scienceworld

Folktales and Faerie Stories-An Interview with Melissa Mary Duncan

By Alyssa Laube

http://www.melissaduncan.ca/

About: Melissa Mary Duncan is a Mythical and Faerie Artist living on Canada’s West Coast and working in the northern European tradition of Faerie Tale and Celtic Myth . She is delighted to be taking part in this year’s Art World Expo at Telus Science World, in Vancouver. She looks forward to welcoming you to her inner landscape

Your mother taught you to paint. Was she an artist? Was her style similar to yours?

Mom painted in oils and taught painting to children. She tried to interest me in painting but I was a most recalcitrant student preferring the wild out of doors to the inside of her studio or the classroom. And my style, subject and use of medium are nothing like hers.

You’ve been influenced by Celtic legends and Brothers Grimm. Are there any in particular that had a lasting effect on you?

Celtic Legends are an interesting mix of oral history, hero tales and magical happenings. They are different than Fairytales in that the stories are believed to have happened. The characters are varied and often rather intense in their passions and motivations. I would say that my love of history and traditional Celtic Music drew me to Celtic Mythos as much as my passion for a damned fine yarn.

My favourite tale from the Brother’s Grimm is “ Hansel and Gretel”. I have always delighted in a good wicked witch and who can not be charmed by spunky little sister Gretel. The children best this witch not through any use of magic but through their own pluck and daring. I think that if the material in Hansel and Gretel was taken as the plot line and produced straight-up, as a film, it would be terrifying.

What is it about fantasy and folklore that fascinates you?

Fantasy can be a very effective vehicle for metaphor. I like my fantasy with real world sociological, historic and anthropological roots. I am very traditional in that regard, although having said that I must admit to often painting narrative Faerie tales based on noting more grounded than a collage of fay, mythic and human beings interacting in the twilight world, as if we, the viewers, have suddenly stumbled upon this motley collection of characters and interrupted them at their own foxy, magic and mysterious business. That kind of fantasy, at first glance, can be just for fun. I am a romantic at heart but I do not always expect or even enjoy a saccharine happily ever after. I use the fantastical as a metaphor for life, the sacredness of the environment and to make sense of our mortality. I also use it unashamedly as an escape.

When and how did that fascination begin?

It started during childhood, as a child with a love for good old-fashioned bedtime stories and a wonderful song about a Dragon with Thirteen Tails. I was a sickly little girl often confined to resting indoors and I remember my father and our local librarian engaged in a heated discussion about what I was and was not allowed to bring home from the library. I had set my heart on a gilded late Victorian edition of The Tales from The Arabian Knights translated into English by Sir Richard Burton. Now, you need to understand that these were not the tamed down nursery versions of Aladdin and Albi Baba with which you might be familiar, but Adult Folk tales which begin with an invocation to Allah. These stories informed the reader not just of a King with supreme power over the life and death of his wives but life in a harem, of monsters and seduction and … Well, you catch my drift. The librarian was scandalized. My father held fast and I brought home Sir Richard Burton’s volume. Faerie tales, the stories of Aesop and The Lays of Marie of France, Shakespeare’s 12th Night, the Opera Turandot seem to have always been part of my life so I suppose my fascination began with my first lullaby.

Are there any places that you’ve been to which have inspired you or had a fantasy-like atmosphere? Are there any here in British Columbia?

In British Columbia we are blessed with beauty. We live in a very scenic part of the world. Take me to the woods. Take me to the sea shore . Take me down an old narrow alley in Victoria’s China Town, or on a bus or to the supermarket. In every human face there is magic. In every aspect of the natural world there is the wondrous. In every vestige of civilization or ancient building there are the echoes of “Once upon a time…” I love the Lady Chapel in St. James Cathedral, in Vancouver. In that sacred space one can feel the tradition of prayer that has gone before and hear the echo of song from the choir singing in the Victorian Romanesque main chapel. As Fantasy is a product of human intellect and imagination it is inherent in ourselves. It is informed by the mechanics of the natural world and sprinkled throughout with superstition. It grows in traditions and in the fascination with the obscure. Fantasy is a product of the exotic and of wishes. It is the cousin of hope in the face of our own mortality. It is all around us because we carry the seeds of fantasy in our subconscious.

Your book, FAYE ~ The Art of Melissa Mary Duncan, came out in 2013. How do you feel about having a book dedicated to your work? How did it change your life?

It got me Nominated for the Canadian Aurora Award as Best Artist of 2014 for illustration and cover art…Dead shock! It was a labour of love. It taught me a whole lot about the craft of making a book. And it sold, which again, was rather a surprise to me.

You had a bit of a challenging childhood. How did those challenges help you grow into who you are today?

I am a Polio Survivor. Despite the fact that I draw Faeries and fantastical beings I am very pragmatic. I seem to possess most of the typical character traits of a Polio survivor in that I am a bit of a workaholic. I feel that Folktales and Faerie stories took me out of myself to other worlds when it was not so easy for me to go into the world. I think that is also why I find life so wonderful.

Your artistic career started with your membership in the Society for Creative Anachronism. What was it about this group that encouraged to to develop your work?

Ahh . . . The Society! I am smiling as I write those words. The Society showed me a different kind of art from what my mother tried to teach me. It introduced me to the magic of the manuscript, the delicacy of ancient music, and the earth, body and spiritual morality of the Miracle play. It gave me encouragement and a place to try ancient craft. It let me experience through doing and that gave me a visceral hint of what I might have experienced had I lived in another time and place. That is what the SCA gave me and still gives it’s members.

How did your graduation from Emily Carr affect your artistry?

