beepdoodles

Canucks Doodles

2011-06-17T01:40:00.001-07:00

I had some fun doodling Canucks fever. Well, up until the time we lost game 7.... Oh well. Here are a few of them. These aren't the greatest photos (as these are on clean, bright white paper!!), but they should be clearer if you click on them to see the enlarged views.

And, yes, they are for sale, if you find you fancy one of them.

AIM at the Empress Success

2011-06-01T09:19:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, May 29th I participated as 1 of 30 artists in the AIM at the Empress Art Show and Sale. We booked the beautiful and elegant Crystal Ballroom and Palm Court and had a steady stream of guests. One artist guessed we'd had 1000+ attendees.... I wouldn't be surprised, though it was definitely 100s. AIM is Artists in Motion, a group that helps artists market their work. We had painters and photographers, fibre arts and metal sculptures - and my doodles! I had a great response and I was pretty happy with the result. I even sold one of my art clocks to a fellow from Boston!

Selling at the Moss Street Market

2011-05-16T19:33:00.000-07:00

It was with some excitement that I lined up for a review of my art, hoping to be accepted into the Moss Street Market. Well, it was all good news: I was not only accepted, but I was invited to book a reserved spot for the season!
This is my booth on week 1. Didn't have a lot of time to get my set-up nailed down, but it all worked.

If you will be in Victoria this summer, stop by the Moss Street Market on Saturdays between 10am-2pm (or 4pm on July 16), and drop by to say hi. It's a great market - everything in the arts and crafts side of things is handmade by the person selling it. Same deal on the food (yummy, so popular there are line-ups!). There is also live music every week. Plus a farmer's market, of course.

The big deal for me has been getting a tent. Not too easy, as they are pricey things to buy new. I'd tried to buy one for a couple of weeks, but finally gave up and got an umbrella. Alas, the day after my first market, I was offered a used tent, at a good price. Today I picked it up.

I have quite a bit of new art I have been working on that I'll be selling. The market goes until October 29th!

UPDATE: now have my big white market tent, so look for that (vs. the umbrella) if you look for me. I may also skip poor weather market days, as not much interest in art those days and my works could get damaged...

Collage: 8 little scenes

2011-04-10T22:56:00.000-07:00

So I have really enjoyed collaging lately.... Now there's an understatement! I have been going nuts collaging lately. And having a blast. Here are eight little 5" x 7" collages, though I have worked in sizes larger and smaller.

The last one here was the first one I did. I had become inspired while being a little bored during the lulls at a market one day, so went looking for a magazine, then pulled out my scissors.... The result was this wee little collage that I wasn't even aware was finished, when someone asked to buy it. Sweet!!

The rest, as they say, is history. Life is currently a flurry of small pieces of paper everywhere, bits of glue on my fingertips, and creations that amaze me.....

Collage: Grand Adventure sendoff

2011-04-07T09:39:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I started collaging, and haven't stopped since! This is a wee one I did as a surprise for a young couple I met who are off shortly for a bike trip across Canada. Katie and Dylan were thrilled with the front (above), but especially surprised by the back, as it turns out that Dylan is a huge fan of Walt Whitman (quoted on the back, below). They plan to take it on their trip and use it as a bookmark.

Expect to see much more about collaging here soon....

To market, to market...

2011-02-05T13:26:00.000-08:00

Well, my doodles are finally for sale! Last weekend I had a table at the Fernwood Swap 'n Shop in Victoria.

I bought a full table, but ended up with a table and a half, when someone else didn't show up on time. And it's mostly doodles... am also selling a few gems from my mother's incredible book collection.

I am selling a combination of things, because I really don't know what will sell. But everything is an original. There are framed doodles, doodles with just a mat, doodle cards, doodle tins.... There are two types of framed doodles: new frames and "recycled" frames.

I doodled these two pics to tie together some colours in my bedroom, but have realized they are quite lovely and might appeal to someone.

The "recycled frames" is an intentional stream, to appeal to the people who are caring more and more about what goes into our landfills, and prefer re-used over new.

