sandra van doorn + illustrations

Tristana

2012-03-01T08:17:00.003-08:00

I was wondering when i could introduce Tristana; she can seem rather dark & somber and i could not think of a particular time of the year that could suit her.

I was about to invent a season - or a month - just for her when she said to me:

“I don’t need a season or a month, i have all year...”

And it’s true: Tristana travels the world in her black velvet mist, appears and disappears as she sweeps away tears and troubles to replace them with hope and joy.
"It can be a bit weary at times", she confessed.

Now, aren’t we all glad to have such a friend all year around?

Pure. Love.

2012-02-14T06:15:00.000-08:00

The other night Valentina (above) and i were having a cup of tea... i was drawing her, and while she was beautifully coming to life on my page, she suddenly grabbed the tea pot and started to whisper into it...

(I asked why she was using my tea pot as a loudspeaker, she said, well maybe i was using her loudspeaker as a tea pot... I couldn’t think of anything to say back to her.)

In reality i had been looking at love legends to share with you - as today we celebrate love - and i couldn’t find one that spoke about love spells travelling with the wind, knocking on everyone’s door...

So Valentina said she'd take care of it, and there it is : she sent out love spells across the world with her loudspeaker (well, my tea pot...). She is just so good at creating love magic.

I am glad she came to the rescue because frankly - and i am sure you agree - a fairytale needs a good dose of love. Pure Love.

I hope you heard it pass your window...

Coeur en papier

2012-02-03T13:33:00.000-08:00

Coeur en papier (paper heart) is another book i am working on at the moment.

Since February celebrates love it is perfectly appropriate to post a magic heart... This is one of the illustrations from the book.

Simplicity is the key word for this project: simple lines, little colour and a strong sens of space, leaving the focus on the main subject: paper hearts.

That’s all i can tell you and i hope you like it.

Now. I don’t know about you, but the sun is out in Vancouver - rather a rare thing - so i am finishing work early today and going out to get my dose of happy sunshine.

Happy week-end to all,

xo sandra

Stuck on a puzzle...

2012-01-25T11:02:00.000-08:00

For those wondering if i have vanished from the face of the earth i thought i’d do a quick post about "life when writing and illustrating a book”.

It’s basically consuming (not complaining it’s the best things that’s happened to me in a decade!)

BUT. It means no time to play.

On top of that, i can’t show you what i am currently working on... Which leaves me with facing the fact that my news page and my readers (yes you beautiful people!) are a tad neglected. Not nice.

Seems like I am stuck on a puzzle, and my only solution is to share a piece of it with you:

This is a puzzle piece from my current work and I hope you’ll find it fun to try & guess what story is being told on my pages...

Want to play?

Marionetta wants to live in her dream

2012-01-07T17:47:00.002-08:00

THIS POST’S PICTURE HAS BEEN REPLACED.

Marionetta is dreaming... it’s beautiful to be in this golden light, so beautiful she is tempted to live in her dream.

Perhaps in her dream she does not need a key to come to life. Perhaps in her dream she is a real person, not just a drawing on my page. Maybe there, she is free to be who ever she wants to be... Peut être, peut être... Who knows.

(The good News for Marionetta is that we know for sure that dreams do come true...)

January: let the fairytale begin...

2012-01-03T12:48:00.003-08:00

And another January is here. Time flies. Things change.

Yesterday evening when i was drawing Pupa (above) i was thinking about change... the possibilities it brings, the faith it beckons...

I casually added a butterfly flying into the picture, always amazed at what turns up on my paper when i draw : a butterfly is the symbol of transformation and new beginnings, opportunities and good luck, freedom & fun, naturalness and purity... i couldn’t wish for more.

There is a native American legend that says “if you have a secret wish, capture a butterfly and whisper your wish to it. Since butterflies cannot speak your secret will be safe. Release the butterfly and it will carry your wish to the great spirit who alone knows the thoughts of butterflies.By setting the butterfly free you are helping to restore the balance of nature - your wish will be granted.”

So could we say that the butterfly is also a symbol of all wishes come true?

I want to think so. And i hope you do too.
This January, let the fairytale begin...

Highlight

2011-12-31T08:54:00.011-08:00

This week Illustration Friday’s subject is : Highlight.

