Sketching

I get these ideas for sketches sometimes...usually inspired by actual photos. I've done several sketches of my cat and a few of the pet's my other friends have. Each sketch has seemed overwhelming initially. I'd look at the photo I wanted and do a few lines, thinking, "What the Hell am I getting myself into?"

But it never took long for me to get right into it and within five or ten minutes ~viola~ A completed and quite awesome looking sketch of whatever it was I set out to portray.

My tattoo is complete. I love the work Karrie did and because she has such a great IKEA way of decorating and because IKEA has this frame that's just her style, I made the perfect Christmas Gift for her.

17.5 hours later...my leg is done.

"Guardian"

I discovered I had a talent for large scale paintings. I'm just not patient enough for tedious details, I suppose. It happened quite accidentally.

One day I was shopping at Inglewood Art supplies (I recommend them highly, especially if you have a Friends of CJSW card and/or are an Art Student.) and I was going to buy a bunch of small canvases. I came across one that was a much grander scale than I had ever used. The decision was instantaneous. I splurged!

The result was a dragon climbing a telephone pole, a street corner in the back ground. To look at it now I can see how my skills have improved in time, but it was definitely an important step towards using the right material.

I have an obvious knack for sculpting, but painting has always been something I've enjoyed. I found myself more frustrated than anything, however, when I decided to paint an image from my head and ended up with less than exemplary results. Acrylic is definitely my paint of choice, although I've dabbled successfully in water colours. So my next challenge was the Right Canvas. Well, the Right Canvas for me, when it's not canvas shoes, is BIG.

About a year and a half ago I purchased the biggest canvas I'd ever used and began a self-portrait fantasy piece. It went through many phases and sometimes I thought it would simply never be done. Well, inspiration struck over the last week and voila!

"Guardian"

Acrylic on Canvas

Thanksgiving

I'm thankful for genuine and self sufficient friends.

I'm thankful for meaningful lyrics.

I'm thankful for the unconditional love of family and all the forms it takes.

I'm thankful for my own sense of self and belonging.

I'm thankful for autumn leaves and glorious rich sunsets that reflect off them.

I'm thankful for clean water and bountiful food.

I'm thankful for the roof over my head and the people I share that home with.

I'm thankful for all the homes i have because home is where the heart is and my heart is with so many people and my home can be found with them.

I'm thankful.

YAP Screening

Thursday, October 9th marked my first official screening. This was also my first ever experience showcasing my work as an artist.

It was absolutely incredible to share the stage and screen with nine other brilliant minds. My experience at the Youth Animation Project has opened my world up in ways I didn't realize were possible. I am an artist and activist, professionally, first and foremost.

"Who we are and what we do should be one and the same."
- Myself.

This statement has taken on new meaning for me as I've watched my fellow 'yappers' grow and evolve and as I have done the same. For the past five months my mind has been blown and my perception of who I am and how I define myself has expanded and shifted in a monumental way. I may have to work a retail job now and again to get by, but I won't let that define me because it simply can't. As one of my fellow co-workers put it: I am electric inspiration.

Another co-worker said "When 99.99% of the time you are positive, uplifting, happy-joy, I think it's O.K. for you to have a bad day now and again."

I'll have good days and bad, because you can't have one without the other and you can't appreciate the good without the bad to contrast it. But I'll always know who i am and who I am is electric inspiration. I'm an artist. I'm a writer. I'm an animator. I'm Kaitlyn S. C. Hatch, who wrote, directed, animated and made sound for the short claymation 'Affinity'.

Today my co-workers and I are famous. We are fellow artists ready to venture out into the world full of bright faith in our ability to create and grow. We are brilliant, all of us.

*Smiles the widest smile of them all.*

Slacking...

So many days since I last wrote. *shakes head*

I have a great excuse, of course. I've been busy.

The Youth Animation Project is drawing to a close, with only a week and a half left for us to get out CV's/Resumes together, fill out scholarship and grant applications and apply for school. I'm actively burning my animation to a DVD for submission to Fairytales Film Festival (Which I'm sitting on the selection committee with this year!) and figuring out how to get my high school transcript.

I have a lot on my plate as far as my activism goes. In order to ensure I get a pay cheque and the two giant projects we're taking on actually happen I have to do a lot of work in just a few short days. I'm happy to have the YAP staff right at my fingertips. It's a dream come true! I have little helper elves being paid to look over what I've written, ensure it's done the best it can be, and give me ideas on other places I can seek funding from.

