost two and half years since I set my mind back to my journals and really started to explore and develop an illustrative style.  It has been an excellent journey up to this point, and I feel that my pen and pencil now speak with a distinct Rhya style... it's all very exciting!  That being said, I realize that there is still a long road ahead of me, as I work towards perfecting the translation of the thoughts and characters that frolic through my brain onto paper...or whatever medium they tumble on to. 

Bliss' birthday card.

I make many mistakes...and I am queen of erasing.  But it's usually from the mistakes that I stumble onto different ideas and or realize how I can make my next image stronger.  For example, tonight I made a hand drawn card from my friend Bliss and I am almost happy with the results.  My big error was that I didn't do a preliminary sketch (something I usually do) and thus there are elements on the card that I wish I could go back and change.  I tend to go a little over board with my work, I am always adding another little detail here and there, yet I think I much prefer my minimal work.  Anyhoo...I thought i would post this card up, with some close ups of some of the things I am not 100% satisfied with. Taking a critical eye to your work is always a good exercise...though I try to keep my eye constructive and positive! It helps you understand why you do things and I think it leads to you developing and defining your own process and style.   

Here is where I think i really ran off the rails.  I wanted there to be some colour under my little character...but I should have tested my materials a bit more, as I am not satisfied with the pencil crayon on this paper.  Also, my little character could be higher on the page to help with balance.

Though I really love this style of text and the balloon, I think my scale and spacing was off.  It's not really displayed here, but the 'Happy Day' could be moved down into the space below the balloon.  But I do look forward to do more text like this!

On a totally unrelated note...i have gotten obsessed with trying to perfect the art of macaron making.  I even started a 'macaron' journal! I will get some pics of it at some point.  The photo above is from batch #7, where I got brave enough to add food colouring!  The ultimate goal is to get good enough at making these so I can have them at my wedding....dreams...I have them!

The First of September's Pages.

Autumn. The oranges and yellows started me thinking all about the fall.  It will be here so soon!

These are the first of my September journal pages.  One is made up from things Jessica sent me in the mail and the other is really all about a memory of Kyle and i floating over the lakes in Algonquin...a memory i am going to savor all year long.

Kyle and i floating along.

August's incoming mail.

a lovely letter arrived from jaime on this beautiful stationery!

My August was full of sunshine, moody storms and lots of wonderful letters in my mailbox.  Sometimes I find it hard to keep up with posting all that comes through...and sometimes I want to keep my letters secret.  But now it's time to share! Above and below are photos of letter fragments from these most talented and lovely people: Jaime, Clare, Lindsay, Heather and Jessica! 

Clare sent me a thick package of many many treats! This one really caught my eye. It's like the dead centre of summer caught on paper forever! I am going to keep it close to my desk all through the cold months.

Heather knows me well. Yes, I am a huge Elvis fan...it's true.  She also sent me the most curious lamp...made out of a badminton birdie! It's designed and made by Kiel Mead.  Check out the site, there are tons of interesting things...i am also kind of in love with their heartsmith ring! My brother is a major badminton player. I can't wait to show this to him!

What can i say about this...a post card with the letter R and a Rainbow.  Pretty much the best thing ever! Thanks Jessica!

I love all the blues mixing together here on the back of Jessica's postcard.  There was also a special surprise hidden underneath the ocean of tape and paper.

Lindsay sent me these beautiful hang tags with Jack Layton's words hand written on them, to help spread around the city.

My 6x8 Piece.

The finished piece...untitled for now.

Back in the early days of summer, i ran into my friend Petra at the Paper Place (one of my favourite shops here in toronto). We got to talking about making things and I explained how I was really getting into working with paper again and she recommended I enter the 6x8 Exhibition. The deal with this show is the Paper Place supplies you with one 6x8 piece of Etchu Hagaki 300g kozo paper and from there it's up to you to make something out of it. 

Detail of Wolfy Face.

I just put the finishing touches on my piece tonight, and will be handing it over tomorrow! I decided to build up from the paper, using it as my base and background.  I am fairly happy with the final results, though next time I might go a little more minimal.  Cutting out all the flower details was really time consuming, but very satisfying...but again I still need to work on my technique.  On the whole this was a great project.  I got to try a more detailed diorama and explore a whole new world of papers (all found on the shelves of the paper place!).  I can't wait to see what the other artists did, I saw one sneak peek here!

The grasslands.

Waiting on the night.

Eastbound.

before ink.

i love the pencil lines...but they didn't read as well from a far...but i may start working more in this medium.

More process work.

two of these little guys didn't make it into the piece...they will probably end up in an envelope or my journal.

Journal Pages

hibernation.

August is almost closed for business, that is alright I guess.  This month has been good, full of woods and fields, trees and wide horizons, not much more a girl can ask for.  I think I have knitted enough branches together in my mind to last me through the coming winter.  I even buried a bit of my heart in a backyard forest north north of a tiny home beside the highway, it will rest there till next spring.  Now it's time for sleep.

a love cluster.

algonquin on the horizon.

Letters in the Mail...

envelopes fluttering.

small batch of letters going out in the post today. i love making these little packages, little envelopes within envelopes.  secrets on soft paper traveling through the air.  i am also working on finishing up some projects (a couple mobiles for friends and their new little babies...very excited for them), and a paper piece for the Paper Place show.  Summer is still burning, and I love every second of it.  I can't get enough of these warm blue skies and sweater-less mornings, I wish I could jar them and store them in the cupboard for use on a cold winters day.  Maybe I need to make some envelope dioramas all about summer...

Quiet secrets

Letters in pencil.

Writer's block.

Quiet North

Life in the foothills, behind the highway.

Sneak Peek - Kid Icarus Collaboration

photo courtesy of the most excellent Kid Icarus

So here is a quick sneak peek at the project i have been hinting at for the last while.  I have been working with Kid Icarus, an amazing Toronto based shop that deals and creates quality handmade goods, to create a line of six greeting cards from some of my illustrations that developed out of all my journal work.  The cards will be available via Kid Icarus, and I think a couple may even be on display at their booth this weekend at the Bloorcourt Arts and Craft Festival! I am so excited about the cards, it's totally awesome to see them coming together and to see my woodland illustrations finding a life somewhere outside my sketch book. I can wait to share all six designs, but until then check out more of the sneak peek shots here!

Back from Algonquin

Kye and I took off for a quick trip up to Algonquin this weekend. We did our first ever portaging trip.  We covered four lakes all together and camped on two different camp sites.  It was out of this world beautiful! Photos to follow soon.  Now it's back to work and city life.  I am working on oodles of letters to send out, some special baby projects for friends and hopefully some greeting cards! Stay tuned...also I can't wait to share some of the beautiful envelopes that have graced my mail box this week!

Mail Art Summer...

A lovely party invite from Kye!

Summer has been a mess of sunshine and goodness, and i have been finding it hard to stay indoors.  That combined with the fact that i keep forgetting my camera at work has put me a little behind on updating my blog with all the wonders that I have piled up in my mailbox. 

I received four beautiful packages all full of lovely things from a group of awesome ladies all over the globe. I've been meaning to document the beautiful cards from Jessica, the colourful paper presents from Jeannine, the envelope of treasures from Kye, and the pocket full of stars from Lindsay for a couple weeks now but i am moving at a snails pace.  But i wanted to send out some gratitude to my friends for their awesome gifts...so I thought i would share some journal pages i've making using some of the things that they sent me in the mail! (luckily i can't leave my scanner at work as it is anchored to my desk at home).

So many stars from my Lindsay.

Paper crane came all the way from Australia! Thanks Jessica!

Beautiful paper sent to me by Jeannine!