Glorious Gloria!

A big welcome to a little cupcake, Gloria Virginia Beth.
Although she resides in France with her parents and big brother Matthieu, we send our love and best wishes via Sweet Pea scroll.

Her mommy happens to be one of my dearest friends and Gloria has yet to discover what she has in store; daily lullabies from an incredibly gifted songstress!
While I could break glass with my pitch (a talent passed down from my own mother;), I will stick to painting and use her carousel pony scroll as a tribute to her mothers lullaby.

Adorned with pink rosebuds and ribbons, the white pony stands tall against a baby blue sky. High on a hill, the last few lines of the lullaby are written in turquoise script; "the blue and the bay, dapple and grey, all the pretty little horses." The bottom edge of the scroll is scalloped to break up the solid colour scheme of baby blue and sage green while curled satin ribbons of pink and lilac hang down from the finial ends.
Miles and oceans definitely make it difficult to be there to share some of these early moments of someones life, but the further you go, the more you realize how small the world really is. We are certainly there in heart.
Sending love, health and happiness to a dear friend and her growing family.

Pink Lemonade

Pretty as a pink blossom, this 1x2 foot stretched canvas was created with one of China's childrens stores in mind. My Second Hand baby shop is the entrepreneur venture of a fellow foreigner in Shanghai whom I will have the pleasure of meeting this week when I deliver her first display pieces on behalf of Sweet Pea.

These almond blossoms have been popular with the girlie crowd as they compliment a baby nursery, young girls room or even a teens quarters. The lemony yellow backdrop serves as a nice contrast colour to cocoa branches and cotton candy blooms. The branches are randomly dusted with iridescent sequins to mimic dew drops and a small space is left in the cove of the lower branches to display a child's name or quotation.

Sending big thanks out to My Second Hand for being Shanghai's first baby store to feature Sweet Pea illustrations:)

Coco Meets Ladybug

CONGRATULATIONS to the newest mommy and daddy-to-be, our friends Jane & Tony. Their little bundle is due around Chinese New Year (very lucky!), so mommy's belly is still in the wee stages of being turned into a pumpkin.

To celebrate, Sweet Pea designed for them their very own monkey mural. Jane is just as much a fan of cutesy, fun children's art, so I hope this will be a nice addition to the early stages of the nursery. There have been a few opportunities for me to add a wee little ladybird in my work, but this one is complete with blue eye shadow, luscious lashes and tiny toes atop the head of Coco's Mama (or Dada;) The fringed edge along the bottom adds to the playfulness and the calming yellow background brings the chocolate-coloured characters to the forefront.

We look forward to the months ahead as Jane & Tony prepare for their wintertime bundle!

(P.S. I promise that the next project in progress is not monkey-related;) Stay tuned....

Going Bananas!

I cannot tell a lie; I am bananas for monkeys.

For the first time, my better half and I visited the Shanghai Zoo last month and he had to drag me away from the Gorilla family with their newborn (who was the perfect model for the retro Mon Chi Chi doll) as well as a lonely Chimp on the other side of the park who had me when we touched fingers through the glass. Even the baboon who kept blowing kisses at me before turning around to show me his bare butt, kept me amused for much longer than the other visitors. I am obsessed.
This zoo excursion was purely artistic research;)
Now, I am lying.

They say you can learn a lot about an artist by analyzing their work, but mine pretty much spells it out for you; monkeys. They possess amazingly human-like qualities , are hilariously funny and make me feel closer to my sister when I get homesick! (It's ok, she never reads this blog!) When I have a freebie project that is headed to a baby shop showroom, or want to plan a gift for friends...the monkeys win every time. Soon I may have to change my name from Sweet Pea to Mon Chi Chi.

Our future children will have their rooms covered in baby monkeys to fulfill their mothers obsession and ducklings to appease their dad. Lucky chocolate and yellow is a smashing combination.

