Blythe and Me

I am happy to say that finally, my first series of Blythe doll paintings is completed.  It has been a labour of love that I started in July 2010. Funnily enough, I chose to paint the series to commemorate my 40th birthday (which is coming up on December 25) because the original Blythe dolls were born the same year. Upon doing more research about the dolls, I found out that they were "born" in 1972, not 1970. Whoops. Oh well, my friend Trish has told me that because it is within the same decade, it's still okay:)

Ilonwi Blythe

2010

acrylic on canvas

30"w x 24"h

Aside:  If I hear Jessica Simpson singing another Christmas carol on tv, I may just freak out.  She's terrible!!  I listen to tv while I'm painting and because she is just releasing a new Christmas album, she's been on every single talk show for the past week. At least at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade she's not singing live.  

Anyway, if I had to pick a true favourite in the series, I'd have to go with Ilonwi Blythe.  Part of the fun for me in doing the series was naming the dolls!  When I was younger I used to want to name my daughter Ilonwi.  What?  I don't even remember where I heard that name (it was some random princess) but my roommate at university, Lisa, and I used to laugh ourselves to death about that name.  I actually find it quite fitting for the doll in this painting.  Working from photographs (like usual) I chose to paint Ilonwi with tattooed skin and ethereal white hair.  She's so gentle and peaceful.  Her eyelashes turned out so "feathery"--they worked!!

Tabitha Blythe

2010

acrylic on canvas

20"w x 24"h

I named Tabitha her name purely because she looked like a Tabitha to me.  I think her eyes worked the very best out of the whole series. They are very liquid and yet plastic looking at the same time.  She's a good blend of sweet and spooky--two of my favourite things. I wanted to incorporate many of my "styles" into the paintings, so I created Tabitha's background with layer upon layer of green and yellow orbs. She's kinda got my hairstyle too, but mine is longer now.

Lizzie Blythe

2010

acrylic on canvas

24" w x 48"h

Lizzie is the largest of the five paintings.  I had actually painted her face with a multitude of colours at first.  Then I had a dream that she had a pink face, so I had to redo her with a fluorescent pink face.  Now she's a little bashful and reserved--appropriate with her frilly, girly clothes.  Lizzie kind of reminds me of my daughter Carter for some reason, not that Carter is bashful or shy.  I really love the background for Lizzie too. The pink/white/gold squares is one of my signatures these days.

Fairest Blythe

2010

acrylic on canvas

20"w x 24"h

Who's the fairest of them all?  Fairest of course!!  There has been a lot of interest in Fairest.  People seem to like her little hand in front of her mouth.  She's such a polite little doll and would never say the wrong thing.  I love the strange proportion of the Blythe dolls.  GIGANTIC head and eyes and tiny little hands and feet.  They are a little bobble-headish.  I chose to paint Fairest on a simple black background.  There is so much going on with the golds, whites and blues in her hair and her CRAZY eyes that there didn't need to be anything competing in her background.

Middleton Blythe

2010

acrylic on canvas

24" x 24" x 3"

Last but not least, we have little Middleton Blythe.  What a fabulous name that is, isn't it?  I want another daughter just to name her Middleton.  When I had a friend over to see the series before I was quite finished, she suggested that I pick a "current" name for this one.  I always felt that Middleton looked quite British with her little yellow slicker.  Since Prince William and Kate Middleton had just announced their engagement, I thought that Middleton would be the perfect name for this little girl.  Middleton actually looks the most like a true Blythe doll.  I used the blue halo effect that I have used previously in several family portraits and on Oh Bama.

For some reason, I chose to work on the whole series at the same time.  I'm not sure if I would do that again.  It seemed like it took forever to make any progress with any one painting.  I normally do work on several pieces at once, but they are usually all completely different from one another.  Working on 10 little eyes, 5 little mouths, 5 different backgrounds etc. seemed to be a bit tedious.  I am ALL about instant gratification and in this case, it was a bit of delayed gratification.  Live and learn.