And it leaves me a bit blank...

All i can think off is the rubber caps hairdressers used in the past to ... well ... make highlights!

And now: off to get ready to welcome the new year!
Wishing you all a happy New Year filled with magic...

Messenger

2011-12-25T17:21:00.001-08:00

Illustration Friday: Messenger

Merry Christmas ( a bit early...)

2011-12-19T07:26:00.003-08:00

Look at the stars,

Look how they shine for you,

and everything you do...

(Coldplay lyrics)

Sending you all a shining star...

(Ok it’s a bit early

but i want to make sure you get it on time :)

Merry Christmas and a magic New Year,

xo sandra

Like living in a glass ball

2011-12-17T08:11:00.001-08:00

I think i am developing a small obsession with snow at the moment, and i hope i don’t bore you but since it’s the season... i have been doing a few of these animations - with Clémentine and her friends. This is Amandine who was happily picking love buds in her secret garden when suddenly someone shook the glass ball she lives in...

It reminds me of a lovely morning, years ago when i lived in Montreal and stepped outside to find a white silent street. Big fluffy snow - like tons of soft cotton balls - was heavily falling from the sky. I felt like i was living in a glass ball and that someone had just shaken my world into pure white. It was a magic moment. Amandine agrees ...

I’ll leave you in this magic bubble - i am off Christmas shopping!

Clémentine in the snow

2011-12-05T10:00:00.017-08:00

The past few weeks have been so busy i have been having a hard time keeping in touch with you all...

I have been doing tons of work, but there is nothing i can show because it is all going towards next year’s project - yes, the book, and the exhibition.

I have also been doing much thinking, somehow i feel i have outgrown my web and blog page, and change is in the air though I don’t know what the changes will be yet but lots of ideas are brewing...

I did spend some time tweaking with some cute Christmassy illustrations i started a while ago (recognise Clémentine from my banner?) and i am quite happy with the progress but not finished yet. I’ll have a few more pictures to show in the next few weeks, as we cruise toward Christmas.

I will be taking a break - looking forward to snowboarding and spending time in the beautiful Canadian mountains - so i’ll leave you with Clémentine who - like me - is really mesmerised by the magic of snow...

Silence

2011-11-16T15:22:00.000-08:00

Illustration Friday : Silence

This is my submission for Illustration Friday; this week’s theme is Silence.

It’s the sound i love best when i am working in my studio...

An ordinary day

2011-11-02T16:15:00.002-07:00

Life itself is the most beautiful fairytale.

(H.C. Andersen)

The other day i was walking the usual tree lined street that takes me home on most days, and I had a magic moment...

I was lost in thoughts, thinking about the illustrated book i am working on when i looked up and noticed the trees had turned bright red; the footpath i was walking on was covered in red Autumn leaves and the beauty of it literally took my breath away. I was alone, i stood there for a while, and i think it was a fairytale moment: i could have closed my eyes to be transported elsewhere in some magic world...

Except that i did not choose to close my eyes:i wanted to stay there, in my street, because right here right now is pretty magic too; i think i am totally in love with life.

My Little Red Riding Hood

2011-10-31T07:41:00.000-07:00

A while ago i was working on illustrating passages from The Little Red Riding Hood, remember ?

I just wanted to share a few images from that assignment.

With this work, i wanted to keep the focus on the innocence and unaffected nature of childhood, keeping the images simple or rather naive, while hinting at danger throughout (hence the blood stain, the wolf’s paws prints, the fine line she is walking on etc....)

I also wanted LRRH’s journey to feel like a walk through an art world: i used acrylic paint, crayons and charcoal to create these images.

I am not sure i entirely succeeded with my intentions, but i am quite happy with the overall result.

A Monster in Paris

2011-10-28T16:05:00.002-07:00

Paris, 1910: The story is about Emile a shy projectionist, Raoul the eccentric inventor and Lucille, an enchanting cabaret singer who embark on a journey about a monster, who is not a true monster...

A Monster in Paris is very French, beautifully animated and of course, j’adore.

Learning something new

2011-10-20T14:41:00.002-07:00

I am always doing that which I cannot do,

in order that I may learn how to do it.

