WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT "ANIMALS IN MY HAIR":

"Hi Mili Fay

My name is Stephanie… [N] gave my son rocky your book Animals in my hair for christmas just though i would let you know how much he and his cousin loved it, they both enjoyed counting all the animals and learning about different animals that are not as common in other stories. We especially love the page that explains why the cougars are pink they though it was funny. Well anyways i just thought you would like to hear how appreciated your book is in our home and i wish you all the best on where ever your art work takes you!!!

Thank you,

Stephanie"

Source: Facebook Mili Fay Art Page

"Hello [N] just gifted one of your books 'animals in my hair' to my twin nephews for Christmas. First, I thought it was the sweetest gift. There's nothing better than a book for Christmas, especially a children's book with a ton of beautiful illustrations. Secondly, the main character looks just like my 17 month old nephews and this may be a story they grow up with. Thank you for creating it! It's absolutely beautiful; the language and the art." 

--Melissa D.

Source: Facebook Mili Fay Art Page

"Great children's book "Animals In My Hair" The illustrations are just fantastic!"

Source: Off To The Market Blog 

"Your book is really beautiful :)"

--Eva J. Senior Web Designer

Source: LinkedIn Discussion

"Mili, I LOVE your book and your illustrations..... "

--Chrisann Z. Artist/Designer

Source: LinkedIn Discussion

"Mili! Your artwork is fantastic..."

--David C. Illustrator

Source: LinkedIn Discussion

"Very lovely story and illustrations! And thank you for the info in your blog, I learnt much from it."

Amber V. Illustrator, Graphic Designer, Game Artist and UI designer

Source: LinkedIn Discussion

"...I'm really amazed with your book.  You are a very talented artist..."

-- Carol L.

Source: Facebook Animals In My Hair Page

"...PRELEPA JE!!! BRAVO!!!"

(Translation: "IT'S GORGEOUS!!! BRAVO!!!")

--Milica A.

Source: Facebook Mili Fay Art Page

"LOVE these books! So happy to have received them today. Thank you!"
("them" is referring to "Animals In My Hair" and "Horsing Around" handbound book)
--Humara K.
Source: Mili Fay Art Twitter Page




RATINGS:

Be the first to add your rating. 

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FREE COLOURING PAGE: HOLIDAY PANDA

Happy Holidays!

Mili Fay

"Should I Self-Publish My Book?"

This upcoming Saturday, December 14th, TIAM's Small Press & Literary Festival will be the last event for Mili Fay Art in 2013. I'm looking forward to being there, not only as a vendor, but as an attendee, since this is where Toronto's small and independent publishers will gather to display their wares.

Publishing is a tough business, but independent publishing is ten times more difficult, because you are a tiny fish trying to swim in a crowded pond with much, much bigger fish.

Not only that, but you have to fight against the prejudiced stigma that because you have self-published your work, it means you are not good enough to be published by a "real" publisher.

Not true.

I have decided to pluck up my courage to self-publish my own work because my vision did not fit the standard 32 pages, because I wanted more artwork, because I wanted a work that would not be limited by an age group, but could be enjoyed by all, a work that could raise funds for something I care about... Then the logistics came into play. There are eight publishers in Canada who might have published my work. However, each of them publishes about two picture-books a year. How many already well established authors are there? How many would be authors?

My work would be a needle in a haystack, and I have no connections that can act as magnets.

Despite all of these reasons, I was still considering fighting to have my work published by a trade publisher, until I was told that I would have to do my own marketing and promoting.

Have you been to Indigo? I think every book in there has been published by a trade publisher, how many did you read?

Logistics.

If I'm going to be responsible for my own marketing and promotion, I might as well get all the profits from the book. And if I'm going to loose money, at least I will remain true to my vision.

Did you know that bookstores ask for 40%-50% off your base price to place a book in their store?

I did not.

This may be THE reason to attempt trade publishing.

Trade publishers can get books printed for pennies on a dollar, and this is how they can keep independent publishers from ever having their work in a stores.

A trade publisher could have printed my book in China for maybe a dollar/book (maybe even less). Being socially conscious I decided to go with a local printing company. The raw cost of my book is $7.10 per book. This price does not include the interest on my loan, the programs I used, my own salary, marketing, promotion,...

