I will be doing a talk with fellow illustrators Dwight and Jeff at the end of May for the GDC. I hope you’ll come out!

3
3 illustrators, 3 designers, 3 typographers, 3 photographers, 3 art directors
3 local creative talents speaking 30 minutes about their process and work

Dwight Allott, Amanda Schutz & Jeff Sylvester
May 31, 2012 – 7:00 – 9:00 PM

The John L. Haar Theatre, Grant MacEwan University, 10045 – 156 Street, Edmonton, Alberta
Free for GDC members & design students! $10 for non-members

To reserve your spot, visit www.gdc3series.eventbrite.comLight refreshments, cash bar, door prizes & more!

To learn more about GDC’s exciting 2012-13 speaker series, visit us online at www.gdc.net/chapters/alberta_north or www.facebook.com/gdcabn

My Grandma, Helen Howrie 

Helen and me.

I have been thinking alot about grandparents this year. I lost my grandma on Valentine's day and my grandpa was in the hospital for March (now happily recovering in his arm chair & watching endless NHL hockey). Grandparents can play a special role in our lives and I cherish the time I can spend with my last grandpa, Cyril.

Anyhow, I had to do a commission for a public elementary school in Devon, any subject I wanted. I decided to paint about my grandma schutz's peas. She's been gone since I went into highschool, but every time I eat raw peas from the pod, I think of her.

This is how it turned out:

My piece for Doctors & Derrieres this year :) I hope you will come to the silent auction next week! The show is up from tomorrow until April 27th.

7th Annual Doctors & Derrieres
April 27th, 2012 - 7-11 PM
Enterprise Square, 10230 - Jasper Avenue

Dog love. Kayt love. What else can I say.

I tucked myself away for awhile, but I'm still here :)

I love homes that are nestled in strange places. Elaborate treehouses or a little cottage perched on a cliff. I drew this based on an image I found online, I wish I knew where it was.

Happy 2012! I had a visitor in my studio at the end of last year :)

I finally put up more pictures of the new studio space I'm working in these days over at WD. Kayt and I walk five blocks to work now and it's nice.

The vinyl signage was installed just before Christmas. You can find a whole bunch more on flickr!

Wishing you lots of love over the holidays and a bright and optimistic 2012!

Christmas is a happy time for some and very hard for others.

Forgive strangers, forgive those you love. Most importantly, try to forgive yourself.

This is what I will try. I invite you to try it as well :)

 Pedro's daughter & Pedro's paintings

"When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown-up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability. To be alive is to be vulnerable."  Madeleine L'Engle

Saw this quote on Brene Brown's blog this week, a post about the awesome Dallas Clayton.

Time keeps flying by. We are finally settled in the new office and enjoying the change...

I have been trying to draw more dogs and get into the habit of taking time to draw something fun every day. Not easy to do.

If you feel creatively drained like I do, how about try to 'sprint'?
I'm posting my student workbook exercises over at WD now, have fun!