Plastic Masters of the World Unite!

A Cold, The Cold, and Going to Somewhere Hot

2012-01-28T12:40:00.007-05:00

I am bundled up from head to toe today. I have been all week. I caught some kind of cold bug on Monday, which seems to have mutated into every-type-of-cold-I have-ever-had. Each day, a new surprise! I am waiting for the morning I wake up and it's gone. That better be soon. I leave for KEY WEST on TUESDAY!!!!!

Oh.
Am I a bit excited?
Um. YEAH.

Instead of seeing this out my front window I may see these trees covered in palm fronds; no snow for miles and miles and miles.

And I am sure I will find more than just these pirate motifs. This was from my last 3 day visit to Key West in April 2011. 29 days will give me way more exploration time.

I do know I'll see the local Gypsy Chicken.

This one's been dubbed Charlie. He's the porch rooster at The Studio of Key West. Hopefully he'll happily preen and pose for me as well.

I found this picture on TSKW Facebook page. December's artist-in-residence Naomi Cohn took this photo. I hope he saunters over to where I am staying too.

Year of the Dragon print

2012-01-15T10:38:00.005-05:00

Part of the joy of printmaking is in the experience of the paper. I decided to try this paper for my first print of 2012: Anno Draconis

The paper is smooth on one side and softly textured/fuzzyish on the other. I did a proof on the smooth side last night, and when I was burnishing it, the paper tore. Hmmm. So I printed onto the rougher side this morning and the burnishing was a dream. This is very strong paper. I can see it holding up to some reduction prints which are coming in my very near future.

More on that later...

I made my print from a lino block using Speedball's oil-based block printing black ink.

I am always wary of Speedball ink, but it seems to be the only ink that is carried by all the art stores when I am in a rush trying to get ink. Everyone has it. Their sales reps must be very good.I have had poor results from the water-based Speedball ink every time I use it. I tried it for this print last night but it was a no go. It dries out so fast and you need a lot and need to keep rolling out and re-inking over and over. I have made it work, but I just couldn't fight with it last night. So, this morning, I opted to try the oil-based ink and it was so much easier, but the cleanup will be harder.

Anno Draconis
lino block on Shoji paper 9.5" x 8.5"

Proof Studio Year of the Dragon on Facebook

Proof Studio Gallery's Year of the Dragon exhibition plus prints

The Meaty Amaryllis

2012-01-13T09:54:00.009-05:00

I've been growing these amaryllis bulbs in my house.

a red one

a reddish-orange one

I have always wanted to grow them, but the season for buying them at the store passes,
and then it's Spring, and then I am waiting for "next year".

Well, this year I got three bulbs.
Lucky Strike (red), Desire (reddish-orange), and about a week later,
Orange Sovereign (orange, of course).
I planted them all on the same day, December 28th, 2011.

Desire and Lucky were regular bulbs, eager to grow, good root systems in place, ready to be potted up. The box contains the plant pot, some soil and the bulb. You put the soil in the pot, add the bulb in the center, root-side down (yes some folks would not know this), and then you water it well and give it a warm place to settle into. It's ok if their shoulders are above the soil line.

red & reddish-orange amaryllis bulbs freshly planted on Dec 28, 2011

same bulbs, today, January 13th, 2012

Orange Sovereign was rescued from the grocery store, on sale, last chance. Look how big it grew in the box, without soil or water or light. What a tough plant.

Orange Sovereign amaryllis freshly planted and just out of the box

Within a week, my orange amaryllis was showing its true colours.
What caught me off guard is the "meaty" look of his flower bud. I can't seem to get my eyes off of it, and it's downright unnerving in the later winter afternoon sun.

Orange Sovereign, January 7th, 2011: fleshiness galore.

"All the better to eat you with my dear!"
(nom... nom... nom..).
just look at this thing..I swear I see teeth

O Little Shop of Horrors!!

My guess is the author of that story may have had this Orange Sovereign amaryllis sitting on his desk as inspiration for that meat-eating tale.

yes, I see a resemblance.

all three January 7th, 2012, in the late afternoon winter sun

all three this morning, January 13th, 2012

Potluck tonight

2011-12-14T18:02:00.004-05:00

It's the season of the Potluck and I have one tonight.

I'm attending the Xmas Potluck and Not-So-Silent Auction of the Richmond Hill Potters and Weavers Guilds. I am bringing Cucumbers with Hummus and Yogurt,
a recipe from Fine Cooking's 200 Appetizers.

Basically it's a slice of seedless cucumber, a tsp of hummus and a dollop of natural yogurt.

The recipe calls for toasted sesame seeds sprinkled on top, which in the picture of the recipe look adorable, but I didn't find them and, honestly, my appetizers look more rustic than the evenly shaped mounds in the book's photo.

The hummus is really good. I have wanted to make it for years. To me, this is the benefit of a potluck; I get to make (and try) things I don't normally do.

I know others rely and the tried and true but I look at it like this: my contribution will be one of *many* items on that food table. If it's not very good, well, I tried and people can choose something else. To me, this is a great environment for experimentation.

Xmas 2011: Gifts I Don't Want to Give or Receive, mostly.

2011-11-27T17:43:00.009-05:00

Jungle Animals in a Dew Drop puzzle

that's a big drop of water or those are teeny tiny animals... and are they trapped? are they sad?

NEXT

Girls Pink Spy Kit

it's pink so... not as serious? Doesn't she look smug?
I've got a secret...lalalalala

NEXT

Alpha Pig

Try Me = the hammer moves a-little-bit

NEXT

Rolling Stones Monopoly $29.99
Metallica Monopoly $39.99

what's with the price discrepancy? And why are the Metallica guys cartoon figures?
I *almost* want this though. I admit it.

Metallica Monopoly tokens

Rolling Stones Monopoly tokens - I like these

NEXT

Garden Gnome to paint

Senior Moments game

okay. I don't want to play a game where no one remembers anything or who went last or where you left the scorecard or your glasses or when you last played a game like this... maybe if you're in the market for a game like this then you may be old enough to enjoy

NEXT

Elvis Bingo

but I won't cast stones as the bands of My Youth are also bingoing
Gen X we now have

Kiss Bingo

as it says "two classics rolled into one"
"is there nothing Gene won't put his name on," my shopping companion remarked

NEXT

another songster was discovered an aisle over
this was the only action figure in the Super Stars series we could find
this was series 3 btw--more research needed on this I think

A Cool Dozen Ice T's $2.99

we mused how 12 Ice T's would make an awesome army
lined up on an office desk
but spending almost $40 on Ice T figures just seemed a little decadent

Ice T action figure explained

NEXT

Scary My Little Pony Set

not-very-ponylike #1

not-very-ponylike #2

NEXT

Wooden Doughnuts

very Canadian

Wooden Doughnuts: used for math, not for the microwave (says so in the small print)

NEXT

Family Guy Operation

a lot of people like Family Guy
I can't say I am a fan but it has a few moments

NEXT

Nightmare Before Christmas Oogie Boogie Operation

this *almost* came home with me.
Nightmare Before Christmas is in my top 5 films
ultimately I thought, I am not 8 so I left it behind

Doorprize and Best of Show at 2011 Richmond Hill Potters' Guild Sale

2011-11-27T17:24:00.002-05:00

The Doorprize: Red-Nosed Reindeer
stoneware, cone 6 Tucker's Oilspot glaze, metal rod legs, stained glass base

&

Best in Show: Shark Platter
stoneware, cone 6, studio glazes

Better to Apologize than Ask Permission - Kinmount Shoe Trees

2011-11-25T16:04:00.006-05:00

Blogging is a strange communicative form. Most of my posts get a handful of views but some like the one I wrote about the Shoetrees of Kinmount have steadily drawn eyes to this blog week after week.

Kinmount Shoetrees circa 2008

I got an email from a reader advising me the shoetrees were destroyed. On the orders of one local town councilman the trees were cut down. There was no public consultation just a man and his opinion and his ability to get the job done. The trees now only exist in photographs and memories. Here is a recent picture of the shoetree site:

Kinmount, where the Shoetrees were, 2011

There, that's better right? Right??

Shoetrees, like authentic farmers' markets, spring from the zeitgeist of the community. They just start and someone else comes along and says whoa and they add their two cents and then the thing becomes a Thing and people love it because it is Real, not commercial, not "planned" but a space people feel is theirs to add to and to participate in. I was one of the tourists who parked on the side of the road to see the shoes. I guess I contributed to the worsening of the asphalt, one of the reasons given for getting rid of the messy eyesore. I never did get to add my fuzzy slippers or my flip flops to the tree.

It seems to me this is a missed opportunity for the local town. They should have sold postcards and t-shirts and had some local artisan create "make your own shoetree" kits instead of just destroying them. When I drove to Florida this spring we came across a site that reminded me of
Kinmount. In South Carolina they celebrate their local version of the shoetree called The Mystery Tree on Edisto Island. The site made it into Roadside America which directs people to areas to see interesting things when they are on a drive aka tourists, tourism, a local economic boost in these difficult economic times.

Edisto Island Mystery Tree
Image found on the c harlestondailyphoto.blogspot.com

More background info here: http://www.facebook.com/notes/steven-w-seal-photography/the-edisto-mystery-tree/10150249590389912

But I suppose the Kinmount trees were an eyesore to those who had to see it all the time. Many people don't like anything messy or disorderly or spontaneous. That's all risky business that. In fact is it downright Troublesome. Better to have peace, calm, flat, empty, open space...nothing to see here folks...move along...

More about the Kinmount shoetrees and their demolition here

My Life imitates My Art

2011-11-25T15:52:00.004-05:00

One Bird in the presence of Another Bird

Indoor Kitty sees Outdoor Kitty

One Bird Noticing Other Bird

Indoor Kitty and Outdoor Kitty about to meet eyes

Richmond Hill Potters' Guild - Fall Sale Today thru Sunday

2011-11-25T09:21:00.007-05:00

Today is the start of the three day Fall Sale of the work by the members of the Richmond Hill Potters' Guild. I was helping out with the set up of the members' work and there's some really good stuff. Honest.

