Mini Canvases: Because Art Doesn't Need to be Serious

I've been stocking up on little canvases and finally realized their benefit. "Project" paintings, pieces that were planned out or have been assigned some sort of importance, are sometimes quite stressful! Mini canvases that are started on a whim bring me back to the days when somebody asked me what I was working on, and I could say, "I don't know yet."


They come in various stock sizes, and are sold cheaply at art stores, department stores, and even dollar stores. But keep in mind, if you buy them at the dollar store, give them a couple layers of proper gesso!

Drawing Classes at the Art Machine

Thanks to the Hope Arts Council, I've been teaching drawing classes at the Art Machine in Hope every Tuesday afternoon. In comparison to the usual warm ups (blind contour, etc.) we started the previous class with 'heads, bodies, tails.' Typically a primary school game, the paper is folded into thirds and then passed around the class, where each person draws either the head, body, or tail, without knowing what the rest of the character looks like!

ArtsBC Conference on Bowen Island

Thanks to the Kent Harrison Arts Council, I attended the ArtsBC Conference this year on Bowen Island! It was a fantastic weekend, that began and ended with a pretty little ferry ride. The various guest speakers discussed marketing, strategy, sponsorship, product - for the most part, topics I have never paid much attention to (as an artist, rather than an arts council director or administrator) but that are certainly relevant. Needless to say, I learned a lot.

We were able to sneak in a bit of art-making as well.

    

Frames of Reference: Exhibition at the Deer Lake Gallery

Thanks to the Burnaby Arts Council, Doug Ibbott and I had the opportunity to exhibit some of our art at the Deer Lake Gallery! Frames of Reference was a great little show. Photos taken by Lynda Kerr- more can be found on my website.

Tulip Festival Fieldtrip

Took myself out for an afternoon to visit the Agassiz Tulip Festival in April. I'm certain there's no shortage of tulip pictures in the world, but here are a few more anyways...

Painting: Meryl in Blue

Meryl in Blue features a young Meryl Streep from the movie Kramer- she was quite a pleasure to paint. It was started during a portrait workshop demo in Agassiz, which is why it rocks the unfinished look. Cleaning the brush directly on the canvas is much easier than on a cloth, and adds a touch of chaos! 

*Note, Blogspot seems to soften/airbrush the pictures after uploading.