My Mom's Birthday


Today is my Mom's birthday. She died in 1998 and I miss her.
She was incredibly supportive - When I was young she made sure I had a steady supply of crayons, markers and doodle art kits and later on she was unfailingly encouraging of even my most zany artistic pursuits.

My mom was a nurse and in 2001 the Warren Design Group asked me to illustrate an Anniversary book for the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles with a special focus on nursing throughout the ages. They sent me all sorts of groovy reference material of former nurses' uniforms and asked me to draw a uniform from each decade placed on a mannequin. Above is a sketch of the one from the 1960s which is based on a uniform that my mom wore.

My Apartment


For years I've painted almost every wall in my apt grey.
It makes colours like pink, yellow and orange really POP.
On wall: My Penguin book cover silk screen print

I like the look of these three IKEA Ringun rugs together - juicy.

Some art on display in the stairway.
Large painting by Shannon Greene.
Illustration by Carey Sookochef
Alphabet legs and n is for novel prints by me.
ps. Yes yes I'm aware the Keep Calm poster is so "OVA!"

One of my favorite pieces: A decoupage plate by John Derian

The needlepoint shoe pillow I designed and stitched

My office
On wall: Franny goes to school and Large Red Tea pot

My map drawers (Essential for any printmaker and an unwelcome sight for any movers!):-)

Shelf from a former shoe factory purchased at Chair Table Lamp

Day bed in office to lie on when in need of inspiration
On wall: My Big orange scissors print

Vanity table in bedroom
On wall: My Room of One's own silk screen print

Designer and Style writer Arren Williams has asked me to submit some pics of my apt for his 5 Quick Questions series so this weekend I held a little photo session with my apt.

Press: Style at Home Day on City Line


Samantha Pynn in the kitchen

Close up of my birdie print
Today my birdie print was featured on City Line in Sam Pynn's feature on 'counterscaping' for your kitchen. Sam cited the legendary British Designer David Hicks as inspiration for her segment.
As she explained - Hicks, who coined the term tablescaping, was a master at artfully arranging everyday objects, art, and other tchochkes into beautiful groupings and passionately felt that it wasn't important how inexpensive the objects were, but the care + feeling with which you arranged them.

ps. This birdie print is available framed and unframed in the silk screen print section on my website.

These are the people in my neighbourhood Part 5


Two new Shops: Art History and The Melissa

Illustrator Ian Phillips with his "Little Artist Paint set" find!

Entertaining and Non poisonous!

From Ian's website
I love how he has recreated these 'old timey' end papers.

One of Ian's illos. I like the 'thumbprint' texture.

Took a little field trip on Queen West with fellow Illustrator Ian Phillips and discovered 2 new(ish) shops: The Melissa and Art History. As explained in Now magazine
the former is textile designer and artist Melissa Levin’s clearing house for her ample 30-year-old collection of retro fabrics, board games and other kitschy, collectable knick-knacks.
Art History is a collaboration betweenn gallerist Katharine Mulherin and Niki Boghossian, who curate found furniture, housewares and small original artworks. Both are full of great stuff and definitely worth a visit.
Have also included 2 images from Ian's website. His 'old timey ness" fits right in with the feel of these two shops.
ps. Hey Shane when are coming to visit Toronto?!! :-)