Ale Diaz Illustration

DECEMBER UPDATE

2011-12-17T07:46:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe how unbelievably fast this year has gone by! 2011 is almost gone, and just like you I have been very busy during the past 2 months running around and getting things done to notice that 2012 is already knocking on my door.

Here is one of my latest projects in collaboration with the Oakville Voice . If you are in the Oakville area make sure to grab a copy to stay in touch:

"The Oakville Voice is a monthly News/magazine hybrid designed to deliver information on events, community, health, environment, family, local news, shopping art, entertainment and culture."

Stay tunned for website and store updates. Seems like 2012 is a year full of opportunities and I got quite a good share of projects in the oven.

Hope you are enjoying December as well and remember the trick is to don't let all the undone things weigh on you all at once. Pick one get it done and the move to the next. One thing at a time. (piece of advice I should learn how to follow myself)

IF: Stripes

2011-11-07T17:24:00.000-08:00

Submission for Illustration Friday and a chance to play with a different style.

Illustration Friday: SCARY!

2011-10-29T14:02:00.001-07:00

"And it laughs, but not like people when they think things are funny"

From my old archives. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

IF: Scattered

2011-10-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

CLICK ON THE MONSTER FOR A SURPRISE, IT'S ALIVE!

I had sooo much fun doing this!!!! I usually over-think when I am about to start a project and end up spending like 3 hours procrastinating, setting up my paintings, thinking about where to start, but this one I just jumped right in without too much thinking. It's my first time experimenting with GIFS and I love it.

I got my inspiration from two artists I have been following: Zac Gorman and Isabelle Cardinal. They have been doing this for a while now. I love and follow their work and decided to give it a shot.

I hope for my sanity's sake to keep producing art... it is THERAPY!

IF: Ferocious

2011-09-28T16:06:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh, feels good to do some art finally broke my dry spell :). This is my submission to Illustration Friday. Ferocious dragons, ferocious kid, ferocious situation!

What's old is new!

2011-09-18T17:26:00.001-07:00

This post is about a very old project as well as a very old idea.

First of all, this old project comes from my archives of 2008 and it is a motion graphics animation. Can't tell you a lot about the full idea because I still dream about selling it to a big advertising company, haha. I have set my mind on going back to school to study computer animation so I decided to start working on some portfolio pieces. This old project will be part of a demo reel I will be putting together.

I can't believe I started this on 2008, such a cool idea I never got to finish, like so many others...

Well it's never too late.

On the other hand, I remember one of my teachers at art school saying that there aren't really any new ideas being created out there in the world. The only newness in every "new idea" is the new ways we manage to combine the interacting elements, hence: what is old is new.

The idea for this particular animation sparked from the classic by the father of special effects Georges Melies's "Trip to the Moon". Here is an image, just in case you've never heard of this film.

Well regardless of where all this new venture takes me, I am happy to have a reason to be doing my own art again.

My two lives

2011-08-04T18:40:00.000-07:00

I have always felt like I had two lives . . .

Surprisingly, this is a very common condition in our current era. I am sure you might even be a subject that presents the symptoms of trying to survive in two (or even three!) different professional worlds: the mom and CEO, the fitness model and babysitter, the bar waitress and actress, the landscaper and teacher and so on.

This condition I am referring to has nothing to do with the so called naive attempt at defining the differences between a job and a career. On the other hand I believe this condition has to do with our attempt to make things work, like be able to make a career out of our passion, or be able to save some cash to travel, go back to school, or buy stuff, or simply be able to survive and provide for our families.

Like most people nowadays, I sort of exist between two professional worlds, and sometimes I wonder if I am an illustrator trying to be a personal trainer or a personal trainer trying to be an illustrator.

If you are wondering why haven't I posted since June it is because I have been busy trying to make things work for me. But here is an update of what has happened:

1.- As of March I became a personal trainer and through this I have embarked on a journey that is a lot bigger than myself. Here is my attempt at describing some of that journey and trying to inspire others: http://transformationjourneys.blogspot.com/

2.- Society6 is featuring on their store a bunch of my art prints. This is my store page, you can check it out at: http://society6.com/AleDiaz

3.- I jumped on board with Playbling with some of my designs to produce iPhone cases embedded with swarovski crystals, and behold, shinny things are very pretty!
http://www.playbling.com/en/designers/ale-diaz.html

4.- I have been designing a rugby clothing line for Ruckwear, so if you are into rugby, you should definitely check it out at: http://www.ruckwear.com

I believe this is it for now. I am working my best to post more often. I miss it and I need it.

2011-06-11T11:31:00.000-07:00

Now Exhibiting until July 2nd at the Steam Whistle Brewery in Toronto

Two very important pieces for me this year:

Top: "Dragon's Play"
This piece is a story on top of a story. On the top level it is a literal play on my dog and her best friend and how they interact with each other as well as the characters around them. On a second level it is a story about this period of my life since I started working as a personal trainer and the people whom I interact with. This piece was finished in honor to Patchie (bottom left corner), it was thanks to her that I decided to finish this piece for this show.

Bottom: "The Great Escape"
One of my close friends and art colleagues one day pointed out that he could recognize my art anytime anywhere by the mere fact that it typically depicts kids or small innocent characters escaping in big fantastical and scary creatures. I wonder in my subconscious, what is it that I am escaping from, all the time...

2011-05-28T14:01:00.000-07:00

2nd time around! Exhibiting at the Steam Whistle Brewery in Toronto alongside some amazing artists. Come check it out.

2011-02-09T11:33:00.000-08:00

Work in progress ...

Happening in my studio right now, no wait, not "studio", rather as my husband pointed out: "the room you took over where you contain your mess"...

2011-02-03T17:11:00.001-08:00

IF - surrender

Still on the sketch stage, but if I don't post this I have a feeling I won't make the deadline tonight!

