LADIES OF MYSTERY - the main collection

"Planetaria"

13.5" x 16.5"
Spray-paint, Sharpie on plexi-glas

Maybe this isn't my first collection per se but it certainly feels like a milestone. It's the first time I've had the opportunity to reveal so much of my work at once. With these pieces as well as the Slims [1] [2], Bitch in the Sky, and the Avianettes [1] [2] [3] [4] I was able to give a wide view of my world. A world where women are crazed and cunning. They make no apologies for their passions and never turn a deaf ear to the voice of their curiosity. Role models, basically.

"Pearl Poachers"
13.5" x 16.5"
Spray-paint, Sharpie on plexi-glas

"The Brazen Peek-A-Boo Ladies"
9" x 20"
Spray-paint, Sharpie on plexi-glas

"Tea Maiden"
13.5" x 16.5"
Spray-paint, Sharpie on plexi-glas

A side note to this one: Rarely but sometimes it's hard to find the right reference material. In this stellar age of knowledge at your fingertips sometimes you still need to know what something is called before you can look it up properly. I couldn't for the life of me find a picture of whatever these tea vessels are called BUT, I DID remember that you briefly see one near the beginning of The Exorcist when Max Von Sydow is digging around in Iraq. I pull out my copy, which I hadn't watched in ages, and lo and behold, about 4 minutes in, Max at some sand-blown cafe and we see, for barely a second, a fellow pouring tea from a contraption like this girl is using. It felt invigorating to be searching for something and actually track it down without the net. Not this time, Google, I got this. Pause Button!

"Rapt"
13.5" x 16.5"
Spray-paint, Sharpie on plexi-glas

"It Was Never Yours"
13.5" x 16.5"
Spray-paint, Sharpie on plexi-glas

"Admiral Nautiluscia"
9" x 20"
Spray-paint, Sharpie on plexi-glas

Now that the show is complete I'm taking time to get reacquainted with my old love, animation. More Cyclops and Owl moving pictures! One primary goal, THIS hushed project which is overdue twice over.

LADIES OF MYSTERY @ TABULA RASA

My first solo art show. It is less than 2 weeks away, which seems like about 15 minutes from now. It is for ONE NIGHT ONLY so get your looking balls ready for a feast. On side A of the postcard you can see Admiral Nautiluscia. She is one of the ladies that will be on display.
It is being held at TABULA RASA, the best new store in the neighbourhood for vintage and designer women's fashion. There will beverages, music provided by My Liner Notes and, of course, heroines, harlots and harpies. And bring your camera for a surprise care of Amarina. And we're liable to cut a rug, so that's always worth cli-click or two, too.

The facebook event page is HERE. Tell your friends!


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Cyclops and Owl brand

Started as a way to clear up that the cyclops in our logo is not rotund but rather he's just hunched over.

The Avianettes: Owl

Some people like to bemoan the prevalence of owls in current culture. I like to bemoan the prevalence of these people. There is perhaps more questionable uses of owls recently but they were very popular in the 60s and 70s too, which is actually the cause of a lot of their current popularity seen in the trends of retro and vintage decor and fashion.

But owls are not awesome because they are in fashion now, then or otherwise. Owls are awesome because OWLS-are-AWESOME.

Have you ever looked an owl in the eyes? Chilling. That shit is pure magic.

9"x 6.5"
Stained glass lampshade piece, spray paint and sharpie

The 4th
The 3rd
The first 2

Frisket Film: Amazing tool, but a harsh mistress

I love Frisket Film. I've just started working with it. I did a piece last week where I used it to mask out some great text. The above would have been great as well. I first masked out the razor sharp hexagon leaving behind the smokey plexi-glas. No problems, worked like a charm.
Then there was the second masking, for creating the swooping cloud background for the character. The knife cutting was hard but came out great. There was one problem. I left the frisket on overnight, what I now know is a cardinal frisket no-no, especially in this blasted heat. It was alright over the clean plexi, but where the matte jade paint was the residue was atrocious. I did a hasty paper remask to try to paint over it and save it, but to no avail. The residue is practically sneering at me in that picture. So learn from my mistakes. Frisket Film is great, just don't rest on your laurels.It just happened so I thought I'd post in the moment! The venting has helped.

The Avianettes: Falcon

The tables of turned on this falconer and she likes it.

9"x 6.5"
Stained glass lampshade piece, spraypaint and sharpie

The 3rd
The first 2

The Avianettes: Hornbill

The continuing adventures of a lamp thrown in the garbage and the Avianettes.

9"x 6.5"
Stained glass lampshade piece, spraypaint and sharpie

The first 2

Bazaar of the Bizarre photos

Taking part in this show was a real treat! The vendors were awesome and so were the mobs of all ages wandering amongst the tables. Amarina and I met some great people. Above, you can see the full spread including an amazing banner that my cohort surprised me with!