The clocks. Ah, the clocks. That's a longish story. But the short version is that I rescued 75 pharmaceutical promotional clocks (see standing clock, upper left) before they went to the landfill. And, one by one, I am turning them into doodle clocks. While I don't expect to sell them quickly - these are priced at $75 each - the whole concept generated a lot of interest. And it was nice to have something to talk about as people dropped by my table.

Also had lots of Valentine's stuff... including the coffee cup which can be spotted in the background.

The tins are actually magnetic spice tins from Canadian Tire, of all places!

I had fun with the Valentine's challenge: creating some love-centric doodles, some explicitly Valentine's, other's just love love love crazy. Once I got on a roll, I created quite a few.

Now, I have ended up going out of town for a few weeks, so despite my initial plans to be back at the market weekly, there will be a gap. And I'll be back post-Valentine's... The good news is that I have my work available for sale in Sidney at Repeat Boutique (9768 Third Street). It's a great consignment store, combining fashion and home decor - and the owner Lynn has agreed to take my work. Repeat Boutique will be my exclusive sales location in Sidney. Hoping some Valentine's will find themselves closer to real live beating hearts over the next week or so....

Back to my table at the market, I created a little freebie basket, and filled it with teensy doodles - most about 1" square - featuring smiling faces and words like "dreams", or "memories".

Fascinating offering the books for sale, alongside the art. It's good for conversation. And my mom carefully selected the titles. As I was setting up the market, I was able to surf Abebooks.com and identify appropriate pricing for the first editions amongst the lot.

All in all, it was a great experience. And I look forward to repeating it again. In person. Though repeating via Repeat Boutique is equally cool.

I am having fun. After 3 years of doodling, and amassing oodles and oodles of doodles, it is great to turn the corner and to begin sharing them with the broader world. Eventually I will create a space for selling some of my works online but, for now, it`s enough to just be started....

Ha ha ha!

2010-12-09T15:54:00.000-08:00

Lots of detail in this one, so click to see the details...

Funky

2010-12-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

Did this 4 or 5 months ago when I was in a funk... it helped me snap myself out of it!

39 and counting

2010-12-03T06:20:00.000-08:00

I can't really remember the inspiration for this doodle, but I think it was in response to hearing something on the radio or tv about someone who is now referring to their age this way. It's not me. I'm 51 and don't care who knows it, but I must have been amused and inspired at that moment. And, yes, if you count, there are 39 faces there (you can click to enlarge the image to see them better, if you wish)....

Fork doodles

2010-11-25T13:36:00.000-08:00

What are the forks in your kitchen doing when you are asleep at night?

Life serves you up lotsa forks in the road... which one will you choose?

Some recent doodles...

2010-10-03T18:52:00.000-07:00

Some recent doodles... this is my inner warrior?
Weird hairdo girl...

Curly ques...

Face to face split screen folk

Squiggle creature

Vertical squiggle girl

ah, there's no place like home...

Oh my!

Weird hairdo girl

Eye dance

2010-08-31T13:25:00.000-07:00

Keep an eye out for these guys on the dance floor....

Sally's friends drop in on her in China

2010-08-31T12:54:00.000-07:00

When we were kids, we talked about digging a hole so deep it went right through to China. Somehow the first doodle above evolved into just that, or perhaps it is some kind of modern day Alice in Wonderland thing. Sally's friends drop in on her in China is what it became in the end.

Harlequin Hands

2010-06-20T13:39:00.000-07:00

Just a fun little doodle, hands drawn with skinny black ink pen, then wiggly lines across, then areas filled in with Sakura Gelly Roll pens.

Curly haired girls

2010-06-17T00:44:00.000-07:00

I have been doodling a lot of curly haired ladies, mostly with one eye and the other covered by hair... Usually I doodle very small using a very fine pen. This one, however, is one I did using a new batch of Sharpies - it's on a piece of posterboard.
A doodle on a ferry that I really like, with the shade from the notebook coils spreading over the page......

My "Bee Green" Doodle

2010-04-21T23:27:00.001-07:00

It's Earth Day tommorrow so I doodled this.

I also posted this on my main blog here and jotted my thoughts on how I'm doing on the "bee" green thing....

