tania howells

it snowed!

What a surprise! It snowed!  I am having a rare morning that reminds me of the olden days of my life.  A snowy walk after dropping my son off at school (grade 7!!!) and running errands, grabbing library books, a pastry and having a coffee in my studio contemplating graphic novel ideas.  Something I have never worked on, but lately I am inspired to try.  It seems like a nice way to tell a story along with writing and pages from my art journal...

The flowers are still going as it was 21C last week! They look so pretty in the snow.  Isn't it amazing how time goes?  I cant even keep up anymore, but snowy mornings like this remind me of all the other snowy mornings in my life, and I am amazed at how we don't really age in our heart and soul.  We learn, grow, change but deep inside I'm still the little kid who loved Hello Kitty and strawberries, toast and jam, and polka dots.  I just want to smile at people and dogs and enjoy each day's little gifts. 

Hi Internet!

I'm going to start blogging again! Why not? Everything that's old is new again. Now, what on earth to say?!  Here is a page form my art journal.  Much of the work there I created through out the pandemic, which we are still in, but I am hoping we see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.  My son and I stayed home for the entire 2020/2021 school year doing virtual school, but this year we went back.  I work part time in the school and he is in his final year at the school, and we needed to be back and it feels so great to be there, despite everything.   I spent a lot of that time at home being quiet and trying to listen to the tiny voice inside myself.  Trying to not panic, give in to fear and anxiety and trust my path, to learn to stay up and not give in to these lower energies that drag me down with them.  I tried to create art about this and write about it as well.  I relied on my tarot cards, on horoscopes, on daydreaming, even if they were almost like mist, with no real density.  I held on to anything that helped me get through those days of uncertainty and worry, so I could help my son do the same.  I am coming out on this side feeling stronger and more hopeful for better days ahead.  I wish this for all of us.

i forgot about my blog!

Guys! Did you forget about my blog?

Holy moly what a crazy couple of years, and we aren't out of the woods yet, but we persevere!

 

hello world!!

I just remembered blogging again! Its been YEARS! I am still here but mostly on instagram!

I have decided to host an Art Journalling workshop in May!  I have been working on my journals for two and a half years and I feel really happy with them.  I want to spread the idea of how nice they are to work on.

Here is a link to the eventbrite site for tickets!

 

I'm so happy spring is here.  I've been looking back though this blog and can't believe how far we have come.  My son is nearly 9, I now work as the lunch lady at his school and I love it ( mostly!!).  I am feeling inspired to do some sewing and crafting again.  Winter can be so long that when its over its hard not to jump for joy!

sweet Saturday morning

Well, that should say sweet Saturday morning, ALONE!  I am getting some much needed alone time to get some work done and just be ME without a little bus crazy boy

( who I love dearly)  around me every second.

Here is him working on a special project this week.  We have been spending some of the summer holidays so far traveling to far reaching subway stations to look at the buses, take pictures of them and then he likes to draw them.  He is also into the names of all the bus routes and is writing them out here. 

I have been keeping somewhat on this side of crazy by making birds out of perler beads.  Yes!  I love these things- maybe its my son's obsession with minecraft, but I am loving the pixelated look of these beads.

I am also thinking of opening a custom millinery shop for finger people.  Stay tuned!

more space on the web!

I have finished six "Paintings of Things That I Like to Look at" paintings, so I decided to make a little gallery to motivate me to do more.  This is my latest one,

and I am loving how they are getting more and more layered with patterns and colours.  School is out in three weeks and

I am trying to get things done before I have a little shadow around me all day!

bread and butter!

Happy Spring! This past winter my bread and butter was... sandwiches! Sorry could not resist that one! Here is a drawing I did for some packaging!  Makes me hungry!

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hello!

Boy, is it nearly March?  How did all that time go by?  Here is a lemon poppy seed illustration

I recently did for some packaging.  It was really quite fun as I had to do it in someone else's style!  I think I pulled it off.

This is my motto going forward!  It's a page in my scrapbook.  Now that I am over 40, I am thinking about health and longevity- I want to be strong and be here for my son.  I am trying to do more yoga and go to my aquafit class weekly, eat well and be positive. I hope people are having a good new year-  January was a dark grey month and
it seemed a lot of people were having a hard time but we are emerging into the sunshine now.  Spring is on our heels and the days are getting longer and lighter!

I am still working some on my art journal...

This is how I felt the other day after a nice cup of tea. 

I had been off caffeine for a few months after feeling scared by heart palpitations. 

They have gone away and I am slowly having some tea and decaf coffee again and its so good to have it back!

 

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Brockton map

I love my neighborhood so much I made a map of it!  You can buy one if you like!

Its $20 and is 8.5 x 11 heavy paper.  Just send me an email!  Its also on etsy, but in USD.

While you're at it, have a look at my other maps!