UCLUELET - BLACK ROCK RESORT - MARCH 6-9, 2019

March 09, 2019

We had a wonderful 4-day trip to Ucluelet, BC - it was mostly sunny and very warm, but we did get snow on the first morning. The top row shows the scene from our room on March 6th. at 4:47 pm. The second row shows the same scene on March 7th. at 9:15 am.with a light dusting of snow.

UCLUELET AQUARIUM

Canada’s first catch-and-release aquarium. Raising awareness about local biodiversity and promoting respect for the ocean environment.

I had a great time at the Ucluelet Aquarium and had the opportunity to visit there on two different days. On day 1 I took a lot of videos and the second day I spent a lot of time sketching and taking photos. I love it there. The staff are helpful and knowledgeable. The first four images are of Hilde - a Giant Pacific Octopus. The Aquarium writes: “The Giant Pacific Octopus is an incredibly dedicated ocean mother. After laying 18,000 to 75,000 eggs a female GPO will spend roughly 7 months continually caring for them in her den. The protection and care is so intensive that GPO mothers’ often forgo food for the entire period. By the end of the 7 months, when the eggs begin to hatch, the female will usually die. The average GPO lifespan is 3 years for females, 5 years for males. Hilde will be returned to the wild in June so that she can hopefully have tiny octopus babies of her own some day.”

SOURCES OF INSPIRATION

January 24, 2019 in Seaweed, Inspiration, Ucluelet

Tangled seaweed clusters, decaying and breaking down in the December time period.

Intertidal area of Big Beach, Ucluelet, BC in the May time period.

STUDIO

January 24, 2019 in Studio

Take a tour around my studio and see the tools I use to make my mixed media collage work.

Nature, organic forms, geology and cellular structures inspire my work.

Studio Practices

Mark Making

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.

UCLUELET - BLACK ROCK RESORT - DECEMBER 16 - 22, 2018

December 16, 2018

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.

December 20th Standing on the black rock cliff about 30 feet above normal wave action. You can see how close it is here.

December 20th. This wave did hit me. Normally the water is about 30 feet lower, that is how big this storm was.

December 22 @ 12:16 pm - The day after the huge storm

Back home and working in the studio

Continued to draw from my seashell collection once we got back home.

Frosty Country Lane Walk in the Cowichan Valley

December 11, 2018

Concertina Book Making

November 19, 2018

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.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

November 11, 2018

Remembering those who sacrificed their lives.

MAKE-SHIFT TEXTILES SYMPOSIUM

November 10, 2018

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.

SOURCES OF INSPIRATION

November 09, 2018

One of my favourite natural specimens are dried up Kelp root-balls. I love to draw these.

PREPARING FOR NEW WORK

November 06, 2018

Getting my tools out and preparing to stretch paper around cradle board for new work in the studio.

Acorn Ink Accident

November 06, 2018

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-ups of areas inside the mug where the acorn ink dried out.

TEXTURES OF THE SEAFORMS SERIES

November 02, 2018

Close-up details of the various SeaForms focusing in on the textures and patterns.

ACORN INK

October 24, 2018 in Applications and Techniques, Black pigment, Mark making, Making ink, Ink

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.