Olympic Doodle - Day 15

2010-02-27T14:52:00.001-08:00

Day 15, the days are ticking away, but doodling on I am! Here's my latest (click to enlarge):
February 26 was heavy with medals. Our lady curlers brought home sweet silver! Then in short track speed skating, two of our men won medals - gold and bronze - in a crazy race. Wow. Then the same men joined two more Canadians and snagged a team gold. Wowee Canada!

Olympic Doodle - Day 14

2010-02-27T14:41:00.000-08:00

Day 14 was a very special day for Canada, which I tried to capture just a bit of a spirit of in my doodle (click to enlarge):
February 25th was the day Joannie Rochette skated to Bronze with her so very moving performance. I get teary evey writing that. Way to go Joannie! It was also the day our women's hockey team won gold! Another day of Canadian women rocking the day!

Olympic Doodle - Day 13

2010-02-27T14:31:00.001-08:00

Day 13 was anything but unlucky for Canada, as we won four - count 'em: FOUR! - gold medals in a single day! Here's my doodle, complete with a slice of my sketchbook coil, so you can see my medium (click to enlarge):
Four?!?!? Gold and silver women's bobsled, silver in the pushy-pushy event in women's short track speed skating, and a bronze for Clara Hughes in long track speed skating. Oh, that only makes Clara Hughes the Olympian with the most medals in both summer and winter Olympics. Wow, our women rock!

Olympic Doodle - Day 12

2010-02-27T14:23:00.001-08:00

Day 12 and another Olympic inspired doodle (click to enlarge):
February 23 brought Canada another gold, courtesy of Ashleigh McIvor who flew down the mountain in true skiing craziness! Yeah!

Olympic Doodle - Day 11

2010-02-27T14:13:00.000-08:00

I've managed to keep up with my Olympic doodles, but I notice they are a little bit sparser and less detailed... No matter, it's about the spirit of the thing! Here's my day 11 doodle (click to enlarge):
Day 11 was February 22 and it was the day that Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir captured gold in ice dancing, the first time a Canadian team has done so... in fact the first time a North American team has taken this prize. Cool accomplishment!

Olympic Doodle - Day 10

2010-02-27T14:01:00.000-08:00

Here's my Day 10 doodle.... (if you click to enlarge you'll see a shadow of the next doodle in my sketchbook... hmmm.... I'll have to take a new pic sometime, but for now, this will have to do - and at least you can see what I doodled):
Day 10 fell on February 21 and was the day that Kristina Groves played silver bullet - and won silver! - in long track speed skating. Go Canada Go!

Olympic Doodle - Day 9

2010-02-27T13:26:00.000-08:00

Day 9 of the Olympics didn't bring Canada any medals but was a fun day nonetheless. My doodle tried to capture some of the spirit (click to enlarge for details):
That's a crowd in the streets dowtown, it's really something special....

Olympic Doodle - Day 8

2010-02-21T15:40:00.000-08:00

Here's my day 8 doodle, still on a roll with my daily doodles... (click to see the details):
Day 8, February 19th, was the day that Jon Montgomery brought us a gold in skeleton. Awesome!

Olympic Doodle - Day 7

2010-02-21T15:23:00.000-08:00

I love our Canadian flag, it's so fun to keep doodling it (click to enlarge):
Day 7 fell on February 18th, which was the day Christine Nesbitt snagged another gold! Most of my athlete doodles have been cryptic, but I think this one even looks like a speedskater!

Olympic Doodle - Day 6

2010-02-21T15:07:00.000-08:00

My day 6 doodle was a fun one to do (click to enlarge):
Day 6, February 17, was the day Marianne St. Gelais won a silver medal for Canada. Proud, as always.

Olympic Doodle - Day 5

2010-02-17T15:42:00.001-08:00

Day 5 of the Olympics brought Canada another gold, and another doodle from me (click to enlarge):
I'm somewhat surprised that I am still 'churning out' these doodles daily, but notice that I am filling in less detail, as I am busier with being out at events, and life in general. But it's still fun.... more on Day 5 soon on my main blog, I hope... ;-)

Olympic Doodle - Day 4

2010-02-17T15:38:00.001-08:00

Another day, another doodle.... Here's my day 4 Olympic doodle (click to enlarge for details):
February 15th, day 4 of the Olympics, brought Canada another silver medal. I'll blog about it on my main blog soon (I hope....)