I'm pretty content right now with how things are going. I'm stoked for the screening next week, even if we will be competing with Margaret Cho. We postered the city yesterday and through Word of Mouth and the power of Facecrack I'm sure we'll have an incredible turn out. Besides, it's free. Who doesn't like free stuff?

Clay Figurines

I chose to do a claymation for my animation. This is because I've always loved claymation and because I'm a natural sculptor. Sculpting is one of those talents I was just born with and I knew I'd be able to portray my animation best through the medium of Plasticine. I did character sketches of what i was going to create, something I normally would never waste my time on because I create best in the initial thing I make. Trying to remodel and trying to duplicate just doesn't work for me. However, the development of the characters sketches allowed for me to explore the character design and feel quite a bit more.

I posted photos of my completed figurines and quote suddenly was bombarded with requests for them. One such request came from Newsboy of X92.9FM here in Calgary. He commissioned me to create a figurine likeness of himself as a coyote and I set to work. I really like the end result and apparently he does too, having made it his Facebook profile picture.

I plan on continuing to make these figures and depending on the size and accessories they will cost anywhere between $40 and $75.

Youth Animation Project Screening

Thursday, October 9th 7:00pm at the Plaza Theatre in Kensington

Getting inked!

I'm a huge fan of tattoos. Initially I was hesitant to get any because I quite like my body as it is and couldn't imagine there would be much I'd want permanently on my skin. I tossed around a few ideas in my late teenager years, before I could even get one. I liked the idea of a turtle or wolf, two animals I've always had an affinity for.

When I turned eighteen I went into my first parlour to ask questions and was greeted with a less than savoury attitude. I wanted something small and was merely inquiring as to the cost of a tattoo, but the artist seemed put off by me and his response was hostile. He informed me that it wasn't judged by size (A total lie, by the way...because the size of the tattoo is in direct correlation to the amount of time it will take and tattoo artists charge by the hour.) and that my design idea of a wolf silhouette was too detailed and small and would look terrible in a matter of years.

My next attempt wasn't until I was nineteen and the approach of a cold winter was reminding me of how much I hate November. I wanted to do something awesome, just for me, to celebrate who I was. I messed around with designs for months and came up with a simple one for my forearm. I drew it there for three months straight, until I felt naked when it washed off and I was certain it was a permanently altering piece of work I wouldn't regret.

The day I went to get my tattoo I was quite nervous but excited. I didn't know what the pain would be like and I was worried it would be unbearable. Two of my oldest and dearest friends accompanied me on the adventure and I suspect all three of us were surprised to see me, normally a wuss, completely blissed out under the gun. The sensation is truly indescribable and the meaning behind a piece I designed myself being put somewhere that it would always remind me of my inner strength made for a profound experience.

I have since added to my collection and recently delved into a leg sleeve, something I've mentioned before. This piece is the first I haven't designed for myself and choosing to let another artist create something for me caused great anxiety at first. I absolutely love my artist though and she really managed to capture what I wanted in the representation of three of the most influential and powerful animals in my life: A dragon, a wolf and a turtle.

I just had the colour started. The turtle and wolf are complete and in early October I'm having the dragon done. Late November is the set date to finish it off, touch ups and background, as long as time and money allow.

I love the artwork I've chosen to decorate my body with. I totally recommend it if you've ever thought about it. take your time to choose something meaningful and beautiful and choose an artist you know will do the best representation of what you'd like, but totally take the plunge.

The latest round of custom shoes...

I did the pair with the cat as a gift for a friends graduation. She totally loves them. I enjoyed getting the custom laces. I'm so used to working with bright, vibrant colours so i was surprised when i picked black/grey/brown argyle laces. But I think the look is perfect.

The other pair were a custom order from a friend for her brother. I'm totally pleased with them because I normally use the inspiration of knowledge for the person I'm creating art for to make anything decent. I have never before met him and only had his website to go off of (www.52instruments.com) but I feel I've created something really unique and encompassing of who he is. I've been told by many people who do know him that they are incredible and capture his style perfectly.

