Summer Happenstance

Filled with plans yet always open to happenstance, another summer is coming to a close. It's been a great one, filled with more visual fodder than I could keep up with!

Below are a few travel sketches, a few from a busy two week Habitat for Humanity Build in Nicaragua (www.cmadfa.com/build), one from the famous (or infamous..) Jersey shore, and a couple more from sunny and summery Richmond, VA.

More work to come including current projects - enjoy!

*Click images to enlarge*

Hostal Real, Masachapa, Nicaragua  *Click images to enlarge*

     Beach, Masachapa, Nicaragua

     Zapatera Island, Lake Nicaragua   *Click images to enlarge*

     Jersey Shore, NJ

                                                            Roseneath, Richmond, VA

      Roseneath 2, Richmond, VA

Yikes! Spring already?

Well, spring is 'springing,' if it hasn't already sprung, and what I've lacked in quantity of work, I've made up for in variety!

This is a smattering of what I've been up to so far this year . . .

Poster for a Charitable Foundation

Painting commission of a scene in Italy. (Excuse the tilted photo - better one to come!)

Did YOU know? - "A Utah resident can hold a legal wine tasting if they spit out all the wine they taste. If any of the wine makes it down a taster’s gullet, the whole proceeding is rendered illegal."

Fun spot illustration I did for an upcoming issue of a local Art/Culture/Food/Wine Magazine called 'The County Grapevine.' 

More to come!

Holidays

Welcome 2011!

Some sketches from  home during my deliciously lazy holidays - done while lounging in a chair or perched on a stool, while inhaling the smell of pine, drinking strong coffee or sitting in front of a wood stove with a dog on my legs. Bit and pieces of the places, things and people that described the whole wonderfully peaceful and blessed holiday season.

(I'm planning to finish some of them with watercolour so check back for that!)

Emerging Artist Cover Contest

I entered a new contest recently called the 'Emerging Artist Cover Contest,' sponsored by The Toronto Star newspaper. I didn't win, but I made it to the top ten and received an honourable mention!

The task was to submit an illustration depicting 'Holidays in Toronto.' I chose to use torn paper as my medium and quite enjoyed the process.

The winning illustrations, as well as the top ten finalists' work, appeared in a spread in the Toronto Star on Christmas Eve, as well as in an online gallery on the Star's website.

Below is the link for the Dec. 24th news story, Click on "Photos: Cover Art Contest Top Ten" midway through the article and scroll through the images at the bottom to view all top ten illustrations.

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/911946--the-winners-of-the-star-s-emerging-artist-cover-contest?bn=1

Summer

A few sketches/watercolours done in my sketchbook this summer. How soon we forget how relaxing and satisfying a good sketchbook session can be...(!)

First, from around home...

Tomatoes

Queen Anne's Lace

Roses

And From Guatemala...

Alcazar Dona Victoria in Coban (can't figure out how to do Spanish symbols..!)

Beloved patio..and euchre...

Mini market

Guatemala!

In just a couple days I will be heading to central Guatemala to participate in a two week long build project with Habitat for Humanity/Christadelphian Meal A Day Fund of the Americas.

I was thrilled when they asked me to design a tee for the project!

Since we will be building houses alongside the new homeowners-to-be, I decided to incorporate some of the history of Guatemala (Mayan ruins) with modern building materials like concrete blocks and ladders which we will be using.

I thought a blue tee with white writing would be perfect to match the colours of the Guatemalan flag.

Almost a year later...

Welcome! Having my very valuable education behind me, it is now time to move forward in my visual career. First step - training wheels.

I hope this blog will be instrumental in my motivation to create and share new work at all times, no matter what situation I find myself in. Please, feel free to hold me accountable to this!

I have been working on my 'official' website and with the huge help of a wonderful friend it is now published and will continue to be added to. Check it out! www.aprilsage.com

Will post again soon.

-April