Public Artwork on a Private Fence: Pt 1

 

One of the most elaborate projects I've worked on happened for me this year.

Machell's Commons  painted wood animals installed on a 20' stretch of private fence, facing a public park (with owner Klaus)

This project started in May and we wrapped it up mid-November. If you've ever doubted the power of showing your work as an artist at a farmers' market, well, without me doing that I would never have had the opportunity to work with Klaus Wehrenberg and to help bring his vision of creating some visual interest in an otherwise bland suburban environment. It was a delight for me all year long to hear his views on art and stimulating environments vs. what we have by default as there is precious little attention being given to this kind of stuff in our communities. Nevermind! We were out to do a little something about it.

At the back of Klaus' property is this fence. Here it is as it existed in May. This was our canvas.

Klaus showed me that he had already made a few artistic interventions by adding these mushroom shapes to the tops of the fenceposts, but he wanted more.

When I met Klaus in the market for the first time, he told me he had been searching for the right artist, one who could "do funny animals".
"Oh, I can do funny animals", I said.
In addition he was looking for an artist comfortable with colour.
Again, that works for me.

His concept was already well thought out. He really needed someone to help bring it into the world. After some discussion over what animals he would like to depict on the fence I did some preliminary drawings. Usually I just do a pencil sketch, but he needed full colour.

Once we were agreed, the next step was for me to make the paper templates in the true size of the finished character. I had 19 animals to create on paper. Klaus would then take my templates and cut them out of wood.

Here are some of the templates

Fast forward to late August. Here is the pile of wood critters ready to be primed before they can be painted. I have to say that when Klaus handed me the wooden figures the edges were superb. Turns out he's a woodworker with an expert touch. The edges were a thing of beauty, but functionally they were rounded to help facilitate the shedding of the rain (snow and ice) off all the surfaces.

 This project required that the wood be sealed as best we could since it is an outdoor installation. In addtion, one side of the wood was primed grey, one side white and all the washers and the heads of the bolts were also primed to protect from the weather. The UV rays are another kettle of fish. At least if things fade they will fade in unison.

Here are the rabbits before

and after being primed

Here's the back of the beaver showing  the primed washers too.

To be continued...

Thinking about the apocalyse. it's soon isn't it? Advent Day 6

I was stopped at a red light this morning and right there, in downtown suburbia, I recalled that the apocalpyse is supposed to be soon, isn't it? December something 2012, right?

As I looked around me the traffic started to inch forward and all the SUV's, all the mid size cars, the odd Smart car and the few, very very few, pedestrians bundled up in their winter finest all seemed so calm.

I don't think anyone is worried about the end of the world, I thought to myself.

And me? I was trying to track down a printer for $49.99. I think if it was the end of the world, I wouldn't be tracking down a printer.

I might be in the car though. That's possible. And I'd probably abandon the Spongebob Advent Calendar at yesterday's discovery.

But since I feel no reason to do The Most Important Thing, I went ahead and opened Day 6.

my day was filled with frustration, as shown here by the tab I ripped trying to get the little door open

2nd one like this

and another Gary. I wish the chocolate tasted different today too.

5 days of opening little cardboard doors: The Spongebob Advent Calendar continues.

peek - a - boo

I see

you.

Wrestling with my print: I win.

I headed off to the studio again, determined to face that print and finish it.

yesterday's print overtop of today's inked palm tree block burnished until the ink showed through but not until the paper ripped

I inked up the second block and very carefully placed it on top of yesterday's printed background. I flipped the block over so it was underneath the paper and started to burnish. I could see the inky lines start coming through so I knew it would be a good print.

paper on top; inked woodcut beneath it

After peeking at the image and going over areas that were lighter so the image would be even, I was ready to see the whole thing.

Skyline     12" x 12" woodcut monoprint  2012

And here's the complete print. Two blocks printed, one on the other. The background block was twice the size as the carved palm tree block.

