Printable Monster cookies! - digital

Here's an idea! One that I am doing for my daughter. I have printed these off (they are layed out for a 8.5" x 11" paper) for her classmates instead of baking cookies. With allergies and health initiatives in schools we've been told not to send in any treats (or candy :( )  So Amelie will be handing these out instead.  Feel free to do the same! Great for class handouts or door to door with a candy treat! Easy project for kids to do with their families at home. Follow this link then save to your desktop and print away!

 

Nepal prayer flags - paper

Here is another custom piece I got to do recently through Etsy.  This was a fun one, since I normally do nature and animals, I've never done mountains or man made structures. Great fun to work on, and I like how it turned out! Want to see more paper art, visit my Etsy store! Custom pieces are always welcome! I love a good challenge ;)

 

Custom Shoes - acrylic paint on shoes

Here is something I did over the summer, my aunt was visiting and wanted me to paint on a pair of runners for her.  It's not something I had ever done before, and I was nervous because they were brand new shoes and I didn't want to ruin them! But it all turned out nicely I think and it was pretty fun! I used acrylic paint so it wouldn't wash off in a puddle. I think I like the idea of painting on my shoes, and maybe this spring I will come up with a custom pair for myself!

 

Echo's Ghosty tea part - digital

Happy early Halloween! Here is a free Echo desktop wallpaper. Just click on the image above and save to  your computer.  Enjoy!

Bunny - pencil sketch

I don't know about you guys, but I have one kid who LOVES his bunny. He won't go anywhere without it, and needs to snuggle and play with his ears to be able to fall asleep. I love this, partly because it's adorable, and partly because i am a huge fan of the story the Velveteen rabbit.

I did a little sketch of him for Elliott, but really like the way he turned out so I am going to try to come up with a project that I can use him in. Right now I am thinking a fabric pattern with Bunny and other of Elliott's favorites, maybe to be made into a pillow case or something. Or perhaps a wall in his room with little framed sketches of his favorite friends, like the family photo wall we have in our hallway.  Or maybe both! either way, it was fun to draw something of a still life, but with a little added character. It's been a while since I did something like that!

C~

 

Monster Cookies - digital illustration

Here is my most recent submission to They Draw and Cook. They are having a Cooking for Kids contest and this is what I came up with. It's a recipe my mom used to make us for when we'd go camping or hiking. Now I make it for my kids! Please feel free to click on the image to make it larger, I went a little nutso with detail ;) 

(full spread on top, pages individually below so you can see them better)

Celeste

Franklin - watercolour and pencil

I am cleaning my office space and found this! I did this about 7 or 8 years ago. This is where my career began :) I think I should frame him.

Algonquin - digital (and now ink on skin)
My mom got a new tattoo this week, on her foot (brave lady!).  When it heals up I will post a photo of it. She wanted a Aboriginal style canoe, with a rocky outcropping like you'd see in Algonquin park (for those of you who've never been, you need to see it, it's beautiful!)

 They Draw and Cook, THE BOOK - book

I have not yet done a post about this, but I have spread the word around.  The website They Draw and Cook has come out with a printed book of over 100 illustrated recipes. They are all illustrated by different artist, and it looks INCREDIBLE! I am very lucky to be among these talented people. The book is available for pre-order over at Amazon. And you can also take a peek inside! I think this book is a must in anyone's kitchen who loves to cook, or just look at a terrific variety of art! Also lots of fun and easy to follow if you have kids that like to cook with you!

 

Yellow bird in a banana tree - paper

Custom Blue Jay on a Baseball - paper

a couple custom paper bird pieces I've done this past month. Most of the time people buy the ones I've already made, but I get really excited when they ask for something custom, Some great ideas, and variety for me! I love how both of these turned out.

Summer break business cards - digital design

It's the end of the school year, and to help keep my little one's social calendar full (and me sane) I've made these business cards for her. Now, I was a little reluctant at first, only because I don't want her info out there in the world, so I made an email account just for this purpose, instead of posting any other important info.

Hopefully this will help her keep in touch with her favorite people at her school this summer!

In the near future I think I will make more of these, some with photos, and some with illustrations for sale in my store.

