Hey! Hey you!

Hi friends... this one is short and sweet. Just wanted to let you know.. yes, I exist again. I quit my coffee job. Website is being updated as we speak, art is always happening. I'm dabbling with paint now, too.

love, love, LOVE,
*me*

Giving

Over the years I have continuously crossed paths with The Artist's Way. Back before Christmas I finally picked up a copy and instantly dove head first into the teachings.
For a time, I severly limited my internet, tv, and reading time and really immersed myself in this work. It had me asking questions, digging into what my real thoughts were, and best of all c r e a t i n g again.
This little book, along with some really inspirational yoga classes encouraged me to take a leap of faith and book a spontaneous vacation. I am still sunkissed from my recent return from the Big Island of Hawaii.. and there's lots to share.

To start, here is a piece I made for one of the women I attribute to making it happen. Mieka teaches detox and 'happy yoga' classes, I like to think of them as being at a motivational seminar while getting a good stretch, sweat, and exercise. One of the things she always says that helps me hold on when I'm in a pose that I'm ready to quit on is "Find your edge". I like to think it helps me realize that I have more in me, that I'm not quite ready to give up.

This was a gift to her, for being a big part of the reason that I was giving myself the gift of Hawaii..

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The girl that used to exclusively drink water & wine became a Starbucks addict. Check out my personalized short tumbler that came with a scratch paper insert!

Time Flies

Needle-pointing my bag on a Monday night. I think I'm going to turn this bag into an experiment with hand-stitched type.

I thought I'd drop in and play catch up. I'll admit I've been away from the drawing board for a bit now. October has been crazy with work, weddings, and words. The crazy ends this weekend and I will be back with some fresh images for your visual pleasure.

In the meantime, check out this rad magazine I stumbled across. I just subscribed and can't wait to see the new issue.

The Seven Year Pen Challenge

The other night I was leaving Indigo with a friend, and I stumbled across this pen. You see, I can't walk into Staples to get a photocopy without buying a pack of pens. I can't go into Shoppers Drug Mart to buy shampoo without stocking up on Crayola. If they had highlighters at the gas station, I would probably have fifteen versions of that electrifying yellow that you never see in my work because it doesn't scan well. I hastily made the purchase.

It also gave me an excuse to buy one of the best special edition Moleskines I've seen. After declaring that I would take a break from buying Moleskines... I bought a Moleskine. Oops.

This afternoon, The Seven Year Pen Challenge begins.

How quickly can a Kayla use up a pen designed to write 1.7 meters a day for 7 years? Stay tuned.

About a month ago, I started a collaborative journal with my work-acquaintance-turned-confidante-and-sister Chantelle. Apparently when you set a goal or dream and share it with others, chances of it coming to fruition are more likely when you externalize and share it with others who believe in you and your dreams. I started getting collage-y with it the other night after tearing through some old magazines, here's one of the pages that I've set opposite a beautiful Paolo Coelho quotation that Chantelle shared with me.

Globe & Mail

Last Tuesday I had the pleasure of creating an illustration to accompany an essay by Leslie Beckman in the Globe & Mail. It was an amazing piece of writing discussing the power of opening the doorway to conversation with a simple "hello", and the incredible stories that others have to share.

A little something different for me, playing around with composition and cropping without falling back on type.

Back from The Big Apple

So the conference has come and gone; so has my week of amazing food, hot sun, and late nights.
This is one of the pieces I made while attending Katherine Streeter's collage workshop. The other two can be seen on my website.

For Tim.

obligatory summer update

Here's a page out of the collaborative sketchbook I have been working on; this one is all me.

I have recently signed up for the 2012 Sketchbook Project under the subject "I Remember You" - stay tuned for progress shots! I'm so excited to be a part of this.

In two weeks I'll be in the big apple for 3x3's Nuts & Bolts Conference. I am beyond excited.. 2 days of illustration saturation, and then finishing off the week with good food and tired feet in one of the craziest cities in the world.

ALSO! My book is now available for purchase through Blurb - it's a 160-page collection of my sketchbook pages from 2008-2010, and was featured at my grad show back in April.




Until next time...

How Kayla got her groove back.

I have been drawing like mad for the past few days. After starting a collaborative sketchbook with a friend and scouring the art mags at Indigo, I've somehow regained my inspiration. In addition to starting pages like there's no tomorrow, I am also anxiously awaiting $100 worth of art & design books from Chapters - a little 5x bonus airmiles was a very enticing factor.

Rethink & The Grid

Last night I took part in a huge art project for The Grid. A group of us were brought together by Rethink to create some street art using sidewalk chalk to draw attention to the re-branding of Toronto's Eye Weekly which has now changed over to The Grid; and also to create some buzz and friendly battles on Twitter.

work & play

So the Grad Show has come and gone and I'm left with a few photos taken with a camera phone. I am still kicking myself for leaving my Canon at home.

listening to willie nelson while drawing... willie nelson

Another portrait.

back to the [inking] board

For our Magazine Illustration class, we were given the opportunity to do a piece that will be shown to the National Post for possible print. Here is my piece on a political conservative that really digs death metal.