I feel the need to elaborate, since it is not too clear as of yet what is this all about. It is inspired in chess. Red pawns have surrounded the blue king, it is CHECKMATE. There is a big story about it that I am working on, also this is going to be an experimental piece since I will draw it in 3 different styles (yes just for fun). Check back for its developments.

2011-02-01T17:34:00.000-08:00

This is the month of LOVE and FRIENDSHIP.

I think I am making progress... by having finished my Valentine's piece February 1st and not February 15th :). It is inspired on a previous painting I had done on the religious symbol of "The Sacred Heart of Jesus".

Done on digital and mixed media.

This image is available on Giclee print, canvas print, iPhone case, iPhone skin, clothing :)
Check it out HERE.

Also HERE (just different options)

2011-01-31T07:23:00.000-08:00

The True Essence of Things ...

We can deny, we can ignore, we can postpone but ultimately, the true essence of things will shine through.

I believe this is how True Essence Media came to exist, 2 people that have the undeniable gift of not only seeing but also being able to capture the essence of things, were put together by the circumstances and all of a sudden, they reached a point in where they could not help but do what they do best and be who they really are. I love their work, I think it is honest, subtly powerful and their lenses masterfully capture the world with the sort of innocence perceived by small children.

When I met Kune and Dan from True Essence Media, I believe I was at a stage in which I was very craftily trying to deny who I was. However my attempt failed with them. I remember we went out to a lunch buffet, where we filled our plates with Thai food, sushi and ideas. Before I realized, a couple months later, we were shooting this video.

It is very painful trying to resist who you truly are, but it is very scary to dare to be that person...

Very special thanks for capturing the real me and sharing it with the world.

You can see more of their beautiful work here:
http://www.trueessencemedia.com/

2011-01-27T14:50:00.000-08:00

Bird's eyes!

This is a project that I started sometime mid-2010 and I decided to finish it. A page full of crazy birds.

Now available as canvas and Giclee prints! Click here :)

2011-01-22T08:21:00.000-08:00

Here is a comissioned illustration I did that also went to my art matron in Mexico. Acrlylics, pencil crayons and collage on paper.

2011-01-18T15:12:00.000-08:00

IF - Illustration Friday: Chicken
This is my entry for Illustration Friday, a blog where weekly themes are posted and an incredible number of artists make their contributions. If you visit it, I encourage you to comment on your favourite. As an artist it is very nice to receive some feedback once in a while and meet some of the people that are following your work. It gets very lonely over here sometimes.

2011-01-13T15:11:00.001-08:00

Here is the other one as promised. This one is definitely a more "I think I've had too much morning coffee now" version, hehe.

2011-01-13T08:46:00.000-08:00

I was just thinking how marvelously happy and productive a good cup of morning coffee makes me feel and made this illustration. Another one to come soon. I was playing with a couple of ideas and decided to do both...

2010-12-14T20:10:00.000-08:00

This is a commissioned piece I finished during December for one of my mexican art patrons.

2010-12-14T20:02:00.000-08:00

Well I guess it is a good time for this post: MERRY CHRISTMAS or HAPPY HOLIDAYS! (whichever one you prefer)

Actually this was one of the things that caught my attention since I started living in Canada: the amount of time and effort people invest in being conscious about which phrase they should or shouldn´t use to wish happiness to one another during these days. In Mexico we say: FELIZ NAVIDAD (Happy Christmas - actually) , and that's it. No overthinking!

Anyways, as the Holidays approached, I was overthinking too much the fact that I had no coin to spend on presents :(. . . As one of my good friend's birthday approached, I actually lived through two weeks of anxiety and sadness everytime I walked by something in a store that I would have liked to give her. That time to give, is gone now.

One weekend I had an overwhelming feeling of wanting to give something. So I spend some time digging up some old material from my studio: canvas and old socks with holes mainly. In my mind´s eye I had a perfect picture of a gingerbread man. As I worked through the hours and the days, the gingerbread men I was making were looking nothing like I had envisioned them.

TAADAAAA!! Here they are. Let´s title them "Abstract Gingerbread Men"

Oh and I even made a container so they could stand up straight out of a shoe box!

I am happy with the way they turned out and while I was making them I had more than enough time to reflect upon my 2010. I realized that I had forgotten what it meant to spend time and effort into making a gift for someone I cared. I realized this year I started chasing money and I forgot to take a look at what I had at home. I realized that none of my 2010 plans, like my gingerbread men, turned out like I expected to, but nonetheless they turned out like they should.

Having time to think can be scary, maybe that is why we keep ourselves so busy these days...

2010-12-10T14:57:00.000-08:00

Just finished a mini comic called "The Last Dinosaur" CLICK HERE to see what happens to this poor loner.

My comic blog is another of the projects I have on the go, where I am trying to keep alive an alternative style I've been working with and where I can explore a bunch of other ideas that I have in my head.

Hopefully sometime I will have enough material to make a publication. I would love that!

2010-12-02T17:36:00.000-08:00

Illustration Friday: Savour. . . Considering that the holidays are coming, hehe

2010-12-02T09:45:00.000-08:00

Directly from my sketchbook, some explorations of the word savour for Illustration Friday.

SAVOUR: a little talk about food and sex...

So my husband walked in on me as I was drawing all these colorful cupcakes. He shook his head and excited my studio . . . hahaha he probably thinks I am loosing it by now.

To give you a little bit of a background, after our 4 month strict regime and fitness competition, we went very crazy in the food department, which included a 1 week all inclusive vacation in the Mayan Riviera. I do not think you can top that in the book of sins for GLUTONY! Anyways, after 2 weeks we ate our way out of this indulgences by making ourselves sick.

As a maintenance promise we did to each other, we started following a meal regime and continue to exercise (at least 3 times a week for me). But curiously 3 days ago I had a conversation with him in the elevator regarding food and sex.

"Omar, do you remember reading somewhere how much people think about sex during a given day? or what is the % sex thoughts occupy in the average person?," I asked.