Pablo Picasso

Every now and again, the stars line up to make life truly magic. This is what happened last week, when i received a gift way before my birthday.

I got a pen tablet. What a surprise! I am still feeling a bit special about it.
BUT. I must confess it is driving me slightly insane. I have been doodling and trying to draw and apply colours with it and it’s not happening (well, not fast enough) for me. As you can see, Céleste (pictured above) is looking cute in a rather awful way!!

So. I am taking it one step at a time, trying to enjoy the process of learning something new, knowing that it will eventually grow into something wonderful. I do hope i’ll have better digital drawings to show you soon :)

And that’s that for now; i am going back on my happy cloud with my tablet - to do what i can’t do - and I hope you are enjoying life whatever it is you are doing.

Today i love...La pluie.

2011-10-17T09:15:00.002-07:00

Photo Via

This picture makes me feel like running, laughing, loving, being drenched by the rain, laughing some more and... being insanely Happpy.

Wishing you all a wonderful week

Little Red Riding Hood: The dark side

2011-10-13T12:48:00.000-07:00

Sweet a talking wolf! Hang on i’ll put you on You Tube...
© sandra van doorn

It’s no secret that many tales have evolved into pretty fairy tales from far sinister and darker places; as i prepare to illustrate 3 passages from the Little Red Riding Hood (LRRH) i am re-visiting the original world of Charles Perrault’s Petit Chaperon Rouge and the Grimm Brothers’ Rotkäppchen...

Besides the overt warning about talking to strangers, there are many interpretations of the LRRH tale; Most have viewed the story as a warning against children predators;

A 17th century version of it (in King Louis XIV extravagant and outrageous court) proclaims it as a harsh morality tale warning women of the advances of men.

The tale is also seen as a life transition from girlhood into womanhood. On a more simple note, it is also suggested that the story is a genuine warning about dangerous wolfs at the time it was first written.

From country to country the ending changes and evolves over time: In one, the LRRH is eaten but freed - along with her grandmother - by a hunter who cuts open the wolf’s belly.

In another version, LRRH tricks the wolf to escape to safety by performing a striptease (and no, that was not in France!) whereas in yet another she tricks the wolf by telling him she desperately needs to use the bathroom... Luck comes to the rescue in a version where a hunter kills the wolf purely for his skin - rescuing the grandmother and the child just on time;

As time goes by, the grandma and the little girl get smarter by anticipating the wolf intentions and luring him to sausages and other food before drowning him.

And i wonder - how fun would it be if (in yet another version) The Little Red Riding Hood became the wolf’s worth nightmare? i’d love to write that one :)

With so much information, I am hoping i’ll come up with illustrations with a fresh feel...

If you want to know more about fairy tales and their other sides this is a great read (plus it’s packed with wonderful illustrations):

The Annoted classic fairy tales,by Maria Tatar

Having fun...

2011-10-06T15:02:00.018-07:00

Bob Makes friend with the giant
©sandra van doorn

Phew! it’s been a while...

Well since my last post i had the brilliant idea to fly home to France for an impromptu escape - don’t you just love when life throws a wonderful surprise at you? - which sets me back by 100 years in my work but what can i say; I heard “Paris” and “home” and some other happy news, and of course i was jumping all over the place!! i had to go. I am sure you agree.

After a good dose of croissants, cheese, wine, and oh la la- more food - i am back at my desk and i can’t believe beautiful October has turned up - When did that happen?

Soooo. i have much catching up to do... and one of them is responding to your lovely comments - Merci, merci, merci- THANK YOU so very much to all of you who stopped by to say hello while i was away.

Meanwhile i will also be working on this lovely assignment: illustrating someone else’s story about a cute little rabbit who seems to think it’s always time to have fun. Just based on that, i liked him straight away...

2:22

2011-09-19T06:20:00.003-07:00

2:22am. And i wake-up. For the past few nights i have been waking-up at the same - ungodly - hour, waking from the same recurring dream. 2:22 and all i remember each time is a woman walking in my room and... perfume. Oh so very Bizarre.