I priced my book at $24.95 (my book is of the highest quality and is 60 pages, but I reasoned this would be a fair and comparative price that may not make me much profit, but can keep me publishing this book) hoping to make ~ $5 profit so that I could give away 30% for wildlife conservation.

On 40%-50% consignment (consignment, simply put, means that stores will take your book, but will return it to you if it does not sell), I would be earning $14.97-$12.47 per book. Meaning I would loose money.

So, going into this, I knew unless I could bring the consignment percentage down, my book will never be in a store like Indigo. Unless, I decide to give away few books, for the possibility of promotion.

You could always try to negotiate for a better contract, but would a store like Indigo bother to waste time on a tiny nobody from nowhere even if they like your book? Especially when they have so much income form legitimate trade publishers?

I've learned all this, I knew all this, and in spite of it all, I have self-published my work.

Now, I'm trying to figure out how to be that bright little fish that stands out from a school of much bigger, flasher fish in that tiny pond.

I wrote all this to illustrate the dedication and passion it takes to self-publish your work. Vendors at the TIAM on Saturday are there, because they are not conventional. They are not willing to follow, or be swallowed by a crowd. Because they believe in their voice and believe that they should be heard without censorships or prejudice.

It is up to the public to decide what they want to hear, or in this case read.

So, should you publish your book?

I ask you: "Would you still be happy having published your book if you lost the investment money and made no profit?"

If your answer is: "Yes."

Then my answer is: "You should."

For myself, having a mother tell me that her little girl is walking around with my book tucked under her arm (periodically pointing at and counting the different animals), instead of the beautiful talking Merida doll she got at the same time, is all the reward for years of hard work I will ever need.

"Mili Fay's Adventures In Publishing": Part 04--Trouble

The worst part about starting your own business and working on your own is that there are many things you don't know that you don't know. I am a meticulous person. I have spent years researching illustration and publishing, before deciding to publish a book on my own. I thought that I had a good grasp about business of it all, but the truth is my views were very naive.

When I first decided to publish my own book, I thought that all I needed to do is write the book, illustrate it, and then find a printer to print and bind it. Publishing in reality is much more complicated.

There are registration papers to be filed, legal licences obtained, cataloging, archiving, getting the ISBN... Many, many things, that I gratefully discovered in the book "Self Publishing in Canada: A complete guide to designing, printing and selling your book" by Suzanne Anderson.

So, after reading the book I thought, "NOW, I know it all."

I was wrong.

As I mentioned before, the trouble comes when you do not know what you do not know. It is easy to figure something that you know you are unfamiliar with; that is what research is all about. However, what do you do when you make mistakes without knowing they are mistakes?

You get in trouble, that's what.

In my case I almost illegally used a font that I had no idea I was using illegally.

The main font in my picture book is Jenkins 2.0. I had that font forever. It was in my programs in school, and I've used it occasionally for years. It is my favourite font that mimics hand-writing. It suits the style of my book perfectly. So I figured, "If I had the program then I can use the font."

Wrong!

That font is copyrighted. I had to purchase a license to use it commercially.

I was lucky, because I stumbled on the copyright notice of the font in a friend's comic book. She used the font, and loving her comic so much, and being about to publish my own book, I decided to check out her copyright page. It was there: "Jenkins v. 2.0" by Ben Balvanz for fontalicious.com. Jenkins v. 2.0 is copyright (C) 1999 fontalicious.com.

The moment I read those words I broke out in cold sweat, my stomach clenched, and I was about to hyperventilate. I saw myself being hit by lawsuits, forced to pay money I don't have, finding myself in jail, being labeled as a "jail-bird" and not being trusted with anything ever again, my fledgling career in shambles, and years of integrity washed down the messy toilet of life!

A bit dramatic?

Well, what do you expect? I am an artist. :-)

It was after I almost gave myself a heart attack, that I reminded myself that my book has not been sent to the printer. I could change the font if I could not obtain a license. It will mean more work, but I have designed fonts before, I could design a font again.

In the end, obtaining the license proved reasonable and easy enough. For my purposes a twenty dollar fee is all that it took.

