A Musical Interlude

So, I know this isn't a drawring or painting or graphic creation of mine – but I was sittin' here at my computer, bopping away in my seat and playing air guitar to a few newly purchased CD's [one of my main addictions, along with coffee and funky-esque hats], and I was reminded of something.

Music is a HUGE part of my world. I try to play guitar a bit each day, but I definitely listen every single day to some sort of score or fun little ditty or jazzy tune. And it is a MAJOR inspiration to my life, and my art. I feel like music runs through my veins; it's a big part of who I am.

So here's a few of my favs that are spinning on random in my iPod. [This is by NO means a comprehensive list...] Meh, I can't help but share the love of the tuneage!

Stay tuned for a post with birthday-infused fun.
27 is a gonna be a good year, I can feel it. :)

Just four fun fellas. Great arrangements, lotsa fun.

Let's get this straight - SCORE, not soundtrack. Always score! It's not done by John Williams... but I will make an exception. A fresh insightful score by Andrea Guerra.
Me loves it.

Chris Tomlin never fails to deliver some rockin' good times with his guitar. His newest is definite enjoyment.

The third time I picked up this album to sample it, I finally bought it.
They're of the Rascal Flatts persuasion - a good ol' time!

Ah, Bebo. What kinda name is that anyway? Who cares, in my opinion, sounds like his best album yet. The dude is insightful.

Another score. SCORE. Every store always had the soundtrack only... we finally found it at the ridiculously large Virgin Music Superstore in NYC. I think they carried every album ever recorded in the history of the world. Twice.

I love this chick, I did from day 1. If I had my way to make my own album [and if I could sing] I would make an album like this, with a slight Jennifer Knapp/KT Tunstall infusion.

Oh how I love Ms. Griffin. Her lyrics, her style, everything, love it. She's my fav to listen to whilst painting.

If I could have taken a different career path other than animator.... or backup dancer... or rocker chick.... or member of STOMP..... it would have been a DJ. Mmm-hmm.

Grand Forks Fun

Popsicle Patti - I am fascinated with the many shapes of people in this world!

Angry Abby - she did NOT like her job at McD's.... but then again, who could blame her?

So this weekend myself, Tams, Jayms and Julie took a weekend jaunt down across the border to the lovely little city of Grand Forks.

What do 4 chicks do for a weekend there, you ask? [Well, if you were from Wpg, you wouldn't ask...] To SHOP, of course! And, of course, laugh about ridiculous things and drink a lot of fun coffees. Sounds good to me!

Here's a couple of my fav sketches we spotted down there - thanks Jayms for your expert eye picking these ones out!

Hooray for HippieWood

So one of the lovely eclectic aspects of being a Winnipegger, is that we have many diverse music and art festivals during the summer. One that I have been meaning to visit, is called Folk Fest. It's just outside the city in a huge provincial park called Birds Hill.

They set up massive tents for a "food village", coolio little shops, and of course the stages for all the rockin' bands. Most people drive up and camp for the weekend; a lot of people drive fair distances to experience all things Folk Fest each year. Apparently this year drew more than 45 thousand peeps. Whoo!

We went specifically to see the Indigo Girls perform, but we were also treated to a few other acts before them who ROCKED, including a newish one called The Duhks.

And many of the festival-goers happen to be of the hippie persuasion. Since neither Tams nor I had experienced it before, we were looking forward to the music, checking out the scene, and of course, I was looking forward to drawing the hippies!

As you can see from above, they did not disappoint! Awesome music, a perfect hot summer evening, a few thousand peeps gathered in the heart of the prairies, and a perfect chance to test out my watercolour moleskin.

Now THAT'S summer!

A darn good motto

I did this painting for my grand friend Jayme for her birthday. Her and I share a great affinity for all sayings positive and true... she saw this one up in my studio and wanted to try and find a poster/painting with the saying on it.

Talk about giving me a great birthday idea!! [Especially when I have a bunch of canvases stacked up in my closet, screaming to be used.]

Enjoy Jayms!

'Inspire' a la acrylic on canvas

A couple weeks ago I was asked to show my paintings at my church... as an example of how every person is kind of like a painting. A bunch of colours all mixed together, making different blends – beautiful and ugly – and mixes and beauties... and how so many masterpieces [referring to an original DaVinci, not so much an original Chomiak!] become priceless, yet they are made of almost worthless materials.

Anyway, I was honored to be asked to show my paintings.
Better yet, I was inspired.

So I stopped all other misc jazz I was working on that day, went out to the summer kitchen [my painting haven!], and threw down these colours on a big canvas. It felt so liberating and free... and well, just plain fun! I hadn't done any abstract-type paintings, til I did a couple for a friend recently, and realized how much fun it is to paint without borders!

It thus was named 'inspire'.

I placed the word small in mid-right, and then partially on the bottom.



Who can live without the inspirato?
I know I can't.