Emily Carr did not teach me what I expected it to. It taught me other things which I did not know I needed to learn, like most college experiences. It was both a positive and a negative experience for me. I was almost afraid to paint and draw what interested me most because it was so different from what the staff and the other students were pursuing. It was really long after Emily Carr that I returned to my love of Magical Realism. I think I would just have confused them at college painting Faerie tales and witches with due diligence – and minus that Disney gloss.

Explain your interest in “strong female archetypes” and the importance of character.

I come from a long lineage of strong women. My mother used to tell me stories, which now, as an adult, I have come to realize were fabrications about my grandmother, a woman I never had the privilege of knowing. According to Mom, my granny was one of those suffragettes who chained herself to the fences of the Houses Of Parliament, in England, to help women get the vote. Mom used to tell me another family yarn about her great aunt, who had been the last woman in Wales accused of witchcraft. With that as an example of female empowerment, how could I not be fascinated with strong women? My mother was certainly a strong woman, as well as an unrepentant teller of tall tales. I too have a certain reputation for strength of character. My husband calls it stubbornness. So do my daughters. The apple’s not falling far from the tree. I think my mother, in her own way, was trying to give her sickly daughter positive strong female role models. She succeeded.

For me, some of the best characters in ancient tales, are those of women: King Leer’s daughter Cordelia, Titania the Queen of the Faeries, Queen Guinevere, Mother Holly, and Queen Mauve of the ancient Irish…they’re inspiring women ! Having said that, all of my subjects are character-driven creations whether they are women, men or Mr. Bunny Rabbit Esquire. Character, I hope, gives them believability and makes them more engaging and thought-provoking.

What is your favourite medium for creating art?

I love egg tempera made with pigments I have ground or concocted myself according to medieval recipes and used on real vellum. Labour intensive? You bet!

How does your family – in particular, your husband’s job as a landscape architect and Fantasy Author – affect you and your work?

Family and friends often end up modelling for me. Bless their cotton socks!

My darling husband and I often bounce ideas off of each other. He will read me a little taste of his latest story and I will ask him if he thinks that a figure in my latest drawing is positioned well. He will tell me if that is not how a long sword is held, take up his long sword and assume the correct position. He is a bit of a Western Marshall Arts aficionado. I get going with my pencil and correct the drawing. Then I will tell him that the woman in his story would never react that way, and explain how I would react if I was set upon by barrel-shaped aliens in a Victorian steam punk world. He then considers my statements and sets to typing. In short, we trust each other and care about helping to facilitate each other’s success. We share a passion for history, myth, and fantasy and have the same love of nature.

You will be helping AWE design their flyer this year. What are you hoping to incorporate into this design?

Any depictions of Faerie should be alluring and somewhat familiar, like putting on a comfy old sweater. They should also be just a little bit uncomfortable, like those moments when you awaken from a deep dream and can not quite tell if the dream is done. A flyer should bring that out in the public. It must be engaging, informative, memorable and an accurate depiction of the event you are creating.

I hear that you love hats. Do you have a favourite one?

I could cheat out on this question and say the hat that I am wearing . . . Ta-da! But that would be fudging. In truth, my favourite is an old rumpled hat. It was, when new, a work of craft and art, made of soft wool felt in Italy. It is a wide-brimmed, black Fedora and it was my mother’s.

Bringing New Meaning to “Language Arts”

An Interview with Cristina Petersen

by Alyssa Laube

About: After returning to her home town of Vancouver after 14 years, Cristina Petersen now works as a painter and ESL instructor at the University of British Columbia. She is new to showing her work, and looks forward to developing and improving as an artist.

As a newcomer to the Art World Expo, what are you expecting?

I am expecting to talk and connect with a lot of like-minded people, and to have fun being involved in such a great and vibrant event! I hope to sell some work, but I think that just being there is a step towards even considering myself as a real artist.

You are new to showing your art. How did you decide to do that, and what was your experience like?

I was encouraged by Monika to do more art and to get it out there, but also met a local artist in my neighbourhood named Marty Andaluz. I worked with him to have my first art show, along with two of my friends, who are also new to art. We had fun organizing it together at a local café, Room for Cream on Kingsway. It also helped to have encouragement from my fiancé, Tom, as well as family and friends who support this new adventure of mine.

You’re juggling two jobs – as an artist, of course, but also as an instructor at UBC! What is that like for you?

It’s very difficult to find time sometimes to paint, as teaching is a very demanding job. I love teaching and it is my priority of course, but I try to paint on weekends or when I feel inspired.

You’ve mentioned that you love to write. What do you enjoy writing? Have you ever considered this as a career?

I like to write blogs sometimes for my work. They are about teaching. Writing is just a fun way to express myself about things I’m passionate about. I have toyed with the idea of going into editing as I have a keen eye for errors, having taught ESL for about 13 years now. But ultimately, I am very social and think that being a writer might be too isolated for me…perhaps something later in life! I am always open to trying new things.

Do you think being in Ecuador will be an artistic inspiration for you?

Yes of course, traveling is always an inspiration. New experiences are what keep things fresh.

How has working as an artist affected your work as an instructor, and vice versa?

I am not sure that it has affected my work as an instructor, but sometimes I feel like teaching language is a very creative job. When I am in the classroom, I can create a mood or focus on certain things, much like painting. Although with my job, there are administrative duties that sometimes zap my creative side and make me wish I were just able to paint!

What subject(s) do you teach?