Anyway. This is what i have been doing in the wee hours of the morning:drawing Papavero (the character in my assignment story) and she is starting to look beautiful.(well i think so)

This drawing will illustrate the morning when Papavero (which means poppy in Italian), having spent the night talking to the stars, wakes up and realises she has become a princess. Of course she is very happy.

Little does she know...

Now... I really think i need to get some sleep :)

Wishing you all a wonderful week!

Picture books: the making

2011-09-16T04:55:00.001-07:00

This is an assignment i am working on at the moment:create a book from story & concept to sketch, alterations, then to final.

The idea is to illustrate our own story while imitating the style of our favourite illustrator. This was the hard bit for me because of course i have too many favourites. In the end i decided to work with a mixture of styles - again breaking the rules... - and included inspiration from Rebecca Dautremer, Benjamin Lacombe and Nicoletta Ceccoli in my case study. Please check them out if you have time, their work will take your breath away i promise.

So. Pictured above is my "mid-stage": as you can see there is still much alterations to be done.

My story is about a Poppy who is haunted by the wind:as the season changes she knows the wind will eventually take her away - such is life. Then one magic starry night she changes into a princess...

I am writing it in French because the text is a zillion times prettier that way...

I must confess at this stage i am still not sure if she will simply fly away in the wind (boring) or - maybe play a trick (j’adore!) to cheat the wind. I mean why not? a little magic can go a long way, right?

La mauvaise note (Bad mark)

2011-09-14T09:18:00.001-07:00

Oh Dear.I got a terrible mark (la mauvaise note) in life drawing class.

My teacher said everything was way, way - WAY - out of proportion.

I said “well it’s not really my fault, because that’s how it looks in my world...'

She looked at me with eyes that shouted "You obviously live in a circus.”

But all she really said was "That’s not the point of the exercise.”

End of conversation.

Unhappy teacher. (And I don’t think the model was very happy either).

The thing is, i am OK with it. I do get the point about proportions of course - i mean, who wouldn’t?

BUT. My hands don’t draw that way.It’s a fact, i suck at proportions.

And i love it. Is that bad?

The lady walking on my desk...

2011-09-12T06:33:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful Monday morning! it’s so lovely in my tiny winy studio i wanted to share it with you. I don’t have much to tell - not much happened over the week-end except that the earth shook in Vancouver on Friday, and i got a bit of a fright, couldn’t settle down afterwards, and decided to clean up the studio. (I find cleaning very therapeutic. no really, i mean it.) and for the rest of the week-end well... i worked) - BUT. I quickly wanted to introduce you to The lady walking on my desk...

She knows where love grows and she has just picked a few blooms to share with you all. So sweet of her. Seriously.

This is a rough sketch and i’ll be working on the final version today,

Sending much love from my desk,

Once upon a dream...

2011-09-09T06:05:00.002-07:00

You are never given a dream

without also being given the power to make it true.

You may have to work for it, however.(Richard Bach)

Wouldn’t it be great if we could plant a tiny seed and watch it grow & turn into our dream? I knew you would love that. I do to.

In fact we all know dreams are a bit like plants; They need nurturing. Realising a dream is about the right balance of magic ingredients such as work, study, passion, dedication, discipline, courage, faith - (and lots of fun).

And why exactly am i talking about things you already know about?

Well it’s because this week i worked out my next 6 months action plan, and to make a long story short - work is my magic word.

It’s on the menu, everyday, and a lot of it; and after i freaked out (just a bit) i did ask myself “Does making a dream come true really have to be such a slow process?"

I did this illustration for all of you out there who, like me, want to believe in a little magic along the way too...

Happy week-end to all

Travelling by post...

2011-09-05T07:34:00.002-07:00

This morning i sent a letter to a dear friend; (I know, no-one sends letters anymore, we have email, and facebook, and twitter blah blah blah...
But. I do.
I rarely receive letters though - apart from lovely bills - and what a shame, because I just looove the feel of paper, the soulful hand written words, and the presence of a letter in my home, a bit like a friend staying with me...

Anyways. As i walked to the post box this image popped into my mind:

“I could hop in the envelop and travel through the clouds..."

(and crack up at my friend’s face when she opens the letter!!)

Now. I hear you say "you can’t travel in an envelop, that’s nonsense!!”