"Mhhhhh, no, I have no idea." Says Omar.

"Oh well it doesn't matter, I remember its quite a lot actually." I replied, " but I don't think I am a normal person..."

"And why is that?" Said Omar while making that little face he makes when he knows I am thinking a little too much about things.

"Well because most of the time all I can think of is about FOOD! And I can't help it"

Anyways, he knows it's true. If we fight it is mostly my fault and the reasons are either food or my I-don't-know-what-to-do-with-my-life confussionism. Hence the head shake and exit from my studio.

Yeah, I loooove food, its no secret, more than anything! more than sex even!!
*And I should add a very special note here: I have NO complains at all in the sex department!!

Everyone that has seen me eat is surprised at how much food I can pack in this little Ale Diaz. Sadly I am approaching my late 20's (which is still young, I know, I know) But I can feel my metabolism starting to get lazy on me. That, plus the constant media that bombards me with mixed messages of junk food and skinny models (totally contradictory messages) . . . I might be trully loosing it.

HAHAH, enough ramblings, gotta work on my final to post before tomorrrow!

Final to come . . .

2010-11-24T16:03:00.000-08:00

The website that took a year in the making...

Woohooooooooo! I am super excited about having almost finalized my new website. Come visit it at www.alediaz.com

Yes, it took a year in the making because since November 2009 I had vowed myself to redesign my website to my liking and to showcase some of my latest work, and since then I have been going back and forth with different layouts. You might actually have come across the pilot version of this one, a hybrid between Dreamweaver and Flash and with an "ok" design.

But yessss finally its here! It took 3 working days to make my way through Dreamweaver, but I finally figured it out and presto...

Well, to another project from the list to exist :)

CHEERS!

2010-11-20T10:41:00.001-08:00

Took a week off and went to the beach in the Mayan Riviera! YAY! It's peculiar how I am taking off vacations and going to my home country to spend them.

Here is a page of drawings I did. I am thinking of playing around with the top fish on photoshop.

2010-11-08T07:09:00.000-08:00

Another project on development. Online Store.

Last week I opened an investments account. Although I am almost broke and my contribution is going to be something like $25 a month, this got me thinking about the mechanics of investing and how that applies to art. You know what they say "make your money work for you" (instead of having it just sitting at the bank with a minimum interest rate, the advice would be to buy mutual funds for example).

As an artist, the question therefore becomes "how can I make my art work for me?" This weekend I started analyzing my creations as potential passive income sources, rather than just good looking pieces of art. This led me to conclude that rather than sitting in my home collecting dust, it would be more profitable to make use of my copyrights and get that art on some cool products that can be sold to a certain target population (the one that likes my art, but not as much as to spend over $250.00 to buy an original piece)

I decided to go through Zazzle and the reasons are basically the following:

1.- I fully retain my copyrights.
2.- I get to choose the markup and my earned commission on my products.
3.- Print on demand: anyone, anywhere, anytime, can order these cool products from my partner (in this case Zazzle) and they will take care of production and shipping for me, rather than having me spend time and space in producing my own stock, plus I do not know of local companies that have these services, and most of the time sadly, canadian customer service on printing companies and others has a lot of improvement to make.
4.- Quality check: in the past I had ordered a mousepad from one of the artists that I like, Thaneeya McArdle, and I was very please with the quality, and it makes my desktop a happier place.

I think the reason I had not taken this step was because I was kind of scared and because I am a master procrastinator. But that's over!

Having an online store has been one of my desires for a while. I finally opened an account with Zazzle and to begin with I am offering a cool variety of mousepads. Check them out at "My Zazzle Store"

I decided to have more fun with it as well, throw this rock on the pond and see how it does.

Hope you like these cool mousepads and I will be adding some more products as well and I will keep you all posted!

2010-11-04T09:05:00.000-07:00

Spent Earth, submission to Illustration Friday
"What we do to the world, we do to ourselves"

This is a new piece I just created. Yes, quite different from my previous work. So I've had this idea for like 2 years and the only reason I hadn't done it is because everyone kept saying to focus on one illustration style. So I've been doing that, with little success, plus a mixture of worry and confusion and bills to pay, therefore I haven't really been honest to my creative flow.

I've decided to start doing things differently and stop being self defeated (even before I start a project). And even though I am freaking out, cause I don't know how I am going to pay the bills yet, I am putting myself to the task of creation.

2010-11-03T15:34:00.000-07:00

TOTAL REVAMP

I am creating a bunch of new artwork, which I will be posting as it comes along. I am working on my website as well, so hope to be able to upload that very soon!

Also I will be taking on commissioned drawings/paintings. For a very good price you can get an original piece if you like my art!!

Here is the link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/AleDiazStore

2010-09-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Husband: Don't go around kissing frogs! (true story)

2010-09-21T18:27:00.000-07:00

Not feeling very well today.... booooo

2010-09-16T08:58:00.000-07:00

You are invited! For more info, check out the post below. There are links to the Gallery event website. Hope to see you there!

2010-09-12T15:44:00.000-07:00

Another one, almost finished for the Show at the Steam Whistle. Do not worry, I won't post everything, otherwise you peoples won't come to my show!

Here is the link with the information:

Steam Whistle Brewing Galleries presents: Memories of Enemies

I am exhibiting alongside this amazing artists: Vicki Nerino, Britt Wilson, Ilichna Morasky, Roben Nieuwland, Selena Wong, Hyein Lee and Franzisca Barczyk.

23 days to the show, all is left: paint like a mad-woman!

2010-09-08T11:30:00.000-07:00

Some sketching I got to do over the weekend. Seems random, but it actually isn't!

As I sat down, grabbed a pencil and just started drawing, thinking that it should be random, sort of like a mind-freeing, artist-relaxation exercise, turns out that I ended up combining information from paintings I am currently working on for the Steam Whistle show. These two paintings contain none other than a fish and a fox! Wow, the subconscious does funny things.

