Stickin' Ideas Together

Hello all; I just found out that my button design (artwork)  was chosen for inclusion in: Hot One Inch Action  Vancouver's 10th Anniversary Show Saturday November 9 from 8-11pm @ Hot Art Wet City 2206 Main (@ 6th) Tiny works from sixty different artists reproduced on one inch buttons.  Buy a mixed bag of five random buttons for $5.  Trade them. Save them. Share them.  I hope you to see you this coming Saturday for what seems like a groovy fun time!

I web-tripped across a delightful shop in the UK called PASH . Not only does it offer a banquet of antique treats to stimulate the senses but also some of a more modern nature to balance out the meal. The stencilled zinc letters, pictured above, are seriously calling my name but they are from so far across the pond I will simply have to appreciate the photo of them instead. Sigh. PASH also hosts artist for workshops & lectures. One such wonder is Alice Fox . I drooled throughout my virtual visit of her Gifts from the Sidewalk series. I was practically moved to tears by the subtle tones and patterns. Alice's workshop, slated for September at PASH, is already sold out. Amazing talent and sensibility. I wish I could be there. My tummy is rumbling with all this talk; I need to go & feed it some creativity... fast! Stay healthy; create. Kathryn

I am really into fabric & embroidery these days. I am on a waiting list to take a 3 day embroidery workshop in September (yes, a waiting list for embroidery - who knew it was so popular) via Maiwa Textile Symposium. The above photo is from a series I began four years ago. They are inspired by ultrasound images of my daughter. These delicate acrylic-soaked cheese cloth pictures are machine stitched to acid-free paper. Random fabric, thread and beads accessorize and personalize each of them. Some include images taken from foreign newspapers that are first obscured with paint before being stitched into the composition. Unfortunately I have reached an impasse with these pieces. With much reflection I have come realize that they feel under developed & slightly unfocused. I believe that further enhancing them with embroidery will add depth and personal meaning. Learning the traditional skill of embroidery will also enhance my artistic capabilities. Finger...

I mentioned in April that I am working on bringing a bit of reality in to my work. Don't worry; I am unable to stay in reality for too long so things won't get boring. I simply feel that visiting it every now & again is socially healthy. As a result, I am trying my hand at still life. My parents live on beautiful Gabriola Island. The sea and seashore are an integral part of what brings me peace and balance. Now that I am a proud parent, I enjoy beach combing with my family when we visit. We examine the shore life & bring back interesting (vacated) shells & barnacles. It is these found, natural objects that have become my subject for study. This summer I plan to continue my study while I soak up the sea air. I wish you well in your current explorations - be they intuitively creative or influenced by "reality." ~ Kathryn

Today marks my 44th year on Earth and I am blessed with a good life. Funny thing is, I am restless in it and have been feeling myself trying to out grow my skin for the past six months or so. I now feel ready to stretch myself further, dig deeper and fly higher. So what do all those lofty words and empty phrases mean? I am not exactly sure, but I am on a mission to find out. And it does involve being (more) True to me... living my true calling, expressing my authentic self. Lately I am painting more realistically in order to gain practise on my use of colour, form and techniques using various paint brushes. Specifically, I am interested in understanding the play between light and shadow and how that creates and influences form. I don't seem to have an innate understanding of that but I have discovered that I can learn. Good to know I am still teachable! Recently I painted a couple, not quite look-alike, portraits and have begun some still life work. Very exciting and...

I launched 2013 with a trip to NYC. Oh the art, the density of everything, the energy. Splendid beyond all imaginings. When I returned home I decided to pursue my love of cardboard, thanks to an introduction to Franz West at the MOMA. I decided to reduce my materials cost therefore taking some pressure off of myself to create a Masterpiece on every canvas and cradled panel I invest in. Cardboard is free for the taking and often comes "prepped" for collage with packing tape, shipping labels and printing. In the above piece I first laid down some acrylic paint. I then transferred a colour printout of some graffiti that I had photographed. This was followed with collage ephemera and more acrylic. Once I felt that the groundwork was in place, I transferred a black and white photo of my daughter into the composition there by creating a focal point. Lastly I further painted into the piece to emphasize or deemphasize various aspects of the composition. The final steps fo...