I teach English as an additional language. I teach in different programs all the time, so sometimes I teach in the Intensive English Program, (IEP) or the English for Academic Purposes (EAP), the English for the Global Citizen (EGC) or Explore (with French Canadians). I teach all the skills, but if teaching IEP or EAP I usually try to pick the Speaking and Listening classes or writing courses. I like teaching Speaking because I like to facilitate discussions, teach presentation skills etc. Writing essays is a bit of an art form too. I have always loved to write as well.

You work in acrylics. What makes you choose it?

Mostly because they are forgiving and easy to clean, as I usually paint in my apartment, so I have to set up everything and take it all down at the end. Cleaning brushes etc. is way easier. I also like to add water or Gesso, sometimes crackle paste for variety as they mix well. I can add oil on top if I want more texture later.

What are the most important things in your life?

Things or people? *laughs* My fiancé, my family, my friends, my dog… but aside from that, being a given, I love horseback riding and skiing; those are the two hobbies that I am passionate about. I try to stay healthy by exercising and eating healthy, delicious food. I enjoy a good glass of red wine, living a simple life, and travelling when I can to explore the world – particularly foreign places where I don’t speak the language. I’ve been studying Spanish off an on for about 10 years.

Do you have any significant goals for the future?

Well, I am getting married next June, so my fiancé and I are planning our wedding. We are saving money right now and also hoping to take our honeymoon in Ecuador. Hopefully sell more art to help fundraise.

Can you think of a particular moment or person that inspired you to become an artist?

My half-sister Dana loves to paint and is really quite talented. I think she will surpass my skills! I bought her a painting lesson almost 3 years ago with Monika and went with her. This was my first painting lesson too, and ever since then, with Monika’s encouragement, I have kept painting. I have always loved art and art galleries too. I think it was always in me, but it was a matter of being in the right head space to pull it out. And to have that initial “ah ha!” moment, like “Wow, that was really fun, I want to do more of that!” Now I am older and have found my path as an instructor, so I feel like expanding my horizons and trying new things. Learn new skills. Be creative. Always grow as a person.

Do you find that, on a bad day, painting can make you feel better?

Yes, of course. It is very calming and therapeutic. You can lose yourself in the art and not worry about anything else. Although I have to tell myself sometimes not to be a perfectionist. I like to paint with bigger brush strokes and more abstract style on days where I need a release.

Is there a specific technique that you like to use or find interesting?

I love work by Dali, it’s so weird and crazy, as well as work by the Group of Seven. I really like abstract scenery and more free flowing brush strokes. Not really schooled in art, so not sure of any specific techniques, but I know I am still experimenting and learning a lot.

How do you hope to improve as an artist?

I hope to improve my ability to draw or paint specific features like eyes, noses and mouths. I also hope to let go of my own criticism of my own work. I have to accept that not all pieces turn out quite how I envision them, but sometimes that is the beauty of it.

The Pioneering Spirit-An Interview with West Coast Artist, Susan Galick

The Pioneering Spirit

An Interview with West Coast Artist, Susan Galick

By Alyssa Laube

About: Susan Galick describes herself as a fun-loving lady with a passion for life, family and friends. She aims to live each and every day to it’s fullest and is happily devoted to the things she loves to do most – painting, music, art, and all things creative!

How long have you been involved in art?

I have been involved in some sort of art my entire life from sewing, knitting, needlecraft, tole painting, fashion design, stained glass, wood burning, chocolate making, cake decorating, handcrafts of all types, soap making – anything and everything creative. I could never watch television.

How has your life changed since you’ve become a professional artist?

At this point in my life I am now able to spend more time creating art. Being able to paint every day is the biggest change for me.

Many of your paintings seem to be set in B.C. What is it about our province that inspires you?

B.C. is gorgeous and I think that we take it for granted just how beautiful our province is from the coast to the Okanagan to the Kootenays and to northern B.C. I spent 9 years living in the caribou where my husband and I raised our 2 sons on a pristine lake. For me, I always need to be near the water, whether it be a lake or the ocean. Although I prefer the ocean as it is forever changing. I have been blessed to have lived by the water for pretty much my entire life from the ocean, to rivers to lakes. Water inspires me.

Which area of Vancouver has been your favourite to paint?

Gastown.

Have you ever painted scenes from a different province or country?

Yes, I have painted the U.S., Mexico and Europe. I hope to travel more in the future as my duties as a Mom and Grandmother are reduced as the kids get older. My life revolves around my family.

What is your favourite thing/place to paint?

“Working boats’, street scenes, character buildings and vehicles.

What is your biggest challenge as an artist?

My biggest challenge is trusting myself and my own style and retaining that loose, unique style. I do not wish to become a ‘tight painter’.

Do you think your personality is shown through your work? How so?

Yes, I believe it does. In fact I was just told this last night by a very established, famous local artist. I look at life with a positive outlook, no matter which trials we have to go through, and I have had my share…I strive to be happy and paint happy paintings.

Some of your paintings seem to be “blurred”. Could you explain what draws you to this technique?

I love loose, painterly strokes. My favourite artists are those than can portray what they are trying to say in as few strokes as possible along with light being a focus. Ken Auster is one of my favourite artists. I strive to create a focal point and add more tight detail in that area then blur out the background with loose strokes.

What is it about painting boats that you enjoy?

I just love the lines of boats, especially ‘working’ boats with character. I grew up on the water fishing with my father and have spent a great deal of my life near the ocean.

How do you know when you’ve found something you would like to paint?

When I get really excited and I cannot get it out of my head, I know i’d like to paint it. No words can describe the scene and I want to share it by painting whatever it may be that excites me at the time.

How do you stay inspired?

