PLANET JANET

Art House Sketchbook Project

2011-11-10T09:44:00.001-08:00

I'm participating in the 2012 Art House Sketchbook Project.

Titled Urban Reflections, this is the first page spread.
you can get a video peak here.

ReVision @ Creekhouse

2011-06-28T15:40:00.000-07:00

Been busy organizing a 10-day art exhibition and festival to be held July 8 to 17 on Granville Island in Vancouver. http://www.revision-theartofrecycling.com/

Experimenting in plastic bag fusing to make some entrance banners for the event.

The Bag Lady's Garden

2011-02-22T09:57:00.005-08:00

Work on the plastic project continues.
Besides the flower petals, I also made leaves.
I've assembled about 100 flowers, using wire and buttons.
The dining room table has been transformed into a garden.
I think I need another couple of dozen flowers before I can finish.
Thanks to all who donated bags to enable my bag habit.

Weekend Playtime

2011-02-11T11:25:00.002-08:00

Eagerly anticipating some weekend fun.
Hope to get down to more plastic forming.

On Being a Bag Lady

2011-02-10T10:57:00.004-08:00

My latest project uses plastic shopping bags. My friends are collecting coloured plastic bags for me. I've become a "bag lady". My art room is a wild assortment of bags filled with bags.

I'm having fun experimenting with melting and fusing them into 3-dimensional shapes. I'm hoping to create a large wall sculpture with different colours of plastic shapes for the ReVision recyling show later in the year. It's a long process. I'm needing lots of bags.

Caged Birds

2011-01-30T12:37:00.004-08:00

Back to playing. this time with a Sizzix die called Caged Bird.
Birds and cages were cut using thick book board.
Yellow bird painted with acrylic transparent ink, the blue bird uses a distressed stamp ink. Both birds stamped with permanent black ink.
The background are small collages

Weekend Button-making Demo

2011-01-25T10:53:00.006-08:00

Spent the past few days preparing for and giving a demo on 1-inch button making at a local art store, RubyDog's Art House. It was a free demo, intended to get people interested in a future, longer workshop on button making. Buttons are basically mini-collages. Techniques used for regular collages can be used in button-making. The only restrictions are that they fit within a 1-inch circle and be relatively flat. Being more a digital collage person, I spent a few days making sample buttons without using a computer. On Saturday I brought boxes full of supplies and about 15 people, young and old, made buttons which they proudly displayed on their lapels.

Friday and the Start of a Weekend

2011-01-14T09:30:00.004-08:00

Theme for these two tags is flowers, both quite different.
The flower in the tag on the left is a die cut which I coloured and then stamped. The center is a glob of crystal accents which created a clear dome.
The background in the tag on the right is an image transfer. The leaf is a coloured die cut.

Picasso Exhibition

2011-01-12T15:48:00.005-08:00

One of the perks of working for yourself is that you can from time to time play hookey. Yesterday friends and I took a road trip to Seattle to see the Picasso exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum. Wow, 150 pieces of art from Paris all in one place. It was almost too much to see at one go. I loved seeing his assemblages, the brush strokes on his oil paintings, the detail of his etchings and the photographs of his studio.

First Week of the New Year

2011-01-07T17:33:00.006-08:00

Three posts this week, that's not too bad.
Today's theme is leaves.
Main leaves on the left tag are coloured die-cuts with a band of embossed leaves at the bottom.
The leaves on the right tag are leaf shapes that have been hand-cut and embossed with some clear embossing on top. The lower band is an image transfer.

Last Day of the Holidays

2011-01-03T11:11:00.007-08:00

I'm enjoying the last day of my holiday break.

Spent the morning cleaning my art room in anticipation of all the art I'll be making this year.

I've been inspired by Tim Holtz of late so I'm tag making these days.

Today's theme is ravens.

Yes, that's a flattened beer cap on the tag on the left.

The diamonds at the bottom of the right tag was made with a sizzix embossing folder that I got for Christmas and then colour added to the raised edges.

News Years Resolution

2011-01-02T11:24:00.009-08:00

My resolution this year is to make more art and post more art.
So I spent yesterday in my art room, quietly and happily playing.

Today's theme is the samarai.

With a Michael's gift card that I got for Christmas I got a bunch of Tim Holtz distress ink pads.

The samarai have been transfered onto tags and small embellishments added.

Troy Art Exhibition

2010-12-16T16:30:00.010-08:00

Enviro-man front view

Enviro-man torso detail

500 artists from around the world were selected to participate in the Troyart International Exhibition at the MuBE - the Museu Brasileiro da Escultura in Sao Paulo, Brazil (http://www.mube.art.br/). Each artist was sent a unassembled robot-like figure produced by Troyart (http://www.troyart.com/) which they were to “personalize” in any way they wished. Once finished, artists were to send the completed figure to the museum where it will be exhibited from January 15 to 30. To view the artists’ work that has been submitted to date, visit http://www.toymube.blogspot.com/.