It feels fantastic to be getting to my Key West projects, all a result of my memorable time spent in residency at The Studios of Key West in February.  I'd say it's perfect timing to turn my mind to this subect matter. The snow was flying today and we're in for our first deep freeze tonight.

A rusty and irritable first go at making prints again.

I started the day with a visit to Yoffee Coffee. I don't have a coffee maker in my studio yet so this is where I've decided to go for now. It's on my way up to my studio so it convenient, and yes, it is all because of the name. And it looks like I'll be getting free coffees in no time, especially if I don't get that coffeemaker.

My neighbour in the garage where my studio lives was telling me that this year it's going to be cold in there. I am in an enclosed room with two heaters, both given to me to keep me warm. One is called the Microfurnace. So far it does the trick. I just got a clock for the studio and it has a temperature feature on it which will come in handy. When I left it was 14C/57F in there. About 7C/45F in the garage outside my door. So long as it stays above freezing my supplies will be ok. I sure hope it doesn't get to that. Anyway. I'm not cranky about the temperature situation. It's not a surprise and it's still warmer than an EZ UP canopy outside this time of year.

paper, rulers, inspirational image, microfurnace, pens, blocks

Today's job was to reacquaint myself with making prints. It's all I've been thinking about. I've been anxiously meeting all my deadlines, finishing commissions, wrapping up the year, all to get to this point. I have one woodblock carved that was meant to be printed overtop of another larger block. I've proofed the carved block, back in the spring, and today I was going to make the background print and then tomorrow print on top of it.

template for my print paper and woodblock positioning

Figuring out my layout took over half an hour. Tearing the paper was irritating and I didn't tear enough as I had to stop mid printing and tear more. Of the 4 I made, 2 were suited to today's task.

inks, spreaders, small sponges and q-tips (don't like these I decided) gloves, brayer and glass

I inked my block. I burnished it and it went well. I approached the print block and the ink more like paint and canvas, and that bugged me. I wanted to just switch over into print mode but it's not like that. I'm going to have to feel it out again.

block ready for printing

paper on inked block

I was working on my tabletop on the floor. I've lost a connector pin to attach one of the four legs to my table. I tested this table before I brought it over there so, where did that go? The legs are IKEA, circa 2002 - the date the table was made is on  its underside. I will be replacing them, but not this week. I'm just on the floor.

part one, done.

I am showing you the best of 3 prints. It was the 1st one. The second is weak and muddy. And the third one shifted on me as I placed it, so it's not good for this project. Maybe something else.

I have to work out how best to use that room. I need to efficiently lay out my space. I'll be crankier about it the more I use it because I'll know what just isn't right. I don't want any kind of delay, any learning curve. I just want to be in the work, you know? It's going to take some time, but at least I have started again.

Advent-ures: Day 4 of 32.

Day Number Four.

Open the little door.

Chocolate once more,

with Gary as decor.

Nickelodeon Chocolatiers, you are on notice! Day 3 of the Spongebob Squarepants Advent Calendar Adventure.

Door number 3,
for day number 3
on my advent calendar
promised a lot

I hoped to see something
amazing,
mysterious,
mind-boggling

  
Ok.
So there's Spongebob
with a Santa hat.

He is
infectiously
cheerful.

But it's Mr. Krabs.
Again! Day 3 and already a repeat?
Come on Nickelodeon chocolatiers!
You can do better.

Advent adventure: 2nd day. I realize my day begins with a tiny chocolate bite.

I woke up realizing that each morning for the next few weeks will start out with a tiny embossed chocolate square.

There you are Day #2. I see you.

I don't usually start my day like this. But would I save it for later?
 Would I delay opening the tiny portal to see what's hiding below??

Patrick decorates himself as a Christmas tree.

I think not. 

Truthfully, were I in sunnier climes, that chocolate would melt in a flash. You'd better just down it or it'll be a sticky-finger memory. It's really just a taste. Not even a bite.

Today's surprise is Mr. Eugene Krabs. I often make a Christmas Crab brooch. Sometimes earrings too. I am getting excited by these tiny forms left behind when the chocolate comes out.

