AVE

plate it up!

2012-01-28T20:44:00.010+11:00

My Matisse is staying true to her name....at 20 months she is a little artist! We've found her drawing on the walls, the couch, the floor and then on her plate....the strawberries were tipped over and her pink bowl was decorated with a purple texta. As a mamma, my first instict was to correct her behaviour but as an artist I totally got what she was doing.

I'm so lucky to have such sweet, creative and funny daughters who present me with this gift everyday, it's my job to channel it via AVE.

Here are some pieces I created to test Matisses' decorating theory and I think I like, thank baby girl!

Soon you'll be serving it up AVE style!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/AVE/197791265001 and www.aveisbird.com.au coming soon......YAY!!!

x
M

Who needs sugar in their coffee when she's around?

2012-01-14T02:10:00.002+11:00

Its a sequence of facial expressions of my little chica at brekky time . This hungry little Taurus is funny, sweet, special, loving, happy, curly, delightful, inquisitive, growing, fearless....and everything cute.

Matisse at age 20 months

migrating times

2012-01-09T00:48:00.009+11:00

Happy New Year peeps!

This year AVE is migrating....we're taking the journey to a new place, it's different and it's going to be amazing! Its not that we are looking for greener grass, it's just that AVE has grown so much in the last year and it needs to be recognized. RESPECT the little bird! It has been hard with two kids, the daily running of our home and a million other things to do but it's been worth it.

With the help of another sweet little bird (Petite Marguerite Design) we are getting closer to where AVE needs to be and that's a good feeling. Part of that is getting the website up and running!

In the mean time, I am committing to share with you my visual diary....everyday I will post a picture of something I've drawn to document a moment that's touched my heART in some way this will be an interesting exercise to in so many levels.

Today, I share with you a picture I drew last night whilst reflecting the extra huggy day my little chicas had....we love cuddles around here!

'dos hermanas' meaning 'two sisters' in love.

x
M

Barabing - it's Christmas!

2011-12-13T05:10:00.005+11:00

Christmas is here! Where does the year go? I hope Santa brings me a big box of time wrapped up with a nice puffy bow on top!

I wish that all the kids in the world have an amazing Christmas creating their childhood memories celebrating with their cousins, friends and brothers and sisters....I know my daughters are already excited about all the flashing lights that light up the streets at night it makes me smile looking at their happy little faces.

What's your best Christmas memory? Mine is getting all our fireworks ready.... I grew up in El Salvador and firecrackers are part of our culture. We would buy all the different styles and sizes...my brothers and cousins always put on a show!!!

Barabing! Bam! boooom! Pop! baaaaboooom!

AVE wishes you a colourful Christmas full of love, happiness and peace!

x
M

Love is....creating from the heart.

2011-07-14T22:32:00.008+10:00

As part of my creative soul searching I have asked myself, what was my first memory of illustration that I connected with....and I realised that back in the 80s my mami used to give me these little lollies wrapped in the 'Love is...' illustrations by Kim Casali....she illustrated simple boy and girl figures that spoke a thousand words, the images were from the heart, they captured emotion and made complete sense without making a big deal. The funny thing is that 30 years later this is what I look to achieve in my illustrations, to draw feelings and to represent what some cannot find words for. As I look through some of Casali's images I realise how similar our thinking is...here is an one that made me realise 'wow, what ever we give our children moulds how they'll think and act in the future'. I thank my beautiful, thoughtful mami for sharing Kim Casali's work with me at such a young age (as innocent as she thought it was)...and for continuing to show me what love is....and thankyou Kim for spreading the word of what LOVE IS....

Kim Casali Cartoon illustrator

Maria @ AVE

x
AVE Maria

mi alegria = my happiness

2011-04-20T00:55:00.014+10:00

An illustration published in BIG kids Magazine Artist Collaboration themed 'my first flight'

a self portrait of my girls and I....COMPLETE FROM THE GROUND UP

Creating is something that comes natural to me...I love being part of such a magical process....it comes from deep within my soul to be creative. Since I was a small chica I have created, from making the most elaborate nativity scenes to making an ice-cream parlour shop with my upside bike, but now that I am a mother, creating takes a new meaning. I just never knew how to express what I felt whilst giving birth....well, last night I found something that allowed me to understand and voice what I felt.

