Often Medieval in Mood

Enigmatic

2012-01-31T11:52:00.002-05:00

Check out Seth Apter's MASTER CLASS post over at his blog, The Altered Page. This is most recent Master Class post - if you look in the sidebar you will find many more posts for this topic, among others.

Today, you will find my answer to the question posed:
'If you could take a class from one artist from anytime in history, including the present, who would it be and why?

As you will see, Dave McKean was the artist I chose. Discover his darkly mysterious world at your leisure.

And there are lots of other artist's responses to read. Seth has added links and pictures of his choosing to illustrate these. I think you will really enjoy reading the comments too... it's worth taking the extra time.

Happy exploring!

Five Fabulous Workshops Trailer

2012-01-24T13:28:00.000-05:00

There has been a great response to my Five Fabulous Workshops. People are signing up quickly! I am posting the available spots left for each workshop daily... you can check it out here.

Watch the Five Fabulous Workshops Trailer!

Five Fabulous Workshops!

2012-01-18T17:43:00.004-05:00

I'm thrilled with the wonderful input I received through my blog, Facebook, Twitter and email regarding workshop ideas. Thanks, everyone!!!

I have chosen five workshops from the list. They are shown below. Click here to go to the "Workshops" page on my website. After each workshop description there is a "Sign Up" button. At the bottom of the page is a link to general workshop info. All workshops are held at my studio in Merrickville, Ontario.

I have sent out an email about these workshops to my subscribers. If you would like to subscribe to my email list, you can sign up here or send me an email asking me to add your name. Without further ado, I give you the chosen five...

Workshop dates, cost, descriptions and supply lists can be found here. Scroll down the page to see all five workshops.

If you sign up for three workshops there is a 10% discount. This applies if all three of the chosen workshops go ahead with the required participation - a minimum of 4. There is room for 6 participants only, so sign up quickly :) Hope to see you at one or more of these Five Fabulous Workshops!

Dave's Recipe Book Project!

2012-01-17T20:08:00.000-05:00

On the third Wednesday of every month, David Hayes over at Clearer Reflections will be hosting "Dave's Recipe Book Project" - an online collaboration. The first one is tomorrow - January 18th.

The pic can be of any subject and any app(s) can be used… the only stipulation is that the image must be done all "in-phone" (or iPad). Along with the image, a specific step-by-step "recipe" is to be included.

Dave will post a list of all participating iphoneographers on his blog tomorow so that you can be sure to find the links to all the "recipes". Check it out and join in if you like!

Here is my "recipe"...

original pic

iPhoneography

Photo fx - Special FX - Day for Night 1 - Apply Layer - Wide Angle Lens (Distortion 10)

Snapseed - Drama - Bright 2

Pic Grunger - Weathered (Style: After Hours, Texture: Metal, Border: ON)

Workshopping Ideas

2012-01-08T16:08:00.000-05:00

I've been scribbling down ideas for art & artist-related workshops to teach at my studio in Merrickville. So far I have nearly covered my large work table with sheets of possible topics - Composition & Design, Writing (bios, statements), Tools & Techniques, Collage, Getting Text Into Your Art, Breaking Through Artists' Block, Creative Process, Book Boxes, Calligraphy, Creative Play, Layers, Altered Books, Oil Pastel & Acrylic, Using One Palette, Texture and Aging...

I suddenly thought, "Who better to get input from than the people who want to take art workshops from me?" I already have requests for Muse Journals, Mixed Media Painting and A Storybook in Mixed Media. And a suggestion for a "How do I fix this/troubleshooting with paint" workshop.

How about you? What workshops would you like to see me offer at my Merrickville studio? Tell me by leaving a comment on this blog post :)

2012. Full of creative possibilities.

2012-01-01T17:42:00.001-05:00

original painting, "TypePlay" app, Photogene app

Time twists and bends as one year draws to a close and another stretches ahead, providing the perfect moments to gain insight and dream without limits. A time to "fill the well"; to gather energy and courage to make our dreams come true in 2012.

As usual, Neil Gaiman says it best with his "wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself".

Have a fabulously creative year!

ATC Play

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

I love creating ATC's, or Artist Trading Cards. They can be a lot of fun - especially if you have no expectations for the outcome and just play.

Painting, mark-making & writing words into the wet paint.

I started by using painter's tape to fasten a long piece of primed, unstretched canvas to my table. I then applied Golden Fluid Acrylics, followed by Golden Open paint in Titan Buff and Titanium White. All paint was scraped on with a palette knife - no brushes. The Open paint makes it possible to manipulate the surface for MUCH longer than regular acrylics. I had to wait 24 hours for it to dry!

The ATC's cut to size: 2.5" x 3.5"

I chose the section I wanted to keep from my long canvas and cut the rest into ATC's. Here you can see the marks made with a wooden skewer and words written with rubber-tipped "pens", which scraped away the wet paint to reveal the layers beneath.

Painted arches outlined in black india ink, red paint dots & white gel pen lines around edges.

I decided to add gothic arches to each canvas card, painted with a transparent paint - Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold Fluid Acrylic. I love this paint. It allowed the background to show through each arch, creating the look of a tinted glass window. I had originally planned to sew around the edges, but instead chose to draw sketchy lines in white gel pen to get a similar look.

A closer look.

I love how precious each card becomes once it is cropped from a larger background. When I looked at the cards as a collection, a wintery theme became apparent - caves of ice, snow on boughs, the aurora borealis...

Fifteen cards were made for the CBBAG-OV (Canadian Book Binders and Book Artists Guild - Ottawa Valley), affectionately pronounced "cabbage-oh-vee". We have an annual Swap at our December meeting which is always a wonderful event. We all come away with a beautiful handmade piece of art or book art!

Rich and Timeless

2011-12-14T08:44:00.002-05:00

IMPRESSION | EXPRESSION

An exhibition of work by Holly Dean and Larry Thompson

Including lino prints, woodcuts, mixed media art, book arts, altered images and letterpress books.

Our joint exhibit at Studio22 Open Gallery in Kingston, Ontario is on for 5 more days! It winds up on Sunday, December 18th.

We visited the exhibit again a couple of days ago and were just as excited and "Wowed" by it. It is wonderful to experience a feeling of awe about your own work, beautifully displayed in a professional gallery setting.

Studio22 is an amazing space. The artful way the exhibit is set up really lets you "explore and discover". There is a theatrical atmosphere, created with lighting, music and backgrounds. Brick walls alternate with black partitions, dark walls and velvet curtains. The art and the space enhance each other. We are thrilled to be here!

The most recent review of Impression|Expression is below, in the Whig Standard. An earlier review can be read here, in the Queen's Journal.


A review in the Kingston paper, The Whig

Larry's books, lino prints and broadsides

Altered Images

Mixed media paintings


Larry's prints, press & galley tray with composing stick and type

Artists' Pet[s]

2011-12-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

We have a couple of hairy beasts here at the Studio who keep us company and oversee our work... usually from a prone position. They also spend quite a bit of time watching reality TV out the windows. Ahh... the life of an artists' pet :)

Sneak watching reality TV out the dining room window. Notice "Mini-Sneak" close by.

Our lovely dog, Sneak, is part German Shepherd/part Border Collie - we think. We found a wonderful, old folk-carving of a dog that looks just like him, right down to the white feet. You can see it circled in red in the background. Our breakfast ritual includes Sneak looking out the dining room window to make sure no-one is "sneaking" up on us.

Tennyson and a quite startled looking "Mini-Sneak".

Our handsome cat, Tennyson [AKA "Tenny-the-Menny], rules the roost despite being a great deal smaller than Sneak. He is a fiesty curmudgeon, although as he ages he is turning into a cuddly curmudgeon. However, if you take a close look at "Mini-Sneak" behind Tennyson, you will note that he is suitably apprehensive to be in such close proximity!

Re-arranged. The studio loft.

2011-12-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

From all the signs, I am about to create a new art series. How can I tell? The surest sign is a flurry of re-arranging. In the studio, in the house... everywhere.

This is our re-arranged studio loft. Actually, the furniture stayed in place for the most part, while the computer and peripherals jockeyed about for new positions on the antique tables. I love making things even more efficient. And pleasing to the eye.

Any day now, a more comfy computer chair, footrest (heated!) and 7 port USB hub will arrive from BestBuy.ca. We will procure and install hardware under the extended table-leaf to house our small, wireless keyboard. It will be perfect. Until I come up with another configuration :)

I will be back in the studio this week after a LONG stint of being busy with a gazillion other things. I have scheduled time for my art. And I have plans for re-arranging the studio. The first "shifting of furniture" has begun!

Liebster Blog Award!

2011-12-01T11:03:00.001-05:00

Thank You, Dave, over at the blog Clearer Reflections, for giving me the Liebster Blog Award!

Dave creates wonderful mixed media and painting pieces and photography. He is very active in the online artists' community - he takes time (I don't know where he finds it!) to comment regularly and show lots of encouragement and support. He has two Etsy Shops: Reflective Images for photography and Clearer Reflections for art.

The Liebster Blog Award originated in Germany and recognizes up and coming bloggers. It is meant to showcase those who have fewer than 200 followers. (Liebster means "favourite" or "dearest" in German.) This is done in the spirit of pay-it-forward. In accepting this award, the recipient agrees to:

    •    Thank the person that gave them the award and link back to their blog
    •    Copy and paste the award to their blog
    •    Reveal the 5 blogs they have chosen to award and let them know by commenting on their blog

I am thrilled to share with you five bloggers who create beautiful things, live artfully and are more than deserving of being followed! Enjoy your visits to each of these blogs and remember to leave a comment... this thoughtful act is always appreciated :)

Jo Murray - Art
“I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it….” Pablo Picasso. This has become my mantra, and each day I hope to do better work.

Veronique's Art Blog
I'm a visual artist who also loves wool and other natural fibers. I enjoy teaching art to children. This blog is the place where I share my inspirations, my creative process and my art with you.

The Old Stile Press
For more than thirty years at The Old Stile Press we, Frances & Nicolas McDowall, have been working with artist/printmakers to produce books of great beauty, hand printed in limited editions. We hope that our friends will visit here regularly to see what is going on at the Press.

Barnacle Goose Paperworks
As a book binder trained in Sydney and Auckland, I am currently interested in drawing, print making, and all aspects of the artist’s book. My lifelong passions have always revolved around books, both making and reading, and natural history.

Not Against Type
Adventures in letterpress printing, writing, books & art.

And Thank You again, Dave!

Make Art Work

2011-11-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

I took a day last week to boost my business skills - in a creative way. ART WORKS is a one day arts & entrepreneurship conference in the Ottawa area, designed to give resources and information to artists to help transfer creative skills to a business context. This was the third event - 40 artists attended the first and 200 attended this one! This was my first time and I happened to choose two lively and engaging presentations that got my mind whirling with ideas.