However, this little episode makes me wonder what other faux pas are in store for me. How many important things are out there that I do not know and that I should know?

I tell myself, "At least one more." That thought keeps me humble. Nevertheless, I also tell myself to stop fretting about such things and to deal with issues when they arise.

The next time I was prepared.

A while back, I discovered that I need to do something to the barcode to have funds and taxes and other money things work the way it should. I'm not sure what I should do, but at least I have a question I can ask.

I also discovered that registering the business name, did not handle all aspects of registering a business. So, I'm going to fill out a HST form registration later today.

Life rarely works out the way you plan it should, you have to be ready for all its nasty surprises, and not fret over the past you cannot change. The one thing I have learned from all this is that life makes no sense, and follows no plan. All you can do is deal with it as it comes.

Until next time...

Mili

FREE ORIGINAL SKETCHES

All you need is 30 Facebook Friends.  No need to make any sort of purchase.

I need help spreading the word about Mili Fay Art.  If you like what I'm doing, and if you would love to have an original sketch, all you need to do is get 30 of your friends to "Like" my page, but they must want to like it.  I do not wish to force anyone to "Like" something they do not.

If your friends like my page, they need to let me know who you are, so I can count the "Likes".

The moment you reach 30 "Likes", I will let you know.  You take a look at the available sketches (new sketches will be added continuously).  Write your Username in the comments under the sketch and the sketch is yours.

Sample Sketch

So, if you are willing to try this:

1. Send me a message on Mili Fay Art's Facebook Page in the following format: "I am (Username), and I would like to support Mili Fay Art with 30 Likes."   Pick a Username that is unique, because

2. When your "Friend" likes my page, he/she needs to send me a message saying: "I Like your page, (Username) recommended you to me."  This way I will know that that "Like" is the result of your efforts.

3. The moment you reach 30 Likes, I will contact you through Facebook (your Facebook account should be able to receive messages, if not, please e-mail your your e-mail address with your Username at info@artofmili.ca).

4. Pick the sketch you like, by writing your Username in the comments (you can only do this if 30 of your "Friends" have already "Liked" my page) and I will mail you the sketch.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask.

Thank you for your help in advance.

Mili Fay
"Together we support the world one artwork at a time."

P.S. I'll be working on the "Available Sketches" Album, but until then you can check out my Facebook Page to see the kind of sketching I do (just scroll through the timeline--if a drawing has no colour it is most likely as sketch), or you can see the available "Animals In My Hair" sketches here.

NEWSLETTER: November 21. 2013.

MILI FAY ART NEWSLETTER

"Together we support the world one artwork at a time."

October and November being the official months of thankfulness, I would like to start this newsletter by thanking all of you for supporting Mili Fay Art.  

Now that the holiday shopping season is upon us, I would like to express this gratitude with free artwork and discounts that you will not see until the following year, if ever. 

So, what is your holiday wish?  

Is there a Mili Fay artwork you admire that you would like to have as a wallpaper or a page you can print at will?  Is there something you would like me to create? Do you have an idea for a greeting card that you wish you could draw?

Let me know and you may just find it posted on my blog.

For now you may share this FREE colouring page.

For a large watermark free image, click on the link above.

November has thus far been a busy month for Mili Fay Art. The official website is still under reconstruction, but Mili Fay Art finally has an e-commerce shop.  This is where the discounts come into play.

Until the end of 2013:

• All* Mili Fay Art "Art Prints" are 50% OFF.  Just use this code: ZQ0ZDB6Y4J19 as you check out.  If you do not see an artwork you love in the shop, you can order the print directly from Mili Fay Art and still receive the discount.  The ONLY place I will be selling Art Prints in Toronto until the end of the year will be at the Emmanuel Howard Park United Church's "Christmas Arts & Crafts Show" this Saturday, November 23rd.  To receive this discount (and avoid shipping costs) you will have to have this letter printed and show it to me (Mili Fay) or a sales associate.  So, I hope to see you there.  I will bring a selection of prints, however if there is a print you particularly wish to have, you must let me know no later than noon this Friday,November 22nd. 
• Receive a FREE Mini-Print with every purchase of "Animals In My Hair" Artwork Book.
• Receive a FREE Mini-Print with every purchase of $25+
• Buy 3 Mini-Prints and get one FREE (cannot be combined with other offers).

