(This is a news letter I sent out. If you’d like to receive fresh news every week, sign up here! The full newsletter contains surprises and is delivered once a week to your mailbox.)

Atelier News

Hello everyone!

I hope this finds you happy and healthy!

What a week! I’ve been working on the Brooklyn project like a MANIAC, and it’s coming along nicely. This week was my first week producing 4 pieces, and it’s pretty intense. I’m targeting 3 to 4 pieces per week on top of creating at least one new product per week for my Etsy. And, because I love to work apparently, I’m also starting new drawing challenge for Instagram.

I’ve been reflecting a lot on my relationship with social media, and I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t particularly like social media because it makes me really anxious. However, I like that I can connect with artists that I admire easily through Instagram and stay inspired to create. So I pondered and decided that the best way for me to stay happy and on social media was to use it to my advantage.

In this case, I looked at the fact that I always am looking for new flowers to draw but I often fall back on the same few. Don’t get me wrong, I love drawing apple blossoms and calendulas, but, you know, there are other flowers! So I challenged myself to draw 30 flowers that I’m not used to drawing using only ink. I’ve called my challenge 30 Lined Flowers, and you can find it on Instagram at #30linedflowers. I’m only on day 3 of it, but I’m feeling really motivated, and it’s nice to get some practice while posting regularly to the Gram.
I promise, I’m a nice millennial!

I’ve been reading…

Because I cannot be all serious and in the “we’re doomed to die” every week, I’ve read a very, very, very light read this week… and loved every single page. I am a huge fan of Netflix’s Queer Eye and secretly wish the Fab Five were my best friends. So when I saw that my online library had Tan’s memoir, well, I just had to read it.

It was really good! Tan goes through his childhood as a gay Muslim Pakistani boy in England up to today and the phenomenal success the show has. I have to say I could really relate to some of the things he went through as a kid: feeling like you are part of the main culture until you are called brown or yellow by other kids, juggling between the outside culture and the culture at home, trying to find outlets for your creativity… I love that the book also had some fashion advice because I am completely fashion impaired. Anyways, a really great read if you need a bit of glitter while also getting all the feels.

And if reading is not your thing, please watch the show! It will make you want to scream “Yassss Queeeeen” in no time, I promise!

YouTube

I once won two awards for my organization skills. I know, I’m quite the party animal. I’m taking you with me on this crazy bus for some organizational tips this week!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWcch2XQIqxGMRMC-zAMUGw

New in the Etsy Store

So, this week I went all in with this decoupage idea and created this Monstera andansonii greeting card. It’s one of my favourite house plant, and ours was my inspiration for this card.

Click on the image to find out more!

(If you enjoyed reading this, consider signing up to my newsletter. Each week, I send fresh news and surprise! Sign up here!)

(This is a news letter I sent out. If you’d like to receive fresh news every week, sign up here! The full newsletter contains surprises and is delivered once a week to your mailbox.)

Atelier News

Hello everyone!

I hope this finds you happy and healthy!

This week has been a productive one. I reviewed my schedule for the Brooklyn project, and realized that I needed to get going if I want to finish in time for the August deadline. So, I’m starting to work on two pictures a week to catch up and keep on track. I’m so glad I caught that now and not too late! It’s a really fun project, and I can’t wait to see the final result. It’s really motivating to be working on this story book and to see each illustration work with the others. I really hope you’ll like it! Here’s a sneak peak of our main character, Agatha.

I’ve been reading…

Climate change is at the center of my thoughts these last few weeks, and although I’m convinced humans are responsible, I always like to do a bit of research and know what I’m talking about.

So I wrote Holly Exley who is not only a wonderful illustrator but also an Extinction Rebellion activist for some reading recommendation. She suggested I tried any book by Naomi Klein, and so I’m reading This Changes Everything. I’m not done yet, but it’s really good so far!

Klein goes through the different ways that we, as individuals and as a society, pretend there is no problem, that everything is fine and that capitalism will save us. Her study of the relationship between capitalism and the state of the natural world is chocking. What I like most however about this book is that Klein is a strong advocate of the idea that the fight against climate change can also be a fight for social change: climate justice = social justice. Food for thought indeed!

