Nuit Blanche, my site, and tunage

Booked another show! I'll be showing again at Studio 561 from October 1st until the 5th. Which means, DUN DUN DUNNNNNN that the show will be running during the absolute awesomeness and insanity that is Nuit Blanche. I'm really stoked on this one. Hundreds of people are going to be seeing the show that night, which means wicked exposure. Hopefully I'll be able to come up with some more interesting pieces for it. Money is tight, but I'm sure I can scrape something together to get some new work done, and hopefully I sell something! Wish me luck! There's an opening reception for it on the 1st, and on the 2nd the gallery will be all night long, come check it out in Zone A:)

Aaaaand in other news, my website is basically done:) morganbooth.com designed by my awesome friend Dave.

PS, and if you're looking for some tunes, check out the music blog I write for, there's something different everyday of the week - thisblogsaveskittens - I write on Fridays:)

Function 13 and other shiz.

Had another show that opened yesterday at Function 13, a gallery and shop in Kensington Market.

Ahh! Super exciting!

It was/ is (it's running until the 15th) a themed 14 artist group show run by the wonderful Vicky Avramopoulos. The theme was "The Last Cigarette" which I thought was really interesting since Vick let the artists (including my roomate Louisa) really run with the theme and do whatever they wanted based on their interpretation of those three words.

I thought the different concepts that the other artists brought to the table were so intense and varied. Some had a concept that you could clearly couple with the theme, others simply left a quote or a proverb beside their work.

I'm not usually one for artist statements as what I really enjoy when people view my work are the different interpretations that they get from the piece even though I usually have my own concept that I've put into it. But because this was a themed show and Vicky asked ever so nicely:P I ended up doing one. Thought it turned out pretty well.

"Decide" is about the decision on whether to carry on and keep striving for goals when life feel overwhelming, or to give up and allow yourself to fall, and risk everything that you've worked for.

"Resilience" is about independence, growth and the decision to stand your ground. Growing within the changes that occur in your environment, but still keeping your roots and goals strong despite hardship.

Haha, short, but ot the point. Getting me to write artist statements is like pulling teeth, as my overly accomodating web designer Dave would know:P

I painted wednesday, and all friday night, into the wee hours of Saturday morning, trying to get everything done for the show. I did a bunch of new backgrounds, and a few more finished works, but I ended up putting in a peice from my last show (that went with the theme) and a new piece that I did. Soooo I had two 28 x 36 paintings in the show, and a good spot to hang them so I was a happy little squirrel.

I've decided to do school (OCAD) part time this year, and keep trying to do shows and paint as much as possible, so I'm hoping that I'm able to stay on this roll of doing maybe 1 show a month or at least 1 show every 1 and a half to 2 months. I might go a little crazy if it's a show a month, but hell, I'm going to do my damndest, and have a caffiene intravenus put in. Haha, I think I might have to anyways, to try and keep up with the onslaught of commissions I've been getting lately/falling behind on. But HEY I'm not going to complain about commissions! Gimmegimmmmememeemooaaaar.

... I need to get a camera:/

Boats and Birds - Parting is such sweet sorrow

Just chilling out on my porch waiting for the buyer of my "Boats and Birds" painting. It's a piece that has a lot of personal value to me, and was inspired by the song "Boats and Birds" by Gregory and the Hawk, it took me a long time to complete it, not because of the actual work that went into the piece but because it was a fairly emotional process for me.

Well, now it's sold, and I have faith that the buyer loves it, she's waited a fair while for it and has always been keen. So I'm cool with letting it go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz5H3iVjAlw

First Gallery Showing

I'm really excited to start my first blog post with something really awesome, perhaps like MY FIRST TIME SHOWING IN A GALLERY.

Little over enthused with the caps lock perhaps, but you can't really see me flailing my arms with excitement, or see me doing my (slightly frightening) kindergarten smile.

I said that it was my goal when I turned 19 to be a part of a gallery show by the time I was 20, aaaand two months later, I was lucky enough to be accepted into one.

Saturday the 21st was the opening night for the group show I'm currently in at Studio 561 (Bloor W and Bathurst). I was lucky enough to have a huge wall all to myself, and to be able to show with some really fantastic artists. I think my favorite work that I saw there was that of Susy Martins, who is really innovative with her materials, combining water colours and floral pigments.

So last week I probably got 15 hours of sleep in total trying to get everything done and hung in time for the opening, but it was so worth it, and I'll sleep when I'm dead anyways.

The show runs at Studio 561 until the 30th of August, and we're holding a closing reception that evening, so come out and enjoy some awesome local art!

Special thanks to Aaron at Studio 561 for having me, Susy for helping me hang, and to my friends and family that came out to support me.