Guild Hall: pre sale set-up day
Note the unique environs with all our wares perched atop looms!!
So many looms in one room!!

I made a bunch of things based on the idea of the Messenger. Since this is a public sale it's only happy messages this time round... the theme may carry on in other art media in other venues, but for now here are some of the things I made:

You Are My Island
close up of center of large bowl

You Are My Island large handbuilt bowl approx 24" diameter
stoneware, cone 6, underglaze and glaze

Messenger birds en masse

Two messengers of mine

Red Bird, handbuilt, wonky, cup and saucer set, made by me
cone 6, stoneware, glaze, underglaze

Fellow guild member Diane Thompson also made birds

As did Bev Turnbull

Garden Guardians by guild member Jeff Shortt
I am in LOVE with these characters.
For me they are the best in show.

Happy Happy Joy Joy.

Hope to see you at the sale this weekend.

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T19:03:00.003-04:00

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooo
7:09pm.
No trick or treaters yet.
Sigh.

UPDATE: the 1st bunch of 12, yes 2 groups of 6, arrived at 7:16, then we had a smattering of trick or treaters until 8:49 when we turned out the pumpkin.
OF NOTE: many tricker or treaters said trick or treat, smell my feet here, more than anywhere else I've lived.
hmmmmmmm.

Pumpkin 2011

2011-10-30T10:02:00.005-04:00

I'm hoping to carve another pumpkin today, but if not, I did do this one.
I brought it over to the Hill Potters' Guild for the Burr House Tea Room.
If I could make a living carving pumpkins I would like that.

Scenic Shot with Pumpkin #1
Burr House Craft Gallery and Tea Room to the left

Scenic Shot with Pumpkin #2
Guild Hall, home of the Weavers' and Potters' Guilds, to the right

Raku and Smoke Firing - Hill Potters' Guild Backyard

2011-10-04T18:25:00.007-04:00

I did my first raku firing ever yesterday in the back parking lot of the Hill Potters' Guild.It was a cool, damp fall day, not so great for hanging out but fantastic for firing up a kiln.

raku supplies: sawdust, shredded paper, heat resistant gloves, masks, pots, snacks

We needed sawdust, shredded paper, propane, pyrometer, the thing that channels the flame to the kiln (completely forget what this is called right now), a kiln sitter (cone 06), gloves, masks, metal containers to act as fire pits to receive the heated clay objects.

setting up the kiln

raku kiln BEFORE

I chose to raku 4 objects: three small bird figures and a large human figure. I made sure the pits I placed my work hot from the kiln had the same material in them--(a base of sawdust and then shredded paper around it) so I could assess my choice of glazes better. I chose not to use the pits in the ground but metal contaimers as my pieces were tall and small.
Two other guild members, Kathy and Bev, were also rakuing and leading me through it.

There were some surprises.

raku kiln AFTER


empty raku pits - sawdust bottom then shredded paper I had to suit up before I could get close to the kiln to take the door off and get my work out and in to the pits. My mask was poor. I really need a better one. It was so smoky. I wasn't ready for all the smoke.

smoky pits with hot ceramic pieces from the kiln in them

smoke from the pits

While we waited for our pieces to cool off I experimented with smoke firing.

This is the easiest surface effect I have tried yet. Get a metal garbage can, put your piece in the can, crumple newspaer around it and set it on fire. Add more paper as needed depending on how your piece looks. Sometimes we put a lid on the can to create even more smoke in it.

adding fuel to the fire

burning paper all around my sculpture

dying embers

ashes

smoke firing with lid on to make it more smoky

final results

Hillcrest Mall today - and all weekend: Sept 30-Oct 2, 2011

2011-09-30T09:21:00.006-04:00

The Artists on the Richmond Hill Studio Tour, 2011 version, have put together a sampling of their work for the public to view at Hillcrest Mall.

Our display will be up through the weekend. Members of the tour will be there so if you have questions or want information just ask. from my experience at selling my work in malls, mall space is long and lonely. Nice people asking nice things helps the time go faster so pipe up everyone.

Two moose from my Specimen series and a handbuilt bowl entitled Shear Madness.

I'll be doing a demostration using clay on Friday between 2-4. There are demostrations in all kinds of art mediums all weekend. Come by and see what your Local Artist is up to.

The Ex

2011-08-29T14:15:00.026-04:00

I was at the CNE, (the Canadian National Exhibition) yesterday. I've been on the CNE grounds before, when I did the One of a Kind Shows, but I've never been there for The Ex. I thought it was great. Full of what I expected and some unexpected surprises. I don't know if you could get around to everything in one day. Well, maybe you could, but I like to linger so I didn't see some things and then there were scheduling conflicts, so I didn't see others. But what I saw I liked. Here's an extensive photo essay of what I saw. I could do 5 big posts on this but will try to condense it to one.

I'll break it into 5 images per topic.
How's that??

5 Mini Horses

Mini Horse Costume Competition.
Who knew?

My Favorite: Bee Horse and Flower Girl

3 more mini horses

5 More Animals

sheep

cows

ostrich

pig

hairless cat

4 Butter Sculptures and 1 Butter Sculptor

4 Bananas and 1 Picture of 2 Bra Sculptures

bag of bananas, big-eyed bananas

monkey/banana combo, rasta banana

two cups of flower & DQ Duo
see more here:
http://www.thebraproject.com

5 Marilyn Monroe objects

Marilyn garter

Marilyn well-worn daytime white pump

Marilyn negligee

Marilyn Monroe black springolator pumps

Marilyn Monroe gold lame pumps

5 Last Ones

Human Cannonball's cannon

Good Manners chair

Footsie Wootsie 25cent massages

Bride faces obstacles

Hugh Hefner's Slippers

Lumiere Festival 2011 in Ottawa

2011-08-23T13:25:00.011-04:00

My tape sculpture companions were very patient on the drive to Ottawa. I arrived around noon the day of the show. As usual, the weather was great until I hit the Ottawa Valley. All of a sudden the sky was dark and filled with clouds. The wind picked up. The temperature dropped.

The sky gave us one severe downpour, with a few more raindrops here and there throughout the night. We all remembered how terrible it was last year with the unrelenting rain. Thankfully, every time it just went away.

I carried all my tape-people-parts to the river's edge and had help from volunteers and friends to get my piece situated in the water. Thank you everyone.

Here is one half of my installation called Fool for Love.
A mermaid entices a mere mortal man to come get her.

mermaid approx 6' , packing tape, bike reflector, LED light 2011

Our hero.

man approx 4' , packing tape, duct tape, bike reflector, LED light 2011

Most visitors viewed the installation from this vantage point, though there was another view where you could see their interaction from the side, and their beating hearts.

It's tough to get the real feel for this piece so I experimented with some video footage. I think it helps you get the feeling of the day and the setting. Just click play below

Fool For Love - Ottawa Lumiere Festival 2011 from katie argyle on Vimeo.

The finale of the performances at Lumiere were the Fire Weavers. I saw them a few years back and was mesmorized. See for yourself. There's just something so great about fire.

Fire Weavers - Ottawa Lumiere Festival 2011 from katie argyle on Vimeo.

This Weekend! Lumiere Festival and Kingston Womens' Art Festival

2011-08-17T09:52:00.009-04:00

Okay so I have a jam-packed calendar this weekend.
Two (2) events. One (1) weekend.

EVENT #1 Lumiere Festival

The Ottawa Lumiere Festival is this Saturday, August 20th, from 5pm to 10pm
located in Stanley Park (New Edinburgh area) MAP

I will have a sculpture installation for the festival entitled Fool For Love. Once more I will be showing my work on the wonderful water of the Rideau River.

Here's a reminder of my work from last year's festival. I hope to top it!

One Way -- The Ferryman and the River Rideau, 2010
packing tape, LED lights, clipboard, paper, coins, canoe

This is my post about last year's event

http://lumiereottawa.com/about/

EVENT #2 Kingston Womens' Art Festival More Info Here

On Sunday, August 21st, from 10am to 5pm, you will find me in Kingston's gorgeous City Park
(map here). I will be in booth#96 (which looks to be a great location for me to see the entertainment!).

It's been a few years since I attended the festival and I'm looking forward to being there this weekend.

I'll have mostly paintings with me

plus a few Mirrors of Positive Affirmation.

I've never done two shows back to back so if I am spacier than usual on the Sunday just know I did it for my Art.

Hope to see you at one of these events.

Richmond Hill Potters' Guild - Tea Room Duty

2011-08-15T17:15:00.009-04:00

As part of my membership with the Richmond Hill Potters' Guild,
I am required to work in the Burr House Craft Gallery
or the Burr House Tea Room a certain number of times a year.

tea room and craft gallery are open

entryway

Burr House hours

a fine example of the City of Richmond Hill's gardening expertise to the left of the doorway

It was my turn to be in the Tea Room over the weekend.

The Guild grows some nice flowers, perfect for cutting
and placing into one of our handmade vases; one per table.

part of the flower garden

table setting

Tea is really tea AND scones.

tea room tools

more tools

the last resort

A pot of tea, 2 homemade scones, one slice of zucchini bread,
2 pats of butter, and 2 small pots of jam.
All for $4.

The atmosphere is very calm in this 1824 heritage building.

Visitors told me this was the old Richmond Hill blacksmith's house.

tea room

tea room to craft gallery

There are many original features and it's good it's still being used.

The Craft Gallery showcases guild members' work.

There are two guilds working here:
the weaver's guild and the potters' guild.

my mirror and Doris Walter's cast foot sculpture

three of my paintings plus much more

I haven't spent much time in the pottery studio over the summer so I don't have ceramic work in the gallery, yet. I did manage to drop off a few paintings and a few Mirrors of Positive Affirmation.

a few more mirrors

It's a good start.

