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Art Advent 2024

As previously mentioned on this page, Art Advent Calendar is an annual festival of art posts conceived years ago by @JayisPainting to fill December social media feeds with lots of original art.

When I can participate, I try to challenge myself to create a whole new project, pretty much in real time.

This year’s AAC was officially held on Bluesky, but I also posted my absurd little project up on my Mastodon and Tumblr feeds as well.

Here’s how it went over the course of the 3 weeks.

December 1

Late on Day 1 of the 2024 #ArtAdventCalendar, I got a missive from the local beavers, engineers all, announcing their participation with some kind of so-called “tradition” they are planning to celebrate the Solstice.

Cutout paper cartoon of a beaver in a yellow hard hat holding a string rope which is around the neck of a much larger cartoon cutout paper bison in a purple tuque. Real foliage surrounds them in the dark of the night.

[Read more…]

December 2

Daylight on Day 2’s #ArtAdventCalendar reveals that they’ve been busy overnight. Wait, does that platform have wheels?

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged on a wooden platform in a bed of leaves and foliage. A beaver in a yellow hard hat holds a string rope which is around the neck of a much larger bison in a purple tuque. A walrus is sitting on the back of the bison, wearing a mitten and looking unsteady and annoyed. One beaver in an orange helmet on the platform and another in a yellow helmet and holding a clipboard on the ground are overseeing the situation.

December 4

Footage of Day 3’s #ArtAdventCalendar construction action was delayed, but our intrepid crew of Castor canadensis clearly has not been!

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged on a wooden platform in a bed of leaves and foliage. A beaver in a yellow hard hat holds a string rope which is around the neck of a much larger bison in a purple tuque. A walrus is sitting on the back of the bison, wearing a mitten and looking unsteady and annoyed. One beaver in an orange helmet on the platform and another in a yellow helmet and holding a clipboard on the ground are overseeing the situation. A moose with ear muffs is chewing twigs on the back of the walrus, observing a light orange-hard hatted beaver at his feet giving a thumbs up. A beaver in a blue-grey helmet climbs around on the moose’s antlers.

December 7

A very late #ArtAdventCalendar Day 4. The beaver crew have apologized for being behind schedule, but this is Toronto, where many construction projects are WAY behind schedule. More snow has arrived, to welcome the latest addition into place!

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged on a wooden platform in a bed of leaves and foliage. A beaver in a yellow hard hat holds a string rope which is around the neck of a much larger bison in a purple tuque. A walrus is sitting on the back of the bison, wearing a mitten and looking unsteady and annoyed. One beaver in an orange helmet on the platform and another in a yellow helmet and holding a clipboard on the ground are overseeing the situation. A moose with ear muffs is chewing twigs on the back of the walrus, observing a light orange-hard hatted beaver at his feet giving a thumbs up. A polar bear is being lowered onto the moose by a rope and belly band, with a beaver in a blue-grey hard hat holding the rope on top of the bear.

December 8

Three days late #ArtAdventCalendar Day 5 sees the beaver crews working well into the night to catch up. But, I ask you, are corners being cut? It’s starting to look tippy!

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged on a wooden platform in a bed of leaves and foliage. A beaver in a yellow hard hat holds a string rope which is around the neck of a much larger bison in a purple tuque. A walrus is sitting on the back of the bison, wearing a mitten and looking unsteady and annoyed. One beaver in an orange helmet on the platform and another in a yellow helmet and holding a clipboard on the ground are overseeing the situation. A moose with ear muffs is chewing twigs on the back of the walrus, observing a light orange-hard hatted beaver at its feet giving a thumbs up. A polar bear in a beanie tuque sits on the moose, and a muskox in a mauve silk scarf is on top of it, with an angry beaver construction worker standing beside it looking down.

December 10

A somewhat tardy entry for Day 6 of #ArtAdventCalendar. The beaver engineers have issued a press release on a piece of birch bark, inscribed only with the words “We know, we know.”

