Easter is Here and I am hopping!

April 2022

The centre of my newest sculpture - Tranquility

Whew!

Spring is here, and I have been hopping like a bunny already.

Hello!  Happy Easter to you!  :D. 

I can’t believe that we are already in April!  If you look below, you will see that I have got a lot of shows coming up and that has me in a bunnytail-spin (gotta milk the Easter jokes all I can!) to get a whole lot of work ready to show and sell.

I have completed the vlog that was to be shown in March, and that is linked below once again.  This time my theme is about ways to find joy, and really, if you watch the video, you will realize that for the most part, it can be a simple thing to do.  The visual part is a process video of me making parts of one of the pod sculptures I have been working on.  

I am not sure how well the two – coaching and art making – will marry, and I appreciate feedback and thoughts on this as well.  If you have an idea, question, or something that you would like me to cover, please drop me a line.  I want the vlog to have value to my viewers, and the best way I can do that is if you let me know!  Thanks in advance.  Video below!

One thing that I know is that in the next few months, I plan (I hope God isn’t laughing) to make some shorter, simpler videos, as trying to get the art done, volunteering, getting ready for taxes, and so on leaves me pretty stressed out about also getting a video made!  Oh!  Also, we are going on holidays to Alberta in May…


Find me here:

This year is now fuller than my Easter Basket!

Currently, I am showing at the Rainforest Arts Gallery in Chemainus (9781 Willow Street, Chemainus, BC.) 

This is the last month the group of people that I paint with, the Cherry Point Artists, have a little show up in the Cowichan Valley - Vancouver Island Regional Library (2687 James St, Duncan, BC).

April 22nd and 23rd, that same group will be putting on our annual art show and sale at St Peter's Church - 5800 Church Rd, Duncan, BC.

May 5th - 29th is the Cowichan Valley Arts Council's Annual Fine Art show (also at 2687 James St, Duncan, BC).

July 9th and 10th - I have been invited to participate in the annual Art on the Acreage Show put on by a group of hugely talented local artists.  Will send the address closer to that time.

July 16th and 17th - I am going to Parksville for the Studio Tour San Pareil 2022. Will send the address closer to that time.

I have applied to the Ladysmith yearly event, Arts on the Avenue, and will learn sometime this month whether I will be accepted.  It runs on August 28th.

In October, I will be sharing the Cowichan Valley Arts Council’s Annex Gallery (2687 James St, Duncan, BC) with 4 other artists for a couple of weeks.  More details as the time draws nearer.

A new development has me showing my work in November and December at the local eatery, Just Jakes.  Also, more details as the time approaches.

Still working on...The gallery on the mainland has been postponed until fall as things seem to be heating up here!!

Oh! and lastly, if you think your friends would enjoy this newsletter, please forward it on to them. Thank you!!

March is for changing directions... The best laid plans and all that.

Work in Progress. One of the new pods I am working on.

One of the felted vessels I have decided to scrap from my pods. It might still be useful in another sculpture… :)

March 2022

Greetings from the left coast (as they say). :D. 

In the last week, I have decided to take a few new directions.  I was working on two sculptures that I had planned to involve my felted vessels, that you may have seen on social media, but I was looking at them and they were just not right.  So I have eliminated the vessel parts in favour of simply felting the bases.

I have also been working on a vlog for a bit over 2 weeks now, and today, I just took a hard left to put out something that is so much simpler and closer to my heart. This video continues the "coaching" theme of the last two vlogs, and I apologize if you are wanting more of my art.  I am endeavouring to do a voice over of me making art next time so that you will get a bit of both.  I will also warn you that this video is more spiritual in theme.  If that is not something that floats your boat...well, I am sorry, but... following my heart over here. 

The vlog (video log) is now live on Youtube. The link is to the left. It is a tad bit more serious than the last, and I invite you all into a meditation for peace.

I am looking for feedback and comments on this vlog, also.  If you have an idea, question, or something that you would like me to cover, please let me know.  I want the vlog to have value to my viewers, and the best way I can do that is if you let me know!  Thanks in advance.  Video link to the left!


