Whale Lab

February 03, 2009 in Bamfield, Art and Science, Art Retreat

Gray Whale skeleton

The Rix Centre for Ocean Discoveries and on to Brady's Beach

February 03, 2009 in Bamfield, Art and Science, Art Retreat

Photo/BMSC

The Rix Centre for Ocean Discoveries is a combination conference centre, teaching facility, and marine sciences laboratory for the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre. The purpose of the Rix Centre is to facilitate the interaction between leading edge marine sciences research and entrepreneurial business interests. The 1200 sq.m. facility includes a spectacular ‘shell’ roofed & glazed reception area overlooking Barkley Sound, a combination classroom and lecture hall space also on the upper level, and both wet and dry laboratories, computer laboratories, seminar rooms, and offices on the lower level. The superior acoustics of the main reception hall prompted Music-by-the-Sea to choose The Rix Centre as venue for their annual music school and festival.

View out the window of "The Rix Centre for Ocean Discoveries" looking across to the Coast Guard Station which is on the west side of Bamfield inlet.

On our way to West Bamfield which is across the Bamfield inlet from the Marine Sciences Centre. You can see another skiff in the background being filled with artists. That is Cindy Mawle and Wax Williams in the boat I am travelling in. This was about a two minute boat ride.

Brady's Beach and open water

Things of interest at Bamfield

February 02, 2009 in Bamfield, Art and Science, Art Retreat

Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre - Whale Lab

My favourite place at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre was in the whale lab looking at the mammal skeletons but especially the live animals in the fish tanks. What was really neat was that I could get a smaller container and fill it with the ocean water from the big tank and after washing my hands and cooling them down in the tank water I could then carefully pick up the animals and put them in and carry them to my table for closer observation to draw. How cool is that! The big sea anemone that you see below was a permanent resident and could not be moved as it was attached to the side of the tank.

I will be posting lots more about my trip.

Arriving at Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre

February 02, 2009 in Bamfield, Art and Science, Art Retreat

This is the view of the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre as we were approaching the dock.

The BMSC website states "that for over 35 years, the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre has provided world-class facilities to a community of world-class research biologists, ecologists and oceanographers. It supports diverse coastal and marine research of the highest calibre and is recognized as among the very best research and training facilities in the world.

BMSC was established in 1972 by the Western Canadian Universities Marine Sciences Society in order to provide a permanent base for marine-oriented field operations on the west coast of Canada. The property consists of 75 hectares with approximately 3.0 kilometers of waterfront at the confluence of Grappler and Bamfield Inlets."

The Society has a mandate to:

Provide world-class research infrastructure for marine and coastal scientists from the member universities and from other Canadian and International institutes
Offer senior undergraduate and graduate courses and programs in marine and coastal sciences
Provide training for graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and technicians in practical aspects of marine and coastal research
Offer in-residence programs in marine biology and general science to schools, colleges, First Nations and other public groups

The National Award-Winning Public Education Program provides multi-day immersion field trips for school, college and adult learners. While our focus is on marine and coastal sciences, we encourage custom programs that make use of the incredible environments and people of Vancouver Island's West Coast. As part of our commitment to community we are involved in stewardship and conservation projects as well as facilitating innovative and extremely successful volunteer work experiences for young scientists.

Anne Stewart

Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre

100 Pachena Road

Bamfield, BC V0R-1B0

Phone: 250 728 3301 x226

Fax: 250 728 3452

OCEAN'S OF ART RETREAT

A group of 36 artists from the Federation of Canadian Artists participated in the 2nd Oceans of Art retreat from January 24-27, 2009. The event is designed to be a fundraiser the Public Education Program at BMSC. Artists will donate a piece of work created from the retreat and proceeds will continue to build a bursary fund to help support school fieldtrips to the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre. Artwork will be available for viewing and sale at the Nanaimo Art Gallery from June 11-29, 2009.

