daunting, labels

burdock, ocean & sky colour palette // seagull & crow // favourite old poplar // Black Street // harbour and strait // a snowy Dee // ice, snow & rock colour palette // a big fat fleecy mitten // 29 Black Street // burdock-thistle

1,960 posts divided by 30 days = 65.3 posts a day
or
1,960 posts divided by 60 days = 32.6 posts a day
or
maybe ... somewhere in between ? sigh

Something that has been bothering me for ages about this blog is the lack of labels, chapters and/or categories. I used to have a cloud formation down the sidebar with way too many (156 to be exact) confusing & often duplicate-ish categories listed. It's still there, hidden ... waiting for me to edit & organize and I want to. I keep telling myself, since about August of last year, just try to tackle 30 posts a day - every day, don't miss a day and before you know it you'll have a list of labeled categories.

You, me, anyone should be able to come to this blog and browse by subject, label, or category. It's on my list of big Daunting tasks. The task itself of going back through 1,960 posts 5.5 years worth is daunting enough on it's own but Daunting A. deciding what those spare (30 max) new edited labels should be ? For example I just can't have a label cats (Oliver would not stand for it, or could I have a just a category dogs (goodness, sweet Winnie Dixon could have her own blog). Blogger doesn't let you have subcategories or at least I don't think so. And then there's Daunting B. most often what I write about has nothing to do with the images that I'm posting. Do my label describe the text or do I label for the photos/images and if I'm labelling images how do I handle a post like today ? or a post like this one where the images are kinda all over the place. I've created a category called still life which I hope will be the label for all these photo essays that don't necessarily follow a theme, it's a theme so subtle no one but me really knows what the theme is.

It's important to me, after 1,960 posts that I keep some sort of track here about what I've posted. Things that have inspired me, struggles, growth spurts, angsty times, quotations (and there's loads of them here ...somewhere), music, cooking, Oliver, Winnie, Sam, Jake, recipes, my work ... & I am going to figure this darn daunting task out & soon. So if anyone out there has been frustrated by the lack of labels on this blog. Hang tight I'm on it ;-)

I'm currently working on three new collage/illustration & typographic holiday cards (for next year) for fav new licensing customer Madison Park Greetings. Stay tuned, very soon, for the Spring 2013 release of 10 of my designs (mostly botanical collages) available as greeting cards - hooray Madison Park & me. Yesterday I did the most difficult of the three card designs - the hold my breath & turn blue one, the took all day & night one, the eat that frog first one ... listening to my itunes collection helped a lot to keep me relaxed and breathing - some music to collage to. I actually left my chair to dance to this one. Hark, I think I hear CabbageTown a callin'
 

omg !

beautiful large vintage mason jar with neon bright note paper - I've already added 5 lil' things

I am so doing this ! 

from the happy heathen via design sponge - what a fantastic idea ! (get your kids to do it too)

& welcome to my new blog category omg ! where I tell you about good things, great ideas, inspiration etc... thanks once again to my pal Jian over at fav CBC Radio 1 morning show Q for playing this blast from my past yesterday morning you can be sure I partook in some crazy canuck chair dancing (swivel office chairs work best) - no need to stand up just squirm & bop, whip (long til Tuesday) hair around with wildly gesticulating hand and arm movements. Loverboy - sigh. Come on ... I know you want to ;-) // Happy Weekend !

merci !

Winnie Dixon at the corner of Black & Water  / rose hips / ice, ice baby - at the end of Water St. looking out into the strait / the view from my office window 4:30 pm / in the distance the salt mine / Sam / flora / my snow boots (and catch the cat hair a layered on those black pants ;-) / sunrise / zoom* shot from the other side of the harbour / lichen on a very old poplar tree / shadows on Water Street / Missy D - who's unofficial 14th birthday is today 13 years ago today she came home from the shelter with me Hey Happy Birthday sweet cheeks.

Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; 
they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.
Marcel Proust

I wanted to say thank you to everyone who visits here and a special thank you to those who leave comments & lots of them lately ! You are my charming gardeners, you've helped me begin my 6th year of blogging (wow) with a renewed zest & zeal I was sure I'd lost along the way. You help me love my blog again. You make me happy & I think you know who you all are. Some have been coming here for the long haul, others of you are relative newcomers. Thank you, thank you ! I appreciate your comments, questions, thoughts, ideas & conversation so much more than you will ever know.

