Frolicking on Volcanoes

While on Maui we took a boat tour of volcanic formations along the shoreline where lava had flowed from craters and vents to the sea shore.

The nimble pontoon rafts on a calm day were able to get close enough to the basalt were we could have reached out and touched it. We ventured inside compression chambers and wave built caves.
The most recent lava flow was 200 years ago and the area is overdue for another.
A bonus on the trip was seeing dolphins and whales close by and snorkeling with turtles. It was an exciting day on the water and made up for having to get up at 5:30 in the morning.

We moved from our apartment on the beach up to a B 'n' B in the mountain area, known as Up Country. We drove up to 10,000 feet to the top of the crater then went hiking. It felt like we were on top of the world. I must admit I had a headache which was probably caused by the altitude.

The weather changed every few minutes with clouds coming and going, adding to the special atmosphere of the place. It felt like the place where I was born, the volcanic area in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand.
I loved the whole experience.

Maui Shoreline

And across the Pacific, about halfway, are the Hawaiian Islands, that also have exciting shorelines.

Here are some images of our recent visit to Maui where we spent time exploring the shoreline of the island.

Steep volcanic cliffs, wild waves and unique vegetation kept us exploring even when the roads were narrow (one way in sections), winding, and rock strewn.

I collected a wide range of different coloured volcanic soil to stain paper.

West Coast Storm Watching

We had a few days on the West coast of Vancouver Island last week. Our mission was 'Storm Watching'. I want to see those power-pole sized logs being tossed like toothpicks high up the beach as though it was a game of pick up sticks.
But once again the weather was way too pleasant, though one night we did hear thunder and see lightening and we found a small newly-arrived log resting on the beach.
We got in lots of walks along different beaches and explored the area more.
It was a most relaxing time.

Some Inspiring Music

I am working on finding inspiration for my BA studies.
I found this performance to be inspiring.

More Dyeing

I have been doing a lot of dyeing to get materials to work with for my BA studies.

I have not yet been entirely successful with getting the right red I am looking for. So I am persevering and learning lots in the meantime.

Not a good image but this one worked out well. It looks like a licorice colour.

These 2 need over-dyeing with a few more layers to build up the richness and depth of colour I am after.

And a few more...

Automatic Stitch

Some more examples of students' work using automatic stitches on their machines.

Fun With Automatic Stitches

Here are the results of 2 exercises the class did last week.
Such a variety of responses to one set of directions.

Each student is developing her own personal colour palette so their work is really beginning to reflect their personality.

We will be doing more exercises on developing one's style (or finding it) in the following weeks.

Thread Painting

I had fun at Kilshaw's auction house last night.
I was interested in one lot - 2 thread paintings.

I came home very pleased to have won the lot for $17.50.

They are signed by Anne-Marie Matte-Desrosiers (born 1905) from Saint Hyacinthe, Quebec who won awards for her work and exhibited in expositions in New York and Montreal.

And hung for many years in the "Snug" at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, Victoria.
They are very skillfully worked and fine examples of the technique.
Click the above link in the title 'Thread Painting' if you are interested in more details about this artist and more examples of her work.

Class at Victoria College of Art

We spent most of the morning examining our fabrics after tray dyeing.

There was such a variety of results.

We learnt so much from each other as each person show their fabrics and explained what they did to get the results.

An afternoon exercise involved working with lots of different fabrics that had a layer of automatic machine stitches added. We are all looking forward to seeing the results next week.

What have I been doing???

I haven't posted images of any of my work for such a long time. You must be thinking I have been lying around painting my nails or something.
I have been making stuff but I can't show it to you.
Articulation is exhibiting at the Whyte Museum, Banff Alberta in September this year and the curator, Michelle Lang, wants it all to be new work unseen by the public. As a result I am short on images to post here.
But here is something to make you smile and feel good.
A performance artist....a juggler.


Download  The Juggler. 

Tray Dyeing At VCA

The students in my Mark Making With Machine class yesterday worked on building up grounds to sample on.

Using Leslie Morgan and Claire Benn's tray dyeing method they each dyed about 4 meters of assorted fabrics in their chosen hue. Next week they will re-dye some of the fabric to add a second layer.

They also painted some gradations, a la Ruth Issett.

The students are doing a number of exercises to build up a personal palette in an analogous colour scheme.