Open House

2010-11-09T11:04:00.011-08:00

I'm having another open house this weekend with my sister and daughter. Sister Della makes the silver jewellery and daughter Cory makes the fashion accessories. I've designed cards to go with the asian theme that sister Della has used for her pendants and charms. Each card uses a collage that I've created in various colour schemes. On top are various asian designs - asian vectors filled with the same colours.

To make each card unique, I've added to each card a 1-inch pin with either an asian design or asian character, echoing the colour theme background.

Silhouette Die Cut Cards

2010-10-29T11:17:00.005-07:00

Back in June I purchased a Silhouette SD machine, but never got around to playing with it.

I have a Cricut machine, but was unhappy with the fact that I had to buy cartridges for any new designs or fonts I wanted. With the Silhouette you can use any font on your computer. As a collage artist and computer graphic person, I have collected thousands of fonts and dingbats as well as images. The software was pretty straightfoward and I figured out how to convert files for use in the Silhouette, so the possibilities are endless.

First, I bought a couple of the designs from their online store and started experimenting with the cutting machine. Not wanting to get to elaborate with the print and cut function, I printed paper patterns onto cardstock on a laser printer and then cut the image files using the printed paper. Because I have tons of small scrap collage pieces, I laid a piece on the inside back of the card. With the collage scraps all being different, each card is unique.

I then attempted to create designs in the software to make similar die cut cards. I'm getting a feel for what works and doesn't work. I'm pretty pleased with the results.

Vintage Paper Dolls

2010-07-19T11:10:00.017-07:00

I came across these fun vintage paper dolls! I know there aren't too many paper dolls around anymore but I bet little girls would love to play with these. It's so fun to look at the outfits from the fifties and sixties.

These are quality images that you can print for free. Fun thing to do on a rainy (or hot) afternoon!

Betsy McCalls First Ten Years

Jani Hile's Betsy McCall link

Terri's Paper Doll links

Free Paper Dolls and Paper Doll Outfits

Lucinda Cunningham's Paper Dolls

Open House

2010-05-12T20:34:00.002-07:00

A couple of weekends ago I hosted an open house for jewelery and accessories artists. I made some pendants too and we invited all our friends. It was great to see faces we haven't seen in years. We did sell some of our pieces. We'll have to do it again in the fall.

One World One Heart

2010-01-28T16:44:00.006-08:00

February 15th update:
Congratulations Sue of SueFitz #834 on the magic carpet ride
I'll be in touch with you by email to swap info

With 2010, the One Heart One Wold blog event returns. I participated last year and actually won a prize. It's a great way for art bloggers to meet fellow bloggers. To find out more about this event with links to all the bloggers, click on the logo below.

My prize this year is a set of my flower cards with coordinating 1-inch buttons.

In order to qualify, you must have an active blog of your own. All you have to do is leave a comment to this post with a way that I can contact you should you be chosen. Good luck on your magic carpet ride.

Indian Summer Art Show

2009-08-18T10:57:00.003-07:00

3 of my images from the "Every Leaf Has A Story" series have been selected for th 2009 Indian Summer Art Show at the ARtisans Galleria, presented by the Community Arts Council of Richmond. Over 70 new works by artists vrom Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island will be exhibited from August 19 to September 30. There will be an Opening reception on Saturday August 22 from 1 to 3 pm. Click on the image to visit the Richmond Arts Council website.

Every Leaf Has A Story

2009-08-10T15:17:00.022-07:00

On the weekend I took part in Art In The Garden, an exhibition that I have organized off and on since 1999 in my own private garden. In 2009 the event moved to the UBC Botanical Gardens. All artwork was either inspired by the garden, made for the garden, or from the garden. For the show I developed a new series of digital collages, Every Leaf Has A Story. All insects were photographed at the UBC Spencer Entymological Museum.

Framed 16"x20''s are available for $200. Unframed 24"x36" giclee prints available for $400 (available in glossy, satin and matte fine art papers, as well as satin or matte canvas).

Blue Lotus Lagoon - featuring magnolia leaf with other collage elements

Lemon Tiger Tail - featuring maple leaf and tiger moths

Tangerine Hilltop Aerie - featuring magnolia leaf with other collage elements

Ivory Knight's Quarter - featuring Garry oak leaf with other collage elements

Golden Sugar Bush - featuring various maple leaves

Indigo Scarab Moonlight - featuring laurel leaf and scarab beetle with other collaged elements

Hidden in Apollo's Wings - featuring maple leaves with Apollo butterfly wings

Red Violin Case - featuring bamboo leaf with other collage elements

Green Textile Alley - with oak leaf with other dye and textile collage elements

Urban Umber Awakening - featuring leaves with other collage elements

Rose Garden Secret - feature fern with other collage elements

Blog Award

2009-07-09T15:52:00.010-07:00

I have been given an Honest Scrap Award by Art For The Attic. I've never received a blog award. Thank you very much. I have learned that there are no rules to winning this award but that it is "bestowed upon a fellow blogger whose blog content or design is, in the giver's opinon, brilliant". So, even though there is no physical prize, the respect from a fellow blogger is prize enough.