Potters' Guild Info can be found here: http://www.hillpotters.ca/
Burr House Spinners and Weavers info: http://www.burrhousefiberarts.com/default.aspx

The Quiet

2011-07-19T16:38:00.001-04:00

The Quiet
30" x 36" acrylic on canvas

I'm still going, still painting away. This one caught me off guard. It's moodier than I anticipated which is weird for a daisy. I have one more day before I have to pack up the car. The weather is going to be a killer though. Weather Guessers are saying it's going to be a record-breaking Thursday here: 37C/humidex 48C. Phew. A little bit of relief going into the weekend. I am hoping that Ottawa's rep for being cooler than Toronto hold true.

Frog Stack

2011-07-18T09:47:00.004-04:00

Frogs Five High
18" x 24" acrylic on canvas

I'm just pushing forward into the week now, heading toward Saturday when I'll be in Booth 41B at Minto Park in Ottawa on bustling Elgin Street aka at Urban Art.

I'm feeling the before show panic now.
I'm remembering how many times I have felt this way and that everytime it works out.
I just need to keep pushing through.

So if you have the time stop by and visit me. I'll just be sitting there drinking coffee--I sure hope it's not too hot for coffee--and just watching the time and the people go by.

Meditations on local traffic

2011-07-15T17:03:00.007-04:00

The Commute
16" x 20" acrylic on canvas

Here's my latest 2 hr. painting.

I confess I have been affected by the Toronto commute. Traffic and traffic delays and cars cars cars have kept me away from my studio in the downtown core.
I just am not getting there.
In the need to be practical and to save some money, as I haven't been at shows forever, and we moved and all that, I have given notice on my downtown space.

That was really hard and I shed more than a few tears.

However, as you can see here, I am painting up a storm at home.

I discovered I can paint outside in the backyard. So, given our climate, I'm all set to work outdoors until about mid-October I figure. I recall painting at Ottawa Markets until about that time, after which it gets too cold to hold a brush, and the paint won't dry, and you don't want to empty your water jar outside, or get more water, for fear it'll splash on you inviting hypothermia to set in.

Eventually I'll find another studio space and it'll come naturally when I really need it to happen. Toronto is not Ottawa. Toronto has a lot of studio spaces. Ottawa has very few. But, this is a concern for the future. For now I am still focused on paintingpaintingpainting. Time to go sketch out a few canvases for the next round.

See you back here soon.

Sunflowers and Smiley

2011-07-13T15:01:00.003-04:00

Continuing my quest to have something to show at my shows this summer, I worked from a.m. to p.m. and came up with these two.

The sunflowers are a rare subject for me. I hardly ever do flowers but I got a challenge from a friend to try it and so here they are. Voila!

Sun Worshipper
24 x 36 acrylic on canvas

Smiley the Dog is the kind of thing I really enjoy doing. Face on, direct gaze, big smile. Animals who know more that we give them credit for. This guy's very optimistic. Treats anyone???

Smiley
16 x 20 acrylic on canvas

Fresh Today: The Escape Artist

2011-07-08T16:16:00.004-04:00

The Escape Artist
24" x 48" acrylic on canvas

I love hamsters. This image of taking a hamster walkies just killed me. I'm happy to have painted it. I am still feeling the urge to add a little here and a little there, and until I am packing the car for the Urban Art in Minto park show in Ottawa, I can do just that.

But not today.

I am worn right out. 3 major paintings in three days. I have 10 more working days until I leave for Ottawa. It would be great to have 10 more canvases completed + cards + small fun paintings.

We'll see how far I get.
Kind of exciting.

The Friendliest of Plans

2011-07-07T21:01:00.004-04:00

Hello Plastic Masters aka those of you readers who like to make things with friendly plastic.

I've been thinking about all the stuff I've made over the years - this being year TWENTY - of making things with Friendly Plastic, and I am about to embark on the next logical step with the stuff.

I am starting to compile downloadable files full of plans and pictures of my designs so you too can give Friendly Plastic a whirl.

There are a few of us out there teaching it, but there are still many many people looking for information on how to use it. We all do it differently and I think it's time for me to teach other would-be plastic masters how I do it.

I'm deciding what format i'd like to present this work in and of course I have to dissect my things and get them into teachable/learnable shape. It's an exciting thing for me and I hope to hear from some of you about what you'd like to see and also about how you would liek to get this material.

Please feel free to comment here on the blog or email me personally at katieargyle@yahoo.ca.

I'll keep you posted on my progress. I hope to have something by the fall.

-- Katie

Today's New Work

2011-07-07T17:46:00.006-04:00

Obey The Crown

22 x 28 acrylic on canvas

Continuing with the building of paintings for upcoming shows I made this today. I think it was longer than 2 hrs worth of work. I have another painting 2/3 done but you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see it.

Aurora Jazz and Art Festival - - July 29 - 31, 2011

2011-07-06T17:08:00.011-04:00

I am going to be showing my art at the Aurora Jazz Festival July 29th to the 31st. I am also one of the artists who will be creating a painting on site. I have two hours to paint something which will then be auctioned off in the evening in the Silent Auction Art Tent.

With such a strict time limit I thought I would practice and see if I can actually do this. Since I am readying myself for a string of art shows over the next two months (how did that happen??) I need to paint like a fiend anyway. When I moved I *gasp* happily destroyed a lot of my work since I have no space here to store it all. I also wanted to start fresh.

So today is my first try at a 2 hour acrylic painting. I am going to work outside in the backyard.

Here's a canvas I didn't slash. I can't relate to what I was getting at on it so I'll use it for my first two hour project. It's a large canvas: 30" x 32"

I really like getting water from the hose. It should make clean up fast and furious too.

Awesome.

Start Time: 1pm
Deadline: 3pm

Let's go.

Time 1:10 gessoed over my old image

Time: 1:12 checking out my source material for my new painting. Found my charcoal to sketch guides onto the canvas.

Time 1:20 Image is drawn onto the canvas. I'm ready to paint. Must be done by 3:00pm. Yikes.

Time 1:40 Background is in and first shadows applied. I only realized later that I didn't start with my darkest darks. Normally that's what I first place onto my forms but I forgot. I'm rusty.

Time 1:58 More colour added to the figures.

Time 2:00 The Halfway Mark.
I've been painting for an hour. Time to step back and take a look from a distance. I think I can make it but I can't stop. I have to keep going. (I am so relieved I can still paint... yay.)

Time2:05 Have to start dealing with the details and all those gaping maws.

Time 2:15
Stepping back to see if the images make sense, and they do.

Time 2:20 More darks and more shades of red.

Time 2:30 Only 30 minutes left to deadline. Here I am pushing the darks. This is when I realize I didn't do this at the start... hello?

Time 2:50 I changed the background colour completely and continued to add details and darks.

Time 3:00pm.
Time's up.
It's titled TRIO and I've signed it.

After thoughts: I feel I could add some feathery bulk to the guy on the lower right.
I'm wondering how adding a touch of green would work as well as placing some fiery red-orange-just a dab-into the focal points of the two open mouths. Since this is a practice canvas I have time to do it.

I can practically hear those noisy birds.

Good.

Place and Circumstance: Recent Additions to the City of Ottawa Fine Art Collection

2011-06-09T16:40:00.004-04:00

BEFORE: just after printing and drying on the wall

AFTER: framed and displayed in City Hall Gallery and under gallery lighting

Close up: left side of print

Close up: right side of print

Ottawa City Hall

Excerpts concerning my print in the show catalogue below:

36 Chambers Studio: my new Toronto workspace

2011-05-29T12:03:00.008-04:00

I thought I'd post some pictures of the art studio I'm working in.

my space: 8x10 = small and I'm struggling to keep it empty

There are at least 20 artists in here, maybe more. All the spaces upstairs in the main area are rented but there are more spaces being created downstairs.

washrooms downstairs, one level below me but one level above the other studios

My favorite things are the location: Queen St West, and the other artists that are working there, (though I have yet to meet them), and the access to the outdoors where I can work if I want to, plus all the events that Josh, the owner of the space and owner of Sleeping Giant Gallery, brings in to liven up the space. I am happy to be in an active artist space.

looking up to the door outside from my space

I found this studio space through the son of a friend and the friend of his friend.
It seemed meant to be. I wanted the space no matter what. I didn't even know where we would live for months, but I had my studio space. First things first.

picnic table outside with a view of Queen St West

So I've had the space since February but only actually got there to work on Wednesday.
I didn't even know how it would feel to be there.

artists and their stuff is everywhere

After being away from painting for so long now--it's probably been a good 6 months since I did any real Art work--it's tough to get started. My creative mind beat a hasty retreat when faced with packing/sorting/tossing and now on the other end unpacking/sorting/placing. I was not built for all this Organizing with a capital O.

doorway back inside

My studio space is 8x10 so I can't bring too many things there. My plan is to only have what I am actively working on. There will be some 2x4's up above my workspace so I can store some things. I need that. Last night some big canvases decided to fall on me in my sleep so I need to fix my storage situation. At least they are away from the bed. For now, they're in the kitchen.

*sigh*

But never mind that.

view from top of stairs of the shared studio space

My studio is a bus ride, a subway ride, and a bus ride away from me. About 1.5hrs if I go from my house and a nifty hour if I go with my new sculpting friend Doris. She has a sculpting studio downtown and is thrilled to have a second passenger in her car so we can use the commuter lanes.

Bathroom graffiti.
I can relate.

Spring Flowers For You, Faithful Reader.

2011-05-23T18:13:00.005-04:00

lilacs picked today from the backyard

Hello. I've been meaning to post for months now. I send you these flowers as an apology for abandoning my blog for so long. Life just got in the way and while I have oodles and oodles of stuff to blog about it seemed I just never had the *oomph* to actually sit down and do it.

I've moved to Richmond Hill, Ontario, a mere 6 or 7 streets north of the Big City of Toronto.

I appropriately landed here on April Fool's Day, promptly twisting my ankle the same day. I was unable to walk for about a week.

I got better just in time to go on a whirlwind adventure to Florida because I won tickets to see the launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour on April 19th. We were there on the 29th, which was the first re-scheduling of the launch date and, sadly, not the last. I'll be posting about the trip we took later, so I'll save the details until then, but what's important is I came home and placed my suitcase and bag down at the front door and pulled my back. I was unable to sit up or move for about 36 hours, then I could move, but not really walk, then I could walk but it really really hurt and now I am back to normal, with a little reminder of my mishap now and again.