That is a difficult question. “Stuff” happens in everyday life which interferes with my ability to get inspired. When that happens I go to my “Beach Box” – my wonderful home on the ocean in Sooke. It sits on Juan de Fuca Strait. Here is the link and I think you will understand as the photos will explain more than my words.

http://www.beachboxstudio.com/

Are there any other artists who have played a significant role in your development as a painter? If so, who?

Yes, after I lost my husband of 39 years to cancer I forced myself to go to an art school “open house.” I had always wanted to paint and it was the local, talented Carmel Clare that I first met. She is the main reason that I am where I am. She is now my mentor, one of my best friends and my inspiration.

Do you sell every piece you finish?

I’m not sure how to answer that. In general, yes, I suppose I eventually do. Some take longer than others but some I give away to friends or family. For me it’s not about the money but for the enjoyment of painting. If someone gets excited when they see one of my paintings and just has to have it, that’s what is the most enjoyable for me. My favourite painting, personally, was my one of my Gastown paintings. It sold quickly so I felt like I did not get to enjoy it for long in my own gallery.

What was your first piece?

My first piece was an abstract water drop painting. I had it hanging in our bathroom while we put our home up for sale in White Rock. Sarah Daniels used to be the traffic/weather lady for BCTV and a realtor. She fell in love with my painting and phoned me up to ask if I would sell it. That was my first painting and my first sale.

What is it like to have your own studio?

It’s a dream come true for me. I can go downstairs and paint any time of the day or night that I want and I am my own boss which is very important to me.

How has owning your own studio changed how you personally, creatively, and professionally?

Owning my own studio forces me to take my art seriously. Previously, I used to think that I had to take care of my family, house, many gardens, etc. before I could settle down and paint. I felt that painting was secondary to the rest of my work. Owning my own studio makes me realize that this is my job now and I can paint anytime of day, get it done and the rest can be secondary.

How to you hope to grow as an artist?

Last night I joined a local art group with their goal being to form a West Coast Guild. I hope to learn from these accomplished artists and to be able to contribute my expertise as well, whether it be my ability to bring joy and happiness to others or to help mentor young people. I have 5 grand kids who mean the world to me and I try to be an inspiration to them as well.

What are you hoping to accomplish at this year’s art expo?

I am hoping to meet new people outside of my world, expose myself to new experiences, hopefully sell a few pieces, and network with others.

Do you have a motto, or any advice you’d like to give budding artists?

I have been through a lot in the past few years. My perfect, idyllic life that my husband and I worked so hard to obtain was literally turned upside down when my husband got cancer and consequently passed aways 14 months later. My family and I were devastated. My favourite quote is, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery, today a gift”. That is how I try to live my life. I have always tried to live each and every day to its fullest. I have a strong faith that has taken me through so much and blessed me with so much. My advice to my kids and others is that if you really want something, we are blessed to lived in a country where anything is possible if you have the passion, drive, and ambition to get what you want. It’s true!

To learn more about Susan and her work, you can visit http://www.susangalick.com/

She can be contacted at (778)-879-7273 or susan.k.galick@gmail.com

ART WORLD EXPO 2015 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Can you believe that our 5th anniversary is coming up in just 10 short months?

We are so excited about the event and we cannot wait until our special edition event on May 1, 2015!

As always, we are looking for amazing artist exhibitors, body painting competitors, fashion designers, and entertainers to join our event! Applications for artists, body painters, and arts related business exhibitors are ready and can be downloaded at the application on our site: Exhibitor Information

Artist Vicki Rae at Art World Expo 2014

Accomplished artist Vicki Rae joins Monika Blichar in studio for a candid interview about her craft.

ART WORLD EXPO TM Proudly Presents: Artist Vicki Rae

Vicki currently lives and works in New Westminster, BC. She received formal training at the Lorenzo di Medici Art Institute in Florence, Italy and is otherwise ‘self taught’.

A Vancouverite with Native Canadian and South African roots Vicki has explored various themes such as SAFARI and other wildlife subjects, dance and human experience, spirituality and psychology.

Using a striking, vivid pallet, expressionism and the full spectrum of human emotion Vicki’s body of work honours and embraces the light and the shadow, and en masse, is a captivating visual journal of her life and experiences.

“Employing intuition as a guide and raw emotion as fuel, I give all of myself to my Art. I engage with each piece, as if in a dance, and allowing the painting to lead me I aim to reveal it’s unique energy, it’s voice and the story it has to tell.”

For more information about Vicki, please visit:
https:/www.vickirae.com

Art World Expo TM tickets are available online:
http://artworldexpo.eventbrite.com/

By Phone: 1 604 999 6177

Email: artworldexpo@gmail.com

Event Information, Applications and Artist Interviews:
https://artworldexpo.wordpress.com/

Connect on Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/ArtWorldExpo
https://twitter.com/ArtWorldExpo

2014 Theme: CIRCUS!
“Life’s A Circus, Enjoy the Show!”
Don’t forget your Top Hats and Clown Costumes!

Art World Expo is an annual fine art show and sale representing local and international artists of all mediums. The event was founded by Monika Blichar in Vancouver, BC in 2010 and is held at Telus World of Science the first Friday of May each year. For more information about Monika Blichar for MAB Ventures Inc. including information about MAB Art Studio & Boutique Gallery, please visit: https://www.monikablichar.com

Meet Catherine Coulter-An Artist Finding Common Ground to Communicate

Interview With . . .