If you do not wish to receive this e-mail in the future just e-mail me at: unsubscribe@artofmili.ca.  If this e-mail was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive it in the future e-mail me a Username and your e-mail at: subscribe@artofmili.ca.  If you have any questions, you can always reach me at: info@artofmili.ca or mili.fay.art@gmail.com.

Thank you for your support and happy holiday shopping!

Mili Fay

Follow Mili Fay Art on: Facebook, Blogger, Twitter for extra goodies.

*All except "Horsing Around Limited Edition Prints".  These prints are limited edition and created to raise funds for local children's hospital, therefore they will never have a discount.

"Animals In My Hair"--Story: Video

It is better to show than to explain.  Therefore, I have decided to create a few videos to show "Animals In My Hair."  This first is a ~ 4 min video of me reading the beginning of the book.  Hope you like it!

AIMH Monthly Art Contest: AUGUST 2013 PRIZE!!!

After much delay, here is the print inspired by the August winner: G. DHARSHINI.

"Toucan"

© Mili Fay Art

This print is available for sale in Mili Fay Art's new shop: www.shop.artofmili.ca.  To thank you for following this blog, and for supporting my work, until January 2014 all Art Prints (excluding "Horsing Around" Limited Edition Prints) are 50% OFF if you use the following code: ZQ0ZDB6Y4J19.

If you know of an artwork you like, but you do not see it in the shop, please contact me and I will make it available to you. 

Wishing you luck preparing for the holidays!

Mili Fay

AIMH Monthly Art Contest: JULY 2013 PRIZE!!!

I know it is October, but if you have followed my blog you know I am catching up with my work due to an unexpected wedding attendance. So, here is the print inspired by the July Winner: Jay Norman.

"Puffins"

© Mili Fay Art

This print is available for sale in the new www.shop.artofmili.ca shop.  30% of profits from this print will be donated to wildlife conservation.

If you wish to see the steps I took to create this print, you may do so on Mili Fay Art's Facebook Page.

Toronto Indue Arts Market Tomorrow!!!

For the first time ever, I will have a bit of a table at TIAM. So, excited!!! I have also come up with the idea of creating Mini-Prints, ~ 5" x 4" in size, these are the most popular of prints I have ever posted online, but I printed them on card stock, so they can be used instead of greeting cards as well.

I don't know why I didn't come up with the idea before?

The idea came to me, because I was worried that my merchandise was too pricy for bargain events and I wanted to create something that people will enjoy for $5.

So, what do you think? Have you created something of the kind yourself?

Mili

MILI FAY ART NEWSLETTER

Yes, I have created a newsletter that I have just sent out to the people who have signed up for a newsletter.  Being a fledgling, I hope it does well and does not cause any disasters along the way.  You may subscribe to these newsletters by sending your name and e-mail address you would like me to use to subscribe@artofmili.ca.

You should do this, because I do send coupons, freebie artwork, and other PERKS with every newsletter (I do not much like that word PERKS, can anyone think of anything else I can use?).  You may get the same on this blog, or Facebook, but you can be sure to get everything if you sign up for a newsletter.  At least, I think that is a purpose of a newsletter.  Isn't it?

Of course I do add a some news about what I'm up to, and I post places where I will be at if you wish to meet me and purchase artwork from me (thereby avoiding shipping costs).

So, without further ado...

MILI FAY ART NEWSLETTER!!!
(Any comments and suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated. So, what do you think?)
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MILI FAY ART NEWSLETTER

"Together we support the world one artwork at a time."

First, I would like to thank everyone who came out on the very cold September 22nd day to support The Word On The Street festival.  Though I managed to catch cold in spite of ingesting a vast quantity of warm liquids throughout the day, I had a wonderful time meeting some fantastic new people.  Some of these people were kind enough to sign up for Mili Fay Art Perks, which are delivered through the format of this Newsletter (at the bottom of the letter of course, so feel free to skip ahead), or can be found mostly on Mili Fay Art's Facebook Page, and sometimes Blogger.