Starting in a new town is tough enough but adding the physical pain to it all is downright depressing. But I'm turning the corner on that and on EVERYTHING.

More soon.

PS. The flowers are lilacs. It's not even June and the lilacs will be done by June here. In Sudbury, my house had a fence of lilacs and they were just budding in early June. In Ottawa the lilacs weren't out until June either if I remember it right. So this is my first indication that yes, I am in a warmer, earlier, gardening zone. It's too bad I don't have a garden. I'll have to content myself with being a spectator this year.

Road Food #1: Toronto to Key West via the Sun Coast of Florida

2011-04-24T22:21:00.007-04:00

Pigs Feet in a jar in North Carolina gas station: didn't try but others obviously had

Note: why are these so very pink?

Same North Carolina gas station: Deep Fried Peanuts-Salt and Vinegar
Bought these. Lots of cute teeny tiny peanuts.
Verdict? Woody when you eat them shell and all. After awhile you get used to it and they are not bad. You can feel good about the fibre you're getting. Tried to just eat the shell alone. Verdict? Too woody and hard to swallow. Don't try it.

Breakfast at a Pennsylvania Cracker Barrel. Had no idea Cracker Barrels were restaurants. Loved the perfect yolks in the perfect holes. Sausages were fantastic. All are agreed that Pennsylvanians make &/or serve great sausages.

McDonald's in North Carolina has $1 sweet tea. Also called Mickey D's on the sign which was odd to me as well. I remember that my idea of "ice tea" now has to be qualified by sweet or unsweet and I am not guaranteed it will be lemony at all.

Breakfast offering at same McD's: chicken biscuit. I try it. Have no idea what it is.

Here it is: a breaded fried chicken piece on a biscuit.
BTW the chicken is one real piece of boneless chicken too not "pre-formed".

No topping on the biscuit or the chicken. Just chicken & biscuit: simple like the wrapper said.
Verdict? It was okay but hard to believe it was breakfast food.

American Diner on Sun Coast of Florida: navy bean soup and Greek lemon chicken soup. Also available: Manhattan clam chowder.
We stopped here for lunch. The sign said cheap. We got the "California Burger" which was different from the "Deluxe Hamburger" because it had... cheese. The waitress offered that it should be called a "cheeseburger" and certainly not a "California burger". An even better name, she said, was a "Florida burger". Cheese does not equal Florida to me. Something citrus-y perhaps...not cheese-y... but hey, I'm not from there.
The burgers came with soup and fries. A surprising variety of soup to my mind. Navy bean soup was good as was the Greek lemon chicken. Around $5.99 I think.

Verdict? Great price. Good soup. Burger was good, bun was meh, fries nothing special.
Very fast service.

It's been so long since I went on holiday that I forgot about the weird road food aspect of a long road trip. The first gas stop across the border at around 11pm had me looking for a snack and these two bars were chosen. I can't get these in Canada.

Verdict? I liked the Milky Way best. Reminded me of a Malted Milk,
if you know what that is.

BEST TREAT SO FAR GOES TO:

Chocolate-dipped Key Lime Pie on a stick.

The sign at the side of the road completely sucked us in. Price? $6.47. Expensive. But have I seen another one of these yet? Nope. And right now, as I write this, I am in Key West, home to all things key lime. In fact, I had promised myself NO KEY LIME until Key West but I don't regret breaking my own rule for this.

It really was a piece of key lime pie, frozen, dipped in chocolate, pushed onto a stick. It does need to be frozen and coated to maintain its structural integrity while on the popsicle stick. The graham cracker crust was a bit much for me though. It certainly doesn't need it except to be a REAL piece of key lime pie on a stick.

Verdict? Pricey but worth it.

FREE Garage sale as in ALL ITEMS ARE FREE

2011-02-21T09:41:00.004-05:00

Since I am moving and packing and purging I was very happy to come across this posting on the Ottawa Freecycle board. I have lots of stuff to get rid of. If you do too then consider dropping your things off at this "sale" (more like an exchange). I think this kind of thing should really be encouraged.

OFFER: February 27, Free Garage Sale! - Manordale Community Center

Free Garage Sale FINALLY! More free stuff and an opportunity for
you to get rid of your clutter! Bring your junk.
ps. When you donate to Value Village, they throw out a lot of things that they deem "unsuitable" . :)

WHEN: SUNDAY, February 27th, FROM 3:30 -5 PM. Insha'Allah.
WHERE: 68 Knoxdale (Mannordale Community Centre)
OCTRANSPO: take Bus route 172 direction Bayshore from Baseline. Arrive at stop KNOXDALE / CRAIG HENRY (4586) (5 min.). Walk over!

DESCRIPTION OF:

Bring items from your home that you don't want,
and you can take whatever you want for free! Just like a garage sale, except it's all FREE!

- - - Bring items you no longer want (clothes, small furniture,
decorations, kitchen items, toys, other kids items, electronics and everything else except huge items like mattresses, couches, etc)and then TAKE other people's stuff for FREE!

- - - There will also be a SADAQA Food Bank Donations accepted on site. Bring one or a few food items:). (No expired or broken items please!)

- - - The are two purposes for this event. One is to save the landfills from filling with more garbage. We have to save the Earth as it is our gift. We cannot trash our beautiful gift. We will also be saving trees and natural resources, as the person who takes your item won't have to buy it. The second purpose is for the community to benefit. So you clean your home and you can save money for your family by taking something you need from the garage sale instead of buying it! Then you can spend that money elsewhere!

- - - Invite your neighbors, and give a lift to a friend who doesn't have a car. Let's make this a charitable event. If you can't donate items for other people, then DONATE your time by bringing someone over to the event and taking them back home.

- - - At the very end of the event, all leftover items will be donated to Value Village after it has been posted to the FreeCycle Community (www.freecycle. org)
Last event, no items had to be donated to Value Village as they were all given away one by one through Kijiji Free Section.

- - - Click "Attending" on Facebook so I can let you know about our next spring event!
http://www.facebook .com/event. php?eid=15047661 4985324&ref= mf

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
For a FACEBOOK group of Free Stuff all year round with pictures:
http://www.facebook .com/group. php?gid=22323073 55

Groundhogs: Gentlemen Rodents of Science and Nature

2011-02-02T11:23:00.010-05:00

It's Groundhog Day!
Yay!

These wonders of nature peek up out of their holes to look around and oh! see their shadow drat, six more weeks of winter, or oh! No shadow! Yippee! Early spring!

Apparently the localish land-beavers are predicting six more weeks of winter or is it an early spring? Gentlemen Scientists and Weatherpersons are saying we'll be lucky to only have 6 more weeks of winter. Who to believe?

Groundhogs say six more weeks of winter, experts say six weeks if we're lucky

Weather Journal: On Day of Ice, Only Groundhog Sees Spring

Groundhogs forecast an early spring - in the middle of a blizzard

Currently we are in the middle of a big winter snowstorm colourfully called Snowmageddon, Snowpocalypse or Blizzardzilla.

Here's Caesar coping with the severe lack of visibility out his favorite window due to the snowpocalypse.

And over here we can see the snowpocalypse dangerously at my doorstep!!! Look it's even on the doorknob! AHHHHHHHHH!

The Guardian newspaper in the UK amassed a data fact sheet concering how often groundhogs were correct in their prognostications vs how many times they were wrong.
That these rodents are predicting the weather at all seems to me an automatic pass and I am fine with "hoping they are right" if I like what they say or "hoping they are wrong" if they don't. But, alas, this is not enough for some who crave more facts than I, so we have now a statistical chart of groundhog successes and failures in the meterological realm

Here is the article: Groundhog day 2011: how well can groundhogs predict the weather?

and while it provides a spreadsheet there is a more detailed version here:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=0AonYZs4MzlZbdFNPRENhUGdDbkx4TkotSkx6TGZoQkE&hl=en&gid=0

The groundhog (Marmota monax), also known as a woodchuck, or in some areas as a land-beaver, is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. Other marmots, such as the yellow-bellied hoary marmots, live in rocky and mountainous areas, but the woodchuck is a lowland creature. It is widely distributed in North America and common in the northeastern and central United States. Groundhogs are found as far north as Alaska, with their habitat extending southeast to Alabama
(from wikipedia)

Year of the Rabbit - Proof Studio Gallery, Toronto

2011-02-02T10:11:00.010-05:00

Proof Studio Gallery is holding its
annual Chinese New Year Print Exhibition starting today with the vernissage set for tomorrow evening, Feb 3rd, from 6-9pm.

Their blog is filled with rabbit themed prints from all over the world. This is my fourth year participating in this print event. The best part is the print exchange held in March. I've got a good collection of prints from printmakers all over the world. I look forward to this year's bounty of bunnies!

The print I submitted is titled

The Dance of 2011. It measures 9" x 9" and is a linocut handprinted on blue handmade chinese mulberry paper with embedded gold flakes.

The design was inspired by Chinese chopmarks, or signature blocks. This was carved from the new rubber "linoblock" material I've wanted to try for awhile.

I found the rubber material very easy to carve but did not like the printing results, though I did get it to work. It tends to give too much when I press onto the back of my paper draped over the inked block to print my image. I do think the material would be fantastic for small stamps but this larger piece (image was about 8" x 8") was just too uneven and "soft" for my liking. Back to the usual battlegrade linoleum for me.

You can see ALL the rabbit submissions at
http://www.yearoftherabbitprintexhibition.blogspot.com/

or if you're in Toronto go see them in person:

Proof Studio Gallery Print Exhibition: Year of the Rabbit 2011
PROOF Studio Gallery
Studio 104, Case Goods Warehouse, Bldg. 74,
55 Mill Street, Distillery District
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Open Wed-Sun 12-5

Opening reception: February 3, 6-9PM - Chinese New Year!
Exhibition runs from February 2 - 13, 2011

OSA Alumni Show 2011 - Shenckman Art Centre, Orleans

2011-01-28T10:00:00.010-05:00

To the left is a great photograph taken by Charelle Evelyn , a community reporter, who attended the opening of the show January 13th, 2011.