“Birth is very challenging in the best way possible. Every fiber of your being in alive. It’s like you are conducting electricity, literally creating something..... I felt as though I’d been introduced to myself for the first time. You become totally uncompromising, wild and fierce.”~Actress Thandie Newton,mother of two.

So now that I am a creator of art and life I am content. I am complete. I am woman. I am me. I am powerful. I am happy. I have wings, my feathers are bright coloured brushstrokes of love, painted when they were born...I take flight when I create. High up in the sky I see what it's all about.

x AVE maria

right turns....

2011-04-12T01:06:00.012+10:00

Sorry I have been away from my blog...but I have been existing in other places. I have been thinking, dreaming, living, loving, growing, nurturing, planning, balancing and simply just being.

I have come to a cross roads place, where one road leads to another and then an intersection with no give way signs...I am on a roll with my illustrations and I am on a role, the most important one of my life - being a mama of 2 beautiful little girls. So now what I have to do is to listen to my GPS (only bc I can't read Melways without turning it upside down) let it take me where it needs to take me, however never forgetting that I am the one driving so I am in control!

The next few months it's about making the right turns and getting to the destinations....at the right pace and at the right time. Lots of places to go, people to meet and things to do in my journey. Thanks for hanging around and encouraging me!

My wish list for 2011:

Creative space (business plan, location etc)
Stockists for illustrations (cards, invitations, limited edition)
Paper/kids exhibition
Set up network events
Charity art and Exhibition
Holiday or maybe 2
Excercise
Learn how to use my DSLR
Bake more
Learn how to crochet/spend time with Abuelita Toñita (my Granma)
Stop writing so many lists

see you at the next lights!

x AVE Maria

AVE = BIRD

2010-08-19T22:43:00.011+10:00

The first illustration I made for AVE 'Proud Lorenza'

Lorenza at home (Dad says she's over 50 years old)

Birds are an important aspect of my work as they represent and symbolise many positive things in my life. I am a bird watcher and enjoy the way they dance with each other, the way they fly together, the way they sing amazing tunes and most importantly the way they nurture their babies and I take these as some of life's lessons.

My work for AVE is originally influenced by a particular bird called LORENZA. A green parrot who belongs to my grandma Toñita's, she has been around longer than most of us, standing beautifully on her stick, singing, laughing, whistling and talking. Her big eyes always watching as she chewed on her favourite piece of corn.

I dedicate AVE to Lorenza and her bird friends for entertaining me as a child and for teaching me some lessons as an adult.

'the best things a mother can give her children are roots and wings' anon

x AVE Maria

handmade love

2010-08-15T01:59:00.010+10:00

A knitted doily rug created by (Ladies and Gentlemen Etsy store available) so gorgeous to decorate the floor

Stretch with an embroidery frame. They almost look like spider webs carefully woven by delicate vintage looking spiders

Amazing shadows for a pretty corner with plenty of light

I have a facination for crochet doilies, to me they are the perfect combination of handmade love, sweet vintage, delicate patterns and amazing memories of my Abuelita Toñita (Spanish = Grandma) making them.

I have a little collection which include some special ones that have been handed down to me and others that I have found at random op shops. But I am not one to display them on top of my side tables so here are some funky ways to get the most out of these pretty little things and appreciate their detail and intricacy.

x AVE Maria

wondering where the birds go...?

2010-08-11T23:09:00.010+10:00

'where do the birds go when it rains?'

I know everyone talks about the weather when there is nothing else to say, but this is not that type of conversation, I promise!.

Today in Melbourne - it was cold, windy, raining, let's say it was perfect for a cup or two of hot chocolate and a movie under our knitted blanky, however we didn't do that as we went to visit a friend and her two little girls...on our way there Allegra noticed there were no birds out, so she asked me 'where are the birds mama?' .....it was an unexpected question to which I replied 'they're sitting ontop of the clouds where there is no rain or wind', hoping that this was a good enough explanation for my nearly 3 year old, ...she said 'mama I wanna go there!'.....