I currently have all the dolls at my house, waiting to hear what I'll be doing next with them.  Drop by if you are in the neighbourhood to meet them in person.  In this case, the photos really do not do them justice--they are much more colourful and full of personality in "real life"

I'm actually extremely attached to the girls and I'm going to have some trouble with letting any of them go.  Perhaps I'll do another series of them at some point.  Several years ago my friend Laura suggested that I paint a Blythe doll.  Maybe I'll see if Laura has anymore suggestions for me!!  Actually, once I finish all the Christmas commissions I think I'll take my dad up on his idea and do a series in the style of "The Garden".  We'll see.  I'm just about to start my first dog portrait which I am so excited about!

xx

Justine

heARTS for Pakistan October 18, 2010

eARTS for Pakistan is a silent art auction and fundraiser for survivors of the Pakistan floods. The event will take place on October 18, 2010 at the fabulous Gladstone Hotel in Toronto and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Humanitarian Coalition’s flood relief efforts in Pakistan.

The young and independent volunteer organizing committee along with event sponsors, OCAD University and Gladstone Hotel, and well known & emerging Canadian artists, bring you a fabulous evening of art and jazz for a worthy cause!  I have donated my painting, "Little Squares" which is a small 16" x 16" piece made up of a multitude of multicoloured squares.

Tickets Available Online: www.hearts4pakistan.com

Hope to see you there!

Take pART Fundraising Benefit & Some New Portraits

I have really been a bad blogger lately.  It's been crazy getting back into the routine of daily life with kids and all their 6000 activies.  I myself have embarked on a ridiculous new fitness regime which has almost killed me so far.  Whatever ever doesn't kill you...

There are a couple of things I thought I'd write about today.  On Thursday, September 30, 2010 I will be taking part in a large fundraiser put on by the alumnae of Branksome Hall entitled, "Take pART".  The show will be held at Arta Gallery in the Distillery District of Toronto from 6-9pm.  It's a pretty cool premise.  A whole bunch of different artists were asked to create a 10" square gallery canvas in any style/subject they desired.  The paintings were delivered unsigned (signed on the back only) and will hang for the one night in the gallery and will be sold for $100 each.  All proceeds go towards sending kids to Branksome that would not normally be able to afford it.  I am looking forward to the event.  Anyone who knows my work will be able to spot my piece effortlessly.

I have had the privilege of working with an incredible gallerist, Alison Goodwin of The Village Gallery and Art Beyond Walls for the past 1 1/2 years.  Alison has been instrumental in getting lots of media exposure for my paintings (Fashion Television commerical; segment on Breakfast Television; spot on Rogers Daytime TV to name a few).  Ali had the summer of her life this year, getting married to her true love David in Italy over the summer.   I had the amazing opportunity to paint a portrait of the two of them that Ali gave to David for a wedding gift.  Here is that portrait:

Alison & David, July 22, 2010

acrylic on canvas

36" x 30"

commissioned by Alison Goodwin

2010

Not only did Ali and David go to Italy with all of their best friends and family, but they brought their beautiful 3 month old (at the time) Hudson Sophia Hedon with them!  I painted a small portrait of little Hudson for Alison for her birthday this year.

Hudson Sophia Hudson

acrylic on canvas

16" square

2010

gift from artist

I'm starting to feel like I have lots more to say again...if I didn't have the personality of a potato today due to my cold.  Back again soon.  Thanks for reading.

xx

Justine

10th Annual Upstream People Gallery Online Gallery Show - 3 "Special Recognitions"

Hi everyone.  Wow, I haven't blogged in a very long time!  Summer has been fantastically busy and relaxing at the same time.  I can't believe it is coming to an end but I'm feeling the need to embrace our usual routines and get back into the swing of things again.

I haven't painted a ton this summer which has been kind of a welcome break from the frenzy of the past year.  I will be taking part as a guest artist in the charity event at Arta Gallery (in the distillery district) entitled "Take pART" on September 30, 2010.  I can't tell you which piece is mine...but my local art enthustiasts will no doubt recognize it.  More details to come.

Whilst on the beach in Cape Cod in the beginning of August, I received notification that I received three "special recognitions" in the 10th Annual Summer All Media Juried Online International Art Exhibition put on by the US gallery Upstream People Gallery.  Laurence Bradshaw, Curator and Professor of Art at the University of Omaha and Juror of the show, stated:

"JUSTINE ELIZABETH FERNIE of Toronto, Ontario, Canada deals with portraiture in a delightful and fascinating manner. As a Canadian it is interesting to see such a work as “My Sarah (Palin)” which shows the awesome use of mixed patterns and the colorful face treatment. “Oh Bama” and “Pixels” are also wonderful depictions."

