You probably suspect...

...that I've been lollygagging artistically over the past few months, but that is not remotely the case.

January was filled with Creative Jumpstart 2020 and when I say filled, I mean FILLED.  If you'd like to kick-start your creative year, I'd highly recommend it.  Organised by Natalie Kalbach, it includes video lessons by 31 well-known creatives.  Best part?  You can download them and keep them on file to refer to them later, as long as you do so before November 15/20.  It's not too late to get in on the fun, so I encourage you to hop over there and DO IT!

I had a ton of fun with the videos, and very much enjoyed each of them for the unique slant on creating. 

Here are some of the lessons I did manage to finish without too much in the way of error or outright fails.  The starter video by Natalie herself was a dead loss due to a major disagreement between some cardboard, a rubber stamp and yours truly, so it's on the back burner to try again.  Keep prompting me if you don't see it in the next month or so!!

I loved making this mini book from Tina Walker's video - it was a unique way to create the background and the book form itself.  

The above journal spread was the result of Marieke Blokland's video, and it's one of my best self portraits, don't you think?  Those of you who know me are aware of my cookie hound character.

If I'd bet on a lesson that I'd hate, the jewelry drawing one by Jane LaFazio would have won hands down.  WRONG!  It was a blast to do, and reminded me that actual drawing could be fun.

The return to colour theory by Andrea Gomoll (do these look like landscapes to you?) was a great exercise.

Painting emotions by Iris Fritschi-Cussens was another fun one.  I'm not much for painting faces at all, so this journal spread was a big stretch...and back to the drawing board.  ;-)

I'll share some more of these next week, and in the meantime, I'd love to hear how you're expanding your creative vision (post a link in your comment if you like!). 

I am not overly fond...

... of camouflage.  Well, let's tell the whole truth; it really nauseates me.  Camouflage speaks to me of killing - people, animals, hope.  That being the case, I thought I'd work on changing my mind about it when I heard of an upcoming need for paintings to support a good cause.  Here's the result of my mental meanderings about it.

'Midnight Garden Camouflage' 8" x 8" (ish) © Win Dinn  2020

A new addition to the Midnight Garden series, it portrays five soldiers shooting it out in a garden.  I'm currently in search of some miniature flowers to finish it off - they'll be coming out of the weapons when I find them.

It started with a panel, gessoed black and stencilled with flowers, above.  I used white gesso on a series of toy soldiers, and created some supports for the flowers.

I was testing placement of the soldiers above, and eventually moved the little guy from the bottom right to the right hand side of the panel...he liked it better there since he could more easily see what was coming from behind.

Here are some closeup shots.

I'm pretty sure that by the time I add the last of the flowers, my distaste for camouflage will have near disappeared (as long as it appears in a garden, at least).  

How about you - what have you been up to this week?  Tell me in the comments below, and feel free to add a link!  

An outstanding show

After months of hiatus on this blog, I can only tell you I've had a great summer, fall and even the start, middle and (hopefully) end of winter.

What's got me back, you ask?  Well, it's a wonderful show at The Tilted Brick Gallery here in Creston, BC, that showcases some amazing colour and texture from local fabric artist Anne Fetterly.

Anne uses natural dyes to create her luscious fabrics, and they range from rich dark indigo to soft yellows, and everything in between.

From dying to hand-stitching, each piece is meticulously crafted, and many of them speak to the beauty that is the Kootenays.

These hanging panels puddle into a bed of the onion skins which were their colour source.

With one exception, the leaves on these organza panels are all local.  The patterning of them is so soft and engaging that one could get lost in the viewing.

Those of you who know me are aware that I am crazy about rust and steampunk, and these two canvasses cover both items masterfully.  Each of them is 42" x 45", and the impact is tremendous.

 I love the subtle shimmer on this panel - it changes from each minute shift in direction of the viewer.

Here is Anne's 'sketchbook' wall - it details the process for some of the pieces created and is rife with colour and texture on its own.

Anne's love of natural colour translates into stunningly crafted clothing as well as fabric, both shown to great effect here.  I really should have taken a closeup shot of the extraordinary stitching on the jacket.

This intricate pattern has me enthralled.

I fell in love with both the colour and the subtle patterns on these panels.  Anne's explanation of the process (four dye batches, I believe) had my mouth hanging open and my eyeballs popping out of my head.

If you are anywhere near our small town, I can't recommend this show enough; you will be astounded.  It runs through to March 7, 2020.