(For some reason the Facebook Page is where my Internet presence is most consistent these days.)

Anyway, to all the new people: "Welcome!"

As always, if you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me anytime through this e-mail or at: info@artofmili.ca.

MILI FAY ART NEWS:

Toronto Indie Arts Market is this Saturday, October 12th at the Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West).  Mili Fay Art will be there.  It is not too early to think of Christmas presents, so come along and check out more amazing local vendors.  If you show up between 10:30am and 11am, you entrance is free.  Otherwise: $5.  For more information: link

Since it is early October, it is time to think about Christmas Holidays and Presents!!! If you wish to commission an artworkfrom Mili Fay Art, now is the time to do so.  Creating original art can take anywhere from a few days, to a few months, so if you want the artwork to be ready for Christmas and other winter holidays, you need to contact me as soon as possible. Commissions work on the first-come-first-serve basis.  No exceptions.

Mili Fay Art continues to work towards fulfilling my vision of using artwork to support worthy organisations.  At the moment, I'm very busy trying to recreate my official website (www.artofmili.ca), set up a new shop with Shopify (www.shop.artofmili.ca--which should be up and running as soon as I get through what feels like hundreds of pages of paperwork and contracts), as well as finishing a backlog of work.  Yes, I admit it, I am behind, but to be fair I did not expect to loose three weeks in Europe for a wedding, nor did I expect to be sick with cold/flu for two weeks upon my return.  As a result of this delay, AIMH Monthly Art contest is postponed until further notice.  

For those of you who are in Toronto, and wish to avoid astounding shipping costs, you can find "Animals In My Hair" at Market Jolly, 326 Marlee Ave. Toronto, Ontario, M6B 3HS.  Tel: (416) 785-0002.  They are located a short walk away from Glencairn Subway station.  Just make sure you call ahead to insure the item is in stock.  Then, grab a friend, get the book, and enjoy the fabulous foods you cannot find anywhere else.  

PERKS:

Toronto Indie Arts Market

1. Print this coupon to get 15% OFF all Mili Fay Art products.  One coupon/order/customer.

2. I've decided to create Mini-Prints (I'm thinking ~6" x 4") of my artwork, and sell them for $5 each.  Great stocking stuffers. First 10 people to hand me a slip of paper with "Mini-ME" written on it at Toronto Indie Arts Market will get a free print of their choice.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

What Mili Fay Art artwork would you like to see as a Mini-Print?  

(Horsing Around Limited Edition Prints not included).

Thank you for reading this Newsletter all the way to its very end.  If you would like me to included something in a future Newsletter please e-mail me your suggestions for consideration. 

If you regret signing up for Mili Fay Art's Newsletter/Perks, or are here by mistake, send a brief message (It could be as simple as--"Unsubscribe me, please.") to unsubscribe@artofmili.ca, and I will remove you from the mailing list.  If you have the time, I would like to know your reasons, but they are not mandatory.

Until next time, and wishing you all the best,

Mili Fay

P.S. If you have any issues reading this letter, please contact Mili Fay Art.

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So, WHAT do you think?  (Of course the background of the letter is white.)

:-)

Mili Fay

AIMH Monthly Art Contest: JULY 2013 WINNER!!!

"And the Beak Goes On"
Puffin
Artwork by Jay Norman

Congratulations to Jay Norman for being the July 2013 AIMH Monthly Art Contest winner!!!

This month the race was extremely close, but the sad eyes of the thoughtful puffin have prevailed.

Thank you to all the contestants.  Please remember that this is a Monthly Art Contest with the purpose to have fun while:

• sharing the love for drawing animals;
• helping me choose what animal to draw for a monthly print (whose sale will hopefully raise some funds for conservation of wild animals).

So, if you have not won a prize this month, you can always submit a drawing for the next.

NOTE:  There are some changes to the Contest for the Months of August and September 2013.

Because I will not be here for most of September, the judging for both contests will likely be done in October.  However, the artwork submitted by August 31st will still be counted as the August entry, and everything submitted in September will belong to that month alone.