At some point I ended up in Starbucks during this past Labour Day weekend, hence the two foxes drinking cofee...

ENJOY!

2010-09-04T10:12:00.000-07:00

Helping Put Kids in the Game:

Some of the bestest memories of my earlier years and my high school and post grad school are the ones I created through sports. I played varsity volleyball hardcore for 13 years and even though I am short, I got a Mexican National Championship high school gold medal.

I will never forget the day we won, how the ball fell on our opponent's court, the taste of voctory achieved through work, the tears, the joy, the passion, but most of all the people with whom I shared this journey and the person it helped me become.

The company "BE THE GAME" is a Canadian company dedicated to helping children without the present monetary means, to be able to play sports. I have the pleasure to be working with the president Joe Drexler and to be involved in their most recent campaign "Be the Burpee" for which I have designed the logo.

I have already gotten my very own "Funky Fusion" bright pink shirt. To get your own and help put kids in the game:

Email: david@bethegame.pro

I will keep you posted since this company is having a great event at Primal Athletics where we have promised to do 10 burpees for every t-shirt sold!

2010-08-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

Thumbnail for a painting I am currently working on.

Fox

A little update

I am working on a couple of pieces involving the red fox. I was looking at the symbolism and the attributes related to this beautiful creature: wisdom, cunning, adaptability, as a symbol of the sun: passion, desire, intensity, expression. It is also looked at as a noble messenger.

The pieces I am going to be working on during september are for a show that will take place at the Steam Whistle Brewery in Toronto. I will post more information regarding the opening night and the show in general soon.

On the other hand I have 2 months left of training for UFE Halloween Mayhem. I am working out an average of 3 hrs a day and my meals are very primal, down to the very essentials of what we should be eating. It is a very powerful and intense sensation getting closer to your primal side, to live most of your day in the hunter state (excercise - which in the old days be equivalent to hunting- eat and sleep) > it doesn't leave space for much more... Trying to hold a brush calls for an incredible amount of will power.

The next couple of months will be trialing, but also very exciting for me. I should be summoning the fox inside of me to help me through.

Hope all is well on the other side ( of the screen, whoever might be reading)

2010-07-23T16:20:00.000-07:00

12" by 12", acrylics, collage on wood canvas

Finished and without title yet... I will have to sleep on it.

This painting will be available as a pre-sale only until August 9th with a little discount. If you are interested send your inquiry to: info@alediaz.com

2010-07-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

(work in progress for The Square Foot Show)

New Challenges...

Well, here is some work in progress.

I have stumbled through a hard past couple of weeks. About a 2 months ago I quit my job to do animation and illustration on a freelance basis, as well as some graphic design to keep up with the bills. Let me tell you: it has been a pretty challenging and lonely road.

I really wish I had a tighter network of creative people. In my perfect happy world I would share a studio with artist friends where I could "go to work" everyday and feed off each other's creative juices and energy. In my perfect world I would have time to be more active on the Internet and the Social Networking sites so that I could build a community. But in my real world at the present time, this has not happened.

I got pretty contempt at the fact that I started to manage fairly good after I quit my job ( meaning I managed to pay the rent and some small commodities like cellphone, internet and TV)...

And then I decided to add something else to the mix. A fitness modeling competition... to not make the story too long I have a pretty strict diet that consists of only: white and green stuff such as: oatmeal, egg whites, rice, chicken, fish, and green veggies. Yes I thought it was doable until I encountered that I could not use salt, or any oil whatsoever to cook.

Now add 30 min of cardio in the mornings and 20 min of cardio in the evenings, plus Primal workouts one day on and one day off.

By the 5th day I was in bed, hugging a pillow like a baby and crying that I did not want to do this anymore...

This is proving to be a pretty humbling experience, since I am not the person who I thought I was.

2010-07-06T12:30:00.001-07:00

Color comps for new painting I am starting. Life has been so crazy! So much happening.

Do you ever feel like that you can't keep up? With an overwhelming amount of information, social sites like facebook, blogspot and twitter, news and updates screaming at you from everywhere, TV commercials urging you to buy food and useless articles . . . and you wonder why you are living in authomatic pilot...

2010-06-06T14:35:00.000-07:00

"Las Tres Pasiones: La Pasion Chica, La Pasion Libre y La Pasion Enamorada"

"La Pasion"

To live free and powerfully, to live a life that I love is harder than I thought it would be.

In my late teens and early twenties I had a firm grasp of "anything is possible" and although I new that most people in the world do not operate in this realm of possibility, I was sure that I could spread a little inspiration into anyone who came in contact with me.

When I transitioned into adulthood I lost my grasp. After graduating I took a job out of need to remain in Canada . . . and sometime along that year I became numb. I was a machine: all I did was work, eat, sleep, spend money and repeat the cycle. I was dying and I hadn't even noticed.

I guess there is an embedded safety mechanism inside of us, maybe inside our spirits or our minds that can detect this sort of inner death when it starts to happen and which will trigger a crisis as a desperate attempt to wake us up. So, my crisis came.

It took me out of my current situation, but did not wake me up fully . . . hence I took a second job out of commodity, you know: was close to home and to pay my bills.

There came a second crisis . . . and during this one, I managed to wake up and what I saw scared me. What I saw was nothing . . . I could not find myself, I could not find what I liked or disliked anymore, I could not find who my friends were, I could not find any particular philosophy I lived by or any stand I wanted to take for this world . . . I saw how easy it is to lose oneself, and how easily you could miss seeing it.

I am starting again, I am opening my heart to feeling again. . . to doing what I love and to facing what I fear, and sharing that too! And yes, I will be painful, and confusing and hard sometimes, but I will feel alive again.

"La Pasion" and "The Three Passions" are paintings with religious allegory to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is a about that engine that pumps life, about being alive and feeling again.