Thank you ! merci !

*  thoughts on zooming  - I'm not even sure that's what you call it (I had to stop just now and google zoom). I'm just not much of a zoom telephoto gal as you know I like to get super close and on top of (or under) my subject & way up close if I can so I rarely use the 5x zoom (only adequate at best) feature on my adored Canon G12 ... but sometimes it does come in handy - the light, colour and reflection across the harbour caught my eye this morning.

snowy

if you look closely at this last photo you'll see 3 deer crossing from the other side - yikes !! the band in the centre is open water which closes over further up and out of the frame to the right - it made me sick watching them but luckily they veered that way and made it safely to our side of the harbour- phew ;-)

pre shrunk

Details of Bold floral No.4 & 4A - 20 x 5 - acrylic & ink on plywood - Susan Black

This piece was created for a gallery submission for 4" x 5" art pieces called Pre-Shrunk hosted by the Argyle Fine Art, Barrington Street Halifax. Les deadline last night at midnight (I'm happy to report I was snug in my bed with my current book by 9:30). Of course I've known about it for a month or so, had the Prince ready my plywood canvas and have been madly doing mentals (meaning plenty of screeching gears sounds & smoke wafting from ears & nostrils :-) ever since. My intention all along was to be inspired by the looseness & colour of this piece - but my looseness became lost and my drawing tight - oh well. I continued on to the finish never-the-less. I really love it when I actually do these things I put on my "would really like to do" list. It's a juried show, so les Bold Floral No. 4 (les mutéd) may not be chosen but that's really not the point - the point is to mess around creatively, have fun, try some new things and cross off something on that brand new shiny 2013 "would love to do list" as opposed to only ever scratching off those must do's, to do's & gotta dos every day.

Bold floral No.4 - 20 x 5 - acrylic & ink on plywood - Susan Black

Bold floral No.4A - 20 x 5 - acrylic & ink on plywood - Susan Black

The original painting / drawing was created with my normal tres bright palette. The painting was done on a piece of 3/4 inch plywood cut (by the Prince) into a 20” x 5” piece, my intention was to paint a floral painting that I knew in the end would be cut into 5 pieces each 4” x 5” . Being a huge proponent of  the “scan as you go”  habit I scanned the bright finished piece before dulling the whole thing with a quick rub all over with a damp rag and a good blob of Golden liquid acrylic - Quinacrisone Nickel Azo Gold (truth be told I did none of this with any particular firm intention or knowledge ... I just knew after I scanned my original it was feeling a little too sweet, a little too bubble-gummy so I wondered what would happen if I dulled things down a bit ?) - & WOW it made a huge difference, I’m not at all sure which I prefer. I like them both, for different reasons I guess. But the damage (or dullness) is permanent, so should we make it into the Argyle Art Gallery - Pre Shrunk show Doug will cut this muted version into 5 - 4 x 5 pieces 

That's the cool thing about so much of the creative process - you just don't know or can't often predict the outcome & you have to learn to be OK with that - in fact you have to learn to look forward to the surprises.

I'm curious  ... favourites anyone ?? Muted or bright ??

raven & crow

the most beautiful image I have seen in a very long time. Raven I think (not Crow though I love crows also)

I've been cleaning off my computer. 4 years old this imac is (in February). This imac filled with stuff, files, images, jobs, projects & lets not even go there, to that photo place (between iphoto & my desktop files I swear I have easily 40,000 photos. Some great, many duds and most of the really good ones did make it to here to my blog to hopefully live on in perpetuity long after we're gone.

I've been a pretty good filer over the years. Sensibly labeled folders within categorized folders, within more folders, within folders. So much has changed in my work life over these past 4 years and really the most important files to me are either photographs or high res versions of my art  / illustration / typographic stuff. Everything else could be replaced or lost without too much fuss or fanfare. I'm over the half way mark - which means I will finish (this month). It's an end of January goal & I'm confident it is completely achievable now that I'm off to such an early & handsome start. Just another area of my life that I'm aiming for less in, I want my desktop, my mac to be lean & spare. I'll use a combination of multi GB memory sticks and an external online server such as DropBox  (what a crazy wonderful idea this is ! ) as my archiving sysyem. I'm currently running Snow Leopard but am anxious as soon as the my imac is lean mean & cleaned off & ready to down load the current OS - Mountain Lion.

