Same tools, same instructions, all equal, all different. O.W.L.

The OWL is a POWERFUL image and I use it all the time in my work. The form of the OWL itself is very conducive to teaching the principles of drawing. The direction quickly create an engaging and intense gaze, drawing both the student and the observer in. By Aug 24, I’ll have led approx 225 people…

In place of death there was light.

I am preparing myself to draw my mother’s “death mask” from the photo my son took after she passed on November 8, 2008. I have been preparing for awhile. I know the process will be an important and necessary one for me personally.  I think about it often.  It’s not about needing to work on something…

Special sale: Dead Bird Collection- embroidered drawings

I am a BIG BIG fan of symbology, imagery and metaphor.  I feed on it like some kind of voracious vampire.   As I was collecting a few books from my personal library to donate to our local community mini library, I pulled out an old book I had forgotten about.   Oh, how I love…

… it goes deep, deep down into its burrow…

I was organizing my notebooks and loose papers and to-do lists at a coffee shop this morning.  I love to organize, but I am strangely disorganized.  Creative chaos is my middle name, but so are organizational skills. My mind runs a 1000 miles per hour, and so I write bits of quotes, make lists, tiny…

I would encourage you to meditate upon the squirrel…

I’ve been obsessing about squirrels of late, knowing that my encounters with them hold a deep meaning- one I haven’t really understood yet. In time. Meanwhile, I am head-over-heels in love with @this_girl_is_a_squirrel . I can’t stop looking at her IG feed. MUST DRAW. So I did. I would encourage you to meditate upon the…

Custom Hand-Drawn Pet Portraits.

If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans. James Herriot To honour pets and to celebrate the joy we receive from them, I am offering 18″ x24″ pet portraits for only $57.00 CAD ($40 USD) Chinamarker and acrylic highlights…

One day super sale! Hand-drawn portraits in the spirit of the Calavera

To raise immediate funds for art supplies as well as for coffee and snacks, I am offering hand-drawn Calavera inspired portraits for only $55 CAD [$43.40 USD] (includes shipping) 18″ x 24″ china marker, dry pastel, felt pen, acrylic paint on newsprint until Midnight PT July 13, 2015. I will email you photos of the portrait before and…

ART SCHOOL: Special HOW TO DRAW A PORTRAIT package

Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter. – Oscar Wilde Special HOW TO DRAW A PORTRAIT (in my style) home art school package- at special price for limited time!      LEARN AT YOUR OWN PACE! Package includes: 1. Introductory exercise to my drawing technique 2. 3-D…

“Crime Scene” creative process #graphicnovel

   — “CRIME SCENE” Testing chapter heading visuals for: Molly, my graphic novel. Creating on nickels and dimes. ‪ “… even if I had to paint my pictures with my wet tongue on the dusty floor of my cell.” – Pablo ‪Picasso‬ I can’t stop despite money worries and fatigue-inducing insecurities… Can I pull this off?…

10 Tuesdays. 10 Fridas. Art Blog Event. Frida No. 3: The Chakras

I’m celebrating my blog with an art event. The event honors the woman who inspires me to keep it going as an artist: Frida Kahlo. — For 10 Tuesdays, I am creating/posting 10 different portraits of Frida Kahlo in some form/medium or another. It may be a drawing, an object, a doll, whatever… A surprise. I…

Personalized One-of-a-kind Paper Dresses

Personalized paper dresses in MY signature style and YOUR chosen theme! HAND DRAWN HAND SEWN ORIGINAL ART WITH EMBROIDERY DETAILS UPCYCLED/RECYCLED — CONTACT ME at britakatarina@gmail.com TO CUSTOM ORDER Expect 6 weeks until delivery Many of you have seen my paper dresses come and go on the blog here. SAMPLE LINKS: THE BYPOSTSTREET LAUNCH PAPER DRESSES THE BYPOSTSTREET PUNK…

3 part Frida Kahlo interpretation.

At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can. – Frida Kahlo —         — Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away. – Frida Kahlo —   

Pay attention to the birds: Part 3- Pigeon

Delighted that my dog has entered some kind of remission.  One week after believing it was time for that “family meeting,” he is well enough to eat and walk again. He runs like a, somewhat lame, puppy after his bath- so it’s all good for now. I savour every minute with Tobey, knowing he has…

Pay attention to the birds: Part 2- American Robin

I never keep walking when I see a robin.  I stop and observe.  I love their attentiveness.  The way they listen to the earth.  The way their torsos look like eggs. The robin brings a fresh new perspective to situations that are otherwise foggy and unclear. Try calling on robin energy for clarity when your…

Pay attention to the birds: Part 1- Kingfisher

On February 27, 2015, I observed a Kingfisher at the Spruce Harbour Marina. I was mesmerized.  Birds hold so much meaning to me.  And they always feel like messengers, telling me to pay strict attention.  I pulled out my composition book and made a note to remember the moment. Also known as the Halycon, the…

The dying crow.

The other day, I observed, in humbled silence, a vigil being kept by two crows as they watched over their dying companion- holding sacred space as the dying crow lay nestled in the grass.  I was so moved by their attentive eye and compassion.  The two sat high in the trees, taking turns warning and attacking any…

Sacred Contracts Journal Exercise Part 5 of 8: Throat Chakra

  SACRED CONTRACTS JOURNALING EXERCISE SERIES PART 5 OF 8 THROAT CHAKRA We are tapping into our calling, our purpose, our joy in this SACRED CONTRACTS journal series.  It is inspired by Caroline Myss.  The journal series is  an experiment on my part, and I welcome you to join along. Recall Part 1: Future and Present where we took…

Sacred Contracts Journaling Exercise: Series Part 1 of 8- Future and Present

  Sacred Contracts Journaling Exercise Series Part 1 of 8 Future and Present Inspired by Caroline Myss’s book, SACRED CONTRACTS- awakening your divine potential, I am exploring/developing journaling exercises around awakening creative expression and tapping into the magic that makes you flow– that passion that fuels you, that call to action to step up and truly live a…