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;)