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged on a wooden platform in a bed of leaves and foliage. A beaver in a yellow hard hat holds a string rope which is around the neck of a much larger bison in a purple tuque. A walrus is sitting on the back of the bison, wearing a mitten and looking unsteady and annoyed. One beaver in an orange helmet on the platform and another in a yellow helmet and holding a clipboard on the ground are overseeing the situation. A moose with ear muffs is chewing twigs on the back of the walrus, observing a light orange-hard hatted beaver at his feet giving a thumbs up. A polar bear in a beanie tuque sits on the moose, and a muskox in a mauve silk scarf is on top of it, with an angry beaver construction worker standing beside it looking down. A grizzly bear wearing red leg warmers stands on all fours on the muskox, with a beaver hanging from its neck and two hard-hatted beavers arguing on its back.

December 11

It may be Day 11 of #ArtAdventCalendar for the rest of the world, but this crew is beavering away on the blueprints for Day 7.

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged on a wooden platform in a bed of leaves and foliage. A large tower of animals is being built apparently by a team of beavers. At the top stands a mountain goat with a sash on, and a hard hat wearing beaver on its back reading a blueprint. Below it is a grizzly bear wearing red leg warmers stands on all fours on a muskox in a mauve silk scarf, who stands on a polar bear in a beanie tuque, who in turn sits on a moose with ear muffs who is chewing twigs. The moose stands on a walrus wearing a mitten and looking unsteady and annoyed as it is perched on an unimpressed-looking bison in a tuque at the bottom of the stack. The bison is hitched to a string held by one of several beavers in hard hats who are tending to the animals or otherwise supervising construction.

December 12

Behind schedule #ArtAdventCalendar Day 8: Construction on the Solstice Tower continues, and stability is paramount. As the weather turns frigid and high winds sweep over Toronto, a beaver engineer checks windspeed at the present tower height. #yyz

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged on a wooden platform in a bed of leaves and foliage. A large tower of animals is being built apparently by a team of beavers. At the top a beaver wearing a hard hat holds a finger to the wind, standing on a mountain lion who wears a long scarf stands. It stands on a mountain goat with a sash on, and below that is a grizzly bear wearing red leg warmers standing on all fours on a muskox in a mauve silk scarf, who stands on a polar bear in a beanie tuque, who in turn sits on a moose with ear muffs who is chewing twigs. The moose stands on a walrus wearing a mitten and looking unsteady and annoyed as it is perched on an unimpressed-looking bison in a tuque at the bottom of the stack. The bison is hitched to a string held by one of several beavers in hard hats who are tending to the animals or otherwise supervising construction.

December 12

Overtime for the crew tonight with #ArtAdventCalendar Day 9. Yet another piece of winter clothing is carefully applied by a beaver engineer, who are known as much for their keen fashion sense as they are for building enormous stacks of animals.

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged on a wooden platform in a bed of leaves and foliage. A large tower of animals is being built apparently by a team of beavers. At the top a beaver wearing a hard hat has just placed a silly tuque on a ringed seal, who lies on top of a mountain lion that is wearing a long scarf stands. It stands on a mountain goat with a sash on, and below that is a grizzly bear wearing red leg warmers standing on all fours on a muskox in a mauve silk scarf, who stands on a polar bear in a beanie tuque, who in turn sits on a moose with ear muffs who is chewing twigs. The moose stands on a walrus wearing a mitten and looking unsteady and annoyed as it is perched on an unimpressed-looking bison in a tuque at the bottom of the stack. The bison is hitched to a string held by one of several beavers in hard hats who are tending to the animals or otherwise supervising construction.

December 16

Very late for #ArtAdventCalendar Day 10. At this point I’d worry about heights, but I’m told this crew knows what they’re doing—despite being a semi-aquatic, terrestrial species!