2010-04-25T11:11:00.000-07:00

Well, yeah, yet again, about a month has passed and no post over here.. sometimes I wonder if anyone reads my blog, sometimes I wonder why I post... the need to feel conected? the need to have presence on the web, the dream of being known, or famous or something, haha... There is that self disclosure about doing this... I know I don't share very personal stuff, but sometimes there is a thin line.... and you don't even know what consequences it might have... it could change the world, or it could ruin your life, or job, or nothing might happen... only time will tell.

There are big projects coming this year which I am dying to share... soon, very soon.

I have also opened a new blog for a weekly project: COMICS, its another style of illustration I practice. You can find it on the side menu. Its about stuff that happens in life.... I am sure we can all relate...

Cheers, to more often post, to having me being a story teller and illustrator full time

2010-03-29T19:57:00.000-07:00

More Show!

Hey, so I went to sleep yesterday and when I woke up a whole month had passed and I had not even touched my blog! :( Not good!

Well, got another show coming! Please stop by to check out the new work.

Website update coming soon as well as online store! FINALLY!!! So stay tunned.

2010-03-03T04:54:00.000-08:00

Don't miss your own Apocalypse and come join me for a drink!

This is HAUS's first month of life and they have chosen me to be their first feature artist. Thank you Maurizio, William and Rachel for all your support! I love HAUS!

2010-02-14T10:23:00.000-08:00

Labour: 3 hours

Cofee mug: $5.39

Tear on my husband's eye: PRICELESS

Happy Valentine's Day!

You know, in my home country this day is also called the Day of Love and Friendship!!!

Some people think this day sucks because they do not have a partner to celebrate it with or because it is another day where stores and businesses are planning to strip you of your money yet again. But hey, with the crazy hectic and sometimes maniac depressive lives we live, Valentine's Day should not be another excuse to be miserable... not at all!!!!!

This is a day where we can choose to play the game and forget our problems, get a little creative, call up some loved ones, make dinner for someone (s), or just have cofee with ourselves.. but WITH LOVE!

2010-02-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

Broken promises from last year:

I had promised myself to do one of these little drawings a day. Each of them take about an hour...an hour is nothing really, or is it a lot... when my day is full from 8am - 10pm and at that time I just want to be a couch potato, or when my husband (who is a personal trainer) beats me up at the gym (not literally) and I sit at my desk and trying to hold a brush feels like lifting 50 pouds!

I kept my promise for 6 days, hence the No.6 on the fish. This is just like dieting!!!! Anyways I will get back on the wagon. Enjoy the fiery- flying cat and the wide-eyed fish! And if you have broken some promises just jump back in the wagon and do not carry with the burden of those days you fell from it.

Promesas Rotas del Ano (disculpen no hay enye en mi teclado) Pasado

El anyo pasado me prometi a mi misma hacer uno de estos pequenyos dibujos al dia. Me toman aproximadamente una hora hacerlos, y que es una hora? Nada, o es mucho? Cuando tu dia esta lleno de 8am a 10pm y lo unico que quieres hacer cuando llegas a tu casa es echarla en el sillon... o cuando tu esposo (que es entrenador personal) se encarga de que hagas ejercicio y llegas el gimnasio y agarrar un pincel se siente como tratar de levantar 25kilos!

Si mi promesa valio para 6 dias, igual que mis dietas. Pero empezare de nuevo! Lo unico que queda cuando no cumpliste tu promesa, es simplemente empezar a cumplirla sin cargar con remordimiento de aquellos dias donde no la cumpliste. Por eso disfruten de este gato loco volador que escupe fuego y de estos peces ojerones!

2010-01-15T16:11:00.000-08:00

A little late... but Happy New Year everyone!

This is a sailing star to illuminate your 2010... some of you might already need a little illumination. Yes, for example: myself.

I do not know if it is the world we live in, the saturation of information, the need to be networking online constantly, or I just hit my quarter life crisis but for some reason lately I feel very overwhelmed by a sense of lack of time. The year has just begun and I feel I am carrying the weight of the whole year in my shoulders already.

But for amnyone that shares this stress all I can say is to you and me is "Keep calm and carry on" cause it is barely January!! If we keep feeling this way we might not even make it halfway through.

-->Keep calm and carry on

2009-12-15T14:37:00.000-08:00

Hello, hello, here is a visitor from my sketchbook!

Oh boy, December is a crazy month! I am putting together my business plan for next year.. you know, budget, promos, mailing lists, goals.. and new website coming too!

If you've seen my work and know that we can work together in some future projects shoot me an HOLA to info@alediaz.com. Also if you just like the crazy stuff that I do, I would love to hear fom you!

2009-11-09T19:56:00.000-08:00

"The Bearded Swing"

So, I was invited to participate in a 1 night art show at the CD release party for Friendly Rich and the Lollipop People... I've never heard of Friendly Rich before, and what can I say.... me (and the whole audience) watched a guy "lit his torch" (light his dick on fire!)

2009-11-06T20:34:00.000-08:00

The Mexican Day of the Death

18 skulls speak about death

1665 Dundas Street West

Toronto, ON

What is the day of the death?

I would give anything to have the opportunity to spend November 1st and 2nd on the streets of mexico city, looking at the streets colored with flowers and candy, walking up to whichever market and look at all the sugar and chocolate skulls of all sizes, staring back at me, to buy one of medium size with my name on it and get high on sugar. It is quite the sight...

According to tradition it is easier on November 1st and 2nd for your deceased family members and friends to cross over, so offerings are made with thier favourite foods, drinks and toys so that they can come and enjoy a dinner with us, the living...

... words are small... the Day of the Death is so much more than this... it is not being affraid to get close and personal with death... it is a cultural thing...

2009-10-28T12:19:00.001-07:00

4 skulls done.. in the mood for 12 more!!

