Month: February 2013

Gutter Snipes I, by Cal Lane

Yesterday I did a bit of gallery hopping around town with a friend, something I very badly needed to do. One of our stops was to visit Grunt Gallery, which is currently showing work by Cal Lane. She creates an illustrative style of cut metal sculptures using reclaimed industrial materials.

Gutter Snipes I by Cal Lane

I was so taken with the installation, Gutter Snipes, that I forgot to photograph the other pieces in the gallery. The work is cut paper translated into metal on a grand scale. Something I hope to eventually achieve.

Gutter Snipes I by Cal Lane
Gutter Snipes I by Cal Lane

Gutter Snipes I by Cal Lane

The installation is lit from the inside and amazing shadows are cast on the wall above. It is large enough to walk through.

Gutter Snipes I by Cal Lane
Gutter Snipes I by Cal Lane
Gutter Snipes I by Cal Lane
Gutter Snipes I by Cal Lane

Gutter Snipes I by Cal Lane

Gutter Snipes I is on display at Grunt Gallery until March 23rd, 2013. I highly recommend you go see it.

Structural Paper Cutting

After I finished the paper cut pyramid last week I began to work on a second piece with a different approach to making something three dimensional. Instead of creating the structure from a single sheet I used scraps of paper cut into triangles of different sizes, two as sides, and one as a bottom piece. I wanted to cut the design first and then attach the paper together afterwards.

Untitled

I spent a lot of time cutting paper and not so much on determining the structure, but I wanted to see how well pieces of paper can support themselves when most of the material is cut away. It sags of course, especially on the sides that are unattached. I would need to include more structural support if translated into a larger scale.

Untitled

It’s a lovely piece, and I think the shadows are an integral part of it.

For the next prototype I will do less with paper cutting and focus more on structure just to see where this will take me. Stay tuned.

Self-Exploration Through Self Portraiture

It’s been an interesting experience the last few weeks to maintain my commitment to the Be Your Own Beloved e-course. I don’t mind taking a self portrait every once in awhile, but doing it every day is tedious. At least that’s how I normally feel about it. But with Vivienne‘s daily email prompts of inspiration to guide me, it makes it easier to get it done. She always provides something personal to reflect upon, as well as a place to start to come up with an idea to shoot for the day.

I really like the work I’ve been creating, and through this series I’ve come to realize I am process oriented even with my photography. The ideas come as I work, rather than being fully formed from the beginning.

Shadow Play
Day 18

Celebrate Individuality
Day 21

You Are the Beholder
Day 22

The creative aspects of this project aside, it’s made me realize a few things about myself. Mostly that I’m not very good at self-care, or about being good to myself. The intensity of the stuff that has come up out of this has really surprised me, but I am determined to create more awareness around this and make changes.

There are just a few days left of the course. I think I will miss the daily excuse to come up with an idea to photograph.

More of the self portraits can be found on Flickr.

Trying to Project Into the Future

My paper cutting demo at Opus went very well on the weekend. The people who attended were very interested, and most seemed to get a lot out of it. I wasn’t sure how well I could share how I do this work, but I did just fine thanks to careful preparation.

It was inspiring to me to talk about this work, and was just the thing I needed to get back producing in the studio again. I’m trying to think ahead to possible upcoming shows which could happen up to two years from now (if my proposal is accepted). I’ve never worked this way before and I’m unsure how to project so far ahead because my work is constantly evolving in ways I don’t foresee.

Work in progress paper cutting construction. Very rough at the moment. Exploring ideas for new work.

Rather than getting bogged down with this I decided to experiment and build further on the paper cutting work I’ve been doing. I was intrigued with the idea of creating something three-dimensional. I chose to create a pyramid-like box and cut three of the sides with the usual intertwining crescent shapes. I wanted to see how this would work, and not focus too much on specific details.

The finished prototype of the work in progress I shared earlier today. Working through some ideas.

The finished prototype is rough and imperfect, but a really good starting point for figuring out more three dimensional pieces. It plays wonderfully with direct light too. I’m trying to imagine it larger, but it makes my hand sore just thinking about it.

