Mixed Media Canvas- After the Storm

I finished the canvas.

It's titled "After the Storm" 5"x7" polymer clay, digital photo on silk & found objects on canvas.

It's heading to the Legacy Gallery tomorrow.

Mixed Media Canvas- day two

Here's my newest canvas on day two. Thanks for inspiration goes to the Daily Art Muse on this one- the post on Connie Ulrich's Road Kill Series reminded me of my stash of beachcombed and occasionally road-killed rusty-stuff. It's the perfect addition... I also used a section of cabling that had printing on it that was worn by the waves and shore to create a calligraphic effect.

I'm not done with this one yet...to be continued...

Starting Picture for new photo/clay collage...

I'm going to be doing some collage canvases, muses and beachstone bracelets as I do the table top. It's a good way to multi-task. I have a muse underway and yesterday I went through my Salt Spring Island photos for a photo base for the next collage. Here's the one I chose. I did some photoshopping with filters for a bit of a surreal effect.

Polymer Clay Beachstone Table Top

The project is underway and this is going to take a while. The table obviously won't fit in my oven so I'm using a picece of glass to position sections of beachstones. My plan is to place a second sheet of glass on top of the raw clay stones to flatten to a uniform height then I'll fire the section. Here's section #1 underway.

Polymer Clay Beachstone Project- the before picture

Sorry, usually I try to have some eye candy for my blog picture. This *was* once a much-treasured coffee table that my husband and I purchased as a Christmas present to ourselves ten years ago. Time and most especially a certain son have taken a toll. The surface is ruined. In a wild moment of insane inspiration I have decided to resurface the table top with polymer clay beachstones!

I'll document the process here..... step one- how to fit the table in the oven!

(joking!)

Polymer Clay Pieces- memory lane

Yesterday I went through my storage boxes and selected 22 items to send along to the Too Good For the Scrap Heap Sale. There are lots of memories here. Some pieces use techniques that morphed into something completely different, some use one technique that was combined with another to become a mainstay of my current focus. It's interesting to look at all the pieces together like this and do a little reminiscing as well as considering a re-visitation of an idea or two!

I'm really looking forward to going to the sale, hoping to get a selection of Christmas gifts!

Island Artisans Association- Too Good for The Scrap Heap Sale

What a terrific concept! I have a huge stash of pieces that are from old lines or are "just not where I am these days" so I'll be dropping off a box full of contributions. It's a fantastic way to clear out studios, possibly make a bit of money for purchasing supplies and help a good cause! If you're in Victoria I'd appreciate it if you could forward this info to people that may be interested as the event has been put together with short notice and limited funding and could use extra promotion!

Polymer Clay BeachStone Strands & an Interview

Today I'm putting together BeachStone Strands. These are 40" long strands of my polymer clay faux beachstones strung to be worn as a single strand, doubled as a choker or if you're into funky looks, a multi-strand bracelet. I have a few OOAK variations in mind but these basic strands are in my aMused Shop in etsy for $45 and come in a gift box.

Speaking of BeachStones, I've been invited to do an artists' demo at the Legacy Gallery at Yates and Broad Street on December 11th from 1-4. I'm planning to be making BeachStones - I'm looking forward to it- the beach stone demonstrations are always a lot of fun! It's a great gallery with an excellent giftshop and cafe. A nice place to catch your breath during the chaos of Christmas shopping.

More news- Lorrie Grainger Abdo has begun a monthly Artist Spotlight Series and asked me to be her first featured artist! She's posted our interview and a selection of my images. Thanks Lorrie!

The Oak Bay Community Artists' Society

It's a very gloomy and damp day here on southern Vancouver Island and I'm in need of something to brighten my day. What better than sharing some local art! Here's the link to the Oak Bay Community Artists' Society Website. It's a great group that welcomes all disciplines from mixed media types like myself to stained glass artisans, potters, painters, felters and on and on. The group hosts fall and spring studio tours, the next one is scheduled for April 17 & 18, 2010. The group also presents the very popular Bowker Creek Brush Up (August 8, 2010) The group displays work at the Oak Bay Municipal Hall through the year.

If you are an artist residing in Oak Bay we hope that you'll join us!

The beautiful painting is by one of my favourite painters in our group, Marion Morrison who recently was honoured with "Best in Show" at the Sidney Fine Arts Show! Congratulations Marion!

