A Series of Triangles

Have a mentioned before that 2012 has been a record year for commissions? Boy has it ever, and this is the last of them.

This is a yarn-based mural I created in the offices of Pencilneck Software in Vancouver. I used the process and materials of creating a yarn tree as the jumping off point and took it in a whole other direction.

Pencilneck Software commission

I’d been in conversation with Steve Tannock, owner of Pencilneck Software, for a couple of months about creating custom artwork for their new space. He liked the idea of the yarn tree, but did not want a tree. I eventually settled on the design of repeating triangles because this is the basic structure that makes up a yarn tree.

Pencilneck Software commission

Pencilneck Software commission

I used a level and ruler to try to keep the triangles as straight and as in line as I could while moving up and down across the wall. The coloured pieces are cut from rolls of vinyl with adhesive on the back, a material very similar to a wall decal. I used a mix of different shades of blue, and threw in some red and yellow too.

Pencilneck Software commission

Pencilneck Software commission

The finished mural has brightened up an otherwise neutral space, and gives people something to look at other than white walls or computers. The day after I completed work, Steve told me people kept finding excuses to come into his office and stare at it. This is positive feedback enough for me.

A Yarn Tree in White

I wonder if over the years I will manage to create a small forest worth of trees made with yarn and pushpins. This latest commission brings the yarn tree mural count up to five, which is a long way from becoming a forest, but give me time (and walls).

This lovely white yarn tree now lives on the bedroom wall of clients (and good friends) living on the edge of Chinatown/Gastown. The wall is painted with blackboard paint originally intended as a background for a salon-style picture hanging idea that never came to fruition. Kay decided instead that it would be the perfect spot to commission a one-of-a-kind yarn tree.

White yarn tree

White yarn tree

The white yarn on black background was my client’s wonderful idea, and wow does it ever look striking. The idea was to keep the tree within the black square and have it off centre, leaving part of it to disappear out of frame as if looking through a window.

White yarn tree

White yarn tree

I used approximately five hundred pushpins, and one and a half balls of yarn to make this. The tree stretches to about eight feet by eight feet at its highest and widest points. For the knitters out there, I used a fine merino wool in cool white.

White yarn tree

White yarn tree

White yarn tree

At the moment the tree has been left bare while my clients decide whether or not it needs leaves, flowers, or something else to decorate it.

Thank you to Ross Howard Jones for the photos, and for being such a gracious host while I worked in their home.

Paper Cut Work: Down the Rabbit Hole

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Earlier in the fall I was invited to be part of an upcoming group show in Victoria that explores the theme of Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass. I hadn’t had any time until last week to figure out and create something new for this show because I don’t currently have anything appropriate. I was stumped and uninspired at first because the theme doesn’t really fit into my current body of work, and I’m reluctant to create one-off pieces just to satisfy the requirements of a group show.

I was actually really close to passing up on this opportunity. But I surprised myself and found my way through to creating work I am very pleased with. The White Rabbit was my inspiration and he took me down a rabbit hole of layers and layers of circles.

Paper Cut Work- Down the Rabbit Hole
“Down the Rabbit Hole” | 10″ x 10″

Paper Cut Work- Down the Rabbit Hole-4

Paper Cut Work- Down the Rabbit Hole-5

Paper Cut Work- Down the Rabbit Hole-3

Paper Cut Work- Down the Rabbit Hole-2

Both of these are 10″ x 10″ with the cut paper mounted inside a wood cradle panel. There are three layers of paper in each one, and I used a compass cutter to cut the circles. I’d been playing around with this idea in my head because I have a circle cut pile of maps left over from a previous project, and I intend to do something with them. The layers work very well and build on my recent work of a single repeating shape.

To create the two rabbit silhouettes I sourced images of the white rabbit from google images, printed these out to the correct size and used them as a template. I left the details of each of them very minimal on purpose.

Paper Cut Work- Down the Rabbit Hole-6
“Down the Rabbit Hole” | 10″ x 10″

Paper Cut Work- Down the Rabbit Hole-9

Paper Cut Work- Down the Rabbit Hole-8

Paper Cut Work- Down the Rabbit Hole-7

I showed photos of these on Instagram as I worked on them last week and was thrilled to have such a positive reaction to the work. I’ll share more details about the show closer to the date next year.

Cut Paper Sketches

It’s that time of year again, not the Christmas season, but the coming of the closing of the year. A time when I always seem to run out of steam for coming up with content for my blog. But I have monthly goals around how many posts to write and it’s a good thing too because it forces me to meet them.

When it comes to art it is VERY important to work at something even when you don’t feel inspired, because there is no better way to find that inspiration. I’ve done some of my best and most surprising work under these circumstances. I think this also applies to blogging.

Sketching-6

Sketching-7

The visual portion of this entry is of two paper cut designs I created while sitting in the window at Bird on a Wire Creations a few weekends back. I was between projects and was uncertain about what I wanted to work on next. I brought small sheets of coloured paper with me and decided to cut in whatever way came to mind. I was not feeling inspired or compelled in any way to create and yet I came away with two lovely small sketches.

Inspiration doesn’t always doesn’t always appear on command, but she’ll show up if you will.

Autumn Sights

As I was trying to decide what to blog about today, I stumbled across some of the colourful photos I’ve taken over the past few months and thought I’d share them here. Most of the photography I do these days is with my iPhone, and I hardly ever remember to share it anywhere other than instagram.

It’s been very grey lately, so these bright colours feel so good to look at.