"The Mexican Day of the Death" Whether you've heard of it or not... its sounds pretty darn crazy! Come, come to see the 20 skulls I've prepared for you! There are 2 events, one Monday November 2 and another Thursday November 5, as the invitation below shows. I will be there for both!

I hope to see you all there, if no, come show shome love on my guest book during the month of November during which the show will be running!

2009-10-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhhh, I found a little mexican corner for my mexican heart! NACO Cafe Gallery will be showcasing some of my Day of the Death work. Most of my remaining October will be spent creating some good stuff! Stay tunned for teasers and shoot me a message if you are interested

in obtaining a printed invite!

Hope to see you all there!

2009-10-09T14:57:00.000-07:00

An abstract piece I just finished called "Winter Trees". Also one of my submissions to the Hillebrand Artist Series contest.

2009-09-14T19:05:00.000-07:00

Wonderful! My "square foot show" piece got sold. BYE BYE. Special thanks to the Purchaser. You are a contribution to my growth as an artist. THANK YOU!

"The Dynamics of Flying" was inspired by my two pet ducks who filled 9 years of my life with happiness! I hope this piece is making someone very happy as well.

2009-08-14T09:02:00.000-07:00

WELCOME TO THE ART OF S.O.S

Now exhibiting at:

165 Augusta Ave., Toronto, CANADA

and until September 1st 2009

S.O.S reinterpreted by 7 artists

Come and show some love on our guestbook!

Also check out cool stuff for sale at the merch table.

2009-07-10T19:37:00.000-07:00

Hola!

Finished new painting for another local exhibition through Artworks Oakville. I've been absent for a while... my parents visited from Mexico... it was so much fun... and there has been a lot on my mind in regards to what is important in this life and in regards to my art and where I want to go with it.

I asked my husband the other day what would he regret not doing if he died tomorrow... and I asked myself the same question... and the only thing that kept nagging at me was: All the paintings that I've got in my head and that I haven't paited yet...

So, I realized, this is me, I just gotta let it flow and be more honest with myself.

This is "Camila"

2009-05-17T20:36:00.000-07:00

My last 4 weeks contributions to the Dreamo Teamo.

1.- My private eyes (fish eyes)

2.- Birth defect.

2009-05-03T16:58:00.000-07:00

The Astronomer

Yay!! Finally mi piece is ready. And I managed to take pictures of my process along the way. It is kind of cool, it is like being on a diet and taking pictures of yourself along the way and being able to see your progress.

During this whole process I kept visiting my favourite artist as of now: Joe Vaux. Just a glimpse of his work makes me so pumped to paint.

El Astronomo

Al fin! Mi pieza esta lista! Tambien tome fotos a lo largo del proceso. Esta chido por que es como ponerse a dieta, estarse tomando fotos y ver como vas cambiando a lo largo del tiempo.

Durante todo el proceso estuve visitando uno de mis pintores favoritos del momento: Joe Vaux. Solo una miradita a sus pinturas me contagia de ganas para pintar y pintar.

2009-05-03T16:52:00.000-07:00

2009-04-26T10:07:00.000-07:00

Graphic designer Tom Wild has invited me to participate in his project LUCIDITY which is a collection of 100 pieces of work from 100 designers, photographers, illustrators and sculptors, inspired by DREAMS

This is a sneak peak of the skecth from which I will be developing my final.

What a great vehicle for an artist are DREAMS, it is the ultimate place where images are not limited by any filters.

El disenador grafico Tom Wild me ha invitado a participar en su proyecto: LUCIDITY que consta de una coleccion de 100 piezas hechas por 100 artistas diferentes, entre ellos fotografos, ilustradores, disenadores y escultores inspirado por el tema de los suenos.

Este sketch es de donde estare desarrollando mi ilustracion final.

Que vehiculo tan maravilloso son los SUENOS para un artista, donde las imagenes no pueden ser limitadas por filtro alguno.

2009-04-15T20:11:00.000-07:00

My night tea and my holy little hand working in a little secret project of mine......

Mi te nocturno y mi pequena mano santa trabajando en un pequeno projecto que tengo, jejeje

2009-04-13T18:52:00.000-07:00

Currently exhibiting (Exhibiendose) at:

Woodside Public Library

1274 Rebecca Street

Oakville, Ontario, Canada

Until June 29, 2009.

The call for entries was based on the phrase: "Life and power are scattered with all its beams" by Daniel Webster. My piece is titled: "A Geometric study of Life and Power" because indeed, this is the most geometric I've gotten so far.

El tema de esta entrada se basa en la frase de Daniel Webster que dice: La vida y el poder se esparsen con todos sus rayos. Mhh, creo que podria ser una manera adecuada de traducirlo. Es dificil tratar de estar escribiendo en ingles y espanol al mismo tiempo. Mi pieza se llama "Un estudio geometrico de la vida y el poder" por que en realidad es lo mas cercano a usar figuras geometricas que he hecho en una de mis piezas.

2009-04-11T08:24:00.000-07:00

Dreamo Teamo biweekly contribution. Theme: stinky. Here is my "El Stinko Fish Swamp", fresh fish out of my sketchbook.

Mi contribucion bisemanal para el Dreamo Teamo. Tema: Apestoso. Aqui esta mi "El Apestoso Pantano de Peces", peces frescos saliendo de mi sketchbook.

2009-04-08T18:38:00.001-07:00

"Kaleidoscope Eyes"

This two pieces are currently being exhibited at:

Royal LePage Real Estate Services, 251 North Service Road, Oakville, ON

They will be there for about a month, so if you are doing some real estate businesses in that location, I am sure this bright pieces might catch your eye.

"Ojos de Caleidoscopio"Este par de piezas se estan exhibiendo

en: Royal LePage Real Estate Services, 251 North Service Road,

Oakville, ON y estaran ahi por el transcurse del mes. Asies que si de casualidad

anda por ahi haciendo consulta, estoy segura que les llamaran la atencion.