Catherine Coulter

by Alyssa Laube

About: After a ten year break from journalism, Catherine Coulter is making her grand return to writing and the arts. She focuses on photography and writing, but has a wide variety of other hobbies and interests. You can view Catherine’s work at:

http://catherinecoulter.wordpress.com/

In the past, you worked as a journalist. What was that like? (i.e.: who you worked for, what you wrote about)

I wrote for the North Shore News but my first position was at the Williams Lake Tribune. I was staff at those two papers but I freelanced for a number of other newspapers and magazines. I covered court, fashion, school board, sports, food and wine: that’s the beauty of a community paper – a reporter gets to try everything! (Note: this is weird. I’ve never been interviewed before.)

What encouraged you to move on from journalism?

Seeing myself satisfied personally and professionally in the future.

Could you tell me about the 10-year break you took from it?

Marriage, motherhood, travel, philanthropy, personal and spiritual growth.

In this time, did you stop writing completely? How did you get your creative fix?

I wrote journals for years, and experimented with my photography, trying different kinds of cameras and using a lot of film.

Are you glad that you took that break? What came from it?

I’m glad I stopped writing for newspaper. I missed the human interest stories, but writing news did and does not fit my character.

What encouraged you to come back to it?

Basically working away at myself emotionally and discovering what really makes me happy!

Please tell me about your trip to Turkey! How did it effect you?

Just seeing the word Turkey makes my heart burst! I turned 40 the day I landed in Istanbul this past November. I was ready for a journey alone and 40 seemed the perfect ‘excuse’. I experienced a real upheaval in my life a few years prior and it was the first opportunity since that that I got to be alone, process and heal and I did so by writing and taking pictures. There were moments on that trip where I would be sitting with my journal on my lap, my cameras lying around me, my cheeks would be flush and my boots dusty from a day of hiking and photographing, and I knew I was just where I should be doing what I should be doing. That feeling is incredibly powerful and I came home wanting to share it with everyone. And, eventually, provide an opportunity to host similar trips (stay tuned).

Before your work as a journalist, what jobs did you have?

Terrible waitress and amazing nanny!

What hobbies have you had throughout your life and in present day? How did they shape who you are?

I’ve played on the same soccer team for 15 years. My son and I are avid skiers. I hike. We love our cruiser bike rides in the summer (my Mothers Day gift to me a few years ago: a 1968 Schwinn Starlet!), being in and on the water, spending as much time with our friends and family doing anything and nothing. We are blessed. I am what my life is today.

Why did you start each of them?

Landing in India at 22 years old was the catalyst for everything.

As a book lover, which ones are in your top 3? Which are you reading right now?

Eek! Top 3?! How about top 30?! Currently, I’m reading The Rise, Annabel, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Captain Underpants (my son is 7!).

How have books changed you as an artist?

Oh good question! Visualization.

Why do you believe you love stationary, letters, and other sentimental objects?

Letter writing is art to me – its expression and its thought. The process of choosing a beautiful piece of paper – the colours and textures – then scrawling across it with an ink pen…So beautiful! Plus, the feeling it gives someone to receive something so carefully prepared for them. I will never forget what it looks like or how it feels to see my Dad’s handwriting – it’s like being close enough to smell the soap he uses.

How would you describe yourself as a person and an artist? How do these descriptions compare?

There’s no difference in the two. Compassion, full of love and humour, quirky and rooted, curious.

Why do you love photography? Writing?

They are both so intimate to me, and give me an opportunity to express and explore myself safely, clearly and without criticism or judgement (until now, of course!).

Do you have any training in either of these fields?

I attended Western Academy of Photography and Journalism on Vancouver Island.

How are the two different, in as many ways as possible? How are they the same?

I suppose to me it’s like watching a movie and reading the book. The story is being told in two different ways yet if done well each should be as visual as the other. So, although they are different ways to tell a story, a story is still being told.

Other than signing up for the expo, how are you practicing leaving your comfort zone?

I feel like I’ve put an invitation out there that leads directly inside. To reach my goal, which is helping other women with growth through art and travel, it’s important I’m available and a bit vulnerable (my M.O.: lets all get comfortable with vulnerability!).

What are you hoping to gain from this year’s expo?

Monika (Blichar) has been an amazing source of inspiration and encouragement for me (and many others) so it’s really about goals and fulfillment, and getting past some insecurities. She asked me a few months ago, “If money is no object, what do you see yourself doing?” It was such an easy question for me to answer that I hadn’t put to myself.

As a photographer, what do you like to focus on?

People in their environments.

Which effects do you like to use?

Well I don’t really use any actually. The reason I love film is because, if you haven’t gotten the right exposure and focus well that’s that. It’s tough to recapture the original moment. I love holding my breath getting film back thinking ‘Oh crap. This will be awesome or it’s $50 down the drain!’ And I have had some amazing results and some seriously disappointing ones. With the exception of a couple of iPhone snaps I basically came home with zero pictures from last year’s spring break in Mexico. I had taken only my mini Diana and my film was tangling up like nylons out of a washing machine – so much for cataloging that trip for my son! It’s the same for digital though. I’m fairly challenged when it comes to electronics/technology. My strengths lie in my ability to connect with all kinds of people no matter what their background.

Do you often have a message incorporated into your photography?

There’s a theme, for sure. I’m fascinated by women in their environments. In school, I did a photo essay of an exotic dancer – I still find those pictures interesting. I photographed her getting ready and a small part of the performance, literally one or two shots before I wrapped it up. (The performance wasn’t telling the story though, in my opinion.) I’m always amazed that, if we truly want to, despite our differences – religious, cultural, language barriers – we can find some common ground or ways to communicate. Whether its through our children, a broken heart, an illness, or passion for travel or art or music, a great success, literature, or a few bottles of wine and a dance off!

How did your childhood influence you as an artist?

Everything has brought me to where I am now, both good and bad, and has taught me to be observant, interested, thoughtful and sensitive.