I've got a whole bunch of goals for myself over next four months as my big 40th birthday is at the end of December 2010.  One of my goals is to paint a brand new series of portraits of the iconic Blythe girl dolls.  Blythe girls were launched in 1970, the year I was born...and they didn't sell at all.  The brand was reborn in 2000 and since then they have become ridiculous collectors items.  I am obsessed with their gigantic eyes.  I'll be sure to post them all when they are done...6 in all.

I hope everyone's summer has been amazing.  I'll return to normalcy, whatever that is, next month.

xx

J

Canadian HOUSE & HOME July 2010 - The Carter Farm

Now this is something that I've really, really been waiting for.  For the past 1 1/2 years I've been harassing poor Catherine MacIntosh at Canadian House and Home to try to grant me the prestigious posting of "Artist's File" within the magazine.  It is a feature that is not run every month, so you can well imagine that the competition for it is furious.

Late last spring when my parents were in the final stages of building their brand new farmhouse in Hockley Valley (one hour north of Toronto) I started thinking that CDN House and Home just HAD to use this place as one of their featured homes.  The magazine agreed with my idea and the farm was shot by Michael Graydon on September 1, 2009.  The issue hits newstands on June 7, 2010 but if you have a subscription, you may have seen it already.  We had the opportunity to have the article written by a very gifted writer, Trish Snyder.  Trish interviewed my parents and myself in order to get a feel for the home and the art within it.  I can't imagine a task as daunting as Trish's writing that article--sooo much information thrown at you all at once.  Her take on the farm was absolutely perfect and we couldn't be happier with her "story".

The farm is truly a magical place.  I really can't describe how tranquil and surreal it is.  After 20 years of fighting traffic en route to Muskoka, most of our family was ready for a big change.  Mum and Dad purchased a 100 acre parcel of property just north of Caledon and went to town.  The existing fly-ridden 125 year old farmhouse was gutted and redone and is now used to accommodate all the "kids" and 7 grandkids.  Mum and Dad have built a beautiful ranch-style farmhouse for themselves which overlooks...Tuscany?  How is that possible in Ontario?  I don't get it either...but you'd have to see the view to really believe it.  Here is the article:

Meg Crossley, the senior editor who attended the photo shoot along with photographer Michael Graydon, mentioned during the shoot that an even better way to gain exposure within the magazine is to be shown on the actual walls of a featured home.  Bing, bang, boom--whatever...this is my big shot!  Thankfully my parents are very enamored of my art and have commissioned several large pieces from me for their farm.  The work stands out so well against the starkness of the glistening white everywhere--I am very fortunate to be able to "show" my own work within their masterpiece.  Here are the paintings that Mum and Dad have at the farm:

The Garden

2008

acrylic on canvas

60"w x 48"h

Black and White Squares (#1)

acrylic on canvas

2008

60"w x 48"h

Bedtime Squares

acrylic on canvas

60"w x 36"h

2008

When You Are Old

2009

acrylic on canvas

24"w x 48"h

I can't wait to spend a ton of time at the "farm" this summer.  Wish you were there...

xx

Justine

June Show at Gallery Hittite in Yorkville

As you can see by my postings this week, there has been a heck of a lot going on with me and my own tiny art world over the past several months.  Thank you to all my amazing clients for keeping me so, so busy.  I have worked non-stop on commissions since October, not that I am complaining in any way shape or form.

I was invited by Gallery Hittite in Yorkville to take part in a small group show with them for the month of June 2010.  The opening night gala is on Thursday, June 3 from 7-10 and the show runs until June 26.  

Gallery Hittite

107 Scollard St., Toronto, Ontario, M5R 1G4

T: 416.924.4450

Hours: WED-SAT 12-6 p.m.

