How art and creativity can transform

This is the season for celebrating life. It doesn't matter what faith or belief a person holds, there are elements of appreciation for the gift of family, community and life. The line goes forward and backward in cultural and personal history. It's a time when I am thankful but also remember my losses of those who aren't here.

This video was posted to my Facebook page and it touched my heart and soul. Zach Sobiech used his creative forces to generously share his journey with family, friends and strangers. He helped me understand my personal grief and transform it. 

The first video is about Zach and the second is how his friends and family paid tribute to him.

Wishing you all the very best 

this season and beyond!

You're Invited to Discovery: Air Exhibit

"Branded", encaustic on cradled wood, $525, 24"x20"

My painting, "Branded", was accepted into the  Seymour Gallery Discovery: Air exhibit. The Discovery exhibit is an annual event with different themes each year. It features local emerging artists and I am honoured to be included. 

Artist Statement

"Branded" is encaustic on wood panel. The image depicts where the land meets the sky on the horizon. Both the spaces are highly desired by industry to use at their discretion without due diligence to the effects of their activities. Industry treats the land, water and indeed air as their domain.

I wanted to make a comment about humans relationship with nature. I decided to place simple geometric shapes on the horizon to represent man made invasive constructions on the environment. I burned the shapes rather than painting them after same fashion of ranchers branding livestock to indicate ownership.
 

I'd love to see you at the opening if you're in the area.

http://www.seymourartgallery.com/exhibitionscurrent/upcoming/

International Mail Art Exhibit at the RAG

Memory: International Mail Art 2013, Richmond Art Gallery

 We went to the Memory Exhibit opening at the Richmond Art Gallery . We met up with Charis Au who also had a piece, "Anonymous" in the show. Larry kinda looks like the fellow in his painting (the fellow with the striped top hat). There was an overflow of paintings which were put into albums. Two of mine were in the album while the "Wish You Were Here" mixed media was on the wall. Larry's was right at the front by the entrance.
 

Elizabeth& Larry Anderson at Memory: International Mail Art Exhibit

Larry standing beside his piece "America the Great"

 

"Wish You Were Here" mixed media

Charis Au

"Anonymous"

Art with Wrinkles: Meet An Angel Fish Couple

 My husband loves to makes small paintings and write poems about the animal/fish. He researches how it lives in its natural habitat then uses the information in the poem. Sometimes it is pretty funny.


Art with Wrinkles: Meet An Angel Fish Couple: An Angel Fish Couple The Male “Going out looking for a meal, Doesn’t make me into a heal. I’m ready this moment to make a lung...

Anonymous Art Show Opening

 I wasn't able to make the opening but it looks like it was a great success!

Twitter: "We sold already over 50 paintings in the 1st hour! So #exciting to be here,360 artists and 738 #artpieces! #AAS13 pic.twitter.com/r4lml1v8gl"

photo from North Van Arts Council Tweet

RAG International Mail Art Exhibit

Opening reception this weekend at RAG

Saturday, November 16, 3-5pm 

Exhibit runs Nov 17 - Jan 12, 2014.

"Memory: International Mail Art"
  

and  

 
VERB WOMAN the wall is in my head/a dance of forgetting" 

Cody Lecoy at Latimer Gallery Charity Event

Every year, selected Northwest Coast Native artists donate their time, materials and creative efforts for Lattimer Gallery’s Annual Charity Bentwood Box silent auction. A friend and young upcoming artist, Cody Lecoy is participating this year. 

Drop in at the Lattimer Gallery between November 23 and December 7th and see the exhibit if you're in the Vancouver BC area.

Anonymous Show North Vancouver Art Council

Every year the North Vancouver Art Council have a fundraiser exhibit called the Anonymous Show. Local artists are invited to make an unsigned painting on a 8"x8" canvas. The only way someone can find out who painted it is by buying it. Only then will they find the artist and title on the back of the canvas. Hence the name "The Anonymous Show" (link to past show). All paintings are $100 and there is a 50/50 split between artist and Arts Council.

This is my second time participating in the event. Last year I was overly ambitious and submitted three paintings.  This year I did one, a painting called "Out of the Blue" which was influenced by my exploration into art journaling. Unfortunately I forgot to document it so I don't have any images. I'll take a few at the exhibit.

I've been using art journaling to explore ideas, try out new techniques but mostly to encourage a regular routine in the studio. I find that I can sit for one to two hours using the exercises in Eric Scott and David Modler's "Journal fodder 365". The time goes by quickly and I have visual results of my efforts.

On the right is a sketch I used to explore ideas for the Anonymous Show. Although it is not exactly what the final product looks like it has all the elements.The sketch was done with felt pens on paper and the painting is acrylic on canvas titled "Out of the Blue".

It's a fun way to establish a disciplined work schedule. It's particularly useful when not working on larger pieces.

Do you have any tips for establishing regular work routines? I'd love to hear about them.

Shane Koyczan and Hannah Epperson - Remember How We Forgot

 I love poetry aloud. A beautiful reminder that we are alive.Shane is a Canadian poet.

Remember How We Forgot 

by Shane Koyczan

Art Marketing Blog: Serial Copyright Thief Serves Major Retailers

 Just finished reading this article Chris Tyrell Loranger shared on his blog. It might be of interest to those of you who are selling online. It demonstrates how social media can serve artists as a defense for wholesale theft.

Art Marketing Blog: Serial Copyright Thief Serves Major Retailers: You've probably never heard of  Cody Foster & Co .  That doesn't matter, though, because if you're an indepe...