Here in Shanghai I am preparing a few projects for a baby clothing store (My Second Hand), but those are projects underway so I must keep details under wraps until official unveiling. These chocolate monkeys pictured on lime background are for a friend from China who I had the pleasure of working with in 2005. Now I will have the pleasure of meeting little Howie (and promise to publish his picture if I get granted permission;)

Wishing Naomi and her family all the love, kindness and talent she has shared with us.

Monkey Graduation

One of my favourite, little preschoolers is preparing for his summer holiday before he begins primary school. To commemorate his accomplishments, his International school, in Shanghai held a fantastic graduation ceremony, complete with English and Chinese speeches by the 5 & 6 year old scholars, as well as singing and dancing performances. It was a proud parents dream; to see their child waving frantically from the stage, stepping on each others toes and scratching their little butts with cut-out star props;) Honestly, there was not one child who happened to forget their lines, miss their cue or produce a good chuckle from the crowd.

On an assortment of bright greens this chocolate peek-a-boo style monkey, with curly 'q' and quirky smile is painted on an 8x8" square linen canvas. It sums up in an instant the playfulness of this age group, who are full of wonder, mischief and oftentimes teach us more than we could ever teach them.

This canvas is dedicated with lots of love to Domi Monkey; a little English genius with a memory like I have never known before. May you always be learning at the speed you do now, full of as many questions about life & able to make others laugh as much as you do for me.

Ni Hao...from Shanghai

Ni Hao!
Sweet Pea Murals here, in Shanghai, China;)
Great to be back in our old stomping grounds.

Shanghai is full of inspiration for artists; thousands of intricate buildings and alleyways teaming with bamboo laundry poles, pond-laced parks and temples, 20 million people in colourful ponchos heading to work on bicycles & some of the funkiest designs around. Shanghai is a chaotic mix of East & West, traditional & modern, disarray and elegance...all in one large city; enough to make an artists head spin.
Having done just that, I hurried to Fuzhou Lu, an art street that boasts hundreds of tiny art shops jam packed with supplies. I must admit that finding supplies identical to Canada's stock may not be possible, but the mediums I will have to adjust to, will add to the flavour of the illustrations. Some of the traditional canvas here are made of linen, as opposed to heavy cotton and the range of paints are definitely brighter, bolder and perfect for childrens illustrations (or funky home interiors.) Loose canvas is available and plentiful, as scrolls are a popular art form here. Otherwise some customers have expressed interest in having pieces shipped to Canada on loose canvas, and once they arrive they will have them framed themselves. This will avoid the cost of shipping oversized pieces already stretched on wooden frames as well as give you the option of keeping it in scroll form, or having it framed.

Today I am working on a piece for a wee friend...Sweet Pea's signature monkey...an appropriate character for the receiver. You only graduate from preschool once..so it should be commemorated with a monkey;)

So please stay tuned for the coming posts all the way from Shanghai;)

Memories of Calli Lilies

One of my all-time favourite artists, Diego Rivera, was born in Mexico and many of his paintings reflected the political and social times of his era. Here, he depicts a simple market scenario of women selling Calli-lilies from giant bunches. The contrast of bright white on black and traditionally dressed women brings focus to the task at hand. Though faceless, it seems these pieces overflow with emotion. They are my two choice pieces completed by Rivera and stand out as both a set or on their own.

Considering that these are facsimiles of the real thing, they are simplifications of how I have envisioned his technique. Many prints are on the market, but the originals are worth the time to discover.

Sweet Pea's version are 2x2 foot replicas on stretched canvas; a gift for my baby sister gone gardener, since she purchased her first home;)
They also bring back memories of our time together in Central America...though we tell our favourite stories enough that it is hardly forgotten;)

With lots of love and best wishes...from your big sister.

Almond Blossom Princess

How appropriate that Sweet Pea's last piece before flying off the China is for one of my all-time favourite wee customers...Miss Giuliana Lucia.