When accepting this auspicious award, you're supposed to write a post bragging about this award, including the name of the misguided soul who thinks you deserve such acclaim and link back to the said person so everyoe knows she/he is real.

You are to choose a minimum of seven blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Show the seven random names and links and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with an Honest Scrap Award. There's no actual prize, but they can keep the niffty icon.

You are also to list ten honest things about yourself. Then pass it on.

So, here are the ten honest things about myself:

1) I am a Canadian who was born in Vancouver and chose to stay. Don't laugh this is rare. Ethnically, I appear Chinese so I'm the last person people think is a native.

2) My ethnic background is Chinese from my father's side, although he was born in Canada but moved to Shanghai when his parents died. My mother was Chinese and Scottish (but that's another story) who was born in Shanghai. Sadly, I've never visited Shanghai, but it's on my list of places to visit.

3) I am happily married and have been for 34 years to the same man. Again, don't laugh this is rare.

4) I have two grown up daughters. The older is a drummer/singer/songwriter, the younger is a singer/songwriter/actress. Yes, you are allowed to laugh at this one. Our house was the scene of many a rehearsal when they were in their teen years. And the term starving artist does apply to them.

5) I never new my grandparents. Both sets died long before I was born. So if and when I have grandchildren, I don't really know what I'm supposed to do.

6) My favourite TV show is CSI - Las Vegas, Miami and New York. I am addicted to watching at night after hubby has gone to sleep, whilst nibbling on chips with dip.

7) My all time favourite book is Shadow Of The Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I heard he has a new book out that is quite similar. I'm thinking of reading it too.

8) My favourite art tools are my computer and digital camera. As a digital collage artist, my pallet is made up of images and my canvas is my computer screen.

9) Two favourite places I have visited are Barcelona, Spain and Santorini, Greece. Although, I'd have to say I still prefer to live here in Vancouver.

10) I never knew that winning an award could lead to so much soul searching.

Here are some of the blogs I'd like to offer this award to:

1) Ikea Goddess - this German lady posts daily digital scrapbooking freebies she finds throughout the net (not a small task).

2) My Piano, Contemporary Piano Sheet Music - Desira has amassed tons of piano sheet music she has found on the net.

3) Assemblage of Michael Demang - an assemblage artist extraordinaire. I love the way this man thinks.

4) Stuffsmith, the Found Objects Artworks of Keith Lo Bue - another assemblage artist from Australia. I can't get enough of this man's work.

5) BibliOdyssey - if you are into old book illustration, this is for you.

6) Mailmania - Dale posts every piece of mailart he receives and annually exhibits them at a gala extraordinaire in Victoria, Canada.

7) Craftside - great daily review of art/craft books. In addition, viewers who leave comments are entered into a draw for a art/craft book prize. I've even won once.

So without any applause, I've dutifully fulfilled my Honest Scrap Award obligations and am handing over the icon for others who hopefully will accept the award and all its responsibilities.

Close Encounters With Nature

2009-06-04T10:37:00.007-07:00

I'm continuing with the leaf and bug theme and experimenting with more images. The beetle is from the UBC Spencer Entymological Museum, who allowed me free reign to photograph their specimens. I found the leaf on a recent dog walk. I liked it as it reminded me of a heart. The background is detail from one of my mixed media paintings which I scanned and manipulated in the computer.

For this one, I used a weathered leaf given to me by a friend. I liked the skeletal nature of the leaf which showed lots of the vein detail but kept some of the plant material. The background is again detail from one of my mixed media paintings that I scanned and manipulated in the computer. Even output to 24" x 36" the fine detail of the leaf came through.

Painters at Painters Lodge

2009-06-03T16:25:00.008-07:00

Went on my annual art weekend away with girlfriends up to Campbell River. Painters Lodge is a wonderful oceanside resort. Views are wonderful, food is fantastic, and being surrounded by Artists and artists always sparks my creativity.

Here's me with fellow Vancouverite and international Artist Raymond Chow at brunch.

Here's one of his recent works-in-progress.

And I always like snapping shots down by the dock.

Byng Community Art Show

2009-06-03T14:51:00.004-07:00

My "quilt" series is currently on display as part of the Byng Community Art Show. Opening reception was May 28th and many of the artists were on hand to discuss their work. I knew quite a few of the participating artists. It was nice to see some of their new work.

I liked how they hung the quilts. They made 2 groups of 4 in a squares with another artist's pencil drawings in between.

The show continues until June 11th. The gallery is open Monday to Friday from 1 to 3 pm, with extra evening hours on Thursday June 4 from 6 to 7:30 pm and Monday June 8 from 6 to 9:30 pm.

The Byng Arts Gallery is located at Lord Byng Seconday School at 3939 West 16th Ave in Vancouver (enter off Crown).

Artists Books: Mixed Media to Multi Media

2009-05-06T18:36:00.012-07:00

I've been asked to do a little show-and-tell about my artists books as part of the B.C. Bookarts Guild's regular meetings.

I'll be showing some of my altered children's board books, explaining some of the transfer techniques, and then explaining how I tranfer them into multi-media presentations.