Flying - digital and photograph

Just taking a minute from my work to do a doodle of the kids!

Hawkeye and Meadow - digital illustration

Here are two illustrations that I have just added as prints in my Etsy store. (The Golden I've posted before on this site, but the cat is new).  More importantly, I am also willing to make CUSTOM illustrations of your pet! Just send me an email with a photo of your pet attached and a couple words that describe them best and I will make it for you! AND you are not limited to cats and dogs,  I will do any little creature you desire :)

Just send me an email at celestegs@rogers.com

Canadian Wildlife Series - paper

I am very excited to introduce this new collection of paper animals. I am working with Canadian Wildlife to help the world see the beautiful diversity of animals we have here in Canada! I will be adding a new animal each month.  These three are available for purchase in my Etsy store.

These make great presents to yourself, or others ;) They are also great for children's rooms, especially baby rooms since babies are attracted to the contrasting colours as well as the textures in these pieces.

I am also available to do custom orders if you want families of these animals, or other variations!

World Ocean Day - paper

Hi! Here is a free card you can save to your desktop and send to your friends and family to remind them of World Ocean Day! Below is a desktop wallpaper for you too!(click on image to get a larger version, then save to your desktop)

Hi guys!

I decided to do something different today and post the process I went through on a recent (very quick) project I did for WWF Canada . It's WWF's 50th anniversary and in celebration of that, they wanted a birthday panda illustration for the front cover of their children's newsletter. I was excited and honored that they chose me to illustrate it for them.  As you know, I've done work with WWF Canada for the past 10 years (wow, didn't realize it was that long until I wrote it!)  So it was exciting for me to do this for them. 

I started with a concept. They wanted a Panda bear celebrating his birthday, something cute for the kids. So I started by coming up with a cute panda character design...

 

Then once I did that I made a list of friends that would celebrate with our Panda. Since this is for the Canadian newsletter, I choose Canadian wildlife, that is on the endagered or at risk list. Animals that I know WWF has programs set up for right now. Then I worked them into the composition. (doodle right of the panda designs)

Afterwards I worked on some roughs for the other animals to be placed in the illustration. 

 

Then I worked on laying them out, and creating a couple options for the editor at WWF.  

I tried to keep everything pretty natural, the decorations, the "table" even the candles ended up being bees wax lit by two very accommodating fireflies! Here is the final art (text and logo are part of the mock up, their in house designer lays it out, so the final print might be a little different then this one below).

  

 

As I said this was a very fast turn around project, I had 3 days from submission of roughs to final art.  So there are not as many revisions or steps that can happen in other projects, but this gives you a nice idea of how I work.  Thanks to WWF Canada again for the fun project! 

Check out their website for info on the animals in the illustration.

Woodland Caribou

Polar Bear

Vancouver Island Marmots

Black footed Ferret

Monarch butterfly

Burrowing owls

Northern leopard frog

Echo taking over - photo and digital illustration

So this is me, working on a Friday morning. Here I am thinking "this is going pretty good!" then Echo shows up, and starts to art direct me... eventually (probably when I get up to get some coffee) she takes over and "fixes" whatever it is I've been working on.   What a cat. 

(yes I am playing with an imaginary friend, but I am an illustrator, and therefore it is my right ;) Just one of the perks!)

 

Blue Jay on Baseball - paper art

Okay, so baseball season is in full swing, and as some of you know I love to watch baseball (and play!).  Now, I married a Boston Red Sox fan, so our family does a lot of cheering for them, but since I am

1. Canadian 

2. living in Toronto

we show our support to the Jays whenever they play! (and yes that means cheering for them instead of the Sox when they play against each other!)

Here is my little guy for this season, hopefully the Jays will go far this year!

(You can also purchase him in my Etsy store, or rather his brother, I might just keep this one for myself!)

Jasper - digital illustration

This is an illustration of my sisters cat with his favorite spring in his mouth, he is a little trouble maker but super cute!

Spring Echo Wallpaper - digital illustration

Here is a new desktop wallpaper for all you Echo fans. Her adventures with her favorite little mouse toy are still going strong!

Celeste