Over a year and a half ago, I was introduced to her family and four projects later, I continue trying to convince them to add to their art collection...mostly so I can return for a delivery visit;)
Miss G is Sugar 'n Spice in a tiny little package.

Exclusively designed with her in mind, this 2x3 foot scroll is made to match her bedroom and serves as a keepsake for her to grow with. With a flower blossom theme, it is mature enough to last her for years to come. Charcoal gray branches jut out to display bursts of candy pink almond blossoms with lemon chiffon centers. Two-tone sequins frost the tips of the flowers to mimic sparkling dew drops. Giuliana's first and middle names are painted in Gigi font, with a faint tiara placed gently on the "g".

There is still more to come. Once a wooden dowel rod is secured to the top of the scroll, black finial endings and satin ribbon will be added for hanging. The pink that dominates her room along with the black accents will blend nicely with her new scroll.

Looking forward to seeing the little munchkin and her doll of a baby brother before heading overseas...and hopefully hooking up in the future for more fun projects.

Big Brother D

This set of letter canvases is meant to compliment the mural of little E's big brother, D. Diamond and square shapes alternate with a blue, red and tan coloured pattern. The letters are painted in a two-tone chocolate; dark and cocoa with a solid, masculine font.

Last year when he was waiting for his baby sister to arrive, his mom ordered a hockey canvas for him that now hangs above his bed. These letter canvases, with a colour scheme to match his mural will hang vertically to spell out his name.

Here's to Big Brother D's new room, in his new house where he will make many more great memories with his growing sister.

B is for Baby

Nearly a year ago, I was lucky enough to be part of a chic nursery in-the-making as little E's family prepared for her arrival. With the furniture on order and walls painted a soft sage, I added a creamy white bow with ribbon tails that centered over the crib (that was coming) and onto the connecting walls. This year, when I returned, the nursery was complete right down to the gorgeous details..and most importantly a smiley baby girl!

To keep with the colour palette and feminine accents, this year little E's mom opted for 6 12x12" canvas with alternating shades of cream, pink and sage. Each canvas represents a different letter of baby's name with a flowing ribbon font. Puffy daisies and rounded baby butterflies are scattered around the letters. Maintaining a simple palette (in this case, three colours plus a creamy cocoa for the butterfly bodies), round and graceful images emphasize the delicate nature of the baby girls room.
Stay tuned for glimpses of the chic nursery all complete.

Wishing Baby E and family all the best as they make their move into their new nest;)

T is for...

...Tractor!

Little J is getting a big tractor today!

The vintage-style machine billows a puff of smoke out the top and idles as it waits for the driver to return to his work. The canvas measures 3x4 feet with a background shade to match the green wall in baby J's big boy bedroom. Charcoal grays, steel blue, creamy yellows and whites keep the colour-palette neutral. Best of all, it keeps with his Pottery Barn bedding theme of construction vehicles.

Baby J's mom who has a great eye for design has also requested a footstool (to help him onto his big boy bed) and pegboard with images from the Pottery Barn bedding; C is for cement truck & B is for bulldozer. Once everything comes together, this little cutie is going to have one cool construction space for sleep and play!

Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice...

...that is what Princess' are made of;)

Tonight I finally get to meet little Z when I deliver her Royal Scroll to their castle in Milton. This is one of the greatest parts of my job; meeting the new mini owners of the illustrations.

Her scroll measures 2x3 feet and is topped off with fine, cream finial endings and a lilac satin ribbon for hanging. The rolling sage hills make way for the sandy-coloured castle with tall turrets and flags waving in the breeze. Butterflies swirl in the sky, chased by a stream of sequins. Rows of trees line the hills and rose bushes surround the drawstring bridge door. A patch of sunshiney daisies and fuschia flowers bid you welcome to the royal palace and all of the treasures that lie within.

Wishing little Z a lifetime of Princess dreams.
All hail the Princess!