The contest rules have not changed, and you can review them here:

http://artofmili.blogspot.ca/2013/06/art-contest.html

Please inform your friends of the contest, by sharing the link above.  Share the contest, share the fun.

And now...

Judging Process

I asked several artists in varying fields to look through the finalists' artwork for the month of July.  Each judge placed each artwork in the order of most appealing to least.  The artist with the lowest score combined is the winner.  I stressed that unlike other art contests, the parameters of judging an artwork were not be taken into account, because this month we do have a submission by a child.  Instead, they were to order the works based on how each piece made them feel. 

Scores

                                                      Judge 1     Judge 2     Judge 3     Judge 4     Judge 5     Total Points

    1              2               1               2               1                  7   


  

                2              1               2               1               2                  8









    3              3              3                3               3                  15

The identity of which judge gave what scores will remain anonymous, but the above are the scores submitted.

Guest Judges

Adriana Blake
Adriana is a Venezuelan-American living in Canada. When she's not working in the animation industry, she's working on her webcomic, Fall on Me, and other comic projects such as Princeless or Womanthology. She's happily married; loves books (especially children’s literature) and tea.

You can follow Adriana on her Website and Facebook, or you can grab a cup of tea and enjoy reading her delightful comic in English, or Spanish, or both.

Barbara Jelenkovich

A graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice, Barbara is a children’s book illustrator living in Udine, Italy.  As a child, she loved to paint animals, and now animals are the most frequently requested subjects by her publishers.  Her artworks have been published, and her books translated into 24 different languages, realizing her dream to communicate with children of the world. 

She is also the winner of AIMH Monthly Art Contest for June 2013. 

You can follow Barbara on her personal Website.

Pam Rose

After graduating from Sheridan College, Pam’s passion for animation has led her through a roller-coaster of an artistic journey.  She has inspired many young animators and artist, and continues to do so with skill and a bright smile.  Pam just loves to draw, so do not be surprised if you bump into her and discover yourself in her fun-looking cartoon sketchbook.

Aleksa Velicki

Aleksa Velicki is a Toronto based sculptor on the cusp of eternal fame.  After working for several years in Conservation and Restoration at the Art Academy in Belgrade, Serbia, his new silicon and wood sculpting technique (discovered while he studied at OCAD University) is revolutionizing the world of sculpture.  His passion for life, knowledge of structure, and sensitivity to detail is bound to make him the greatest figure sculptor since Rodin.

Once again, thank you to all the contestants and judges.

Keep having fun drawing!

Mili Fay

"Together we support the world one artwork at a time."

AIMH Monthly Art Contest: JUNE 2013 PRIZE!!!

"Fox"
Animals In My Hair Art Print
June 2013

© Mili Fay Art

Inspired by:

Barbara Jelenkovich's winning entry for the AIMH Monthly Art Contest for the month of June 2013.  It is the first in a series of prints that will be used to continually raise funds for animal conservation efforts. 30% from this print will be donated towards animal conservation, 70% will support Mili Fay Art's vision: "Together we support the world one artwork at a time."

The image is laser printed on 300 g glossy 11" x 8.5" paper.

Thank you to everyone who has participated in the AIMH Monthly Art Contest for the month of June 2013.  You have made the process of choosing which animal to draw fun and entertaining.  I hope you enjoy the result.

For all the Mili Fay Art fans, I will make the print available for download for ONE day only.  I'm not sure when, but I will post the announcement on my Facebook Page and on this blog.

For those of you who wish to support Mili Fay Art's vision by purchasing the print, you may find it here.

AIMH Monthly Art Contest: JULY 2013 FINALISTS!!!

Unfortunately this month I have not had the time to publicize the contest as much as I would have wished, therefore I apologize to the wonderful artists who submitted their work for not providing them with more competition.

On the other hand, this month I did not have to struggle to choose who the finalists would be, and am therefore happy to include the work of everyone who has submitted something for the July AIMH Monthly Art Contest.

So here are the finalists: 

Hippo by G. Dharshini

Alligator (Or Crocodile) by Meighan Perry

Puffin by Jay Norman

Thank you to all the finalists for keeping my contest alive and for submitting such wonderful work.  I will announce the winner by August 15th.

Until then, happy drawing, and GOOD LUCK!

