Inspired by Grethe Wittrock

Today, my new friend Mirena and I created a backdrop for the Artbarn Raising Artists fundraiser. We used a 9'x12' drop cloth from Home Depot, acrylic paint and miscellaneous round things to stamp out this circular pattern. 

It took us all day to plan and create. We started to rush near the end since we had to pick up kids from school.

I found the inspiration for the circle via Pinterest - the work of Danish artist Grethe Wittrock.  Wittrock uses sails as canvas that she treats with print, perforations and dye.

The next step is installing grommets. Then installing the wire it will hang from at the art studio. 

(That line down the middle? The drop sheet had a seam)

Drawing a day

I've started a new hobby - a drawing a day. I would like to draw photo realistically, even though I lack patience and can't blend. I've got a long way to go.

Here are a few pages in my sketchbook so far. My first attempt at a light bulb was drawn from life and it is too heavy handed. For the second bulb (final photo), I followed along with a drawing video on Youtube.

I am not sure what else to say because I have a small and extra small person standing on each side of me, begging to play on the computer. I leave the pictures with you - enjoy.   

New print, new watercolour

My first win from MaxSold - a cheap thrill!!

I love the red figure print by J.Joel. I know his work from artinteriors.ca, and this is his best!  I like the implied youth, androgyny and the colour mix.  The silver tee sparkles, and the same sheen is present in the mat.

The water colour landscape was a bonus. I can't make out the artist's name, which is something like Celia d. There's a white rectangular sticker on the back with "$12.00" and "243" written in a shaky hand, perhaps this owner bought it second hand themselves?  The frame backing is old, and has been opened and re-taped with masking tape that lost its stick. I peeked inside and at the bottom corner on the back of the water colour is another price, $2.85. It's like finding an old treasure. I think, for now, I will place it on the living room bookshelves.

Have you used MaxSold before? There was beautiful art listed this week out of Hamilton - but we already had the day planned out and couldn't sneak away from the city.

ps. I should be cooking right now! I want to make a tofu and black bean scramble this morning. ttfn!

Rummage Sale

Here's what I bought at a church rummage sale last weekend:

• potato masher
• two cutting boards
• ladle
• Kensuke Wakeshima* print "Sunrise Valley" 
• (Russian?) countryside painting

What can I say, but: needed it, didn't need them but will use them, needed it, loved it and loved it! The print was $50. I already tossed out the frame and I will re-framed in white. The painting was $5. The biggest score was the potato masher - only twenty five cents, yo!!!

*Kensuke Wakeshima's art was part of the summer 2014 exhibition, titled: “Artists from Postwar Japan Days of Struggle in New York, 1960s–1970”  I came across very little biographical information online. 

ps. to the people in line, the ones who jeered at the CHURCH VOLUNTEERS when they didn't open the doors on time, I am judging you.

New Prints

I bought two new prints from "...Of Things Past" consignment store. I bought the tiny tree first, and went back for the fish. I had to have the fish.

"Pasaje" (?), numbered 45/50, by Elizabeth Schippert (the tiny tree).
What I love? The itty bitty tree (4cm high) and the pen strokes. The minty colour is very Blogger 2014 (or was that 2013*?). I hung it high on the closet door in the office, leaving space for more.

"Shipwreck Dreaming/Approach", numbered 12/20, by Wendy Cain (the fish).
Wendy Cain is a teacher of printmaking and papermaking at OCAD university. You can find her work for sale at Open Studio in Toronto. I love the layered black on grey; the texture of the grey net; the thick creamy paper; the fine, evenly spaced lines of the comb shape at the bottom; the fish going up. I like the wacky creativity. I hung it in the hallway for now.


*I haven't been online over the last few months, I wanted to put the time into reading books and drawing. Everything is well!  I am feeling out of touch with the trends (are there still trends? If you don't know about them, do they still matter?)

New Print: Far & Wide Collective

**Sponsored post**

Far & Wide Collective sent me this beautiful Limited Edition Miniature print by Tamim Sahib Zader.

I love the rich inky blue, the movement, the crispy delicate lines and the shape against the white background. The print is numbered 72/100.



**Keep reading to learn about a great company**

Far & Wide Collective is a Canadian company that connects artisans from developing economies with consumers in North America. In a short video on the Far & Wide Collective website, the founder,  Hedvig Alexander, says "As a development person, I think people should feel much more comfortable buying from us, than investing in charity; I think it is more efficient." This is a strong statement, one that they stand proudly behind. They believe that supporting artisans through trade is the most sustainable way to improve people's lives.

We believe that supporting individual craft producers and small businesses through trade is the most effective and sustainable way of improving people’s lives - See more at: http://www.farandwidecollective.com/pages/our-story#sthash.oMcQRjvQ.dpuf

The company pays the going market rate to craftspeople for their goods. In most cases, about 30% of the retail price goes to the artisans. The markup reflects shipping, logistics, and developing the market costs. Far & Wide Collective is currently reinvesting profits back into the business, to the benefit of more small businesses. They provide artisans with support, including help to get ready for the market. Currently, they are raising funds to empower Afghan artists, the "Afghan Small Business Fund" 

 What I love about Far & Wide Collective: Hand crafted, fair-trade, authentic, free shipping over $100, Canadian, beautiful, traditional, feeling good about spending, every item has a story.