I'll also show some of my handbound collage books, explaining some of my collage techniques, the materials I like to use, and then explaining how I transfer them into multi-media presentations.

Pages from some of the finished books are on my website.
But to see the multi-media presentations, you'll have to come to the lecture.

Monday May 11 starting at 7:30 pm
in the Peter Kaye Room on the Lower Level
of the Central Vancouver Public Library
at 350 West Georgia Street in downtown Vancouver
Admission is free but seating is limited

Transformation

2009-03-26T07:45:00.003-07:00

Today is the opening reception for Transformation: Artworks Made from Recycled Objects at Crafthouse on Granville Island. I have three pieces from the Wedding Song series in the show.

From the press release:
Nancy Adams, an ardent recycler, presents a dress made from recycled dress patterns. Ken Gerberick's lamps and assemblages are made from materials which society has used, abused and discarded, often found in Vancouver laneways. Tam Harrington has used metal steamers and colanders to create her reliquary box. Gayle Koyanagi has used bones to create a pair of sculptural shoes. Lorraine Kwan uses cast off minutiae such as glass bottles to create a rocket ship. Inspired by her daughter's marriage Janet Lee has created a series of 3-D assemblages titled "Wedding Songs: A Mother's Hopes and Dreams". Weathered lobster buoys which have been altered and made into sculptures of fish are the work of Launi Lucas. Luci Lytle turns ordinary corrugated boxes inside out to reveal the colours and textures within. Eric Allen Montgomery, renaissance man and assemblage artist presents "Parlour Games", a clock made from a 1925 crokinole board and antique games pieces. Tiny birds, insects, fish and animals are collaged into slide mounts by Robi Smith. Laura vander Linde has combined her enthusiasm for recycling and her design sense to make vinyl record purses. Linda Varro has had a love affair with tarnished silver plated tea sets, coffee pots and cutlery for decades. She has incorporated these into a unique chandelier that drips with Austrian crystals. Douglas Walker has exuberantly welded alto saxophones, French horns and other metal objects to make a magical fountain.

Transformation runs from March 26 to May 3
Opening Reception: March 26, 6 - 8 pm
Crafthouse is located on Granville Island
at 1386 Cartwright Street, Vancouver
visit http://www.cabc.net/ for more information

99 Things To Do

2009-02-05T16:30:00.004-08:00

Found this list on another blog where you are supposed to bold the ones you've done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (updated September 2009)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China (updated September 2009)
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year's Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Quilts My Mother Never Got To Make - India Yellow

2009-01-27T15:52:00.003-08:00

Another in the quilt series, this time in yellows.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Quilts My Mother Never Got To Make - Malaysia Green

2009-01-26T14:24:00.005-08:00

Another from the quilt series, this one in greens, using the Smilebox website templates.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Quilts My Mother Never Got To Make - China Blue

2009-01-26T14:03:00.006-08:00

I'm working on a series of collages: Quilts My Mother Never Got To Make. They're quite small, 8" x 8", in a quilt layout. Each quilt section depicts some aspect from my mother's life. I found this website, Smilebox, that lets you incorporate your own images into templates, so I'm trying it out.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

One World One Heart Blog Giveaway

2009-01-21T15:32:00.018-08:00

February 21st update:
I had so many comments I decided to giveaway a second copy of the booklet. Winners picked at random were Latharia and Couture de Papier. Prizes have been sent. Thanks to all who left comments.

I have never participated in anything like this. In fact, I have to admit that my blogging is intermittent. But I am fascinated and inspired by visiting all the blogs, and motivated by the generosity of the bloggers. So, I'm jumping on board.

I am giving away a booklet that I created for a workshop I gave on adhesives. It discusses different types of adhesives and recommends what you can use to stick one thing to another. As artists, we all tend to use glue at some time or other.

For a chance to win please leave a comment on this post along with an e-mail or some way for me to contact you. If you're a blogger or not, I will make a random draw on February 12th.

White in Lotusland

2009-01-06T12:25:00.007-08:00

Here in Vancouver we pride ourselves on little snow. What snow we do get usually disappears within a day. This year, we have had about 4 continuous weeks of the white stuff, which has confirmed why I don't live any further north or east. Since I live on a hill, there has been no garbage pickup or paper delivery. I haven't driven for 4 weeks and have walked to the supermarket. I realize that some people suffer through this kind of weather for 4 months every year, but I'm starting to get cabin fever.

Although beautiful to look at, I have yet to see a snow plow on any side street. I never thought I'd hear myself looking forward to rain. Although when that comes it will bring other problems I'm sure.

Some of that old time Christmas Spirit

2008-12-06T09:24:00.005-08:00

In this time of economic slowdown, we are reminded that Christmas is a time of giving, but it doesn't need to break the bank. Check out Chrysti's 29 days of giveaways here.

