Laura Daub

Well, it’s hard to believe it, but summer is almost here! Although my family and I haven’t really had a chance to plan our summer vacation activities, I’m hoping it will include lots of camping trips for us (like in the photo of my son, Owen and I combing the beach at Sandbanks looking for treasures early in the morning last year!) and I hope to have enough motivation and energy to be working many late hours on a special project I have been working on.

I am available and more than happy to teach semi-private and private lessons from June to August. I just finished up three 6-week courses this past week and have a few spots open to take on new students! I am very flexible for the summer months and can be accommodating as far as your summer plans as well as my own.

If you are interested in learning more about the types of art classes I offer, please take a look at my classes and contact me at any time.
Summer is also a great time for those students who may be going into their last year of high school who are planning on applying to arts related college and university programs that require portfolios!

I’m also thinking about offering some “meet ups in the park to draw” type classes this summer, but I haven’t quite wrapped my head around how that will work! I’ll see if I can come up with something and in the meantime, suggestions are welcome!

Last week, I asked people who follow my facebook page for the best advice they’ve ever received and got some great responses of advice from some wise elders - parents, grandparents and other relations. I’m looking for more though if you’d like to share as I’m going to be working on some larger (20″ * 24″) acrylic paintings pairing best advice with some of my favourite animals… soon to be up for sale and perfect for a child’s room or nursery!

Here’s my first one!

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? If I use your advice in a painting, I’ll be sure to send you a free print!

I’m staying focused, working on my favourite thing… animal illustrations. Here’s a tiger in progress for my year of animal portraits and she’ll soon be cut up and layered with a watercolour background and cameo!

Next up will be a bear and a zebra. I’ll be continuing to put my illos up in my recently re-opened etsy shop!

Have a great day!

I was reading an inspiring blog that I follow, The Jealous Curator last week and found this post called There are a few… things I’m afraid to tell you. I was so happy to read this and the back story at Creature Comforts.

Not that “misery loves company”, but as a person who has been trying to “find her way” in the arts in the last few years (if not my whole life, really), I was so glad to see some honest, raw stories of others who have maybe been through, or are pursuing the same creative path that I am. I have been struggling with ups and downs over my illustrations and business… half the time thinking everything is going great, the other half, just the opposite.

So, since I had a rough weekend, this is the perfect time for me to lay it all out, if not only for myself. Yes, it’s scary to put it out to the online world, but I think it may be healing for me and hopefully add to the list of these bloggers who just may not realize the positive outcome for others that might occur when all they see is seemingly successful, “I have a perfect life” creative people out there! Personally, even some blogs I’ve been following for inspiration have even been having a different effect on me lately. Instead of thinking, wow, I want to be just like them and I am progressively working my way towards that, I have been thinking, don’t they ever have struggles? Do they ever question themselves, their artwork, the career they’ve chosen? Why does it seem they have it all? A gorgeous, carefully staged home with their own artwork galore, time to bake/cook amazing recipes, diy projects that are fit for magazines, artsy-filled travel, sketchbooks constantly filling up with amazing artwork… the list could go on. I think it actually has been bringing me down, instead of picking me up! Seriously!

So, here I am putting the things I’m afraid to tell you. Here goes. Really, honestly, I’m about to type it out. (:
Deep breath…

