Art In the Park

It did rain all day on Saturday, so I painted at Art in the Park today.  It was a really nice day today and the painting went well.  I tried doing things a bit different this time, and tried some different shaps and designs.  It was super fun! And then end of the day, it was good fun to watch the kids make up games  hopping from one colour to the next.  I even caught a few adults enjoying themselves too.  Its after days like today that make the slogging and grunting and trying-days all worth while.  Yay for Art and sharing it with people!

Street Painting

I did a street painting today in preparation for this weekend's Art in the Park in the Glebe (a neighbourhood in Ottawa).  It might rain tonight and this is done in tempera, so it will wash away and then how will people know where to go?  I am schedualed to do a nice abstract street painting during the day tomorow.  I'm looking forward to it, but it again, it might rain, so then I'll just do it on Sunday. 

These are all the pretty colours I have mixed for the street painting tomorow....Mmmm, colours...

Cake

I went to wedding last weekend and they had a very pretty cake.  I took lots of pictures. 

Moving

My studio sublet has come to an end.  This space was such a huge, glorious space to work in.  I am sad that everything is changing, but often, change is good.  I found a (much) smaller space in the 3rd floor of the same building, another sublet.  So then over the next few months, I can scrounge the city in the hopes of finding a more suitable permanent space.  Many hours last week were spent purging and packing and over the next few days I am going lug all the stuff up, or out.  (I also got a small storage unit).  RIP, sweet studio.

New studio:

Big Shoe

ok, its silly, but fun!  I'm not quite sure what my face is doing, I think the sun was very bright :)

I'm excited about teaching my ColourForms sculpture workshop for teens tomorow at the National Gallery!   Gotta put the finishing touches on the power point presentation.  Nothing like coming home from a vacation and getting right back into working again.

Oh, Holland, I miss you already!

Madurodam

The best touristy place in Holland was Madurodam.  It is a miniature village, built to scale.  Having an affinity for all things small, I loved it there.  I wanted to get a job there.  There are all kinds of things at Madurodam that is a replica of the 'real' thing in Holland: canals, boats (that zip around in the canal) cars, the zoo, cafes, bikes, buildings, cheese.  It was all too cute to take in.

The only way to figure out that this image is a miniature, is by the people at the top right of the photo!

We never went to Gouda or Edam, but we did see a mini version of it!  Who got to make all the tiny cheeses????

A happy parade,...with a GIANT looming in the street!!!

And tiny Tulips, of course!

Holland

I have returned safe and sounds from The Netherlands.  What a wonderful holiday!  There was so much to see and do and relatives to visit!  I loved Amsterdam!  Such a beautiful, old, special city, filled with bikes and people and fresh herring (their version of street meat, so yummy!).  Among the many things we saw, I think my favorite part of Holland was all the bikes!!  Holland realy knows how to 'do' biking.  There are special lanes for cyclists, even special traffic lights.  They have all the tourist trained not to walk in the bike lane or they will get mowed down.  Everything is flat, so you don't really need gears (granny bikes gallore!) and no one wears a helmet.  Here are images of a few sweet rides.  More images of the holiday in the days to come!

 

Holiday Time

I off on a 2 week trip to Holland!  Here are some things I will enjoy:

Biking in my new flower pants, seeing tulips, more biking, reading maps for finding relatives, eating cheese, windmills, riding trains, more biking, seeing art, colour, flowers, sky, and getting away!

Hair chopped

There is nothing more cleansing than growing hair for a few years and then chopping it off.  I finally finished a silly contract job and I needed some change, plus its spring!  So off comes the hair!  I am going to send it to the nice people at the Canadian Cancer Society so that is can become part of a wig for someone who needs it.  Hair is funny, it always grows back :) 

I spent the day with Emily in Montreal and I visited my new favorite hairdresser.  She did such a good job!...and this is when it is a bit morning-messy...ah, no more brushing and maintenance, just get up and go!

 

Chairs

I found these chairs a while ago in La Poubelle and I have had my time with them.   I put them outside the house so they can take on their new life in my 'hood.  Seems like some people needed some chairs, because I had a dozen, and 10 minutes later, only 8, and I just looked now and its down to 6.  I'm sure there will be none left by morning.

Flocking

I attended a flocking workshop at the Ottawa Art Gallery this weekend.  It was taught by artist Laura Margita.  The workshop was being held for 10-14 yr olds, but I went anyway.  It was fun to learn to flock and also fun to see the kids getting excited about something new.   Mmmm, green fuzzy truck...

Mitten Cake

In the past 4 months, I have been working with students in the Information Systems class at Algonquin College.  They are designing a new Lost Mitten Project web page for me, which will include an on-line searchable database with images.  Today was their final presentation and everything went really well.  I can't wait to launch the page, but I might wait until the fall when it is a bit more mitten-y out.  I made a (real) mitten cake and brought to the class as a token of my appreciation of all the hard work!  Yay for mittens and computers and cake!

macrame

Here's the front and back covers of a sweet little 1971 macrame book I picked up at St Vincents de Paul this weekend.  Only $2 (which, now that I think about it, is kind of pricey :) but well worth all the nice diagrams and fancy macrame stitches.  Oh, I should have been a hippy...

 

Helmet

I attached some cute little felt horns to my bike helmet.  I keep forgetting they are there and wonder why people are staring and/or smiling at me. 

Web Launch

My friend Dipna Horra launched her web page with a bash at the Enriched Bread Artist building last night.  It was a very cool installation of a curvy curtain and the website projected onto it.  Take a look at the site here.  This is an image of my friend Emily doing a fierce shadow trick with one of my little stick sculptures.   

Weekend

Something to do this weekend...Pompom crafts!  I picked this book up at the library and couldn't resist those cute little faces.  Plus it will be a good way to brush up on my french.  Qu'elle' belle fin de semaine...

Spring

It has been a chilly and rainy day today, but there are still signs of spring...I took this picture on the weekend...Mmm, tulips...

Stamps

I came across this store on Sparks St on my walk on the weekend.  A stamp store!  Who knew that there were still kind souls who cared about stamps, let alone on Sparks St.  I think this box of stamps is a bit pricey, but wouldn't it be lovely to pour over all the treasures inside!

Chairs

I spotted these chairs in my neighbourhood on a nice urban hike on Saturday.  I realized I really wanted to salvage them, as they might be a fun upolstering project when I find some time (and some wacky fabric).  Thankfully, no one else saw their potential and the chairs were still there when I returned from my walk...and now they sit on my front porch awaiting their new life.

Web Page Update

I am switching servers for my web page (KaleidoscopeArt.com) so it may be down for a day or two.  Crisis!  I know this may cause distress to the all the visitors clamoring to see my page, but patience will have to have to be practiced.  In the mean time, feel free to peruse this blog :)

I have dusted off my pottery wheel and made a bowl.  It is not for a real bowl but an idea I have for a sculpture.  I haven't thrown a pot on the pottery wheel for about 5 years or so.  It felt good to do so.   I am not about to start being a production potter again, as I had so much %$!*#* trouble with glaze.  This is just a tentative step, and just bisque firing (no glazing!).  Which reminds me, I have to track down a place that can fire a few things for me.