Getting ready for the Nuit in Ottawa Tonight

It's 2:27pm and I am getting ready for Nuit Blanche Ottawa.
Start time 6:22pm. End time 4:23am.

I'm already over-tired and I don't usually stay up past midnight so much anymore. What I do recall are having the best, most enlightening, and funny conversations, after 1am. Wouldn't it be great for that to happen again with all these ARTISTS around I keep saying to myself as I wonder how I will keep my eyes open and I wonder how long we will *really* last--and how long everyone else will last for that matter. 

I have wanted to do a Nuit Blanche since I attended my first one in Toronto: http://plasticmasters.blogspot.ca/2008/12/nuit-blanche-in-toronto-october-4th.html

 But here I am, four years later and this is what I'm doing or my first Nuit Blanche as a participant:

http://drawingthelinecollective.blogspot.ca/2012/09/dtl-at-nuit-blanche-ottawa-september.html


Basically, I'm seated on a chair, on the sidewalk in front of the Ottawa School of Art in the Byward Market, with my two drawing partners seated on chairs in front and behind me. We each start drawings in our sketchbooks that we pass amongst ourselves, working on a page until we decide it is done. Inspiration will come from everywhere, and from you too if you happen to be there.

Depending on the weather, (it was SUPER rainy this morning--kind of a muted sunshine right now) and the light levels, we'll stay outside for as long as we can take it, then move inside the Ottawa School of Art up to room 405 where we will have installed huge sheets of paper around the room. Here you can join us in our drawings. We have a bucket of supplies for you to use and we'll respond to your drawings as well as to ours.

Our event is quiet compared to some.

Around us at the School of Art will be 14 other art events, not to mention those set up in the Byward Market area and then in Hintonburg and the one I would like to get to myself is in the parking lot of the Enriched Bread Artists studio on Gladstone Avenue. Rob Hinchley, my great former printmaking instructor, and 3 others are creating GIANT woodcut prints using 4' x 8' wood panels for the block and then pressing them to the paper with a steam roller.

(Note to self: I'm going to have to try that when I get home.)

Nuit Blanche Ottawa Website here: http://nuitblancheottawa.ca/

Nuit Blanche Ottawa approaches ... 27 days and counting

large DtL Collective drawing, detail   graphite, charcoal, pastel, paint, ink

DtL (Drawing the Line Collective) will be performing drawing, sidewalk style, at Nuit Blanche Ottawa on September 22nd. We're going to be up all night, along with many, many other Ottawa artists in this inaugural Nuit Blanche evening for the city.

Drawing the Line is a collective consisting of three members: myself, Gail Bourgeois and Shirley Yik. More info, for the curious, can be found here: DtL
 

The best part will be doing a DtL project with my friends and seeing what happens over the course of the night.

our public drawing area at Blink Gallery with happy participants

The worst part will be not being able to see all the other art events because I am part of one of those events. Not such a terrible problem, of course, but I'll have to rely on the reports of others.

You'll be able to find us on 22 September 2012 - 6:22 pm – 4:23 am in front of the Ottawa School of Art (one of the festival partners) and up on the 4th floor of the school if we're not outside.

How can it already be March the 3rd?

I spent 14 hours coming home on March 1st, leaving
Key West around noon, March 1st: driving from Key West to Ft. Lauderdale

driving to Ft. Lauderdale to catch an 8:15pm flight home to Toronto.

March 3rd: my York region backyard

I had a companion with me, a calico kitty named Tinkerbell. She was found dehydrated and starving across the street from my sister's in Key West a couple of months ago. She was one-too-many-cats for that household and since I have a cat, Caesar, who longs for a friend the decision was made that I would bring her home.
Calico Kitty beside her orange travel bag

The Canadian Gov't required a rabies shot for her, with papers to prove it, and that was about it for bringing a cat into Canada. The airline asked for a soft sided kennel that would fit underneath the seat in front of mine. They both wanted to visually see the cat to make sure she was healthy and fit for travel.

Toronto from the sky: March 2nd around 12:30am

This cat is deaf. I discovered that a deaf cat is a good traveler. She doesn't react to all those changing sounds, just vibrations and movement and smells. She was super-quiet during the whole trip, only fussing in her bag twice as we waited for our, sigh, delayed flight.Kitty in the bag: March 1st around 8 pm Ft. Lauderdale airport

A 1.5 hr delay and you are strictly forbidden from removing any animal from its carrier while in the airport or on the plane so once she was in, she was there for the duration.
Kitty in bag on airplane under the seat: duration 3hrs

It just killed me and it was worse as I was so exhausted from my travel, the stress of winding things up and heading home, and then caring for a kitty with a personality that I barely know.