1. I worry. I worry all the time. Mostly, I worry about finances. I can’t begin to tell you how much I worry about them. I worry about my family; their health and happiness. I worry about my wonderful teenage daughter and all the things she goes through as a young woman. I worry about her happiness and wonder if I am handling things okay as a Mom, or am I making things worse for her. I worry about my husband and wonder how he puts up with me lately, cause I really feel like I’ve been quite a handful for quite some time and I worry because I know he is always worried too. I worry about my health and happiness as well. I kinda wish I could forget the last couple months, dust off and start over again. With struggling on getting my new illustration series completed and up online, a whole whack of things have happened to hold me back on that… or at least that’s how I was looking at it. Dealing with my son being off and on sick, being diagnosed with asthma, hitting his head and worrying about a concussion, along with me getting some weird virus that turned into a nasty sinus infection, it was all topped off this past Saturday when I had the most pain I’ve had since giving birth, bringing me to the hospital, to find out I had an ovarian cyst rupture, causing severe pain to my right side and leg. I’m fine now btw and happy it was nothing more serious, but I am now prompted to take better care of myself and follow up on the changes in my body that are happening as I get older. Oh, it’s so fun to be a woman! (; I worry about how to manage the 3 different “jobs” that I do, juggling them everyday, with not enough satisfaction or money for that matter, and to be perfectly honest, no appreciation whatsoever and such negativity… in the part-time job that pays the bills that I have been holding on to for years “just in case”.

I’ve had quite enough of all of this and need to find some balance and take matters into my own hands. I need to realize I’m just about where I want to be. I’m not right at the start of this career anymore… I’m tweaking things. Tweaking them for better return, emotionally, physically and financially. I read this wonderful blog, Momentum Gathering this morning and found it to be validating and perfectly timed. I’ve got to think about this tug of war of poop I’ve got going on and just “see what is in front of me”.

I now realize (or have been reminded) that I am lucky. Lucky to have my health (for all that it’s been) with nothing seriously wrong and to take it into my own hands to keep my health in order, I have a wonderful, supportive family… and if I step back and look at my recent work, I actually quite like it. I am making steps towards making progress trying to zero in on the things that make me happy and fulfilled and nothing can stop me now. OK???? You hear that Universe???!!! (:

There is no number 2. Number 1 is enough, don’tcha think? Yes, I have laundry piled high in my bedroom, half folded from rummaging through it daily, yes, I don’t vacuum enough, there always seems to be dishes in the sink, etc., but those I have to believe are a normal part of daily life for everyone, and really, I’ve come to know this and accept it. How can I fret over this little stuff when I’ve been juggling all this worry?

There. Now I better go and make this day the best it can be.
Then tomorrow, I’ll do the same.
I wish the same for you.

Laura xo

Oh, if you are a blogger out there, no matter if one person or thousands of people read it, why not consider sharing the things you might be afraid to tell? It might just be good therapy for you and others too. (:

I’ve been getting a lot of inquiries about art birthday parties lately and I thought I should post that I’ve updated my birthday party page. I’d be happy to come to your home for your child’s special day! For more information, please visit my Children’s Birthday Party Page.

I’m gearing up to share a whole bunch of new pieces - original watercolour paper cut artwork and prints. I wanted to share my raccoon though, for my Year in Animal Portraits series. I’m starting over with them with my new layered technique!

I am writing little bios for them, but I’m saving those for my shop and hopefully, an eventual book!

Well, I’m hoping this week might be a bit more productive than last! I came down with a bug that seems to be holding on, unfortunately. At least my cold/flu (whatever it is) matches the weather today in Ottawa where I live… it’s snowing… on April 23rd. Seriously!

I checked Illustration Friday on the weekend and was happy to find the topic this week is Heights. I’ve been working on a couple new watercolour paper cut pieces that are definitely related to soaring to new heights, which is my take on the word, I suppose! Not only did I try to show this in my piece, but it is a focus for me personally which I hope to continue to strive for this year.

Here it is…

Have a great week and I hope you might soar to new heights as well! Now, if I could just get rid of this cold… (:

After a few requests for a basic drawing class, I have started to teach a new 6 week course on just that… drawing. I do have a couple of time slots open for the spring and summer and would be happy to have you! Good drawing skills are essential and the basis for any style/medium of art, so this course is open to all ages… both children and adults! The subject matter chosen for these drawing classes is always designed for the age and interests of the students.