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged on a wooden platform in a bed of leaves and foliage. A large tower of animals is being built apparently by a team of beavers. At the top two beavers wearing a hard hats standby under a wolf wearing a neck warmer. The wolf stands on a ringed seal with a silly tuque, who lies on top of a mountain lion that is wearing a long scarf. It stands on a mountain goat with a sash on, and below that is a grizzly bear wearing red leg warmers who stands on a muskox in a mauve silk scarf, who stands on a polar bear in a beanie tuque, who in turn sits on a moose with ear muffs who is chewing twigs. The moose stands on a walrus wearing a mitten and looking unsteady and annoyed as it is perched on an unimpressed-looking bison in a tuque at the bottom of the stack. The bison is hitched to a string held by one of several beavers in hard hats who are tending to the animals or otherwise supervising construction.

December 17

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 11 catch-up. That’s a red flag if I’ve ever seen one! Two, in fact! But is it because of the dangerous animal they just added to the pile…or is something even more dangerous on its way?

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged on a wooden platform in a bed of leaves and foliage. A large tower of animals is being built apparently by a team of beavers. At the top, a beaver waves two red flags while standing atop a disgruntled wolverine wearing a wee blue and teal tuque. It stands upon a wolf wearing a neck warmer with two beavers wearing a hard hats under him. The wolf stands on a ringed seal with a silly tuque, who lies on top of a mountain lion that is wearing a long scarf. It stands on a mountain goat with a sash on, and below that is a grizzly bear wearing red leg warmers who stands on a muskox in a mauve silk scarf, who stands on a polar bear in a beanie tuque, who in turn sits on a moose with ear muffs who is chewing twigs. The moose stands on a walrus wearing a mitten and looking unsteady and annoyed as it is perched on an unimpressed-looking bison in a tuque at the bottom of the stack. The bison is hitched to a string held by one of several beavers in hard hats who are tending to the animals or otherwise supervising construction.

December 18

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 12 catch-up. Conditions were slippery after rain all day, so the night crew used extreme caution placing the latest addition. But that’s about the most dangerous thing they could add at this point, right? Right?

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged on a wooden platform in a bed of leaves and foliage. A large tower of animals is being built apparently by a team of beavers. At the top, a porcupine with mauve mittens stands on a disgruntled wolverine. The porcupine appears to have been deposited by a pair of beavers, one wearing oven mitts, from a cherry-picker bucket which is extended by a wooden beam from right of frame. The wolverine is wearing a wee blue and teal tuque and stands upon a wolf wearing a neck warmer with two beavers wearing a hard hats under it. The wolf stands on a ringed seal with a silly tuque, who lies on top of a mountain lion that is wearing a long scarf. It stands on a mountain goat with a sash on, and below that is a grizzly bear wearing red leg warmers who stands on a muskox in a mauve silk scarf, who stands on a polar bear in a beanie tuque, who in turn sits on a moose with ear muffs who is chewing twigs. The moose stands on a walrus wearing a mitten and looking unsteady and annoyed as it is perched on an unimpressed-looking bison in a tuque at the bottom of the stack. The bison is hitched to a string held by one of several beavers in hard hats who are tending to the animals or otherwise supervising construction.

December 19

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 13 catch-up: Oh, snap! Today’s session is a reminder that this is a dangerous undertaking. But beaver engineers are trained professionals, with access to industry-leading chain-mail mittens.

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged on a wooden platform in a bed of leaves and foliage. A large tower of animals is being built apparently by a team of beavers. At the top, an Eastern Snapping Turtle sits on top of the pile while a beaver with chain mail mittens dangles near it from a rough rope, apparently having evaded a bite. The porcupine below the turtle wears mauve mittens and stands on a disgruntled wolverine. The wolverine is wearing a wee blue and teal tuque and stands upon a wolf wearing a neck warmer with two beavers wearing a hard hats under it. The wolf stands on a ringed seal with a silly tuque, who lies on top of a mountain lion that is wearing a long scarf. It stands on a mountain goat with a sash on, and below that is a grizzly bear wearing red leg warmers who stands on a muskox in a mauve silk scarf, who stands on a polar bear in a beanie tuque, who in turn sits on a moose with ear muffs who is chewing twigs. The moose stands on a walrus wearing a mitten and looking unsteady and annoyed as it is perched on an unimpressed-looking bison in a tuque at the bottom of the stack. The bison is hitched to a string held by one of several beavers in hard hats who are tending to the animals or otherwise supervising construction.

