3/3/2018 0 Comments Whew!February was exhausting and exhilarating and wow did it ever go by fast. I know it's a short month but I packed a lot in teaching wise and spent a lot of my time in the studio not making books but working on art to go into a book. the production end of book making takes a lot of time and the art side is no different. If anything it takes a little more time. In the mean time I did make a mini-zine each week on top of extra scheduled classes, some education sessions for me and a massive snowfall on the last Friday of the month.
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2/11/2018 0 Comments Missed a week, Kind ofThere were a few things that derailed my studio schedule this week. I didn't spend a whole day in the studio but I did get a little work done. Research and measuring and one mini zine. This coming week will be another hurdle. I have a full schedule that may not accommodate for studio time in large chunks but bits here and there. It's a short school week for starts. I have plans to add in a little wrks when I can and intend to create one more Zine for the mini library.
2/3/2018 0 Comments What I like about ZinesLast night I created my 5th mini-zine in my year long mini book a week practice. There is something very cathartic about writing small books. they are lioke journal entries that let you share a little something about who you are. Last weeks was a love poem to my children and their need to share everything in minute detail about their day after I pick them up from school each day. Last night's was an ode to two of my favourite art movements: Dada and Fluxus. Spurred on by my having successfully booked a session at the Rennie Gallery to participate in Yoko Ono's Mend Piece which will be hosted throughout the month of March. This week I spent my time testing out a hexagon sewing pattern for a bee themed book. I also worked on some mixed media pieces for inclusion in the book. At this time I am planning on having the art copied onto pages sized to fit the book format. The originals will be kept as is and will be put on display sometime in the future and made available for sale once the book is completed. In the gallery below you can see my latest mini zine and the hexagon test. The image to your left is one of the works in progress of the art I've been working on for the If you're a Supernatural fan the title of this blog might jingle a bell or two. I've always liked their use of the phrase to catch the audience up on what's happened before. Since I'm also on my own journey this year I'm going to use that phrase too. If you've been following me on facebook and instagram you've likely seen updates as they have happened. Thanks for chjecking in by the way. A little feedback inteh form of views and likes helps with to keep me motivated especially as the Mid-winter blues kick in.
1/20/2018 0 Comments Perfecting the StabI've spent the last two weeks counting, measuring, cutting, trimming, stacking, drilling, hammering, and sewing. If it sounds like a lot of work I can honestly confirm that it is. It is also very rewarding to see something coming together from many different pieces and looking like something beautiful and useful. On my to do list this week is a book making demo at Muckabout where I'll be going Facebook Live and making books from all the bits I've been preping over the last few days. I'm also going to be creating a youtube channel where I'll be posting video demos of some of my studio sessions. My weekly zine making continues on week three I used some scrap pieces of paper I'd been cutting for the practice books I am creating in anticipation of a final art book that will feature words and illustrations authored and created by me. I will be finalizing the dimensions and themes this week and possibly getting startted on some art making for that process. I have been documenting with photographs and video each session and sharing some of those images on my Facebook page and on Instagram if you follow me on those sites you get updates as they happen; if you haven't already please add me and make sure to click the "see first" option under the Following menu so that my updates land on your newsfeed. If you're getting all your updates here that's great too. I go into further details here and post somethings here that don't get shared on social media sites so you get a little insider information. If you follow all three (hopefully four with the addition of the youtube channel coming soon) you'll have the biggest of the big pictures. Today's book making will end with all the books I've created today and over the last week or so available for purchase at Muckabout Gift Gallery. I'll be posting images of the books with pricing here at the end of the day. If you are interested in a book but are not in the Vancouver Lower Mainland area contact me. 1/13/2018 0 Comments JApanese Stab BindingYesterday I spent my first full day in the studio of the year. My focus was the creation of sample journals using the Japanese Stab Binding Method. The journals are small; 4x6 inches with 30 blank pages. They can be used for journaling, sketching or note taking. The paper is lightweight and not suitable for wet media. I'll be making more in the next week as well as getting some writing done to use as the text in the finished book I'm planning using this style of binding and some art work to incorporate with the text.