I will  be showing two pieces at the gallery.  They are:

Pixels

2010

acrylic on canvas

36" w x 48"  h

After Winter Must Come Spring

2010

acrylic on canvas

48" square

Hope to see you there!

xx

J

A Bunch of Reviews

I have been fortunate enough to have received several good reviews from different online publications over the past several years.  My little brother Ash submitted my work to the international art and design website Mocoloco.com early in 2007, unbeknownst to me (he didn't want me to be upset if they didn't chose to review my work).  Thankfully, Mocoloco did chose to review my work and they really liked it!  Here's the link to the review...mocoloco review .

When googling my name one day (I often do this...do you????), I came across a random review of my work on New Jersery based website Sweet Station.  Here's that review...sweet station review .

In January 2009 I received a "special honour" in the Upstream People Gallery's online art contest.   They submitted a press release to their local media....and here it is:

IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

JUSTINE FERNIE RECEIVES SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

Artist JUSTINE FERNIE of TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA has received THREE Special Recognition Merit Awards for her artwork in the "6th Annual Color Juried Online International Art Exhibition” hosted by  Upstream People Gallery.

This international exhibition received approximately 400 entries from around the world and 74 artists were selected by the juror Larry Bradshaw, Professor of Art at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, U. S. A.

Professor Bradshaw states this about this specially recognized work:

"'JUSTINE FERNIE of Toronto, Ontario, Canada has a acrylic painting that is quite engaging in that it is very colorful and full of wonderful patterning, entitled “Bedtime Squares”. In a rather unusual treatment of colorfully patterned trees along a walkway to an elaborate cottage she presents “Carter Cottage”. And again she has a very strong and colorful work called “The Garden” in which the varied shapes and movement are delightful indeed."'

The exhibition will be featured online through February 28, 2009 at www.upstreampeoplegallery.com  and continue for 12 months, closing January 31, 2010.

Further information about the artist's work in her own words:

'"My piece "Bedtime Squares" is a large scale work created out of my love for colour.  The idea for my use of squares came from a small area created on a recent landscape painting.  I started wondering what it would be like to create entire canvases made up entirely of varying squares of all different colours. I have created several pieces with this in mind--some full of colour, some monochromatic and one even made up of all shades of black and white and whatever lies in between.

"Carter Cottage" is an architectural portrait of my parent's cottage on Lake Joseph, Muskoka, Ontario.  I painted the cottage first in colours closely matching the existing colours of the structure.  When it came time for the background and foreground I was not interested in recreating the natural vegetation of the actual landscape.  Instead, I created and doodled my way through a fantastic, vibrant and expressionistic landscape which served to ground the cottage.  My parents have since sold the cottage but the painting will serve to spark many memories of the actual experience.

Lastly, "The Garden" is a large scale acrylic on canvas work I created this past summer.  Going with a combination of the abstracted squares style of previous pieces and the foreground of the "Carter Cottage" piece, I used all of my very favourite colours at once.  The resulting organic shapes and textures within the painting are completely random.  I have been fascinated by hearing people's opinions of the work--flowers, butterflies, segments of human anatomy are a few of the comments it has received.  The piece actually brought a woman to tears at a recent show I brought it to.  As an artist, I attempt to illicit a response from the viewer, be it negative or positive.  Truly, the positive response that I have received from all three of these pieces has served to spur me on to push myself and to keep on creating.  I have always been fascinated by my own ability to emote through vibrant, revelatory colour.  It is not something that is predetermined by me when I sit down to paint--it literally just happens."'

Bedtime Squares

36" x 60"

acrylic on canvas

On September 22, 2009, I took part in the first ever "Art Beyond Walls"--an urban one night only event hosted by my gallery The Village Gallery.  The event took place at The Berkeley Field House and featured the work of Alison Hodson, Andrew King and myself.  It was a really, really amazing event!  There were over 250 people in attendance and the vibe was really exciting.  There was lots of media covering the event.  Fashion Television (FT) came with a cameraman and interviewed us.  Although they didn't actually run the footage, they did use the image of "Her Madgesty" in their commercial.  Also, industry publication BizBash came to ABW to interview Alison and here is the review...biz bash review of Art Beyond Walls .