CHINA BOUND!

Valued Customers ...
It is with great pleasure that I announce our family decision to relocate to China!

This dream has been many years in the making for my husband and I...so we are very much looking forward to the opportunity to live and work in the community where we stayed two years ago...most importantly to begin our family;)

Sweet Pea Murals has truly grown in the past year; many new contacts, many new wee ones and a portfolio that has become quite extensive. I am not giving up my love for design...just taking it across the ocean!

It is my plan to to ship custom art from China. I have had several customer requests to do so. It may take a few months to get production details underway, but my hope is that I can continue creating for your little ones abroad (& some little ones over there too...including our own!)

BIG PAINTINGS FOR WEE PEOPLE
The Sweet Pea blogsite http://www.sweetpeamurals.blogspot.com/
will be updated on a regular basis to display the latest and greatest; keeping parents posted on what's new in the big world of illustration for children. My contact will also remain the same sweet_pea_murals@yahoo.ca The website is all that is no longer available.

I want to take this time to thank you all for your business, kind words and well wishes, as we embark on the journey of our lifetime.
I look forward to continuing business with you from China!

Happy Un-birthday Gift

Little N is cute enough to receive an un-birthday gift 364 days a year;) Since her cousin is turning two, months before her it might be fun to celebrate being almost two with a trendy piece of Sweet Pea art.

This mini 6x12" name canvas has the shabby chic allure of today's top designs; silhouettes are back. Silhouettes are adorning greeting cards, pillow cases, aprons, wrapping paper (just check out your local trendy card shop!)...and Sweet Pea canvas, but for a modern twist, they are set on bold and funky colours (hot fuchsia, lime green and here...dark turquoise). A perfect demonstration of how simple sometimes says more.
Mama and baby bird are beak-to-beak at the branches end while curly cues reach out towards them. The toddlers name is written in Gigi font with a fresh lime green; a gorgeous contrast with the blue-green background. Darker hues find their way as gentle shadows around the script and designs, to bring them to the forefront.

Little N's Mama J is the QUEEN of un-birthday gift-giving...so it will be delightful to finally give a little back. (But don't tell them yet...it is our little secret.)
Happy un-birthday, almost two-year old!

Little Monkey on Safari!

Little Stefan will have loads to look at from his crib!
It will feel just like he and his jungle pals are going on Safari.

This giant 2.5 x 5 foot horizontal canvas, with the baby boy's name and birthdate is based on a soft sage background. Chocolate and lime dominate the painting in the palm tree, monkey, giraffe and script while little bursts of colour in the form of chubby birds perch on the numbers & alphabet. Sweet Pea's signature Cheeky Monkey with outstretched arm presents his friends...or waits for a falling banana! Peek-a-boo style Spotty and Stripey tuck around the corner to see what is going on in the wild!

Sending happy trails to baby & family as they depart for a little real-life adventure!
Your new jungle friends will watch over your nursery until your safe return.

Two comes but once a lifetime!

VERY VERY Happy Birthday wishes go out to the best little two-year old in town..Miss Sophia; the Sweet Pea spokesbaby is turning into our spokestoddler!

She doesn't actually hit the big numero dos until next week, but Sweet Pea has prepared for her this wee little canvas set; two 4x4 cotton candy canvas for her big girls room (as she graduates from the nursery where her twin siblings!!! will take over in September.)

These 1 1/2"deep gallery canvas are adorned with sequins, chocolate branches that twist around the edges and pink almond blossoms with lemon chiffon centres. Sounds good enough to eat and almost as sweet as the birthday girl herself.

To this very cuddly, kissbable, hug-worthy little munchkin...may your days bring you all the happiness & laughter that you give to all of us. Lots of love and snuggles....xoxoxo.

Double Double!

And Baby makes...FOUR!

What a lucky family that is doubly blessed to receive twins! This mommy and daddy-to-be are counting down the days until their little Pumpkin and Monkey arrive.