As artists we appreciate getting the attention of journalists near and far so thank you Charelle for dropping by.

I love this image which illustrated her well written article about the exhibit published in the Orleans EMC. The photograph shows my ceramic piece called The Storyteller or let me tell you how I lost the fin... Geraldine Petit-Gras, also a ceramic artist and my fellow 2009 OSA grad friend in the background, is busy considering something to do with art, the universe and everything while my amphibian waxes poetic to you the viewer.

The show is a good mix of styles and mediums. The gallery at the Shenckman Centre is really beautiful; very airy and inviting. I like showing there.

I have three ceramic works on display at this years Ottawa School of Art Alumni show.

The Storyteller or let me tell you how I lost the fin... 2009

stoneware, underglazes and glazes, cone 6

front view - my colour image, reminscent of the one published in the EMC.

clasped arms in back, one of two head fins gone... how - when- where - why ?

Broken Zipper 2009
stoneware, cobalt carbonate wash, cone 6

Broken Zipper
side view

I like it when I make things that look like they will tip over

Wise Owls and Crazy Loons Bathe in These Waters 2009
stoneware, glass, underglaze cone 6

This is a birdbath depicting the Ottawa River and Parliament Hill on one side of the river and the Gatineau on the other. This piece is actually a glorified Chia pet as it won't be truly complete until I add some oat or grass seeds to the surface of the Gatineau and grow some greenery. I'll need to add some water seal stuff to make it water tight too. My hope is some little birdy will one day perch atop the red Parliament building, eat some of Gatineau Park and drink from the cool river waters.

BTW that's my mom waving to the camera in the background of my second bird bath image. She was happy to be surrounded by art and artists and to be near the snack table - plenty of compelling reasons to drop by an art show on opening day.

Welcome 2011

2011-01-01T13:07:00.010-05:00

I didn't do much to welcome in the new year. I stayed at home and found myself watching the George Stroumboupoulos Tonight New Year's Eve Special on the CBC while flipping back and forth to Global and then CTV,
(I don't have cable and these are the channels that come in without any help from me and the computer and laptop were all downstairs).

I was waiting to see some kind of ball drop to mark the change of years. I did find a bit of this with the Niagara Falls New Year's event broadcast on Global, but once I saw it I ignited a craving for Anderson Cooper on CNN, partly for the New York Times Square event but also because they would be broadcasting the shoe drop in Key West.

I watched the Niagara Falls thing and turned back to the CBC to see...
the Air Farce New Year's Eve Special.

*sigh*

I muted the tv and heard.... nothing. No fireworks, no banging of pots, no shouts of Happy New Year! Nothing. Not even a car alarm.

When I lived downtown we'd walk to Parliament Hill and since moving here to the west end I haven't seen any New year's fireworks.

Maybe it was quiet cause everyone was out?

So, in contrast to my New Year's Eve (no video of it taken as it was so ... nothing) I did find video of where my Key West sister was; in the VIP section at the giant Shoe Drop with Sushi. Here's her behind the scenes take on the event .

Strange Cloud Obsession in 2010

2010-12-31T19:33:00.006-05:00

One last thing before I quit blogging about 2010.
Actually it's a confession.

I had a cloud obsession all year. I don't know what this was all about but I swear the clouds were FANTASTIC this year. I couldn't get enough of them. I'd be driving along and the clouds would take my breath away. Sometimes I pulled over to really see them and take their pictures.

After a few months of this I quietly talked to couple of artist friends about my obsession and they too admitted to having secret cloud fetishes.
Maybe it's just that like people become friends, but I found this to be both affirming and scary.

Oh well.

One year I was obsessed by the sun and could not get over the fact that it is a burning ball of fire way way out there. That thought can still stop me in my tracks so I won't speak of it again but, ah, no. No more talk of the sun. And don't get me started on the moon, or a single blade of grass. It's all just too much.

2010 by guest blogger, Caesar Cat

2010-12-31T19:32:00.006-05:00

Here's my look back at 2010

Winter. More accurately, I believe this was taken in February.

Here I am and it's Spring, quite possibly April.

Summer? Oh yes, this is right after the summer solstice. A long day of napping that was.

Fall, and the nights were definitely getting longer here.

I'll try to stay up to see that delightful Anderson Cooper but if I fall asleep I am sure I'll hear all about it tomorrow. Happy New Year.

My Year in Review 2010

2010-12-31T19:31:00.008-05:00

Most of my year I was here, at home, waiting to find out what my future held. Due to Chris' new job there would be/could be/might be/should be/probably will be and then definitely was a move in the future for us.

All this home time would have been fine with me except my Chris' new job saw him travel to the Bahamas in January, Costa Rica in February, and the Isle of Man in October.

I was very jealous.

As consolation, I took a trip with family to my hometown of Sudbury in April, primarily to get a grave marker for my grandmother who'd been without one for over 10 years. It's finally there now.

I had to go all the way to Dynamic Earth in Sudbury to find some rocks that made me feel all warm and cuddly. I recall the Sudbury landscape as dark and brooding and barren. Like this:

But even this picture has too much green for me.

They've even cleaned up the Big Nickel and made it shiny and new.
You just can't go home again.

In the summer we went to North Bay and I found this delightful signage on an even more delightful property down by a lake. Oh Northern Ontario lakes how I *heart* you!

We stayed overnight in North Bay and then drove off to Parry Sound. It was at a resort there where I took my first jump off a dock into the water EVER.
Yes.
Ever.
I do believe my own personal "leap of faith" was in the top five things I did this year. It makes me smile even now.

Also this year The City Of Ottawa purchased an artwork from me: my giant handmade print about the bus strike. I was so honoured! I am now in the Fine Art Collection of the City of Ottawa and my work will rotate through city owned buildings. I don't think I can say how much this means to me. It's a fine way to cap off an art career in this city when I started as a street vendor in the Byward Market in 1991. The showing of all the work purchased by the city will be at City Hall in the Spring of 2011. I'll let you know when it is. The best place to get a good look at this piece in on the Ottawa Citizen Big Beat Blog by Peter Simpson. Click here to go to my interview done during our grad show preview ... it was so so hot!

A very spontaneous Santa Claus brought us a new car this year,

and big consumer debt to go with it (hohoho). I do love my car coloured "velocity red". Thanks Santa.

On the sadder side, my beloved Kitty X died this year. Colon cancer. Here she's being bothered by Caesar Cat as she's taken his special spot.

All year I waited to find out where I'd be moving to and now it's settled: Toronto.
I was really REALLY looking forward to a move overseas but it's not in the cards for now.

Beginnings and Endings. Looks like I'm going to be experiencing many of them in the coming months. I'm anxious to find out what Toronto has to offer and, actually, it's a lot. So much of everything there. We'll see what I can do with that.

Best of Show - OSA Holiday Art Show 2010

2010-12-14T10:50:00.008-05:00

To my great surprise I won Best of Show at this year's Ottawa School of Art Holiday Art Show!

Best of Show means you get a Best of Show ribbon

placed next to your award wining artwork.

I also won a gift certificate to Capital Pottery Supplies.
Thanks! I see underglaze crayon set #208 or #209 in my future...

I won for my ceramic sculpture called Entering a State of Change.

front view and the following views are as you walk around the piece

Human evolving into bird or bird evolving into human?
Hard to say.
I do know it's about 24" tall and handbuilt with coils. That glaze is Emily's Purple and the deep black is Black Velvet glaze running over the surface. It is made of stoneware and fired to cone 6 in an electric kiln.

The Holiday Art Sale goes until Sunday the 19th of December. In the background of my images you can see how much fun stuff is there.

Stop by and buy something fun!
Support your Local Artist.

Pimped out baking

2010-12-10T09:48:00.004-05:00

My sister's latest blogpost about Spotted Dick had me thinking about Christmas baking. Believe me when I tell you, what she says about her baking is all true. She loves a challenge. As synchronicity would have it I came across this image:

I think my sister should make something like this soon!

Look at the detail! In art school we were encouraged to try our hand at copying the Old Masters to learn how to handle our paint and to analyze what goes into creating a good composition.

Re-making these culturally archetypal snackfoods may just make you appreciate these tasty tidbits that much more. The artistry! The ingredients! The effort! The challenge! The change of scale! The cost! The admiration from loved ones and strangers alike! So many benefits to be had.

Obviously intrigued, I ended up looking at pretty much everything
on Pimp That Snack.
I perused their gallery of goodies and here are some favorites.

giant oreo

giant maple leaf creme cookie

The making of the inside of a giant Kinder egg. This one was just a big wow to me.
I am pretty intrigued by it and may attempt it--maybe for Easter.

My Significant Other may appreciate the tricked out tart and he would probably
love to toast it on the BBQ. All the better to eat you with....

And a Jolly Old Soul was He

2010-12-09T10:30:00.003-05:00

This newest Franklin seems to be all-things-Christmas in one polite package: Rudolph nose, reindeer antlers, Christmas tree and Santa. There's even a poinsettia.

Guerrilla Knitter(s) at Large! Yay!

2010-12-09T10:13:00.007-05:00

While returning library books this week I noticed this bit of guerrilla knitting outside the library

You don't often come across this stuff in the urban wilds
of mild-mannered Ottawa.
Most people walked right by it. I thought it was extraordinary and wondered who put it there and when. Looking closer I saw some lettering--maybe a mark of the maker(s)?

Hong Kong Graphic Arts Fiesta

2010-12-09T09:59:00.004-05:00

If you find yourself in Hong Kong on December 21st, please visit the Hong Kong Graphic Arts Fiesta where I and 10 others have work representing the Ottawa School of Art Printmakers. This show has been in the planning for most of this year and it's exciting to see we're almost at opening day.

For myself, this is the furthest I have shown one of my prints and at the Jockey Club in Hong Kong no less! Very exciting.

