Jason Blower

Animals Idols

2011-12-06T18:58:00.000-08:00

Hey all, I am so happy to announce my new Animal Idols!!! I have been playing around with the idea of wooden animal shapes for some time now and now have found a new approach to explore. There are six animal shapes in all and are cut from sustainable Canadian maple, and hand screen printed. Please follow this link to my etsy site to purchase them.

Pre-Christmas News

2011-12-04T09:13:00.000-08:00

There has been a lot happening here in the background since my last post.

1. I am now working pt and doing Illustration and Motion Graphics.
2. I finished a two week show In Windamere a new housing development in south east Edmonton.
3. I vendered the November Royal Bison Art and Craft Fair. It was a great showing and had plenty of wonderful comments from people visiting. Thanks Josh, Vikki and Jeanie.
4. I have a new monthly show up at The Next Act Pub (n of whyte on gateway blvd s). Thanks so much to Saylish for the opportunity.
5. Recently I have completed a new painting, actually it is more like a repainting. I painted the river valley some months ago and snapped a quick photograph, then proceeded to paint a portrait on top. It was a retirement gift for a fellow that worked for the city in the river valley. I had so many comments about it that I should have taken better photos for prints. So I went ahead and painted a new version of it.

6. In addition I found a neat picture in the Globe and Mail of Walter Gretzky holding a image of my illustration I did for the Canadian Lung Association.

7. Also I found this great little post with my painting of the highlevel bridge and trolly.

I hope everything is fine with you all.

Jason

I'm in the Journal!!!

2011-07-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

A slightly late post, but life is busy. The Monday after Art walk I got a call from Marta Gold, who had seen my work in Vivid Print and would like to write a story on it for the Edmonton Journal. I was so pleased that I am sure I rambled on for about an hour. She and Candice Elliott (photographer) came over the next day and we chatted and took photos, it was great! You can read the article and see some of the photos here. Yay!

2 Series Finished and Artwalk

2011-07-21T12:43:00.000-07:00

I want to thank everyone that came out to Artwalk this weekend. It was really nice to hear from a number of people that they liked my work and that even some had previously bought prints from Vivid Print. It was super nice to have had the opportunity to give several of my prints new homes with wonderful people that came by.

At Artwalk, I revealed two series that I had just completed the first was the Mouse and Reindeer series, and the second was a painting series that I had completed painting of Cityscapes with Christmas lights on the buildings making up ornaments.

MOUSE & REINDEER

CHRISTMAS CITYSCAPES

Mistletoe

2011-06-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun with the Deer and Mouse in the Christmas Seals project, that I have decided to work on a longer series with the two. Perhaps even make some chiristmas cards out of it. Here is the first one.

Lots of news

2011-06-08T19:31:00.000-07:00

Allot of things have happened since I have last posted so this is going to be a bigger one.

First, I am happy to annouce that the Canadian Lung Association stamp is now featured on their website here and here. So make sure that you donate today and receive some of these stamps for your presents. And I want to thank Janis Hass for the opportunity.

Secondly A new poster show is up at Latitude 53, put together by a fellow illustrator in Edmonton, Gabe Wong. The theme for the show is "where are we going?" and this is the piece that I did for it and some quick iphone photos of the show.

And Thirdly
Prints are going really well at Vivid print, Thank you all for your support. I am currently working on Two new series, one is a follow up to the Edmonton Series, Edmonton II. The second is a Christmas series, I know a little early, but these ideas came from another project and lent so well to a painting series, I just wanted to paint them. I am participating in Art Walk this year and it is my goal to have them all painted by them, wish me luck!

Postcards and New Print

2011-04-04T09:42:00.000-07:00

Recently I send off my Edmonton paintings with some modifications to a be printed as postcards. I was not sure how they were going to look, yet when they arrived I liked the bite sized versions. Vivid print also liked them and suggested that I send some their way to sell in the store, since they always are asked if they have Postcards of Edmonton. I am happy to report that about a dozen of them have sold already.

Also I was contacted to do a portrait for a retirement present. After some inquiries and emails I found out he loves the river valley in Edmonton. Perfect!! I like painting it. So I painted some of the landmarks, trees and river. This is the photo of it with out the portrait, I thought it would make for a good print.

MEC 2011 Catalog

2011-04-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

Just this last month many of my friends and family have been receiving their catalogs from our favorite outdoorsy store Mountain Equipment Co-op. With in these fantastic pages is a spread of a painting I was asked to do for them. I had for many years worked for MEC while in school for illustration, so it feels cyclical to have now painted for them. It was a great honor to work for them in both instances, and hope to do more in the future with them.