Olympic Doodle - Day 3

2010-02-17T15:30:00.000-08:00

Here's my doodle from Day 3 of the Olympics (click to enlarge for details):

What a Valentine's Day for Canada! Our hearts were truly glowing with our first gold medal of the games, which also happened to be the very first gold medal for any games held in Canada (this is our third games as a nation). We also won a bronze on February 14. Ka-ching! Will blog about the day on my main blog soon....

Olympic Doodle - Day 2

2010-02-15T10:47:00.000-08:00

My doodle for day two of the Olympics was fun to do (click to see the details):
As well as the excitement of Canada's first medal of the games, this doodle represents my personal experiences of the day. I've detailed those over on my main blog here.

Olympic Doodle - Day 1

2010-02-14T10:41:00.000-08:00

I'm enjoying the doodle a day for the Olympics so far, so here is day two's doodle (click to see the close-up details):
I had done much of this by the time I learned about the death of Georgian athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili, so I was at a bit of a loss how to acknowledge that into what had started off as a goofy doodle all about fun. You'll find the corner I dedicated to him in the lower left. Also, just a note that I acknowledge that doing the totem pole is a bit of a no-no... I consider it a one off, actually in recognition of the originators of totem poles which, here in BC, are primarily Haida.

You can see my companion post, My Olympics - Day 1: Bittersweet over on my main blog.

Olympic Doodle - Day 0

2010-02-11T23:52:00.001-08:00

I did an Olympic themed doodle today. There's lots of tiny lines, so you really need to click it to enlarge it to see the details.
Not sure I'll do one every day (though I do doodle every day!), but it was fun.... BTW, I am writing about my Olympic experience over on my main blog. Here's my Day 0 story.

Introducing Ribbon Girl

2009-11-23T05:32:00.000-08:00

I've starting doodling a girl I have nicknamed Ribbon Girl. Here are the first few iterations (you might need to click to enlarge to see how purdy she is)...

Ribbon Girl Meets Ribbon Boy
Ribbon Girl Dances a Groove (this will probably also be my submission for this week's Illustration Friday challenge of "Music")

Ribbon Girl Goes for a Swim

Not sure where Ribbon Girl came from, or where the ribbons came symbolize (if anything), but she seems to be pouring out of my pen at the moment, so I am giving her time to play.

After I took these pictures, I added a small item to each of these (in this order): a heart, a musical note, a fish. They add a bit of a story, and in some ways I like them.... but I also like them just like this. Something I will ponder about as she evolves...

Two doodles in blue from Rhodes

2009-11-13T07:27:00.001-08:00

These are two doodles I did yesterday... (you can click on them to enlarge and see the details)

This first one really excited me when I looked at it today, though it is hard to put my finger on exactly why. But there is "something about it" that speaks to me. I feel it is one of the better pieces I've done...
I started this next doodle while I was at the beach yesterday, inspired by the waves, then finished it last night. The little coloured boxes on the right symbolize the seaside huts I saw. The big dark blue eye-shaped blob: that's supposed to be an old boat I saw on the shore with fishing nets next to it... Andhat's me, in the lower right hand corner, doodling... and I added in one of the Greek cats that really are everywhere; I ran into half a dozen as I was walking to the beach...

My Illustration Friday submission for "blur"

2009-11-13T07:14:00.000-08:00

Well, except I didn't submit it in time... But I did do it!! Funny, I actually did it the day the theme came out, but forgot to upload it... I see it is going to take a rhythm to actually participate in Illustration Friday weekly, but I'm working on it...

My Illustration Friday submission for "skinny"

2009-11-06T01:29:00.000-08:00

I have decided to begin participating in Illustration Friday, and the theme this week was "skinny". Here is my very first submission (you can click the pic to enlarge it for details):
What is Illustration Friday? Here's the blurb from their site:

Illustration Friday is a weekly creative outlet/participatory art exhibit for illustrators and artists of all skill levels. It was designed to challenge participants creatively. We believe that every person has a little creative bone in their body. Illustration Friday just gives a no-pressure, fun excuse to use it. No clients looking for a particular thing. No one judging the outcome of the work. It's a chance to experiment and explore and play with visual art. So welcome, novices and pros alike.