Liking cleaning out a long forgotten attic. You find lots of stuff, so many memories, things you've had labeled in your mind omg ! I've been wondering where that was, and a few miraculous treasures that you squeal inside your head I'm so glad I saved that. The top image today, a very high res jpg, found and filed in the time way before Pinterest (sad face) is one of those gems. I LOVE this photo, I don't remember where it came from or why exactly I saved it - other than it's pure stunning-ness which I'm sure was the reason and as of yet I have been unable to locate it's author.

I made this raven image my new desk top screen I want it's stark beauty to be a constant reminder to me to keep my desktop clean & spare, tidy all the time. A pleasure to look at. A reminder to breath & to appreciate Raven medicine. Last night still undecided whether this image was that of a Raven or of a Crow I researched both of them in my much loved book, with it's well worn pages that comes with my set of Animal Medicine Cards*. Animal totems & meanings. Raven means Magic, while Crow means Sacred Law but actually reading them both they become perfectly tangled together into a combined meaning that is so applicable & helpful to where I am right now at this moment. They both speak of coming from darkness to light, seeing what's not seen with the naked eye & change, big change is underfoot. I'll take both, thank you Raven & Crow medicine to heart this brand new year.

* choose card readings & get an animal medicine message for today - I've just added it to my bookmark menu for a daily hit of Animal Medicine - truly the best kind.

be myself

Untitled - detail - acrylic on cheap canvas - Susan Black 2012

You are you. 
Now, isn't that pleasant?
Dr. Seuss

Me, myself & I. Be authentic

Be myself  - resolution 2013 Numero 2. When I say Be Myself I mostly mean creatively, I do suppose that there is a tiny, perhaps 10% of me that still needs validation (love & adoration) from the world outside of me but generally speaking I'm pretty cool with dealing with what other's think of me. Sure if there's an incident, if I think someone's dissed me, doesn't like me, is mad at me or spread a rumour about me - sure I feel upset for awhile, but it passes fairly quickly and my mind and heart are onto more important things. I really don't dwell on that stuff anymore. I be myself ... if you don't like my me, well there's not much I can do about that.

But ...

When it comes to my work life, my love life (which is my work life not my romantic love life) I mean my art, my design, my illustration, my typography my creative world & empire - being myself there, in that world, always and as much as possible - is so crucial. Being authentic is what will ultimately bring me success and set me apart from the other creatives in the tres vast field of talent there is out there. Plus it is much easier to be yourself in the end, but at times it can be a battle. I find the chatter in my head (as I cruise around, daily, in the enormous ocean of mind blowing inspiration that I find online - Pinterest, favourite blogs & websites) often begins to feel & sound a lot like envy. Yikes. One must always try to slay the envy dragon. Snippets of chatter to myself as I wander these lush lands of inspiration & competition.

Oh ... look at her* stuff. Wow, that's amazing !
omg  ! her hand drawn script is amazing  
ooh, ahhh ... her colour palette is just stunning
oh my  ... she has so much new work, she must never procrastinate & waste time like I do
I wonder if I should try that style, palette, motif, etc...
gosh ... I need to do more of _____ (fill in the blank it changes daily) children's, floral, abstract ...

After 2+ years of really trying so many things & making many things, of really quite madly trying to carve out a creative niche (empire) of my own - a me style. A definite Susan Black style is finally emerging. When I look at my etsy shop, or portfolio I see a cohesiveness to my look that makes me feel happy + proud. And the icing on that lovely cake is I'm becoming recognized and dare I say ;-) sought after somewhat for my look & style. Yipee ! 2012 was a very successful year for me, we turned this ship around and as I enter 2013 this big ark of mine (of ours) is steaming full speed ahead with lots of wonderful, soon to be talked about here, opportunities & projects. 

I love to be inspired by what other's are up to and it's an essential part of my own creative spirit & process but it is so important as I continue along this crazy & lovely creative journey that I trust me now. Trust myself to just be ... myself. 