I love how my little girl surprises me with wonderful words that make me wonder, think, imagine, smile and cry with pride.

x AVE Maria

I'm perched...

2010-08-11T01:15:00.004+10:00

I have been away for some time, making a nest, watching my egg hatch and flying high, in other words I was organising my home for the arrival of my second baby and being extremely happy with my life...hence the reference to one of my favourite illustrators Madeleine Stamer's piece 'Perched girl with bird' ( http://www.littlecircusdesign.com/ ).

I missed blogging...I hadn't done it much but I liked documenting about my inspiration, my thoughts and the life behind AVE. Now, I'm back and am delighted to have you here!

thanks for sitting on this branch with me......it's a nice view from here!

x AVE Maria

if I were....

2009-08-17T14:14:00.007+10:00

If I were a rock.....

this would be me!
and these would be my family and friends.
A. Allegra
B. Levi
C. Natty
D. March
E. Chilli
F. Papi
G. Carlos
H. Alex
J. Mami
K. Carm
L. Vicente
M. Lee Lee

x Ave Maria

Keep your hands gLOVED!

2009-08-14T00:00:00.003+10:00

Mama/Papa and bambino 'hold my hand' mittens
Glovetashes because you gotta have humour in winter!

Gloves as pockets...toasty!!

I am the type of person that if my hands are cold so is the rest of my body, I can't sew, I can't think, I can't relax unless my hands are warm...so when I saw these images I smiled because someone else feels the same way!

Show and Tell #1

2009-08-11T00:00:00.007+10:00

Here is a sneak peak of my version of thread painting.

They are still in working progress & there's more images as part of the collection, but I thought I'd take a moment to reflect & rest my fingers.

x Ave Maria

I hART you

2009-08-06T00:51:00.041+10:00

Artist: Carlos - Organic drawings from his visual diary
Artist: Carlos - a sweet tribute to LOVE

Artist: Carlos - still one of my fave pieces from RED exhibition

Artist: Maurice - canvas wall tiles. This picture does not do her justice!

Artist: Maurice - This piece is so amazing I could die from recent 'Cereal Killers' http://www.4horsemen.tv/cereal-killers/ exhibition

Artist: Tiffany - I fell in love with this piece 5 years ago...and I still love it, Hand made Sterling Silver rivited Butterfly Pendant with Leather insert and Matt finish! Artist:Tiffany - my new found love...hand made oxidized Sterling Silver owl Ring with 2 X 4 mm round Smokey Quartz stones

Artist: Tiffany - oh dear! hand made Silver oxidized Deer Pendant

As a born again artist I am rediscovering, reconnecting and rejoicing in my journey...I am lucky that I have some amazingly inspiring people around me to remind and encourage me to express my creativity, here are just a few:

My brother Carlos http://www.studioequator.com.au/, a talented and successful Melbourne Graphic Designer with love for anything Mazinger. His drive and focus is blinding and his love for his little family is beautiful. His mind is constantly ticking with ideas, but he has an angel sitting on his shoulder balancing out his sometimes outrageous creations. His work is 'designer heaven', everything precisely thought of and accounted for.

My soulfriend Maurice (work can be found at http://www.cyberiastore.com.au/ and http://designaspace.com.au/), a modest artist with music as a heart beat, who learnt how to spray paint even before he got his pen licence and with a constant appetite for everything pasta. Just like his laugh, you can pick his art work from a crowd of millions, it's colourful, spontaneous and heartfelt.

and....

My motherhood sister Tiffany http://tiffanypollard.net/index.html, a beautiful jeweller who's smile warms my heart, her care for her son is breathtaking and her strength is Joan of Arcish. In her sun filled Nicholas building studio she creates her pieces, which are simply defined as eclectic. With her signature oxidised technique, her spontaneous mix of materials, a pick of colourful gems and soft pearls her work gains a heart beat and my heart skips a beat.