View this post on Instagram

Pas de retour à l'Anormal, "partout" dans Montréal 🙂 C'est le 1er mai. La journée des travailleurs. La journée pour la justice sociale. La journée contre les excès du "libéralisme" (quelle usurpation ce mot). #PasderetouralAnormal ✊🏻+💚 #ACTNOW #REBELSFORLIFE #REBELS4EARTH #artiviste

A post shared by Extinction Rebellion Québec (@xr.quebec) on May 1, 2020 at 7:23am PDT

YouTube

Another one for the Brooklyn Project this week with this pineapple greenhouse!

Click on the picture for more!

New in the Etsy Store

Two new coloring pages are available this week! Yes, it’s a whale swimming in flowers. Why not?

Click on the image to find out more!

• 

• 

(If you enjoyed reading this, consider signing up to my newsletter. Each week, I send fresh news and surprise! Sign up here!)

(This is a news letter I sent out. If you’d like to receive fresh news every week, sign up here! The full newsletter contains surprises and is delivered once a week to your mailbox.)

Atelier News

Hello everyone!

I hope this finds you happy and healthy!

This week, I’m keeping up with Mother’s Day and created some new cards with really cute cats and bears. I really was inspired by folkloric designs and patterns for the dresses.

I’m also working very hard on my Brooklyn project, and worked on another greenhouse. Well, actually, I worked on a greenhouse detail. I saw a beautiful picture of an abandoned greenhouse with gorgeous nasturtium colored glass windows, and I just had to recreate them! I wanted to created something that was abandoned but that you could just imagine being delightful in its prime.

I’ve been baking…

I’ve been looking for comfort and nothing is more comforting to me than a chocolate cookie with a warm cup of milk.

This recipe is very simple and quick to make, and the cookies are delicious! I’ve made it my own by replacing the sugar with 90g of maple syrup and switching the water for some strong chaï tea. The spices in the tea complement the chocolate very nicely and everything is delicious!

I hope you give them a try!

YouTube

Because I’m really excited for spring (which is a bit ironic considering it’s snowing at the moment), I really wanted to talk about plants! So, grab a cup of tea and join me as I talk seedling while painting this greenhouse!

Click on the picture for more!

New in the Etsy Store

This week, it’s all about Mother’s Day! I added some greeting cards with the lovely cat moms and bear mamma. I also made them available as a card to print and color at home and as coloring pages.

I also started to add polymer clay brooches to the shop. I think they are adorable!  Plus, they are all one of a kind and completely unique.

Finally, I’m adding the option of gift packaging all of your orders and sending them all directly to your loved ones! That way, if you can’t get to your post office, well, you can still spoil your mom!

• 

• 

• 

• 

(If you enjoyed reading this, consider signing up to my newsletter. Each week, I send fresh news and surprise! Sign up here!)

(This is a news letter I sent out. If you’d like to receive fresh news every week, sign up here! The full newsletter contains surprises and is delivered once a week to your mailbox.)

Atelier News

Hello everyone!

I hope this finds you happy and healthy!

So I hope this is not getting too repetitive, but this week, I’ve been working on some new Mother’s Day cards! I really wanted to create a cut out card and I’m pretty happy with how they turned out. It opens a whole new world of possibilities to make cut out cards. Watch out for more!

And, because I still have 30 more illustrations to make for the Brooklyn Project, that’s what I’ve been working on. It’s been a really tough week, and I have perspective drawing and emotions to blame for that. Making art is a tricky thing for me. I feel my best when I make art, which makes making art really difficult sometimes. It gets very emotional very quickly when I don’t perform as well as I want to. The pressure is only real in my head, but it’s still pretty real! So when I tried to tackle perspective drawing this week for the first time, and of course, failed my first attempts, my first thoughts were: I am not worthy, I am not worthy!

Of course, that is ridiculous! Everything new has a learning curve, and I just need to calm down and trust that practice will make pretty good eventually. I also needed to remember that I have allies and worthy people ready to help me. You don’t have to do everything on your own.

By the end of the week, I had my two perspective drawings that I needed, and I’m pretty happy with them. So, next time you start to freak out, just breathe, call an ally and don’t let all the emotions take control.

I’ve been reading…

The Great Gatsby! One of my all time favourite books, I’m so glad to be reading this one again. I love how Fitzgerald creates amazingly confusing and tumultuous scenes. As you read, you really get to feel what those 1920’s parties must have been like. All the characters are flawed which makes them so relatable and touching. Of course, the great romantic in me is very happy with this tragic love story, but we’ll say it’s the great writing that I love 😉

AND, if you don’t feel like reading, the 2013 movie with the Great DeCaprio is excellent.