**See who else is talking about Far & Wide**

• Lainey Gossip (Sasha's Into it)  -"a stunted gift givers dream"
• Toronto Life  - Get the Eyeball clutch, "you’ll be able to prove you’re not a fast-fashion follower. $199" (SOLD OUT! Others, here)
• Toronto Star "What she has done with this noble commercial experiment is to connect the dots between the makers, who need a way to sell their creations more than they need well-intentioned yet ultimately unsustainable aid dollars."
• Macleans - "she decided to go after the buyers interested in museum-quality pieces rather than souvenir trinkets"
  
•  ...and more, here

 
ps. First sponsored post in some time. They provided me with a gift card of $100, and I was immediately drawn to the Tamim Sahib Zader print. It is beautiful! Subsequently, after becoming familiar with their goals, I donated $100 to their Afghan Small Business Fund. 

pss. Note that most of their artisans would not be able to sell on Etsy. Whether it's the ability to upload the content (literacy/English), having paypal or a credit card, or shipping products off one at a time. These conditions would leave many artisans in the developing world out

psss. Thanks for reading, guys. and check out the baskets from Kenya!!!

Tamim Sahib Zader

Art wall

It took a while to complete the art wall, because, you see that giant truck painting in the middle, at the bottom, blue truck? Well, I lost it. Yes - missing! I looked where I thought it should be, then I looked in a million places it might be, looked where it should be at least ten more times (in case it suddenly appeared) and then looked in a ton of places it couldn't possibly fit, but at that point I was going crazy. How could a large framed picture go missing?  Finally, I gave up, thinking it would appear, and a few weeks went by before it did. Where? Behind the large mirror in my living room - the mirror that leans against the wall. Oh, I am sooo organized! Ha!

Anyways, I love this group of prints and pictures! It took me a while to get a layout I liked.

My dear Natalie has asked me to do a post about art stuff, here's what I know:

Q. Where do you get your art?
A. Most of our stuff is from second hand shops (Goodwill, rummage sales, Craigslist, Kijiji, ebay, consignment store). A few pieces on the main floor are from galleries and two are directly from the artist. I also frame homemade art.

Q. How do you find art?
A. If I am at a thrift store, and my heart starts beating a little faster, I find myself a little paranoid - giving other shoppers the side eye if they come too close: that's when I know I love it! Or it is super cheap...whatever! Same rules apply online. I get this overwhelming urge to own something...then I weigh the price (including framing costs!) and think about space. 

Q. Any advice?  
A. Everyone has their own taste in art. Figure out what you are in love with and listen to you! Sky is the limit in terms of spending money on pictures. You will love something that is $5,000 but I guarantee there are things under $50 that you will equally cherish. Stay firm to your budget, always bargain. Don't rush it.

Q. How do you make sure you don't pay too much?
A. If I am at a thrift store, the price is usually under $20, no sweat! Craigslist and Kijiji sellers are willing to negotiate, and I do. Before I contact them, I look for similar items by the same artist online. I ask the seller when and where they bought it. I ask them how much they paid. I ask them why they are pricing it for $$. I am not shy. I am always willing to walk away if it is over my budget (arbitrary number - my budget doesn't relate to the art's value)  because there will be another picture. I don't care how perfect you think it is for your house, trust me when I say there will be another picture that fits your budget! Also, if the print is in a beautiful frame, that is 'saving' you $100 (approx) so keep that in mind when you are talking yourself into something!!
 


Here are the stories:

 1. I won this water colour in a giveaway on Designwali. I had it framed at a local framer.
 2. This print came framed, from Goodwill. The frame was blue and I painted it white. It used to hang in the boys nursery, on their bookshelves.
3. This paper collage was part of several pieces of art I bought from a collector I met through Craigslist. It was thrown in as a sweetener to the deal.
4. I brought this print home from London, UK. I found it at a thrift store. It fit in a ribba frame.
5. My oldest son painted this at a birthday party.
6. This print was going around the blogs in 2009 or 2010 when I first started paying attention to blogs. Early on I was swept up in the whole, "I want everything they have!" feeling. I still love this NYC poster. It used to hang in the boys nursery.
7. A small painting, my older son's first (I think), framed at a local framer.
8. I sent my parents out to St. Catherine's to pick up this print. I found it on Kijiji. It came framed.  It was from an older gentleman. It was a wedding present.
9. A small bunny bum (bunny jumping into the bushes) in a professional frame. I bought it as is, from Goodwill.
10. Naked Chickens!! This is a pencil crayon drawing I made in highschool. Still makes me so happy! Professionally framed.
11. Dinos...came as is, from Goodwill.
12. Someone's highschool art project, picked up at a church rummage sale.
13. Flashy, chunky painting. From 400 market in Barrie
14. My older son painted this a year or so ago.
15. City scene, from Goodwill. Off the shelf frame.
16. A page from an abstract art book, in a ribba frame.
17. DIY, potato stamping. Back when forest friends where a thing. Twee!


ps. Wouldn't the Barker Fairley print (previous post) fit into this room?
pps. I would like to add a cozy spot to curl up reading. Floor cushions, or a love seat, or comfy chair...
ppps. If I've done a similar post before, please forgive me. I know I have thought about writing something similar many times! My memory is pretty much wiped out. I started sprinkling lavender on my linens to maybe get to that deeper sleep.

