Artist & Illustrator
OK, I lied, I’m totally still doing art this summer. I religiously spend every Saturday in the studio, which is the perfect way to recharge those ol’ mama batteries for the coming week. I’ve been working on lots more barn, fishing shack and lighthouse paintings.
I’m also going to start a 2nd edition print of my map of PEI! Please forward any suggestions of things I missed in the first edition or anything you think I should add. I’m so happy it’s been received so well here!!
I’m so excited to finally share with you! This is a project that I have wanted to do for so long, an illustrated map of PEI! I finally got to work on it this Spring, and now I can’t believe I have it printed and in my hot little hands.
This year marks 6 years we’ve lived here. Holy smokes! We still all feel so lucky to call this wonderful place our home. The map is filled with places we love and that are special to me. I also asked friends and locals what they thought should be included. I’m sure I forgot some things… until I start hearing about them, I love how it turned out.
Prints are available in my etsy shop. If you are from these parts Cottage Industry on Grafton St and YFTKB on Water st will be stocked up with them soon!
I just finished this bigger than normal (for me) painting. It was supposed to be for a show my friend Catherine and I were planning together, but the show was canceled. I think it looks pretty happy in its new home.
These past few months listening to the news, my heart has been breaking for girls of the world. Besides trying to fill my own girls up with self confidence and self respect… I was feeling powerless.
I find the world turns on girls in very subtle ways, very early. My sweet 8 year old girl sees no diffrenece between her girl and boy friends. She actually even more boy friends than girls. But I’m noticing things are changing. Now in Grade 2 boys are starting to not want to sit with her on the bus or play with her for fear of being teased. This makes me really angry. Gender separation is such a dangerous thing. It focuses on difference and encourages lack of respect… which leads to much bigger problems later on.
This has all made me want to do something. So I drew this picture. Don’t get me wrong, I think boys rule too. I love all of Sosi’s little boy friends. I just really want my girls and all the girls of the world to know they are just as good as boys, and that there is nothing they can’t do. They can rule the world.
(This print is available here.)
I did these 2 portraits last week, I think they are both tied as my new favourites.
I just dropped these new paintings off at Cottage Industry here in Charlotettown. They are also available in my Etsy shop. Fishing shacks hanging out and dunes saying hi to each other, what could be more PEI?
You might have noticed in the winter I tend to hibernate hard. There hasn’t been a lot of action on this blog… but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been busy.
I’ve been going in between our cozy little home and my studio.
There has been lots of crafting,
eating,
reworking old ideas,
working on new ideas,
working on things just for fun,
there has also been lots of reading, knitting, and lots of family time. The days are getting brighter, longer, and I feel like I’m waking up from a lovely cozy dream.
Local amazing filmaker Millefiore Clarkes made this beautiful film of last summer’s Art in the Open. It captures beautifully what I think is the most magical night in Charlottetown each year. Extra points if you can spot me! (hint: I might be hugging a toadstool)
I made this for the girls for Valentine’s Day. Words for them to live by, there’s not much that a good hug can’t work out.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
I’m so happy to have teamed up with Annemarie at Yoyomama to make these Valentine’s Day Printable cards. You can download them for free here!
I’ve had a nice little flurry of custom work this month. It’s always such a treat working on these for people. I feel the timing was perfect as I find January a particularly brutal month. The mixture of flu paranoia and insane freezing cold weather don’t make for super fun times. These were a very happy distraction.
Is January over yet?
To kick off the new year I’ve decided to open an Etsy shop. I’ll be using it to sell my “You are Loved” prints and some paintings I’ve had around my studio. They are priced are priced to sell, so check them out quick!
In somewhat related news… society6 is running another free shipping event. You need to follow this link. If you’ve been thinking about getting something, now’s a good time to pick it up.
I learned about Society 6 from my illustrator superstar friend Luc. I decided to give it a try. You just upload your images and they take care of the rest. Easy peasy.
If you are looking for some cute gifts for xmas take a look around my shop. There are pillows, iPhone cases and framed prints for sale.
After almost 6 months of renovations on an old house you can imagine our Xmas gift budget is pretty tight! This year I ‘m trying to make most of our gifts and the Xmas crafting has already begun.
Sosi and I started these on her last PD day. We ran around town gathering all the pieces and spent the afternoon happily assembling some of the jars. Her 7 year old self got distracted pretty early on and they have stayed in my studio for me to finish. Each day when I go in, I work on one or another. A button here, a bunny here. A very happy procrastination.
I found the idea here, via Loobylu on Pinterest (so much goodness!). You can find me here on Pinterest too. 🙂
I managed to squeeze 2 knitting projects in between deadlines and all crazy house renos. In chaotic times like these all I find myself wanting to do is sit still and knit… but it ‘s usually the last thing I actually ever get to do.
I enveloped this plate in furry yarn for the Feast Your Eyes Fundraiser. We were each given a plain white plate to make something out of. I love the simplicity of it.
I had to make this hat when I saw it. It’s for a sweet little newborn babe. The pattern is from 60 More Quick Baby Knits. I knit it with the Superwash from Belfast Mini Mills. I think it might be the cutest hat I’ve ever made.
Ok, now back to work… but I will be daydreaming that maybe this will be the year I finish this one…
We have somehow pretty seamlessly gotten back into the swing of things around here. Both my little ones are happy (yay!), and we have been getting into a good routine. Ila is going 5 mornings a week this year to junior kindergarten (she loves it!), so that means I get to my studio everyday.
I’ve been working on some new paintings for a new children’s book that will be out next Fall. Unlike Noisy Poems which I illustrated digitally, these are paintings (!). It has been so nice to be able to paint everyday. I think I am in heaven. I’m super happy with how they are turning out.
Lori Joy Smith
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