"Branding & Message Essentials for Creatives on Social Media" was presented by Erin Blaskie, New Media Princess :) I get so fired up by people who are genuinely passionate about what they do, and Erin is definitely living her passion. She shares information so enthusiastically and with such wonderful humour. I love the stories that go along with the information... it makes for a very entertaining experience. You can check out her "Slide Deck" for this presentation here. I didn't even know what a Slide Deck was until now! And there are MANY links to all kinds of information listed on the same page. I love this techno world!!!

"Sell the Hell Out of Your Art!" with Shawn MacDonell of Creativision was SO much fun. He is quite the story teller and his presentation was an interactive experience. The first thing he did was get 5 volunteers to come to the front and "stomp" on the empty box on the floor in front of them. No more "inside or outside the box" quandary - he totally removed the box! Also, he said, it helped with his recycling chores :) Shawn is one of those people who is himself, no matter what. You take him as you find him. I was impressed to see that he was wearing jeans, sneakers and a sweater. He said we were lucky that he didn't have shorts and flip-flops on - he wears those until it snows! All the other presenters wore business suits, which I found quite incongruous for an artists' conference. Surely you can dress creatively and present business information? You can check out Shawn's blog here. Among other things, he helps people find their creative side and lives his own life with passionate purpose.

I am now wearing my "Artrepreneur" hat even more proudly, happy to be part of a group of such creative enthusiasts. We are an ever growing group and there is no stopping us!

"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door". Milton Berle

The Call of the Muse [Journal]

2011-11-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

my first Muse Journal

I made my first Muse Journal in August of 2010 as a birthday present for a wonderful artist friend. After that, I was hooked. Since then I have made more than 30 Muse Journals and find it hard to keep enough available for sale in the studio. They are particularly popular as gifts and, I must confess, I have kept quite a few for myself :)

cover paintings in progress

I tend to create six or more Muse Journals at a time. The small canvas panel covers are ideal for exploring intriguing ideas with paint, collage, transfers, texture & whatever else my muse suggests. I once made a pair of strictly black & white Muse Journals as a commission, expressing the similarities and differences between two cousins who grew up as best friends.

gorgeous papers are wrapped around each signature for a beautiful exposed spine

Binding the mixed media art covers to the text block is a zen-like experience. Beautiful papers are chosen to wrap around each of the eight signatures, along with a complementary or contrasting coloured, waxed-linen thread. I use a Coptic stitch for a few reasons. I love the look of the exposed spine, it is a very sturdy binding and it allows the Muse Journal to lie flat. I really love this aspect when I am working in it. The paper-wrapped spines also create handy sections in the book!

this title looks like it's written on shards of slate

The final step in this creative process is naming the Muse Journal. I enjoy perusing my list of fantasy book titles, considering which will be the one to magically bring the Muse Journal to life. The title is added to the cover art in calligraphy or typography.

a grouping of Muse Journals

These useful & beautiful books are a labour of love - it can take a day or more to create one. They don't sell for big money - they are priced from $72 and up, depending on their size. I create Muse Journals because I love the process and the opportunity to combine my love of art & books.

collaged bits, calligraphy, doodles & scribbled ideas

I have one that fits in a large pocket that goes everywhere with me. I have a larger one always at hand in the studio. Four more await the call of the muse and my collection continues to grow. I will be teaching a Muse Journal workshop in 2012. They have become a passion of mine :)

What? When? Where? Workshops.

2011-11-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

I hoped to hold at least one workshop in November here in Merrickville at the Studio. Many of you expressed an interest in signing up for a Mixed Media Painting, Muse Journal or Mixed Media Storybook class.

As of last week, we received confirmation of a huge order for Costume Balls from Cirque du Soleil. YAY! and YIKES! This means that, unfortunately, the workshops will have to wait.

Over the next weeks I will be planning workshops for 2012. Once the dates are firmed up, I will create a sign-up page on my website and let you know all the details.

In the meantime, here are a few "Sneak" peeks of what to expect...

MUSE JOURNAL WORKSHOP

Create mixed media covers, then hand-bind these small pieces of art to beautiful paper-wrapped signatures using a Coptic stitch. Take a look at a variety of Muse Journals here

each Muse Journal is work of art

these journals are useful and beautiful... and addictive!

_____________________________________________________

A STORYBOOK IN MIXED MEDIA WORKSHOP

Paint, images and text all come together to create a personal Storybook. Check out my 2010 storybook blog post - remember, the link is for last year :)

our "Sneak's" story

Sneak provided the torn collage bits!

_____________________________________________________

MIXED MEDIA PAINTING WORKSHOP

Create a mixed media painting with acrylics, collage, text & image transfers. Check out my 2010 mixed media workshop blog post :)

moody layers of mixed media

room for four to play in the Studio

I do look forward to teaching these workshops. They are so much fun and the creative energy in the Studio is awesome!

IMPRESSION | EXPRESSION continues...

2011-11-18T11:32:00.000-05:00

The Opening of IMPRESSION|EXPRESSION, a joint show of my art and Larry's letterpress work, was a delightful experience and sales were good too. Imagine being told by your gallery that all you have to do is provide the art ahead of time, then show up for the Opening. A dream come true!

Holly's artwork in a very theatrical setting

Larry's collection of lino prints look fabulous in these groupings

Holly's paintings and where the jazz duo set up for the opening

Studio22 Open Gallery in Kingston is run by two very creative people - Hersh and Ally Jacob. Hersh is a graphic designer, lover of typography, books and art. Ally is an amazing designer of installations, organizer and art lover. They both have backgrounds in theatre. Their latest project is the design of a portrait exhibit currently at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto.

This dynamic couple put together invitations, posters, a catalogue, food, wine & music for the opening and a thoughtful, intriguing display of our work in their theatrical, atmospheric gallery.

We are thrilled with this exhibition and plan to explore it ourselves a few more times. Do take the time to check it out - you will be enthralled. Since it runs until December 18th, there is plenty of time to take it in.

Here's a nice review in the Kingston Queen's Journal.

And a mention in the Ottawa Citizen's article: "The art of Kingston"

____________________________

Holly Dean & Larry Thompson
IMPRESSION | EXPRESSION
A Joint Exhibition
Illustrated broadsides, prints & books | Abstract mixed media artwork, altered images & book art

On until December 18, 2011

Studio22 Open Gallery
320 King Street East - 2nd Floor
Kingston, ON
613 546 7461

New Fall Gallery Hours:
Wednesday to Thursday - 12 to 6 pm
Friday - 12 to 5 pm & 7 to 10 pm
Saturday - 12 to 6 pm
Sunday - 1 to 4:30 pm
(&, ANYTIME BY APPOINTMENT)

The Maker's Hand

2011-11-14T13:22:00.000-05:00

It has been a fabulous, creative whirlwind of artful endeavours these past few weeks! The Maker's Hand was a great success and, as usual, a pleasure to participate in. Show organizers, fellow exhibitors and customers alike were wonderful.

sharing my passion for my art

a fellow exhibitor taking her dog for a walk :)

our booth set-up at the show

We look forward to next year's show!

My Favourite Blog

2011-11-13T13:40:00.000-05:00

ahhh... bliss

It feels good to have time to put my feet up and relax after a whirlwind couple of weeks, taking my art on the road. Time to enjoy a great cup of coffee while exploring what's new on my favourite blog. :)

Every Sunday, Seth Apter of The Altered Page runs "The Pulse -- The State of the Art" -- a survey in words and pictures of the online artist community. "Style File" was the first project posted - you can find my response in Chapter 2.

"Techniques & Tools", the second project, continues now. Participants were asked: 'The one technique or tool that you cannot live without is... ' To make this project even more interesting, Seth has added links of his own choosing to each contribution. Even we contributors do not know what he will be linking to! Read my response and discover what Seth has chosen to link to!

Thanks again, Seth, for all you do. You keep our creative community full of vibrancy!

Wishing everyone a great Sunday. For those of you down under, sleep tight ;)

Altered Image, complete with recipe

2011-10-29T12:27:00.000-04:00

Dave, over at Clearer Reflections, is hosting the first chapter of "Dave's Apps Recipe Book Project", an online collaboration. He will be posting links to all the participants and there will be lots to discover. Be sure to check it out tomorrow!

Participants are to post a pic created using a iPhone/iPad/Android-based phone camera and apps. Pics can be of any subject and any app(s) can be used... the only stipulation is that the image must be done all "in-phone". Along with the image, participants are to reveal how they created it, with the specific "recipe".

Here is my contribution - a day early - as I will be attending the opening of our joint art exhibition "Impression | Expression" this evening and won't be back to blog in time.

I used two images, taken with my iPhone 4 and altered with Apps to create what I call my Altered Image:

Image#1: reflection of gothic window in Cirque Room

Image#2: Costume Balls, made for Cirque du Soleil

Result: Altered Image "Ephemeral World"

My Recipe...

STEP ONE
Open Image#1 in Photo fx
Choose SpecialFX > Color Looks > Cool Desaturated (Amount 100%)
Save

STEP TWO
Open new Saved image in Iris
Choose Adjustments > Layers > Set Layer as Base
Open Library > select Image#2
Choose Adjustments > Layers > Blend with Base > Blend Mode: Lighten, (Opacity 100%), Use the Image Mask
Save

STEP THREE
Turn image right way up in Camera Roll (Edit) > Save

STEP FOUR
Open new Saved image in picfx
Choose Grunge > Rough Grunge
Save

STEP FIVE
Open new Saved image in 100Camerasin1
Choose "looking sideways, a clever smile" (50%)
Save

STEP SIX
Open new Saved image in Iris
Choose Dust 'n' Scratches > Grunge Frame > Rust (100%) > Apply
Save

VOILA!!!

Thank you, Dave, for hosting this wonderful project!

And, thanks again, Steve Jobs. I love creating with all the innovative tools you have given to this amazing world. Thank you too, Larry, for giving me the ebook of Steve's bio. I am really enjoying reading it on my iPad :)

Collected!

2011-10-21T18:38:00.000-04:00

Loaded into the MINI for delivery...


In situ... I love the gilded books!

A beloved painting finds it's rightful place in the world. Enjoy, "C"!

Impression | Expression

2011-10-16T09:01:00.004-04:00

What do you get when you put letterpress printing and mixed media art together? An exciting joint exhibit at Studio22 Open Gallery in Kingston, that's what!!!

My love of calligraphy, medieval manuscripts, nature and gothic architecture inspires my evocative, abstract mixed media artwork, altered images and book arts.

Larry's love of typography informs his use of the ancient techniques of bookbinding, block printing and letterpress printing to create illustrated broadsides, prints and books.

In our work, we share the use of line, text and design. As individual artists, our work expresses a pleasing contrast between rich layers of colour and texture, and the tactile black and white impression of letterpress...

IMPRESSION | EXPRESSION

An exhibition of work by Holly Dean and Larry Thompson

Including linoprints, woodcuts, mixed media art, book arts, altered images and letterpress books.