Alison Hodson, Justine Fernie, Alison Goodwin and Andrew King

Art Beyond Walls - September 22, 2009

Alison and Megan of The Village Gallery

Website the remotestylist.com also came to Art Beyond Walls and offered the following review...the remote stylist review of Art Beyond Walls.

In January 2010, The Village Gallery took a couple of my paintings with them to take part of their booth at IDS (the Interior Design Show) in Toronto.  Alison Goodwin (the director/owner of The Village Gallery) said that sooooo many people recognized my painting "Her Madgesty" (of Madonna) in the booth, but weren't sure why they knew the piece.  I think probably the fact that the painting is FLASHED on a new commercial for Fashion Television touting me as "one of today's innovator's in art" (THANK YOU) is probably how the image has been seen by many people.

Alison Goodwin of The Village Gallery took "Her Madgesty" and "Oh Bama" with her to a television taping of "Breakfast Television" in October 2009.  Amazing exposure again...

Alison Goodwin and Dina on BT

I guess all of this amazing exposure Alison has given me over the past year has really started to pay off!!!  Internet magazine Alternavox.net came to IDS to review it and paid particular attention to my work.  Here's the review...alternavox review .

Alison and Megan of The Village Gallery at IDS 2010

On Saturday, March 27, the Village Gallery hosted a very, very special day for me entitled, "LIVE with Justine Fernie".  I spent the afternoon at the gallery surrounded by all the amazing staff and interns there and painted my little face off.  The event was covered by SNAP Mississauga and had many members of the community passing through to see how I create my work.  It was a really amazing experience for me.  The link to the SNAP Mississauga piece is...SNAP Mississauga article  .

This blog kind of acts as a live resume for my work.  An artist is always expected to list their reviews and shows at a moment's notice which is why I've chosen to list everything here on my blog.  I really don't have a swelled head about my accomplishments over the past couple of years.  Marketing myself as an artist is truly another full time job but I truly believe the best way to really sell myself, is by myself.  Of course I've had some great help along the way by my clients and believers too.

Enough about me, what do you think about me? (best line ever).  Sometimes I bore myself.

xx

J

Happy Mother's Day

In honour of Mother's Day today (and my mother's birthday too), I thought I'd post a couple of paintings of  a few more great kids that I have painted.

The first two are of Ben and Erin Laco--beautiful kids.

Ben Laco

acrylic on canvas

16" square

2008

Erin Laco

acrylic on canvas

16" square

2008

I chose to paint Ben's little face with a brush and Erin with the palatte knife--not for any reason in particular.  Ben's eyes are painted in the icy blue that they are in reality.  I don't often chose to paint "realistic" eye colour, but in Ben's case the blue of his eyes is uncanny.  Come to think of it, that's also why I painted Erin's eyes the chocolate brown that they are too.  Instead of chosing a feature to exaggerate, sometimes I chose to focus in on a feature that truly stands out in a person and kind of defines who they are (not necessarily what they look like).

The next piece is a commission done for a dear friend of mine, Helen Charbonneau.  Helen has always been a huge supporter and fan of my artwork.  Helen asked to have me paint a portrait of her two beautiful boys, Tristan and Justin.

On the first day of Tristan's year in Junior Kindergarten (2004), the first little boy Tristan met was his alter-ego--Tristan Charbonneau.  Just when you think you are being original with your choice of names...!  Tristan and Tristan are still great friends 6 years later, so I have always felt a special bond with "the other Tristan".  Justin, Helen's younger son, is currently in a grade 1/2 split class with my daughter Carter.  Justin and Carter have also grown to be great friends--it still shocks me that they met when they weren't even 2 years old!

Tristan and Justin Charbonneau

acrylic on canvas

36" square

2010

I was dying to hear the boys' reaction to the piece--as well as that of their father Erik's opinion too, as Helen had the piece commissioned as a surprise for all three of her boys.  Their reactions were truly priceless.  Justin ran up to me in the playground and yelled, "I LOVE THE PAINTING JUSTINE", and proceeded to give me a huge hug.  Not to be outdone by his brother, Tristan told me how me he too loved the portrait...especially his hair.  I knew that if either boy didn't really like the piece that they really couldn't hide that fact from me.  

Thankfully,  ALL of Helen's boys (including Helen herself!) were thrilled with the project.

xx

J