In the gallery below you'll see a close up of my binding thread collection. I have lots of colours in my box so that I can create books that have a cohesive look to them. Even if the book I'm making is a simple sample piece I want them to look well thought out. These sample books will be available for sale at Muckabout in the next few weeks. I'll post in my main blog when they are available. The price of the samples will vary based on materials use. These will be priced less than $20. 1/12/2018 0 Comments January 12th, 2018My second mini zine of the year. This one I made while on hold.
I used an index card, black coloured pencil and pen 1/4/2018 0 Comments January 04th, 2018My first mini zine of the year
index card, red fine tip marker. created while binge watching Love Sick on Netflix in between bastings of the new years day turkey. 1/1/2018 0 Comments ready Steady...I'm writing this on the last day of 2017 for publication in the morning of the new year. It's the eve of a new venture and I am itching to get started and nervos about making sure I'll be able to fit everything I want to do into the time I have. In addition to the to do list below I've also commited to myself to create more mixed media paintings which will fit in with the overall goal this year since any type of art can be made into or incorporated into book formats. I have some ideas percolating and waiting to get down onto paper and then onto panel and then there's the reading and research. I've not been idle in the planning of this journey; inspiration comes from all angles. Books, the internet, everyday life and pop culture. As I head into executing a year long act of making art deliberately; I'm posting my to do list to help keep me on track.
1. I will create a zine a week on any topic spending no more than 20 to 30 minutes on the creation during the scheduled studio time used for my residency. I will create a small run for free distribution. 2. I will practice making different book types, creating blank journal prototypes for finished art book works. 3. I will create collections of themed artworks in various media to be bound into final residency works. These will be exhibited in a gallery setting to be announced in the future. 4. I will teach 2 book making classes free to the public and a monthly intensive class that will have a registration fee. 5. I will spend three dedicated studio hours per week focused on the above goals as well as any extra time I find available. 6. I will document the progress and process of my work 12/26/2017 0 Comments December 26th, 2017I find myself the day after X-mas typing out my thoughts in preparation of changing my screen time habits in order to incorporate more now time. If readers do find themselves spending more time than just a cursory glance on this page then I welcome you and welcome you to share a thought or two about what you read or see here. This is a new venture which has a specific goal in mind. Knowing that there are others watching and taking an interest will add to the accountability I will be working towards.
In the new year I have struck an agreement with a fellow art maker (with the tacit understanding of yet another art maker) that I will spend a set amount of time making art each week that is not for a specific lesson in art making; not for the creation of art product to sell and is fully about my journey to find a voice. I hve been an art maker for quite awhile now but one that is a little unmoored. Everything interests me; inspires me and motivates me. From the art created by toddlers with the help of their caregivers to the masters. I primarily make my living as an art instructor and as such have become a bit of a dabbler. This year is my year to undabble in a dabbly kind of way. I have another blog on this webpage where I've outlined my goals and how I intend to meet them. As an artist I have hopes to stay on target but I also know that as a dabbler I may take other paths on the journey. Focusing on book making is a way to combine the need my squirrel brain has to run after shiny things while staying the course. Having two fellow creators to answer to and to steer me forward if I'm stuck or straying will also help. Keeping track of what I'm doing and how it's being done is another. What this log will be is still up in the air for me. It may just be a repository for work in progress photographs. It could be a diary of sorts where ideas are stored for further examiniation. Possibly it will be a mixture of those things and something else entirely. I will link to here from my ongoing blog And Then... and also on facebook and instagram when I think of it. But mostly I will catalog my activities in my art making here. And Then... will be where I post about teaching and other things. The countdown to the ready steady go is on. Slow and steady (mostly steady) is my game plan. |
AuthorAn artist adrift looking for for land Archives
March 2018
CategoriesAll Artist In Residency Books Demo Finished Products Getting Started Goals Items For Sale Process Slow And Steady Video Time Lapse Weekly Zine Making Art Deliberatley1. I will create a zine a |