The proceeds of artwork sold from the "Oceans of Art" Gallery exhibition will go towards the BMSC Public Education Program’s bursary fund. Teachers of students requiring financial assistance are invited to contact the Public Education Program for further information.

Or, to assist entire classes with their BMSC Field Trip fundraising efforts, a piece of Oceans of Art work can be donated to them to use for a fundraising activity. Participating classes are asked to please acknowledge the contributing artist in a local press release. Interested teachers are invited to contact the Public Education Program for further information.

"Oceans of fun at the artist retreat"

February 01, 2009 in Bamfield, Art and Science, Art Retreat

M.V. Frances Barkley, built in 1958

I thought we were going on the Lady Rose but in fact we sailed on the M.V. Frances Barkley. We left at 8:30 am Saturday January 24th from Port Alberni and arrived at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre dock around 11:30. We had a great boat trip -about halfway we left the bad weather behind and could see clear skies and sunshine ahead. We had good weather the whole time away; the last night we were there it snowed while we were sleeping and we awoke to a few inches of snow on the ground. It didn't rain once while we were there.

This is one of the first glimpses of West Bamfield -straight across from the Marine Sciences Centre. I will be posting more about the trip.

I am off to the "Oceans of art" - artist retreat

January 23, 2009 in Bamfield, Art and Science, Art Retreat

This afternoon I am heading off to Port Alberni where I will stay overnight. Tomorrow morning our art group will be on the 8:00 am ferry the Lady Rose. The follwing images are from their website.

24th - 27th Jan 2009 Oceans of Art - Artist's Retreat

The following is from the events calendar for the Bamfield Marine Sciences centre:

"A group of 36 artists from the Federation of Canadian Artists will participate in the 2nd Oceans of Art retreat from January 24-27, 2009. Building on the success of the inaugural Oceans of Art in 2005 organized by Kat Peace, the event is designed to be a fundraiser for the Public Education Program at BMSC. Artists will donate a piece of work created from the retreat and proceeds will continue to build a bursary fund to help support school fieldtrips to the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre. Artwork will be available for viewing and sale at the Nanaimo Art Gallery from June 11-29, 2009.

Throughout the retreat, artists will be exposed to the variety of stunning landscapes and seascapes around Bamfield. A trip to Brady¹s and Pachena Beach, a boat trip to the Deer Group Islands and some time to reflect in the classroom (turned art studio) are but a few of the events during the retreat. The retreat will be kicked off by a marine life painting demonstration by Tofino artist Mark Hobson. Members of the local art community are encouraged to attend and become acquainted with Mark¹s work as well as the other artists in attendance."

Art Kit for "Oceans of Art Retreat" at Bamfield

January 20, 2009 in Bamfield, Art Retreat

Sketchbook

I made the decision to work entirely in a sketchbook while on my “Oceans of Art Retreat” to Bamfield. I made the sketchbook using directions from Teesha Moore’swebsite; instead of canvas boards I used mat boards in order to make the book more flexible to hold and to work in.

Preparation: I have given several of the pages a background: white, black and gold gesso; Gloss medium; heavy white gesso with texture impressed into it; blue wash, Quinacridone Gold wash, various stamping techinques etc.

Paper

I used Strathmore Aquarius II Watercolor Paper for the signatures in the sketchbook. Strathmore describes this Paper: “Strathmore Aquarius II is made with an innovative combination of cotton and synthetic fibers that work beautifully with all watercolor techniques. This lightweight 80 lb (170 gsm) sheet was created to reduce the buckling and swelling found in other sheets of the same weight.”

I have used this paper for my mixed media work with acrylics and various drawing mediums. It lays flat and takes a lot of abuse. I just love this paper.

I am also taking a mini sketchbook – 3”X4” and a Moleskine 5” X 8”

Paints

Acrylics: I bought little paint pots from Michael’s to hold my favourite Golden Acrylic paints:

Hansa yellow medium, Yellow ochre, Quinacridone Magenta, Napthol Red, Phthalo Blue (green shade), Phthalo Green (blue shade), Zinc white. These particular colours are part of the GOLDEN Principal 8 Color Mixing System

Mediums: I filled other pots with acrylic gloss and matte medium, white and black gesso and soft gel medium.

