Return from Health hiatus

I know, I have been away for awhile, but not without a good reason; health.
In the past 6 months, I devoted all my time and energy on healing my body, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in June and have been in the hospital a few times. Through lots of research, I learned that by changing my lifestyle and eating a Paleo diet, I have been able to maintain good health again. It was a pretty rocky road but I am on the mend now.

I tried to come back to my art several times to help me get through some of the darkest moments, sometimes it helped, other times, I just didn't have the brain power to do so ( brain fog). I am looking forward to the new year to come with plans for new beginnings. I started exploring oil pastels and oil sticks and think my oil paints will get to come out to play very soon. The fumes that associated with oil painting made me take the long break from them after the arrival of my children. Now with my condition, I definitely didn't want to be around toxins either. Lucky for me, I didn't have to look too far to for an answer.

The client has chosen

Let there be colour. Stay tuned.

Fame and the red carpet

My almost 9 yrs old and I were discussing the topic of being famous and the red carpet. I took that parenting opportunity to talk about how not to let what society sets as standard of goals and success limit his dreams.

I tried to explain to him in Lego terms, of how he built his hobbit hole with his existing pieces without owning a pre-designed set. The goal was like getting on the red carpet, once he finished his magnificent creation, and made a few changes here and there, he got bored. It didn't just stop there, so he took it apart and built another creation that he proudly shows me.

Later, I realize how it was another lesson I am learning through my children. I thought back to when I was pregnant with him, I gave myself 5 years to get "there" in my art career. I thought that when I see my name on the wall of an art gallery, I will feel that I am a successful artist. Since then, I learned that showing in Public Art Galleries, Theatre Concourse and City Halls did not make me feel that career satisfaction I thought I would achieve. I continued to dive deeper into my creative process and left the pressure of a timeline aside and got back to enjoying making art. Now, as I constantly try to balance raising my children with creating my art, I am starting to feel creative energies converging into a place of harmony. Here is one of the earlier creations my 9 yrs old made, the one I was referring to has been taken apart before I took a photo of it. I was disappointed in myself that I missed the photo op, but my 9 yrs old consoled me that he still has the base and can rebuilt it again... just for me. I look forward to his next Lego creation and will not miss the photo op as his creative energies are strong and can take shape in different forms at the blink of an eye.

Also a remainder if you had something in mind to order from my society6, free worldwide shipping ends March 17 so get on it!

http://fearfog.tumblr.com/

Happy customer

A happy customer shared the photos of her new iPhone skin by yours truly. Thanks again Lady T

My Art Merch wish

When I was a teenager, I took a photo of my painting, took it to the mall's dog's ears, and had it printed on a tshirt to give to my boyfriend. I guess I have always wanted to see my artwork on merchandise. I love to paint big and bold and fewer and fewer homes can house my larger size work. With my Art Merch, my art can enter people's lives as a iphone case or skin or hang out on your couch as a pillow. I am so happy to see my society6 shop grow. See! And I am getting a few likes along with sales. When my likes go up, I get more motivated and want to add more work and product. THANKS for fueling my creativity * blush*

Alla Prima

On exploring the Alla Prima method, I have always aimed to produce work that conveys spontaneity. It's not easy making something look just right and not over worked. I have discovered that I am a fairly fast painter, I think I often try to paint fast to capture the movement and freedom of Alla Prima. There is always the question of loose and quick vs. unfinished.

John Singer Sargent is my all time favourite painter who captures this sense of Alla Prima. I don't know how he actually paints, fast and free or meticulous and detailed, but his work always feels open and airy with the right amount of energy.

Society6 last day free shipping

Hi everyone

Use this link for last day worldwide free shipping

I just ordered a pair of these for my kids to build pillow fort with. What will you order?

New beginnings

Our retail clothing store  Global Atomic Designs is now open at our new home 1144 Mainland Street. It has been months of long long hours of work, but it is definitely worth it seeing it today. After 15 years at the old location, the move was filled with mixed feelings. Just in time for Spring, we are excited to move forward. Besides all the aspects of moving and building the new store. I was kept very busy with all the branding materials from signage to flyers to business cards to social media.  I still have a few branding work to do, especially for the cafe. Now our coffee is pretty amazing, you just have to come and try one.

Now that the store is settling in, I can spend more time on my art. I sure missed it but one can only do so much at a time. I am feeling fresh ideas trying to burst out of my head. I have already added a few new products on my Society6 site since the well responses is very encouraging.

I will be working hard adding new products. So check in often,  right now there is also a free shipping promo on until Feb 10, so take advantage of it. Pass it on, tell your friends.

Society6

I just want to send a thank you to the people who made their Society6 purchases from me. I don't know if I can send personal thankyous through Society6, so hope you will receive this via my social media.


Thank you again

Astrid

Global Cardboard Challenge

I have been very inspired by this 9 years old boy in East LA. I'm sure lots of you might have stumbled upon it online. I am searching to see if there is an event for the Global Cardboard Challenge this Oct 6 in my area,  Richmond/ Vancouver, BC, Canada. If not, I would be interested in organizing one. Please pass this on and spread the word. I think it would be great for me soon to be 9 years old and 2 years old to be involved in this kind of creativity. Contact me if you know of any interest or details about the event.

Less words more paint

I have been over analyzing life and its events and got deep in the worrying black hole. Finally I realize that I need to dwell on words a bit less and try to illustrate my feelings purely for survival purpose. Here are my expressions of the anxiety I have been feeling. More to come as my healing continues.

Learning about oneself

Happy New Year everyone!

I would like to share a few steps of how I get started with my painting process to start the new year off. This will also serve as a reminder to self when I hit those " artist block".

1. Warm up by mixing colour scale
2. Keep to the big brush and use smaller brushes sparsely.
3. Do painting drills. Paint same subject several times in one sitting
4. Document paintings as they dry, the colours change as they dry.

Oh and there is a special promo for free shipping worldwide at my society6. 
You have to click on this link to get the promo and it's only good until Jan 13, 2013 so act fast!