Blogged!

2011-10-10T07:25:00.000-04:00

I've been blogged! Thank you, Wyn Vogel. Isn't this online world wonderful? We can so easily discover one another anywhere in the world - armchair travelers indeed.

I have a lot to be thankful for in my life. My loving family, fabulous friends and fellow artists. A creative muse which keeps my mind whirling with ideas and my hands busy making beautiful things. All those who collect these beautiful things and want more!

Hooray for those visionaries who inspire me to follow my heart - William Morris, Sting, Steve Jobs. This life is what we make it. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

An Excellent Studio Tour

2011-10-04T14:59:00.000-04:00

What a wonderful couple of weekends! The Merrickville Artists' Guild Studio Tour and Sale was a great success, with lots of interested folks dropping by The Studio at Greyweathers. There were engaging conversations and plentiful sales, keeping me hopping throughout the four days.

30 more people signed up for my mailing list, which keeps you up to date with going's on in the studio, exhibits and shows, classes and more. If you would like to be on my mailing list, sign up here.

Multi-tasking :) Wrapping up a purchase while talking about my art.

Works in progress.

A sculptural piece - Winged Protector.

An under-painting awaits the next creative stage.

Studio Stuff

2011-09-21T06:31:00.000-04:00

Earlier this month Seth Apter of The Altered Page posted a picture of a pile of journals, papers, artworks, and handmade books on his blog. He had been moving things around in his studio and couldn't resist the photo op.

Inspired by one of his blog followers, Seth has organized yet another online collaboration - Paper Stacks. It is being hosted today, September 21st, by the The Altered Page. Each artist involved will post a picture of their Paper Stack on their own blog. Seth will post their links so that you can check them out. Go take a look!

80+ artists have already signed up. I'm one of them. I give you (drum-roll) my Paper Stack. I like to call it Holly's Heap :)

"floating" ephemera, waiting to be used in my mixed media art

Altered Perception

2011-09-11T15:14:00.003-04:00

I blocked out two uninterrupted days of studio time last week to finish a painting I have been working on for an upcoming Ottawa Mixed Media Artists'exhibition. It came together very well and I am very pleased to share with you my latest work, "Altered Perception".

ALTERED PERCEPTION, 28" x 54", mixed media on multiple canvases, $3,500. CAD

I was inspired to work from an altered image of a detail from my last painting, "Weaveworld", which is the image I used on the front page of my website. What fun to create a large painting from a small part of another piece! Of course, the new painting took on a life of its own as I worked.

The theme of the OMMA Exhibition is "Everyday Patterns" and all artists were urged to take a closer look at everyday objects... just like a treasure hunt. I had SO many ideas (and still do). I settled on the dramatic imagery of a particularly ornate ceiling in the Bodleian Library in Oxford, England. My graphic depiction is an altered black & white study from a photograph I took in 2008, while visiting this amazing library. Just imagine being a student at Oxford and encountering this gorgeous architecture every day!

I am thrilled to report that "Altered Perception" was juried into the exhibition yesterday and you will be able to see it in "in the flesh" starting next Saturday in Perth, Ontario. And in my studio until this coming Thursday...

The Exhibition: EVERYDAY PATTERNS
at "Gallery Perth"
located in Code's Mill, a heritage building located opposite Stewart's Park on the River Tay,
53 Herriott Street, Perth, Ontario
Saturday, September 17 to Saturday, October 15, 2011
VERNISSAGE: Sunday, September 18, 2011 from 2:00 to 5:00
http://www.galleryperth.com

It's a... book!

2011-08-24T20:38:00.000-04:00

The cover of Seth's new book, coming out early in 2012

Seth Apter just emailed all his artist contributors to congratulate us on having some of our written responses to his evocative questions officially included in his first book, "The Pulse of Mixed Media". I am so excited about this! I can't wait to hold a copy in my hands...

Understandably, Seth is even more excited than I am. See the proud "father's" latest blog post here :) More news will be revealed over time about my involvement in this fantastic project.

Congratulations, Seth!

Re: I've been thinking

2011-08-22T13:20:00.000-04:00

BRIGHT WEAVINGS, mixed media painting, 10" x 10" SOLD

I thought that I would share a response I made this morning to an email received from a wonderfully inventive friend...

Dear Hugh,

Wow! The idea that we "buy the story, not the art" must be in the air! You had mentioned something of the sort in an earlier email, as did another friend who dropped by my studio, a marketing consultant that Larry and I have hired for our respective businesses and Terry O'Reilly on The Age of Persuasion the other day.

I was so pumped on my way to the Women's Art Festival yesterday morning. The rain was not putting a damper on my spirits at all. As Larry and I set up it was POURING!!! I started to feel like the show might be a washout. It's such a lot of work to pack and unpack the MINI, not to mention setting the tent and display up. Would anybody come? Larry, in his inimitable fashion, encouraged me to keep my spirits up.

I was very impressed with how many people were not deterred by the rain. They were bent on getting their fill of art! They arrived covered in water repellent fabric, carrying umbrellas and, in many cases, sporting exuberantly patterned rain boots. Someone is making a killing in rainy day footwear!

I have been putting a lot of thought into what makes my art unique and what some of the stories behind it are. And I have done extensive writing about it over the last couple of months for my re-visioned website. I started engaging people in conversation. I paid attention to what I said AND to what they said and how they reacted to my work. The results were astounding! Such a reaction... people connected to my work and got very excited about it. I had experienced this reaction before, but more intermittently. I had previously relied on my art to connect with the viewer without much help from me.

One of my mixed media paintings, "Bright Weavings", attracted a lot of attention. A woman who was intrigued said, "Tell me about this painting." I was off! I told the story of how it was an exercise in morphing shapes. How I started with a photograph of the inside of a dovecot from England, using paper and pencil to isolate and morph the shapes I saw. The result being the two jaunty towers, flags and banners that give this piece so much motion and character. I explained how I don't think I could have captured that sense of motion if I had just drawn the shapes to start with. "I'll take it," she said. Off went the painting with it's happy collector, leaving behind a happy artist. Happy, yes, that I had made a sale, (this is how I make my living, after all) but happier still that I had enhanced the woman's experience of my art and created a deeper connection to a piece that she was intrigued by in the first place.

My art is an extension of who I am and I find it exhilarating to share stories about it. I tell you, being an artist is such a fulfilling way of life and I wouldn't trade it for all the gold in the kingdom. I will trade my art for gold though ;)

Thank you for your encouraging words and, as always, your brilliant ideas!

Holly xo

"Like", "cool"...

2011-08-20T09:21:00.000-04:00

awaiting tomorrow's Women's Art Festival

It's a beautiful, BUSY Saturday. Better look at my checklist...

1. Finish up one or more art pieces that are waiting in the studio. I have many paintings in the works and it would be fun to bring a freshly finished piece to tomorrow's Women's Art Festival.

2. Pack up the MINI for tomorrow's Women's Art Festival in City Park, Kingston, ON. This is a great one-day show, chock full of art, craft, music, family activities and fabulous food. You can find out more about the show here.

3. Start a painting for Class 5 of Layer Love v2.0. I am loving these Golden OPEN paints and want to play with them today! You really need to check out this class.

If only there were just three things on my list today. But that's O.K... I have OmniFocus to keep me organized. Artists can be techno-geeks too :)

Speaking of which, I have had fun creating my Facebook fan page, jazzing it up with PageModo. Stop by Holly Dean on Facebook to see what's up and don't forget to click the "Like" button! There's also a link to a very cool animated short movie, "The Cathedral", a few posts down the page that you might like to check out.

Have a creative day everyone!

Dreams Into Action

2011-08-14T11:39:00.003-04:00

follow your dreams...

My Virtual Vernissage has been quite a success, with lots of wonderful feedback. It seems my extraordinarily reinvented website is a hit! I'm already working on new pages to add, such as Featured Work where I go into detail about specific pieces of art in pictures and words.

One of the wonderful responses to the new site is that Seth Apter of The Altered Page has added Holly Dean to his sidebar list of Favorite Destinations! I am so honoured. Seth has just celebrated the fourth year anniversary of his amazing blog. He has been raising awareness in the online artists' community all this time - connecting artists, sharing information, showing his own art and other's. His blog is not to be missed!

I'm also excited to be taking another online class with Julie Prichard and Chris Cozen. Layer Love v2.0 is right up my alley and these new techniques will be explored more fully in the two new paintings I am working on...

The theme for my new work is "Everyday Patterns"... quite intriguing. I am playing in my journal with the idea of combining decorative patterns with behavioural patterns. How will this come together, you ask? Through the delightful discovery process of creating the work. I can't wait to see what evolves.

There is still plenty of time to see my most recent painting, "Weaveworld" at the OMMA Exhibit, WOVEN, which continues at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum in Almonte, ON until September 3. Find more details here.

Must get back to the studio now. Have a creative day, everyone!

Virtual Vernissage

2011-07-31T17:27:00.000-04:00

I am thrilled to invite you to the Virtual Vernissage of my extraordinarily reinvented website, hollydean.com!

What are the advantages to a Virtual Vernissage? Well, it matters not where you live - across the world or across the street. You can explore whenever it suits you - 24/7. All you need is access to your computer, smartphone or tablet.

What can you expect to find when you click on hollydean.com?

The Art:
View gorgeous pictures of my mixed media paintings, book art, sculpture and altered images, and read what I have to say about each piece.
Discover my recent work and rediscover older favourites.
Read illuminating insights about my artistic process - "...While story, myth and legend have long been the catalyst in my work, the ascendancy of the fantasy realm into popular culture has set fire to my imagination..." (from "Recent Work")

The Blog:
Find out what is going on in my creative world.
Read my blog posts without ever having to leave hollydean.com - "...A finished piece sits in the dark of the studio, awaiting its unveiling to the world. A painting woven into existence, made of dreams and threads..." (from "Weaveworld", Friday, May 19th, 2011)

The Artist:
Read the story of how I became an artist and what influences shaped my world - "I had no idea that I would be an artist. And yet here I am, living this enviable life in which I make beautiful things for a living..." (from "The Story")
Download a PDF of my Bio and Resume.

The Rest:
Find out where my mixed media art is on exhibit - galleries, museums, restaurants, studio tours and shows. Get information on "real" vernissages and where you can see my work (and possibly me) in person.

Contact:
You can contact me about purchasing a piece of art through the form on this page. Or send your comments and questions about my art, my life as an artist and my website. I would love to hear what you have to say!

This Virtual Vernissage happens whenever you decide. Just click on hollydean.com and prepare to be inspired.

Enjoy!

Buried Treasure: Of Pirates and Knights

2011-07-28T06:55:00.004-04:00

Ahoy, me hearties. It's time to go on a blog treasure hunt. There is much booty to be found, so let's get to it!