All went well and all IS well. Two cats doing really well with each other
Caesar on futon back, Key West Kitty mid-groom

The cats are really calm around each other. I kept the new one away from Caesar for a day, all of March 2nd, while she recovered from her trip. I, too, slept most of the day away. Today we were both out and about and it was obvious the cats were ready to meet, and so they touched noses without incident through a crack in the door this morning and then we just opened the door and they came face to face and there was one swat to Caesar then for getting too close too fast and a second one hours later when they unexpectedly came upon each other in the narrow hallway.

Caesar re-claiming me on March 2nd
I went back to bed after this attempt to be awake

Even this Key West Cat has been easy going, like the town she's from, and is just ready to just settle into her new home.

I have two deadlines this week: one for the international mini print exhibition at the end of the week, and the other a drop off of a painting for jurying into the Richmond Hill Studio Tour this fall. The print exhibit gets me back to the lino carving and the jurying reminds me to keep working and moving ahead. I hope to hear back from the farmers' market soon too. I sure hope I have a regular Saturday at a market. I really miss the market interaction with other vendors and the public. I just have to be patient but it's tough.

Before I left Key West I made the decision to keep carving a lino a day as an on-going project. I'm planning on doing this for one year, and printing a cumulative print every two weeks, perhaps also doing another print to represent a whole month as well.

I have no idea what I will carve around here.

Year of the Rabbit - Proof Studio Gallery, Toronto

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

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.

Best of Show - OSA Holiday Art Show 2010

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.

Year of the Tiger

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

Ottawa School of Art Holiday Sale - You're All Invited

The annual Ottawa School of Art Holiday Sale starts tonight. Doors open at 5pm to 8pm. I submitted six paintings for the shows this year, and if they sell I'll have new pieces up to replace them. New this year is the Holiday Sale at the Shenkman Art Centre in Orleans. The show there also opens tonight with the vernissage to be held this coming Sunday afternoon, 2-5pm. My one and only craft sale is this weekend so the only vernissage I can attend is tonight's...and with that I am off to mingle! This is really colourful event and you should all come and see it.

Here are my contributions to the Holiday Sales.

The first three are at OSA George Street, Ottawa.

Baaa Humbug 11 x 14 acrylic on canvas



Greg Brady was always cool 11 x 14 acrylic on canvas

Basement Apartment 16 x 20 acrylic on canvas

These are my pieces for the Shenkman Arts Centre, Orleans.

Red Rabbit 14 x 11 acrylic on canvas


Night Owl 14 x 11 acrylic on canvas

location location location 9 x 13 acrylic on canvas

Ottawa School of Art Holiday Sale: two locations

35 George Street, Ottawa & Shenkman Arts Centre, Orleans

Nov 26 - Dec 15 2009.

Galleries Around Town & OPENING TONIGHT

Click here to learn more about Blink

BLINK OSA exhibit opens Thursday July 9th, 2009 6-9 pm.

Vernissage jeudi 6-9 pm.

Gallery Hours are:

Vendredi 1 - 6 pm Friday

Samedi 12 - 5 pm Saturday

Dimanche 12 - 5 pm Sunday

My graduating class and I are exhibiting at Blink for two weeks. I am in the first group and we are opening tonight! My compadres open next week. Come out and see our work and say hello...


Other exhibitions of our work:

Ottawa School of Art- main floor galleries
Graduation Exhibit at the Ottawa School of Art

Also IPO Gallery on O'Connor Street
Here are some recent reviews of our graduation exhibit including a video of me describing my Big Print on view at the Ottawa School of Art.

http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/bigbeat/archive/2009/06/24/the-art-of-the-ottawa-bus-strike-at-ottawa-school-of-art.aspx
Thank you Peter Simpson of The Citizen.

Also:
http://www.apt613.ca/2009/06/25/alchemy-tonight-at-ottawa-school-of-art/
Thank you Ren.

And finally...
http://www.ottawafocus.com/artshows/alchemy.aspx


More about the grad later.... come see our work!

Self Portrait with Door

Self Portrait with Door 11 x 14 woodcut bleedprint on Somerset paper




artist proof, edition of 8 and woodblock


This was my last official school project, and it was unofficial and voluntary, but I was invited to participate in the diploma 1st year 1st semester relief printing class and while I spent most of the semester getting stuff done for my grad I did want to do the class print exchange. Our topic was "self portrait" and we needed to do 1 artist proof and and edition of 6.
I ended up with a final edition of 8.


print and plate

I printed this through the press. I was able to do that as I carved a piece of plywood finished with popular and it is fairly thin. You still have to set the rollers very high and I had to remove one of the printing blankets and at times I had to help the print roll on through but I got my edition and they were pretty consistent. It took about 5 proofs though to get the black right. I always need to add more ink that I think I do.

This is a bleed print as all the edges are printed and the paper is in fact smaller than the plate. I've never done a woodcut bleedprint or a woodcut on the press before. I think I'll do more.

Our Grad Invitations Are Done - Here... Have One.

My class and I are graduating June 25th and the work of the 2009 graduating class will be on display all month in the main galleries of the Ottawa School of Art.

