🎨 Finished Work: Tribute to Spock 🐾

 

Hey everyone, I’m so excited to share that I’ve finally finished my tribute piece for Spock, my mom’s beloved cat. This journey has been a long one, and while I had to rush certain parts toward the end, I feel like the final result turned out in a way it wouldn’t have otherwise. Sometimes the creative process takes unexpected turns, and I’ve learned to embrace that.

This piece was challenging for many reasons—not just emotionally, but technically as well. Metallic inks, while beautiful in person, are tricky to photograph and edit. Some colors, like silver, reflect light in a way that creates unique effects, but others, like reds and greens, distort the image in frustrating ways. I’ve been reflecting on whether to limit my use of metallics in future work or to explore how I can incorporate them more intentionally.

Despite the challenges, I’m proud of what I achieved and happy to share this piece with you all. It’s a heartfelt tribute to a cat who had such a big personality—Spock will always be remembered.

Moving forward, I’m eager to dive into new projects. I’ve been inspired by a Society6 webinar about upcoming trends for 2025, which got me thinking about nostalgic, craftsy, close-to-home themes. One idea that’s been stuck in my head is a piece inspired by an albino lobster I used to see as a child growing up in Halls Harbor, Nova Scotia (Canada). It was a local attraction and left such an impression on me. I’m envisioning a vibrant mosaic or patterned design that would look amazing on something like a tote bag.

At the same time, I plan to continue my mushroom series. Sometimes inspiration hits, and the ideas unfold in my mind like origami—I can see the shapes, colors, and textures before I even start sketching. It’s such an exciting process, and it reaffirms how much I love creating.

Today was a big productivity day—editing, reflecting, and planning ahead—and I loved every second of it, even when things didn’t go perfectly. I’m so grateful to have you here with me on this journey. I know my following is small, but your support means everything. Thank you for being part of this adventure as I continue to grow, learn, and create. 💕

Title: Live Long & Prosper

Medium: Pencil

Dimensions: 22.9X30.5 Centimeters

#art #artlovers #artoftheday #localartist #dartmouth #novascotia #illustration #pencil #cat

Sneak Peek: Tribute to Spock

 

Today, I focused on roughing in and refining the fur details on Spock’s face. This step feels pivotal—his fur pattern, depth, and color will bring everything together in a way that truly captures his essence. I’m planning to dedicate the week ahead to this process, taking my time to layer in the intricacies. It’s one of my favorite aspects of creating: the deep dive into detail.

That said, I’ll admit this stage always comes with its challenges. I have a tendency to overthink, especially when it comes to laying down the initial lines. I often catch myself getting caught up in the imperfections—whether the line feels unbalanced, off-center, or too uniform. It’s something I’ve had to work through, reminding myself that action is what propels creativity forward. At some point, I just have to place the line on the page and trust the process.

This struggle with imperfection is, in a way, reflected in my style. While the final piece might not always be a precise reflection of reality, I aim to infuse every element with intention and care. My art often features abstract shapes, skewed perspectives, and what some might describe as a “doodle-esque” quality. But for me, it’s all about finding the beauty in the chaos and pairing it with a painstaking commitment to fine detail.

When you look at one of my pieces, I hope you see the labor of love behind it—the hours spent making countless tiny marks, each one purposeful, even when the overall design leans into abstraction. It’s a style I’ve embraced, and I hope it resonates with those who view my work.

As for this tribute to Spock, I’ll be keeping most of it under wraps until after Christmas, as it’s a gift for my mom. I want to preserve the element of surprise, but I couldn’t resist sharing a glimpse of my progress. I hope you enjoy this sneak peek and can sense the love and effort behind the piece.

As always, I welcome your feedback—the good, the bad, and everything in between. Thanks for following along, and I can’t wait to share more with you soon!

Title: Live Long & Prosper
Medium: Pencil
Dimensions: 22.9X30.5 Centimeters
Time: 6 Hours, 30 Minutes
#art #artlovers #artoftheday #localartist #dartmouth #novascotia #illustration #pencil #cat

From Traditional to Digital

 

I’ve been quietly working on my tribute piece to my mom’s cat, Spock, which I’m hoping to have ready as a Christmas gift. While I want to share my progress, I’ve been keeping most of it under wraps to ensure I have the larger elements completed before revealing it. I don’t want to completely spoil the surprise!

In addition to that, I’ve been pursuing another goal on the side: revisiting some of my older works and exploring ways to convert them into digital formats for reproduction.

One of the challenges I’ve faced is preserving the unique qualities of pieces that use metallic and neon inks. I’ve tried both scanning and photographing them, but neither method fully captures the vibrancy and detail of the originals.

After some trial and error, I’ve decided to primarily rely on scanning, followed by extensive editing. This process allows me to correct the colors and, in some cases, completely reimagine the piece in terms of size, color, and structure. It’s a bit of a learning curve, but I’m enjoying the opportunity to experiment and refine these works in a new medium.

Here’s a recent attempt at reworking one of my older pieces—let me know what you think!

Title: Eye of the Storm

Medium: Pencil, Pen, Marker, Digital

Dimensions: 2.5X2.5 Inches

Time: 3 Hours, 25 Minutes

#artoftheday #pencil #pen #marker #digital #redux