As I mentioned on Tuesday, Seth Apter of The Altered Page has invited artists to re-post one (or more) of their favourite blogs. Head on over to Seth's blog for the treasure map, or list of participants that he will be posting as they come in.

Avast, me maties! Before you do that, take a look at the buried treasure I have unearthed... Yo-ho-ho!

MEDIEVAL IN MOOD SWINGS (from July 2010)

It's hot. Too hot to work. Too hot to eat. Too hot to sleep. Time to write down this chaos that spins around in my head... maybe I will make some sense of it.

I've been working on a commission piece, a fairly large painting with a medieval feel to it. I should take the opportunity here to explain what I mean by that. When I say "medieval feel" or "medieval in mood" I always mean in the romantic sense... not in the unwashed, toothless and plague-ridden sense. Well... obviously.

Anyway, back to my story. Normally I feel stifled when I am asked to do a commission. I find out what the parameters are and abruptly proceed to build myself into a box that I can't think outside of. This is completely my own doing and it certainly makes the going tough while trying to be creative. Luckily for me, the collector who commissioned this piece loves my work and gave me very simple input, trusting me to create a "Holly Dean". She already owns more than one of my paintings and I am thrilled that she wants another. To quote other artist friends who find out I am doing a commission piece, "Oooooo, nice!" As artists we are all impressed when a painting is sold before we even start. It makes for a pleasant change.

a sneak peak by way of a detail photo - there is lots more to see at the end of this blog

To make a start on this piece, a road trip to Wallack's to buy a 30 inch square canvas was in order. This is our "local" art store near Ottawa which is about 50 minutes from my studio door. Luckily the largish canvas fit in the MINI!

Back in the studio, I chose elements to use as a collage base and adhered them with Golden Soft Gel (Gloss). Some of these would be pushed back under the paint and some would be brought forward as integral images.

Next, I used a wide palette knife to cover the canvas with acrylic molding paste, creating luscious texture. I have been known to use a cooking spatula for this task - whatever works. I covered some areas of the collage elements with the molding paste, deciding on the fly which elements would be important and which less important. I also pushed pieces of wrapping tissue into the paste and stamped into it for other areas of interest. This then needed a day or so to fully dry, so I had plenty of time to him and haw over what colour(s) would be put down first.

I must mention here that creating a piece of art is hard work. Ultimately rewarding (if all goes well) but difficult at every step of the way. It really is one extremely long list of choices. And for me anyway, a balancing act. Textured and smooth surfaces - light and dark areas - organic and geometric shapes and lines - opaque and transparent paints - collaged text and calligraphic words - chaos and order. I blame my being born under the sign of Libra. Yeah, that's it.

Other than decisions based on "opposites", there are plenty of other choices to make. Including what paint colours to use. My client wanted earth tones and metallic embellishments. These colours fall within my usual palette range, so no problem. Except, "Careful, it's getting too green" and "Now it's too brown" and "What about some red - is that an earth colour?" "What about some naples yellow or pyrrole orange?" These are a tiny sampling of the questions that need an answer in order to move ahead. To create. It's painful. Each decision is a "best guess", based on experience or intuition or knowledge or just exasperation. Of course, at any stage the outcome can be changed by altering elements or paint or composition. That is the beauty of mixed media. This evolution of a piece is just as important as the final result. There are layers of archeological choices - some are apparent, some not, but they all have an impact on the piece of art. They create depth and a sense of mystery, even history. Knowing that you have the power to change almost anything until you are satisfied isn't necessarily always a good thing. There comes a time when you have to say, "Get off the teeter-totter and make this work!"

I inched forward with mind-numbing slowness as I puzzled out how to make all the elements work together, which paint went where, which elements to cover up (even though I loved them individually), which to add and where to add them. There were times when I thought, "This just isn't going to work". And other times when I felt, "I love this!" What I probably didn't do enough of was to walk away and stop spending hours trying to figure out one problem. After a particularly frustrating afternoon and evening, I went to bed thinking that I should just paint over the whole thing and start again. Or get a new canvas. Waa, waa, waa! I thought and dreamt about the piece all night long (or so it felt). "What? Can't I get a break from this?" A possible solution did come to me in the night however, so it was worth all the "night turmoil". My right brain finally had a chance to speak up. This is a common experience for my father who often goes to bed with a problem and wakes up with a solution. I had always thought, "Bully for him!" and now it had happened to me. I liked it.

Of course, the first thing I did that morning was to sit down and read. No, I didn't go straight into the studio to see if the solution would work. That would be brave. I picked up Michael deMeng's new book "Dusty Diablos - Folklore, Iconography, Assemblage, Olé", took out my bookmark and picked up where I had left off. I started to read the process of how he had made his "Taxicab Shrine". He talked about how the frustrating part of making art is making a commitment. How he sees the process as a pendulum that swings back and forth, making him want to throw the piece of art out the window with each swing. Serendipity doo dah! I'm not alone in this art-making process! Now I felt braver - part of a tribe. By the way, if you haven't read one of Michael's books, do yourself a favour. He is a wonderful story teller with a wicked sense of humour. And he shows how to do lots of cool stuff. And if you haven't seen his art, well what are you waiting for? Check him out at his new fantabulous web site and his blog. You won't be disappointed.

I have reached a stage where I really, really like this piece of art. In fact I am quite in love with it. Not far to go now and it will be complete. Just the calligraphic words and some paint additions here and there including the metallic embellishments. It has seen quite a bit of the "see-saw" or pendulum factor. More than most. However, I do recall other pieces that had me in the same state as I worked them through. It's funny - they always seem to be my most favourite creations in the end. So is it worth the struggle? As Buffy might say, "A world of YES!" That's what being an artist is and I wouldn't want to be anything else.

All right. It's time to move away from the cool fan and grab a snack. Hmmm... what will I have - something salty or sweet? Oh, just shoot me now. A water gun would be nice.

Here are those promised photos:

collage elements, molding paste and the first of the colour. Off to a good start.

more colour. I'm liking this.

lots more colour, starting to bring out feature elements. where do I go from here?

maybe it will come to me in a dream. it had better!

starting to come together at last - adding archeological layers of paint,

geometric and organic line, pushing back elements for balance,

introducing a new layer of collage elements, using colour to enhance others

now we're talking - some patterning, organic vines over the knight,

another collage element for balance. ready for the calligraphy

and metallic embellishments or highlights

Do you have a story to share about making your art? I would love to hear it!

KNIGHT'S GARDEN (from August 2010)

You might remember the rather LONG post I made back in July about a painting commission I was working on. All the piece needed was a few embellishments and calligraphic words. Well, here it is and I must say that I really am pleased with this painting - Knight's Garden. I am so glad that the recipient is too!

A Treasure Map

2011-07-26T15:16:00.000-04:00

Two years ago Seth Apter started an annual treasure hunt. Buried Treasure is about digging deep to uncover some hidden gems. The premise is simple. On Thursday, July 28th all participating bloggers will re-post one (or more) of their favourite posts that ever appeared on their blog.

Seth will post a list of all participating artists on his blog so that you can be sure to find all the Buried Treasure. Have fun treasure seeking! It really is a wonderful way to discover new blogs.

You can discover my Buried Treasure here on my blog on Thursday. See you then!

Weaving with Paint

2011-07-24T16:39:00.000-04:00

My latest painting, "Weaveworld", is included in a fabulous exhibition of mixed media art by Ottawa Mixed Media Artists (OMMA), hanging right now at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum (Almonte, ON) in the Norah Rosamond Hughes Gallery.

WEAVEWORLD, mixed media 48" x 24" $2,500. CAD

I created "Weaveworld" based on the "Woven" theme. Participating artists were encouraged to push creative boundaries and to think "large" in terms of size. I pursued the idea of weaving a story with words and art.

Materials include original digital images, ink, fluid, metallic, iridescent and interference acrylic paints, acrylic mediums, hand-cut masks and stamps, fabric, beads, metal.

Processes include glazing, layering, collage, ink-jet printing, calligraphy, machine and hand-sewing, stamping on gallery canvas.

I chose this painting to accompany the description of my art "style" over at Seth Apter's Altered Page. You can read about it here.

And now for the Exhibition details:
Ottawa Mixed Media Artists (OMMA)
"WOVEN" - A Juried Exhibition
July 19 - September 3, 2011
Norah Rosamond Hughes Gallery
Mississippi Valley Textile Museum
3 Rosamond Street East
Almonte, ON
613 256 3754
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 4 pm
Meet the Artists: Thursday, July 28 - 7 pm

I have included an invitation below, as well as a map to the gallery.

Visit the museum web site to read more.
"Visit the show, see the 47 large exhibits and enjoy being woven into the spirit of creativity." (from the web site)

The exhibition continues until September 3. If you are free and in the area on Thursday evening, July 28, come and meet the artists from 7 pm.

Hope to see you there!

Goth Girl and Goth Guy

2011-07-24T16:11:00.001-04:00

Is there any better way to spend a weekend than with fellow artists, deep in the woods on the shores of a lake in the middle of a glorious summer? I think not.

This year's Fantasy in the Forest fine art and craft show and sale (at the home and studio of Jamie Brick) was wonderful. Larry and I caught up with good friends and lined our pockets with takings from the sale of our various art offerings. We felt like vendors in a Medieval Fayre in our gothic room.

We were given the use of the gothic cupboard we built which now belongs to Jamie

Such an amazing room! Those are 10 foot gothic windows

An ornate chair makes a fabulous prop to display my Raven Book Box

Faerie Rounds gleam in the afternoon sun

We truly are lucky to be making our living this way. It is a life rich in creative challenges and worthwhile endeavours.

A Fantasy In The Forest

2011-07-15T09:50:00.004-04:00

It's that time again! Time to set off for The Fantasy In The Forest fine art and craft show and sale on Draper Lake, near Perth Road Village, Ontario. A magical show in every way – gorgeous work by talented artists and craftspeople from far and wide in a setting that takes your breath away. Many of the participating artists attend high-end shows in major cities and this show comes as a refreshing change of environment.

Larry and I get to be in our Gothic Room... we feel right at home.

A glimpse of last year's set-up in our Gothic Room

Such a magical place, with beautiful surprises around every corner

What a great place to spend the weekend with fellow exhibitors

I am packing up my mixed media paintings, book art, sculptural pieces, Muse Journals and Faerie Rounds to set up later today. Larry is bringing his fabulous lino prints, including four brand new ones, and letterpress books. There will be lots to choose from!

The Fantasy In The Forest Show is on Saturday, July 16th and Sunday, July 17th — 10 am to 5 pm. If you are in the area, or even within a couple of hours, it is well worth the drive to check out this show. The directions are here. You can check it out on Facebook too.

Hope to see you there!

How would you describe your artistic style?

2011-07-03T08:30:00.000-04:00

As an artist, it is important to take time out to reflect. Lately I have been doing a lot of writing about my art. It takes time away from creating in the Studio, but it gives me insight into my work on many levels.