My good friend Leroy Schultz photographed the painting for me too.

Uppercase

2011-02-24T14:00:00.000-08:00

Late 2010 Janine at Uppercase invited me to illustrate an article for the eight issue of her quarterly magazine. The article was about our fascination with the scale of object and our relationship with them. I had just come back from Burbank, where I had stayed near the Hollywood walk of fame. While I was there I saw Ray Harryhausen's star, so I ran with the idea of a puppet master with his small stage.

Mountain Equipment Co-op

2011-02-03T19:42:00.000-08:00

Great news, last week I finished an illustration for Mountain Equipment Co-op. Judy contacted me, we had corresponded some time ago and thought of me when they were commissioning some illustration. I was pumped about doing it and now it is view able on the MEC Blog here. In addition, she asked me to do an illustration for their cataloge shipping out in March. I'd love to show it but, I'll have to wait till it is out.

Avenue Edmonton

2011-01-08T09:49:00.000-08:00

I just picked up the most recent Edmonton edition of Avenue Magazine with my illustrations for an article about the cities plans to revitalize several neighborhoods near the downtown core. It was a neat assignment where I was able to paint out more of Edmonton's landmarks. Thanks to Avenues art director Rodrigo Orozco.

Worklife 2 and Screen Print

2010-11-24T14:27:00.000-08:00

Okay I have two bits of new information. First I am participating in Work/Life 2, a wonderful catalog of Canadian creative talent. Watch for a release/show coming in February!! Click here to check out Uppercase, the publisher of the book and subscribe to the magazine too!!

Secondly I working on new limited edition silkscreen of this new illustration of mine, called "Alpine Hiker." Watch for it on my etsy shop.

Character Design- Praying Biker

2010-11-14T17:57:00.001-08:00

Something that has been sitting in my sketchbook, thought I would bring it out.

CNTX NOV 28-22

2010-11-14T16:40:00.001-08:00

So I heading off to Burbank this coming week for CTNX. I am really excited about who I might meet and what I will learn. This I think is the second annual of the event and I hope it continues to grow and more people get involved. With me, I am taking a bunch of sample brochures/portfolios to spreed out. Click here if you want to look at the dummied down pdf.

Cross country ski

2010-10-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

Here are some digital roughs for a series that I have been sketching about for a while now. I hope to have them all together and submit as a proposal to a local ski shop as a mural on the side of their building.

Home Sweet Home Gift

2010-10-23T09:21:00.000-07:00

Here is a small picture I did for a couple that recently moved out of the home that all of their children had grown up in. A small reminder of that home.

Edmonton Series - For Sale

2010-09-22T22:17:00.000-07:00

My Edmonton Series is currently up for sale. They are on display at deVine Wines here in Edmonton, located on 104st and Jasper Ave. I am also currently in discussion with Vivid Print on whyte ave to carry prints of the series, I'll let you know when that becomes a reality.

Lush: Animal Proposal

2010-08-15T20:47:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of photos of a recent proposal I have sent off to Lush Cosmetic Company in London.

Edmonton Series: Final Two

2010-07-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

It has been a while, and I have finally finished the final two of the Edmonton: Series I. Here are City hall and World of Science.

Edmonton Series: 5 & 6

2010-05-08T14:11:00.000-07:00

I have just completed the paintings for the Hotel MacDonald and Highlevel Bridge.

Experiment

2010-05-08T13:51:00.000-07:00

I have always liked the quality of something that had the essence of handmade in final visual production. I was sketching in my book and thought to add colour pencil to the pages and liked the quality.

Royal Bison May 2010

2010-05-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone thanks to all of those that came by the Royal Bison this last weekend. I hope you all found something that you really liked. If you found that something at my table an extra big thanks to you!! I will post some photos of what I had for sale in case you felt you missed out ;)

Rossdale and Walterdale bridge

2010-04-02T10:54:00.000-07:00

Finished another one last night.

Edmonton Series: First Three

2010-03-28T21:18:00.000-07:00

Perspective gallery

2010-02-02T16:04:00.001-08:00

Here are a couple of photos of some work that I took down to Calgary's Perspective gallery. They just wrapped up a weekend show at the end of January.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Edmonton: Colour Test .... more

2010-01-06T16:46:00.000-08:00

I was able to knock off a few more this afternoon. I have been fighting a cold today, there is something about being sick that allows you to focus. Not my preferred method of productivity but is does do the job.

Gallery Show opening: Calgary

2010-01-06T15:09:00.000-08:00

A Show, with my Parks Canada pieces, will be opening in Calgary at the Perspective Gallery for the weekend of January 29- January 31, 2010. I hope that some one (if there is anyone) reading this blog will have the chance to go and look at some of the work that will be on display.

