SOURCES OF INSPIRATION
in Seaweed, Inspiration, Ucluelet
Take a tour around my studio and see the tools I use to make my mixed media collage work.
Drawing is the touchstone of my art practice and involves extensive explorations of mark making in a wide variety of mediums and techniques.
In my current work, I manipulate paper through the unconventional methods of puncturing, smoking, burning, rubbing, cutting and folding. My work is built up in collaged layers creating a sense of textured density.
We spent a week at the Black Rock at Christmas time. We were booked to stay for two weeks, but due to a huge storm that hit not only the west coast but all parts of Vancouver Island, we had to cut our stay short. to take care of things at home as our power was off.
In our week at Big Beach we had terrific wind storms and big big waves. I had lots of beach finds on this Abalone shells, Red turban snails, mussels, small pieces of scallops that have been worn down with holes from boring sponges, barnacles…After I photograph and draw from the shells, I put them back where I found them.
I set-up my winter studio and got right to work on observing and drawing the shells I had found.
Back home and working in the studio
I had made a lot of my own collage materials for my SeaForms series. Staining rice paper with fluid acrylics and inks, walnut ink and India ink. I also burned holes in the paper, distresed paper, etc. I made this concetina book, also know as an accordion fold with these various papers.
Remembering those who sacrificed their lives.
I participated in a bead workshop by Bev Koski during the Make-Shift Textiles Symposium .
As well I attended a talk and slide show presentation by keynote speaker Barb Hunt titled: “Textiles & War”
This artist talk traced some of the relationships between art, camouflage patterns, nature, and the war society, illustrated with images of Barb Hunt’s work as well as examples of historical and popular culture related to camouflage. As well I participated in a grant-writing workshop with Barb Hunt.
One of my favourite natural specimens are dried up Kelp root-balls. I love to draw these.
Getting my tools out and preparing to stretch paper around cradle board for new work in the studio.
Acorn ink accident ! A small amount of acorn ink left in the bottom of a mug, first went mouldy, then dried out. Amazing look to it.
Close-up details of the various SeaForms focusing in on the textures and patterns.
Gary Oak trees in the churchyard at St. Peters Church, Duncan, BC.
About 8 cups of hulls to the same amount of water and let boil. Add in one large old rusty chain, rusty saw blade (at the bottom).and some rusted parts. The iron oxide has a reaction with the acorn liquid and turns it from a similar warm walnut brown colour to a beautiful silver-grey colour. The recipe is from the book ‘Making Ink” by Jason Logan.
Examples of the acorn ink colour - a beautiful silvery grey-black.
Highlights of this trip are shown in this group of chosen photos.
I took this video of my solo show SeaForms: The Nature of Creation at The Chapel Gallery, Victoria, BC. This exhibition ran from September 21 to October 31, 2018.