Drawing Techniques - All Ages

In this informative drawing class, students learn to draw using various drawing tools, expressively rendering interesting objects, animals, landscapes and still life with a focus on shading techniques. Proper proportioning, perspective using free-hand drawing techniques are the main focus of this class, but the grid method is also covered.

Students are required to bring an artist’s sketchbook (11″x14″ or 14″x17″or 18″x24″) and a beginner drawing pencil kit (eg. 4 – 6 pencils, ruler and eraser) to each class. All other supplies are included. Please bring a drink if needed.

Week 1: Drawing and shading objects using different techniques and tools
Week 2: Drawing and shading an animal/landscape scene
Week 3: Drawing and shading still life
Week 4: Pointillism/Stippling objects with micron pens - black and white shading
Week 5: Drawing with expression and colour
Week 6: Self portrait pencil drawing using the grid method

Private - $30 per hour - 1.5 hours each lesson * 6 weeks = $270 per person - tax included
Semi-private - $24 per hour - 1.5 hours each lesson * 6 weeks = $216 per person - tax included

Ok, I admit it openly. I’m not the best blogger. Once again, I’ve been ignoring it.
Insert sad face here.
It’s not that I don’t have a lot to say, it’s more that I have not made it a priority, unfortunately! I will have to make this more of a regular thing for sure… but ummmm… not right now. (: I’ve been laying a bit low lately working on a new series of illustrations and mulling/planning/concocting my execution of a rather large project I plan on starting. Shhhhh… it’s a big secret now but let me give you a hint… it’s about nurturing creativity.

I think this project might take me some time, but I do believe I’m ready to start it and see it leap out of my head and into reality. To kick-start this creative undertaking, I finally bought a book I’ve been coveting for years now called Wreck This Journal, by Keri Smith. I think it was her first book and she now has quite a few more published! I’ve been following her for a few years now and think she is just about the best person out there on creativity.

The book really lets you learn to express your creative self with instructions on what to do to the pages in the book, from cracking the spine of the book, to poking holes in a page, to rubbing dirt on another, or spilling coffee on the next, or climbing up high and dropping it to sewing in it… it really is no wonder the book was dedicated to perfectionists. Ha! Love it! In the art lessons I teach, one of the hardest things to instil in my students of all ages is to let go of the need for perfection… to understand that they don’t have to be perfect! I try to show them that it’s okay if their drawing doesn’t look good right from the beginning, that’s why we have erasers when we need them! Be messy! Explore your creativity to the fullest… doodle, draw… unleash your creativity! Please excuse this overused expression… I just couldn’t find another way to say it at the moment. (:

If you’re able to pick this book up, I highly recommend it. I think I’m going to share this journal with my husband and kids though and any of us can fill it up whenever the mood strikes. I just know my 8 yr-old son, Owen is going to claim a few pages, like the one that says “Infuse this page with the smell of your choosing” and the page that says “Place sticky things here. (honey, gum, syrup, glue, sucker, marshmallow). (:

I hope to post another blog soon, but if you would like to keep up with me on a more regular basis, I tend to post several things a day on my page on facebook that you might find interesting… please do come and “like” me there!

Oh, it has made for a wonderful day to find out my Ottawa Private and Semi-Private art lessons have been mention on www.savvymom.ca! Thank you Patti R. for including me and thank you SavvyMom.ca!

This is the perfect time for me to share a new 8-week course that I am now offering for children of all ages… Here are the details:

Children – All ages

Painting with Acrylics and Watercolours


In this 8-week painting class, students learn to reproduce three famous paintings (like the reproduction of Van Gogh’s Starry Night above done in 2 classes!) and in the final two classes, produce their own masterpiece of their choice in either acrylics or watercolours, whatever their preference! Students will sketch out their paintings on canvas or watercolour paper, then learn the techniques that might have been done in the original paintings by step-by-step instruction. Parents… it’s nice to have some famous paintings hanging in your home, especially knowing that your child was the artist!

More details can be found on my Children’s Art Classes page.

All the best!

Laura