Find me here:

This year is really getting full!

Currently, I am showing at the Rainforest Arts Gallery in Chemainus (9781 Willow Street, Chemainus, BC.) 

This month and next the group of people that I paint with, the Cherry Point Artists have a little show up in the Cowichan Valley - Vancouver Island Regional Library (2687 James St, Duncan, BC).

April 22nd and 23rd, that same group will be putting on our annual art show and sale at St Peter's Church (5800 Church Rd, Duncan, BC.

May 5th - 29th is the Cowichan Valley Arts Council's Annual Fine Art show.

July 9th and 10th - I have been invited to participate in the annual Art on the Acerage Show put on by a group of hugely talented local artists.  Will send the address closer to that time.

July 16th and 17th - I am going to Parksville for the Studio Tour San Pareil 2022. Will send the address closer to that time.

Still working on...The gallery on the mainland has been postponed until fall as things seem to be heating up here!! 

Oh! and lastly, if you think your friends would enjoy this newsletter, please forward it on to them.  Thank you!!

July 9th and 10th - I have been invited to participate in the annual Art on the Acerage Show put on by a group of hugely talented local artists.Will send the address closer to that time.

July 16th and 17th - I am going to Parksville for the Studio Tour San Pareil 2022. Will send the address closer to that time.

Still working on...The gallery on the mainland has been postponed until fall as things seem to be heating up here!! 

Oh! and lastly, if you think your friends would enjoy this blog, please share it with them.  Thank you!!

Take this Joy! - Vlog #1 - Something I like about myself and being kinder to ourselves in the new year.

Hey there!

Glad to see you again. Happy New Year!!

This week as I was contemplating what to choose as a topic for my my New Year Vlog, it sort of fell into my lap as I listened to the radio and decided to use the mindfulness app on my watch

The idea of instead of making a New Year’s Resolution, which infers that we are not good enough, why don’t we instead search for something about ourselves that we like?

That is my challenge to you!

I would love it if you would like and subscribe to my YouTube channel. Also, leave me a comment on YouTube about the video, what type of content you would like to see, or if there are topics you would like me to cover.

And finally, here is to being kinder to ourselves this year!!!

Much love! <3 <3

I till talk to you soon, and in the meantime Take this Joy!!!

Mixed Media Tutorial - Mini Pinks

Well, hello!!

As usual, I am behind in my postings here, but I do have an interesting offering for you today. This spring I was hired by the Rainforest Arts Gallery in Chemainus to put together a demo of my art that they could film and then edit into a short video.

It was a lot of fun doing the demo for the video, and they did an exceptional job editing a one hour demo down to 11 minutes. The other nifty thing about it was that I got a copy of the video and have been authorized to use it as I see fit. Sooo….I thought that some of you might like a bit of insight into my creative process for some of my art. I am linking you to my YouTube channel at the bottom of this post, and I hope that if you enjoy what you see you will like and subscribe to me. That will let me know that I should keep going with these little videos.

Oh! Also, look for another short video coming up in conjunction with an art show that I am involved in at the Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery. I have been doing a couple of promotional things with them and have been honing my video and video editing skills. I seem to be getting better at this!

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy! Sending out joy and well wishes to you all.

Cheers!

Brenda

Mini Pinks

Here is the piece as completed in the video below.

I’m doing it! Lessons from the life of a woman welder.

Lately, I have been slowly following through on something that I have thought about for a very long time.  That is, putting together my own welding “set up”.  Not a shop yet, but the equipment and space that I need to produce my own metal sculpture. 

My own equipment.  My own space.  My own decisions.  My own ability to make it happen and make it work.  That might not sound very important to you, but having been raised in a traditional home where the women do the women’s work and the men do the men’s work, there were some thought or belief hurdles to be faced by a woman that wanted to do work that is traditionally in the man’s sphere. 

