studio portrait thursday : my view

Getting out of the classroom and taking my studio with me.
Digital sketching is easy with a tablet loaded with apps like Sketchbook Pro and Infinite Design, and putting my feet up makes my portable easel.
Add in an inspirational view and select your stylus.
All I need now is portable talent.

Wordless Wednesday: tokens (of love)

Wordless Wednesday: tokens (of love):

detail from iris-folding - card by Valerie Gilbert

a doodle is all I can manage

and that is all

Many thanks to the sketcher pro app in Google play for a fun evening :-)

wordless Wednesday:tiger at my feet

Wordless Wednesday: tokens (of love)

Wordless Wednesday: tokens (of love):

foil glass necklaces from Sandra Ho

fibre friday: about to frog

This piece is on the creative chopping block. It hasn't sold and I don't want to hawk it around any more craft fairs or shops.

Fear not - it won't be destroyed.
It will be recycled into some things better, bolder and ... saleable.

Because I would like some bodies else to benefit from the fuzzy fibre goodness in these lovely copper wire crochet beads.

And sell the damn stuff :-)

studio portrait thursday: hiatus

This week i've been getting to grips with fulltime schooling. This has left no room for anything more creative than taking lecture notes and doing homework.
Yes - I do feel a little antsy at the lack of creativity, but I also feel charged with a sense of purpose, that i'm getting somewhere . . . So it's not all bad.

See the full gallery on Posterous

wordless wednesday: let there be life

lava life, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Copic marker and ink sketch

Call for artists

Call for artists:

home, sweet home for the Blackberries

Psst! Wanna work with us?

The Blackberry Artist's Society is looking for new members to join the only artist cooperative gift shop in the Tri Cities. We have shelf space and wall space for your beautiful work, offer a monthly Featured Artist spot plus display space elsewhere in Port Moody, and require only that you share in running our organisation through a shift once or twice a month in the shop (note: members cover more shifts during Christmas Marketplace) plus volunteering with exec jobs, marketing, scheduling, display and so on.

Please check our website for details, and also have a look to see if your work will fit in with our aesthetic. More information can be found here on the blog and in our online Flickr portfolio. And do come visit us in the gift shop to see for yourself (and pick up a membership application pack).

We'd love to hear from you :)

Please note: all applications are juried in, which means that you, as the artist, need to attend one of our monthly meetings to present your work to the board members. There is a jurying fee (non-returnable) and then an annual membership fee. Please download a membership pack for full details.

wordless wednesday for fibre Friday: i made this :)

wordless wednesday: i made this :):

needlefelted pendant, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

and it's now in its new home :-) 

not-the-studio portrait thursday: go see this

Not much going on in the studio this week, except for accounts and inventory so I'll spare you the boredom.

Instead, why not plan a visit to Maple Ridge this Saturday to catch former PMAC artist-in-residence, Shari Pratt's gallery opening at the Maple Ridge Art Gallery (2-4pm)?

Shari Pratt's powerful contemporary portraiture explores themes of identity and personal history, drawing on a cast of imaginary companions that helped alleviate childhood feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Refreshments and beverages will be served. Wine will be available for purchase. This event is generously sponsored by Thrifty Foods.

Shari's work is powerful and impressive, and incredibly engaging and approachable. I first met her at Port Moody Arts Centre this summer when I brought the Wee Guy to visit a 'real live working artist' (not that he's deprived of meeting them IRL anyway). He was fascinated by her working studio and got right down to asking all sorts of questions while I photographed items in the gift shop for the Blackberry blog.

By the time we left, he and Shari had agreed that she was going to paint a picture of him afloat in a kayak in the Burrard Inlet. Since we visit the art centre regularly, Wee Guy got to see his portrait in progress right up to opening night for the exhibition. He was suitably impressed.

The portrait is beautiful. I was blown away about how emotional I felt and how powerful the connection between painting and subject is. Each time I saw the work in progress my eyes welled up as I saw my Wee Guy come to life in her brush strokes. For those who know, the Wee Guy had a shaky start to life and I often look back in amazement that we're fast approaching a decade together. Seeing him immortalised in paint is a sweet and overpowering feeling.

wordless wednesday: but is it art?

January's artist at City Hall - Pauline Doyle

from my 'other' life, as a social media whiz kid and marketer ;)

January's artist at City Hall - Pauline Doyle:

This month, ceramic artist Pauline Doyle has put together a beautiful and quirky display of her work in the display cases at Port Moody's City Hall. Follow the stairs up to the council offices to update your business licence and take a peek at what she's been working on recently.

As usual, all work is available for sale through the gift shop. Simply phone 604 931 2008 ext. 102, and leave a message to arrange purchase.