More Polymer Clay Pieces in Etsy

I listed these three pieces in my Etsy Shop today!

Funky Fish 4"x4"x1"

$65

Four Pears in July 5"x7"x1.5"

$120

Salmon Run 4"x4"x1"
$65

Upstream in Etsy- Polymer Clay Collage

I'm gathering some pieces to ship out to galleries. I've decided to put some items up for sale in Etsy for a few days before mailing them out. Here's "Upstream"... it's approximately 7"x11". It will be up for sale in my Etsy Shop through the weekend.

Polymer Clay Fusion Bangles

I'm spending the day making polymer clay Fusion Bangles! These "crackle technique" bangles are made in two sections held with elastic so the bangle stretches open then the sections "fuse" together for a nice above-the-wrist fit. I present them in a nice little gift box which is very handy for gift-giving. I am filling orders for four galleries here in BC and have posted the ones shown here for sale in my Etsy Shop.

No. 5 Gallery- Oak Bay Avenue- Victoria BC

Today I delivered several pieces to one of the newest galleries in Victoria- The No. 5 Gallery on Oak Bay Avenue. I had been planning to submit my portfolio to this intriguing new space so when the Ngs introduced themselves to me at the Open Studio Tour and invited me to display in their gallery I was delighted!
Their gallery is beautiful and showcases the work of a talented collection of local artists in a relaxed and airy space. There are many exciting exhibitions planned for upcoming months, particularily Angels Among Us in December which will be a fundraiser for "Angel Flight".
No.5 is well worth a visit if you're in Victoria- it's located close to Richmond and Oak Bay Avenue.

Oak Bay Artists' Studio Tour- A Marvellous Weekend!

The Studio Tour was a terrific experience and I hope that the people that visited my home had as much fun as I did! Artists who work in solitude and send their work away to other venues for display and sale very rarely receive direct feedback. For me the most frequent means of positive feedback is a computer generated cheque from a gallery for sales at the end of the month so meeting the public and receiving encouragement first-hand is wonderful and really re-charges the inspiration batteries!

I was very pleased with sales and was thrilled when I was invited to display my work in a new Oak Bay Avenue Gallery! (More on that on Wednesday)

I set up my dining room to be an open space and (after checking I still have paint to repair the nail holes) I used the walls rather than setting up screens. The art was divided with my work from the first half of the year on one side and the newer clay & photo collage Galiano series on the other. "Arbutus" had a spot of honour as she was the turning point piece. My dining table turned into a little store for small items and art cards. My funky old 1911 house was in direct competition with my art for attention which didn't bother me at all as I am completely in love with the place!

Oak Bay Artists' Studio Tour

The blog has been quiet lately- I was on a wonderful vacation in Europe, visiting Paris and Dublin. What a delight!

I'm home again and am getting prepared for the Oak Bay Artists' Studio Tour which will be held this weekend. If you are in the Victoria area I hope you'll drop by to say hello. I'll have "crackle technique" work on display as well as my new mixed media canvas clay and photography work. there'll also be a selection of small gifts including bracelets, stemware charms and art cards.

Polymer Clay Vesuvius BeachStone Bracelets

I put together some of the first Vesuvius Bay BeachStone Bracelets. I'm really happy with the distinctive squared-off chunky look. I re-opened my Etsy Shop to offer one for sale!

Squared Beachstones from Vesuvius Bay...

I've begun what will be a long process of mixing clay to match the photos I'm using for a large mixed media canvas. When I'm in the mixing phase I like to make selections of BeachStones from the different coloured clays I come up with. I'm going to do a series of Vesuvius Bay BeachStone Bracelets and necklaces with this wonderful chunky squared effect as shown in the collection I gathered from this beautiful Saltsping Island Bay.

Vesuvius Blue Pool- Completed

Here's the finished version! I'm going to use a few of the most recent 4x4" and 5x7" pieces as designs for two larger canvases.

Mixed Media Canvas- in transition

This one surprised me... the photo of a tide pool went on as a background and my original plan for the piece went astray when these blue characters emerged on the right side... the story unfolded from there. I don't think the piece is finished yet....

I have a plan for phase two but I'm really liking the section where I added gold foil as a surface treatment!