Teaching Altered Books at Into The heArt Retreat

A few people have asked when I’ll be teaching another altered book workshop. At the moment, I only have one scheduled for this fall but I’m hoping to have something lined up for late spring.

Altered book workshop - Student work
View more student work from past altered book workshops.

In September I’ll be teaching a full day workshop at Into the heArt, an upcoming art retreat in Maple Ridge, BC. This is a good excuse to take time away from daily life and immerse yourself in a few days of creative exploration. If you’re familiar with the ArtFest (now retired) in Port Townsend, this is along the same lines.

Check out the full list of classes and instructors, and further details about the retreat on the Creative Finds web site.

Opus In-Store Demo: Freeform Paper Cutting Techniques

This coming Saturday, I will be on location at Opus Art Supplies Hastings location giving an in-store demo of paper cutting techniques. The demo is FREE but you must register by phone (604‑678‑5889) to reserve a spot as space is limited.

Paper cut designs

Untitled

Full details about the demo can be found on the Opus website.

Freeform Paper Cutting Techniques
Opus Downtown
Date: Saturday, February 16th, 2013
Time: 2pm to 4pm
Location: 207 West Hastings Street

Scenic Views From Bowen Island

Boris and I spent a few days on Bowen Island over the weekend to visit with his family. We go there about every six weeks and each time I take pretty much the same photos. I don’t really care because the particular scenes that attract me always look beautiful and new.

A favourite spot on Bowen Island

On Sunday we took advantage of having a car and drove to the farther side of the island we can’t easily get to normally, and visited Cape Roger Curtis.

Little sailboat on the great big ocean

Trees against sky

It’s sad to visit this once untouched place, now in the process of transforming into another sorry subdivision since the land was sold to developers a few years ago. It used to take an hour and a half to walk into some of the spots we can now drive along a paved road to reach.

Lone Arbutus Tree

Half clouds, and half blue sky

It was a beautiful day as we clambered along the rocky shore with a small enthusiastic puppy in tow. We sat on mossy rocks overlooking the ocean and basked in the sun for awhile until we got hungry, and could almost ignore the transformed wilderness behind us.

Bringing Forgotten Skills Back to Life

As a youngster my initial explorations into art were through drawing and painting. I’d actually reached a point in my teens where I had pretty decent drawing skills (though I’ve never been particularly good with paints), which I mostly seemed to use for drawing dragons, horses, and unicorns. (Every horse is just one horn away from becoming a unicorn). Over time I’ve lost those skills from lack of use and only recently have I been considering ways to develop them again.

Last week I took steps to get started on this and bought a small sketchbook, two drawing pens, and a pencil, then gave myself permission to start drawing again. This was inspired by a review of my sketchbook from high school and seeing some of the work I was able to do back then. Unicorns and dragons aside, it was a pleasant reminder of the repetitive pattern-style drawing I’ve always done that is echoed in my current paper cutting work. I’d never made this connection before.

Hand and eye coordination

In Motion

The drawings I’ve made so far are more like doodles but I’m enjoying the process of creating them. As you can see, a few have made their way into the self portraits I’ve been shooting for Be Your Own Beloved to great effect. I love that I can bring these two different media together and how these are shaping up as a series. It feels so good to have new ideas flowing.

Be Your Own Beloved

For the month of February I’m enrolled in an e-course called, Be Your Own Beloved, which is facilitated by Vivienne McMaster. It is a twenty-eight day challenge to cultivate self-reflection and compassion for oneself through self portraiture.

I’ve been wanting to take one of Vivienne’s courses for awhile. I felt this one was particularly well timed as I’ve been harshing on myself for continued poor health and my frustrations around that. Here’s hoping I will learn to be kinder to myself in the process.

Art as play

These are two of the self portraits I’ve created so far and I’m happy with them. It’s been challenging to find the time and creative energy to do this. My photography skills are rusty from lack of use, as is the part of my brain formerly in charge of visualizing ideas for portraits and self-portraits.

A long walk with Pepper to visit Boris' new space in Gastown.

I like the idea of combining self-portraits with drawings as I did yesterday. It would be interesting if I can come up with a whole series of them over the course of the twenty-eight days.