In honour of their nicknames, two 2x2 foot canvas' have been designed to compliment their already gorgeous nursery. This baby boy and girl will be sleeping in style! Two celery-coloured cribs against saffron walls, playful safari and butterfly bedding and already mountains of gifts, everything two-by-two!

On the lemon chiffon baby girls piece...an orange pumpkin is seated in a bed of dewy daisies & wild strawberries. A slow snail makes his way to the edge of the canvas while a frog peeks out from the other side. A turquoise dragonfly baby with sparkly wings nuzzles into her mother and butterflies dance and swirl in the air.

Their little monkey has a more masculine piece; rich with earthy colours and strong outlines. A cheeky monkey baby drops his bunch of golden bananas while peek-a-boo giraffe and lion look on. Tropical wild & ocean green palm leaves overlap and tickle the edges of the canvas.

Sweet Pea sends out very warm wishes as this family of two prepares to welcome two more.
You are truly doubly blessed!
I hope your wee ones enjoy these pieces as much as I enjoyed painting them;)

Honey Pot Pooh

Little princess J is turning one this May and what better way to celebrate than with her favourite characters from Winnie the Pooh. Adapted from Honey Pot Pooh, this 3x3 foot scroll depicts the chubby, old bear and his wee friend Piglet preparing for the party. Pooh reaches for his last pot of honey while Piglet looks on holding a cotton candy-coloured balloon. An old-fashioned top and baby blocks spelling G.I.R.L are spread out on the floor of Pooh's treehouse. Hanging on the wall, a day calendar shows the date of Baby J's birth.

The scroll will be finished off with cherrywood ball finials and a satin pink ribbon for hanging.

Very best first birthday wishes to the beautiful baby girl!

May this be the first of many wonderful celebrations ahead!

Kids in Space!

Three kids, their faithful border collie and a green martian are exploring the moon in this one-of-a-kind 2.5x5 foot canvas; Adventures in Space. The oldest brother navigates the shuttle giving a big thumbs up. Basel the Space Dog looks after baby sister as she wanders off star-chasing. Ready to make history, a tall Astro Brother floats atop the Swiss cheese moon with his miniature Canadian flag. The green martian, puzzled at the arrival of his visitors, holds a directional sign leading the way; MOON. In the distance, the blue earth waits for them to return to their cozy beds from their adventures.
A brilliant blue backdrop blends in with the new base colour of the wall, giving the piece that mural-feel while producing a keepsake to pass along the years. Each sibling boasts their own emblem on their spacesuits; a green star, pink heart and yellow moon, with boots to match. Golden shooting stars burst out from swirls and a turquoise ring encircles a silly, polka-dotted Saturn.

Happy trails to the new owner of this adventure in Space!
May the force be with you!

Monkeying Around!

"A picture is worth a thousand words."

This 3x3 foot canvas for a baby-to-be's nursery leaves a playful story up to your imagination. A banana yellow background displays chocolate-coloured monkeys with swirly tails, curls and bellybuttons. Lime green palm leaves lend to the playfulness of this painting and suggest that there are bananas to be stolen nearby. A peek-a-boo monkey is all eyes and ears in the bottom corner. Definitely a fun piece for over baby's crib, a child's bed or the family playroom.
The canvas is a slight variation from the oft-requested Sweet Pea piece hanging at the Baby Depot (http://www.thebabydepot.ca/) in Kitchener. The dark, bold images on the fair hued background make this art especially easy for little eyes to focus on.

Sending best wishes out to the parents-to-be and first-time auntie too;)
May these mischief makers bring hours of fun to your family!