A lot of this writing will appear on my newly designed website which will be launched this month. Some of it will appear in a book that Seth Apter of the Altered Page is publishing in 2012.

Today, I am delighted to be included in The Pulse, Style File: Chapter 2. Head on over to read a description of my artistic style and see my latest painting "Weaveworld". I'm one of ten artists featured in today's post. Check out yesterday's artists and tomorrow's too... there's so much to explore!

Style File Over at The Altered Page

2011-07-02T07:53:00.000-04:00

Seth Apter, of The Altered Page, is a genius at bringing artists together and tapping into their creative brains. Starting today, he is publishing the 5th edition of The Pulse -- The State of the Art -- a survey in words and pictures of the online artist community. Don't miss it!

Style File is the 1st of 6 projects from The Pulse. Participants were asked: How would you describe your artistic style?

Read my response on Sunday, July 3rd. It's wonderful to be included in this amazing online artist community. Thank you, Seth!

Grabbing the Gauntlet

2011-06-15T13:48:00.000-04:00

Another opportunity to participate in a juried show came in yesterday. I love these deadlines. They are just what I need to create new work. To quote Douglas Adams, "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." A comforting thought :)

I went over the list of requirements for this exhibition, "Everyday Patterns", and saw that large pieces were encouraged. Great! Keeping in mind that I drive a MINI Cooper, I started to figure out how large a piece I could make with the canvases I have on hand. Hmmm... two were too big and the others were too small. Well, there is always a solution if you think creatively. I have a plethora of 14" x 18" canvases and if a few were screwed together... yes, that's it!

power tools are wonderful

coming along nicely

bird's eye view

solid as a rock

It turned out that two across and three deep would make a suitable size (28" x 54") to work with AND to fit in the MINI. O.K... placed on an angle on top of the headrests - but that works. Out came the cordless and the corded drill, the clamps and the screws. A short time later, I had two rock solid supports. I'm going to fill in the spaces on the front and the sides with a random application of Heavy Gel Medium, paper, canvas, whatever comes to mind. Since I work with texture and collage, what could be more appropriate?

Of course, the resulting pieces of art may or may not be juried into the show, but I have grabbed the gauntlet. Thank goodness for deadlines. I might even work on those really large canvases while I'm at it...

Dog On A Cold Stone Table

2011-06-06T13:45:00.000-04:00

Ahhh... the loveliness of blogging in the back garden. With a laptop, a coffee and a dog. On a slate table with fading blue paint.

BIG THINGS are in the works. They involve my website and my blog. That's all I'm saying for now.

In the meantime, for anyone in the area, come out and see what artists and craftspeople get up to in the book arts: CBBAG Ottawa Book Arts Show and Sale on Saturday, June 11 at Library and Archives, Ottawa, ON.

And take the time to click on the new badge on my sidebar: ARTISTS FOR RESPECT. It's important.

Wishing everyone a creative week!

Weaveworld

2011-05-13T22:41:00.000-04:00

A finished piece sits in the dark of the studio, awaiting its unveiling to the world. A painting woven into existence, made of dreams and threads. Tomorrow it is off to be juried for an upcoming show and I am glad that it comes back to me for a while, whatever is decided. I need to spend some time in Weaveworld...

threads of gold, woven words

darkness and light

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T10:49:00.000-04:00

I get to play in the studio for Mother's Day :) How wonderful is it that I always want to do that?!?! And in my newest piece there is an image of my beautiful daughter...

construct. de-construct. re-construct. weaveworld evolving...

Colour. Texture. Line. Apps.

2011-05-06T07:02:00.000-04:00

Some creative stuff that's going on in the studio and my imagination...

a dog and his chair

ice queen fortress

shadowy horses

through the looking glass

mystery

pixels and paint

Have a creative weekend, everyone!

Alphabet Soup

2011-04-19T18:04:00.000-04:00

Well, the OMMA (Ottawa Mixed Media Artists) Alphabet Soup exhibit is wonderful! A great time was had by all at the Meet the Artists event and I was thrilled to see my newest work, "Arcanum", hanging alongside some great pieces at the Britannia Gallery in Ottawa.

Enough of the teasers - here is the whole painting. 30"x30" $1350 CAD

Original digital images, black india ink, fluid, metallic and iridescent acrylic paints, acrylic mediums, pencil, hand-cut masks and stamps, 3-D objects. Processes include glazing, collage, transfers, calligraphy, sanding, scraping, incising, stamping on cradled birch gallery panel.

And there are others in the works :) Wishing you a creative week!

Win Free Classes for Life!

2011-04-19T16:32:00.001-04:00

I have taken many of Julie Prichard and Chris Cozen's online classes and all I can say is, SIGN UP! You will learn so much, make new friends and have a blast. What are you waiting for? These classes are great value for the money, too... AND NOW you have a chance to win free classes for life! All the classes they offer right now PLUS all future classes. How fabulous is that!?!? Watch this video to learn how you can win. Good luck! Hey, wait - I want to win! :)

Click on the link at the top of the movie to be able to see the whole screen on YouTube!

Two Openings in One Week!

2011-04-06T10:33:00.000-04:00

The past few weeks have been a creative whirlwind! In the midst of it all, I was interviewed by CBC TV for their program, Creative Block. It was quite short notice - I received a call the day before they wanted to come out to ask me questions and shoot lots of footage. It really does pay to have your art up on the studio walls and keep a relatively clean, organized work space!

At the time, I was working on a new painting which was fast becoming a favourite of mine. "Arcanum" is now finished and was successfully juried into a gallery show last weekend. The Ottawa Mixed Media Artists (OMMA) are presenting an exhibit called "Alphabet Soup", which of course is right up my alley since all my work includes text of some sort!

The opening and "meet the artists" is Thursday evening from 7 - 9 pm at the Britannia Gallery, 2728 Howe Street, Ottawa, Ontario. L and I will be there to celebrate the first public viewing of "Arcanum" in its finished state. It's all very exciting :)


A sneak preview detail shot. ARCANUM, n. - a profound secret or mystery; a secret of nature sought by alchemists

But before this opening, there is another one! The Merrickville Artists' Guild is holding an exhibit at The Branch restaurant, 15 Clothier Street East, Kemptville from April 5 to May 1, 2011. The opening and "meet the artists" is Wednesday evening from 5 - 6 pm.

L and I will also be attending this event, each of us having two pieces in the show. It must be Spring - things are starting to happen outside the studio!

Detail shot from Palimpsest II, one of two pieces in the MAG exhibit.

Collectors Edition

2011-03-20T13:14:00.003-04:00

Over at The Altered Page, Seth Apter is holding an open Collectors Edition, in which artists share their favorite collection or obsession. I have so many collections and obsessions, it was hard to choose!

I decided to go with my latest fascination - the incredible camera on the iPhone 4 and some amazing photo filter apps. Since the camera reacts so quickly and is always with me, I find I am recording shots constantly. And the camera seems to see the same way I do, capturing my artistic visions. The most exciting part of this, for me, is that I am now using these images in my new work. Ahh, what a wonderful, creative world we live in...

Most of these images have been altered with filters. Filters on filters in most cases! A couple are "as is" shots.

book page

gothic herb garden

books

wire display stand

art & antiques

quinoa salad!

Multiple Hangings

2011-02-21T13:52:00.001-05:00

Once again, I am finding so much inspiration from the current online class "Mixed Media Melange", offered by Julie Prichard and Chris Cozen...

Collaged and stitched papers, threads, beads, mica & digitally manipulated photo on unstretched, primed canvas using a neutral paint palette.

Collaged and stitched papers, fabrics, threads & beads on Tyvek using a transparent colour, iridescent & interference paint palette.


A close-up, before second layering of paint.

I'm getting wonderful ideas for my series of manuscript pages... and I now have a way to transport large works of art in the MINI! Wall hangings.

Changelings

2011-01-19T14:00:00.001-05:00

Today, I am working on two of the paintings from the previous post... they are taking on a life of their own.

Collage, acrylic paint, hand-carved stamps, sanding, brayer printing and dripping (acrylic paint sprayed with water & alcohol)

Under Where?

2011-01-16T13:35:00.003-05:00

Here is a shot of what is on the studio table today - paintings in progress, or underpaintings, on wooden panels. Last night and this morning was taken up with applying gesso, drying, sanding and repeating, until three coats were achieved. It feels good to prepare a clean white "slate" to receive the paint. I have even gessoed over one of my old paintings and two workshop exercise pieces. They are destined for greater things, I hope.

The underpaintings, in their very first stage...

On the left, you can see my favourite palette of Golden fluid acrylics: Paynes Gray, Vandyke Brown, Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold and Titan Buff... oh, and of course, Acrylic Glazing Liquid. I love these scrumptious, earthy colours which I now possess in 16 oz sizes. On the right you will see my new angled taklon synthetic brush in one of three large sizes... Thank you, Dick Blick! I love getting art supplies in the post :)

Of Towers, Flags and Banners (or ribbons)

2011-01-10T09:27:00.001-05:00

On these frosty days I can be found in my studio wearing two sweaters, fingerless gloves, a scarf (for the fan that blows cold air down my neck) and, sometimes, a hat. It's not that there is no heater, or that my studio is down the back of the property. It is, rather, an energy saving measure... wearing more layers instead of turning up the pellet stove. As the day progresses, I start to discard extra bits of clothing, ending up in more suitable attire for drawing and moving paint around on canvases.

I have managed to create a new piece over the weekend. It is not entirely finished, but I am pleased with it and glad to be coming up with new ideas. I am ploughing my way through "Chaos and Calm", another FABULOUS online class from Julie Prichard and Chris Cozen. I want to finish this class before the next one comes along!

Not a book review

2011-01-07T09:24:00.002-05:00

This blog is not a book review, however much it might seem like one. In these fresh, early days of the new year I am taking time to explore my creative world. Discovering new sources of inspiration and rediscovering old ones. Well, not exactly rediscovering them, as they weren't ever really lost. Re-acquainting myself might be a better way to describe it.

Neil Gaiman's latest book illustrated by, yes, Dave McKean

I'll start with Neil Gaiman, storyteller extraordinaire, who wrote these moving lines to start off the new year. His books and short stories, even his blog, are written with such wit and imagination. The worlds he creates are, well, extraordinary. He even has his own "Lantern Waste". He really wanted a lamppost for Christmas... I can relate. And he makes me want to be a better writer.

The intriguing art of Dave McKean

I discovered Neil Gaiman by accident. I picked up a copy of Dustcovers: The Collected Sandman Covers 1989-1997 because of the cover, and because of the art inside. I poured through this book many times before it came to my attention that the author of The Sandman was rather important in his own way. I had been totally immersed in Dave McKean's fantastical world; a world rather scary and dark, but mysterious. I was drawn especially to the layers of images and words. His artistic talent and imagination are huge.

