The bird reaper

The bird reaper is a favourite character of mine. She wanders the earth taking the souls of birds whose time has come to an end....but this makes her sad and she shows deep compassion as she does her job. Here she is taking the soul of the very last moa bird....an especially sad time for her.

the little match girl

One of the more sad Christmas stories....but also one that lingers longer.

in search of perfection

the magic of the Narwhal

Did you know that Narwhal's are responsible for all those shiny little holes in the night sky?

Congratulations...

Michy from Switzerland! 

One of my society6 tote bags is on it's way to you. 

Please email your postal details to myblogga@gmail.com

I just want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who took the time to enter and also write such amazing comments for me. I wish I had more to give! 

I'll be doing another giveaway very soon in the new year of one of my original art pieces. Stay tuned to this blog. 

Much luv and thanks

Soju

Soju Shots Tote Bag Giveaway

Hey all... I'm giving this soju shots tote from society6 away to one person in appreciation for all the awesome support on my little blog (and other social media).

Please leave your name, where you're from and how you came to know of my work (e.g instagram) in the comment section of this blog to participate. You have until next Friday at noon (New Zealand time) to play. 

I'll announce the winner on Saturday. Just one comment per person please.

I will ship anywhere in the world so you are all welcome to participate!

Bette and Dot Tattler

American Horror Story is an incredible show which has some of the coolest characters on TV! I'm especially enjoying the latest season "FREAK SHOW" which has some of my all time favourite characters.
Here's a little illustration i did of the Tattler twins played by Sarah Paulson.

Pigs Do Fly!

In a previous post I mentioned my little piggy project which had me sending my little pig characters to anyone wanting one around the world. Most of these piggies have arrived in their new homes and their adventures have begun. A huge thank you to everyone for sending these awesome photos through! 

This is just a few of many.....I will post more of these amazing piggy travels each week. 

 This little piggy went to Bourban Street, New Orleans, USA. ( Thanks to @ESCAPING_ARTIST )

This little piggy has a crush on his new friend in Gyeonggi-Do province, South Korea ( Thanks to @PINK_CHOUCREAM )

This little piggy got tangled in Christmas lights in Belgium ( Thanks to @BELCATH1981 )

This little piggy went to Solvang the Danish city in Southern California ( Thanks to @STRIPED.DONKEY )

This little piggy experienced a true American Thanksgiving (thanks to @MEGIPIXEL )

This little piggy went to Rainbow Falls, Big Island of Hawaii ( Thanks to @KIWIJANNA )

This Little piggy went to Liberty Island, New York, USA ( Thanks to @IMPROPERBOSTONIAN )

more to come 

Christmas Cards

I finally made my own Christmas cards this year! It's something I've been wanting to do for a long time but never get done. I'm stoked to see my little drummer boy and his little donkey in card form. 

I've also added this design to my Society 6 store. http://society6.com/sojushots

Heading towards December

Although Christmas in New Zealand means summertime....in my mind it's snowing :D

a gossip of mermaids

I recently did this piece for a group exhibition called "Collective Nouns". The exhibition was at Hangar Gallery in Kamo (one of my favourite little galleries in Whangarei). I've been very lucky to exhibit my work there a few times.

Who'll dig his grave? I, said the Owl, with my trusty trowel, I'll dig his grave

I, said the Sparrow, with my bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin.

Who killed Cock Robin?

Vote and purchase my work for a limited time :)

www.ohhdeer.com

villagers

I designed these little folk to live in a village for an upcoming hitRECord animation. The animation is about a dragon who breaths ice.

Stickers!!!

My little "Fairy Tale Peeps" stickers arrived today!!! 

The Homemade Mermaid

This is a painting I did for a group exhibition called "The Laboratorium". It's such a fun exhibition where we get to do work based on laboratory experiments, mad science and Gothic inspired stuff. 

Mine was based on a rather pathetic mad scientist who was obsessed with mermaids....so he made one. He crudely stitched a fishes tale to the top half of his high-school sweetheart Margot....he then rowed her out to sea and threw her into the deep, dark water. Sadly the homemade mermaid sank to the bottom as she could not swim. As i mentioned before...he was a rather pathetic mad scientist.

This was quite a large painting (as you can see in the photo of me working on it) but sadly i have never managed to get a good photo of it's entirety.

pillow

Pillows are the best protection against scary movies

Bears?....not so much!

Critter

I came across this little critter whilst cleaning up my little studio a few weeks back. He was lurking around the old picture frames I have leaning against the wall beneath my window.