Edmonton: Colour Test

2010-01-06T15:07:00.000-08:00

Here is a sample of some illustrations/paintings I am working on. I thought a flat interpretation of sights around Edmonton would evoke some city pride, art appreciation and a nostalgic look.

A hunka hunka Love

2009-12-13T12:07:00.000-08:00

Latest illustration, based on a sketch I did in my sketchbook some time a go.

Parks Canada

2009-11-16T14:40:00.000-08:00

So I have been exploring the use of collage, Graffiti stenciling technique, and some Wheatpasting in my work. Here are a couple of paintings 2' by 4' that I just completed, based on Canadian Parks, particularly Banff and Jasper. To view my process follow this link and this link.

I also designed two wallpaper patterns for use in the backgrounds.

Fanatics

2009-09-24T21:13:00.001-07:00

The Chair Makeover

2009-08-30T13:43:00.000-07:00

With all of the human makeover, home makeover, room makeover shows out there I thought I would post a makeover of my own. I recently came into possession of an Dutch Antique chair that was destined for a ceremonial fire. However, I claimed I could give it another life. Here are the results of my efforts, and stages.

Happiness Plate

2009-08-30T13:37:00.000-07:00

I just recently designed a plate based on the theme of happiness and harmony for a Competition over at Design21. I thought the idea for a child freely flying with a flock of birds would speak about over coming our challenges, and becoming harmonic with nature. Thoughts?

Pond Hockey

2009-08-10T15:08:00.001-07:00

A Wip that I am working on.

Back from The Big Comic Con

2009-07-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

Wow, that was a interesting experience. There were allot of people and many were dressed up. I manage to see most of the panels that I wanted to see and most of them were good, though I found that they seemed so short. I Think the funniest one was the panel for the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. And I thought the Law School were really good, but with so many people the questions, although relative, steered the lecture off course. I managed to see several celebrities, but was shocked on how many people really gawk and crowd them. At one point we were in the main hall at the Paramount booth, and Ironman 2 Director Jon Favreau, showed up and people swarmed and started just yelling his name and 'look over here'. I thought it was silly, and a nuisance.

Anyways here are some pictures of the trip. Jason Blower San Diego Comic Con : Picasa Album

In addition I also bought several books and prints from artists that I admire.
This is a Bruce Timm 2009 sketch book

This is a neat little storybook/sketchbook from Ghost Bot.

This is a great story book from Ronnie Del Carmen.

Another great skechbook from Mike Mignola.

This is the latest anthology from Kazu the great people at the Flight Blog.

This a great sketchbook from Ryan Hunderford

This a copy of Smackdab by Scott Morse that I have been trying to find for a long time.

And Scotts latest book Tiger,Tiger,Tiger that he has published through his Red Widow Publishing company.

The Sex and Science book that Scott, Nate Wragg, Don Shank and Lou Romano have all contributed too.

A collection of daily sketches from Pascal Campion.

This here is a great collection of daily comics that Scott C. does for Double Fine Action Comics.

This is an awesome collection of vintage styled illustration by Derek.

This an awesome concept book that Kevin Dart created a James Bond Like movie character and the movies that she had made.

I also managed to pick up this sketchbook from Comic artist J. Scott Campbell.

The next two are books by Ragnar.

And finally two skechbooks by illustrator Javier Guzman.

San Diego Comic Con 09

2009-07-24T19:31:00.000-07:00

I am writing from San Diego, home of the largest collection of geeks in the world. Except MIT, perhaps. It is really an interesting collage of people that come to the comic con. There are the Costumed Enthusiasts, the pasty white pimple faces, the normals ( I would like to think I am included in this group), the talented and the pretty girls that like drive the whole bunch of us nuts. I have seen many different panels that I have enjoyed, though I wish they were longer and smaller in numbers. Today I braved the main exhibit, upon hearing how crazy it can get on Saturday. It is already quite busy. Last years attendance according to SDCC people was in the number of 150,000 people, and this year I have heard that there was some where between 200,00 and 300,000 registered. Such and increase that there is talk about moving the convention to another city in order to accommodate the numbers.

Post Royal Bison

2009-06-01T19:40:00.001-07:00

Thanks to all that came to see the show, and I hope you all found something you like for your space. It was a little slow, but it was a great chance to talk to others that are grinding away at their work.

Anyways it is now time to focus on my graphic novel on the Mad Trapper. I hope to have it done by Comic Con in San Diego at the end of July.Here are a few pages that I have just completed today.