Bounce! Messy & Tickle

Mr.Men are back.
Last year I completed a nursery for friends in the Mr. Men & Little Miss characters. Following that I had a customer request for a height chart scroll and now this three 18x18"canvas set is on its way to Whitby.
The background mimics that found in the classic books; solid greens, blues and whites with colourful, bold characters in the forefront. Mr. Bounce is doing just that while the little worm at his feet laughs. Mr. Messy has a bird perched on his head (with a look of disgust) and Mr. Tickle is tipping his hat as his hands reach and squirm behind his back. The horizon line & images in the background meet so that side-by-side this set looks like one long piece of whimsical art.

Greased Lightning!

"Why this car is automatic...

It's systematic

It's hydromatic"

...It's Lightning McQueen, geared up and ready for the open road.

(This canvas is a 12x12" replica of Pixar's Lightning McQueen from CARS.)

Two-by-Funny-Two

This whimsical march of mixed up animal pairs is a continuation of last summers project at a nursery school hallway in Guelph. Sweet Pea was commisioned to paint the beginning (and now the opposite end) of the hallway as a warm welcome to the wee ones. With a twist on the Noah's Ark theme, I paired odd animals in a parade leading to each of the classrooms. Mary's little lamb holds the Lamb's Court sign, a leaping frog & fly hang on to Hoppers Lane and the lagging turtle directs little ones to Turtles Creek Blvd. Then at each nursery room door, the coinciding animals await, as a pictoral reminder of which room the varying-aged children belong. Though I think most of the children get stuck in the hallway doting on over 30 animals & insects.
Monkeys swing on vines, birds, toucans, ladybug & butterflies perch themselves on top of animals heads, a mouse swings from a cats tail while another carries an elephant who taunts him with cheese dangling from a string, Hopper plays leapfrog with a seahorse blowing shiny bubbles and all the animals from their habitats join together in a colourful parade.

Kiss 'N Tell

A little baby girl is about to be welcomed to a very special nursery.

Two (not including the family pets!) are about to become three in Guelph. They have gone Pottery Barn on the baby bedroom and it is looking fabulous. Currently it boasts gorgeous dark shades of cherry wood, sage green and ruby and now the bedding, custom canvas as well as other choice accents are bringing out the soft palettes of yellow, creamy white, baby blue and tangerine orange.

Animals on Parade baby bedding by the popular Pottery Barn inspired mom and dad-to-be to have custom canvas created to match. Using a slightly lighter shade of green than baby's quilt as a backdrop, elephants, leopards, birds and alligators come to life. Baby elephant and daddy touch trunks, mommy leopard and her little one nuzzle under the sun, Al(ligator) daddy carries around 'cargo' while he gives mommy a clover and tangerine birds are caught kissing on treetops. The centre canvas serves as a focal point, where banners wave in a birds beak, waiting to be adorned with baby's name and birth date.

Now all the room needs is the baby.

All the best to this little family as they await her arrival;)

Baby Bubbles

Monkey see,

Monkey do,

Baby Monkey...i love you.

This 3x3 foot chocolate monkey canvas has been designed for

A Kids Corner in Oakville; a gorgeous decor store for babies and wee ones (http://www.akidscorner.com/).

The Baby Bubbles canvas is made to match a beautiful striped, spotted & bowed baby bedding set, but would certainly suit any funky nursery around town. With spiraled tail and tufts of fur, bouncing baby monkey and peek-a-boo Mommy (or Daddy) monkey play amidst a sea of bubbles.

Palmy Balmy Beach

As a kid, my passion for drawing stemmed from the likes of Jim Davis (Garfield), Bill Waterson (Calvin & Hobbes), Matt Groening (The Simpsons) & Walt Disney's every creation under the sun. The art of forgery taught me a handful of skills. By simply learning how to duplicate what already existed, I taught myself how to break down images to their simplest shapes and how the tiniest details give drawings life. The real artist emerges when they learn how to create, but copying does have its place in the art world.