Watercolours: I have a little mini watercolour kit that I got as a gift years ago, I fill up the wells with my Winsor Newton watercolours. This time I am taking two triads:

Rose Madder, Alizarin, Cobalt Blue and Aureolin Yellow;

Cadmium Red, New Gamboge, French Ultramarine and Hookers Green.

In the picture above you can see two watercolor discs – a stacking kit made in China on sale at a local art store for $3.99. I have no idea how these will work but given how small they are I threw them in and will give them a try.

Gouache: Black, white and Holbein Jaune Brilliant #2

Pens, Pencils and Brushes

I have included a variety of pens. My favourite is a Rotring Art Pen in “F” nib size. This takes a water soluble ink (do not use an india ink) I love this pen and one of the things I like best is that I can give the drawing a wash of water to add values where I need them. I am including a variety of graphite pencils ranging from 2B to 6B and 2H, a mechanical pencil, a few watercolour graphite pencils. I also have a set of 4 PITT artist pens in a sanguine colour. I have chosen a variety of water color pencilsand a few of my favourite brushes - Gold Sable, Series 800.

Miscellaneous

I have a mini strippable palette, UHU glue stick, paper towels, small jar for water, small spray bottle, a couple of plastic credit cards for scraping and mark-making, two corks and an Exacto knife to carve into them to make a stamp.

New Work by Kirsten Brand at "The Gallery at the MAC"

January 18, 2009 in Artists, Exhibitions

Kirsten Brand -Flower Boats #3 - Acrylic and botanical specimens on Canvas, 36 x 36

Kirsten Brand - Flower Boats # 2, Acrylic, with botanical specimens on Canvas, 36 X 48

Kirsten is a good friend of mine who is having an upcoming art show; here is the information on her show followedby her artist statement.

"Regeneration"

Opening Reception Monday, January 26, 7-9 pm

The Gallery at the MAC, Lower Space, McPherson Playhouse, #3 Centennial Square, Victoria, BC

January 26 through March 16

Gallery hours during performances or by appointment (250) 361-0800

kirstenbrand@shaw.ca

www.studio222.ca

Kirsten Brand

Artist Statement

I am a Victoria born painter and have been studying and producing art since early childhood.

I believe nature has a natural harmony. The beauty, profusion and growth rhythms of flowers and plant life create a visual music for me. I use bold colour and floral and plant forms to convey the vitality, energy, and movement of the life force.

The human figure appears in some of my work to symbolize our infinite love and fascination for, as well as dependence upon botanical life.

In my current work I take real pieces of nature in the form of dried, pressed, plants from their outdoor landscapes where a chaos of texture, colour, and pattern reign supreme, and place them in an abstract setting of painterly texture, colour, and pattern.

I am intrigued by the play between something real and abstract both working together to create a work.

The idea of "regeneration" applies because I would like the viewer to see nature again and in a different way, connecting physically – hence the texture – giving them a sense of feeling the touch of the surface in order to heighten awareness and joy about what is given us.

Mary Stewart

January 17, 2009 in Artists

Mary Stewart "60 Cycles Per Second" 12" X 12" Mixed Media

Mary Stewart is a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists - several months ago she received Associate (AFCA) Status. This status is achieved through a selective process of those Active members consistently having demonstrated superior ability in the General Members' Exhibitions and through other jury criteria.

The painting "60 Cycles per Second" won an FCA Award in the show Canvas Unbound II which was held at the Federation Gallery, Vancouver, BC - May 29 - June 10 2007. This painting also graced the cover of "art avenue" a publication of the Federation. (Vol. 7 - No.5 September /October 2007)

Mary describes this painting: "Houses and their symbolic parts have appeared in my artwork since our purchase of a 1918 Craftsman style house in need of restoration. My husband recently replaced the entire elctrical system and as his "apprentice" I became familiar with some of the terminology. "60 cylces per second" is the standard frequency (hertz) for household elecrtrical current in North America.