Well in my world, i can... So, it’s Monday morning, and i am off to Paris!!

Hope this makes you dream *and smile* a little today,

L’été s’en va...

2011-09-02T19:39:00.002-07:00

L’été s’en va, dans un ballon fait d’un arc en ciel...

I have noticed many posts in blogland are already talking about Autumn. Not to make you jealous, but on my side of the world the sky is still very blue.

It is cooler and a bit darker in the morning though - i love that very much - and yes, you can feel summer leaving...

Today, i imagined Summer flying away in a balloon made of rainbows, gently making room for a beautiful new season. I love Fall and everything that comes with it - comfort food, shorter days, magic forests, back to school vibe, cosy evenings by the fire (except i don’t have a fireplace!) - you get the idea. I am sure most of you are looking forward to those same small things that keep us so happy...

So here is to a beautiful September,

Space

2011-08-26T07:19:00.004-07:00

When i was a child, i loved hiding away to be alone, to read - always the same old books - and if i had no book to read i would just invent stories.

The point is, I needed space. A lot of space.
I still do.

The other day i was walking down a busy street and this picture popped into my mind: a moment of peace on quiet water - perhaps a beautiful Canadian lake? - tucked away from the light, so i can observe the world around me quietly... listen to the sound of silence, read & think.

Do you feel that way sometimes?
And what do you do when you need space?
(Or do you prefer to be in the spotlight?!!he-he)

The - Modern- Princess and the pea...

2011-08-19T07:21:00.000-07:00

Ok Mr Pea be quiet now or else i’ll turn you into green soup...

© sandra van doorn

In my version of the Princess and the Pea the sleepless - and uncomfortable - Princess gets smart; she gets up and finds the pea:

“ You are kidding me? You mean the prince purposely hid you under the mattress to make me uncomfortable? asked the princess.

“yes, he did - to find out if you are a real princess...” said the pea.

“But he could have looked-up my facebook! Weirdo...”

Hope this makes you smile, have a great week-end

Someone...

2011-08-14T11:00:00.001-07:00

“Someone will always be prettier. Someone will always be smarter. Someone will always be younger. But they will never be you.”

Anonymous

so good to be different...

© sandra van doorn

hope this will make you feel good about... you.

By the way for all of you who wish to
show and share your art with others take a look
HERE

Red balloon

2011-08-09T09:05:00.087-07:00

Happy day! I made my first animated image! It is a very simple one (and the balloon looks a bit slow and bumpy) - BUT. I am SO excited to bring life to my little stories i had to share it.

At the same time it gives you a tiny peek at the next story i will be working on; This time i tried doing a few illustrations with acrylic paint rather than pencils, and i find the colors are richer and a lot more intense. I really like it.

The story is about a boy who has a secret; One day he blows his secret into a red balloon and lets it disappear into the sky... except that the balloon eventually start losing air, and with it... the precious words.

Now i am sure you all want to know what his secret is... (he he)

Magic Wand

2011-08-08T07:11:00.005-07:00

"Magic is believing in yourself,

if you can do that, you can make anything happen."

J.W. von Goethe

image Via

This week is looking very busy - so much so : i am not even sure where to start. I guess i will have to take it one day at the time or...
Pleeeease can somebody tell me where i can get a magic wand i could really use one right now!

Happy Monday to all!

(I am loving these animated pictures so much i am thinking of doing a 2D course... Seriously. And BTW last week a few of you suggested i add the followers'button... and there it is!!)

Happiness is...

2011-08-04T06:17:00.003-07:00

cinemagraph VIA

Feeling a bit like that today;
(don't ask me why i just woke up like this!)

Off to work now, have a great day too

xo

(And if you too want to get wings today, there is a beautiful post about wanting to fly HERE)

I. LOVE. THIS

2011-08-03T08:41:00.002-07:00

Caught in the rain

This wonderful cinemagraph from photographer Jamie Beck makes me...

1. Happy, happy happy just looking at it

2. Want to run in the rain...

3. Want to be the rain

4. makes we... want to splash you all!hehe

don't you just love it?