Mili

I Apologise For My Ignorance: Youth Voices Of Neskantaga Art Exhibit Review

Image Source:
http://www.northsouthpartnership.com/youth-work/item/156-youth-voices-of-neskantaga-art-exhibition

For those of you who do not like to read reviews, and are only wondering if you should invest your precious time in seeing this exhibit, my simple answer to you is: "Yes".

For those of you who like to read about my personal experiences and are interested in my opinions regarding this exhibit, read on.

I'll begin by saying that I'm fond of, what I call, the Native Art Style, but I went to this exhibit more as a favour to my friend (who is one of the organisers) than to support the young artists who are exhibiting their work.  For those of you who know me personally, you know that I'm always up for seeing something new when it comes to art, though I am still primarily a supporter of traditional work, and I doubt I will ever find anything more beautiful in the span of my whole life than the works of Monet.  Nevertheless, yesterday I felt dreadful all day.  I don't know if it was the weather, or if I was coming down with a cold.  All I know is that all I wanted to do was curl up on the couch and watch some feel-good movies.  If my friend was not an organizer, I would have stayed at home.  If I stayed at home, I would be more ignorant that I am today.

This exhibit is not what I expected.  I expected a sharp gallery setting, with fancy lighting and professional display arrangement.

Instead, I was in a single room, containing a hodge-podge of artwork, created by very young, and older children.  Something more on the level of a high school gallery show, than a professional exhibition.  The works displayed were less beautiful as great works of art, but more beautiful as the potential of what those artists could become.  There was also not a single style, but many styles.  There was music by young rap artists of Neskantaga, photography, crafts, and graphic artworks.  There was no rhyme or reason to the displays, but the whole exhibit glowed with youth, a sense of community, and potential.

However, as I walked around (it did not take long) and took in the images with more care, I found a common theme:  Despair and Hope.

I was appalled by the images I saw.  There were moments, especially when I listened to the speeches, that all I wanted to do is cry and somehow reach my arms around the people of that community.

I was so ignorant.  I truly believed that the native peoples of Canada lived like the Amish or Orthodox Jews.  People who segregated themselves in hopes of preserving their dying culture and traditional values.  When I pictured native people, I always pictured them living in neat villages, hunting, gathering and living off the land, trading, still keeping up with the times of society around them, but choosing to remain independent. 

What I saw...

I am ashamed to be Canadian, because I have allowed the existence of the present Canadian Government.  I cannot believe that the Canadian Government who prides itself on its humanitarian efforts around the world, would let a community in Canada look the way Neskantaga does.  They spend millions (maybe even billions) on foreign aid, and they allow their own people to live under such conditions?  In this day and age?  It is appalling.  I'm still under so much shock that I cannot even write coherently on the subject.

If I remember correctly, three young people, three young artists, three young Canadians, committed suicide in this community within the year.  The last happened in May.

In the midst of the natural and sever beauty of the Canadian North Ontario, Naskantaga is a shameful scar.  Dwellings more suited to a third-world country torn by war, than to one of the would-be leading nations of the world, populate the area.  Children play in mud.  Broken light bulbs and empty sockets.  Run down, homeless appearance...  And sweet, sweet children with sad eyes.

Watching the slides I could not believe I was looking at a community in Canada.

Yet, inspite of these harsh conditions, young people of Neskantaga have gathered and created something beautiful and something lasting.  They created this exhibit to share their culture with us, and to show us that even in the horrific conditions they live under, they still see the beauty around them, most especially amongst the people that surround them.

And there is true talent there.  Just look at the beautiful graphic at the top by Josh Kendrick.

My favourite piece in the exhibit is a photograph by Tyrone Day entitled "Far From Home".  It shows the profile of a young girl, an extreme close-up shot, showing her nose, eye, and a bit of forehead, her hair swirling around a wistful face.  It is very graphic and so full of emotion, that I think it rivals any famous professional photograph I have ever seen.  

The rest of the work may be artistically forgettable, but it is emotionally lasting.

Inspite of being welcomed by the traditional gift of tobacco in small red pouches, the musical native language, and invited to mingle with young artists, I felt too much to stay long at the opening.  But I am glad I went.  Time permitting I will return to see the artwork again before it is gone.