Be myself ... 'cause it's working ;-)

* interestingly they are mostly creative women - my  darn objets d'envy ?
with the exceptions of illustration heros Nate Williams & Matt Stephens

thai-ish

a meeting of the minds (& noses) our new friend Bella (7 months old) with Sam & Winnie / a welcome breath of green in our wintry wonderland / Oliver in a grooming frenzy with lil' bro Gus / sweet Bee from Christmas day / Oliver soakin' up the love / Thai-ish Shrimp ginger chilli stir fry

Tha-ish Gingery Chilli Shrimp Stir fry

1 medium onion chopped in chunks
1 large stalk of broccoli cut into florets & peel and cut stalk into chunks
1 carrot slice thinly on the diagonal
1 cup cabbage shredded
1 cup of frozen corn
1 cup of frozen peas
1/2 lb frozen raw zipper back shrimp thawed
lots of finely julienned fresh ginger (2" knob or more)
1-3 tbsp. garlic chilli sauce
2 cloves fresh garlic minced
1 tbsp. fish sauce (or to taste)
1 tsp. brown sugar (or to taste)
chopped unsalted peanuts
chopped fresh cilantro
sliced green onions

Cook shell on shrimp over medium-high heat with a little canola oil, 1-2 tbsp of ginger & garlic cloves until just pink & opaque put aside to cool, then peel. In a wok or large non stick frying pan drizzle a little canola oil and add remaining ginger and all chopped vegetables. Stir fry quickly over high heat. When carrots & broccoli are crisp tender add frozen peas & corn & continue cooking until heated through. Add chilli sauce, fish sauce, brown sugar. Stir in shrimp, pile on plates or in large bowls & garnish with chopped peanuts, fresh cilantro & green onions. Pass the hot sauce & enjoy !

I am totally hooked on this garlic chilli sauce & this hot sauce - yum.

who's handsome ?

freshly laundered & well worn (pilled) flannel sheets with most excellent bed making assistant & handsome thespian cat

Oliver is.

he insisted that I post all 7 photographs / he hopes Miss Millie sees them and pins them to her handsome, dashing cat board (though he hopes that he's her one & only dashing, handsome cat), he prefers rodents, particularly squirrels, to birds / he's waiting, somewhat patiently for me to create his youtube video channel CATV& he ... is without a doubt the most amazing, handsome, athletic, smart, agile ... dashing .... cat ever.

& speaking of exceptional cats ... do you remember Lil' C, the most adorable skinny ginger cat I rescued from the Cyrus Eaton Elementary School Christmas concert last December 09th. His new mother Wanda just emailed me a happy new year note with 10 or so photos of handsome Cyrus who's name is now Oscar - made me cry. So very thoughtful of her because it's as if she knew - I've never stopped thinking of him. I fell in love with that cat, fast.

ps. for all you fans of 29 Black Street the blog I've decided to do my posting later in the day - change is good ... isn't it ?
My plan for 2013 is to post each and everyday,  though some days may be visual only in content ;-)

well hello 2013

it's very very wintry here but there's nothing more beautiful than the bluest sky contrasted with shimmering ice and snow

Well ya know I have resolutions, plans, goals, dreams, schemes because hey ! I'm just that kinda gal.
I love it - perpetual self improvement, DIY for the soul

I love a clean slate, an officialish time to begin anew, fresh start and all. I have a new red binder with sections & categories - it's hopefully gonna be my version of Project Life (which seems like such a cool way to document your life). Of course the visual documentation of my life will continue here on the 29 Black Street blog but most of the work/life/love related dreams, schemes, goals, plans,  & of course accomplishments I plan to keep track of in my new Martha Stewart Home Office Collection red binder avec colourful tabs, clear pockets & both loose leaf & gridded paper (wink). There's a word for people like me, but I'm not going to say it here on New Year's Day, it's a bit of an unpleasant word but it's true. Doug calls it quirky in that Oh I better be careful with my choice of words kinda way. Here are just a few of my 10 (nice round number) or so resolutions ... also a few on the side of quirky ;-)

1. Cook more Asian food ... 'cause we really love it
2. Be myself ... be myself, be myself (and be comfortable being that self)
3. Chop off my hair (see No.2) - appointment has been made Jan 15th & I can't wait
4. Write more snail mail, have pen pals* & lots of them - any takers ?
5. Make time to create/make/draw/paint each day !!!!

* I owe snail mail to a few of you already & I haven't forgotten you ... 
Andee, Kathie, Susan D, Rachel & the Team, Sara H, Juliet  ...