Work

2011-08-02T07:48:00.001-07:00

UCELLO © sandra van doorn

Back to reality (work) today although my reality is always a bit unreal... This week i am finalising UCELLO (remember the story about a small bird and a Princess who meet in the realm of dreams?) - after what i will leave it alone for a few weeks before getting back to it for final touches and adjustments. I find that putting a project aside for a little while always helps me "seeing" it better, you know what i mean?

By the way a blog crush on Ucello was featured HERE.

(Thank you Kitty :)

UCELLO

2011-07-27T18:14:00.007-07:00

(Click on the purple icon to play and make sure you

turn on the sound on your computer

It's only 2 & 1/2 minutes...)

The project is almost finished, this is just a teaser

and I hope you will like it...

xoxo

The fortune teller...

2011-07-26T06:13:00.008-07:00

Here is a short street story i wanted to share; mainly because it made me smile...

I was walking down the street, a "fortune teller" stopped me by the side of the road, he always sets up his divinatory table on that same pedestrian stretch; He asked if i wanted to pick 3 cards to know my future...

"It won't take long..." he said.

I walked on.

Random thought #111

" ... 3 cards. My life would fit in just 3 cards? it's going to be incredibly boring.
Or flipping too short.
What would i want to the cards to say to me? the thing is, i would not want my cards to say anything to me. Please don't talk to me. Rather i'd say to myself...

Follow your heart.
Follow your art.
Be true & follow your heart.
Always. And everything will be the way it's meant to be.

(oh, would that be 4 cards then?)

And then my thoughts carried on with life.

What would you like to read in your cards?

Oslo

2011-07-22T15:18:00.003-07:00

A while ago i blogged about what leaves me speechless in life;
Oslo, today is one of them.

What's playing?

2011-07-21T09:20:00.010-07:00

Today the soundtrack from the movie SUBMARINE, by Alex Turner

is playing in my world...

This one, "It's hard to get around the wind" is my favorite.

wHat'S plaYing in Your woRld TodAy?

I want... I need...

2011-07-18T07:26:00.006-07:00

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

St. Augustine

"i want to travel the worlds, even those that do not exit"
© text & illustration Sandra van Doorn

Today we celebrate our 3 months in Vancouver. Only 3 months. And yet. Already i contemplate the possibilities of what's coming next.
I want to go. No, actually. I need to go.
Somewhere new, to see, feel & experience life differently.
Or somewhere old to make it new again.

When i read the quote above a few days ago, i found it reassuring; I suffer from a chronic desire to travel - it's a vital part of my life, a bit like the oxygen we breathe.
The very thought of a life spent in the same place slowly suffocates me;
It's agony.

To me travel is the most wonderful book you can ever read, and the best part of it is that you get to write your own story; and i want to keep on turning pages. I want it to come in 10 volumes.
My story would start like this....

"I want to travel the worlds,
even those that do not exist."

Do you feel that way about travelling?
And what would you write on your first page?

Chinoiseries

2011-07-13T11:12:00.001-07:00

©Illustration & Story Sandra van Doorn

I just finished a short series of drawings which illustrates a Les Chinoiseries a story which tells of a lonely blue bird - who cannot fly - who asks the universe to find him his soul mate; He is told to walk up a long, long string attached to a cloud far into the sky....

At the same time, on the other side of the world, Mademoiselle Chinoiserie - who is awfully fussy - is about to go to bed, and asks her soul to travel into the realm of dreams to meet her soul mate. Her soul tells her that she will travel on a cloud pulled by a long long string, far into the sky...

They both meet.

What do you think happens next?

La Ballade...

2011-07-12T07:17:00.005-07:00

I love this by Jamie Beck

This cinemagraph from Jamie Beck makes me happy; I recently got a blue bicycle and I can't get enough of it. It's become my most precious possession and I pretty much do everything by bike nowadays. Today i am planning to go for a petite ballade at lunch time, quick one hour tour of Stanley Park, just me and my bike... If it's not too crowded I might even sing a bit!

Bon week-end...

2011-07-09T11:49:00.003-07:00

"Just living is not enough.

One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."

Hans Christian Anderson

The red poppy who wanted to be a waterlily...

Oh i sooo agree with that!
Happy week-end to all
xo

© sandra van doorn photography
The texture i applied to my photo is borrowed from
Demoiselle Libellule
Merci:)

Today i love...