Lastly, all I can do is encourage you to go see this exhibit for yourself.  I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised, and that you will be glad that you did not spend another evening curled-up on a couch watching a feel-good movie... Or a feel-bad movie, if that is what you prefer.  If you can purchase a print, or give a small donation, the youth of Neskantaga would be really appreciate it and could most definitely use it.

For more about the exhibit see: http://www.northsouthpartnership.com/youth-work/youth-voices-of-neskantaga

Until another time,

M

AIMH Monthly Art Contest: JUNE 2013 WINNER!!!

Bear, Squirrel, and Fox by Barbara Jelenkovich

Congratulations to Barbara Jelenkovich for being the first ever AIMH Monthly Art Contest winner!!!

Now it's my turn to create a print involving all three of these animals.  Or would if be fair if I just picked one? What do you think?

Judging Process

I asked several artists in varying fields to look through the finalists I selected for the month of June.  Each judge placed each artwork in the order of most appealing to least.  The artist with the lowest score combined is the winner.  All of the judges reported to me that they had trouble choosing, because all of the finalist submitted wonderful pieces.  I stressed that unlike other art contests, the parameters of judging an artwork were not be taken into account (because I do hope in the future to have some children's art as well), instead they were to order the works based on how each piece made them feel. 

Scores

                                                      Judge 1     Judge 2     Judge 3     Judge 4     Judge 5     Total Points

 

    2              4              2                2               2                  12   


  

    5              1              6                1               3                  16







              

             4              6              1                5               1                  17









               3              5              3                3               5                  19

     1              3              5                6               4                  19

                    6              2              4                4               6                  22

The identity of which judge gave what scores will remain anonymous, but the above are the scores submitted.

Guest Judges

Catia Dacosta

From her native Algarve, Portugal, Catia, at the age of four, was carried to Canada as the most beloved luggage by her parents.  She grew up as a passionate movie lover, and this love of images and film decided her career as a photographer.  In 2012 she started CDC Photography to capture and preserve people’s most precious memories.  Currently, she resides in Toronto with her family and the love of her life, Tony.

You can follow Catia on Instagram.

Daniella Deamysh

Daniella "Daemonysh" Demysh is a Toronto-based character designer/supervisor for TV animation and a hobbyist classical animator.  Her 8 years of industry experience have taught her the importance of connecting with each drawing on a personal level to give it that extra spark of life and appeal.  Growing up, she always adored animals just as much as drawing!  This love eventually translated into her particular speciality of designing animated animal characters for the productions she works on.

You can follow Daemonysh on Flickr and DeviantArt.

Shannon Lanigan

Shannon is a Hamilton-based, award winning illustration graduate of Sheridan College, but her true passion lies in doll creation.  This shy and extremely talented  artist's work needs to be seen to be believed.  Each of her dolls is a sculpture worthy of a gallery, but don't take my word for it.

You can follow Shannon on DeviantArt.

Brandy Wagg

Brandy graduated from Sheridan College's classical animation program, and Seneca's computer animation program intending to work in the animation industry, but her love of sculpture keeps dragging her back to her sculpting tools.  She loves to explore the structure and motion in every subject, while the subtle detail in her work captures it's very soul.  She sculpts at a secret location and values her privacy. 

AIMH Monthly Art Contest: 2013 JUNE FINALISTS!!!

I have received some absolutely gorgeous artwork for the Month of June 2013, from talented artists of varying ages.  Fortunately, you get to see them all.  So, here are the official finalists for AIMH Monthly Art Contest for the Month of June 2013:

Bear, Squirrel, Fox by Barbara Jelenkovich

Blue Emu by Jay Norman

Red Panda by Inge Leonora-den Ouden

Snoozy the Seal by Michelle Monty

Sea Turtles by Andrew McGeachy

Tiger by Traci Van Wagoner

A jury will pick a winner for the month of June by July 15^th.  If you would like a chance to be featured for the month of July, please submit your artwork to Mili Fay Art, by following the guidelines.

Good luck to all the finalists!

Mili Fay

"Together we support the world one artwork at a time."