December 20

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 14 catch-up: Beaver Engineer Pro Tip: You’re always welcome to Like & Subscribe, but whatever you do, don’t hit the lynx.

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged on a wooden platform in a bed of leaves and foliage. A large tower of animals is being built by a team of beavers. At the top, a beaver with a clipboard and hard hat stands on a Canada Lynx wearing a green and yellow scarf, which stands on an Eastern Snapping Turtle wearing orange fuzzy ear muffs. The porcupine below the turtle wears mauve mittens and stands on a disgruntled wolverine. The wolverine is wearing a wee blue and teal tuque and stands upon a wolf wearing a neck warmer with two beavers wearing a hard hats under it. The wolf stands on a ringed seal with a silly tuque, who lies on top of a mountain lion that is wearing a long scarf. It stands on a mountain goat with a sash on, and below that is a grizzly bear wearing red leg warmers who stands on a muskox in a mauve silk scarf, who stands on a polar bear in a beanie tuque, who in turn sits on a moose with ear muffs who is chewing twigs. The moose stands on a walrus wearing a mitten and looking unsteady and annoyed as it is perched on an unimpressed-looking bison in a tuque at the bottom of the stack. The bison is hitched to a string held by one of several beavers in hard hats who are tending to the animals or otherwise supervising construction.

December 20

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 15 catch-up: The night crew is doing overtime as they face an unforgiving timeline! Solstice is upon us!

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged on a wooden platform in a bed of leaves and foliage. A large tower of animals is being built by a team of beavers. At the top, a beaver in a hard hat adjusts a flap-eared hat on a river otter who is standing on a Canada Lynx wearing a green and yellow scarf, which stands on an Eastern Snapping Turtle wearing orange fuzzy ear muffs. The porcupine below the turtle wears mauve mittens and stands on a disgruntled wolverine. The wolverine is wearing a wee blue and teal tuque and stands upon a wolf wearing a neck warmer with two beavers wearing a hard hats under it. The wolf stands on a ringed seal with a silly tuque, who lies on top of a mountain lion that is wearing a long scarf. It stands on a mountain goat with a sash on, and below that is a grizzly bear wearing red leg warmers who stands on a muskox in a mauve silk scarf, who stands on a polar bear in a beanie tuque, who in turn sits on a moose with ear muffs who is chewing twigs. The moose stands on a walrus wearing a mitten and looking unsteady and annoyed as it is perched on an unimpressed-looking bison in a tuque at the bottom of the stack. The bison is hitched to a string held by one of several beavers in hard hats who are tending to the animals or otherwise supervising construction.

December 21, 3:00am

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 16 catch-up: How does the night crew stay focused on the graveyard shift? Coffee, of course! Being beavers, let’s face it, it’s probably spiked with poplar sap.

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged on a wooden platform in a bed of leaves and foliage. A large tower of animals is being built by a team of beavers. At the top, a beaver in a hard hat pours coffee from a thermos while standing on an arctic fox in a teeny tiny dockworkers cap. The fox stands on a river otter in a flap-eared hat who is standing on a Canada Lynx wearing a green and yellow scarf, which stands on an Eastern Snapping Turtle wearing orange fuzzy ear muffs. The porcupine below the turtle wears mauve mittens and stands on a disgruntled wolverine. The wolverine is wearing a wee blue and teal tuque and stands upon a wolf wearing a neck warmer with two beavers wearing a hard hats under it. The wolf stands on a ringed seal with a silly tuque, who lies on top of a mountain lion that is wearing a long scarf. It stands on a mountain goat with a sash on, and below that is a grizzly bear wearing red leg warmers who stands on a muskox in a mauve silk scarf, who stands on a polar bear in a beanie tuque, who in turn sits on a moose with ear muffs who is chewing twigs. The moose stands on a walrus wearing a mitten and looking unsteady and annoyed as it is perched on an unimpressed-looking bison in a tuque at the bottom of the stack. The bison is hitched to a string held by one of several beavers in hard hats who are tending to the animals or otherwise supervising construction.