2009-03-29T19:12:00.000-07:00

20 Dinosaurs

Yes, more Dreamo Teamo stuff, which has been my savior in helping me create the discipline to come home, tired and late from crazy long work hours... but with burning desire to put pen on my sketchbook.

20 Dinosaurios

Si, mas para el colaborativo Dreamo Teamo que ha sido mi salvacion. Despues de ir al trabajo que tieneun horario mas largo de lo normal, me ha dado la motivacion de sentarme en mi escritorio con mucha emocion a ponerme a esquechear :)

2009-03-29T19:05:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Trouble:

My contribution to the Dreamo Teamo. Theme: FETUS.

Yes, being a fetus is just the beginning of everything ... and trouble is beautiful!

Hermoso Problema:

Mi contribucion para el Dreamo Teamo. Tema: FETO

Ser feto es solo el principio de todo.. y los problemas son hermosos, no?

2009-01-25T20:29:00.001-08:00

A little bit of my design stuff.

Client: Omar Arvizu, Canadian Crossfit.

Promotion for Bootcamp fitness Crossfit style. Consisted of a postcard, a facebook logo and a poster.

2009-01-14T13:27:00.000-08:00

Another quick drawing I did at work.

2009-01-14T12:12:00.000-08:00

Yes, just drawing my ballerina body for the Dreamo Teamo while at work.

2008-11-30T20:49:00.000-08:00

Long time no see!!!!

Well, I am making my comeback with this Illustration I did for my company's blogsite. Its just a cartoon to show the results of a bowling game we had the previous night. I am super excited to be managing, editing and updating this blog, since it will give me the chance and the responsability to create more images!!!

Hace tiempo que no nos vemos!!!

Bueno, estoy haciendo mi regreso con esta ilustracion que hice para el blog interno de mi compania. Es una caricatura para mostrar los resultados de un juego de boliche que tuvimos la noche anterior. Estoy super emocionada de ser la encargada del manejo y la edicion de este blog por que me dara la oportunidad y la responsabilidad de crear mas imagenes!!

2008-10-14T20:50:00.000-07:00

Giving Day of the Death promos a thought

Empezando a pensar en promocionales para el Dia de los Muertos.

2008-10-14T20:48:00.000-07:00

Another illustration, part of the Dreamo Teamo.

Otra illustracion parte del Dreamo Teamo.

2008-10-08T12:59:00.000-07:00

"The Flight of the Quivering Arm Nubs" for Dreamo Teamo.

2008-10-01T12:01:00.000-07:00

The Flowery Death:

My nostalgia for Mexico and the approaching celebration for the Day of the Death has brought me into thinking about flowers and death. The term "Flowery Death" comes from the Aztec civilization. The kings of four nations agreed on warring for the sole purpose of obtaining captives in the battlefield, who were willing and deserving to die for their Gods.

Foor these proyect I am referencing this term and also exploring the mexican craft of "arboles de la vida" or trees of life, which are beautifully sculpted ceramic pieces that tell all sorts of stories. This is my first one. "A small flowery death". Here I will be posting my process.

La Muerte Florida

Mi nostalgia por Mexico y la venida de la celebracion del Dia de los Muertos, me ha puesto a pensar acerca de flores y muerte. El termino "muerte florida" proviene de la antigua civilizacion Azteca. Los reyes de cuatro naciones acordaron hace guerra con el unico proposito de obtener cautivos en el campo de batalla, que estuvieran dispuestos y que merecieran morir por sus dioses.

Para este proyecto, hare referencia a este termino y tambien quisiera explorar el arte mexicano de "los arboles de la vida", que son esculturas hermosas hechas de barro que cuentan todo tipo de historias. Este sera mi primero" "Una Pequena muerte florida". Ire poniendo fotos de mi proceso.

2008-09-23T23:19:00.000-07:00

Catching up with the Dreamo Teamo Project and my painting. Oh sad clowns, aren't we all. Let's bring them back to fashion!

Poniendome al corriente con el proyecto Dreamo Teamo y mi pintura. Apoco no todos somos uno payasos tristes. Creo que van a pegar!!!

2008-08-26T07:14:00.000-07:00

Hola! I am back and I've got a little preview for you on my Chaos v2 participation. My story is about the hardships of unnoticed creatures in our society: Cockroaches.

Hola, estoy de regreso y tengo una muestra de mi participacion en la segunda edicion de Caos. Mi historia es acerca de las dificultades de las criaturas descartadas de nuestra sociedad: las Cucarachas!

2008-08-05T01:29:00.000-07:00

Tequila Worms!

Well I am in Mexico for these couple of weeks.

Also this was a comission on tequila worms. "Only party girls can drink tequila and fly away"

2008-07-29T20:15:00.000-07:00

These are more projects from the

Dreamo Teamo

collaboration, it is so random and almost perverted... like some of my cohorts!! I love them!! Dreamo Teamo forever. These two are:

"Homocidal maniac" and "The Chicken in Me"

Aqui estan mas proyectos de la colaboracion de Dreamo Teamo, que es bastante azaroso y casi pervertido, como algunos de mis colegas, jajaja. Dreamo Teamo por siempre. Estas dos ilustraciones son "Maniaco Homoicida" y "La Gallina que Llevo Dentro"

2008-07-16T20:38:00.001-07:00

This week's drawing, truth is, I love painting mythical creatures above all. I'd just forgotten about that...

El dibujo de esta semana. La neta es que me encanta dibujar criaturas mitologicas, pero se me habia olvidado

2008-07-08T22:21:00.000-07:00

Well, I am glad to share my fine art as well. For this I have created a new blog where all the fine art will be kept together. I am also happy to anounce that the Seahorse and the Red Nautilus will be 2 months in exhibition at 251 North Service Road, Oakville, Ontario at a Royal LePage location. If you are interested in acquiring any of these you can email any inquiries to alejandra@alediaz.com

2008-07-08T22:11:00.000-07:00

Check out the Dreamo Teamo for more info on this image and also to see me in different colours.

