Spawning Salmon - Downloadable Colouring Page

September is my absolute favourite month in Tofino. As much as I love the energy and weather of the summer months (and having my kids around to play with), the fall brings 'space'. The busy streets and beaches start to thin out once school starts, the weather is often fabulous (albeit not THIS week), and you no longer have to wait 40 minutes for a coffee if you want to hit your favourite spots out for one. With the kids back to school, the boat clears out during the day and as much as I love leading a spontaneous existence the 'routine' is welcome for damage control after a busy summer season. Catching up on some client projects, and prepping the boat for the winter feels some what productive again!

One of the latest projects I am working on is a collaboration with Tofino Time magazine. Each month (started in August) I will be putting in a themed colouring page for your meditative, west coast colouring pleasure! It IS newsprint so pencil crayons are recommended, but if you want to hit it with markers than just download it here and print on your favourite paper. Eventually I will put together a book when I have enough drawings, but for now they are free for you to enjoy!

If you want to take it a step further, once you are finished just snap a photo and pop it up on Instagram with the hashtags #tofinocolour (or #tofinocolor if you are south of the border) and @clairewatsonart and there may just be some prizes and you could be featured! I really want to see what you guys pick for your west coast colours!

Surfboard Art... A new kind of board for me

The Rip Curl Pro was this weekend in Tofino and hundreds of wave watchers came to our little town to watch some of Canada's best. There were plenty of Tofitians in the mix, both young and old and some out of towners also venturing out in our frigid west coast waters.

I was asked to attend the Rip Curl Pro Photo Showdown event at The Shore as essentially an art installation painting a surfboard live during the event. Of course I was a little nervous as I had never painted live... Even in the 12 years of creating chalk art signs, I NEVER did them on site! Luckily a couple of pals loaned me their boards so I could practice, so once the event came I felt confident enough to pull it off in those conditions. The problem now is that I absolutely love painting on them so I have a feeling there will be many more in my future!

(Scroll to 1:48 on the video below for a teenie cameo of me! haha)

Painting this beautiful new Aftanas to the sweet sounds of Vince Vaccaro... For a while he was jamming with Tom Curren who made a guest appearance to the event. A very different work environment than my little studio!

Horror At The Shore - Poster Art & Design

When Adam from Tofician asked me to create a halloween poster for his "Horror at the Shore" party in Tofino, I couldn't help but jump at it. Since I (secretly) love the Walking Dead, Comic Books, Video Games and old B Movies, the design concept came fast! 

West Coast Wild, Tofino BC

West Coast Orcas, Tofino BC - Downloadable Colouring Page

Here is little 'taste test' of a new project I am working on. I am currently in the process of painting the illustration, but in the meantime, help yourself to a colouring page! There will be more coming soon... 

New Magnets in the Shop!

When I was first asked to collaborate with Marcel from Treehouse Gifts on getting magnets printed, I thought he was crazy BUT these cute little guys have been flying off my table at the Tofino Saturday Market! I figured I may as well get them on the shop as well since the market is quickly coming to an end. 

Pacific Rim Summer Festival 2015 - Poster Illustration + Design

Illustration & design for the 2015 Summer Festival Poster, Ad and brochure. 

Client: Pacific Rim Arts Society
Medium: Watercolour and Pen/Ink

Hand Painted Trucker Hats

I thought I would try something a little different! These one of a kind handprinted trucker hats were created for the Make Merry Market at the Tofino Botanical Gardens in Tofino. At $45 each they sold out fast, but stay tuned as I will be creating more for the Tofino Saturday Market!

Longboard Art

Some Posca fun with my daughter's friend's longboard. Her dad made this beautiful board and I felt honoured to paint it... I really wanted to keep some of the wood showing!

Barefoot Wooden Boats - Race to Alaska - Fundraising T-shirt Illustration

Cheer those zany guys from Gabriola Island on as they race without a motor to Alaska!

Pacific Rim Whale Festival - 2015 Poster Artist

I am excited to announce that I was chosen to be the 2015 Whale Festival Poster Artist! Here is a little 'process shot' while it in progress in my studio. The final poster will start coming out February 2015 so look out for it! In the meantime lets welcome the whales back from their long journey!