Stickin' Ideas Together

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...

I recently watched the inaugural performance of Susan Boyle.  My heart was filled with joy. With inspiration. With "I can" feelings for my own personal goals. Looking at the faces of the three judges, I saw not only admiration but love. Real love for this woman who mere seconds earlier they were just shy of verbally mocking. LOVE. That's the key to humanity's success. Love is the key to world peace, to tolerance, to getting along with the person who is sitting beside you right now. A little bit of love goes a long, long way and is infectious. Love let's us see who someone IS as opposed to how they LOOK. Love let's us remember that outward behaviours may be caused from inner pain. Love let's us ask another person how he/she is feeling and listens to the answer. Love is round. This Christmas, I remind you (and myself) that a little bit of love goes a long way. How about, for a change, we all spread it on really thick this season? Imagine the results......

The Eastside Culture Crawl in East Vancouver BC is an annual art crawl that takes our city by storm. The hub, at 1000 Parker is a weekend event within itself with literally floors of artisans occupying an old factory warehouse building... which is perfectly decrepit and artsy. My favourite is always Jill Pilon, at Watershed Studio. Her new linear series is brave and forward feeling. Clean in a collage-messy way. She is a huge inspiration to me. Currently I am focusing on more transfer technique discovery on cardboard. Nothing more freeing that playing on cardboard. Minimal material investment = more relaxed approach. I hope that, like me, you will make the most of staying inside during the winter to create and paint. The seasons are meant to inspire; use them to the fullest! ~ Kathryn