My Fall Sketchbook

Hello Winter! Whistler, B.C. is ready for you.

The snow is falling, the lights are up around town and the mountain is open and ready for action.

It has been a beautiful Fall. Lots of brilliant colour and crisp, clear days… interspersed with torrential downpours, low-lying cloud and very short days.

I love it all. The worse the weather the less motivated I am to get outdoors and play. I feel less guilt for cozying up indoors and creating.

November, you have been true to yourself. Thank you.

Inspired by all the fall colours – red, orange, faded greens and greys. A peek into my sketchbook proves that these are probably my most favourite colours.

I have been slowly updating my work around here. A new branding is in the works based on pen, paper, paint and pattern. I am updating my site to include all of my hand painted and collage work. I am loving the process of creating all new artwork in this style, but admit it is a bit of a slow process. So far I have managed to change my name from ‘Artistically Afflicted” to Julie Hamilton Creative.

Small steps.

I will be keeping the blog all full of my afflicted ways, but will have a separate portfolio site.

I am dying to get my hands on Fiona Humberstones new book How to Style your Brand  It has been sold out forever and finally just when I thought I could get my hands on it, they wouldn’t deliver to Canada. Crazy. Check out her site for lots of beautiful images and helpful advice on branding You.

I haven’t given myself an end goal date as I am trying to take this slowly and be in love with the finished product. I know what I want to create, but just want to make sure that I am representing myself the way that I would like to be perceived. Trust me, sometimes I am not even sure what that looks like.

It is a start!

In the mean time my licensing work is busy.I have a new embroidery contract with Janome (Acudesign) which I will be sharing shortly.  I have another piece being published in Stampington & Co. and  I am busy creating a new concept for a dream client. It is all about forward momentum and not losing sight of the Why.

Sharing with you a few things going on in and about the world-wide web:

Lilla Rogers, art agent extraordinaire, is giving a video presentation this week all about embracing and selling your creative quirkiness. Have a look here for more information. There is still time to join in.

Flora Bowley has started a monthly newsletter/video series, Studio Diaries. I haven’t joined in yet, but I am thinking about it for the New Year. Art prompts, videos, creative lessons, questions and answers and just general Flora loveliness. More information here.

I have been enjoying ( and using) Jennifer Nelsons weekly Advice for Artists.  Sign up here. She also offers a one on one consultation service if you are interested. See her website for more details. Make sure to check out her artists – all swoon worthy

Finally, don’t forget, it is the weekend of all sales. Black Friday and Cyber Monday. In the past I have received some outstanding discounts on online creative courses.If there is something you have your eye on then don’t forget to pop by your want list and see if they are offering a discount.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends. It is a big and busy weekend here and always brings with it a sense of celebration and the start of the holiday season. Makes me happy!

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Mushrooms in the sketchbook!

Mushroom season is slowly coming to an end here in Whistler. The temperature has dropped, the clouds have rolled in and snow is slowly creeping down the mountain.

I will miss the whispering sounds of pickers scouring the woods. The different shapes, texture and colour peeking out from the most unexpected of places.
There really is something special about the enchanted, woodland forest complete with toadstools and fairies that brings your imagination to life.

Unfortunately, I have to admit I have still not picked any mushrooms for my own table.I am still a little unsure of what is good and what is not so good. I am not taking any responsibility for poisoning my family or sending a dinner guest on some wild, hallucinogenic trip. The latter could almost make a good movie though..

The Whistler Naturalist host a great weekend event full of talks and walks The Fungus among Us every October during the season. Next year I am attending. I have a bounty of goodness right here in my backyard and it’s time to start enjoying them…not just drawing and taking pretty pictures though that is fun too..

Some sketchbook love and mushroom illustration for you

 

It’s time for the snow to fly in Whistler.  We have a month to fill up the mountain and valley with that white, fluffy stuff.

Until then I will be off in my own little tropical world on The Big Island of Hawaii. Expect to see lots of  foliage mixed with beautiful, watery blues and shades of green here on my blog. I am bringing some watercolors and hope to learn how to use them.

See you!

Inspired by Papercut Art

I am happy to announce that my large-scale papercut art is almost done! 19″ by 25″.

I am really happy with it. I can see myself using alot of the shapes and patterns in my surface patterns.That’s next weeks post:)

I am still undecided on my finishing touches. There is quite a bit of detailed cutting I can do.I am debating whether to leave the birds as white space or more detailed. I am also considering leaving more white space around the edges.I think I will for now until I decide how to frame this. I quite like the white space leading into the intricate cuts.

I have found this great new paper by  Canson Studio called Mi- Tientes Touch. It’s beautifully textured pastel paper and comes in a great palette of colors, perfect for placing behind  papercut art.

My next step is to find a unique way to frame or display this. I am going to have to protect the paper so thinking a plexiglass type box. However, I would also like it to be very organic, so thinking wood and airplane wire. Hmmm…a visit to Pinterest may be in order. I know I will find some inspiration there. Any suggestions?

Thank you for all your kind words and encouragement on Facebook when I posted this on my page. I always appreciate the support and encouragement I find there.
March break begins today.Yay! We woke up to 30 com of snow yesterday! Just when you think it’s the beginning of the end, it all starts again.Whistler is hopping!

Enjoy your weekend!

Finding inspiration on a winters walk

Last week I was thinking that spring is just around the corner. Once again, I have been fooled by Mother Nature. We are expecting 30-60 cm of snow this week in Whistler, B.C.

It is usually at this time of year that I start to crave color, lots of color, in my life. I am surrounded by many different shades of gray and white and while I still find it beautiful, a little pop of color would be a welcome change.

Todays walk had me trudging along, eyes downward, in search of some sketching inspiration. I was a bit surprised to find a bountiful of old, decayed foliage around. Lots of different shapes, colors and texture all supplied by a bit of cold weather and snow.

I was a little amazed at some of the little tidbits of nature I found.

Twenty minute sketch time ~ no thoughts on perfection just some fun mark making, paying attention to the different shapes and textures. Some more marks and hopefully some inspiration for a cool motif to add to my ever-growing collection.

This is also very nice to come upon in the middle of winter. Yarn bombing is alive and well in Whistler.

This still beings a smile to my face every time I see it. I am almost tempted to learn how to knit.

What am I thinking?No.

My husband is still trying to convince me that it would be really cool if I got a black sharpie and doodled all over our front yard birch tree. I think he may be making fun of me.

My walking companion, Cariboo, patiently waiting for what he feels is rightfully his. I swear he was rolling his eyes during the photoshoot.

Inspired by ~ the holidays

Wish you were here!

Whistler, British Colombia

I am sitting here amongst the christmas chaos ~decorations strewn throughout the house,a fridge full of leftovers, one group of visitors gone and the next arriving shortly. I love living in a resort town, but it can be very hectic during the holiday season, especially a snowy one.

A sigh of relief though as I sit here quietly surrounded by family, great music,food and holiday cheer.  I am full to the brim with gratitude.

As busy as this season is, I love the excitement and energy that the holiday brings with it.

Feeling very content.

My gratitude extends far and wide and includes all of you.Thank you!

Wishing you a very happy holiday season! xo