2011-07-07T08:16:00.003-07:00

Mabel dancing, by Paula Metcalf

Today i discovered a wonderful and talented children's author and illustrator from the UK, Paula Metcalf;

I have not read this story yet, but i am loving coming up with my own when i look at this poetic & dreamy picture of Mabel dancing...

In my version of the story - and this is purely based on this one picture - Mabel is rather lonely;

Perhaps she is thinking of a plan to put colors into her world.

Perhaps she is waiting for someone to return.

The birds, the flowers the dancing are such a happy part of life yet in Mabel's world it is merely a way to pass time, I can't help feeling a little sadness as if something is missing...

I think I should go find out what the real story is, but meanwhile, tell me:

What do you see?

De l'eau et du Soleil...

2011-06-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

Mes rêves se remplissent d'eau et de Soleil...

(My dreams are filled with water and sun...)

I just finished a lovely series of flower pictures bursting with summer lovin' colors; This is one of them...

The texture I applied on this photo is borrowed from Demoiselle Libellule with thanks.

Today i love...

2011-06-27T16:20:00.024-07:00

Some beautiful paintings from French author & illustrator

Benjamin Lacombe

I absolutely adore Benjamin's wonderful world;

(I think i stopped breathing when i first discovered his work...)

Visit his website; let me know what you think but i am pretty sure his talent and creativity will take your breath away too...

Today i love...

2011-06-19T07:12:00.001-07:00

Beautiful work by Kirstin Vestgard, a Norwegian painter I discovered via The Paper Mulberry. There is much poetry in her work, i wish i could have one of them in my home.

Consider this about the artist: Kirstin Vestgard sold all her paintings at her degree show. I am sure you agree, what a glorious entry into the world of art...

Summer Rain

2011-06-18T08:10:00.001-07:00

Laundry in the rain
Dubrovnik, Croatia

It's raining today in Vancouver, a great opportunity to talk about...rain. A few years ago, I took this picture in Dubrovnik.

I recently stumbled across it on a blog (which was nice), and read interesting analyses about the picture; a lot about dark, dark...darkness.

Well. In fact it was all about la légèreté de la vie - Lightness of life...

It was the white bed sheet drying in the middle of a small deserted public square that initially intrigued me;I remember watching it flying free in the wind nothing around but silence. It reminded me of early afternoons street scenes on really hot summer days somewhere in Sicily. It felt good.

Then my mind started to wander, and I imagined a storm brewing, beautiful grey skies closing in, the smell of that first rain, someone rushing out to rescue the laundry on the line, getting drenched by summer rain...

I just imagined some beautiful rain.

What i find interesting here is the many stories a picture can tell - just by changing eyes.

What do you see?

apples & charcoal

2011-06-15T05:24:00.004-07:00

Apples & Charcoal

First drawings using Charcoal... Have you ever tried charcoal? not as messy as i thought actually.

Despite the simplicity of my subject - the apple i ate later on that day... - i am quite pleased with the result;
I drew on large paper sheets, you get such a sens of freedom when drawing or painting on large surfaces; Plus they make a great statement in my little studio...

White

2011-06-09T14:04:00.002-07:00

Snapshots from my desk today...

La Jacinthe, so fragrant and beautiful,

carefree and pure,

I cannot get enough.

De la pluie et du vent...

2011-06-08T07:00:00.002-07:00

Le fil des saisons n'a pas toujours raison...

De la pluie et du vent, des enfants qui rient en courant,

on croirait presque la rentrée

et pourtant c'est à peine la fin du printemps.

Je rêve déjà d'un autre été...

-------------------------------

A few snapshots and some lovely thoughts from my desk
...while having breakfast :)

Beautiful Morning...

2011-06-04T10:18:00.004-07:00

It's a beautiful morning today, at the studio - which looks like a little packing lab right now.

I have added a little surprise to all orders today...

just sending some sun & happiness your way too :)

I hope you all have a great week- end xo

Today i Love...

2011-05-30T08:07:00.005-07:00

Forget-me-not Love by Loreta, All the beautiful things

When I need a dose of prettiness I always visit Loreta's blog

My favorite collection is The secret garden;

For some reason, her pictures remind me of home....

