winter break homework

 My daughter now does her homework... North American teenager style, and I can't seem to do anything about it.

gifts

Gifts... waiting to be opened on the morning of Christmas day.

 

twigs 1

Pruning the trees in the yard makes me appreciate the small things, including the uniqueness of each and every "joint" of our trees.

evenings after the break

The kids are back to their routine after a few days' break... spending some time doing homework, and some time watching their favourite DVDs.

rhubarb in the summer

Some quick gestural sketches from the summer... rhubarb leaves from Sunnyside Camp, a nice subject for loosening up a little.

a pumpkin

On Halloween, the eve of All Saint's Day... an opportunity to remember all who paved the way for us, and give thanks.

book shop/cafe

Last week's trip to Mandolin Book & Coffee Co. ...

Nina Haggerty Centre during Kaleido

My son crafts a paper puppet (a Transformer) at the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts, helped by staff from the Edmonton Public Library, during the Kaleido Family Arts Festival.

holiday eateries part 3

 Betty O's, run from a decommissioned school bus right next to Ainsworth Hot Springs, and Mama Sita's Cafe, in the little community of Winlaw, BC.

holiday eateries part 2

From a full day in Nelson, BC... 

1. Oso Negro Cafe, from where my wife has been ordering our coffee beans online for the last few months; 

2. Red Light Ramen Bar; 

3. Kurama-zushi Restaurant. 

 

holiday eateries part 1

 Some of the restaurants, eateries, and cafes along our somewhat recent trip to the interior British Columbia.

1. Sitting outside along the sidewalk at Block Kitchen and Bar in Banff, AB.

2: Overlooking the vast BC mountains and lakes from a hillside patio at Citadella, in Radium Hot Springs, BC.

3: A lunch break at the Snowdrift Cafe in Kimberley, BC.

4: Awesome fish 'n chips at Tim's Fish & Chips on the northern outskirts of Creston, BC, before a scenic evening drive towards Nelson. 

Miquelon Lake

Sketches from a camping experience with friends at Miquelon Lake, AB.

a nap

A long afternoon nap after a bike ride to MEC.
As soon as they turn six, they acquire hobbit's feet.

a banquet

At a banquet in Calgary, hearing some great stories about the faithful dedication and service of the many people who began and continued the ministry of CJM for over 70 years. 
This is a composite of two horizontal spreads. 

Fryday Poutine, Calgary

Fryday Poutine in Calgary, home of excellent potato treats!

a compilation...

 Just a lot of fairly recent sketches of the kids...

Norquest construction ... week 2

 This week's collection of sketches from the construction happening at Norquest.

Lilies

 Lilies at my mother-in-law's place -- a sweet scent fills the living room.

calligraphy

 A selection from some quick gestural sketches using a calligraphy brush and sumi (ink)... taking the opportunity as my daughter practices, herself using brush and ink to get some exposure to Japanese calligraphy. This is pushing the envelope (for me), but incredibly freeing and enjoyable, resulting in some interesting linework and some level of abstraction.

da capo caffe

a view across the counter at a cafe on Whyte Avenue.

Norquest construction

 It's been a year since the last sketch at Norquest's construction site. This week, I spent 4 lunch hours sketching... the concrete structure is all up, and some more steel is being erected.

funeral for a bird

I came home to find that a bird had crashed into our dining room window and died. When the kids came home later in the evening, they made sure it had a proper burial.

Every Day in May: Week 4 to the end...

I have signed up for "Every Day in May", a Facebook page where sketchers are assigned a common subject each day during the month of May to draw, share, and enjoy with one another.

The subjects for the final 10 days were:

Day 22:  bowls: an assortment of bowls in our kitchen
Day 23: a pet: my son cuddles my daughter's "pets", the seals Pippa and Pip
Day 24: favourite fruit or veggie: four red peppers... frankly not my favourite vegetable by any means, but good to draw
Day 25: something in a glass container: ink
Day 26: insects: two papercraft bugs... a snout beetle and a dung beetle
Day 27: tea or coffee: my son and I at our local coffee shop after a weekend bike ride
Day 28: something from a nature walk: the North Saskatchewan River, during a bike ride with my son
Day 29: condiments: essentials in a Japanese household
Day 30: feathers: a single feather, picked up during a hike in the woods
Day 31: a view from a window: our neighbour's house at dusk, way past 10pm in this part of the world... posted 11:50am May 31.