2 down. 30 to go.

My Bob l'Eponge Advent Calendar Adventure!! Day One.

On a whim I purchased a SpongeBob Squarepants / Bob L'Eponge Advent calendar for $2 from the local dollar store. I've never had an advent calendar. Being one to try new things I am fully engaging with this calendar.

I'll post each day's special surprise.

Today we have Spongebob as a Christmas tree on the back of the piece I punched out to get at the small cheap chocolate square which has a raised Squidward design diagonally across its surface. It struck me that I now have a (flimsy) mold of a Squidward as well. I may get more out of this than chocolate and joyful surprises!

I Finally Made A Calendar!

It's only taken me about 10 years of wanting to create a calendar to finally get the job done. This summer I painted for the Burr House Tea Room and I thought those paintings would be great for a kitchen calendar. I got to work and created this:

There a few copies available locally at the Burr House Craft Gallery. But if you are not in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, I am happy to mail you one. They are $20.00 each and you can pay me through paypal. Please email me at katieargyle@yahoo.ca and I can send you the details.

(BTW books are not far behind...)

scatter brained/scattered energy

I arrived home after a trip to my mother's in Ottawa and I promptly lost my glasses. And my hard drive from my laptop. And a CD with old Out of My Mind image files which came off the hard drive of an even older computer.

Turned out I left the CD where I was staying in Ottawa, so, technically, it is "found", but it's not here.

The hard drive is a mystery and the glasses an even deeper mystery.

old wire framed glasses with wire holding them together

Thankfully, during my search for the glasses I found my old glasses so I have some glasses.

Then I couldn't find the stickers I need to put on my ceramics for submission into the Hill Potters' Guild Show.

We have to tag our work so we can get paid for them if they sell. 

Kind of important.

Aurora Farmers' Market Xmas Market display

Having just done my one and only craft show this season just yesterday, I have some stickers I can use. At least in this way all is not lost.

Not lost like my glasses are.

I have spent a lot of time this year in this state of mind.

 I feel rushed. 

I feel undone somehow. 

 

I feel like I'm in the center of a whirlwind on the one hand, 

and standing completely still on the other. 

Good thing I have that studio and my obligations to shows and sales and markets will all be behind me soon.

Xmas Market highlight: a cute puppy

 This week I am researching residencies. I am moving into the future once more where I like to be. Hopefully I will create an opportunity for an overseas trip next year. I long to go to Europe. 

Maybe the whirlwind will whirl me far far away.

New Month, New Year, New Studio: The Birth of Necessity Studios.

I'm not even going to try to catch you up on what's been going on.
All I want to say is I got a new start to my creative life today.

outside doors

I got the keys to my brand new studio space. It's all shiny and full of promise.

that's my studio, in there, behind that door

 The vibe is energy-rich in this space.

completely empty yet full of promise

 All I have been trying to do this past month is shed responsibilities, duties, and obligations to anyone and anything to make way for days and days hunkered down in my new studio space.

a space where I can be free to make whatever I want and not worry about the mess

 I have a lot of catching up to do.

I cannot wait to move my canvases, all carefully wrapped for me for my move in April of 2011, into a permanent resting spot and out of the corners, hallway and bedrooms of my small apartment.

the view through my window from the outside looking in

OMG what a relief it is to have a workspace.  All that's left is to do some good work.

Aurora Studio Tour this weekend: Sat & Sun Sept 29-30, 10am-4pm

I'm hardly back in town and today I have a demo at Hillcrest Mall to help promote the Richmond Hill Studio Tour  happening Oct 13 and 14th all over town.

After that I am bringing my work over to the great Eva Folks, where I will be sharing her home with several artists on this year's Aurora Studio Tour.

These are two of the new works I am showing on the tour:

Strut   16" x 20" acrylic on canvas

First Day  16" x 20"  acrylic on canvas

Aurora Studo Tour Info


Richmond Hill Studio Tour Oct 13 & 14 (10am-5pm ) Brochure
Richmond Hill Studio Tour Bios

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/