At first I wasn't sure if he was a biter so I carefully put him in this little jar and poked air holes in the top. He sat on top of a stack of old books and would watch me as I worked.

As I got to know him I learned he was definitely not a biter in fact he doesn't even have teeth. So what does a little critter with no teeth eat??? Well I discovered quickly when he dived headfirst into my glass of L&P that he eats bubbles....yep he's a bubble eater. He's especially fond of cola bubbles. Oh yeah...he sprouted wings too.

When I was painting late at night for my upcoming exhibition he would perch on my shoulder and purr little tunes that at times sounded familiar.

I'd often catch him peering outside my studio window with his little worried expression on his face. I thought that he may have a family out there looking for him.

One Tuesday morning I opened the window for him and he fluttered out...... I waved farewell to him just as he flew straight into a sticky old spider web. Mrs Spider was shaking her fist at him angrily when I arrived to rescue him. I apologised to Mrs Spider on his behalf as we made a speedy exit...angry spiders give us both the creeps.

After the spider incident he didn't want to leave the comfort of his little jar much. I'd leave him outside in his jar for 24 minutes a day so he could see what was happening in the outside world.
One day when his 24 minutes were up I went to bring him in....but he was gone!....jar and all!!



stay tuned for more :)

Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow?...

With Halloween only days away I thought I'd post something a bit spooky...here's a slightly darker take on a classic nursery rhyme. I construct these silhouette pieces using photoshop....I also photograph all the garden elements from my parents amazing garden. See if you can spot the hidden tui.

fairy tale peeps tote bags

I just added these new "fairy tale peeps" tote bags to my society6 shop. If you're interested in one they also have free shipping worldwide today! ^^  www.society6.com/SojuShots

Soju Shots Badges!!!!

I've always wanted my own badges.....and have finally done it. I have a feeling this won't be a one off thing too.....anyone know where I can get my hands on a badge making machine?

The End

This was the last image from my "illustrated" exhibition. Every good fairy tale eventually has an end.

more from "illustrated"

I thought I'd speed up the process of showing my work from "illustrated" this way. Hope you enjoy these little characters of mine. :)

The Enchanted

Another ink drawing from my "illustrated" exhibition This fellow was not always a bear....in fact he used to be a prince. That;s what happens when you cross an angry witch.

The woodcutter

Earlier this year I had an exhibition called "Illustrated" with Victor Te Paa. Victor is an amazing artist so I was stoked we were able to exhibit our work together at the Yvonne Rust Gallery. I did a series of 12 characters (ink drawings) on old recycled book pages. I based them on the typical characters that go into making a classic fairytale. The above is titled "the spirit". I'll post some of the others soon :)

Trick or Treat

I love Halloween! and there's not long to go! I'm a big fan of all those classic monsters and ghoulies... so I really enjoy seeing them being brought back to life for a night.

art giveaway winner

Hi all.....Congratulations to Jocelyn Bateson from Brisbane Australia :)

Borris will be on his way to you!!! (please email your postal details to me myblogga@gmail.com)

Hope you enjoy this little collage :)

I recorded a video with my nephew writing all the names, cutting them out and drawing the winning name out of a hat. Unfortunately I cant seem to upload it here.....but will post a short version over on my instagram as he worked really hard helping me. http://instagram.com/soju_shots

A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to participate!!! I'm thinking of doing another art giveway later in the week.

all my best

soju

little swashbuckler

I used to be a pirate. I'd sail the shark infested carpet on my pirate pillow ship in search of deserted sofa islands. Then I'd dig for treasure chests full of jelly beans and sour worms.
What's one of you favourite childhood games?

my little studio

My little sanctuary where I can unleash as many crazy little characters as I like. I'm very lucky to have this little studio to work from in the heart of Whangarei city. If you are ever in the neighborhood feel free to drop in for a visit. Number 1 Rathbone Street...up the stairs in the Mercy Clothing Studio (room 7).

The Lantern Fest

This was inspired by the memory of my cousins wedding down in the beautiful Golden Bay. We filled the sky with these amazing wish lanterns. I'm huge fan of lanterns (you may have noticed if you follow my work) but floating lanterns!!...magic!!

art giveaway

Poor old Boris never coped well with confrontation. I'm giving away this little piece I did last year for a little exhibition called "Tales" It's a collage piece done on an old book cover. 

Please leave your name and where you're from in the comment section of this blog to participate. You have until next Friday at noon (New Zealand time) to play. 

I'll announce the winner on Saturday. Just one comment per person please.

I will ship anywhere in the world so you are all welcome to participate!

all my best

soju