Bone Pile

2010-11-24T11:33:00.003-05:00

June and July Franklin keeps cool

August/September Franklin

October/November Franklin

I am missing one Franklin which was up all September into October and this was a special edition Construction Season Franklin to commemorate the MASSIVE and ON-GOING stimulus-project-road-construction in and around Franklin's home. This text will disappear when I find my jpg. A picture's worth a thousand ( or 46) words after all.

Taking a Deep Breath

2010-11-24T10:38:00.010-05:00

INHALE

Hello Faithful Readers and Picture-Lookers

I am going to start catching you up on what's been happening around here. Mostly I've been distracted by a year of wondering if I am moving away, and if so to where.

Two possibilities have been in the air all year:
London, England
and

Douglas, on the Isle of Man.
And right when I was all set to join the Basking Shark Watch on the Isle of Man,
to see and help conserve these fantastic creatures I found out, nope, instead it may be

Toronto.
So stay tuned. In the next 3 months things will get sorted out and I'll know whether I am moving 400 miles west or across the Atlantic.

This kind of stuff keeps me off center, even more than usual, and stuff drops off as I fret.
Life is taking on a new direction now and I feel like I can start to happily settle into the things that bring me joy... I feel like it's okay to breathe again.

EXHALE

Lumiere Festival 2010 - Recap

2010-09-05T10:00:00.006-04:00

Okay, everyone pile in the car. No fighting! Don't make me stop this car...

Settling in for the ride

Charon the Ferryman keeping watch

The Styx Express is leaving on schedule

No Late Arrivals even if you have full fare...

We're okay with going to the Other Side

Even this guy doesn't phase us

View of my sculptural piece called One Way as it looked from the shore fully lit at night

View of my piece from further up the water's edge with the City of Ottawa as backdrop

Garlic Festival this weekend - Carp Farmers' Market

2010-08-14T06:22:00.003-04:00

Carpe Allium - (seize the garlic)
24"x36" acrylic on canvas

All things garlic is the focal point of the Carp Farmers' Market this weekend. To get in the spirit I've painted four garlic-themed paintings of which this is one. Garlic paintings are a challenge.

Here's some more info from their website (click here to go there)
CARP FARMERS' MARKET

Garlic Festival 2010

We're very pleased to present our 11th annual edition of the Garlic Festival, featuring more garlic in one place than you can imagine. Fresh garlic bulbs, garlic braids and decorations, garlic concoctions, garlic braiding demonstrations, garlic cooking demonstrations, a garlic contest, garlic tasting, and wonderful garlic aromas.

The Festival will be held for two days:

* Sat Aug 14th 8 am to 3 pm
* Sun Aug 15th 10 am to 3 pm

100 vendors, FREE ADMISSION and lots of free parking.

on the eve of Urban Art 2010

2010-07-23T09:09:00.009-04:00

I'm not at Carp Market this weekend so I won't have to stop and let the geese pass this Saturday like I did last week.

Instead I'll be out marking spots for artists and getting booths set up and wondering where item X is and did I remember to bring it?

I don't know where the time is going but it seems I'm always busy or thinking about what I have to do next. I'm either saving my energy for the "next big thing I have to do" (I usually do this by watching AC360 podcasts. Ever since I dropped the cable tv to save money last December I've missed Anderson Cooper the most.)

I'm on the eve of one of my bigger yearly events, namely Urban Art @ Minto Park. This year it's 5 years old and my 2nd time organizing it with my good friend and fellow artist Tim Hunt. We had far fewer breakfast meetings this year than last. A testament to how busy Tim was too.

So I had one stand out day this week. I was interviewed by Michael Bhardwaj for In Town and Out a local CBC Radio One program every Saturday morning from 6am to 9am composed of information and interviews concerning events happening in our area over the weekend. I was so happy to be able to get the word out about Urban Art and to get an opportunity to talk about the community Post-It Note event which will happen during Urban Art tomorrow.

Basically Ottawa is a town with a lot of office culture. What more familiar format than the post-it note can you have when you are used to office spaces? In the park I will set up a pseudo office and I am inviting the public to write a thought, an idea, a grocery list, a to do reminder, a pet peeve on a post it and to put it up for all to see. I hope I get so many post it notes that all the surfaces are covered. And, for those who want to tell me a secret, I'll have my Top Secret File available in the filing cabinet, so you can leave something hidden if you want.

Really I am wondering what's on the mind of the people in Ottawa. What are you thinking about?

After the show I'll gather the notes up and make them into some kind of art piece. I did this before, when I bound secrets anonymously dropped into a ballot box for me into a book form called a flag book. Each secret was glued against the spine and then the book flies open in a great dramatic gesture, one flap lying atop the next all the way down. I'm not sure if the post-its will become a book. I have to wait and see what I get. But that's the fun for me. It's out of my hands.
Great.

The other thing that made my interview day a very auspicious occasion was the fact that I caught the double-decker OC Transpo bus both ways. What are the odds of that?

View from the front at the top
I also spent a few days postering with Tim this week. Between us we put up 230 posters in the downtown core. Someone always takes most of them down during the week - I've seen city workers and private citizens do this - but hopefully some remain and hopefully all the other artists have done their share as well. Now all we can do is hope for good weather, and if we don't get, to go on with the show anyway.

See you tomorrow.

UV 11 + Humidex 41C + full sun and no air conditioning

2010-07-06T08:51:00.007-04:00

Like the guy on some movie I saw ages ago who told the other guy "hey turn it up to 11" cause he wanted to rock out, our UV index around here is on 11 today. I was wondering how high the UV could go as it's been steadily 8 or 9 and then 10's across the board and today: 11.

If I go out will my eye balls burn or will they just get silently damaged to show up as cataracts a decade from now? What's with the sun going to 11 for Pete's sake?

Apparently the scale goes to 11 and then they don't count it anymore.
What if it's really a lot more than 11?
Makes you want to retire to your damp cool basement and not come out until the sun and the mosquitos are gone.

Until then all my windows are closed *sigh*. I wait all year to have the windows wide open only to have to grudgingly concede that if I want to sleep a few hours at night then I have to close them during the day. We don't have an air conditioner and this year I can't hear the hum of the neighbour's units either. We're all either too poor to afford the hydro bills that come with them or we're all just putting up with it. Eventually the temperature breaks. But this week, we'll suffer.

Better find my hat. And my sunscreen. And wear both.

This Weekend June 5/6 in the Glebe - The New Art Festival

2010-06-03T19:53:00.005-04:00

Hard to believe the year has already brought us to the doorstep of the New Art Festival. Last year I missed this show. I think I've missed only 2 or 3 since it started, so I am glad to be back this year. My location is #27 Patterson, which is an area I've never been in so that's a new thing too. And another new thing will be my booth full of prints! I've amassed quite a collection of them since I started school, 4 years ago now, and I am happy to bring some of these works out into the light of day. I actually have a long history with printmaking in my life, having been an hand-set type printer using a Vandercook proof press over 25 years ago. This pre-dates my foray into the world of craft by 3 or 4 years but dovetails with my calligraphic pursuits. I've always pursued visual art, though my path gets clearer and clearer with every year that passes. It's completely clear now that I'll never stop making art no matter what I am doing otherwise or where I am or what tools or materials are at my disposal. I just have to do it to be happy. It'll be nice to be surrounded by others at the New Art Festival who feel the same way.

Here are a couple of prints that will be on display:

Keep on Trippin' relief bleedprint, conte & charcoal on BFK Rives 24" x 24" 2009

Zombies Need Hugs lithograph on stonehenge 15" x 18" 2010

AND

If you are a part of the next Ottawa art in the park event, the Urban Art @ Minto Park show to be held July 24th, from 10-5pm at Minto Park on Elgin St. across from Jack Purcell CC, which is organized by myself and Tim Hunt, then please stop by #27 Patterson and pick up some of these nifty handouts to help us promote the show. Spread the word amongst art lovers so they can find you and support you at your next show.

We love art lovers.

Illustration Friday: Fearless

2010-05-13T06:51:00.003-04:00

Never Shy Away From Battle linocut relief print 8" x 10"

Friendly Plastic Experiments with Jones Tones aka mylar backed foils

2010-04-29T21:42:00.008-04:00

I bought these foils a few months ago to try them on my Friendly Plastic sticks. I am about 99% sure this is THE foil that is used on the surface of the friendly plastic I buy. Ages and ages ago I came across this foil in a card shop. They were selling it as a way to embellish cards - just write on the foil and it would transfer to the paper. I think I bought it but never tried it.

I went on the hunt for this stuff just after Christmas and came
across it as Jones Tones Foil. When I saw it in the card shop
this wasn't what it was called.

My supplier had several colours so I ordered one of everything they had. Ah the joys of Christmas money. Today I did a few experiments with it. The only info I could find online was how to use it with polymer clay: roll out the clay, lay the foil on top, dull side down, then burnish it onto the surface. Rub fast and hard to create heat and then rip it off the surface like a band aid. Well I figured if I heated the friendly plastic that would activate/adhere the foil to it so that's what I tried. I got my heat gun and warmed the plastic up until it got really sticky then laid the foil onto it.

I then rubbed it to make contact on the whole stick. I then took the heat gun and aimed it over it for a count of ten along the length of the stick and then I let the whole thing cool down before I removed the mylar backing. I did rip fast most times but not always. I don't think it matters as much with the friendly plastic as it really seems to bond.

What dawned on me was when I was adding the foil over top of the existing foil, I would get a broken pattern. I actually found this very intriguing. It makes the surface more sophisticated adding depth and interest.

When I placed the foil on the back of the plastic, the side without the foil, pretty much the whole sheet stuck and I then had a new sheet of plastic with both sides having colour.

This too is interesting to me.

My next experiment will be trying to add patterning with the foil to another existing colour. For example, adding silver stripes to royal blue friendly plastic. Or gold hologram dots to green friendly plastic. I'm also wondering if I can add the foil to my work after I've already cooked up my design. Could I add the hologram pattern to a finished design and then take it off so it leaves a dusting of colour behind? I used to inset hologram sheets into friendly plastic ages ago and I remember them losing their patterning under the heat. They were really sensitive so I am curious to see how they hold up in the oven. Anyway I'll know soon enough, as will you dear reader. As will you.