In the true words of Danielle Laporte (author of http://www.thewhitehottruth.com) 'my heart swells with gratitude.'

x Ave Maria

Branch out

2009-08-05T01:13:00.006+10:00

Wall Garden - air living plants, pinned & growing on cork board
Moss mat - maintained by the humidity & water captured while you dry
LivingStones - a clever idea to turn hard pebbles into comfy cushions

Branch out - this curvy tree branch turn shelf blends well into the straight wall

I love the idea of inviting the outdoor in, to co-habitate with the rest of the furniture, it is organic, beautiful, clever & free.

For more ideas like these go to some of my fav sites

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/

http://www.re-nest.com/

x Ave Maria

Handmade

2009-08-03T14:14:00.008+10:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMGSH0J0dUU

For your Visual & Audio tastebuds...song & video by a sweet Japanese band called SOUR. This is 'HANGETSU' (meaning half-moon, half-month, semi circle) from their first album Rainbow under the overpass...

I connect with it because I speak the same 'handmade' language (just with a different accent). Check out YouTube http://www.youtube.com/ to watch more of their creative work.

Their message inspires me to think outside the square & to keep my creative rhythm going.

x Ave Maria

L.O.V.E

2009-08-02T10:44:00.007+10:00

Love is all you need...

celebrate it,

embrace it,

express it...

x Ave Maria

SQUINT to see more colour!

2009-07-30T23:46:00.011+10:00

Perfect yellow mirror to frame my bright reflection

Patchwork cabinet to house my black and white socks

Egg chair like I've never seen it before....

This bed to compliment my colourful dreams!

I found this London based company called Squint http://www.squintlimited.com/ by exploring the internet one night & I could not believe my eyes....amazingly funky, unique, strong, confidently beautiful upholstered furniture that made me happy just to know that it existed.

My favourite range is called 'Bespoke'... I love how each piece is differenent and it incorporates a mix of bright contemporary & vintage fabrics & is meticulously made to order by English craftmanship.

Squint sells through Squint, Harrods, Liberty, Designers Guild, Lane Crawford, J Roaman, Barneys New York, Off The Peg & ships internationally....if you are anywhere near these stores do yourselves a favour & check it out, if not check out their site & don't forget Squint ships internationally (I hope my husband is reading this!)

x Ave Maria

Illustration love

2009-07-29T22:48:00.010+10:00

As a kid in El Salvador, I discovered a brilliant book that shaped the way I illustrated & now becoming a mother has given me the best subject matter to draw, hence my uncontrollable gravitation towards illustrating girls & birds (which I will be proudly sharing with you in a kids' range to be released in September).

Allegra is now 22 cheeky months & everyday she gives me a reason to illustrate a million books to document her sweet way of showing affection,

her ability to make us laugh uncontrollably,

her funny language & mannerisms,

her gentle love for animals & anything small,

her natural interest in colours & her beat to music.

Ave Handmade Kids' printed t-shirts, singlets, colouring books, wall art & jersey blankets will be available September - stay tunned!

x Ave Maria

PS. I have a feeling that the book is at my mum's house I will find it....!

Viva la Vida

2009-07-28T19:44:00.003+10:00

I am honouring the woman who enters my dreams, who lives in my blood flow & who influences my colourful creations....Frida Kahlo.

A Mexican native, her paintings & life was a tragic weave of passion for her culture, desire for a normal & painless life & love for her famous painter husband, Diego Rivera.

I have grown up with a lot of strong, beautiful & admirable women & I am happy to add Frida to the list, even though personally I did not know her...I have a relationship with her.

The only way I can express the way I feel is by letting my hands do it...I am working on some pieces which will be displayed at exhibition later in the year.

Interested? keep reading my blog to know where and when.

x Ave Maria

Travel = Inspiration

2009-07-27T00:04:00.003+10:00

Unintentional beauty. Unconditional Design. Undescribable Texture. Unbearable Inspiration. Untouched Spontaneity. Unforgettable Culture. Unbreakable Connection. Unfound Colour.

x Ave Maria

Here I am!

2009-07-26T03:08:00.002+10:00

I have been wanting to share my creative journey with you for a very long time...and now I'm ready.

I hope you enjoy my inspirational images and posts.

x Ave Maria

PS. "I make stuff because I get sad if I don't" Mr Will 'Fancy Pants' Bryant http://will-bryant.com/%20(one(one of my inspirational illustrators)