Every now and again, I return to the wonderful world of forgery to help give me a basis for new skills. With so much passion and practice in illustration, it is important for me to challenge myself with life drawing which includes my two greatest weaknesses; hands and landscape. Original tools still come in handy; the breaking down of images into shapes and details but with realistic works these tools take on a whole new level. Shading becomes more intense, outlines soften from the solid black lines of the cartoon image I am accustomed to & what seems like one colour is actually an amazing combination of several that creates an illusion for the eye.

Here I have forged part of a painting by French artist Fabrice de Villeneuve who is known in the art world for his tapestry collections & French vintage paintings. This is one of his rare landscape-type works; Seaside Retreat & stands out from the rest of his pieces where similarities are obvious. The original painting actually has a much warmer, softer feel than it's reproduction pictured above. But the overall feel of the work remains; the open door, empty chaise, soft sand, still water & breezy palm all give the sense of that mid-afternoon peace in the summertime.

Art & Health

"Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind."
~Bruce Lee

Sweet Pea has teamed up with the newly owned and operated Doctors Choice Clinic (www.doctorschoiceclinic.com) to create a little ambiance for patients on the road to recovery. What better way to symbolize renewal than with the strongest woody tree and fastest growing plant on earth; the bamboo. Bamboo is able to completely regenerate without the need to replant and can be replenished with no negative impact on the environment.

This forest of stalks are painted from mid-view while green shoots boast long-slender leaves. Younger stalks bend to the edges of the 5 x 2.5 foot canvas and the background mirrors colour choices from the clinic, a calm khaki green. In colour therapy, green represents nature, life, self-respect and well-being; all noted in connection with the healing processes taking place through rehabilitation.

On behalf of Sweet Pea Murals, health and happiness to the staff and patients at Doctors Choice.

Little Ben's BIG BIKE

Pairing little people with BIG artwork always results in cool bedrooms.

Little Ben and his new Moto X bike certainly have a room that is ready for the great transition from crib to big boy bed.

One of the greatest aspects of this room is the amount of time his mom has invested in making this something personal, original and all-in-the-family. Choosing a fun theme is crucial to creating a kids room, but classic keepers are those themes that remind their child of family members and trigger great stories about loved ones. This room is destined to reign as one of my favourites and I am looking forward to seeing the final product.

Viking blue walls are contrasted by strong red & black accents. Vintage motorcyle lamp and pick-up style truck adorn the side table, a bold blue replica of an old-fashioned gasoline pump and black & white family photos of Grandpa's racing cars, Dad's motocross racing days as well as the familys favourite K-9's hang over his headboard.

Ben's Moto X custom artwork from Sweet Pea is based on a photo of his own dad's bike, with a twist in colour to help add to the ambiance of the room, in a funky (and large!) 4x4 foot square canvas format. The Viking blue background to match the wall base, gives this canvas more of a blended feel to look like a mural built right into the wall, but has the advantage of being a lifetime keepsake.

Not unlike the process for the classic train and vintage bi-plane designed for the Grant boys in the 1990's, many pictures have to be collected and graphed out to be sure the proportions are accurate. Loads of motocross bikes (handle bars, wheels, bodies) all with different edges and angles were researched to come up with a good crop for this square piece. To begin, colours are roughly splashed on layer after layer and slowly the images starts to take shape with fine details and highly stylized shading. Spending this much time with your art...makes it really hard to hand over when it comes time for delivery!

Appropriately, I get to deliver this piece on Family Day; hopefully adding the icing on the cake to this beautifully designed bedroom and a happy little boy as he moves from his crib to the trendiest room in town!

Ponikarovsky!

Alexei Ponikarovsky requires one, extra wide jersey;)

This canvas takes the cake for the longest names yet on Sweet Pea jersey sets. However this true, blue Canadian Leafs fan knows who he likes...and as it turns out it is two players who both began with Dynamo Moscow. Ponikarovsky is a Ukraine-born Maple Leaf player with a very long last name; 12 letters actually. Alexander Ovechkin (Alexander Mikhaylovich Ovechkin) from the Washington Capitals dons the 2.5x5 foot canvas as well.
I would be in big trouble if jerseys required any more than last names!