This weekend I'm heading out to some local Christmas Craft Fairs to support local artists. I'm thinking of checking out:

Got Craft
Toque
Shiny Fuzzy Muddy 9
Heritage Hall Christmas Fair
Green Christmas
Blue Lantern Studio
Silver Lining Craft Fair
Blue Winter Market

ReVision - The Art Of Recycling 2008

2008-11-13T10:52:00.023-08:00

The past weekend was the 2nd annual ReVision show. Last year we had 17 artists, this year we had 27 plus more events throughout the weekend. Recycled materials used included paper advertising, safety glass, musical instruments, even bones. We had so much art that we spilled outside, where Ron's family of 10 ft "steel daisies" (made from spent fire extinguishers) were growing in the parking lot. Luci's screen is composed of corrugated cardboard painstakingly mosaiced.

Dale's pieces started as a suitcases. Launi's started as a fish float.

I used musical instrument parts to create small boxed assemblages, while Doug's 6 ft kinetic fountain used entire musical instruments.

Saturday events included performances by SWARM, a high energy percussion group that plays on their uniquely designed instruments made from recycled materials.

Sunday saw the presence of the Green Team and the making of altered books with RubyDog's Art House. Throughout the weekend, visitors could also make-and-take creations they made from our stash of recycled materials.

Some videos from ReVision are at www.youtube.com/revisionart.

Wedding Planner

2008-09-25T09:19:00.009-07:00

My daughter was married this summer. Everything took place in the family home. The shower and rehearsal dinner were in the house; the wedding and reception were in our back garden. Plus, we housed and entertained guests from all over the western hemisphere.

We collectively planned and executed most of the wedding events. We rented tents - to either protect from rain or shield from sun (you never know in Vancouver). It was a friends and family wedding. Sister-of-the-bride and sister-of-the-groom took on bridesmaid duties. Family friend donated a vintage Chinese dress. A chef friend cooked all the food, another friend made the wedding cake, another photographer friend captured the moments, and band-mates sang while the couple walked the aisle (or should I say down the patio stairs). Flower decor was provided by the mother-of-the-bride and her friends who lovingly tended and talked to plants for 4 months. Some out-of-town guests were housed with neighbours. The wedding couple made wine 6 months ahead, made invitations, and even a website.

It turned out beautiful, but exhausting. I have come to appreciate the duties of a wedding planner.

Hidden In The Forest

2008-02-29T08:36:00.013-08:00

I currently have an exhibition at the Sidney and Gertrude Zack Gallery located in the Jewish Community Centre complex in Vancouver (http://www.jccgv.bc.ca/). It's a 2-woman show. I'm showing digital collages depicting forest images combined with faces, thus the name of the show.

Opening night was well attended and we even had a writeup in the local Jewish Independent newspaper.

The show runs until March 9th. I'm very pleased as I've sold 2 pieces already!

ReVision - The Art Of Recycling 2007

2007-10-26T12:42:00.005-07:00

Ever wonder what happened to that old trombone discarded long ago, or your mother's stash of buttons, or that pair of water skies stored at the cottage since 1962?

For the past half year I have been organizing an art event that takes place this weekend. Revision - the art of recycling is a 2-day juried show featuring recycled artwork: art made from anything reused, recycled, salvaged, scrounged or found - be it useful, beautiful, odd, playful, or thought provoking. The exhibition is being held in support of Waste Reduction Week in Canada (October 15-21, 2007).

Sixteen artists from across British Columbia will be represented, displaying over 40 works of art, inspired by their creative use of recycled, salvaged and used materials. Art entries will be on display October 27 & 28 from 11am - 5 pm at the Granville Island Hotel, 1252 Johnston Street in Vancouver.

http://www.revision-theartofrecycling.com/

One of my pieces, Stonewashed Orange Pekoe, is a 3-piece cast paper installation. The paper used to make the pulp came from a local paper distributor. The blue coloration comes from the paper scraps, no additional pigments were added. To make the mold for the teapot, I used an old brown betty. The molds for the mugs were worn cermaic slip cast molds. The embellishments are from an old pair of blue jeans.

Passion

2007-09-23T10:12:00.002-07:00

When asked to create a piece of art on a particular emotion, in this case passion, I started with a colour theme. Colours that immediately came to mind were red, maroon, purple and black. Yes, I realize that's a bit dark, but besides the warm and fuzzy feelings, for me passion also contains some risque, spur-of-the-moment elements. Once I assembled my tubes of paint, I searched through magazines for images that either contributed to the colour or images theme. These images were torn and placed on my background paper. Once happy with the layout, I started adding acrylic paint, both to unify the images and to further enhance the colour theme. I like to use a large flathead paintbrush and a stencil brush to get the initial colours down. At the end, to finetune things, I use various smaller brushes as well as scraps of diecut papers as stencils to add extra spot colours.

Nick Bantock Workshop

2007-09-22T15:24:00.002-07:00

This summer I was able to take a workshop with Nick Bantock. The 2-day workshop was in his new studio/gallery on Saltspring Island, aptly named The Forgetting Room. This was not a beginner course, and all 12 participants had some art background.

Nick is a great teacher and very generous with his knowledge and supplies. Throughout the weekend, we raided his store of magazines, postage stamps and rubber stamps, and constantly picked his brain. It was so inspirational to be creating your own art while surrounded by like minded people amid Nick's fantastic art.