December 21, 1:00pm

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 17 catch-up on Day 21: Early afternoon on the shortest day of the year—deadline—finds the work continuing at a frantic pace, in a race against the sun!

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged on a wooden platform in a bed of leaves and foliage. A large tower of animals is being built by a team of beavers. At the top, a Canada goose is having a plaid business scarf tied on by a beaver in a hard hart, while standing on an arctic fox in a teeny tiny dockworkers cap. The fox stands on a river otter in a flap-eared hat who is standing on a Canada Lynx wearing a green and yellow scarf, which stands on an Eastern Snapping Turtle wearing orange fuzzy ear muffs. The porcupine below the turtle wears mauve mittens and stands on a disgruntled wolverine. The wolverine is wearing a wee blue and teal tuque and stands upon a wolf wearing a neck warmer with two beavers wearing a hard hats under it. The wolf stands on a ringed seal with a silly tuque, who lies on top of a mountain lion that is wearing a long scarf. It stands on a mountain goat with a sash on, and below that is a grizzly bear wearing red leg warmers who stands on a muskox in a mauve silk scarf, who stands on a polar bear in a beanie tuque, who in turn sits on a moose with ear muffs who is chewing twigs. The moose stands on a walrus wearing a mitten and looking unsteady and annoyed as it is perched on an unimpressed-looking bison in a tuque at the bottom of the stack. The bison is hitched to a string held by one of several beavers in hard hats who are tending to the animals or otherwise supervising construction.

December 21, 3:45pm

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 18 catch-up on Day 21: Late afternoon and a cold wind is picking up in Toronto. As if to mock the oncoming cold snap, the beaver engineers are adding more arctic animals to the tower.

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged on a wooden platform in a bed of leaves and foliage. A large tower of animals is being built by a team of beavers. At the top, a snowy owl is wearing a tuque askew. It stand on a Canada goose that wears a plaid business scarf and is standing on an arctic fox in a tiny cap. The fox stands on a river otter in a flap-eared hat who is standing on a Canada Lynx wearing a scarf, which stands on an snapping turtle wearing ear muffs. The porcupine below the turtle wears mittens and stands on a wolverine. The wolverine is wearing a blue and teal tuque and stands upon a wolf wearing a neck warmer. The wolf stands on a ringed seal with a tuque, who lies on top of a mountain lion wearing a long scarf. It stands on a mountain goat with a sash on, and below that is a grizzly bear wearing leg warmers who stands on a muskox in a silk scarf, who stands on a polar bear in a beanie tuque, who in turn sits on a moose with ear muffs. The moose stands on a walrus wearing a mitten as it is perched on a bison in a tuque at the bottom of the stack. The bison is hitched to a string held by one of several beavers.

December 21, 4:30pm

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 19 catch-up on Day 21: Alas, clouds have come in and darkened the sunset. Harsh construction site lighting has come on. The beavers state that they’ll be on the job until the tower is complete.

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged on a wooden platform in a bed of leaves and foliage. A large tower of animals is being built by a team of beavers. At the top, a snowshoe hare wears mittens on his front paws and has almost knocked off the tuque of the snowy owl that he sits on. The owl stands on a Canada goose that wears a scarf and is standing on an arctic fox in a tiny cap. The fox stands on a river otter in a flap-eared hat who is standing on a Canada Lynx wearing a scarf, which stands on an snapping turtle wearing ear muffs. The porcupine below that wears mittens and stands on a wolverine which is wearing a tuque and stands upon a wolf wearing a neck warmer. It stands on a ringed seal with a tuque, who lies on top of a mountain lion wearing a long scarf. It stands on a mountain goat with a sash on, and below that is a grizzly bear wearing leg warmers who stands on a muskox in a silk scarf, who stands on a polar bear in a beanie tuque, who in turn sits on a moose with ear muffs. The moose stands on a walrus wearing a mitten as it is perched on a bison in a tuque at the bottom of the stack. The bison is hitched to a string held by one of several beavers.