I'm looking forward to what inspiration my ongoing participation will bring...

Spain doodles: more purples

2009-11-04T08:16:00.000-08:00

More doodles from Spain in the purple theme I was using at the time...

Yeah, some I seem to only have pics of as I was creating them, generally over beer...

This was actually taken at a little bar adjacent to the very original Roman city wall that surrounded Barcelona...

Spain doodles: Gaudi inspired

2009-11-03T07:09:00.000-08:00

I figured it was about time I started uploading my doodles from my trip... This batch was from my first destination, Barcelona, and were doodled while I was up on the roof of Gaudi's La Pedrera in July:

Visiting La Pedrera was definitely one of my trip highlights, and I have observed Gaudi-inspired shapes and curves appearing in a lot of my doodles ever since...

Heavenly sisterhood... and more....

2009-06-05T16:49:00.000-07:00

Just some recent doodles, many with new homes now...

2 recent doodles

2009-05-14T03:17:00.000-07:00

I've been doodling like crazy, but too busy to upload... These are a couple done recently. The one at the top was last night, and I like to think of it as a happy mobile fueled by sunshine.... The one at the bottom I call "pisces" as the fish just begane to emerge on its own....

3 Doodles with Europe on My Mind

2009-03-11T18:28:00.000-07:00

I've essentially changed my life completely in the last 2 weeks, and in a few months will be leaving it all behind to go to Europe for an extended period. Haven't doodled much, but these are from the last few days when I have paused, letting it all sink in...

Doodle from "the day after"

2009-02-27T06:27:00.000-08:00

I doodled this late last night, after a day of mental regrouping and responding to others' sadness over all the people who were let go at work the day before. I have this odd feeling of being both "with the departed" and "with the working wounded", as I am staying on for 2 more months. I wonder what that means in the big picture of things... but overall I feel good about where I am at, and where I am going.

Doodles from Deepak

2009-02-21T01:24:00.001-08:00

These are 3 doodles from when i was listening to Deepak Chopra speak tonight, the first at the bottom, the last at the top, gee, do they get more "spiritual" as the show went on?

Yesterday's doodle

2009-02-17T21:25:00.000-08:00

Once again, i found a dog emerging, noticed it about 3/4 of the way through this, so just filled in some gaps and let it be.

There's also a little face or two in there if you look close enough....

2 days of doodles

2009-02-14T18:26:00.000-08:00

Top 2: today, in taxi, at hairdressers, and on the bus home.

About the hearts... this is my 1 concession to Valentine's Day, as I was getting my hair cut in a salon named after my hairdresser: Valentine. Really!

Bottom 2: transit, after work drinks, and during a ride home

Brain reboot doodles

2009-02-12T18:53:00.000-08:00

Took some time yesterday to reboot my brain, and spent a few hours doodling....

I quite like the top one....

Cool rainbow doodle

2009-02-09T21:35:00.000-08:00

I must have been in a good space when I doodled this...

Blue ferry doodles

2009-02-07T19:43:00.000-08:00

Had an interesting moment on the ferry today... A guy came up to me towards the end of the voyage and admired what I was doodling. And after we chatted for a few minutes, I asked him if he would like to have it. And he said yes. As I gave it to him, I said I hoped he would enjoy it, and he said he would, and he was planning to put it in his office.

It was a lot like this one (I started this one right afterwards), though I'd worked on his for a good hour or so (versus this was about 10 min). The now-in-its-new-home-doodle had all sorts of faces - big, small, right way up, small, funny, the full gambit.

It was actually rather special to pass one on that way, he was quite delighted. Maybe more fun that selling one. Not that I know what that feels like, lol...

Purple people lying on their sides

2009-02-04T20:48:00.000-08:00

So, first of all, whey does Blogger turn some of my images on their side? Weeeird.

This one is probably as cool on it's side as it is the right way up, so these purple guys shall still be posted.....

oodles of doodly faces

2009-02-02T19:50:00.000-08:00

just a doodle....