The Nature of an Artist

Since a very young age I have aspired to create fantastic art. My brother and dad are incredible at sketching something quickly and efficiently and by watching them I was able to learn a lot about proportions and shading. My brother drew dinosaurs and my dad drew planes...I drew dragons. I would take sheets of paper and tape them end to end so they encircled my entire room in a long, thin poster. Each sheet had a different dragon on it. Any dragon at all was fair game for me to experiment with my techniques. I evolved the shading of muscles or the tilt and turn of a twisting body, the life given to an eye through a shiny spot...and I learned a lot.

No matter how uninspired I may be feeling I am always able to sit down and sketch out a dragon, any dragon. This is my root of art...the initial step I took towards discovering my potential.

Tattoo by Karrie Arthurs of BlackBirdCustomStudios.com

The Life and Times of a Kaitlyn

Currently I a working two jobs to help sustain me. By night I'm an IKEA Co-worker, which is actually a pretty decent place to work because they have flexible hours and totally take care of their staff. Plus the discount is fabulous for decorating my howse.

By day I'm a Youth Animation Project Participant, a government funded program run by the incredible staff of the Quickdraw Animation Society in Calgary.

I think who you are and what you do should be one and the same and I have come to discover that, not only am I a writer, activist, sculptor and painter, but I'm an animator too. I've always had a soft spot for animation in general. Since I was wee my parents would take me and my brother to film festivals or take collections of shorts out of the library to expand our minds.

The National Film Board shorts collections have a wonderful place in my memories, from 'The Cat came Back' to 'The Big Snit' to 'Wallace and Gromit'. My favourite animators are Nick Parks and Bill Plympton. One is whimsical, cute and amusing and the other twisted, provocative and just plain strange. I'm also quite fond of Don Hertzfeldt...which just happens to be the name given to the computer I'm currently writing this on.

Being involved in YAP has inspired me in a lot of ways...to start this Blog, to identify more strongly as an artist, and to see where I can go in a world full of creativity. *smiles softly*

Currently I'm employed at the Quickdraw Animation Society through the Youth Animation Project. I'm working on a stop-motion animation for the Calgary Police Service. One of the workshops we got to have at my job involved character sketches and how to make really awesome characters with simple lines...an obvious and old technique. I've always really loved 'furry' art and recently began to delve into it further while at work. I'm developing a portfolio for school/work. This is one of my recent pieces, which I'm pretty pleased with.

From Clay to Stone...

My first experience with sculpting was when I was eight. My aunt had me over for the weekend and she brought out her Fimo, a man-made clay that you bake int he oven to harden. The stuff is annoying and difficult to work with, requiring about twenty solid minutes of rolling it around in your hands before it's soft enough.

At the time it was all there was though and I dove head-first into creating with it.

I've often said the thing about someone who can draw is, they see all those shapes that make up what they want to draw and they can go straight from the diagram in their head to the thing on paper. I sculpt the same way. I just see the proportions and go with it, understanding the shapes that make a wolf or elephant or pig.

I have since moved on from Fimo to Sculpey, which is cheaper and softer. It's fun to work with and less messy than actual clay, being similar to Plasticine.

I work with clay as well, however. I paint the finished work with acrylic or glaze. *arm pump* Here's to my mum having a kiln.

Sneakers are for Sneaking

Custom Shoes!

Remember in the nineties when you could buy those really cheap little canvas shoes all over the place? I remember my mum getting them for my birthday one year. She bought tons of fabric paints too and everyone who came over got a pair of shoes and was given free reign to decorate them.


Apparently this stuck.



I made my first pair of rainbow shoes the year after I graduated high school. They lasted several years, traveling with me all the way to Australia where I left them, having lost the soles to hundreds of long walks.

I had a pair I swapped with a best friend. She decorated a pair for me, I did the same for her. Those ones were sparkle-Fantastic.

As with any of my artwork, I prefer not to mass-produce anything prior but to create something unique for the indidivual. They give me inspiration for a design based on what they request. The latest pair I did are the DJ shoes for a good friend of mine. Without Custom Laces I charge $50/pair.

Contact me at faunawolf@gmail.com or check out my listing on Etsy.com to place an order for your own pair of Custom Canvas Shoes.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14440809

The First Entry

Coming attractions:

Custom Canvas Sneakers
Clay figurines
Fantasmical Magnets
Tarot Card Paintings
Big Canvases Are More Fun

She's a colourful wave of electric energy creating around every corner.

My work will be displayed here and available for purchase through Etsy.com.