Water, the Hub of Life.

I was asked to be involved in a great campaign called "Art for Water". They got over 100 artists to donate an original piece, and they would all go up on an online catalog, where people could order prints. All the proceeds of the catalog are going to build new wells in countries that are gravely short on clean water.

Anyway, a thumbail of my piece is above... I was inspired by the quote above that I found by an old philosopher. Water is so integral to sustaining any kind of life, and we all take it so for granted here in the West.

Click on my thumbnail to see my page in the catalog, and peruse the many amazing pieces! It would make a great Christmas gift, and a chance to pay it forward  :)

There is beauty everywhere.

I walk through Gastown on my way to the studio here in downtown Vancouver twice a day, Monday to Friday. Many of those days, I see people who are just wandering through the streets, wearing the same worn outfit every day. They all tug at my heart, as I become more and more painfully aware that I am fortunate enough to wear a clean, dry and almost new outfit every day, under a warm jacket, carrying a backpack with a lunch, on my way to a job which pays me quite well in the scheme of things.

There is one man in particular who has captured my heart. I usually see him either sitting in Starbucks to warm up as I walk by the window, or slowly making his way up the street, just to keep moving. I believe God is opening my eyes to see true and simple beauty, in that there is such beauty in all of these wandering souls that we so easily pass by and try not to make eye contact.

This morning I walked by him once again, always attempting to look him right in the eyes so I can at least give him a smile. At least acknowledge that he is a beautiful soul, perfectly made by God, and not forgotten like he may feel. I couldn't get him out of my head, so I drew him when I got to work.

I am thankful for him, for walking by him everyday to remind me of my own humanity, and to redefine my definition of beauty.

I will be drawing more often.

That time change...

The time changed last weekend, and I couldn't believe how much of a difference it made! Now when I leave work at 5pm, it feels like 9:30pm.

Sneaky time change!!

Back to the Hoverboard!

My posting has been lacking. Life + work has been taking up my focus, and while I have a contrillion idears swimming about in my noggin, I haven't had enough time to get them on paper/screen just yet.

THAT being said.... I made a hoverboard! A friend of mine suggested that I should be Marty [a la Back to the Future] for Halloween, and since those movies are borderline an obsession for me, I wholeheartedly jumped on that train!

The pics are the proof. And now I have a hoverboard and it makes me SO HAPPY. [See above.]

Starting the process... you can see the pic of the hoverboard on my iPad - I just eyeballed it as I painted and hoped for the best!

The finished product on my desk at work - and I won Most Original Costume for my efforts, yay!

I even found the photos online from the first and third movies, as well as the Save the Clock Tower flyer - it's about the details people!

A striking resemblance!!

Love en Pariee!

I was commissioned to do a painting as a wedding gift for a couple who live in Poland, but they fell in love in Paris. One of the pics I used as a reference for them, was them sharing a Canada Dry gingerale. I was informed they recieved the painting this past weekend for their wedding, and they loved it! Yay for love and painting!

GCN 2012 Conference

In the meandering journeys of this life of mine, I have come upon an amazing ministry / organization that I believe in, whole-heartedly. So to say I am thrilled to have been able to design some of this year's conference materials, is putting it lightly. It is called GCN, or the Gay Christian Network, headed up by Justin Lee.

I have to be honest, I have not yet been to a GCN conference, but I would love for Tams and I to attend this one - in Orlando, January 2012! To find out more, click on the image above - which is this year's theme. Keep on shining your light, GCN! I am cheering you on, all the way.

Poncho = cape.

Another great line [which turned into a drawring] from one o' my favs, "Modern Family", back in Season 1. Gloria is talking to Jay about Manny wanting to wear his poncho to school, and she says to him "A poncho is just a cape that goes all the way around!"

[Insert loud chuckle here!]

Painted panda.

Fiddling around in Flash, trying to paint like I am in Photoshop. 'Tis tricky, but always fun to try new things in a totally different style than my usual....

Cheese please?

Aww... he had no idea.

Yesterday we were outside and a little woodpecker did this next door to our house. Tee-hee.