Pretty Litho - Barker Fairley

I was on hold with Crate and Barrel, ordering a gorgeous brass curtain rod for my bedroom, and I ran across this pretty litho on Kijiji. I don't know Barker Fairly, but I did a google search and I LOVE HIS WORK! This is fantastic!!

For a print it might be pricey, listed at $199 (but only $179 on the seller's website)...I don't know, I didn't pull any comps to see what his work goes for. I've only found good deals (after negotiating) buying art second hand.* 

Link to Kijiji Ad, here.  Go for it! and let me know!

*In other words, I would buy this, if I didn't, at the exact same time I laid eyes on it, spend $100 on a stinking curtain rod from Crate and Barrel.

ps. Listed Oct 1

From Google images:

Big Idea

After walking through Moma, I want large art!

Take a look at Cy Twombly's Academy (1955).  It's massive, crazy, beautiful. I was hit smack in the face when the electronic guide said he took a cheap drop cloth and house paint and pencils to create ART. He called it Academy because it went against what he learned at Art School. Cheeky.

I have an idea.

It could be horrible, but I see it in my mind and I want to take a shot at creating it. The first step will be to buy some canvas (from Deserres). Then build a stretcher...then go for it.

Ohhhh butterflies. I see it. I see this thing in my head. It's not scribbles - so I am convinced I'm not copying... it will be a throw back to a tapestry I created in high school, and for all I know is still hanging in the chapel (but not even that and maybe I am bringing up high school art class to convince myself that I can be original?!! That was a long time ago!)

I will use the same medium, paint and pencils....what does it mean to be inspired, or to C-O-P-Y?

"For Twombly and for every other modern artist, what mattered was to come up with something original that did not look like all the painting that came before it."  Right??!!!! RIGHT?  

Thought I'd share. Because now I have to do it! Who am I to create art? Let's see what happens. It's just for my room so as long as I like it, right? It's not even groundbreaking or anything guys...maybe a little campy...but I can see it, and it has meaning to me already!!

What do you think of this scale?




ps. poor poor shabby bedding, your day is coming too!
pps. I don't want to build it up too much...you will probably roll your eyes at it when it's done...so simple

Thrifting in Barrie

We hit up the Goodwill, Value Village and 400 Antiques Mall in Barrie and came home with a ton of new stuff! Most of it will be sent up to the cottage. I have maybe seven minutes to type up a quick post when I should be a) washing my feet, I cleaned the floors but my poor feet! b) folding laundry c) washing dishes

Oh well, let's go, here's what I bought and why!
1- Chunky acrylic painting. Fell in love. It's the chunky goopy paint. Who doesnt love a good thick gob of dried paint on canvas? From the 400 mall $45. You will find a bunch of small landscape paintings there in the $35-50 if that's your thing!
2- plant watering dodad for cottage so I can have a plant without actually watering it
3- pretty dish
4- covered basket that makes me cross-eyed. to put ugly stuff in, obviously.
5- basket with handles, for other stuff to go in
6- tablecloth
7- cutlery
8- bowls. I need cereal bowls, these brown ones (ridgeway?) are a nice size, the amber bowls I don't need but couldn't pass up because matchy matchy*.
9 - wooden bowls and a perfect salad dressing serving thing
10 - 3 West Elm hammered metal bowls and a little copper dish

 Ok, I hear little feet running up the stairs...later!

*I posted a picture of my cottage dishes on IG earlier today.

New art, new rug

I bought a rug-hooked rug ('folk art') and a painting today from  "...Of Things Past"

Really excited about both finds. I went in hoping the painting was still there, but doubted it. I looked, and looked. The boys were waiting outside in the car but I took my time. After I gave up and started looking at the dishes, that's when I saw it! Sitting on a hutch in the middle of the store. The store is jam packed full of furniture right now. This is the fullest I have ever seen it!*

I came across the rug on my way out. I want to rug hook rug pillows (upcoming project that may take me two years to complete), so this caught my eye. This rug has been there for ages so it was heavily discounted. I love it!! I think I have the perfect spot for it at the cottage, I just need to shake it out and clean it up a bit. 

I want a large worn out Persian rug for the main area of the cottage. I don't have enough rug knowledge to spot good value. Not sure that I want to trust Craigslist with this purchase. Perhaps an estate sale would be a good place to look? I would be comfortable trusting consignment shops (who have appraisers). We could also go retail but it's such a big ticket item. I am not sure. We aren't quite ready to buy yet. Would you buy a second hand rug?

*I just signed up for updates on Of Things Past website so I don't miss any sales....feels like they will need to move stuff soon- they are jammed!