The workshop consisted of a number of collage exercises, each increasingly complex, all a la Nick Bantock.

One such exercise ....
1) We were handed an 8-1/2 x 11 section of a nautical chart
2) And then a small image (mine was a fish stamp)
3) Next we cut a triangle window in the chart
4) And found a simple magazine image to add to the back to show through the window
5) Then we found a number in a magazine to add to our artwork
6) We then created another window (any shape, I chose a triangle again)
7) And added another magazine image to show through
8) And then added postage stamp
9) Then from Nick's rubber stamps, we each chose 2
10) And stamped each once onto our artwork
11) Last we added a 1/2" border of our choice

And here's mine ...

I'm on A Bit of A Roll

2007-07-16T17:03:00.002-07:00

Basket of Lemons on a farm in Sorrento, Italy

Backyard fern

Pomegranates and squash in a market in Barcelona, Spain

Local intertidal algae

I'm feeling the need to finish everything before the Nick Bantock workshop at the end of the month. I've admired his books ever since Griffin and Sabin and am looking forward to learning some new techniques.

New Art, New Shows

2007-07-09T11:15:00.002-07:00

Thought I'd do some smaller pieces for the 2 shows in August. I've been working away, experimenting some more with the traditional collage and paint backgrounds with laser overprints of digital collages. The first show is at the Granville Island Hotel during the island's "Made in B.C." weekend so I've used some local nature images. The "Blue Parrot Art Show and Sale runs Sunday and Monday, Autust 5 and 6, from 10 am to 5 pm both days. The Granville Island Hotel is located at 1252 Johnston Street on Granville Island in Vancouver. The second is a 2-man show in a private garden at 2836 West 19th Avenue in Vancouver on Sunday August 19th from 11 to 6. Again, I'm keep with the natural theme.

Backyard swordfern

Mediterranean shell and starfish

The more quick sale items will include cards, both the ones with the magnet embellishment and the ones with the 1-inch button pins. For those into 1-inch buttons, I'll also have the Asian ones with the Japanese paper backgrounds with your choice of Chinese calligraphy characters, and the minimalist ones with the abstract backgrounds and 2-word sayings.

Completing the Academy of Hue

2007-02-27T12:30:00.004-08:00

Finally finished all the pieces in the series. Then I had to frame them. Since I had inherited 7 frames, I created the pieces to fit. But I got carried away and created 11, so I had to find another 4 frames that would sortof match. Good thing I got the 7 for free, because the 4 I got to match cost a fortune. But, I'm pleased with how they turned out.

Because the series is for an artists open house event in April, Artists In Our Midst, I'm also creating smaller priced items based on the works from this series. So, I've made cards using the images. To add something a little different, I've also created 1-inch buttons that match and are attached to the cards.

Digital Art Studio

2007-01-31T14:29:00.002-08:00

I got a great book for Christmas from my husband, Digital Art Studio by Karin Schminke, Dorothy Simpson Krause and Bonny Pierce Lhotka. It discusses everything I've been trying to do with regards to combining digital and traditional materials and techniques with great step-by-step instructions and photo examples.

Up until now, I've been outputting to my Ricoh Aficio and Xerox Tektronik laser printers but am limited to maximum sizes of 11" by 17". I also have an HP Designjet inkjet plotter that allows up to 24" wide, but I hadn't attempted using it, until this book came along. I've been patiently waiting for my order of some of the needed materials from Daniel Smith in Seattle because I couldn't find InkAid or large sheets of polyester film locally. This weekend I'm hoping to attempt some larger test prints with the Designjet.

Other books I'm wanting to read now are Digital Photo Art by Theresa Airey, Digital Photo Artist by Tony Worobjec and Ray Spence, and Mastering Digital Printing by Harald Johnson.

Life and Death

2007-01-25T09:21:00.002-08:00

Usually when I come across something in my life that repeats a few times, then it's obviously something I should pay attention to. Perhaps it's the universe trying to tell me something. Perhaps it's a god trying to shake up my complacency in life or allowing me a springboard from which things happen.

Last weekend I attended two, not just one but two funerals. I haven't been to a funeral in over four years, but along came a weekend where I went to two. Both were artists, one a woman in her 60's the other a young man in his mid-20's. They lead very different lives, both very full lives.

Anne had a degree in Chemistry and Physics (she taught at the university level), was an accomplished musician (accompanied the church choir), self-taught artist (she only began painting in her 40's), and mother of 4. She was one of those supermoms, who grew her own vegetables and fruit, harvested and canned them, backed, etc. She developed a rare degenerative neorological disease that took away her ability to communicate. For such a gifted woman it must have been so frustrating. Over the course of 5 years, I saw the disease slowly robbed her of the ability to speak, paint and read. The very conservative catholic service was accompanied by guitar and flute.

