Natural Dying

Just finished an intensive week with Charlotte Kwon of Maiwa in Vancouver.  We went through natural dying from a-z and ended up with an amazing book of samples of many natural dyes on cotton, silk, linen, hemp and wool with various mordants and overdyes.

If that wasnt enough we got to work on some of our own projects under her guidance - boy was that a treat!

My greatest thrill was being able to make some intensive "dye paints" from these natural sources so I could maintain my signature style but with these organic, historic, "safe" dyestuffs.

On the horizon is a project where I will combine the dyes, the materials and the patterns of a historical region or group with a post modern twist.

Check out Charlotte's website at Maiwa...

Pottery class...

So, I signed up for a pottery class and just picked up my final pieces.  While the other students made mugs, bowls, creamers and the like, I  "followed my muse." (smile)  In my life, this usually translates to "I made something weird". Take a look....

So what do you think?  Perhaps crab meets turtle?   Perhaps anemone meets ...?  I think it definitely looks sea creaturesque.

Art Show in Calgary next weekend

If you are in Calgary next weekend, check out the Women's Art Museum Society of Canada's fall Art Show and Sale.  I will have 6 pieces in the show - including two new "cowboy art" pieces.  I am recently fascinated with this genre of art and thought it appropos for Calgary!

New Group Show Opening tomorrow...

Excited to be a part of this new show opening in Yellowknife tomorrow...

While I am neither "hot", nor "young" <smile> , I am part of this show because of some of the new media techniques I have been incorporating into my work.

I have 3 pieces in the show - 2 are fibre-based but built with a digitly altered photo printed with a new digital fabric printer.  The other is a copper piece printed using plastic on a new style of "transfer".

All 3 pieces were great experiments and I am super happy with the results. I am finding I am staying within my "style" which may mean I have found it!

I am also very honoured to be amongst the other artists in the show.

Here is a sneak peek at one of the pieces:

"Unravelling"
12x12
dye, silk

Busy as artist, busy at other.

This time of year is a busy time for me in my "other" capacity as a corporate trainer, consultant and professional facilitator.  Usually this means my art practice is on hold until mid December or so.  This year I am trying something different....

Having had so many great experiences in art over 2012, I have decided to try to make sure I keep "art in the every day".

I am entering group shows and contests, working on three (yes three!) different bodies of work and planning a solo show.  Also, I have been so busy in my "business" in the past, I have neglected the "business" of my art - so I am also updating my collaterals, improving my cv and connecting with like minded artists and galleries around the world.

And I am committed to doing this every day while working a little more than  full time in my "other" capacity.

Now before you tell me I'm crazy or I'll burn out - I have been doing this for a month now....

... and I love it!  It is energizing and motivating to "art" everyday and I think it helps me stay energized in my "other" role.  The only negatives?  I have no idea whats on tv and I am tending to eat out a lot more.  So be it.

Here's a couple of photos from my most recent group show.  The "Anonymous" show at Down to Earth Gallery. 100 6x6 canvasses created by artists who committed to keeping their authorship secret until purchase.  This photo shows  two pieces I have on display.  Guesses?

Oct 7, 2012  The show has closed so I can show you which ones are mine now.... did you guess?  These 2 pieces are a departure from my fibre art but I guess its indicative that I think of myself as an artist first and the medium second...

...here is "Giant" and "Legacy".  "Giant" is a copper tooling of closed YK GIant Mine with a black patina added to represent the black legacy of the mine. "Legacy" is gold leaf, rhinestones, black texture gel and rocks from the Canadian shield from the shores of Prelude Lake.  Together they represent the North's legacy to us.

back from Residency

Thank you to Fort Chipewyan!  I am back from a month in this tiny community on Lake Athabasca in northern Alberta and I must say have been moved and inspired by my experience.  First some shots of this beautiful community...

Lake Athabasca

Transportation

Tradition

Modern application

The site of the first fort 

The location, environment and local issues all played a part in inspiring my work.  My studio was located in the town hall and afforded both time and space to be exploratory and creative.  In total, I produced 35 showable works of which 29 will be featured in a group show Sep 6-30 in Fort MacMurray, AB.

Although I have always produced "pretty" work, this residency helped me realize that it is the stories that drive my work - not the look of the finished piece or even the process of creation. I am moved to tell stories through my art and it is this expression that is the most fulfilling for me.  Once the story is told and the piece is finished - I am happy if the appreciator can find the story but equally happy if they just like the work.

I was able to share my time during this residency with a fellow artist, Alisdair Macrae.  Alisdair was also an inspiration and his work and medium has excited me to new directions.  Since I am used to working alone in my studio, I was quite amazed at how much I came to rely on his critiques and feedback and enjoyed his quirky character - my growth as an artist can be partly attributed to him as well.

A heartfelt thank you to all who made this possible - the folks who set up the residency, the people of the community and my husband who helped me free my time to do it.

Challenging self...

This last week I took a course with our local Quilt Guild - now, I am NOT a quilter, do not like the art of quilts myself (although I can admire them and understand why others love them).  So I was hesitant about this course from the get go but two of my favourite fibre art friends would be taking it and I figured I should consider expanding my horizons.

The course was called "Serendipity Quilting" which also sounded way too touchy-feeling for my liking but I forged on - with low expectations.  Turns out, I was completely inspired and transformed by this class and the instructors way of looking at fabric and "painting" with it.  Good lesson for me to widen my horizons and broaden my "definitions' of fibre art...


Susan Carlson was the artist/instructor.  Here is some of her work...


Her work is definitely amazing and definitely quilting - but her work with light and shadow is what transfixed and transformed me.

With her help, and working with my own silks, she let me modify her techniques and shared some of her great "painting" secrets with me....Here is what I started with.  The second is the same fish on the background I hand dyed...

my dyes...mmmm

As I mixed up these dyes the other day, I realized just how much I love how they work their magic on silk.  They are unpredictable, sometimes misbehave and definitely have a mind of their own  - there is no paint that can claim that! I love being a dye artist!

getting motivated....

With the busy summer art season looming and TONS of deadlines to meet, I find myself dragging my feet.  I cant seem to find the where and witherall to get painting....as a "mature" artist, I must say I have mastered the art of procrastination while still a novice at my other forms of art!

So today, no art - just organizing.  Cleaning and sorting my workspace and packing my "go bag" (reference to Criminal Minds for fans of the show).  maybe tomorrow will see action....