2008-07-01T13:11:00.000-07:00

My Week 5 collaboration to the Dreamo Teamo:
Me Thug, the lil' mama.

2008-06-24T18:47:00.000-07:00

2008-06-24T18:35:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Vicki and Britt, I am part of the super fabulous

Dreamo Teamo

These are my previous collaborations.

2008-06-10T16:34:00.000-07:00

Mexican Art

I finally realized the reason I have not made mexican art since I got here: it is because everyone else who is not mexican was doing it! Everyone is drawing day of the death skulls, everyone is drawing luchadors, everyone that is not from Mexico..... so I trully didn't feel original in doing it too!

Still everyone keeps asking for my mexican art.... even my own very deep self.

So yeah, I've broken the barrier, this I am doing his for myself and to explore my own culture which I love. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I am.

This is an illustration inspired by the legend of the Fifth Sun, which is pretty amazing, check it out if you can, because we are indeed living under the fifth sun.

2008-06-01T12:51:00.001-07:00

Art Work Exhibition and Sale

The following work "The Bubble Gum Fun Series" will be exhibited at the Passion Lounge Toronto of Friday June 6, 2008 and is currently for sale. Here is a copy of the invitation if you'd like to join in, I will see you there!!!

2008-06-01T11:52:00.000-07:00

FEATURED in Illlustrophile

Special thanks to Illustrophile.com for featuring me and to Charlene Chua for the feedback.

Check it out!

2008-05-27T11:26:00.000-07:00

Fourth severed human foot found on BC shores

Yes, crazy news, fourth right foot inside a running shoe. This was on Friday 23, 2008 online news and later everywhere else.

Although I'd like to think it was some some crazy monster story, it's probably murder or gangs. Anyway it caught so much my attention that I did this quick illustration. I might play around with it a little bit more.

2008-05-24T14:35:00.001-07:00

Oh yeah, and something else, Cats Rule!!!

2008-05-24T14:25:00.000-07:00

Flying Fish

Check it out!!! This is today's illustration. I am just going over pages from my sketch book that I hate and redecorating them a little bit.

2008-05-22T16:35:00.001-07:00

So, I had insomnia last night. Too much thinking, too little production = blockage in the head's energy.

So, I got up and decided to paint one of those monsters I never allowed myself to paint when I was a little kid. Whatever came out of the brush. This is it.

I decided to title it: "Little Guys Imitate Big Guys"

2008-05-20T13:04:00.000-07:00

This is Opera Medusa. Its so good you will stand stone still on your seat!

Medusa, for "the best of Opera"

2008-05-20T12:09:00.001-07:00

Hahahah, CMYK messed it up but it looks kind of cool.

Here is the original version

2008-05-20T11:52:00.000-07:00

Finding Myself...

I got some good advice from someone and I ran and got the craziest stuff I could find on my sketch book, here it is.
I need to find the mexicannes in me, but I buried if for so long I don't know where to start.

Yes going to school for too long and best grades have done me no good.

2008-05-19T20:03:00.000-07:00

This is Eve for "the Best of Vegan Cuisine"

I actually did two versions.

2008-05-19T18:10:00.001-07:00

Goddesses

This was a self directed project for our Interpretive class with Rick Sealock. I often struggle with self directed projects, I think that is the reason why I chose illustration over fine art. Still, I am learning specially now since school is over and i want to get stuff done. It's a matter of keeping faith in ones own projects and stop thinking if they will take you somewhere or not.

For this project I chose to explore feminine mythical and archetypical figures to create images that could be used for "the Best of" editorial section in a magazine.

This is Sphinx for "the Best of Nightlife"

2008-05-19T17:27:00.001-07:00

EVIL OLIVE: Food Palindromes

I had so much fun with this assignment discovering how evil could the olive get!

Here are a bunch of sketches from my process and the final result.

2008-05-12T15:24:00.001-07:00

Well, last week I spent all Monday and half day Tuesday building this portfolio from scratch, just because the shinniness of the plastic sheets from the black ones are not of my preference. I sliced up my finger doing it. I also had my first drop off. The idea is being able to take the pieces out "of the box"

I dont know, I really am not too happy with it. It could work for now...
I am also not sure if most art directors would like it. I didn't get any feedback, so I am a bit unsure about it. What do you think?

2008-05-04T19:50:00.000-07:00

This illustration was a project for "Social Awareness". After a lot of scary, sad and dirty research and many drawings of puking flowers and bloody animals that made me cry, I came up with the decision to illustrate about child abuse. It is a poster thought for the ISPCAN (International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect).

It is funny how after seeing this illustration a lot of my friends and family actually think that I only dedicate myself to creating weird and monstruous illustrations such as this.

As an illustrator I've heard it often happes that whatever illustration you promote youself with, for example if it is an illustration of a pig, you will often get hire to illustrate pigs!

2008-04-29T06:19:00.000-07:00

Well, this is a new beginning for me. This is probably the illustration that marks the new beginning as well. OOOps and I hadn't posted anything since 2006, but I've found myself again and I am excited for this new beginning as well.
It was created for "anger", one of the seven deadly sins, expressing itself as road rage, one of the big evils of our speed society.
You will not find this one on my website, since, as I said it marks the beginning, and then it just gets crazier, haha!!

Enjoy!

2006-03-19T21:12:00.000-08:00

This was my first illustration, 2004. Spheres of Dreams. Humankind represented by a woman, reaching out for the spheres, which seem to be a reflection of the world below but in truth belong to a higher reality, more colorful, more true. Nothing reflects on the surface of water because this world, as we know it, is not real, is nothing but a creation of our own minds, and yet we are chained to it. Water, symbol of transition, symbol from the utopias, element of the mother.

2006-03-19T20:45:00.000-08:00

My hands, done on acrylics.