Zeyn was a singing and acting schoolmate of my younger daughter. Here was a young man who could light up a stage: a gifted singer, songwriter, actor, dancer and musician, and the pride of his single mother. After high school, he was accepted into a performing arts school in New York. He went on to perform in a Canadian touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar. He played the lead role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat that ran in Vancouver and Calgary. Recently, he had been battling various demons within and tragically was killed in the early morning hours near his family home. It is uncertain how he spent the last few hours of his life, but suffice it say, his mother is devastated. His memorial service was attended by close to a thousand people, many of whom lovingly performed at his celebration of life, a testement to the many lives he affected.

So what has this to do with me?
What have I contributed to the world?
Who would remember me and for what?
Would even a hundred people attend my funeral.
The thought of burying one of my children makes my heart palpitate.

Today, I'll give out some hugs and kisses, maybe call up a few old friends for tea, and get started on finishing those projects waiting in my studio.

The Academy of Hue

2006-11-04T17:41:00.002-08:00

I'll be participating in Artist In Our Midst again in the spring, so I'm trying to get a head start on producing some new work.

I inherited 7 beautiful square frames - black, gold and silver - from an artist who was downsizing from a large studio to a home studio. So, I've come up with a series based on the 3 primary colours, 3 secondary colours, and white. The imagery is based on various departments of a university: theology, fine arts, psychology, linguistics, economics, biology and history.

I also inherited a set of black mattes that contain a number of windows: 3 have 6 and 3 have 12. These are from another artist who was cleaning out her storage cupboards. In keeping with the university theme, the 3 with 6 I'm using for the laboratories. The 3 with 12, I'm using for the libraries.

Detail from The Zoology Laboratory and The Botany Laboratory

New ATCs

2006-10-30T09:38:00.001-08:00

New ATCs from a "leaf" swap.
Think I'll try applying this technique to some larger works

More Artists Trading Cards

2006-08-21T15:01:00.001-07:00

I'm on a roll.

Artists Trading Cards

2006-08-08T10:32:00.001-07:00

I've become addicted to making these 2-1/2 x 3-1/2 art pieces. It's a chance for me to get right into that paint and glue. As the name implies, these mini artworks are to be traded and not sold.

I had never made them before but signed up to participate in an ATC swap earlier this year through an internet art group I'm a member of. Each participant received the same packet of materials and were to create and send in 3 ATCs, for which each participant would received 3 ATCs back. The 3 I received were all so different, even though we all started with the same materials.

But, of course I made 4 and kept one for myself as a souvenier.

So, the group has another ATC swap and this time there are no restrictions. So I've tried some new techniques, incorporating some of my laser transfers onto collaged and painted card. Can't wait to see what I get in return.

Hanging Out Some Old Laundry

2006-04-25T13:30:00.003-07:00

I've been dealing with a lot of elderly people these days. It's very depressing. My sister-in-law (73 with Parkinsons and dementia) is in a facility in Victoria with 2 people to a room. She has the half without a window. She's allowed to bring one dresser and hang a few pictures on the wall.

Another old friend of the family (97 who fell and injured himself) is in a facility in North Vancouver where there are 4 people to a room. All his belongs have to fit into a closet that's approximately 2 feet wide and a single drawer. His prize momentos are kept in a ziplock bag. Even more depressing.

My father (93 who fell around Christmas) has just transferred into an "enhanced assisted living" wing of a residence in Richmond, having been in the "assisted living" wing for the past 2 years. Lucky him, he has a private room and his own bathroom. There, he has his own bed, drawers, a big closet, chairs and TV. But, he's unhappy. He feels he is surrounded by dying people, which they technically are. Most people who leave this facility do so on a gurney.

So, are we reduced to this at the end of our life? Perhaps alzheimers and dementia are not so bad, at least you don't realize what's happening to your aging body. To fit your prized belongings into a ziplock bag, god, I can't even fit them into a single room, nevermind one small bag.

A Mother's Ramblings

2006-03-15T09:26:00.002-08:00

I've just finished reading Lovely Bones and am now reading A Perfect Day To Go To China. The books have made me introspective these days, what with being a mother of two daughters. I always thought that the true love of my life would be a man and even though I am married to a wonderful man, I find my daughters consume my life. I always thought that once my daughters grew up, they would journey off on their own path, returning occassionally for Sunday dinners and special occasions. Not so.

When they were in their terrible teens, I wanted to disowned them, but miraculously they outgrew those years of rebellion. Then followed a few years of independence where they got full time jobs, lived with boyfriends, experimented with life, and I hardly heard from them. Now like the prodigal son they have returned and I seem to see them more than ever. Although neither live at home anymore, one in Vancouver, the other currently in Toronto, we email and talk on the phone almost every day.

When they were kids a mother's kiss could make the booboos better, an ice cream cone could make you forget you weren't invite to a sleepover birthday party. Now, I miss them when I'm not with them. My heart breaks when theirs is broken. My heart soars with every accomplishment. They constantly creep into my art.