An amazing collection of art and insight

I mentioned Nick Bantock in my last post. Another hugely talented artist who can turn his hand to pretty well anything. I have two copies of The Artful Dodger - one of which is highlighted throughout with scribbled notes in the margins.

The work that these three amazingly creative spirits have conjured up continues to inspire me. Have a great weekend everyone!

Soul Map and The Forgetting Room

2011-01-04T10:24:00.000-05:00

Over the holidays I created a painting for my brother in Oz who has family in far flung corners of the globe. As is my wont, I began jotting down ideas and making sketches in my journal. I looked up quotes relevant to "family" and wrote a short, heartfelt piece to include in the painting. I looked to favourite artists and books for inspiration, and it came to me - The Forgetting Room by Nick Bantock. A synchronistic moment, as it turned out.

Nick Bantock has been a lingering source of inspiration for me. His evocative art transports you to strange worlds of mysterious beauty. One of the reasons I love The Forgetting Room is that he shows the unfolding of a work of art and describes the artist's (often difficult) journey.

I set out enthusiastically on my own artful quest. When I finally stepped back from the finished piece, I realized that it was infused with layers of meaning - both intentional and unexpected. "Soul Map" indeed embodies more than one journey. It is my brother's and my own, binding us across space and time, making me feel closer to him than ever.

I was intrigued to read the following on the Amazon.com review this morning, when I looked up the link for The Forgetting Room: "Belonging, or the sense of being connected to one's heritage and, therefore, to the creative force, is Bantock's primary theme, and here, the path to belonging is art." Synchronicity indeed.

There are more maps under the first layer of paint on the canvas board. Post-it Notes are quite handy for remembering the position of elements.

A unifying layer of paint goes on. Then more collage elements.

More elements, some covered, some moved. Shapes emerging... more paint... pushing back elements, bringing others forward.

Detail shots... love those tree roots.

Beautiful old ship illustration... calligraphed words.

Subtle imagery... mysterious elements.

Soul Map

Cat (and dog) On a Hot Board Floor

2010-12-25T08:58:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas everyone! Keep warm or keep cool, depending on your hemisphere. A magnificent New Year to you as well. May your year be filled with creativity and joy! xo

Mixed Media Workshop

2010-12-14T09:32:00.000-05:00

On November 27th and 28th, four people gathered here in the Studio at Greyweathers to learn, play and create. It was a blast!

Coffee, tea or treats anyone? Vintage guillotines have many uses...

The cleaned and set-up studio awaits... shot from the loft.

The creative foursome at work, their teacher looking on.

A closer look at the goings on.

The workshop focused on using acrylic paints & mediums to create a mixed media painting. Techniques were learned to create texture and colour, incorporate collage elements, make image transfers and add text. There was an opportunity to explore these techniques as well as apply them to a finished piece. Everyone created beautiful work and came away with a better understanding of the process.

A group of four is great in many ways. There was space in the dining room to eat our lunch together, sharing stories. The creative energy filled the studio as we shared and explored ideas. I got to spend time, one on one, with everybody. And, last but not least, I could remember everyone's name ;)

I enjoyed teaching this Mixed Media workshop so much, that I am planning another one for January 29th and 30th, 2011!

Location: The Studio at Greyweathers, Merrickville, Ontario, Canada

Cost: $226 for two days plus $25 materials fee

To sign up, contact me via email at studio@greyweathers.com. Remember, there are only four spots, so sign up quickly!

Getting Organized

2010-11-25T10:28:00.002-05:00

Since getting my hands on a copy of I’d Rather Be in the Studio!, I have been busy getting organized. That includes creating a new database. Previously, Filemaker Pro had done the job, but our copy is quite ancient and doesn't run on Sexy iMac (yes, that's what I call our newest Mac). There's also Groovy iMac, the Pixar-lamp-like model :)

A little bit of surfing and... Voila! The discovery that Filemaker makes a simple, yet powerful database called Bento for personal and small business use. Totally adequate for my needs and, the most important part for an artist, visually intuitive to use. I'm creating a catalogue of my art, making task lists, updating contacts, linking files and URL's - getting all my information gathered into one place where it makes more sense. I DO love to organize. Oh... and to make art! ;)

Here's a Happy Thanksgiving wish to those of you who are partaking today!!!

Living an Artist's Life

2010-11-23T10:27:00.004-05:00

Artists are business people too.

Since achieving more of a balance between time spent on my own art and Cirque work, I have been able to make exciting choices for new directions with my life as an artist. That includes teaching small groups in my studio, joining a local mixed media art organization, visiting and participating in more exhibits and taking online classes to "fill the well", among other things...

I have always found that by focusing on where you want to go and what you want, you automatically wind up on that path. Opportunities appear to help you get there; you have started things in motion. That's why it is important to be mindful of what you are focusing on! In one of those serendipitous moments, I came upon Alyson B Stanfield's artbizblog and this fabulous book:

"I’d Rather Be in the Studio! The Artist's No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion offers practical advice to help you sell more art and build an art career that lasts."

I read a review of this book where the person apologized for how long the review had taken to be posted. They had been reading the book, jumping up and doing what it suggested and then coming back to read some more. Happily, I have found the same experience. I am taking a while to get through it (although it is a very pleasant read) because I keep DOING. How great is that?

I’d Rather Be in the Studio! references favourite books that are already part of my artist's arsenal, so it is a really good fit for me. More on those books another time...

If you have used this book, I would love to hear how it impacted your artistic journey. Or maybe you have a favourite book you would like to share. Please share by leaving a comment :)

Adorn your walls!

2010-11-17T21:28:00.003-05:00

I think the effect of grouped paintings is stunning when viewed on a wall. Here are a couple of groupings that catch the eye and invite comment.

This grouping is just dripping with texture and depth! The earthy palette creates a time-worn look. Each acrylic painting is on a 10" x 10" gallery canvas. The set of four is $1000. CAD; sold singly these pieces are $250. CAD each.

This grouping is all about colour and collage! Also suggestive of a long-ago time, with intriguing imagery that begs closer exploration. The top left piece is on a 10" x 10" birch panel (a slightly lower profile than the others). The other three mixed media paintings are on 10" x 10" gallery canvases. The set of four is $1000. CAD; sold singly these pieces are $250. CAD each.

The Maker's Hand

2010-11-10T15:22:00.000-05:00

The Maker's Hand was a huge success! Three days of a truly delightful, high-end, fine craft show. So much gorgeous work by 40 of Eastern Ontario's finest artisans and volunteers that spoiled the exhibitors rotten. We loved it as always :)


A good selection of Muse Journals waiting to be packed up

Our booth display at the show - 5' x 15'

A "secret" door to... Narnia?

Getting Ready for The Maker's Hand

2010-11-02T23:35:00.004-04:00

I'm packing up my paintings and Muse Journals to take to The Maker's Hand in Picton, Ontario. We set up on Thursday and the show opens on Friday, November 5th - 10 to 8 - and continues Saturday and Sunday, November 6th and 7th - 10 to 5.

I had fun with Picassa for Mac today, creating art and book collages for promotional rack cards. It made me realize that I have been creating LOTS of art and books this year! I printed, cut and collated the rack cards so that a different one appears each time one is taken.

I love the way Picassa creates the collages with just parts of the image showing. It makes each piece quite mysterious...

Journal entries, Muse Journal covers, sculptural pieces, digital art, mixed media paintings... they are all jumbled up together.

If you look closely, you will even find a picture of me, hiding behind a painting.

New work, old work, favourite work...

There is just no end to the collages I could make :)

Faster Blog Reading

2010-10-27T18:55:00.000-04:00

Here is a faster way to get through the blogs you read on Google Reader. Add a next button to your browser toolbar and you will be able to flip through each site while the posts are marked as "read". Brilliant!

Ancient Texture

2010-10-22T10:07:00.000-04:00

Working with colour and wonderful texture in another Texture Town exercise has produced the first set of three more Muse Journal covers. I will add calligraphy - perhaps just a title.

What really excites me about these panels is how the texture complements the images of the ruins in the background. It feels like you are standing in the ruins and peering through an opening to what lies beyond. Reminiscent of my recent exploration of Corfe Castle...

More Implied Texture

2010-10-19T16:05:00.000-04:00

Still having fun with implied texture. See last post for links to online class...

All with the same palette, all with fluid acrylics.

Implied Texture

2010-10-16T23:22:00.004-04:00

An exercise from the online workshop Texture Town by Julie Prichard and Chris Cozen. What fun!

These panels look like they have raised texture, but they are flat.
The look is achieved with fluid acrylics only.

Patterns: The Study of Line

2010-10-14T17:43:00.001-04:00

This was an exercise posted on the Milliande Art Community for Women. A great site to join if you like to explore creativity.... and if you are a woman ;) Lines and patterns have always fascinated me. This sampling is from my HUGE library of England photos from 2008. Enjoy!

Please click to enlarge

Living and playing in Texture Town

2010-10-14T17:30:00.000-04:00

I am very excited to be taking another online class with Julie Prichard and Chris Cozen. Their classes are amazing! Texture Town is right up my alley. I am drawn to texture in old buildings, nature and, of course, art! It's part of why I love exploring mixed media so much.

I took my camera for a walk the other day and found MANY wonderful texture examples. Here is a sampling of what I found - please click to enlarge.

By the way, I discovered Picasa's Mac software for creating collages. Brilliant!!! It is so quick and easy. (I spent over an hour creating another photo collage in Photoshop last week.)

More Muse Journals

2010-10-06T11:39:00.004-04:00

For the last weekend of the Studio Tour I made four more Muse Journals. In fact I stayed up until 2 am on Friday night, sewing them. There is so much time involved in making these books, it's a good job I love the process. The hand-binding is my favourite step. It really is magical to see all the parts come together and an actual book emerge! Even though I know that this will be the outcome, it is always a lovely event to hold the finished journal, feel its heft and delight in its possibilities.

These four Muse Journals began with gel medium toner transfers of my England photos, journal pages or cropped images of my paintings. Collage, calligraphy, stamps, paint and embellishments (mica, walnut-dyed lace, skeletal leaf, painted metal brads) alter the imagery and create layers of mystery.

"Again", 5" x 7", front

"Again", 5" x 7", back

"Before", 6" x 8", front - SOLD

"Before", 6" x 8"

"Nature's Secret", 6" x 6", front - SOLD

"Nature's Secret", 6" x 6"

"Mansion", 6" x 6", front

"Mansion", 6" x 6", back

Two are sold, "Mansion" is now available at my Etsy store. I have already started working on new covers - they are just so much fun!

MAG Studio Tour 2010

2010-09-27T14:42:00.001-04:00

The Merrickville Artists' Guild Studio Tour and Sale ran this past weekend and runs again on October 2 & 3. For more info please see http://www.merrickvilleartists.com.