More doodles from The Big Apple

2009-01-28T21:28:00.001-08:00

Various doodles over the past few days...

The one with all the dots is today's.

One of them has "50" embedded in it, so, guess what, did that one on my birthday...

The bartender in the lounge here is introducing me to other patrons as, "this lady is an artist from Canada, here to celebrate her birthday". Ah, sweet Marta...

A pair of doodles from the big apple

2009-01-25T20:18:00.000-08:00

A pair of doodles done in my hotel in NYC.

Swirly Thing

2009-01-23T19:43:00.000-08:00

Rather like this rainbow swirly thing doodle.

About the frame... found these awesome 'black hand' frames, really quite groovy....

Purple People

2009-01-22T19:23:00.001-08:00

Was having fun creating these purple people.... one of the first times faces were emerging in my doodles....

Pink Dots That Pop

2009-01-22T05:29:00.000-08:00

The string of pink dots in this one seem to really pop for me. That, and those blue spikey things....

I'm waiting for someone to tell me what they see in this one....

Colourful Kidneys

2009-01-21T18:41:00.000-08:00

I see kidneys in this one. There are actually a few faces in this, but you have to look for them...

Tiny Bubbles

2009-01-20T18:44:00.000-08:00

I call this one Tiny Bubbles.

It's like Dean Martin is singing in my ear.... lol...

I refer to this as part of my 'rainbow' series. Not that I was drawing rainbows, but when I'm using lots of colours all lined up together it has a rainbow feel to it.

Happy Purple Wormies

2009-01-19T19:14:00.000-08:00

I had a few painful days in December when I was out of my fav purple pen... Then, finally, they were back in stock and I was back in the purple doodle business!

This is actually a bit of a reflection of both how I am integrating faces into my doodles (generally less goofy) and simply my ability to be goofy! These guys are kinda cute, if I say so myself.

Rainbow Dog

2009-01-18T11:47:00.000-08:00

I did not see the dog emerge in this doodle until it was about 3/4 done, and it really spoke to me. It is one of the few times I have paid attention to what was emerging and intentionally followed that path.

It needs a name that relfects it's power, I'm reflecting on it...

Here's looking at you...

2009-01-17T21:34:00.000-08:00

Just a silly doodle that emerged one day. It now sits in my bathroom and makes me smile in the mornings ;-)

Black and Blue

2009-01-07T00:03:00.000-08:00

A couple of doodles from a series I have done using a blue metallic gel pen on black paper. I figured "black and blue" was an appropriate name for the series...

Turning 50

2009-01-05T00:47:00.001-08:00

So... I am turning 50 soon, so a couple of doodles as I have contemplated this milestone....

In the first one, look carefully and you will see the "50" that I started the page with. It's one of the few doodles that I have done with intention, and it includes some symbology around looking forward / looking back, connecting with the earth, being grounded, tapping into my creativity and such...

Ringing in the new year

2009-01-03T14:15:00.000-08:00

I began this doodle the evening of December 31st.... and finished it the next day. So, thought it an interesting symbol of the transition between years for me.

Reaching for the Stars

2009-01-02T11:16:00.000-08:00

Doodled on a rainy afternoon in a little cafe in Montreal. This doodle makes me happy and seems a suitable one to start the new year...

Fishy

2008-12-31T14:36:00.001-08:00

One doodle from my pencil crayon phase. I see a fish in this one.

Brightness

2008-12-30T23:52:00.000-08:00

This doodle is typical of my current trend, which is a lot of bright colours on the black paper.

I do not plan what I draw, I just use intuition to guide me.

The friendly dragon

2008-12-30T23:41:00.001-08:00

This doodle, I have been told, appears as a horse to someone, and to another person a dragon...

It IS just a doodle, but I am inspired to hear what other people see in what I create...

What is "beepdoodles"?

2008-08-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

It's my new idea for a spot to post my doodles, and share my experiences in becoming a doodler at this point in my life....

It is so interesting when people talk to me in planes about what I am drawing, I am a little in awe myself...

Postscript added Jan 19/09: "beepdoodles" is a play on a childhood nickname I had that makes me feel young at heart: "Beep". So beep doodles has become beepdoodles....