Motley Crew

More pics are coming in every day.
Bonus: Here is a download link from Rodney's Marching Art band of the music at the parade ---> MUSIC

These were taken by James Tworow, his photos can be found here on FLICKR!

My roomie, me and my buddy KT --> Motley Crew.

High Performance

 They keep going and going.

THE PARADE WAS DEFINITELY FESTIVE!

A group of friends and I took part in the parade, we were lucky enough to the tail of the event.  We followed a fantastic band, the music made it magical.  Not only did we have a blast and make new friends but at the end the honourable Mayor Naheed Nenshi was accommodating enough to allow us to get a photo with him just before he had to leave.

 

 (Photo by Doug Wong)

from left to right: Audrya 'the fox' Corbett, Ray 'Bear' Kruger, Mayor Nenshi, Asya 'the organizer' Barker, Brian "Bunny" Batista, Karilynn 'wolf riding hood' Thompson.

There were tons of photographers on route and a live video stream on the High Performance Rodeo website <--(click this link for more info) during the event. Like the Pied Piper, the parade attracted many followers. The quiet riot at the Hyatt was the only low key portion where many onlookers in the +15 system were not shocked by the surprise.

This photo was taken by photographer James Tworow of me on the outdoor portion of the parade where I was also photographed with a beautiful Sikh couple in their wedding garb. Congratulations and blessings to them. All and all it was an amazing way to start off the week-end. Let me tell you I am not one to  "kiss and tell", but it has already been a phenomenal week-end for me!

THE PARADE IS TODAY!! & RABBIT SHIRT PROOFS

The Chinatown +15 Parade is today, check it out if you can it will be a blast!

 
Friday, January 21, 4:00-5:00 pm
Downtown Calgary +15 Walkway System
Starting at Sun Life Plaza (144 4th Ave SW, Central Court)
Ending at EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts (2nd floor, 225 8th Ave SE)

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The Taoist Tai Chi Societies Year of the Rabbit Shirt Proofs are in. I think they look great, especially on the blue color they chose.  I can't wait to see them in real life!

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Publicity Parade

 YOUR FACE HERE

 I'm in the Fast forward this week. Just remember it's entertainment!

Well there is no point in looking back now.  You have to be extremely careful when you agree to an interview with the media, but I should have already known that. I have been written out of context a number of times, but who's counting. All publicity is good publicity in the end! Honestly,  I was hoping most of that wouldn't end up in print. But it makes for good reading. I guess the hippy part is kind of funny and I got to name drop important organizations like EMMEDIA, OYR and Burning Man. My ACAD job took most of the space, good thing I took the job. As for the rest of it, you decide, I promise, if nothing else it's a good read. I'm getting props already, my phone and facebook have been off the hook.


SEE THE ARTICLE HERE

Year of the Rabbit - Finished images for T-shirt prints

Here are the two final images for the Taoist Tai Chi society t-shirts that I designed. I cant wait to see them in real life. The colors this year are black and robin's egg blue.

One rabbit will be on the front and the other will be on the back.

 

 They will be available at the Taoist Tai Chi society Main office just off of crowchild once the Chinese New Year has been ushered in.

Year of The Rabbit - Steps explained

Keep in mind that I work from biggest brush and loosest strokes to the smallest brush and finest details. This should explain the secrets of quickly completing a commission in acrylic more clearly;)

1) sketch out and block in your design.  Fill in with a watered down wash of the final color, very rough and quick. This step defines the shape you're going to paint.

The next steps add mass and form: You will work from dark to light. (the reason is darker colors are more transparent and white is the only true opaque color in paint)

2) Block in your dark tones & the shadow areas but leave areas from layer 1 showing thru near the edges (it enhances the finished painting)

3) Apply your main colors (the middle tone) use a medium size brush with gestural brush strokes to give it life, dont just block it in or it will read as flat (unless that is what you want)

4) Add in all your lighter tones and highlights.

               any additional textures or patterns that may be present.

Give your eyes a rest, sleep on it and finish the painting off tomorrow.......

5) Revisit your darkest tone and lightest tone and use the smallest brush you like to give it crisp details and edges where you want the viewer to look the most (so not the background)

6) Don't forget to sign it!


Hopefully this process will help you create your next work of art!

Year of Rabbit - Part 4

The next phase after giving my eyes a rest, consisted of punching up the darks and bringing out the highlights.

 

The detail level is increased with the reduction of brush size, down to a number 4 round to detail the fur and crisp up the edges.

I  used zinc white thinned down for the highlights because it is more transparent less chalky than titanium white.

My next step is to cut out all the blue backgrounds in photoshop. from there I turn the images to eps files and email them to the Taoist Tai chi society so they approve them for printing.

Year of the Rabbit - Part 3

I blocked in the main parts flushing out the rabbit's body mass using burnt umber and titanium white.

I changed the ears and filled them in and on the next painting threw in a blue background.

Highlights have been introduced and now I just need a fresh perspective to put in the finishing details.

Year of the Rabbit - Part 2

So here is the second phase of the three rabbit paintings.

 

I blocked in the darks with a number 4 flat brush.

 

The paintings begin to get some form and depth with the application of the darkest tone.

Blocking in the eyes adds life and a focal point. I decided to change the ear on the first painting to give the profile a bit more mass.

Year of the Rabbit

I began painting 3 options for shirt designs for the Taoist Tai Chi society this year. Here is my introductory process.

I painted them with Stevenson and Golden acrylic on canvas.  My first step was to sketch out my preliminary drawings taken from sketches base of photos I found online.

I used a grid to blow them up from my sketchbook to the two sizes of canvas I selected.

I then roughly brushed in some light and dark browns to give each fuzzy body some form.

Walk the Walk - Year for Bunnies!

 Year of the rabbit, and with a nickname like Bunny, it must be my year!!!!

I have been invited by  One Yellow Rabbit  to take part, along side Calgary's Mayor Naheed Nenshi, as their mascot in the +15 Chinatown Art Parade happening January 21, 2010.

I'll be there with ears on!

+15 CHINATOWN ART PARADE

...Friday, January 21, 4:00-5:00 pm
Downtown Calgary +15 Walkway System
Starting at Sun Life Plaza (144 4th Ave SW, Central Court)
Ending at EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts (2nd floor, 225 8th Ave SE)

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Calgary’s Chinatown with a parade in the +15s!

The +15 Chinatown Art Parade will feature costumes, dancers, floats, music, hand-painted lanterns and much more. This unique event will be a colourful collision of traditional and urban culture, bringing an energetic rush to the +15 system during rush hour – and everyone is invited!

For more information about the +15 Chinatown Art Parade, visit www.hprodeo.ca, call 403.294.7411 or e-mail info@hprodeo.ca.

Additional info can be found on the facebook event page HERE.