Autumn sights

Autumn sights

Autumn sights

Autumn sights

Autumn sights

There’s lots more to see on my Instagram page. I share something there daily.

Interconnection: Commissioned Work for Vancity Credit Union

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I’m thrilled to be able to publicly share the corporate art commission I created for Vancity Credit Union over the summer. It is on permanent display in the Community Stage room in their South Burnaby branch at 5064 Kingsway.

The piece is called, Interconnection: Altering the Landscape, and is created from repurposed topographic maps of Burnaby and surrounding areas.

Photo credit: Brady Dahmer http://bradydahmerdesign.com/

Vancity Credi Union Art commissions-3

My work is one of four pieces of art commissioned by Vancity for this newly renovated bank branch. It hangs together with work by Robi Smith (left), and Christina Norberg (center).

The fourth commissioned piece (and largest) is located in the reception area of the branch, and catches the eye as soon as you walk in. It is a beautiful installation of upcycled plates by Jasna Sokolovic and Noel O’Connell of Dear Human.

Vancity Credi Union Art commissions-2
Vancity Credi Union Art commissions

If you’re interested in checking out the work in person, the artists are planning a reception for January 12th, 2013. Stay tuned for more details.

Infinite Possibilities: Math, Science, Book Arts at 23 Sandy Gallery

I am very pleased to be a part of this show, opening Thursday November 29th at 23 Sandy Gallery in Portland. The theme of math and science is explored through the lens of book arts, with the idea that art, math, and science are not as disparate as we are often led to believe.

From the 23 Sandy web site:

Infinite Possibilities shows us how math and science can be used as a source of artistic inspiration to book artists who are thinking creatively about such topics. Taking a wide range of approaches—from serious to humorous—participating artists explore mechanical and theoretical concepts extracted from a diverse range of scientific fields: from mathematics to medicine, space, architecture, engineering, physics, genetics, botany, biology, and more.

The piece I created for the show is titled, The Universe is Intricate. Read more about it here.

The Universe is Intricate - Inside

The show runs until December 29th, 2012, so there is plenty of time to see it. And for those who can’t make it in person, there is a catalogue of the work available to browse through online.

Infinite Possibilities: Math, Science, Book Arts
23 Sandy Gallery
Date: November 29th to December 29th
Location: 623 NE 23rd Avenue, Portland, OR

Paper Cut Work: New Work Available for Purchase

It was only after the Eastside Culture Crawl ended that I realized I hadn’t as yet properly documented some of my recent work. So while I was busy documenting the display I’d put together, I also spent some time photographing individual pieces. It’s so handy to be a photographer with lights, on top of everything else that I do.

These are five in a series of seven white paper cut designs I created through freehand paper cutting techniques. I do not draw anything beforehand. I have a spontaneous and iterative process using a repeating crescent shape to create slightly different overall forms for each piece. I have yet to give the series a name, but they bring to mind things like wind, waves, and even microscopic life forms.

White Paper Cut Series

Framed: 13″ x 16″ | $350

White Paper Cut Series

Framed: 13″ x 16″ | $350

White Paper Cut Series

Framed: 13″ x 16″ | $350

White Paper Cut Series

Framed: 13″ x 16″ | $350

White Paper Cut Series

Framed: 13″ x 16″ | $350

The work below are larger pieces than the white series and there are only two at the moment. I call these three-dimensional paper cutting because I cut and fold the shape upwards rather than removing it. Both are unframed on 19″ x 25″ Strathmore paper.

Paper Cut Work (SOLD)
Paper Cut Work - detail (SOLD)

Unframed: 19″ x 25″ | SOLD

Paper Cut Work
Paper Cut Work - detail

Unframed: 19″ x 25″ | $300

This new work was a big hit on Culture Crawl weekend, with many people wondering at my laser-like precision knife skills.

All work is available for sale, and enquiries by email are welcome.

Aftermath of Eastside Culture Crawl 2012

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It’s a few days after the end of Eastside Culture Crawl and I decided to take a few photos of the set up before I dismantle it. It is a crazy amount of work to transform our apartment into a gallery space, but it does end up looking spectacular.

This year I showed a mix of paper cut work, altered books, installations of paper crows and a yarn tree, and a bit of the old metal prints. People seemed to really enjoy their visit to our location, and I received many terrific comments and questions.

Eastside Culture Crawl set up - paper cut work

Eastside Culture Crawl set up - paper cut work

Eastside Culture Crawl set up - map reconstruction

I work hard to create a cozy and welcoming environment because sometimes people feel weird about coming into the home of a stranger. It helps that Boris plays the perfect host by offering chai with optional whisky, and there are cookies for munching.

Eastside Culture Crawl set up - map paper pendant

Eastside Culture Crawl set up - yarn tree, etc
Eastside Culture Crawl set up - yarn tree

I went all out this year by adding installation work in the mix. The paper crows are suspended from the ceiling in the hallway, and the yarn tree (a permanent feature in our apartment) got a facelift with new red maple leaves.

Eastside Culture Crawl set up - paper crows and art

I feel this year was more successful than the previous Crawl. We had a lower visitor count, but sales were higher. It probably helped that I now have Square and can accept credit card payments.

As always, I would not be able to do the Eastside Culture Crawl every year without the support of my partner, Boris. He puts up very well with his home being turned upside down, and he does as much talking as I do with visitors over the course of the weekend.

If you were unable to make it to my location this past weekend, please drop me an email and I’d be happy to set up a studio visit.