There were great responses, the best ones often wordless. A favourite was from a girl who was walking by aimlessly. She looked over at my table absentmindedly, gave a blink that was nearly a flinch and stopped. Then took a couple steps towards the table, leaned over for a closer look, shaking her head while smiling.

Below in the middle you can see Feral Meryl. I had a contest going (a brilliant idea thanks to Amarina) where contestants suggest what Meryl will fight and the winner would get a print of their idea for free. Only 4 were daring enough to cast a ballot. Since all of their suggestions were amazing I've decided they all win and I can't wait to do them all!

Though she looks quite sharp in her ceremonial attire, Feral Meryl is, as her name suggests, a bit savage. She guards the Empress and anything that comes through that door will wish it hadn't.

The winners were:

Mr. Brett of ChiZine Publications
Mr. Thomas of Imaginary Thomas
Ms. Ele of Minouette
and
Ms. Julia of the House of Reynardin

I'll reveal their suggestions as they are completed.

The Avianettes: Cassowary and Booted Racket-tail Hummingbird

The Avianettes. 7 ladies who share an unbreakable bond with their avian companions. Here are the first two completed.

I took these pictures before I put on the gloss varnish because I just couldn't wait to see them on the wall.



These were the newest pieces on sale at Bazaar of the Bizarre. I'll be posting the pics from the table next.

Crockenspiel And Her Keeper print

Off to war, off to the market square, off to get some milk from the corner store. It's all the same to Crockenspiel and her Keeper.

Hand-vectored from the original on vinyl record.

Come see this and other items for sale at Bazaar of the Bizarre!

5 x7 Prints: Hibou À Trois Têtes and Bliss Listenings

The swift-legged, 3-headed Ground Owl uses all 6 eyes to keep tabs on predator and prey. Though flightless, it will climb trees with great speed utilizing 3 beaks and nimble toes to gain a better view before scurrying down to the ground to pursue it's target. A rare treat for birdwatchers but beware, they are extremely unpredictable despite their charm.


Second is a detail shot from a family portrait I did for me and my girls.

Come see these and other items for sale at Bazaar of the Bizarre!

5 x 7 Prints: Busy Morning

Busy Morning

I will be selling 5x7 prints like the one above at Bazaar of the Bizarre this Sunday (@ Pia Bowman Ballet School which looks like a great venue).

"Busy Morning" is actually from an eventual comic starring Crushida, who has appeared in a previous switch plate wearing a much more complicated outfit. Here, she is enjoying her morning stroll to work as best she can. She normally doesn't carry a shoulder full of brand new samurai swords to work, she's more a hand-to-hand kind of lady, but her first case today is a couple of blood-thirsty squid-men picking off cyclists in the Don Valley. You might ask, "why would you need 4 samurai swords? I mean, you can only use 2 at the most, unless you're a squid-man." Well the answer is very simple. Squid-men are, as you would expect, extremely grabby and sometimes it's just easier to grab a new one straight away than to try and take the one you lost back.

I'll post the rest of the 5x7's over the next 5 days.

Bazaar of the Bizarre

I am pleased as Punch to announce that I will be one of the lucky artists involved with "Bazaar of the Bizarre"! Check the facebook page for all the nitty gritty details. Below you will find a list of the staggering talent that will be peddling their wares at this eccentric event. I'm very excited and I'll be posting some new items that will be available at the show including 5 x 7 prints that I hand-vectored from some of the switch plates I've done. The posts will be coming more quick and dirty as the show grows closer so stay tuned.

Here's the Vendors List:
(I found links for as many as I could)

Plastik Wrap
Kaotic Ekko's
Clockwork Zero
Random Pretty things
ChiZine Publication
Beat Black
Dirty Little Secrets
Eden Bachelder Fine Art
Imaginary Thomas
Sci Feye Candy
The Original Face.ca
BinarySoul Design
To Die For Designs
Roxy Swing Creations
Skye Castle Publishing Co.
Plastik Haar/ Neko designs
Vintagelove
Munkybuns
Sew Scary
The Circus Store
Sadistic Vanity
The Generation
The Gnarled Branch
Sick on Sin
Garden Dub
Dreaming Tree Paper Company
Zom-b
Zirco Circus
MISSLEXIA
Creepy Christine
Jenuinekraft by Jenny Kuri
Papersnake Jewelry
Pamela Williams
Marionette
Epidemic Clothing Collective
BitchCraft
Cyclops and Owl ------------------<(Me!)
Positive Spin
Storming the base

Got their hair did #8

Here's the 8th and final piece. All of these were in the Movies and Makers show at Fox Theatre.
This one in particular went to the event's chief organizer, Lisa Pijuan-Nomura of Girl can Create.

She is giving this lady a very happy home.

#7
#6
#5
#4 SOLD!
#3
#2
#1

Got their hair did #7

Isn't she darling?

#6
#5
#4
#3
#2
#1