Muerto "Ghosts"

2009-05-01T14:25:00.001-07:00

Here are a couple of paintings that I have done for the fair.

Royal Bison Art and Craft Fair

2009-04-20T08:38:00.000-07:00

Hey all I will be at the Royal Bison Art and Craft Fair in Edmonton. May 30 - May 31. I will be selling print and all kinds of goodies.
http://www.royalbison.ca/

<<<<>>>>>

Here is a selection of the items that I will be selling at the Royal Bison. Not to fret what is left will be available on a Etsy account that I have started.

A couple of nesting dolls that I have painted up. The second one glows in the dark!!!!

The follow are Screen Prints I did. They are limited prints, Bookworm is 10, and the rest are 5.

These are some lamps that I made using recycled Nalogene Bottles, Hiking poles, a Birch Tree I saw that was cut down and LED Christmas lights. Recycled and low power consumption.

While I was Screen printing I did several on Organic Cotton to make into pillows (fill is reclaimed from pillows that had their day). The frills on the sides are different combos of Green, Blue, and Pink. There are, as well, four different characters on the pillows.

These are some Stuffed Animals out of felt (Also reclaimed stuffing). I had made similar characters out of wood blocks when I was in school and have since not been able to find a shop in Edmonton to cut the blocks. So I attempted to make them out of felt. There is a Rhino, Pigeon and Beaver.

Bathtime

2009-02-28T12:04:00.001-08:00

Hoodie Design

2009-02-16T22:13:00.001-08:00

The Wrangler and kiss

2009-02-13T13:33:00.000-08:00

So after a hiatus on colouring this image I took the time today to wrap it up. Hope you likey-likey.

This one has been on the back burner since the last semester of school.

Mural pt4

2009-02-06T10:09:00.001-08:00

Here are some almost final images on the mural. And all of the wonders that they wanted painted. Now there are alot of things that I would like to add to fill up the space but, time is a factor and there is a concern that the additions will distract from the wonders.

Mural pt3

2009-01-26T22:42:00.000-08:00

Some new progress photos

WIP Creative Quarterly

2009-01-23T09:31:00.000-08:00

This is the Wrangler Piece, my submission to Creative Quarterly Call for Submissions.

This is the Wrangler Piece, my submission to Creative Quarterly Call for Submissions.

Mural pt2

2009-01-23T08:57:00.001-08:00

Here are some progress shot from the mural.

Mural pt1

2009-01-14T09:19:00.000-08:00

Friends of mine Steve and Katie are expecting in February. They have asked me to design a mural for their little spawns' room, based on the wonders of the world that one day they would like to visit. I think we have come up with some really fun ideas that are playful but not too childish. Progress photos:

Oil Surfing

2009-01-04T12:48:00.000-08:00

So I am just wrapping up a project for my brothers friend Kurt. Kurt went to Australia for a year on a work exchange through his company. One of the souvenirs that he brought back was a surf board. He wanted to set it up for display in his house, he and his wife wanted to mix two loves, the Oilers and Surfing, together. The following is the result.

Soccer

2008-12-28T08:34:00.000-08:00

A few new illustrations, I'm working on the mechanics of the same style of the Hero illustration from a few posts back.

Turtle People

2008-12-21T12:07:00.000-08:00

I started sketching these guys while I was at work and I just kept going from there.

Gig posters

2008-12-16T15:54:00.000-08:00

Since moving to Edmonton I have noticed that there is a sever lack in creativity when looking at the local gig posters. So I have created 3 posters to present to a few of the local bars to begin drumming up so work on that front. Here are the three I did.

Moby Dick

2008-12-16T15:39:00.001-08:00

I took a derivative design project I did in school(first year) and used the composition that I liked the most to create an illustration using my current style. Any thoughts?

Font in progress

2008-12-07T20:38:00.000-08:00

So about two years ago I signed a contract with two of my classmates that I would design a font. So I have started the process of nailing down a idea for a font and have done a layout of what I have been thinking.

Toronto

2008-12-04T12:05:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone I went to Toronto for The Applied Arts Magazine show for the winners in the Student Awards issue. It was really neat to see my work and the work of my classmates up and on display with the work of everyone else. Anne Watson also came for the show and we were introduced to a few people. All in all it was kinda weird to be there and not know anyone from the area.

before and after process

2008-11-02T16:25:00.001-08:00

A piece done for my final portfolio school. A quick before and after look at it.

Clear Cutting

2008-11-02T14:27:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking about the environment lately, and how we in Western North America are cutting down large groves of trees for market. Granted it is not as bad as in the Amazon, but it still something we should be aware of.