December 21, 10:35pm

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 20 catch-up on Day 21: The wind is swirling around and the newly-added animal looks positively off-balance. I can only reassure myself on the expert calculations of this team of rodent engineers. I wonder what the pile topper will be?

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged as a large tower being built by a team of beavers. At the top, a puffin wearing a scarf stands on the slope of a snowshoe hare’s back. The hare wears mittens on his front paws and has almost knocked off the tuque of the snowy owl that he sits on. The owl stands on a Canada goose that wears a scarf and is standing on an arctic fox in a tiny cap. It stands on a river otter in a flap-eared hat who is standing on a Canada Lynx wearing a scarf, which stands on an snapping turtle wearing ear muffs. The porcupine below that wears mittens and stands on a wolverine. The wolverine is wearing a blue and teal tuque and stands upon a wolf wearing a neck warmer. The wolf stands on a ringed seal with a tuque, who lies on top of a mountain lion wearing a long scarf. It stands on a mountain goat with a sash on, below that is a grizzly bear wearing leg warmers who stands on a muskox in a silk scarf, who stands on a polar bear in a beanie tuque, who sits on a moose with ear muffs. It stands on a walrus wearing a mitten as it’s perched on a bison in a tuque at the bottom of the stack. The bison is hitched to a string held by one of several beavers.

December 21, 11:59pm

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 21: The final animal! Of course, it seems obvious now that the beavers would choose the endangered Haida Ermine as their pile topper. Well done, engineers. And now, to complete this “Solstice Pile of all Canadian Animals” tradition, there’s one last #ArtAdventCalendar post to come.

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged as a large tower being built by a team of beavers. At the top, a Haida Ermine earring a tiny tuque stands on a puffin wearing a scarf who stands a snowshoe hare’s back. The hare wears mittens and is sitting on a snowy owl with a tuque. The owl stands on a Canada goose that wears a scarf and is standing on an arctic fox in a tiny cap. It stands on a river otter in a flap-eared hat who is standing on a lynx wearing a scarf, which stands on a snapping turtle wearing ear muffs. The porcupine below that wears mittens and stands on a wolverine. The wolverine is wearing a blue and teal tuque and stands upon a wolf wearing a neck warmer. The wolf stands on a ringed seal with a tuque, who lies on top of a mountain lion wearing a long scarf. It stands on a mountain goat with a sash on, below that is a grizzly bear wearing leg warmers who stands on a muskox in a silk scarf, who stands on a polar bear in a beanie tuque, who sits on a moose with ear muffs. It stands on a walrus wearing a mitten as it’s perched on a bison in a tuque at the bottom of the stack. The bison is hitched to a string held by one of several beavers.

December 22, 2:00am

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 21 After Party: Having completed their, uh, tradition on the longest night of the year, in -15ºC, the beavers held a light show. Happy Solstice all!

A number of cutout paper cartoons of various animals are arranged as a large tower being built by a team of beavers, with a multicoloured backdrop. At the top, a Haida Ermine earring a tiny tuque stands on a puffin wearing a scarf who stands a snowshoe hare’s back. The hare wears mittens and is sitting on a snowy owl with a tuque. The owl stands on a Canada goose that wears a scarf and is standing on an arctic fox in a tiny cap. It stands on a river otter in a flap-eared hat who is standing on a lynx wearing a scarf, which stands on a snapping turtle wearing ear muffs. The porcupine below that wears mittens and stands on a wolverine. The wolverine is wearing a tuque and stands upon a wolf wearing a neck warmer. The wolf stands on a ringed seal with a tuque, who lies on top of a mountain lion wearing a long scarf. It stands on a mountain goat with a sash, below that is a grizzly bear wearing leg warmers who stands on a muskox in a silk scarf, who stands on a polar bear in a beanie tuque, who sits on a moose with ear muffs. It stands on a walrus wearing a mitten as it’s perched on a bison in a tuque at the bottom of the stack.
A large number of cutout paper animals are seen in a tall pile in silhouette against a multicoloured backdrop in a snowy backyard.