Looking back, I take full responsibility for their careers in the music industry. When they were little, along with the preverbial bedtime story, each could choose a song and we would sing together before lights out. When they began kindergarten, they began music lessons. The rule in our house was that everyone had to take some kind of music lessons, piano was just the start. Soon after, one switched to drums and trumpet (much to our neighbours chagrin) and the other to violin then to voice (that's an instrument too she would say). They took associated dance classes and acting classes to round out thier performance skills. We had our share of bands practicing in our basement, nail biting auditions, and obligatory parental presence at performances. To this day, I try to go to as many performances as I can, from smokey bars in Vancouver to award ceremonies elsewhere.

We always encouraged them to follow their dreams and they did; unfortunately we forgot to encourage them to try to include a stable income as part of that equation. So one is a drummer and the other a singer. Both have had success to some extent (both have had Juno nominations), although the family bank seems to bail them out all too frequently.

Butterfly and Hosta

2006-02-11T09:08:00.002-08:00

One of a series titled Close Encounters With Nature. Images are macro shots taken with an Olympus Camedia 5050. The hosta leaf with dew was taken in Campbell River on an early May morning. The butterfly wing was taken at the Spencer Entymological Museum at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Images were combined in CorelDraw.

The Mind Is A Mansion

2006-02-07T13:28:00.002-08:00

This is page 7 from The Mind Is A Mansion, an altered board book. The original book came with the holes. Background consists of washes of acrylic paint. The black and white text and image are transfers. Image is a black and white laser output of a traditional (non digital) collage onto release paper. Mirror image text is also a laser output to release paper. The transfer itself is accomplished using gel medium.

text for The Mind Is A Mansion:

The mind is a mansion that contains many rooms
Each a compilation described by our thoughts, dreams, emotions, ecstasies,
angers and secrets of our deepest selves.
There is so much that remains unseen
until we unlock the door and look inside.
There are infinite questions to be asked.
Much of the mind is cloaked in mystery
The more we look inside each room
the more we realize
that while these paradoxes and enigmas
are infinitely questioned,
they are forever never answered.

Kung Hay Fat Choy

2006-02-06T08:34:00.002-08:00

This is The Fire of Creativity: May It Burn Throughout The New Year.

It's day 8 of the Chinese New Year of the Dog and being of Chinese heritage, although I hardly speak the language and have married a Caucasian, I cling to the superstitions and traditions of my ancestors. The circular candy tray is called "The Tray of Togetherness" and has an array of candy to start the New Year sweetly. After taking several pieces of candy from the tray, adults places a lucky red envelope (lai see) on the center compartment of the tray.

Each item represents some kind of good fortune.

Candied melon - growth and good health
Red melon seed - dyed red to symbolize joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
Lychee nut - strong family relationships
Coconut - togetherness
Peanuts - long life
Longnan - many good sons
Lotus seed - many children

Shadows of Mortality

2006-02-05T09:03:00.002-08:00

This is Sorrow, a digital collage that is part of a 12-piece series called Shadows of Mortality. The entire series was also produced as a limited edition artist book by the same name as this series includes a lot of text. All the words on each of the pieces relate to the titles, in the case of Sorrow, words include melancholy, heartache, anguish, regret, pain and unhappiness. Other titles in the series include Contrition, Uninvited, Despair, Abandoned and Solitude.

Sorrow is on display during Matters of the Heart at the Unitarian Church at Oak and 49th until March 5.

Intro to the book:

All humans share a common bond - mortality.
It is the realization of our fragility
that sets us apart from other living things.
And each day,
shadows of our mortality test this fragility.

Some people are haunted by their shadows,
allowing the shadows to consume and darken their lives,
spreading their shadows and engulfing all in their path.
Others, accept their shadows,
but must re-confront them with every new step.
Others still, embrace their shadows,
celebrating the strengths and triumphs that evolve,
using their shadows as a palette for creative expression.
I welcome you to take a walk among some of my shadows.
I trust you will recognize some.
And for those that you do identify with,
rest assured that you are not alone.
I welcome you to take a walk among some of my shadows.
I trust you will recognize some.
And for those that you do identify with,
rest assured that you are not alone.

Digital Journey 2

2006-02-04T16:21:00.002-08:00

Translation of the Chinese character is water, which is also the title for this piece. Background is composed an old boat I found in Steveston with a handpainted depth guage layered with an abstract closeup to create the watery effect. Foreground images include some fish from the Steveston market that have had their colours tweeked, as well as some other marine life.

Digital Journey 1

2006-02-03T11:39:00.002-08:00

Digital Journeys is a series of digital collages that explore the often complimentary but sometimes opposite connotations when dealing with the cultural aspects of language. Several of the images from this series are currently on display at the Mix Bakery on West 10th Avenue in Vancouver.

The Chinese character translates "child" which is the title of the piece, an attempt at a self portrait. Besides the child, some other images that have been used include the maple leaf (Canada), a butterfly (metamorphosis), a starfish (westcoast), and some classical piano sheetmusic (music being another pursuit).

Digital Collage

2006-02-02T14:28:00.001-08:00

As digital art implies, my work reflects the many layers of nature. Traditional collage begins with the collecting of images. As with traditional collage, I start with images taken with a digital camera or scanner. I use computer programs to manipulate these images and let the computer screen act as my canvas. I attempt to layer images using various filters and effects. The result is not always predictable.