Hilson Marketplace: Artisan and Community Sale

2010-04-23T21:40:00.005-04:00

It's spring cleaning/garage sale season. And after years of not sorting sand clearing things out, I have decided to release some of my treasures into the waiting arms of.... you perhaps?

I'm doing my first garage sale and thought I'd try it with a bunch of other folks doing the same thing. So far I have some books, a tent, a foot massager warm bath thingy that was great when I worked retail on my feet for hours and hours, quite a bit of gardening related items. I love to garden but where I live now it's really heart-breaking. Too many critters, not enough sun, zealous landlords that cut stuff down. It's too much of a battle for me so I am selling my tabletop grow lights, complete with replacement bulbs and trays. Also a balcony planter new in box. A Santa ceramic dish new in box. A kitty cat fountain new in box. Two twirly Christmas light trees new in box.

And various odds and ends.

Artists collect weird stuff.

Here's where I will be:

Hilson Marketplace: Artisan & Community Sale

Presented by: Hilson Avenue Public School

This annual community sale brings together artisans and community members to sell art, crafts and basement treasures. There will be a café/BBQ, children's activities and a silent auction. All proceeds will support Hilson Avenue elementary students.

Dates: April 24, 2010

On: 9 am to 1 pm

Cost: Free Event

At: Hilson Avenue Public School
407 Hilson Avenue
Ottawa

City Sector: West Ottawa

Click here for google maps and OC transpo links

Alcohol Ink + Friendly Plastic test = success.

2010-04-05T15:32:00.010-04:00

There was a time that you could get flat yellow friendly plastic.
Happy were the fairy wands, bee stripes and bright yellow suns I made from it.
Alas, I have only bits and pieces of it that I covet, saving them for use in a special project designated to happen "some day". Friendly plastic never had a metallic yellow to my knowledge. Why? I have no idea. Yellow must be hard to get right or must be unstable or something. Yellow, being a primary colour, would seem to be a colour you would expect to find in a friendly plastic artist's toolkit. It just ain't so. One day I was lamenting this fact to someone who had a solution for me. Make my own yellow.

What?

How?

An aside here: I am a friendly plastic purist. I have never been interested in trying to make my plastic look like glass or marble or whatever. I want it to be shiny happy plastic. It's what it is and I love it that way. I have never sought to change it ever so taking this advice was tough for me. But I love yellow and I need yellow and now I need brown too so I may as well change and adapt. As a human being this is what we've done for millenia and so I convinced myself that it would be okay.

So I set out on a search for Alcohol Ink.
Alcohol Ink faq here

I tracked it down at my local stamping supply shop, Heather's Stamping Haven, (here's her website, and her blog), and was thrilled to discover many colours. I kept myself to the plan (always tough) and purchased Lemonade to try to make yellow and upon consultation, Ginger to create brown. Sad to say but brown is another friendly plastic colour that's come and gone! BROWN?! yep. When I saw gold cobra go, well that was sad, but to think metallic brown would go too? It's still a mystery to me about the foils on the surface of fp (more on this in later posts as I may have found something to do about that as well!) but you have to cope with what you've got or innovate and I am innovating.

I opened the bottle and let the liquid land on the surface. The ink has a long needle-like nozzle/nose and I pushed it all around my plastic with the side of the nozzle while it was wet, and then if there was a spot where I thought there should be more I put more. I waited until it dried then tried to rub it off with my finger. A little came off so I let it dry longer. We're talking a couple of minutes. Nothing more. I chose flat metallic white as my base and the yellow really showed. I tried some yellow on a piece of orange copper and it made it a yellowy-orange. I liked it but it didn't change it enough for me for what I wanted to make this time round. But being able to slightly alter colours and get variations is very important to some of my plans for fp. Next I did the same process with Ginger on flat metallic white. I did get a good brown. Yay!

And for my first try I made these things with my altered whites...

Yellow Easter Chick

Pin and Earrings

Monkey Juggler Pin

So the colour seemed permanent on the plastic before I cooked it up in the toaster oven. After it baked I tried to rub it off again and it didn't budge. I'm not sure how it will do over time. I don't know if the colour will fade or flake or what. I was using sharpie markers on friendly plastic ages ago and when I first wrote on the surface it seemed great. Permanent. But overtime it faded to a purpley tone and it sort of spread out, it diffused within the plastic somehow and so the writing that seemed so legible when I first made it turned fuzzy and faded. We'll see what happens to the ink as time goes by. So far, so good. The heat of the oven didn't obviously change it.

Now the only thing is the plastic breaks white. Like the foil, the ink sits on the surface and when disturbed the plastic's main colour shows through. It's not necessarily bad, or anything, you just have to figure out how to use it to its best advantage. I suspect with the ink I could brush it into the cracks/seams where I find the white especially distracting. I am sure it would work and IF THAT WORKS... well. It never ends, one idea leads to the next, and it's why I am glad to be making fp things again.

Carp Easter Market - temperature 31C!

2010-04-05T14:47:00.006-04:00

I woke up on Saturday and saw this sign of spring. This little bird was about all that said "spring" that day. The bright neon red sun that rose in my rear view mirror as I headed west to Carp looked more like one of the glorious mid-summer sunsets I have seen sitting on my favourite rock at Britannia Beach than an early spring morning sunrise.

It was spectacular.

No pics as I was driving with both hands.

The crowds were happy as they walked the market site. The summery weather made everyone relaxed and at ease, unless you started thinking about how weird it was but never mind that!

Let's enjoy the day for what it is. It could have just as easily been a snowstorm, or freezing rain. The market vendors were mostly in the agricultural hall, a few signed on to be outdoors (they really threw the dice and got lucky!) and a few of us, (myself included), were in the market building's rotunda.

Long shadows of a bright summer sun in early spring. Sandals. No socks.

Main gate to the site of the Carp Farmers' Market

Mural painted on the side of the agricultural building commemorating the Carp Fair, held every September.

During set-up the sun shone brightly putting everyone in a great mood. Here's the market building with its gorgeous new signage. I was in this location for the Easter market.

My space inside was small and sort of round. I had a minimal display here. My regular market booth will have three walls which will be full of friendly plastic things, paintings and mirrors.

Here is the Carp Farmers' Market calendar for 2010.

We open May 8th for the regular season. The hours are 8am to 1pm every Saturday.

My table top of paintings.

A fine selection of friendly plastic, some old favorites and some new designs. I have re-discovered my medium in getting ready for this show. More on that later.

Entitled "Love" this little painting is my current favorite.

I adore his toothy grin. He is more caressing the boat than crushing it, though, like when a cat licks you and then suddenly sinks his teeth into your flesh, you never really know what this green guy will do.

Saturday April 3rd, 8am to 2pm, Carp Easter Market & my market return :)

2010-04-02T20:42:00.006-04:00

Hi. I know I've been a little quiet lately.

Lots of stuff going on. I wrapped up my first two classes for the City of Ottawa: Paint Your Pet's Portrait and Drawing and Painting for Beginners.

I have to say that these classes were a joy and I weekly fell in love with my students and with their bravery! I am not an easy teacher; I challenge my students but there is no way you are going to dedicate 10 weeks of evenings over the course of a winter to dabble here and there. I do hope they continue to pursue their art. every one of them had something special going on in their work. And on a personal note I discovered that I can teach. It's something I'd been wondering so good for me too.

Lately I've been making things, (market things), as I will be re-joining the warm and inviting Carp Market fold officially on Saturday April 3rd, 2010 for the Carp Farmers' Market Easter Market.

We start at 8am and go until 2pm. It's going to be some wild weather, and I'm not talking snowstorm more like sunburn weather. They're calling for 27C and that's so odd I don't even know what to add to that.
I'll just let the facts stand without comment.
And how you some pictures tomorrow when the event is over.

So if you are looking for something to do on a summery Easter weekend, drop by the Carp Farmers' Market and say hello. I'd appreciate it.

Franklins

2010-04-02T20:18:00.006-04:00

In February, Franklin cheered for the Olympic home team and then he wore his Team Canada jersey to cheer the men's hockey team on to GOLD!

In March, he was Irish...

In April, he's giving out candy with the Easter Bunny.

My Olympic Connection

2010-02-13T19:19:00.003-05:00

As I originally posted here, in 2006 I was asked to create a mirror of positive affirmation for Jenn Heil. She was heading to the Torino Olympic games representing Canada in her sport, freestyle women's moguls. I was told her mirror was with her in Canada House as she readied herself for her competition and then she won gold.

Here it is 4 years later and she's in Vancouver at the 2010 Olympic Games as the defending champion. Her final is scheduled for 7:30 PST tonight. But, I just heard Vancouver is under a heavy rain warning: 50-90mm of rain expected an already they've rescheduled some events. Snow making machines and airlifting snow by helicopter is futile against rainy downpours. I can only imagine how much delays fray the nerves of competitors. My thoughts are with you Jenn.

You go Girl!

Year of the Tiger

2010-02-04T22:25:00.005-05:00

It's that time of year again.

Proof Studio Gallery is hosting the 2010 Year of the Tiger Print Exhibition. Printmakers from all over the world have submitted their interpretations of Year of the Tiger. These prints will be displayed in Toronto at Proof Studio, in Muskoka, at OCAD and at the Ottawa School of Art.
See all the tiger prints here

Man Eating Tiger Lino Relief Print with Chine Colle 10" x 12"

This is my print based on a news story I read in December about a man eating what may have been the last wild Indonesian tiger. I just couldn't shake this story especially with it being the year of the tiger.

Read the news story here

Robbie Burns Day

2010-01-25T18:19:00.016-05:00

Today is Robbie Burns Day. Being of Scottish descent I should have been celebrating but it completely slipped my mind as I focused on the many pressing tasks at hand this morning. Only when I wandered into the office did I find someone wearing a kilt, telling me I had missed the canned Haggis.

I should have been there earlier.

He then fished the empty container from the recyle bin as proof that Haggis had indeed been had here and he focused my attention to the vegetarian on the label.

Vegetarian Haggis was had.

The "real" stuff was still sealed in another tin.

