Brandy Ink

Gotye

Someone recommended that I listen to this song. I hit play and I have to admit that before the chorus came I was like, ummm ya, I'm so not into this. But then the chorus came and I was like, hmmm... this guy is a bit strange (and slightly naked), has a gargantuous mouth (and bad teeth) but he's got a killer voice so I'll keep listening! As I kept listening (and watching, because the video is super artistic and almost as rad as his voice) by the end of the video I was like OMG, I love this song. Give it a watch. If you're not impressed by his nakedness or his teeth, you're sure to be impressed by his girlfriend and his artistic approach to a music video!

A Touching Story

If you keep up with my blog, you'll remember a while ago I had an original art giveaway (which you can read about here.) Anyway, I gave away this painting...

A few weeks later, I received a letter from the woman who won the art. Her letter touched me in such a huge way that I asked her permission to share it with my readers. Her story is amazing and so is she. It sounds like we have a lot in common and we're already making plans to meet some day.

Dear Brandy,
 
Thank you so much for your awesome painting! It was on my snowy doorstep today when I got home. I love it! The message, the wing, the text underneath that I can’t read clearly – so many layers, emotions, levels. But the constant reminder that “whether or not I’m in a moment of sorrow or joy...I still have my Wings”
 
Thank you – I will move it around my studio to encourage me as I work hard to finish my Masters so that I can back at creating art & writing poetry full time! I also teach art to young people, but I do it on a small scale – one-on-one mentoring with art! I can’t wait to show your piece to the young women with whom I create. I’ve never used resin before, but think it would be wonderful to try!
 
This is such an encouragement as I work, live and create with chronic pain. I have degenerative arthritis in my neck, lower back and knees, with muscle and nerve pain...daily exercise is a big help and I swim three times a week...the crazy changes in weather affect all my joints...You don’t know how uplifting and joyful your art is to me!
 
Thanks, have a great day!
 
Susan

Thank you Susan for touching my heart. Hearing how much this art means to you, make me so happy and is a great reminder of why I love making art in the first place.

Susan, you are awesome and let's keep in touch!

Our Differences and Our Song

Phewh! Is anyone else busy? I barely have time to blink right now! We had a great weekend but it was a busy one...

Saturday was spent teaching Art Classes for Kids. We visited Pridham Studio. More about that later this week.

The Christmas Gala that I blogged about last week was a huge success and lots of fun. Watch for more about the Gala, later this week.

Sunday was spent shopping in the states for more canvases and supplies needed for all of the custom art pieces that I'll be doing in the next week or two. I don't know how I'll find the time but hey, who needs sleep?! If you have ordered a custom piece, it's coming, it's coming! I so badly wish I could clone myself right now.

Here's are a couple of my favorites... I can't believe no one has snapped them up yet:

Our Differences | 12" x 12" | Acrylics, collage and wire on canvas, resined surface | $99

Available for purchase in the on-line shop or at Imagine Ink in Creston, BC.
Our Song | 12" x 12" | Acrylics, collage and beads on canvas, resined surface | $99

Available for purchase in the on-line shop or at Imagine Ink in Creston, BC.

Including myself! This image found on Pinterest.

The Christmas Gala

This Saturday is the local Christmas Gala. It's a place where small businesses can buy tickets for their employees and then everyone comes together in one place in the end. There will be cocktails, appetizers, dinner, and dancing. It's going to be a wonderful evening. I am treating my two employees and their spouses to it, and we'll celebrate the season along side 240 other business people. Fun!

Not only will I be there with my business and employees, I am also one of the people helping with the Gala. You see, part of the proceeds from the night will be going towards my youth group Beyond Wild. Because of that.... I've been in charge of making all of the centerpieces for a whopping 32 tables. Since flowers are really not my thing, I decided to have the kids at Beyond Wild make some really cool crafts... and then I wrapped them up using a funky black and white theme. They are going to look lovely as centerpieces! Plus, at the end of the evening, they will be auctioned off to the people sitting at the tables without them knowing what is inside. This will be a great fundraiser for Beyond Wild,and, a fun way for people to give a mystery gift to their friends or family at Christmas time.

I was also in charge of organizing a silent auction for the night. I went around town for the past few weeks asking for donations from all of my favorite local businesses and NOT ONE person said no. How amazing is that? I love Creston. Beyond Wild will be making 100% of the profits from the silent auction. Yay! I'm stoked. I hope we raise loads of money so that the kids at Beyond Wild can continue to come for FREE.

If any of you out there are attending the Gala this Saturday, make sure you check out the wonderful silent auction and be sure to bid on a centerpiece!

Love is the Drug

Word to the mutha.
Love is the Drug | Original Painting | 12" x 12" | Collage and acrylics on Canvas, resined surface | $99 | Available for purchase in the on-line shop or in real life at Imagine Ink in Creston.

Also available...

Love is the Drug {Prints} Frame not included | 8" x 8 " | Full color, printed on archival stock | $39 | Available for purchase in the on-line shop or in real life at Imagine Ink in Creston.

Peace out.

Hello December!

I had a very productive weekend but now that's it's Monday, I could really another weekend to rest! I spent the weekend wrapping presents... 33 of them to be exact and I'm not done yet. And no, these presents aren't for my family, they are for something else... more on that this week. I also spent the weekend bragging about my child who was the star of Aladdin for three nights consecutive (yay Kienna!) and then on Sunday, we spent most of the day and night having a much needed Family Night... which I hope to blog about this week.

Things at Imagine Ink are crazy busy. Warren and myself have been running around this place like chickens snowmen with our heads cut off printing Christmas cards and Christmas letters and personalized calendars and Christmas collages and Christmas posters and Christmas concert tickets and Christmas Gala seating cards... you get the idea. We're SWAMPED, but, of course this is what every business owner wants so I'm definitely not complaining! Bring it on Christmas, we can totally handle it!

Anyone who has ordered art in the last few days, thank you, and I hope to send out all the packages this Wednesday. If you are in any sort of crazy rush to receive them, let me know and I can send them a faster, kind of way. Sometimes Canada Post can be slower than delivering it across country myself.

Below are a couple more things available for purchase in the on-line shop or in real life at Imagine Ink

This little sweetie was hard to photograph so it doesn't look exactly like this but very close.

A Friend is Forever V | Fabric, paper, acrylics, beads on canvas, resined surface | $99 | Available for purchase in the on-line shop or at Imagine Ink in Creston

A Friend is Forever III {Print} | 8" x 8" Limited edition (5) | $39 | Available for purchase in the on-line shop or at Imagine Ink in Creston

See you tomorrow!