Beaver Abroad

2008-11-01T12:19:00.001-07:00

While on my trip I felt so relaxed and so I had done a sketch reflecting on my experience here is the final illustration.

Long absence- Rearing to go

2008-10-30T20:07:00.001-07:00

Hi Kim and Mom I am sure you are the only two that look at this post. So I thought I would give all a update. I went to South America for six weeks, and it was such a nice stress bouncer I can not tell you all enough about. I am back in the swing of things, working to feed myself while I produce my master pieces. I just finished a storyboarding course through Schoolism.com with Kris Pearn it was a great course. It was time consuming along with my ft and pt jobs, I am down to a ft job and my imagination. A piece of mine was accepted to the Applied Arts Magazine for their Student Awards Annual, this November issue. I am super pumped, there is a show in Toronto, November 17-18 and I will be attendace. The following piece is what was chosen for the magazine and following that is some projects I am working on.

Little Critters: Gallery show.

2008-03-26T16:32:00.000-07:00

I just submitted two of my animal sculpture to uppercase gallery for a up coming show called "Little Critters" here are some photos of the finished Elephant.

More Sketches

2008-03-26T16:22:00.001-07:00

Bar Sketches

2008-03-11T22:29:00.001-07:00

A Flash Ditty

2008-01-29T13:14:00.001-08:00

Banff 08

2008-01-27T16:15:00.000-08:00

Here is just a little fun picture of me at the Banff Springs. I was at a Story Workshop and one of the events was the springs I didn't have my suit with me so I rented a vintage suit. It had this great little skirt (where the strip is) so that when you stood up my jewels would not show. It was great I would like to own one, but they cost $80 bucks, way too much.

Not Art but cool anyway

2008-01-21T14:13:00.000-08:00

I went ice climbing with some friends this last Saturday, it was alot of fun. Alot of work too. This shot of me is on a Level 4 column of Ice.

2008-01-18T21:17:00.001-08:00

A sketch for classes drawing blog. The theme was 'the orient'.

Fish Slave Trader Character

2008-01-14T13:36:00.000-08:00

Here are some character designs for a Slave Trader that enslaves fish. It is part of a story about David Livingston whom, in this version is a fish exploring land. (these were taken using the Photobooth program on my MacbookPro)

2007-12-10T14:41:00.000-08:00

If anyone is reading this blog, A classmate of mine has just started a website at Http://www.goatspeak.squarespace.com

Marker Sketch

2007-11-23T14:08:00.000-08:00

A character sketch with markers and pencil crayons

Winter show and sale:

2007-11-20T13:23:00.000-08:00

Here are some prints that I have that I am selling at ACAD's Winter Show and Sale.

Block: painting 2

2007-11-20T12:48:00.000-08:00

So it is now crunch time, show and sale is coming up this week and I have been making some new prints for the show. I also have completed both the pigeon and beaver ornaments. Here is the stages for the elephants and beaver.

Here is the finals

Block: painting I

2007-10-07T20:31:00.000-07:00

So after priming the animals I started into painting them with some house paint that I have mixed. It is economical, but the covering power of the paint is a little lacking. I may just convert back to acrylics to gain that covering ability.

Blocks: primed

2007-10-05T11:36:00.000-07:00

An update as too the animals there 8 or 9 of these babies primed and ready for painting I am excited as to how these are going to turn out.

Recent Animatic

2007-10-05T11:09:00.000-07:00

Here is a rough colour animatic for a class that I just did. The initial concept was about conflict. The conflict here is between a hero and his sidekick. I went a little further and created a additional story and two levels of story.

2:15 Break time (1.2mb) rt-click save as

Thanks

Blocks: cut-out stage

2007-10-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

So this is the next stage a small selection of the animals that I am working on. They are really simply cut out. The challenge was on the band saw and having a flat surface for the blocks to be cut from. So I decided to leave about 3/16' at each cut to keep it together then use the sanding belt to grind down what I didn't cut.

New Fall Project

2007-10-01T11:40:00.000-07:00

I walk alot in this town that I call Cowtown. Mostly between Work and home. Most of the time I walk past a design store called Kit Interiors and I saw these amazingly interesting and colourful decorations. Later while reading Lou Romanos blog that they are homemade orniments that designer Alexander Girard ( circa 1960's) made for his home and now there are replicas made. They have inspired me and have sketched out about 15 designs that I have started to make. Here are the photos of the beginning of the project.

The First Post

2007-09-28T13:44:00.000-07:00

Well this is the first official post. I thought of something that maybe a compelling deep thought out insight to my interal tormented dialog that I usually hear. But instead, I am six feet, at times funny and most importantly Single