Art Show Summer Schedule and New Work!

Okay - so this year I was really enthusiastic when it came time to send in applications for the summer art shows.. the result is that I'm doing a lot of shows in the next 4 weeks! It's a lot to keep track of, so I've made this handy list for you :)

And in case your next question is: "what's new for this year?" - I have an answer for that too! I've been working really hard on a couple of new collections - I'll be unveiling my Ireland Collection at the Riverdale Artwalk June 7-8, including some super-cute little limited edition sets that you may have heard about! (you haven't heard? Follow us on facebook and twitter already, so you won't be out of the loop next time!) Here's one of my favourite images from this Collection:

These images from Ireland were taken over a few trips, one of which was our wedding trip and honeymoon road trip :) There's a lovely story to go along with this collection, and as soon as I have a minute to write that blog, I'll post a link to it here!

I'm also going to be participating in a group show during World Pride at the Artscape Youngplace, with a theme of "Pride in Canada".. this was a great challenge for me, as it's the first time I've been given an "assignment" in terms of what I'm creating. I'm really happy with the results - 7 images that combine animal characters with vintage details and some playful text. Here's one of my favourite images from this set, "The Fortune-Teller":

And since I know that not all of you are in Toronto or available on weekends, there are also two new places where you can find perfect happy art gifts (either for others or yourself!): the first is my shiny new Etsy shop here, and the second is my awesome Society6 shop where you can get everything from tote bags to cushions, wall clocks, or even a shower curtain! As a bonus, Society6 has free shipping this weekend if you use this link!

Alright, art-lovers - it's time for me to get some sleep before my art show marathon begins tomorrow morning! Hope to see you in an art-filled park very soon!

xo Jessica

Fine Art Pieces - The France Collection

I love travelling. There are few things I enjoy more than the adventure of exploring somewhere new - the unfamiliar sights and sounds, the musical rhythms of each new language, the way the flavours you taste seem somehow connected to the colours around you..

Every time we go away, people ask if it's for "work" or for a "holiday". If you've ever travelled with a photographer (and I don't really recommend it!) then you know there's no distinction between the two most of the time. Being immersed in a different culture - even just being pulled out of my everyday routines - frees my mind up to see things in new and fantastic ways. I roam city streets and countrysides with my camera never far from my face, greedily gathering new images. 

For years now I've been gathering images, storing them and backing them up. And nobody ever saw them. I hadn't decided what they were meant to "be" yet, and I didn't want to force a purpose on them. 

Then a couple of years ago, I started to go through my thousands of images. Not just the travel ones, but dozens of images taken in my kitchen while preparing dinner, images of words from signs with great fonts, all the images I've taken over the years with no clear purpose other than the fact that something about the subject matter spoke to me. And I started to see new images. Scenes that existed nowhere outside of my imagination - yet. I created a series of scenes that used colours and graphic patterns to turn regular places into fantasy worlds.

I make giclee prints of my finished images on watercolour paper, and then hand tear or sand the edges to give them a soft, organic look. These archival prints are mounted onto boards that have been softened at the edges with more sanding, and then painted or stained to suit the image. Some have stencils along the edges. The final step is multiple coats of satin finish, resulting in a piece that is pleasing to the touch and UV protected.

My first exhibition of these finished pieces was at the 2012 Queen West Art Crawl, and I was really touched by the amazingly supportive response they received. For a peek at some of the smaller pieces, check out this post. To see the full collection in person, please come check out my booth at one or more of these upcoming shows in Toronto:

Cabbagetown Art and Craft Festival - September 6-8, 2013

Danforth East Art Fair - Sept. 14-15, 2013

Queen West Art Crawl - Sept. 21-22, 2013 - booth M36 

Hope to see you soon!

xo
Jessica

Fine Art - smaller pieces available from The France Collection

As many of you know, last year I began creating my first collection of photo-based fine art pieces using images from my trip to France a few years back. I had a great time selecting the images to print and an even better time preparing the printed images for my first outdoor show last fall (the Queen West Art Crawl in Trinity Bellwoods park). 

I had giclee prints made on watercolour paper, and then hand sanded or tore the edges to give them a softer feel. I mounted them onto boards that had also been sanded to soften their sharp edges, and painted or stained to match the images. I gave all of them a few coats with a satin sealer to protect them, and added ribbon embellishments  or stencils to a lucky few.

The larger pieces have many images layered together to create surreal scenes - check out this post to see some of my favourite examples :)

The smaller ones are mostly images that are so close up that they become abstract gems of colour and pattern..

My favourite part about these smaller pieces is that because of the 1 1/2" depth of the boards, I was able to wrap the image around to two or more sides on many of the pieces.

They range in size, but most are either 4x4" or 6x8" (with a few 6x6") and they are perfect either as part of a set of 2 or 3, or just on their own to brighten up a smaller spot on your wall :)

These pieces are all one-of-a-kind, so once you fall in love with one you'd better grab it before someone else does! I'm happy to announce that you can come by and see them in person and hear their stories at the following upcoming shows:

Cabbagetown Art and Craft Festival - September 6-8, 2013

Danforth East Art Fair - Sept. 14-15, 2013

Queen West Art Crawl - Sept. 21-22, 2013 - booth M36 

To get all the lastest information about upcoming shows as dates are added, be sure to Like my Facebook page and Follow me on Twitter :) And if you have any inquiries, please feel free to email me!

Thanks and see you soon!

xo

Jessica