My painting is a collaged mixed media piece that started with old schematic drawings and an electrical template. The warm oranges and reds represent the heat genereated by electicity. Their placement on the cool coloured background causes the viewer's eye to "cycle" around the canvas."

More of Mary's work can be seen in the Summer 2007 show also shown at the Federation Gallery.

Mary also operates "Vancouver Island Workshops" in Nanaimo, BC. Over the past several years Mary has brought to Nanaimo many well known artists from Canada and the United States to teach 5-day workshops. I have attended several of these workshops with artists such as Gerald Brommer, Carole Barnes, Betsy Dillard Stroud, Ann Zelinksi, Suzanne Northcott, Jane Pederson and Carolyn Houg. In the spring of 2009 Mary has Pat Dews teaching a 5-day workshop.

Mary is a brilliant workshop organizer who creates a wonderful atmosphere that is comfortable for both teacher and student. She works tirelessly to produce a workshop experience that the student can relax in and enjoy every moment. Mary's behind the scenes work takes care of every detail, right down to a never ending supply of coffee, tea and snacks, such as the famous cheese ball, veggies and decadent desserts offered thoughout the day. Thank you Mary for all the hard work that you do.

MAGIC PALETTE ™ Color Mixing Guide

January 17, 2009 in Workshops

The Colour Wheel Company™

Studio Mixing Guide - 841 Colors

The Color Wheel Company describes the Magic Palette™ Color Mixing Guide as follows:

"A color mixing guide for artists that takes the guesswork out of mixing colors!"

"An indispensable tool for artists and color designers at every experience level. Shows artists how to mix beautiful, luminous colors." they also describe the guide as:

841 colors created from 29 tube paint colors
Broader palette and color spectrum
Ideal for studio, classroom and art workshops
Detailed instructions included
UV coated for durability
Finest quality printing for color accuracy
24” x 24”

On Monday I received this wonderful mixing guide as a present from my good friend Mary Stewart. Thank you Mary!

Carla O'Connor

January 15, 2009 in Artists

Creative Catalyst Productions produces the highest quality art instruction videos for many skill levels in a variety of mediums. I own several of these DVD's and I have found them to be a first class product and they are very informative . The most recent one that I purchased is by Carla O'Connor.

Creative Catalyst Productions states on their website :
"Carlahas worked extensively with all media, from oil to pastel, but eventually found her love in gouache. She believes every medium is capable of saying something different. Gouache was the one that finally spoke truest to her. With gouache Carla creates shapes (she's a self described "shape maker"), using the human form as her guide. As an artist, Carla focuses on design. Many of her workshops focus on incorporating design principles into students' work.
Carla's art world extends far beyond her canvas. She has become a much sought-after workshop instructor and has taught all over the world. She has served on juries for prestigious national and international exhibitions, including shows for the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, and the Adirondacks International Exhibition of American Watercolors."

I had the opportunity to take a workshop with Carla about 5 years ago - she is a fabulous and gifted teacher. Carla is well organized and I got a week packed with information that was worth its weight in gold.

Paintings based on collages

January 13, 2009 in Collage

JoanMiró collage - Barcelona, February 10, 1933

Printed paper and graphite on paper, 18 9/16 x 24 13/16” (47.1 x 63.1 cm)

detail upper right corner of collage above

Joan Miró - Painting based on the collage above

Barcelona, June 10, 1933

Oil on canvas, 51 3/8 x 64 1/8” (130.5 x 162.9 cm)

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, Connecticut. The Ella Gallup Sumner and Mary Catlin Sumner Collection FundWadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, CT.© 2008 Successió Miró/Artists Rights Society (ARS),New York/ADAGP, Paris

Paintings Based on Collages are part of the exhibiit at the Museum of Modern art...If you ever wondered where Miró got his ideas or source material for his shapes, take a look at these collages and paintings. MoMA states that "Each of the collages features an array of mechanically reproduced illustrations cut from catalogues, magazines, and newspaper advertisements".