Today I love...

2011-05-18T09:00:00.004-07:00

The smallest things....
The color green, the smell of late spring, and our new home...

Les moindres petites choses,
by Anne Herbauts

Sunny day

2011-05-17T16:44:00.000-07:00

new home

We have just moved into a new home! It's wonderful.

There is much to do, and yet this morning the sun turned up, and after days of rain and grey sky I cannot resist the temptation of spending time outside. I love what the sun does to people: happiness, smiley faces everywhere...

Mundane can wait. I must go out.

I must.

I am sure you agree.

If today you need something beautiful...

2011-05-13T10:19:00.010-07:00

... then you will love this. Find out more about Agnes Obel here

ART CARDS

2011-05-01T08:28:00.076-07:00

PLAY ME!

You can view the full collection right here...

For inquiries please click HERE

Voleuse de Coeurs- Heart Stealer

Le Reveuse - Dreamer

Porteuse de lumiere - Light Giver

Compteuse d'Etoiles - Stars Collector

Sirene du Ciel - Sky Mermaid

Happy chocolate eating

2011-04-24T07:59:00.001-07:00

Gaston in his purple gumboots

It's Easter. The sky is grey and full of heavy clouds; I think the picnic by the lac will have to wait for another day.

Time to think of plan B: Cook a nice lunch, listen to some music, paint, watch the rain...

This is such a good day to eat chocolate... Happy Easter to all xx

My Picasso

2011-04-16T04:04:00.003-07:00

My Picasso

I really look forward to visiting Picasso in Paris 1900-1907 ' exhibition tomorrow...

So I did a drawing for fun - (I was asked if it is a self portrait? I cannot stop laughing when I look at it!) - inspired by Picasso's cubist work; Break-up a subject, analyse it, re-assemble it, remove coherent sens of depth, intersect surfaces at random angles... This is the result of my Picasso - I hope it makes you laugh too.

The exhibition it is currently at the van Gogh Museum, in beautiful Amsterdam.

Practice

2011-02-16T22:20:00.006-08:00

Practice

Learning something new is always exciting particularly when you can start applying new techniques to your own little projects...

So today I tried to recreate illustrations from a book... seemed a bit ambitious at first, but it turned out to be a great practice exercise; This is the result.

The original book is Princesses oubliees ou inconnues by Rebecca Dautremer a wonderful French illustrator.

Inspiration

2011-01-28T20:09:00.004-08:00

I have done a few sketches of Rebecca Dautremer 's exquisite illustrations ... just for fun.

Plenty of room for improvement, but it's great practice - and perfect for a beautifully quiet afternoon...

Noel, Noel...

2010-12-19T20:00:00.008-08:00

Early Wishes...

2010-11-04T22:42:00.002-07:00

My gorgeous little nephew is getting organised for Christmas...

I am amazed at how organised he is; but then again a Christmas presents' list is always a very important thing to do...

And early is best if you want to make sure you get what you want - I absolutely love the effort of sourcing pictures as extra precaution to avoid misunderstandings...

(maybe that's why i have not been getting what i wished for...)

This is the letter he actually sent to Le Pere Noel (Father Christmas)...

I might send one too :)

Un beau matin...

2010-10-21T00:03:00.004-07:00

Merci, pour la belle collection de coeurs... xx

Alice in wonderland

2010-09-29T21:19:00.001-07:00

Just when we thought Alice in Wonderland could not possibly be done again...
well, it could.
Rebecca Dautremer does it her way...
Beautifully. Of course.

Can't wait for the book to be out...

People who make the world more beautiful...

2010-09-13T13:01:00.003-07:00

Il y a ceux qui rendent le monde encore plus beau...

(People who make the world more beautiful...)

REBECCA DAUTREMER, french illustrator. And absolutely fabulous.

Some people are just born with too much talent...

EDMUND DULAC, another french illustrator, from another era.

OoooooH! i am so envious... in a good way :)

FAITH

2010-08-10T17:41:00.004-07:00

Faith

Partir

2010-04-08T19:51:00.007-07:00

Partir pour ne plus revenir. A Francisco.