What do you hope to do in the future, both in your personal and professional life?

“Keep on keeping on like a bird that flew…”- B. Dylan

An Interview with Diva’s Niche Designer Rebecca Fisher

Interview With . . . Rebecca Fisher

by Alyssa Laube

A Quick Autobiography

“Throughout my life I have been many things – a daughter, wife, mother, llama farmer, business owner, teacher and now student. And now, as a recent breast cancer survivor, I find the experience of mastectomy, chemo and radiation to be a catalyst to many life changes. Now I am enjoying, with renewed excitement and appreciation, the preciousness of life. Divorced and with a decidedly different external landscape, I find myself drawing on my creative side with much more intensity, truly believing in the power of healing through art. I am recent graduate Capilano University Textile Arts Program where I spent two blissful intense years honing the skills I have garnered over a lifetime. My current work involves explorations in millinery and accessories finding these small canvasses the perfect venue for my creative energies.”

When and how did you first get started in textiles?

I remember using my mother’s sewing machine when I was 5. I also remember taking my sister’s clothes and cutting them up to sew into Barbie clothes. I’ve been doing it since then.

Did you know you would want to do it as a profession?

My grandma came to Vancouver from London, England in 1905. She supported her family by sewing and selling smocked dresses out of her children’s clothing store on Robson. When I was 9, she taught me to smock. It was a very serious endeavor for her and she made me swear on a bible never to tell anyone how to do it ,as one day I would make my living smocking. When I had completed a baby dress, I went back to see her and she went over every stitch, folded the dress in her lap, and said, “It is saleable.” That was the hardest jury I have ever passed! I knew at that point that I had an aptitude for textiles and it was a natural progression.

What about working in the field do you like/dislike?

I love the alchemy of marking and colouring cloth – of taking something plain and giving it life. It’s a celebration of colour. I create these textiles with the intention that they will be worn and lived in. The only thing I really dislike is that there aren’t more hours in a day!

You use both natural and unnatural dyes. What is the reason for this, and how are they different?

I am by no means a purist as far as attachment to a specific technique goes. Having said that, I love each for their own unique vocabulary. The natural dyes only work on natural fibres and that brings a richness that is unrivalled by anything manmade. I love the smell of the silk and wool in a dye pot of onion skin tied with rose leaves and eucalyptus. The colour palette is soft and deep and reminiscent of an old secret garden hidden away for centuries. I also feel an attachment to the many generations of natural dyers and artists before me when I work in this medium, as if my hands are not the only ones placing and wrapping leaves and flowers against cloth. It’s like a collaboration with the earth and my ancestors.

The manmade dyes have a vibrancy and colourfastness not achievable with natural dyes. There is an immediacy in their usage that appeals to my magpie-like attention span. There is also an element of repeatability and reliability that is missing in natural dyes. The dyes that I use on the printed hosiery are polyester-specific and can only be used on manmade fibres. They are particularly successful on hosiery and poly satins, hence the development of the line of printed panty hose and scarves.

How did your family influence you as an artist?

As a child, I spent a great deal of time with my grandfather. He taught me about the colour wheel using tempura paints mixed by my mother on a wooden easel built by my father. I guess you could say that my artistic side was recognized and supported. I also spent a great deal of time in my grandparent’s antique store which may account for my obsession with textiles. I remember the thick velvets and laces and today, lace images still find their way into my work. My father was an amazing gardener and I think that influenced my colour sense as well as a love for the intricacies of different leaves and flowers. My great grandmother and great aunt lived on Lasquiti Island for many years and collected many books full of pressed flowers which were put into pictures and cards. I was always mesmerized by the delicate petals pressed flat – like I was looking into the secret domain of fairies – or something equally romantic. I still have a picture over my bed made by my great grandmother with pressed ferns and flowers. The aesthetic is quite similar to the imagery on my fern imprinted hose.

Do you have any training or are you self-taught?

I have spent a lifetime exploring textile arts and am a recent graduate of the Caplilano University Textile Arts Program – a wonderful program that was my gift to myself for surviving chemo therapy after breast cancer 5 years ago. This is currently the final term that this 40 year old program will be running – one of the many Arts cuts at Capilano University. It’s such a shame. This program offers students a skill base not found anywhere else.

I was born in Vancouver and have always lived in this area. the West coast imagery is part of my soul. There is never any shortage of inspiration. It can be found on short walk down the road to the river or just out in the backyard. The little fellow that was the model for my raccoon hat was a constant visitor last year. Always by himself, he would come in the evening and hang around in the backyard, watching us with great curiosity. The skunk hat also had a live model although not so cute. He sprayed the dog 4 times last year!

Considering the exaggeration of natural elements in your work, how does living in B.C. affect you?

Nature has both a fragility and a great strength. It has beauty that is constant and changing. I am always collecting rocks and twigs and leaves whose designs speak to me. My china cabinet is full of skulls collected from under a bald eagles nest. They sit perched on my grandmothers china. Both aesthetics equally precious to me.

Why do you feel drawn to nature?

I don’t know that it was ever a conscious idea or decision. You doodle and draw and paint and slop dye around – Some things appeal and some don’t. I very rarely have something turn out the same as the idea had when I began. Designs morph as you go. I have a very free-flow style of working that follows through the rest of my life as well. Sometimes I think it would be easier to approach things in an organized and structured fashion, but I have come to realize that you can’t fight your brain.

How do you like to use color in your clothing?

I love colour. It’s all about mood. Sometimes it’s playful with bright colours and other times more subdued and calming. Each day is a new day.

You make both accessories and garments. Which do you prefer, and how are they different?

