Kent Harrison Arts Council - Artist Residency

This year I applied for an artist residency at Harrison Hot Springs BC at the Ranger Station Art Gallery with the Kent Harrison Arts Council. I was short listed to the top three but unfortunately I did not end up being the chosen one. It did however help me to get fired up! To be  short listed for the first thing I have applied for since having Edgar and being out of University made me quite pleased. I am not sure of who the chosen artist is, but I wish them all the best and look forward to meeting them one day. http://kentharrisonartscouncil.com/artistinresidence

The current artist in residence Aaron Moran has an amazing show up right now with painted geometric wooden shapes! Check it out at http://aaronsmoran.com/
 
If you are an artist this residency accepts one person per year. It would have been a great block building experience for my career, but now I still must keep the fire burning. My goal is to make a new body of work and apply to a few galleries in Vancouver.

Thanks to all my friends, co-workers, and family that were cheering for me to get the residency. That support is very much appreciated as a growing artist.

Stay tuned for the next big idea!

little birdie

well for some reason I always come back to birds for inspiration. on our front step there was a small canary like bird, well it was dead, and I took a few photos of it before it went to decompose. I think it flew into the window. poor little guy.

The Printing Press

At 12 am the other morning while trying to fall asleep I was thinking about making prints and how since I have not been in academic surroundings on a daily basis, and I have not had access to a printing press I have not been inspired or productive (having a one year old can also add a lack of time) to make new prints. I had also just applied for an artist residency at Harrison Lake and it was making me quite anxious to get back into the swing of things with my creative practices. So this particular evening I looked up "printing presses" on Craigslist and to my surprise this "one of a kind printing press" was listed on June first. I was so excited. It is a bit smaller but still big enough for continuing my practice of intaglio and so with some financial support from family I went to check it out and instantly fell in love.

I like old things and this has all the characteristics of something that I would be drawn to. The elderly couple that I bought it from, Francisco and Carolina, were collectors and makers of art. He had a Gordon Smith original and some amazing paintings and sculptures. It was inspiring to see someone that appreciates art and buys art, and although he loved the press it was more of a piece of art for the couple to look at since they do not practice print making much anymore. The legs are cast iron from old railroad ties and the rollers are made of wood. You manually set the pressure and crank the wheel with the large wheel. Most people that have seen it so far say "what is it for?" and don't quite understand but say it looks neat. haha. It was a custom made press and I am looking forward to trying it out. Off to Opus to get some ink and paper...