I am so happy to have a chance to sneak a trip in to the Lower Mainland in British Colombia before the mountain roads get super unpredictable. I do have my winter tires on, just in case though!
This weekend I have three demos at Opus Langley - an amazing art store that has been a part of my life for over 20 years! The two Saturday demos are all about Acrylic based products and how you can use them together in a variety of ways to create your art. The Sunday morning demo covers mixed media printmaking and some different approaches you can take to get striking results. There is room in the Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning class for sure - it is not too late to register (see below for registration info). I'll have along some interesting examples, lots of products and my usual enthusiasm - it would be amazing to see you if you can join me. Also, I have received some inquiries already about bringing flour sack clothes and artwork for purchase to save on shipping. If you are wanting anything in particular or have questions on what is available for early Christmas shopping - please contact me by Thursday night and I can let you know what is available, prices and arrange drop off at your place. I accept Visa, Mastercard, and cash, receipts are no problem as well. (I might even throw in a little discount as well!) Here are the descriptions: Opus Art Supplies, Langley: Intermixing Acrylics with Flair and Ease Demonstration Sat, September 30, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Sat, September 30, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Cost: FREE Join Michelle Wiebe as she explores the versatility of intermixing various types and brands of acrylic paints and mediums. From ink, fluid, spray and standard heavy body paints, she will demystify the differences between them and give you ways can breathe fresh life into your work. She will explore some techniques on paper and canvas that will combine these products in inventive ways so you can bring together new body and textures for your own signature style. Space is limited and registration is required. Please visit Opus Langley or contact them at 604‑533‑0601 to register. Opus Art Supplies, Langley: Breaking Boundaries in Mixed Media Printmaking Demonstration Sun, October 1, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Cost: FREE Add colour to your linocut printmaking through a variety of mediums and techniques. Join Michelle Wiebe as she covers a number of approaches one can take with mixed media printing. Demonstration time will cover basic linocut carving, inking and printing skills as well as how to use them with other art materials. Emphasis will be placed on utilizing other dry and wet media with your carved block in a number of different approaches to create one of a kind art with a few simple tools. Space is limited and registration is required. Please visit Opus Langley or contact them at 604‑533‑0601 to register. One thing I really love about instructing is that I often will create work to illustrate a point or technique. To prepare for my upcoming workshop at Leighton and demonstration at Opus, I decided to noodle around with some hand coloured linocut prints.
After painting with a limited palette for months, it sure was fun to add splashes of colour to this variable edition of one of a kind prints. I've been playing around with Daniel Smith watercolours and they sure pack a punch with rich, vibrant colour. These are titled "Made of Stars" and will be available for purchased, framed and unframed fairly shortly. Contact me if you have any questions or want me to put one aside for you. Confession, this is not really a "new" painting in the sense that I just started and finished it recently. Rather, it is a painting I was working on during the earlier part of the summer that got placed on a shelf waiting to be finished. So it waited... and waited... till today. I finally took a little time to do the finishing touches while I worked on another still life.
Sometimes a little time away from something is just what you need to gain the perspective it takes to continue on with purpose. Even though this sat around for a few weeks, I was busy painting in my head - the physical changes took barely any time at all. One thing I struggle with is naming paintings. I stop short of "untitled 1, untitled 2 etc" only because that is a little too barren (and is a catalog nightmare). I hesitate to get too involved with titles as well - sometimes I wonder if artists come up with a clever name and then paint a work to fit it. Often the title guts me a little as I try to give further meaning without being too fancy or pompous. Today was easy. though - I looked at the piece and knew immediately. I called this work "Blue Music" because I love painting patterns. When I look at the blue lines on these plates, they are like a dance. I can hear their music in my head. I'm in the process of adding details and availability to the works in my portfolio - I know with Christmas coming up that people are starting to get their shopping started. If you see something you like, please contact me and I can give you all the info you need! I'll be taking my available work to a few Christmas art sales this year, so stake your claim early! I'm excited to be able to offer this class as part of the Impressions series of workshops that go along with the printmaking exhibit of the same name. The exhibit comes down this weekend as well - it was great fun to check out my pieces up next to all the amazing Alberta print makers represented.
Leighton Art Centre, Calgary: Mixed Media Printmaking (two day workshop) Sat, September 23, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Sun, September 24 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Cost: $135.00 (Leighton Members receive a 10% discount) Add colour to your linocut printmaking through a variety of mediums and techniques. Join Michelle Wiebe as she covers a number of approaches one can take with mixed media printing. Class time will cover basic linocut carving, inking and printing skills as well as how to use them with other art materials. Emphasis will be placed on utilizing other dry and wet media with your carved block in a number of different approaches to create one of a kind art with a few simple tools. Students will leave class with their own carved block, several one of a kind mixed media prints, and the skills to keep incorporating printmaking into their art practice. This workshop is open to beginners with no prior experience to linocut printmaking as well as to artists with a printing foundation who wish to explore a different approach to linocut. Space is limited and registration is required. Please visit Leighton Art Centre or contact them at [email protected] to register Where to begin? Fall is here, kicking and screaming and I finally feel like I've had a chance to come up for air.
Studio Expansion: My garage is now officially a core component to my studio practice. Late July, we welcomed a third press to our family: a Chandler and Price Old Style platen floor model. Some good friends helped us load and move this along with a paper cabinet, composing table, type cabinet and full sized paper cutter. I am truly blessed. The flip side to this is making room and extra clean up. Almost all of my open studio time in August has been spent puttering away in my garage doing glamorous jobs like scraping old labels, sanding, painting and degreasing. We are in the homestretch now which is good - winter is coming and my car needs it's shelter for parking! On a side note, paper cabinets are a beautiful thing. With 25 shallow drawers, this is for my art supplies like what the wardrobe is for Narnia. Things feel so in reach and organized! Current Projects: I'm in the early stages of some small still life and landscapes for the upcoming Christmas season. I am also busy printing all sorts of letterpress goodies for market as well. Add in some collaboration involving a laser engraver, block printing more flour sack cloths, instructing as well as the aforementioned studio expansion and I am a busy girl. Website Update: I've cleaned things up and added some greater detail on events and workshops. I've been planning this out in my head for a while and finally sat down long enough to get it all up on the web. I still have loads more pictures and details to add, but this should suffice for the moment. I have a love hate relationship with digital tinkering. Plein Air Postponement: My deepest apologies to all of you who have expressed interest in further plein air meetups - this has been on my mind constantly. I had a domino effect happen with that equipment acquisition that affected too many areas of my household. Add in multiple extra weekend bookings for August and I couldn't make it happen. Stay tuned for spring though - I have some alternate ideas I'd like to try out with plein air! |
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