I probably make more accessories than garments. They are a smaller canvas and I can experiment and work out different ideas. If that experimentation is successful, then it often progresses to a garment.

How long does it take you to complete one piece, usually?

I don’t really work with things one at a time, so it’s hard to say. If I am doing hats, I’m washing fleece and as it dries I am carding other fleece and felting blanks. While they are drying on hat blocks I am needle-felting the features on other ones. It’s like an assembly line – a skill I developed through years of hairdressing. The panty hose are the same kind of thing. I am painting the designs on paper, while its drying I am collecting and preparing the ferns and leaves, then laying them out in stacks and heat setting them. I do tend to do things in runs. If I am making scarves then its a scarf day or a felting day or a flower day, mostly because each thing requires a different set of equipment and I have a small space to work in.

When you are picking which objects to incorporate into the cloths, what do you look for?

Sometimes on a walk I will discover plants with interesting shapes or in the thrift store i’ll come across some really tacky doily with a lot of texture that is perfect. I feel like mostly, the things find me. Like the other day, I took the dog to the off-leash dog park and he shot off after a duck with me chasing after him. During that little adventure, I discovered the ferns that were growing from the trees – slightly softer and smaller than the ones I had been using. I was curious to see if they would work and how they would translate on to cloth. I loved them so I plan to go back later this week and pick some more.I am always careful to pick gently and not take too much, especially with things like lichens.

Explain the process of making those objects a part of the fabric. Is it difficult?

Sometimes I will paint the actual leaves, others I will make silk screens of the leaf images and screen the dye on. Sometimes I draw the images by hand, or a combination of all 3. It’s not any more difficult than another technique but it does require a fairly in-depth understanding of how the dye works and some specialized equipment.

How did you learn to do it?

I learned my basic skills at the Textile Arts Program at Cap U and have actually just completed a directed study to develop this technique. I wanted to take advantage of the last term the program is running to further my experimentation.

Where do you find your materials?

With the leaf imprinting, any time I leave the house I usually find something. My pockets are always full of leaves and twigs and seeds. The hats I buy use local specialty fleeces and I process them myself. The fabrics are often rescued or vintage.

Do you ever work with others professionally, or do you prefer to work alone?

I love collaborations and I love creating in solitude. Sometimes it’s nice to have someone of a similar mindset around to assure you that you are not crazy and to bounce ideas off of.

What is your favorite piece to make?

Every piece I make is my favourite piece in that moment. Although I have to say I am really enjoying the panty hose currently.

Which fabrics do you use for each garment? How do you treat each one differently?

Each fibre and fabric type – wool, cellulose, and polyesters – all require different dyes and treatments. I use wools for hats, scarves and shawls which may also incorporate pieces of silks or polyester.

How do you experiment?

Everything I make is an experiment. I am a messy artist, not by intention. It’s just that when I am working, I am oblivious to the rest of the universe.

How do you get such original ideas? Do you have any ways to encourage yourself creatively?

I think it is important to spend time with other creative types to keep the energy up. It’s also important to give myself time to create; turning off the phone and working undisturbed even if its just to mix dyes and sweep the floor or unroll fabric. I try to do my initial experiments without attachment to the outcome. I fine tune an idea before committing it to a 500 dollar piece of cloth. Sometimes doing something in a completely foreign medium is a great creative boost.

Do you have any other jobs or hobbies?

I foster high risk youth in the other part of my life. I like to garden and I like to cook.

How does your personal life affect your professional life?

I think the high stress level from my job fuels the need for creative expression. They kind of feed off of each other. Over the last 2 decades I have managed to keep a fairly symbiotic relationship between the 2 sides of my life.

What are you hoping for at this year’s Art World Expo?

I am really looking forward to this expo and am excited to be involved in such a creative venture. I am hoping that my textiles will be well received and I look forward to making many creative contacts. Did I mention that I was excited?

Little Monsters at Art World Expo!

Interview with…

Little Monsters Studio

by Monika Blichar

Meet Artist Kathleen Erickson from Little Monsters Studio!

A first time competitor, we are very excited to see what this Monster can do! Apart from having amazingly talented creative skills in face and body painting, Kat is also an accomplished visual artist creating unique pieces like custom paintings and growth charts for kids. We caught up with Kat and asked her a few questions about her experience as an artist in B.C. Here is what she had to say!

When did you start doing face/body painting?

I took a more serious approach to my painting when I turned 15 and being an artist; I was always experimenting creatively with my children and painting their faces. This helped me transition into starting Little Monsters Studio three years ago.

Your family and work seem to blend together. How have your kids helped you with your inspiration for your business?

I find with maturity, I sometimes start to take a more scientific approach to my art. So having children helps to keep my art especially my body art & face painting fresh & unconventional.

My children & their friends always want their faces painted and it makes for great family outings like going to the Vancouver Zombie Walk or getting painted for a Seahawks game with my husband.

This is the first time you are competing in Art World Expo body painting competition. What are you looking forward to the most as a first time competitor?

The competitive nature of any competition will only help me to improve in my craft and with my confidence. But what I’m really looking forward to is being surrounded by so many exceptional artists and talented people. Just being part of this contagious atmosphere and networking with my peers, will be stimulating enough. Then there’s all the great art.

What kinds of services and merchandise do you offer the public?

Face painting & body art are my primary sources of income, but I also sell my paintings and growth charts. During the month of October, I open up my studio to work on big Halloween projects for costume competitions and parties.

What is your biggest dream regarding your art and business?

My goal is to be able to support my self enough, so I am able to continue to focus on projects that I love. I adore body art and especially the Halloween spirit and just being able to continue to grow in this realm would be ideal.