The Weather, New Mixed Media Collage & Firing Canvases

Fall arrived here on the west coast and rain is in the forecast. Perfect weather for creativity! I think the overcast skies are reflected in this mixed media canvas. It's 12x10"- currently untitled . The rock formation in the foreground is textured polymer clay and backfilled with black Liquid Sculpey to get the the dark shadows. The stones are all polymer clay. The background rockface is a digital photograph printed on silk.

I have had several emails lately asking about firing canvases in the oven. Polymer clay fires at 275 Fahrenheit. Paper, fabric and wood all ignite at much higher temperatures so there's no problem putting an entire canvas in an oven. I highly recommend good ventilation.

Vesuvius 1 - mixed media collage

...it's incredible how the photos from Vesuvius Beach and the ones from Galiano Island give me such different colour palettes. Here's the first of my Vesuvius Mixed Media Series, "Vesuvius 1", it's 4x4". Digital photography on silk on polymer clay on canvas with found objects.

(The hydrangea project is on-going)

Another wonderful beach- more mixed media explorations!

I just returned from our annual Thanksgiving vacation on Saltspring Island. We stayed at Vesuvius Beach and I beachcombed photographs of the very inspirational rock formations on this geologically fascinating shore. I' m beginning a new mixed media canvas today, there'll be a new calligraphic element inspired by the amazing scores and scrapes in the stone and is there a way to incorporate hydrangeas? Stay tuned....

Ridgeview #1- mixed media

I really felt as if I was in "the zone" when I did this mixed media piece which I've titled Ridgeview #1. The foreground and background are from one photo which I cut into two sections laying the green background directly on the canvas and putting the foreground on a raised section of polymer clay to give the 3D effect. The photo is printed on organza instead of silk and gives a more lighter and more textured effect with the appearance of the photo.

I like this one a lot and the best part is that I came up with some ideas that I'm excited about trying with the next one!

A Cup of Tea with Coffee

I started my day as usual with a cup of tea and a check of the google alerts that came up for polymer clay yesterday and I was delighted with Lisa Clarke's Monday Morning Coffee Chat which features a terrific interview with Polymer Clay Daily's creator- Cynthia Tinapple- check it out!

Today is a 100% clay day. Here's a photo of I finished the piece I started last week for the next few days I'm going to do a series of small photo rockface landscapes including figures- I'll be making a lot of beachstone clay- and BeachStone Bracelets and necklaces as I go.

5th Annual Multi Media Fine Arts Exhibition- Ladysmith BC

I'm delighted to announce that three of my pieces have been selected for the Multi Media Fine Arts Exhibition in Ladysmith from October 3-25! The Exhibition is at the Waterfront Arts Centre in Ladysmith. Here's a link with further information about what promises to be a wonderful event!

Mixed Media Process 2

Here's the second stage. I've matched colours in the photo with clay for textural sections and I cut a hole in the canvas to create a "subterreanean" layer.

Mixed Media Process

Here's step one of one of my mixed media collage canvases. The photo is placed on the canvas, I'm using waterslide paper for this one.

Variations on A Theme- Galiano Rockface Series- mixed media collage

I took a lot of photos on Galiano Island but this one really has fascinated me with it's combination of lines and textures. I've used sections of the image in larger pieces now and the entire image was usedi on all three of these versions. The next step will be to do a larger canvas. I'll have to do two printouts on 8 1/2x 11" waterslide or silk - each one with one half of a double sized version so I can "jigsaw" together an image that's at least 16x22"

Community- mixed media sculptural collage

I did this 4x4 canvas last month and it was on the wall looking just wrong somehow. This morning I added the community of little people and now the whole thing makes sense.

It's a busy time! I've been getting calls from various galleries asking for new work, I am planning to enter the Oak Bay Artists' Studio Tour in November so I am getting current photos set for my application and then I'll need work to display! In the middle of all this my husband and I are planning a short but amazing trip to Paris and Dublin at the end of October- It's a business trip for him but we've added a few days and we're incredibly excited about it!

A little discovery on the way...

I was noodling around with some photo-silk and some of the wonderful little clam shells I used for my Shoreline Muse Series and came eup with this dimensional twist- a concaved face using a photo-shopped image of a face of one of my sculptures. The shell interiors have amazing shades of indigo and there's a serendipitous colour effect. This has some interesting possibilities- doesn't it?

Thanks for all the input!!

