Category Archives: Hearts

My Apologies To Anthropologie / Channelling Paul Klee

My Apologies To Anthropologie

“Art does not reproduce the visible; rather, it makes visible.” ~ Paul Klee

The Passing Time
I’ve been laying low the past while. Last month I suffered a concussion playing hockey and I’m still pretty foggy. I haven’t been able to watch TV, be on the computer, or exercise. To pass the time, I’ve been rediscovering my art books … and I created the above image.

Channeling Paul Klee
Paul Klee is one of my favourite artists and I’ve always loved flipping through his books. His ideas and artwork really connect with me. Some of the titles of his paintings are like snippets from a whimsical song and I’ve always been fascinated by his use of colour, shapes and personal symbols. Below are a few of his inspirations behind my image.

Paul Klee Images: Ancient Harmony (top left), Ad Marginem (top right), Ad Parnassum (bottom left), Comedians’ Handbill (bottom right)

Paul Klee / Inspiration
Van Gogh’s Mosaic Brushstrokes
I have a few gorgeous coffee table books of Van Gogh’s paintings. His creations of night skies are mythical and legendary. A major inspiration is his brushstrokes in the painting Starry Night Over the Rhone. I’ve enclosed the image below with a zoomed detail. Check out those big blue brushstrokes … they reminded me of pasted “collaged” squares.

Starry Night Influence

Photo Collage and David Hockney
A few years ago I also purchased a beautiful book called Hockney’s Pictures. I was familiar with Hockney’s photo collage imagery, but I was really blown away by some of his recent paintings. Seriously, check them out. It might be a wonderful surprise. Enclosed below is one of his photo collage images.

David Hockney

My Apologies to Anthropologie
My sister loves the clothes from Anthropologie and my wife started receiving their printed catalogues. I was really impressed by the art direction, photography, colours and textures. To create my image, I started snipping out swatches and glueing my colour chips together. Below are some of the wonderful imagery that I hacked up. Once again … My apologies ;-P

Anthropologie Photos

Copyright Note:
I only own the copyright for the top image. I do not own any other images in this blog post. They are shown for research and educational purposes only.

G r r r … Jack-O-Lantern Heads !!!

Halloween Pumpkins / 1

Halloween Pumpkins / 3

Boo !!! … The pumpkins are carved … And we’re ready to frighten the neighbours!!!

This is the first time we played with toothpicks for teeth. Lots of spooky fun !!!

Jade created the pumpkin with the “heart” eyes and I created the other one.

Halloween Pumpkin / 2

Jade’s Little Hamsters

Jades Happy Hamsters

Jade loves it when I line up her stuffy hamsters. She loves it even more when I draw them.

Jade Loves Grandma

Jade Loves Grandma
My doodle on Grandma’s fridge.

Chalk Drawing Shape Game


Playing Outside for Jade’s 5th Birthday !!!

Last Drawings Before Bed

Drawing Before Bed / 1

Jade draws everyday … from morning till night. Often, she wants to doodle before going upstairs for story time. I asked her about this particular image. She simply stated, “It is a big loving family.”

Drawing Before Bed / 2

Our Magical Wedding

Wedding Drawing

While at Grandma’s place, Jade and I looked at old photo albums.

Jade especially loved our wedding album.

After we paged through it, Jade immediately started drawing.

It was so cool seeing her so excited about this magical day.

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Tomorrow is our family’s 13th wedding anniversary.

I’m so grateful for our lifetime of love together.

Here’s a photograph of our first dance as husband and wife.

Wedding Photo

Claire and Fashionable Steppy

Steppy Drawing

Steppy has been a huge influence on Jade.

While at Grandma’s, Jade’s cousin Claire drew this beautiful picture of Steppy (above).

For some reason, Claire also fell in love with Steppy and now owns the same stuffy.

And of course, she’s also named her hamster “Steppy”.

Why is Steppy so fashionable ???

Maybe it’s Steppy’s small size ?? … the small hearts ?? … that soft pink colour ??

Maybe it’s because Steppy will always cheer you up and make you smile :-)

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Related Link:
“Steppy” Steps Into The Spotlight

Matching Dresses

Claire and Jade with Matching Dresses

Grandma’s Art Gallery

Fridge Art Gallery

Lots of new art on Grandma’s fridge.

My daughter Jade, her cousins and myself drew voraciously at Grandma’s place.

Dog Days Of Summer

Dog Days Of Summer

Lately, we’ve been dog-sitting our neighbour’s amazing black lab.

The dog’s name is Gunnar and he’s eight years old.

He has the perfect temperament for children.

Gunnar doesn’t jump up on people and he doesn’t lick faces either.

He’s the perfect friend for Jade.

She absolutely adores him.