Welcome to the show Kat! Wishing you good luck!

For more information about Little Monsters Studio, please visit Kat and her troop on her Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/littlemonstersstudio?ref=br_tf

Art World Expo & 360 Replays

ART WORLD EXPO TM is pleased to present this amazing video of a one of a kind body art installation featuring the creative process in a unique way captured by 360 Replays.

360 Replays develops interactive technology for Internet TV. Their mission is to make interactive TV the regular TV on the planet. In addition, 360 produces camera systems that can be used to capture interactive content delivered over Internet television.

For more information about 360, visit:
https://www.360replays.com
https://www.facebook.com/360Replays

Art World Expo is an annual large scale art show and fundraiser featuring over 100 artist exhibitors, fashion shows, a body painting competition and live demonstrations. The fourth annual event will take place on May 2, 2014. The event is produced by MAB Ventures Inc., An Arts & Entertainment Agency with proceeds benefiting Make and Break Arts Foundation. The event takes place at Telus World of Science in Vancouver,BC, Canada and features artists from around the world.

For more information about the event or to purchase tickets, please visit:
https://artworldexpo.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ArtWorldExpo?ref=br_tf

Order tickets by phone 604 999 6177

Body Painting Artist: Cory Keys

Hair & Face Make Up: Monika Blichar
http://www.monikablichar.com

Model: Emily Blackwell, Red Goddess Talent
http://www.redgoddesstalent.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Emily-Blackwells-Fan-Page/187599184648341

Thank you to the Art World Expo TM 2014 Platinum Sponsors:

Twin Peaks Construction
http://www.twinpeaksconstruction.com

Fresh Vancouver Magazine
http://www.freshvancouver.com

Emerging Painter Margaret Kitchen Joins The Show!

About: Margaret Kitchen, new to Vancouver and the art scene, creates beautiful paintings of landscapes and other scenes. She works in a school teaching special needs children, and practices as an artist in her spare time.

This is your first time at the Art World Expo. Is there anything particular you’re looking forward to?

I’m very nervous and excited just to experience it and be there to see other artists.

How were you introduced to art?

Growing up, my Mom was always creative. Not in painting, but in things like beautiful knitting and needlepoint. We would come home from dances and she would have entire outfits she’d made ready for us! Also, about 5 years ago I was looking at paintings a lot and thinking, “I want to do that.” I wanted to explore something different. Reading Drawing from the Right Side of Your Brain explained that everybody can draw and not to be afraid to make mistakes and to fail. It just sort of said, “Where are the rules? Anyone can do it.” Art is an outlet. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

How were you influenced as an artist by your heritage or home town?

Okanagan landscape is so inspiring. You go hiking or to lakes and just think, “I wish I could paint this.” It’s just so beautiful. There were great local artists and galleries, so it was really just a part of the community.

Who was your main inspiration growing up and how has it changed from then?

My Mother, because it was always important for her to be creative with her hands and to completely immerse herself.

How would you describe your style?

I love using oil paint. I love art to look like art. I really like artists like Robert Bateman. Lots of paint, thick, color, so I guess I would call my style impressionistic.

What do you consider your “big break”?

I am really glad that I met Monika. I started her art class and she and I really hit it off. Pretty much, she said “who cares! Do it and have fun,” and here I am.

How have you developed as an artist, both professionally and personally?

Personally, it’s opened up a whole new world of creativity to me. The whole journey of it has been fantastic; meeting all of these great people and producing artwork that I like. I love that now I can paint a picture and give it to someone.

What was an artwork that had a lasting effect on you? How so?

I’m so amazed all the time at the level of creativity and artistry just here in North Vancouver, just the local art that I see around. I also went to the Vancouver Art Gallery and saw Metis which blew my mind, and last winter I saw some Emily Carr which I love.

What is your favorite art gallery or event in Vancouver?

I love the art crawls. They have one in North Vancouver and one in East Vancouver.

What type of environment do you prefer to work in (i.e.: a studio, home, etc.)?

I like to be by myself sometimes but I also like to be in a studio where there are people I can bounce things off of and ask, “What do you think? What do you see?” I like to get advice, too.

Where do you get inspiration for your art?

My daughter, the landscape, other art.

What was the first piece of art you sold?

Well, I don’t sell my art! My mother in-law asked me to paint a picture of the Capilano River. It was the first painting that I thought “I like this,” and I kept it, but painted her a couple more and gave them to her. I think that if I didn’t get so attached to my paintings, I could sell them. They’re like my babies!

Is there a main theme or message to your art? If so, what is it?

It is more of pure expressionism for me.

What is your favorite (and least favorite) thing about being an artist?

My favorite thing is that it’s a way of being creative and expressing yourself – that feeling of the great escape. It’s like meditation. I haven’t found anything negative about it yet!

Did you always want to be an artist? If not, what did you want to be and when/why did you change your mind?

I never saw myself as an artist. I wish that I had tapped into this side of myself when I was younger would have loved to be a dancer, but during the time that I was growing up, it was never something I could imagine doing. Over the last 25 or 30 years I’d squelched that side of myself. Before my work as a Teacher, I was a Dental Assistant and would wear a different sweater every day. I’ve always liked to be creative and express myself but never thought it was something I could do. I think that if I had grown up in a different time or family I would have explored it a lot earlier.

Do you currently have a favorite artist?

Yes! He has a studio in West Vancouver. Yates. He does all sorts of West Coast landscapes with nice palette and color.

Describe the Vancouver art scene in three words

I don’t really know it that well, but I would say there are a lot of different kinds of art so versatile, exciting, and welcoming. All of the people that I’ve met have been very positive.