I was overwhelmed by everyone who took the time to send a comment or email helping me to choose the third piece. THANKS EVERYONE!! Input is still welcome but it looks as if Among Friends will be packed up for adjudication. I didn't go into details on the other two pieces I'm submitting as I'm very superstitious when it comes to juried shows.

Please Help Me Choose!

I am submitting three pieces for adjudication in an upcoming exhibition. The first two pieces were easy choices for me but I'm stuck on deciding which should be the third submission. Which of these three should I submit? Please leave a comment with your vote and I'll go with the Bloggers' Choice!

Moontide

Among Friends

She Could Only Choose One

Spiral in Stone

This little 4x4 Mixed Media Canvas is titled "Spiral in Stone". I have begun using beaten copper wire in some of these projects and I am brewing some ideas to go further with this with dimension, texture and attachment applications....

Maple on Vesuvius

I took a photo of a little red maple leaf on the shore at Vesuvius on Saltspring Island last October. This week I did a little digital tinkering and snipping with scissors to come up with this little 4x4 canvas. It's heading out to Artemsia Gallery in Westport Ontario to show a little of the west coast's fall colours.

If you're in the mood for mixed media inspiration-check out Lorrie Grainger Abdo's blog to see her progress & process with a wonderful new mixed media piece. It's heading to an exhibition and she's on a deadline so there's an element of suspense! She's very brave and incredibly generous to document the process on her blog and she wins extra points for courage by using tar as an ingredient..... I think I'll do something similar with the next piece I start, (not with tar, with documentation)- thanks for the inspiration Lorrie!

Arbutus- mixed media sculpture

Today I finished Arbutus- here's a detail!

New Clayamies Blog!

Clayamies is the National Online Canadian Polymer Clay Artists Group. The group has been active in Yahoo for ten years - this week we are celebrating the launch of our new Clayamies Blog! Members are beginning to post what they've been doing with clay through the summer. There's some fabulous eye candy for all to enjoy! Everyone is invited to visit and we encourage you to follow for some on-going inspiration from our community of Creative "Claynucks". If you are living in Canada you are cordially invited to join us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/clayamies.

Work in Progress

I've been working on the larger "rockface" style collage over the last week or so. Here's a little peek at one section of the piece. I think this will be completed by the end of the week, then I'll be exploring my photo files again!

Mixed Media Texture Plate

I found this wonderful piece of bark on a Galiano Island beach. The inside has been carved by some sort of inspired insect to create a priceless one of a kind texture plate. It also has given me a really interesting photo that I'll be transferring to a collage or two.

Excavation.. mixed media collage

My kids suggested the name for this piece. Brendan saw it as a narrative about an archaelogical dig revealing a lost spirit. For me it began as an exercise in texture and dimension and using a photoshopped photo of the face from a previous piece so Brendan's interpretation was a delight! I'm really happy with this one and now I'm working full time on a much larger canvas.

I've had many emails asking about firing the canvases- the whole piece goes in the oven. Always remember, 275F is far below the temperature required to burn wood or cloth.

Continuing to experiment with the new process...

I have an order of 4x4 canvases on backorder so this is the last little piece for the time being. Luckily I have plenty of 5x7 canvases to work with! Here's what I did over the last 2 days.

Staying on the shore...

Last post I said I'd switch to a garden theme for a photo clay collage but I started playing with my photo files and rummaging through my boxes of found objects from the west coast shores and I've decided to stay with this theme for the time being. Here are some of the photos I'm working with... all taken on Galiano Island....and look at my beachcombed treasures!

Mixed Media Collage

Here's the second piece using polymer clay, a digital photograph on silk and found objects. I cut into the canvas to add a lower section so there's lots of extra dimension. This one is 5x7". The next piece will be a garden themed so I can get back to some wilder colours! If there's such a thing, I think I'll invest in some fabric pens too...

Photo and Polymer Clay on Canvas

Here's the first piece combining digital photography (as shown in the previous post) and polymer clay on canvas... the photo was printed on silk and attached to the canvas with Kato Sauce.

Galiano Island Rockscapes

Galiano and many of the southern Gulf islands that lie between Vancouver Island and the west coast of British Columbia have fascinating rock formations. I spent many hours strolling the beach taking photographs. here's a sample. I've begun a 4X4 experimental mixed media piece with the image- it's the first step towards honing an approach to the very elaborate piece I have "in my head"... . more tomorrow.