Joan Miró: Painting and Anti-Painting 1927–1937

January 12, 2009 in Artists

Joan Miró

Montroig, Spain late July–early October 1929

Conté crayon, gouache, ink, flocked paper, newspaper, abrasive cloth, and various papers on flocked paper, 28 5/8 x 42 3/4” (72.7 x 108.6 cm)

Joan Miró

Collage

Montroig, Spain, late July–early October 1929

Conté crayon, ink, and flocked paper on paper, 28 15/16 x 22 1/16” (73.5 x 56 cm)

Joan Miró: Painting and Anti-Painting 1927–1937

Museum of Modern Art

Click: Miro at MoMAto see the online exhibition - this is a super presentation and teaching tool, once you click on the first painting in each series click again on the explore icon, you hear the voice of the curator and conservator describing and explaining the meaning and techique behind each series. You can zoom in on each piece and many have a written description of the process. Very interesting.

THe Museum of Modern Art states: "This is the first major museum exhibition to identify the core practices and strategies Miró used to attack and reinvigorate painting between 1927 and 1937, a transformative decade within his long career. Taking his notorious claim—“I want to assassinate painting” —as its point of departure, the exhibition explores twelve of Miró’s sustained series from this decade, beginning with a 1927 group of works on canvas that appears to be raw and concluding with 1937’s singular, hallucinatory painting, Still Life with Old Shoe. Acidic color, grotesque disfigurement, purposeful stylistic heterogeneity, and the use of collage and readymade materials are among the aggressive tactics that Miró used in pursuit of his goal. By assembling in unprecedented depth the interrelated series of paintings, collages, objects, and drawings of this decade, this exhibition repeatedly poses the question of what painting meant to Miró and what he proposed as its opposite, and in the process reveals the artist’s paradoxical nature: an artist of violence and resistance who never ceased to be a painter, a creator of forms. A fully illustrated catalogue accompanies the exhibition".

"Oceans of Art Weekend Retreat"

January 09, 2009 in Bamfield

I am going to be participating in the "Oceans of Art Weekend Retreat" at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre

I will be travelling with a group of about 48 artists between January 23-27.

Bamfield, British Columbia is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island in a protected inlet on the south shore of Barkley Sound. Bamfield is surrounded by the traditional territories of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation, Crown Land and portions of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre - photo from BMSC website

Google map of region

Photo by Charles Seaborn and Rich Palmer

View slide show of BMSC and activities

Throughout the retreat, a marine seabird/mammal still life studio will be available as well as studio space. We have the option of participating in several field trips for example:

Plein-air painting on the sandy shores and rocky sea stacks at Brady's Beach. BMSC staff will be on hand to guide, talk and answer questions. Seaweed will be collected for creating 'algal art' later in the lab. Now this is a curiosity to me and I look forward to learning about algal art so I will keep you posted on what it is and I will post examples of this work once I get home.
Ocean Explorations and Island Cruising on BMSC Research Vessels. Exploring what's under the waves on the bottom of Barkley Sound - the knowledgeable staff will bring some examples of sea life from the bottom to the surface to view.
Exploring the coastal biodiversity of Bamfield and Grapplers Inlets. Plankton will be collected during the trip for later microscopic observations in the lab.
Visits to the Lab for marine botanical inspiration and the creation of algal art from the seaweed collected of the beach. Microscopic examination of plankton samples with the introduction to "The Big World of Small Things".
On our last afternoon there will be a trip to the open coast and sandy shores of Pachina Bay. Here you can hike the start of the west Coast Trail, paint on the beach or, weather permitting, kick back around a driftwood fire and watch the sun go down.

I will be participating in "Oceans of Art" a fundraising exhibit for BMSC to be held 11 - 29 June 2009, at the Nanaimo Art Gallery, 150 Commercial St. Nanaimo, BC, 250-754 1750