A big ball of stress

I know that I need to learn to chill and that I should take change in stride. My 'worst case scenario' thoughts are a coping mechanism in which I theorize if I can handle the worst possible outcome of a situation, maybe it won't happen. I think that makes me a pessimist.

Deciding to move is stressful. There's a moment or two of relief once the decision is made until the reality of ALL THE WORK that goes into the process sets in. Moving across the country in my mid twenties with my boyfriend was easier and exciting. We had so much less stuff and could pack all night long if we wanted to. Now, with 2 small kids who can't skip a meal or skip naps, moving is so much more complicated.

I created this illustration quite a while ago from someone's Facebook update. It very easily sums up my current feelings.

Stress dude is not a happy camper. He hasn't slept well in months and his T-shirt is too small. Watercolour & Ink.

Facebook + Sketchbook = Fun

There is an almost euphoric state when an illustration works. From brain to paper things click perfectly in place. These are the illustrations I like the most. They were instant ideas, an easy process and fun to do.

Does this sirloin make my hips look slender? Watercolour, Ink & Clippings.

Hopefully the peanuts didn't give the jam a hard time. Watercolour & Ink.

The virus is a bully. He should really partake in some anger management classes. Watercolour & Ink.

Facebook Inspiration

I've collected a real eclectic assortment of status updates. They vary from observances to gripes to confessions. I start the process by checking my Facebook page to see what people have been saying. I copy and paste the ones that spark some interest. When the kids are down for the evening I review my collected notes and pick a few that I think might work well. Sometimes I sketch in another book to see if my idea will work, other times I just go right into it and start painting.

A pink tracksuit. Wonder if she was on her way to somewhere special, like bingo. Watercolour and ink.

While I'm off of the Timmie's myself, I do appreciate the uniquely Canadian understanding of what a double-double is and what it means to NEED one. Watercolour and ink.

The cream and sugar are making plans.

Is complaining about the weather uniquely Canadian too? Ink.

What's on your mind?

Been plugging away on my sketchbook, feeling inspired by a new subject. Before I go into more detail I need to confess something. I am fairly addicted to Facebook. Twitter is growing on me, but Facebook is usually the first site I check during breakfast. My favourite part of checking the site has to be the status updates. They are mini journal entries, confessions, blog posts and little windows into what's going on in someone's life. I love getting a good chuckle from someone's status that is part geeky and part confessional.

I've often day dreamed about the imagery that goes along with some of the wackier updates and so I decided to make this a new section of my sketchbook. I've been collecting some of my favourite status updates and tweaking the wording on a few.

It must be... what's on your mind.

Title page begins like a Facebook conversation. Watercolour and ink.

Knights in shining armor have to work night shifts too. Janitorial work, or maybe data entry. Watercolour, Pencil Crayon and ink.

On another kind of status update, we have decided to pack up and move across the country. Nearly as across as you can get... Ontario to BC. I'm committed and determined to finishing my sketchbook and mailing it back in time. I'm going to be writing as many posts as I can in bulk and posting them using the scheduled posting feature. (Man, I love that feature.) That way I won't be MIA for months.

To say things are going to be busy around here is a massive understatement. The due date for the sketchbook is January 1st. Our house will be on the market soon so prepping and showing will take a great deal of time. We will be moving as quickly or as slowly as it takes for our house to sell. Halloween is just around the corner and Christmas is really only a few weeks away. Did I just freak you out? I just freaked myself out.