It's Baby J's Big Day!

Wonder. Dream. Explore.

It is Baby J's big day! He turned a tiny two years old on February 2nd.

To celebrate, Sweet Pea has painted him his very own set of wheels;)

The earthy tones and strong black shading make the image stand out and will prove to be mature enough as he grows into a little man.

Currently, the scroll is hung from a black rod with arrowhead finials and topped off with a blue satin ribbon. However as Baby J grows, the satin ribbon can be replaced with rod brackets fastened directly to the wall.

Wishing him all the happiness & love he brings to his family and many celebrations to come;)

Happy Day, Baby J;)

Spring Baby!

A warm congratulations to my dear friend Jurga and the love of her life, Segal. This Spring they will welcome their first child! In celebration, we are sending this Bunny My Honey nursery scroll to Ireland in hopes that it will arrive in time for baby's big welcome to the world.

The shy baby Bunny, acrobatic Miss Mouse and hopping Duckling are inspired by Anita Jerams, All Together Now; a gorgeously illustrated storybook about three animals who come together as a family despite their apparent differences.

With a robins egg blue background, tall ferns, plump mushrooms, rosy wild strawberries, four-leaf clovers and playful baby animals, it entails all that is Spring. It is painted on loose primed canvas and measures 28x23" (and is waiting to be wound round rod and finial and topped off with a blue satin ribbon before it makes its long journey across the ocean.) A perfect accent to a nursery for baby boy or girl (we are not sure yet, but we hear that baby is quite the kicker!)

We send our love to this family of two, soon-to-be three and wait patiently for the warm weather and a little angel.

Lucky Number Thirteen

Thirteen is not an unlucky number this time around. Lucky #4 is turning lucky #13 this Sunday and what a surprise it will be.

This 5x2.5 foot canvas was designed especially with the birthday man in mind, right down to the details of his very own hockey stick, gloves and helmet. Not to mention the fact that he gets to share the locker room with two of his biggest sports idols; Sid the Kid and the NJ Devils goalie, Martin Brodeur. What hockey fan, young or old wouldn't love to be thirteen?

Primary colours; red, blue and hints of yellow are set on a neutral background to help to lend to the timelessness of this piece.

Wishing a lifetime of dreams-come-true and the happiest of birthdays to the newest member of the NHL locker room.

Thirteen is as lucky as you make it.

Mini Fan ROCKS

Let me introduce you to a mini Oilers/Cowboys fan. He doesn't know it yet, but these are his all-time favourite NHL/NFL teams. As you'll notice, he has already started the art of the one-handed wave!
A year ago (this month actually) I was up at his 'crib' painting the helmet and hockey puck you see flying overhead. Above his closet, another swirl of Cowboys stars and Oilers jargon, "YOU'RE IN OIL COUNTRY."
To start this year, and serve as the main attraction for his sports-themed room, his parents (who happen to also be fans of these teams;) have requested this double jersey canvas. They have included their lucky numbers and name of their favourite little fan, making this a keepsake for years to come.
Though I predict a strong wave of jersey-themed rooms, based on the number of requests that pour in, it is always nice to see that every family caters their custom work on the individual canvas' and in this case, by complimenting wall accents to make the room complete.
I also predict that this little guy will be a heart-breaker by the age of two;)
The kid ROCKS!

Three Musketeers: Happy New Years

There is no better way to ring in the New Year than with a new addition to the family; welcome to the wee-est musketeer of the L family and the tiniest of 2007's customers (sleepy baby owns the first Sweet Pea canvas scroll; the Frog Prince.)
His big, handsome brothers, as you can see, have eased right into their role (the eldest of the two clearly has had some practice already;)

Wishing all of you & your wee musketeers love, peace, health & happiness as we enter a new year full of fresh surprises...and little bundles of joy.
From my family to yours...Happy 2008;)