Come and see what three years of study did to us.

Doors Open Ottawa - Ottawa School of Art: June 6th, 2009 Print Room Demo 1-3pm

From the City of Ottawa Website:

Ottawa was the second city in North America to launch this prestigious
event based on a successful European program dedicated to built heritage, architecture and design.

Each year, visitors hear first-hand the remarkable stories that have shaped the National Capital region. As Ottawa’s largest heritage and architectural event, Doors Open has recorded more than 340,000 visits since it began in 2002.

Currently, 48 European countries participate during European Heritage Month. In addition, Australia and the United States have joined the highly successful Doors Open movement.

Doors Open Ottawa is brought to the community by the City of Ottawa and a dedicated group of volunteers, in collaboration with Heritage Ottawa, Heritage Canada, the Ottawa Regional Society of Architects and the Ontario Heritage Trust. We strive to build partnerships between the City of Ottawa, building owners, neighbourhoods, and the corporate community.

More Info Here: http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/heritage/doorsopen/

PDF guide to all the locations available here

http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/heritage/doorsopen/pdf/guide_en.pdf

New Paintings for the Ottawa School of Art Boutique

These are my latest paintings since I've completed my program at the Ottawa School of Art... graduation posts to follow, but not yet.

The three paintings are available in the school boutique here in Ottawa. That cat must have resonated with the zeitgeist of the times as he was snapped up in two days. I hope it's gone to a loving home... kitty needs some love methinks!

Cat Wants Out 16" x 20" acrylic on canvas 2009 sold

O Happy Day 16" x 20" acrylic on canvas 2009

You Look Good 16" x 20" acrylic on canvas 2009

My Current Gallery Show - Handmade Books and Prints

Secrets Between the Covers
Feb 3rd to Feb 17th Lee Matasi Gallery (Extended to March 3rd, 2009)
Ottawa School of Art
35 George Street in the ByWard Market


Currently I have a show of the work I made during my apprenticeship with Britt Quinlan at the Ottawa School of Art from September to December 2008. I focused on the topic of secrets and created a series of books to illustrate one secret in each book. I find the process of creating a handmade book completely satisfying. Within this art form you can include any art-making process you need to get your story across. It is endless.

As for my video skills, well I forgot that moving pictures are not still pictures and when I turned my camera so the view was vertical the image didn't follow.
D'oh!
So please forgive me this error and consider it intentional (in the best art-making sense of that word).

You're Invited

More Info Here including my artist statement...

grocery bag sculpture made of friendly plastic

For my final sculpture class project I decided to do something big with friendly plastic. I created an all plastic shopping bag.

This is one of the largest art projects I've done with friendly plastic. I used a real grocery bag as my model, but I created a support for the plastic out of a metal mesh used for sculpting with papier mache and plaster. I raided one of my tupperware bins of bits, leftover offcuts from past friendly plastic projects, many of which were "snappers".



Oh how I hate the snapper.

As the plastic ages it gets brittle and just trying to cut it makes it crumble. That's just one dilemma to using this plastic. The second is it goes from not melted to melted in a flash, and when it does melt, it flows like oil. Liquid. Very very hard to control. Impossible, so you need it to go where you want it to be from the outset. I never use the snappers for any main item. I save it for large pieces where I use it as filler only. And for this it is fine, provided you don't have to bend the object you've created. So long as it's stable and not moving you are okay to use it.

What I learned while doing this project is that friendly plastic melts (D'OH!) and so it went through the metal grid I got as a support. Go figure. Never foresaw this!

I bent the wire mesh to be the exact size and shape of the paper bag and then I unfolded it and laid it out as flat as I could. I took my heat gun and started melting plastic onto the mesh... and immediately saw it run through, so I lined up the inner paper bag with the mesh to catch the overflow, thereby giving something for the snapper plastic to adhere to instead of my floor and simultaneouly gluing the paper bag to the wire mesh to the plastic.

BTW, here's a tip: friendly plastic makes an excellent durable glue if warm temperature is not a factor. We fixed our deadbolt with it and it held for years, actually it was still working when we moved away, and someone I know fixed their pool ladder with it. Many uses for friendly plastic for sure. But I digress.

So the other thing that happened which I didn't anticipate is I got a much more varied and interesting surface that was slightly dangerous.



My sculpture was called Surprise! and I positioned a lamp inside of it with tissue paper hiding the lightbulb so it looked like whatever was in the bag was glowing. If you touched the bag, and everyone wanted to touch it cause it was softly glowing, and the surface was so rich and varied with friendly plastic, so shiny, add to this that people never know what this material is and are very curious, well if they touched it the metal edges were sharp! Beware!


So while it was inviting, all glowy and shiny, there was danger and this is what I think of surprises btw. Not every surprise we get is a good one.

Here's what my final installation looked like with the lights off ...

and on....