Best eavestrougher in the West. Or--central.

My dad owns his own eavestroughing bi'ness back in Winnipeg called "Quality Eavestroughing" - and it surely is! He is a major perfectionist, and is amazing at all he does. So after over 35 years of doing amazing work, he finally got voted best eavestroughing business for 2011! I decided to caricature him and his award for the occasion.

When I showed this to my dad, he laughed for over 5 minutes. His safari hat and signature yellow suspenders made this look just like him! If you knew him, you'd see it :)

Go dad!

One week Sunday!!!

It's been a long and winding, yet beautiful, journey with the one I truly love with my entire being by my side. To be her wife will to make me the happiest, most fulfilled and thankful woman in the world. I can't wait to wake up every morning and look at that ring on my finger. I am humbled and in awe of all that real love can do :)

Flickr.... finally.

I caved and joined yet another online social media...thingie. Click on the logo to peruse my visualness.

And yet....I am continuing to resist Twitter!!

Love to Cora.

A good friend of ours just had a precious little girl this week who was born with a hole in her heart. Today she is having open heart surgery, and we are sending our prayers and love to her!!

Dancing a jig.

I had some time waiting for more approved designs here at work today, so I just started sketching in Flash and this little dancing alien showed himself. Little varmint.

Go dance yerself a jig today!

Fest Flipping Forty!

Last week, "Tah-Dah" made it into its' 40th film festival. Wowieeee!
Since I started working full-time, things have been rather busy, but I am working on a commissioned painting right now, and have a bazillion idears for personal things.... so I will be posting soon! Stay tooned :)

The K-King's Sp-Speech.

By making "pun" of the title of this film, I am in no way making fun of the subject matter. I absolutely loved this film, and the relationship that develops between Lionel Logue and The King. I am fascinated by true stories, and especially when those stories can encourage and teach us all a little something about not giving up.

The Oscars are a favorite time of year for me -- so this year I am gonna attempt to sketch my interpretations of the top 10 Best Picture noms.

1 down, 9 to go!

Craft paper flux capacitor.

I love digital design as much as the next dudette, but today I had a hankering to get out my scissors, glue stick, and imagination - and just GO! So of course, I turned to Marty and Doc for inspiration.

It was an experiment, but me had the fun. I was proud to not use Photoshop for once! Looking forward to trying more of these, but working more on the colour scheme next time before I get cutting!

Bowling mishaps.

So, myself and a few friends decided we should go good old-fashioned bowling last Friday - with REAL pins and balls, not just on the Wii! So we ventured out, donned a fresh pair of glowing bowling shoes, and got our 10-pin on!

However, not everyone knew that my middle name was "Gimpy". Yes, Stacey Gimpy Chomiak, that is me! I did my first frame fine, threw the ball down the alley or whatever it's called, but for SOME reason, the next frame, I COMPLETELY forgot how to bowl!

I kept grasping the ball with only 2 fingers, and every time I went to throw it, it just fell out of my hand! Then I topped myself - I accidentally hurled it backwards into the path of this elderly gentleman in the alley next to us... all the while my 3 friends behind me were scared for their lives and YET laughing their heads off!! Tams then yelled "STACE, put your THUMB in the HOLE!!"

Oh. Right. I knew it felt wrong!

I couldn't resist sketching the moment.

I am very glad I could provide a good portion of the entertainment :)
Onto the next adventure! Thanks for a good time Gals!

"Lily, I'm gonna break the windddooooowwww!!"

ABC's "Modern Family" is, in my opinion, one of the funniest shows currently on TV right now. Not often does a show make you literally laugh out loud - and this one does in every episode! Each character is so well developed - and stinkin' hilarious. I was lucky enough to get the first season on DVD for Christmas, and watching some of the episodes again inspired me to start a series of sketches based on some of the memorable scenes.

This one is one of my favorites, from Season 1, Episode 2 "Run For Your Wife".

If you know the show, I hope you appreciate the sketch!!

I can't wait to do more!! Stay tuned.