Granted, I have been welding for a very long time now. It has been 20 years, since I first learned my trade.  That in itself was a belief hurdle to be cleared.  I found out that while I was not quite as strong as my dad or my brother, I was still capable of growing some pretty good muscles that enabled me to lift and carry a heck of a lot more than I ever dreamed.  And then there was the feeling that I must surely be letting go of all that was feminine about me in order to go to work in these dirty ratty old clothes and get grease and dust smeared all over my face day in and day out.  Plus, there was the approbation of some of the more elderly and traditional men of the community.  The old Hutterite guys tried to convince me that my place was in the kitchen, but by that point, I could just chuckle at them and grin.  Surprisingly, there were a lot more men though, who thought it was pretty nifty that a chick could do this work.

A piece soon to be a part of a new work of art!

A piece soon to be a part of a new work of art!

Somehow, I started to realize that it just didn’t matter.   I realized that the bulk of what it took to be a welder, besides an eye for your puddle and the coordination to lay down a pretty bead, was between my ears.  It took math, geometry, the ability to measure correctly and draw an accurate plan to build a railing.  It took problem solving skills to figure out how to make a latch or a fix for some strangely configured spaces when making gates. And so on.  Pretty soon, I began to see myself as a decent problem solver.  I realized that being a problem solver, and making things that were so useful, and at times even beautiful was pretty darn fulfilling, too.  More than that, every so often, I was able to design something cool and artistic.

Fast forward to this last year.  We moved away from the family welding shop.  A looong ways away.  Until we moved, all my welding of the last few years had consisted of metal sculpture.  And now, I had no place to weld, let alone all the equipment to make it happen.  I knew I wanted to continue making my sculpture, but I didn’t have any means, so I tried to concentrate on other things, my mixed media, collage, some felting, painting, and so on. 

Suddenly, it was just not enough.  I started to realize I had to find a way to make it happen.  I started to research maker spaces.  They were all too far away and needed a monthly commitment of cash.  A couple of local welders that I got in touch with seemed quite reluctant to rent me space or use of their equipment. I realized that I would have to find a way to do it at home.  I figured I could rig up some tarps under the carport to protect my surroundings.  Ok, one hurdle down.

Then, there was the cost of the equipment I wanted. Yikes!  I had to resign myself to start small.  I looked at a few low cost welders and ended up purchasing a very good little welder at Canadian Tire that was on sale for $200.00 less than regular price.  I needed something to cut sheet metal with, and a bench grinder on sale was provided by a Christmas gift card from my brother.

It was at this point I had my first, “HOLY COW!” moment.  I realized that this might actually happen.  I think now that I still must not have believed, because I had another holy-cow-dance-around-the-laundry-room-and-shake-your-booty moment when I realized that the “nibbler” I had bought to cut my metal was actually going to work out pretty well.  I had yet another holy cow moment when I was able to repair the nibbler by replacing one of its blades….All. By. My. Self. 

All this time, I knew I know how to do these things, but I have always done them in an environment where I could ask for help if I needed to.  Now I am doing these things on my own in my own environment. 

Even today, I had another holy cow moment when I realized that not only had I gotten pretty much all of the equipment together that I need, I was actually well on my way to putting together another piece of art. 

“This is happening!” I thought.  “I’m doing it!”  What an ecstatic moment.  I think NOW I know I can do it.  Now I believe.

 

Thanks for reading all the way to the end of this rather long story.  I am curious, dear reader, if you have ever had experiences like these.  Maybe this type of holy cow moment is not limited to those of us of the feminine gender.  If you have had a moment like this, please leave a message in the comments below. I would love to hear your stories!

Until next time….Ciao Bella!

Drama in the Studio!

The other day, I had what I felt was a set back. 

I had decided I wanted to get a couple of paintings done in time for a deadline to be juried into a show.  I had worked very hard in the time I had to try to get them finished, and of course, I had the usual distractions and things that forced me away from my work.  Each distraction heightened my stress level (and my grumpiness), but I was determined to get at least one piece done.  See how I went from two, to at least one?

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