YouTube

BeIt’s all about perspective and that Brooklyn Project! I’m telling you about my process and how I’m approaching this long-term project. Plus, you get to see me actually get better at perspective drawing. It’s a fun one, so don’t miss out!

Click on the picture for more!

New in the Etsy Store

Two new cards are available this week, and they are cut-out cards! I love how it adds dimension to the flower bouquet, like if it was coming out of the page. These would be perfect for Mother’s Day or a birthday or even as thank you cards!

Plus, each card comes with a hand-folded, surprise pattern envelope!

Click on the image to find out more!

(If you enjoyed reading this, consider signing up to my newsletter. Each week, I send fresh news and surprise! Sign up here!)

(This is a news letter I sent out. If you’d like to receive fresh news every week, sign up here! The full newsletter contains surprises and is delivered once a week to your mailbox.)

Atelier News

Hello everyone!

I hope this finds you happy and healthy!
This week, I started thinking about Mother’s day and playing with different illustrations that could be used to make cards or small gifts.

I also really wanted to work on some ink drawings because I’ve been focusing a lot on watercolours. It’s good to mix things up a little and to go back to a different technique.

Of course, I’ve been thinking about Spring and flowers, so I’ve drawn a lot of flowers and practiced making them realistic enough that you can recognize them without going crazy over details. It’s a difficult point to reach: if it’s too simple, the flower is not recognizable; if it’s too complex, the flower is heavy.

I’ve also looked at patterns and folkloric dresses from Eastern Europe, but you’ll have to wait for next week to see the results of that!

I’ve been reading…

BSo, I’ve been putting this book in my library cart repeatedly for the last two years. Well, I finally am reading it!

In the book “The Nature’s Fix” by Florence Williams, you get to read a journalistic investigation into how nature and being in nature influences well-being, health and creativity. The author travels the world from Japan to Finland to discuss different aspects of this topic with experts. She is very aware of her own bias which brings a lot of honesty and candor to the book, while also adding a personal touch to what could have been dry research results. No big surprise: nature is good for you, even if it’s just looking at a tree out of your window and listening to the birds. So, run to your windows people!

YouTube

This week, come and take a look at how I ink my coloring pages. A quick video, but so many details!

Click on the picture for more!

New in the Etsy Store

This week in the store, you’ll find some printable letter paper adorned with beautiful flowers. I wanted to create something that you could use as is, in black and white, and also colour! All the options are yours!

I thinks these would be adorable for any letters to your friends and family, but could also be used as a note for your Mother’s day gift.

Click on the image to find out more!

(If you enjoyed reading this, consider signing up to my newsletter. Each week, I send fresh news and surprise! Sign up here!)

(This is a news letter I sent out. If you’d like to receive fresh news every week, sign up here! The full newsletter contains surprises and is delivered once a week to your mailbox.)

Atelier News

Hello everyone!

I hope you are all doing well, and that you are finding time and resources to process and bring your stress levels down.

In my case, I’ve been drawing aaaaalll the plants and allowing myself to go easy on myself. It is a process, but I feel like it is worth while to take this opportunity to listen and watch what it is you really want and respect that. It is the ultimate self-love ritual you can do in my opinion.

Part of this has been to regroup with myself and take the time to evaluate some of the habits, relationships and mind patterns that are not aligned with what I need and want, and to let that stuff go!

I feel like this process has been a huge relief, and I can feel it when I’m drawing and painting. I feel like there is more space and more possibilities, and that is amazing!

I’m working on a special project, and here is a painting I did for it!

Something fun…

Because it is Spring and that we have started our seedlings for this summer, I’m finding myself watching many permaculture videos and wanting to transform every square inch of land into a garden. This video is one of my favourite because Kat seems to be so thoughtful and mindful of what she is doing, which is such an important part of gardening!

YouTube

This is the most detailed painting I’ve done so far, so I wanted to film the process. While I paint, we have a little chat about good books, so grab a cup of tea and watch my video!

New in the Etsy Store

Some new coloring pages are in! One is my ideal livingroom: all the plants and a perfect armchair to read good books. The second one is perfect for Easter, but still has many different patterns and natural shapes. I hope you’ll enjoy them!

(If you enjoyed reading this, consider signing up to my newsletter. Each week, I send fresh news and surprise! Sign up here!)