Home From Galiano Island...It's Not What You're Looking For- It's What You Find

Galiano was simply wonderful... I'll be blogging about some of the galleries and artists in upcoming days.

I went with a plan to re-read "The Forgetting Room" as a spring board to explorations in collage...I loved the book as much or more on the second reading. As I joined the central character in his journey through a process of creative discovery it led me in a direction I wasn't expecting- my camera! I have a huge project in mind- not big in size- likely 20x20 or so. It will combine clay, canvas, found objects and digital photography... here's the working sketch.

BC Artists' Protest Against Massive Cuts to Arts Funding... join in!

An important message to BC Artists-

Dear Artists,

As many of you are aware, CARFAC BC has been part of a campaign since the announcement in March, to get the provincial government to rescind the proposed cuts to the BC Arts Council, over the next three years. We believe the cuts will be devastating to the entire community. The on-going letter writing campaign and press releases launched from all art disciples have been intelligent, informed and often elegant, but does not have quite the creative flair expected from the cultural sector and seems to have been largely ignored by the Liberals. As visual artists, we can actually show the province what a 40% cut to art looks like by cropping that percentage from our made in BC original art and pasting the remaining part, along with
name, title and location of artist onto the attached file. (Example above)
If you are interested in being part of this creative protest, please send me julie.mcintyre@shaw.ca a 72 dpi JPEG of one of your art pieces along with the title and your current town and we will cut, paste and return your virtual postcard to you with information and addresses suggesting where you can send it. If you have the capabilities to complete the postcard yourself, please ask us for a zip file and we'll also provide the addresses with it.

For maximum impact, we need as many visual artists as possible to lead this charge in the next few weeks, (the new budget is rumoured to be presented September 1), so please contribute your 60% and pass on this request to other BC art friends!

Sincerely,
Julie McIntyre, President
CARFAC BC

Summertime Retreat To Galiano Island...

The blog will be quiet for a few days- I'm heading to Galiano Island for a summer break. I'll read a few novels including The Forgetting Room, do some sketching, photography, cycling and beachcombing while dodging hummingbirds!

Tina Holden- A Woman of the Stone Shore -A New Polymer Clay Faux Beach Pebble Tutorial!

My very dear friend Tina Holden lives on the most westerly shore of Vancouver Island in Tofino BC. She and I share a passionate addiction for filling our pockets with beachstones when we stroll the shores of our beautiful island... when we're not collecting real stones from the shore, we enjoy using polymer clay to make our own! Tina has put together an extensive tutorial complete with detailed instructions and outstanding photos. She has it for sale on her Artfire Site.

If you love beach stones and want to learn how to make your own or how to improve your technique, I highly recommend this tutorial- she's a master!

A Challenge to Myself

When I was working solely with paper arts in 1998, I was given Nick Bantock's Forgetting Room as a gift. I had loved the Griffin and Sabine Books and was in love with his approach . The book is completely about an artist's journey of self discovery as well as an examination of the creative process. One of the Books on the shelves in my Among Friends piece is this very book.

So.

I'm going to re-read The Forgetting Room to begin the process towards developing a composition on canvas including ephemera, paint and polymer clay.... I might even summon my courage and enroll in a Bantock workshop at his gallery/studio/workspace on Saltspring island-his space is called The Forgetting Room. The last time I went to Saltspring my daughter picked up a copy of the Spring Edition of Beautiful British Columbia Magazine and asked me to buy it because she liked a picture on the cover- I tossed it into the shopping cart without much thought. When we got to the house l leafed through the magazine and there was a description of Bantock Workshops on Saltspring Island! It gave me chills, especially after the reconnection with paper arts through one World One Heart. We went to the gallery the next day but it was closed- I felt a sense of disconnection as if the fates weren't working. Today I was given an invitation to consider connecting polymer clay with another approach and in an instant I thought of the Forgetting Room.

Maybe things happen for a reason.... this will be an ongoing process.

Oak Bay Community Artists Society Bowker Creek Brush Up 2009

If you are in the Victoria area on Sunday August 9th head to Oak Bay for the Oak Bay Community Artists Society's Bowker Creek Brush Up! I'm so sorry to be missing it this year but sometimes scheduling just can't work out. It's set in a wonderful location and features a breathtaking gathering of artists from this very creative community. Best wishes to all of my fellow Oak Bay Artists for another fantastic event!

*Double Click the images for a larger image.