It was lots of fun to connect and re-connect with people. Conversations about my art and my life as an artist help to bring home just how lucky I am! And the studio always looks so wonderful when it is clean and organized for viewing :)

My Muse Journals were quite a hit and out of the seven I made I now have two left. Guess what I'll be up to this week?

"Altered Perceptions", 6" x 8", Available

"Nurture, Thrive", 6" x 8", Available

"Beautiful Mystery", 6" x 8", Sold

"Open", 5" x 7", Sold

"Opportunity", 5" x 7", Sold

"Wonder", 5" x 7", Sold

"Her Story", 5" x 7", Sold

Muse Journals

2010-09-05T17:06:00.000-04:00

And so I have made another journal. In fact I have plans to make a lot more of them. So many that I have come up with a name for them - MUSE JOURNALS. And a logo and description tag. I can't help myself... the designer in me has been reinvigorated too.

Here is the back of the tag that attaches to the journal when it is on display for sale. It has the information about the Muse Journal in general...

Here is the front of the tag. It has the information about the individual journal... in this case "Nurture, Thrive".

And now... I am pleased to present "Nurture, Thrive".

The front cover & decorative paper-wrapped, coptic spine

Front cover detail - altered photo, mica, calligraphy, metal brads

The whole picture

The embellished bookmark, attached to the spine
& the painted envelope on the inside back cover

The next Muse Journal is patiently awaiting my attention in the studio. Back to it!

Feeling Artfully Bookish... or is that Bookfully Artish?

2010-09-05T16:10:00.001-04:00

Ottawa Book Arts Show and Sale 2008 -

artist books, among other things, on display at my table

I have been having a blast creating hand-bound journals with book covers made from original mixed media paintings over the last week or so. It's not so much that I am rushing madly off in all directions with my art, but rather revisiting the opportunity to express myself through a well-loved medium of mine - books.

This happy development was inspired by a convergence of events and daily meanderings through my favourite artists' blogs.

First - hand-bound journals have been on my mind because of an upcoming CBBAG-OV (Canadian Book Binders and Book Artists - Ottawa Valley) journal swap later this year.

Second - a dear friend of mine, who also happens to be an amazing artist, had a birthday a week ago - what better gift for an artist than a one-of-a-kind journal in which to express creative thoughts and images?

Third - we attended an Ottawa Press Gang get-together where books & bookbinding were the main thread of conversation, recharging my enthusiasm for these beautiful vessels and... well... putting ideas into my head.

Fourth - I have been following some wonderful artists' blogs for a few years now. Like myself, many of them create Artist Books as part of their repertoire... hence the attraction. Recently, Bridgette Guerzon Mills posted some amazing art journals which blew me away. They really are gems, made all the more lovely by the details she includes about each one.

So, what was I waiting for... time for me to make books again!


Birthday journal... and Costume Balls in production for Cirque Above are the covers & signatures laid out in order of sewing. I included painted spacers to allow the later addition of pasted-in elements, painted envelopes at each end to hold more "stuff" and a variety of papers to give more choice for expression. Many different kinds of pages provide colour & texture Mixed media covers - acrylic medims, paints, collage, stamping, brads, key & lock, coptic binding with waxed linen thread

It is especially rewarding to make a gift for someone who you know will add so much to it. The journal itself is artful, but soon it will be full of artful ideas and images. And that is why books are so wonderful. They allow you to dream inside their pages... even the blank ones.

Knight's Garden

2010-08-23T19:48:00.000-04:00

You might remember the rather LONG post I made back in July about a painting commission I was working on... "Medieval in Mood Swings". All the piece needed was a few embellishments and calligraphic words. Well, here it is and I must say that I really am pleased with this painting - Knight's Garden. I am so glad that the recipient is too!

Buried Treasure

2010-07-15T00:11:00.000-04:00

Seth Apter of The Altered Page has put out a call for "Buried Treasure: Collaborative Participants". The idea is that on July 15th all participating bloggers will re-post one (or more) favourite posts that ever appeared on their blog. That way we can all check out some posts that were put up before we discovered particular blogs and it's a great way to find new blogs to follow!

I signed up and have re-posted two blogs - the first because it reminds me that I want to make more of these tiles and notebooks and the second because it is so hot these days and all that snow helps me feel cooler :) I hope you enjoy them!

Previously posted July 21, 2008 - TILES AND NOTEBOOKS

Just before the Fantasy in the Forest show I decided to create my own tiles, inspired by the four I purchased at a monastery in Australia in 2003. Upon examination I discovered that the collaged images of medieval manuscripts were glued onto tiles and varnished. So I took the photos of my Medieval Journey series of paintings and set to work...really I should say "play". I layered two photos in Photoshop and added a third layer of scanned manuscript writing. Playing with filters, transparency and contrast, I had a blast altering my own art! The possibilities are endless...

I glued each colour laser-printed image onto purchased tiles, carefully trimmed them once the glue had dried and then painted the tile edges with gold. Four coats of varnish were then applied for protection and rubber feet were attached to the bottom to give each tile elevation and to protect surfaces they will sit on. So, they can be used as coasters or wall tiles! It is finicky work, but worth the effort and I was really pleased with the result.

These are nine of the twelve tiles I created...only five were left by the end of the show.

Below is a series of twelve "pocket books" that I created to take to the Grimsby "Wayzgoose", an annual gathering of printers and book artists each April. Each cover is hand-painted and decorated inside and out and the inside pages are blank. They are a small piece of useful pocket art!

These are the fronts...

...and these are the backs.

The pocket books sold well and I created posters of these photos with the added words, "You have to pick a pocket book or two." and "Don't get left behind." The posters were a hit too. They were Laura's idea - thanks Laura! I will be creating each series by the dozen with posters to go along with them. There is only one left from the above series...

Previously posted March 15, 2008 - OH, SNOW!!!

Here is a glimpse of our snow situation. Most of the snow arrived last weekend (March 7, 8, 9) and added to the already considerable piles. The level of snow hasn't really changed except perhaps to rise where the snow and ice falls off the roof. Our studio windows are more than half buried! But pictures tell the story best...

Tthe streets of Merrickville are not quite wide enough for two cars to pass!

Snow can be sculpturally beautiful...no doubt about it. But it is so hard to move around!

Time to excavate the MINI and the van.

Sneak is always a part of our outside "frolics".

Our little guard outside the studio door (by Jamie Brick).

He has never actually disappeared in all this snow!

The drift in front of the living room window.

Larry standing on the drift outside the living room window - he is raking the roof.

Sneak and Tennyson curled up by the wood stove while Larry shovels and rakes.

And here he is now...

View out our dining room window

Same window looking toward the driveway

After raking the back roof

Fantasy in the Forest 2010

2010-07-10T17:22:00.000-04:00

It's nearly that time again. Time to pack up our art and head off to Jamie Brick's Fantasy in the Forest Show - Saturday and Sunday, July 17th and 18th. Always a joy to participate in and SO much wonderful art and craft on offer. A truly talented group of artists and artisans in a gorgeous woodland setting by a lake. What better way to spend a weekend? If you have never been - make this the year to go. And if you have been before - you know how wonderful it is and worth the trip every year.

We're off this evening for a couple of days of fantasy roofing... meaning that we are helping to put a roof on the fantastic gothic-windowed room that will be our display space again this year. Oh yeah!

Medieval in Mood Swings

2010-07-09T09:26:00.000-04:00

It's hot. Too hot to work. Too hot to eat. Too hot to sleep. Time to write down this chaos that spins around in my head... maybe I will make some sense of it.

I've been working on a commission piece, a fairly large painting with a medieval feel to it. I should take the opportunity here to explain what I mean by that. When I say "medieval feel" or "medieval in mood" I always mean in the romantic sense... not in the unwashed, toothless and plague-ridden sense. Well... obviously.

Anyway, back to my story. Normally I feel stifled when I am asked to do a commission. I find out what the parameters are and abruptly proceed to build myself into a box that I can't think outside of. This is completely my own doing and it certainly makes the going tough while trying to be creative. Luckily for me, the collector who commissioned this piece loves my work and gave me very simple input, trusting me to create a "Holly Dean". She already owns more than one of my paintings and I am thrilled that she wants another. To quote other artist friends who find out I am doing a commission piece, "Oooooo, nice!" As artists we are all impressed when a painting is sold before we even start. It makes for a pleasant change.

a sneak peak by way of a detail photo - there is lots more to see at the end of this blog

collage elements, molding paste and the first of the colour. Off to a good start.

more colour. I'm liking this.

lots more colour, starting to bring out feature elements. where do I go from here?

maybe it will come to me in a dream. it had better!

starting to come together at last - adding archeological layers of paint,

geometric and organic line, pushing back elements for balance,

introducing a new layer of collage elements, using colour to enhance others

now we're talking - some patterning, organic vines over the knight,

another collage element for balance. ready for the calligraphy

and metallic embellishments or highlights

Do you have a story to share about making your art? I would love to hear it!

An Indomitable Spirit

2010-06-25T09:49:00.091-04:00

Gone - flitted away,
Taken the stars from the night and the sun
From the day!
Gone, and a cloud in my heart.
~Alfred Tennyson

It's time to say farewell to a talented, creative, compassionate woman. A woman who gave me friendship, encouragement and, as it turned out, my wonderful Larry. Wendy Buckner died from cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital after swimming a race in the Cayman Islands. She was in her 51st year. My heart goes out to her family and friends - she will be dearly missed.

I met Wendy at the Calligraphy Society of Ottawa. I was a new member, having recently moved to the area. Wendy took me under her wing, involving me in lots of creative activities and sharing her love of calligraphy and design with me. All this while recovering from a recent hit-and-run accident. It was clear that she wasn't going to let THAT stop her! (She often spoke in capital letters with exclamation marks - it was endearing.)

"A letter of letters" from Wendy

Her wicked sense of humour and stubborn will to overcome all obstacles won out over the pain. Pain that never really went away, although I believe it became less after a successful back operation. Those first years that I knew Wendy she was a creative force in many areas - calligraphy, graphic design, bookbinding, papermaking, gilding, jewellery, photography, you name it. And she wasn't just good at these endeavours, she excelled at them. In more recent years Wendy rediscovered her love of competitive swimming. She built up her strength and became an avid participant, competing and coaching.

Wendy's wonderful world

Wendy traveled the world to participate in swim races, even taking the time to meet up with my brother and his partner while she was in Oz. People meant so much to her - she always made that extra effort to connect. And she meant so much to others. This was brought home by the number of grieving responses on Facebook alone. Her social network knew no bounds with the Internet at her fingertips. Wendy could see extraordinary beauty in the ordinary and loved to share it with the world. And although we hadn't seen much of each other in person lately, she was always leaving comments and encouraging words on my Facebook and blog entries. Always keeping the connection and letting me know she cared.

