Philip Stephen's blog

I have found an excellent print company, and am now able to offer my images on wooden wall plaques of various sizes and depths.

Currently there are 12 designs in 3 size ranges, which you can find in my Merchandise Gallery. The sizes are approximately 4x6 for $20 each, 5x7.5 for $30, and 8x10 on a deeper plaque for $50.

 
I am able to have images printed in a little over a week's time. If you are interested in any of the images I have in those or other size ranges, do not hesitate to contact me.

Take care,
Phil.

Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world took part in a Global Free Hugs Day yesterday. Many Vancouverites took to the streets with signs reading “Free Hugs” to spread the message of human affection and connection. This is all in response to a global call that originated on facebook.com from a high school student in Connecticut. They were inspired by the Youtube video of Juan Mann, an Australian who first brought Free Hugs to the streets.

Worldwide Free Hugs Day is in response to the anniversary of September 11th, which is a date remembered for terror, tragedy, and human suffering. A global Free Hugs campaign brings the focus back to community, connection and caring – which are forces more likely to counteract terror than any solution that relies on force.

I started the day out alone at English Bay, and was joined by a dozen people of at various times to give out Free Hugs to anyone who would take them. (Some came back more than once!)

If you would like to be involved in the future, just look for groups on tribe.net, myspace.com, and facebook.com to organize a time and a place to meet with others to give Free Hugs. This very simple action can leave people feeling empowered, cared for, and hopeful. (And, by the end of the day, you feel awesome and blessed for having shared so much care with so many people.)

 

For further inspiration, look to the fellow who started up the Free Hugs movement: Juan Mann.

JUAN MANN'S OFFICIAL FREE HUGS HOME: www.freehugscampaign.org

JUAN MANN: "The campaign is an example of a random act of kindness, a selfless act performed by someone for the sole reason of making others feel better. The purpose is not to get names, phone numbers, or dates." – www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_hugs

 

 

I have just joined an art studio at 1000 Parker Street and will be part of the Eastside Culture Crawl for the first time this summer. My studio mates include Phoebe Greyson, David Tycho, Monica Sanft, and Isaac John Lewis.

The culture crawl is an amazing experience that I have enjoyed every year since I moved to Vancouver. I am super-stoked to be part of it this year. Please come visit the studio at suite 430, 1000 Parker Street, for this year's culture crawl, from November 16 to 18th. and check out our work.

The Eastside Culture Crawl is an annual 3-day event that involves artists who live in Vancouver's Eastside. Painters, jewellers, sculptors, furniture makers, musicians, weavers, potters, writers, printmakers, photographers, glassblowers; from emerging artists to those of international fame... these are just a sampling of the exciting talents featured during this unique chance to meet local artists in their studios.

Purchase something that strikes your fancy, commission something to be uniquely yours, or just browse through the studios and meet the artists, learning about their specific works of art, materials and tools, approaches and techniques. This is a once a year opportunity to meet many diversely talented artists and view their creations in the studios where they work. Be part of this exciting event, which brings people from all over the Lower Mainland, and share in the imaginations that enrich our neighbourhood and lives.

(text and image taken from the Eastside Culture Crawl website: www.eastsideculturecrawl.com )

After two days of painting and one day of painting to go, the mural I am working on at Ambleside Youth Centre is looking pretty jazzy snazzy.

With the help of a handful of youth and a few staff, the work has been enjoyable and the blazing sun bearable.

This is the design I put together:

This shot taken at the end of our first day shows how i used taping to help block off sections of colour. I did this partly to create nice clean lines, and partly to make it easier for youth to help paint.

(There I am, posing with a mini-roller and the yellow heart-star shirt I made, before I got it all covered in paint. I should have worn a different shirt.)

This is what the mural looked like after our second day of work.

And here it is after our third and final day:

I could really get into doing more murals. Lotsa fun.

 

Phil.

 

My adventures in portraiture have continued.

I was blessed to have my friend Jen pose for some incredibly magical maternity photos. She has an amazing tickle trunk of costumes from her rich and vibrant life, and with each costume change, different personas emerged.

Tribal, Divine, Serene, Feral, Spiritual, Sensual, Mystical.

My friend Kris was there to help with lights and fans, as well as coax glorious smiles and laughter from Jen with her witty banter.

I will continue to do a number of photoshoots to develop my portfolio and skills. In time, these images will find a home on another website, dedicated to my photography.

At that time I will begin to look for clients to offer my photographic services to.

Until then, please enjoy the delightful images of the folks who are supporting me on my journey in art and have blessed me with their time and spirit.

Thanks again, Jen and Kris.

Phil.

 

 

I am continuing to work on my images for the children's story I wrote, Ogre for a Day.

It seems like I will go ahead with my idea to juxtaposition the boy's idea that he has in fact been turned into an ogre with the more traditional social sense of reality by having the boy's ogre self done in an animated style overlaying photographs of his home and school.

Here is a sample of what it may look like.


This may take longer than I anticipate, as I need to find a number of people to fill the supporting cast and some appropriate settings to shoot in.

Please send in any ideas of available locations or people who may fill the roles of parents, students, teacher, and principal to phil@philipstephen.com

You will be able to find the book in my online store once both are up and running.

Phil.

Due to the encouragement of a number of friends, I am expanding my photographic repetoire to include fantasy portraiture.

My first steps are to develop a solid portfolio that shows the range of my ability to create gorgeous images.

Yesterday I did my first photoshoot with Amber and Laura of the tribal dance troupe, Vital Divine. It was an amazing and highly enjoyable process.

You can see the results in my Photography section of my Gallery.

If you are interested in booking a session, please be patient. I will not be looking seriously for clients until I have finished creating my portfolio.

At that time I will likely create a separate website to better highlight my photographic work without competing for attention with my more whimsical storybook-style art.