Canned Haggis.

An aside: the canned Haggis was bought here and you can order it online!

I read the label and Haggis really goes well with whisky. Whisky is recommended as an accompaniment to, and as part of, any recipe which uses Haggis.

Yes there are recipes that use Haggis in it.

After I finished my potato scone and my oatcake I wandered out of the office thinking about my Scottish side. Argyle. Really, what else is more Argylier than Argyle plaid?

Here is the official Argyle tartan according to tartansauthority.com

This is one half of my official ancestry. Of course Argyle patterning has been everywhere these last few years, like on this stuff for instance:

popular for dog sweaters

butt patterning squid knitting

luggage blank book

cakes

cat collarshead to toe outfits

cufflinks distressed patterning

dog collar dog tag

felted flower

jumper knit shirt

needlepoint needlepoint

ornament pants

plaid'n'pegasus paper ipod

ribbons ring

sneakers skateboard

kilts (him, her)

socks (her) socks (him)

sock vases stationery

tote vest

visor wallpaper

Wonder what Robbie Burns would write about today? I could get him some fancy tartan stationery for inspiration, and a smartly dressed companion animal to keep him company if he had to stare at the blank, tartan-bordered paper before his muse arrived.

Mild.

2010-01-25T17:58:00.004-05:00

I woke up to the sound of pouring rain. I like to lie there and listen to the weather outside my window. We haven't had too many howling winter nights this year and this morning it was heavy rain.

Today's forecast high was 9C. It was overcast most of the morning but then the sun broke through as I crossed a mall parking lot schlepping two bags of groceries toward the bus stop on the opposite side. It felt like April.

The unmistakable sight of snow melting

Smiles all 'round.

Goals

2010-01-03T13:34:00.003-05:00

I've written my goals down many times and worked with affirmations for years, but I have never combined this with a calendar. I found this free calendar template and decided to make my own calendar this year.

I love calendars.

I simply titled the space below my Whiteout image 2010 Goals and I'm going to keep track this year of what I am doing to make the things that are important to me happen. There is always a step you can take toward a goal. It could be tiny, but so long as you continue to move forward you are getting somewhere. I think if I kept focused all year, (always hard for me; my distractions are very attractive), I'd be very far along toward my personal goals this time next year. I'm going to try it.

Feel free to copy this page and convert it to your own goal calendar.

Polar Bear Swim... the complete event!

2010-01-02T09:27:00.008-05:00

When I have my camera with me I always wonder whether I should video the event or take pictures.

At Britannia yesterday I _really_ wanted to get the closeup shots of the faces contorted by the cold water, and the sheer surprise at what they were really feeling.

In the end I opted to video the whole thing. It's just such a fun, crazy thing to do, jumping into a frozen river. I wanted to document the whole thing. I figure if I need the still images I can get them from the video, at least enough so I can paint a few frames of it.

Here is my complete video, chopped up into four YouTube digestible bits. If you were one of the swimmers my fuzzy winter hat goes off to you! I hope to join you next year.

Polar Bear Swim, Ottawa, Britannia Park January 1st, 2010

2010-01-01T20:43:00.007-05:00

How best to start the New Year?

And so, here we are, the day after the night before
aka New Year's eve 2009/New Year's Day 2010

Britannia Park, January 1st, 2010 just before 2pm
Weather: overcast, light snowfall, wind 4km
Temperature: -3C/with the windchill -5C

58 participants in the Britannia Park Polar Bear Swim
The event raised money for the President's Choice Children's Charity

pre-swim
pre-swim

first glimpse of the "canadian hot tub" aka the ol' swimming hole

we all stood on the ice
a giant cracking sound made more than a few of us nervous,
causing us to wonder
if this was the year we all participated in the polar bear swim

the ice is pretty thick this year

contemplating the future

getting ready for the dippers
ropes are placed around the waist of every swimmer so they can be pulled
up and out of the water, or guided to the edge to help them out

you don't see this every winter day

in Grover we trust

participants get a "safety talk" before they go in

afterwards
lots of slush and a good look at the edges of the swimmin' hole
brrrr.

Illustration Friday: undone

2009-12-23T20:08:00.002-05:00

Illustrated ceramic button to keep your clothing from coming undone.

A good button or fastener is a must! See a shocking caveat here

I'm a City of Ottawa Art teacher...wanna take a course??

2009-12-23T14:09:00.007-05:00

This winter I will be teaching at the Nepean Creative Arts Center in Bells Corners, down the street and to the left of the Wallacks on Stafford Road.

Since my interests are many, my skills are pretty varied too. I'm going to list my courses below, but you can get all the information and the registration info from the City of Ottawa Recreation Guide here.

All my classes will be held at the Nepean Creative Arts Center, 35 Stafford Road (Bells Corners) Nepean.

ADULT CLASSES

Paint Your Pet's Portrait
Course Code: 410908
Thursdays Jan 14 - Mar 25
7-9:30pm

Just like it sounds. Bring in a photograph of an animal you wish to paint, your current pet, a deceased pet, a pet you'd love to have, or any animal really that you have an affinity for, and lets try to capture their essential nature on canvas. We'll learn how to see the form, what is essential to convey about this creature and how to transfer from a photo to a canvas. It will be necessary to talk about what to do with all that space around the main character as well, so thinking about the backgrounds will also be part of this class.

Drawing and Acrylic Painting for Beginners
Course Code: 410890
Wednesdays 7-9:30pm
Jan 13 - Mar 24

We'll explore drawing techniques, composition and design. From this start we will create the foundation of what we will paint. Using our drawings for the basis of our painting compositions we will then transition to acrylic paints learning about colour and design as we progress.

Print, Paint and Draw
Course Code: 410843
Fridays 7-9:30pm
Jan 15 - Mar 26

Combine drawing, printmaking and painting to make mixed media works that challenge the maker to go in directions they never considered before. The combination of these media will bring about unexpected results. We will work with found objects, collage, monoprints, collagraphs, drawing and painting mediums to create out work.

Taking a Line For a Walk
Course Code: 410901
Wednesdays 1:30-4 pm
Jan 13 - Mar 24

Understand the simplicity and complexity of drawing a line. Study the characteristics, expressive qualities and types of line through various exercises and different mediums such as charcoal, ink, and graphite.

Fresh Start For Your Artwork
Course Code: 410896
Fridays 1:30-4 pm
Jan 15 - Mar 26

Learn from your previous beginnings or completed works of art in any medium. Through sharing artwork with other artists, participants learn to improve aspects of design, colour, composition, technique and communication.

ADULT & CHILD CLASSES

These two courses are for "the pair of you". One adult (19 yrs to 99+ yrs) plus one child.
In each class you will interact with each other, as for both classes the hands of the adult may be needed to help out the young one, and/or the young one will spur the adult on with their free thinking. It should be mutually beneficial for the two of you and the group as whole.

Registration for these courses is made separately ie. the adult registers themselves and the child is registered under a different code.

Stop Motion Video with Puppets *Two workshops offered this winter*
(Adult + 1 Child between the age of 9-12)

Jan 16 - Feb 13 5 week workshop

Course Code Child: 410879
Course Code Adult: 410869
Saturdays 10am -12 pm

also

Feb 20 - Mar 27 5 week workshop

Course Code Child: 410882
Course Code Adult: 410885
Saturdays 10 am-12 pm

We will start by creating our characters from scratch using simple wire armature for the basic body shape. To this we will add sponge for flesh and muscle and nylon to cover the form and make a skin. We will then use fabrics to create the clothing (or the pelt if it's an animal or a bird or an alien) and to bring out details of the character. Once the posable puppets are created we will give them a home by making a backdrop for them to move within. Paper, cardboard and found objects will complete this scene. From here the class will be dedicated to shooting the frames to create our short animation. We may have time to create individual films or it may be a class collaboration. This will be decided as the class progresses.

Funky Plastic Jewelry *Two workshops offered this winter*
(Adult + 1 Child between the age of 9-12)

Jan 16 - Feb 13 5 week workshop

Course Code Child: 411059
Course Code Adult: 411071
Saturdays 1-3 pm

also

Feb 20 - Mar 27 5 week workshop

Course Code Child: 411084
Course Code Adult: 411o77
Saturdays 1-3 pm

I will be teaching two forms of plastic jewelry: friendly plastic and shrink plastic. Each of these mediums use different artistic skills, painting and drawing for the shrink art and sculpting for the friendly plastic. We will make brooches, magnets, earrings, bracelets and/or anklets. Plastic has been my life for almost 20 years. Let me show you what I know. Guaranteed to be a hoot.

12:47pm and the days get longer just like that...

2009-12-21T21:12:00.011-05:00

Happy Winter Solstice.

Finally.

I've been waiting for the return of the sun. I know it's also officially winter now too but it may as well be winter given it feels, looks and smells like winter.

Now I can content myself that we are happily moving toward spring. I know I am self-deluded, but I am aware that every day we get a tiny bit more daylight, and the earth tilts those of us in the northern hemisphere a tiny bit more toward the sun. It's a small consolation for the snow and cold yet to come.

Let me have my delusions.

I Can't Do It.

2009-12-19T07:19:00.003-05:00

There was a time when I just went out there and did stuff. I can't bring myself to brave the -18C temperatures right now to get to the By Ward Market building to set up my stand and wait to see if someone wants my artwork. I have reasonable boots, even bought toe warmers. I have a winter rated parka, new winter hat and mitts. But I'm not sure it will be "worth it".
Whatever that means.
My work is ready but it seems my spirit is not willing to stand in the cold until the sun disappears and I am so chilled to the bone that even a hot bath won't warm me up. THAT'S what I am thinking about. I don't want to risk getting sick.
Am I old? I never used to care about these things. It makes me sad, but it still doesn't make me want to go...

So, sorry if you were thinking about finding me out there and saying hello.
There's always email and this blog to reach me.

Illustration Friday: Hatch

2009-12-16T23:11:00.002-05:00

In this episode: On a deserted island Richard Hatch tries to stop Richard Hatch from thwarting Jeff Probst's attempt to steal fire. The planet's survival depends on it.