Her love of animals was to be outdone only by their love for her. She took in many strays, looked after friend's pets and would never allow an animal to suffer. She was their champion.

The Boarder, a.k.a. Onyx

Wendy's courage and tenacity in the face of adversity come to mind when I feel that my world is overwhelming. Knowing what she overcame daily makes me realize that I will find the strength when I need it.

Thank you for the many meaningful ways you touched my life Wendy. I think Larry put it so beautifully that I'll join in his refrain... "Swim now in Elysian seas."

The Cayman Islands 2009

Fantastical Adventures

2010-06-04T12:09:00.002-04:00

The morning was spent playing with Photoshop Elements - layering images, using transparency, filters and tools to create. I am starting to realize that all the photos taken on our England trip in 2008 will provide me with a lifetime's worth of possibilities!

Rook

As a mixed media artist I have always created layers in my work with paint, collage, pastel, ink, wax... Now I am discovering a whole new world of potential imagery through the medium of digital art. It has my brain whirling with ideas... ways to combine digital and hand done art. Mixed media indeed!

Illuminate

2010-06-01T22:07:00.000-04:00

Another collage piece is complete...

Illuminate $250. CAD

Seeing Double

2010-05-13T11:02:00.000-04:00

Yes, that's right, there are now two Storybooks about our dog Sneak. I was invited to participate in our local animal shelter's inaugural art show this coming weekend and, since I couldn't make it, I decided to donate a Storybook to their silent auction. How perfect! After all, the story is a true one and it tells of how Sneak was adopted from the shelter. Of course, I couldn't part with our own Sneak Storybook so I made another one for the occasion.

Here is Sneak's story. Don't worry - it has a happy ending...

Thank goodness for wonderful pets! They add so much to our lives in so many ways.

If you want to take one of my Storybook Workshops see here for information.

Portals of Discovery

2010-05-09T08:51:00.000-04:00

Here is a piece I just completed in the studio yesterday. It is a 10"x10" gallery canvas with collage and paint used to create mood and mystery. I am loving the Complex Collage class I am taking online with Julie Prichard and Chris Cozen. It is challenging me to learn new ways of approaching a painting and taking me out of my comfort zone. And it is keeping me very busy creating - got to love that!

Portals of Discovery $250. CAD

I am working on lots of 10"x10" pieces that can be displayed together on a wall. Once they are hung, they can exchange places for a "new look" whenever you desire. What fun!

April Wayzgoose 2010

2010-04-20T20:25:00.000-04:00

Larry and I are off to the Grimsby Wayzgoose this Friday. Always a good time!

Saturday April 24 from 9 am– 5pm
at the Grimsby Public Art Gallery:
In the Lobby, the Studio & the Carnegie Commons

Wayzgoose is our celebration of the art of the hand made book. Each year on the last Saturday in April practitioners of traditional book related crafts including letterpress printers, printmakers, paper makers and hand bookbinders gather at the gallery to present their work to the public, renew connections with colleagues and share their expertise with the next generation of artists and artisans.

A Storybook In Mixed Media

2010-04-20T18:07:00.007-04:00

Paint, images and text all come together to create a personal Storybook. This workshop will be great fun and I am so looking forward to teaching it! I've been working on the story of our dog, Sneak... AKA "Prince Among Dogs".

As a bonus for workshop participants, I have created a web site with lots of information and images to review and warm up exercises to do before class starts. Available once you register!

A Storybook in Mixed Media Workshop:

April 30, May 1 & 2 in Ottawa, Ontario
For more information: www.mmcgovern.com/cbbag-ov/courses.html

June 11, 12 & 13 at Wintergreen Studios, near Westport, Ontario
For more information: www.hollydean.com/storybook.html
There you will find further links to Wintergreen Studios...

Fool Me Twice

2010-04-06T07:56:00.002-04:00

Wow! The possibilities of creating your own collage elements are endless. In Julie Prichard and Chris Cozen's online class: Complex Collage we are encouraged to do so and yesterday I found the whole day had slipped by while I played with ideas. I find that taking a class is the impetus I need to do what I have been meaning to do for ages. It makes it happen. Julie and Chris's classes are fabulous - very encouraging and filled with information and feedback!

Alice (or Malice as Larry named her) was created with a combination of photographs, scans, drawing (all by me) and text in Photoshop - "created by hand" with digital tools and elements. Alice is the second character I have created in my Wonderland series. You may recall my Queen of Hearts from an earlier post. She was prompted by a challenge on the "Created By Hand" website. Alice came along at the right time to fit into the "Fool Me Twice" theme for this week. Serendipity.

Well, back to Wonderland...

Matte vs Gloss Medium

2010-04-02T10:51:00.000-04:00

Three different mediums: regular gel (matte), matte medium and soft gel (gloss) used in three different, but similar, collages. The soft gel (gloss) keeps the vibrant colours, "blacker" blacks and allows the metallic gold on the purple/red patterned paper to shine through.

Patina

2010-03-23T22:40:00.000-04:00

Just dripping with great texture and colour. Yum!

Disparate Elements

2010-03-18T21:58:00.000-04:00

Today I have been working on a sketch for another painting in my new series. I have discovered that I LOVE drawing!

There is so much richness to be found in manuscript patterns, gothic architecture and my personal photo library from England and Oz trips. Weaving all these elements together is delicious puzzle solving.

Portfolio Page

2010-03-17T15:23:00.002-04:00

As a lucky member of a group of talented and like-minded artists, I have had the opportunity to work on a portfolio to display our art. The finished size is 10" tall x 22" wide, so it is quite impressive to look at "in the flesh".

As I designed my page, I chose which pieces of mine I was most drawn to and they turned out to be from an older series. A surprising discovery for me, which is having an impact as I create my new series of art. I find it fascinating how one thing leads to another...

Stoneheads

2010-03-08T19:15:00.001-05:00

Kings

and gargoyles

coming to life as art.

"The Crownless Again Shall Be King" Revealed!

2010-02-28T18:29:00.000-05:00

It's been a journey of ups and downs - of delight and doubt. As all worthwhile journeys are. Herewith, the finished piece with which I am totally chuffed!

Mixed media on canvas (two screwed together) measuring 48" x 30", acrylic paint, collage, calligraphy, pencil, gel pen.

Last Glimpses

2010-02-28T12:34:00.000-05:00

Here are a couple more sneak peaks at the painting that will be finished tonight. It has to be. It will be hung tomorrow!

Progressing Nicely

2010-02-26T09:42:00.000-05:00

The push is on to finish this piece for Monday morning! It is coming along very nicely. Here is another mysterious bit to pique curiosity...

The Crownless Again Shall Be King

2010-02-23T16:19:00.005-05:00

A mysterious new painting is in progress. It will debut on March 1st at The Branch restaurant in Kemptville - part of a Merrickville Artists' Guild group show. I have been eagerly anticipating the start of my new painting series for 2010, putting in months of dreaming and planning and experimenting. I love how this first one is evolving. All will be revealed once the exhibit opens...

Queen of Hearts

2010-02-11T15:03:00.002-05:00

I have always loved the art of Dave McKean and I have finally used his inspiration for my own art. This image is created in Photoshop using images of my paintings, sculpture and photographs.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

A Comlimentary Piece

2010-02-07T23:56:00.000-05:00

Green Elf Lord

2010-02-06T17:25:00.000-05:00

A painted version of the elf lord sketch. I thought he should be green...

Elf Lord

2010-02-06T13:33:00.000-05:00

Another pencil portrait. I have printed it out to use as a base for a painted portrait. I don't want to paint over the original! ( :

Messy Hair

2010-02-05T18:21:00.001-05:00

A portrait painted with Titanium White full body acrylic on black paper with black Stabilo pencil additions. Another "Gamin"...they seem to appear in my drawings.

I'm feeling Monochromatic

2010-02-04T23:20:00.001-05:00

It's wonderful what variations come from one colour + white + black + buff!

Glazed Over

2010-02-04T19:34:00.002-05:00

It has been so enjoyable to play with my acrylic paints these past couple of weeks. Especially the glazing part! The richness is so yummy ( :

Pencil & Paint

2010-01-28T21:38:00.001-05:00

I finally have done a Stabilo pencil and Titanium acrylic paint portrait. Still many more drawings and paintings to do. This is fun ( : Thanks Misty!

And I'll try not to include repeat pictures...as I did in the last post!

Pencil Me In & the Great Swatch Incident

2010-01-28T10:26:00.000-05:00

Wow! Online classes sure keep you busy! Here are a couple of exercises from Misty Mawn's Drawing + Painting Faces class:

This is my first pencil portrait and study in light and shadow with ball and egg.

This is one of my favourites so far - "Isabella" - another pencil portrait done in one of my coptic bound art journals. You can see more of my work for this class on my Flickr site as well as lots of fabulous work by others in this class.

I have been very busy with Julie Pritchard and Chris Cozen's Colour: Beyond the Basics class too!

Here is a view of the Studio from the loft. See all the pieces of card with paint swatches?

And there are transparencies with paint swatches on the easel...

This is what they look like up close. Julie and Chris encouraged us to get out every kind of paint we have and get it down in a colour library. Fantastic idea! Each colour is then mixed with other colours or mediums and you end up with MANY paint possibilities from just one original colour. I drew a sheet for the swatches and put all my paint names on them so that I could print them out onto transparency or card. I have 49 swatches per sheet and ended up with 45 sheets to record the possibilities I chose! So I have started with painting swatches for just the paints we will be using for this class. I can work away on the rest over the rest of my life *lol*.

Drawing in the Studio

2010-01-18T21:20:00.000-05:00

I completed my first exercise for Misty Mawn's class "Drawing and Painting Portraits" on Friday evening. I did Contour drawings - looking at a photograph of a face and drawing it without looking or letting the pencil leave the paper. What a riot! I love the crazy faces that resulted...

Then I did a 2D mask based on a childhood photo. I must have been a scary child ( ;

Then an exercise in light, shadow and mid-tone by drawing a ball and an egg with directional lighting.

It took until Monday to get up the nerve to do my pencil sketch portrait. I took about three hours and I carefully followed Misty's instructions and demonstration videos. When I was finished I was shocked. I couldn't believe that I had actually drawn this face! I am quite pleased with my first attempt and more confident to proceed with the next assignment.

Back to the drawing board!

2010-01-14T20:21:00.000-05:00

I am VERY excited tonight. I have signed up for two online classes - the first ones I have ever done!!! The first is "Drawing and Painting Portraits" with Misty Mawn. I am about to go into the studio to do a couple of warm up exercises before class begins in the morning.

The second begins very soon with Julie Pritchard and Golden Working Artist Chris Cozen teaching all about colour and acrylic paints: Project deConstruction: Color - Beyond the Basics.

What with taking on the Creative Awakenings journey, following Milliande's wonderful videos and journal prompts and now these two online art classes, my well will be overflowing ( : I'm ready - bring it on!!!