Drop the Chalupa.

Painted Signs and Chihuahas

Seeing all the hand painted signs on my recent trip to Mexico made me realize how truly boring a slick, plastic, commercially printed sign usually is.

Happy Cupcake, Moody Cupcake.

A sketchbook experiment in color and tone.

Nudy Tuesday

I'm back from Mexico and very ready to be back in the studio. Here are a few from last night's figure drawing session.

Et Voila

My new cards, pre-cut.

A little printing, a little dirty dancing.

The past couple days have been full of screenprinting. I'm attempting to make myself some business cards but I've had nothing but technical problems. I think I'm starting to figure out my technical issues, but there are so many things that can go wrong while printing!!!!!#*%@

Also, I bought the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. Shut up.
The ghost of Patrick Swayze made me do it.
Maybe my cards didn't work because I was too busy shaking my money maker.
Sigh.

Nudy Tuesday

It's an egg. With some gold on it.

summer sketchbook entry

A really quick portrait.

Andrew

Good model last night. Despite it being 3000 degrees in the hall, it was a fun session.

What's a Sumo Man Woman?

At some point during this small study for a painting, what was intended to be a portrait of a woman magically transformed into a portrait of a Sumo wrestler wearing a doilie. A good example of me losing control of proportion and detail. I managed to somewhat wrestle it back into some semblance of a 'handsome' reptilian woman. Wearing a doilie. Not my best work.

Nerd Alert.

Plaid Jackets and Club Beer

In an attempt to brainstorm for a show called "Bonfire", all I could come up with was the memory of going to bush parties (yes, you read 'bush party') - for those of you who didn't grow up in smallish towns where there was nothing to do, a bush party is when a bunch of stupid teenagers drive out to someone's acreage or farm (belonging to another stupid teenager who's parents are away) and light a bunch of crap on fire. All that crap is piled into a great big heap of bonfire, and the drinking begins. Since I was a teenager in the 90's, the outfit du jour was a plaid lumberjacket style flannel coat a la Eddie Vedder, and since we were a bunch of stupid penniless teenagers we drank Club beer, which was the cheapest piss on the market.
So there.
An embarassing bit of my history.

sketchbook patterns

Experiments in making my own patterned paper.

Hand Type Exploration

Etsy Sale!

It's time for a sale at my Etsy store - visit and help me make room for fresh new stock!
karenhascabinfever.etsy.com

Why So Angry, Young Lady?

I'm not perpetually pissed off (anymore), but this woman is.

Sketchbook exploration...

She's Not Thrilled.

T for trying.

Another experiment with portraits...this one stinks a little of 'effort', but whatever, I'm trying to figure some stuff out and there are bound to be many rejects. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

gouache and ink on cardboard

So Last Weekend...

Here's a piece I did for the National Post last weekend...Saturday edition. I always find it interesting to see the illustration in context.

Nudy Tuesday

I had a good figure drawing session this week. Good model, nice physique, someone that I enjoyed drawing - which is not always the case. It's as though some models inspire me to continue drawing. To say it in a flaky way - they give off a kind of energy. Other models seem to suck energy from the room - let's call it a creative vortex of pain and suffering.

Anyhoo, drawing felt easy and natural that night, but when I got home I started to feel really sick. That was the beginning of a horrible 3 day stomach flu. I hope the two situations aren't related, I know it's probably 'cool' to suffer for one's art - but screw that.

Have a good weekend!

Wallpaper + acrylic = clumsy portrait

ghost portrait

I wish computer monitors showed fluorescent colors, 'cause I sure do like using them.

I Can Read Your Thoughts.

Fashion a tinfoil helmet.

Gouache and Pencil Portrait

blech.

This is a quick portrait that I drew, and totally hate, but Jammer seemed to like it so I thought I would post it anyway.

New Pen! New Pen!

I am in love with my new fountain pen.
It draws like a dream, all fluid-y and non skip-y.
Yep.

RARR

button up!

This guy LOVES following the rules.

I've been messing around lately with these small portraits, trying to do one every day or so. They're experimental, using a variety of media and techniques. More to come.

The Missus On Wallpaper

Hunky Meat Cube

Pow! Portrait 2

Peasant-y Portrait

I've been focusing on portraits lately, I find them to be always challenging and interesting. Here's a particularly sad little individual, I was trying to paint her very quickly and not overwork it.

water + color = happytimes

Looking at Jillian's watercolor posts made me realize that I miss painting with that medium. It has special qualities, which is kind of how my mom describes me.

Me on TV

That's right - CityTV recently did a little piece for the Avant Garden Market Mall project...

see it here

awarded...

Thanks to Communication Arts for choosing me to be a part of their Illustration Annual again this year! The Market Mall 'Avant Garden' pieces will appear in the annual this summer.
Thanks also to American Illustration 28 for choosing one of my Breast Cancer feature pieces for their book! Very much appreciated.
Also, I was nominated for the National Magazine Awards for a spot illustration, so I'll have to wait and see about that one.

Nudy Tuesday

Avant Garden Part Deux

Here are some shots of my work in situ, along with a few shots of the editioned posters that were created for the mall as giveaways. They packaged them with a lovely ribbon and an artist's statement. Salut!

stupid pig

Avant Garden!

If you visit Market Mall by May 1st you'll see the posters I created for their Spring campaign "Avant Garden". Above are the final images that were printed as banners, posters, coloring pages, and various other applications throughout the mall. I worked with great people on this project, Zero Gravity's Kristen Ruggles, Cheryl Shepherd, Dan King, and Rob Fairhead. And of course my Colagene rep for this project: Ariel Tarr!
Below is a snapshot of some of my process for this particular project...

Humbrol high.

Nudy Tuesday

some scribbles from last night's drawing session...

My poor goat.

Nudy Tuesday

Some selections from figure drawing last night, really great model. Lean, dancer-like body, great dynamic poses. One of the best models I've seen, and enjoyable and challenging to draw!

Black, White and Red all over.

Some recent sketchbook activity.

Colagene, Society, Pépère

I am pleased to announce that I am now represented by the agency Colagene, check them out at Colagene.com. They will cover Europe, US, UK and Canada, and I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do together!

Some more happy news, I have 4 pieces accepted into Society of Illustrators LA Illustration West 47. That's a mouthful. Or a fistful, since I'm typing.

Here's a portrait I did over the holidays, of mon pépère.

Merry Christmas!

figure drawing

figure drawing

Went figure drawing last night with Le Jacket and Dena...Great curvy model...

gallery visits

I saw some great work today from current illustration students at ACAD, strong figurative and conceptual illustrations that are worth taking a look at. You have to hurry though, the show's only up until December 5. (Photo Mike Kerr)



Also visited Newzones, some interesting paintings by Kevin Sonmor

Visit my store!

My etsy store is stocked up, plus I'm adding new items as I create them....
KarenHasCabinFever.etsy.com

sketchbook

a little process...

Here's a small test painting I did for my Fashion Portraits show...

Messin' Around

Some recent sketchbook activity...The first one I did right after reading "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield. A good book that I read around once a year, it gives me a kick in the butt. If you're a creative person and sometimes struggle with motivation, read it.

Home Sweet Home Sale

I'm participating in a sale on November 23 with 11 very talented people - we will all be selling our unique, handmade wares from 11am to 5pm. Bring a friend!

Fashion Portrait Show

Here are some snaps of my show that was up for Sep/Oct at Shisomiso (and one shot of the paintings in progress on my studio wall). Thank you Irene and Victoria, the two sweeties who are Shisomiso.