The Best Intentions...

A whole week has whizzed by and I didn't get this posted, despite my best intentions. I had errands to run on last Saturday, down town. When I got back to the car, my husband pointed out the graffiti/murals in the laneway near where we were parked and then proceeded to drive down it slowly, so I could snap some photos. It was really cool! I'll have to go back sometime on foot and take better photos.

Some of my errands were at Granville Island. We had lunch there and did a walk about. This kind of amused me-graffiti outside Emily Carr. Those darn art students are *so* destructive! I actually enjoy finding their art work here and there around the campus. I purposely look for it.

I shot this photo of Indy eating peas fresh out of our garden. It cracks me up! Blur, crazy eye and teeth! It must be said though that Indy is the gentlest and most polite dog and no fingers are ever hurt when giving him treats. He's so good I've let babies feed him cookies or freeze dried fish. 

It really was a busy week-I delivered friends to the airport so they could fly off to Iceland (envious!), I had a Won with One board meeting and I also watched the episode of TV show I was on. This is the show I spent 5 days shooting last year-it finally went to air. I was very nervous about it because it was "reality" TV and it was a very odd experience. I can officially say I've been there, done that. 'Nuff said.

Here are a few token photos from the 5 day shoot. I didn't take too many because our schedule was pretty hectic.

The Producer on the bus PA giving us the break down of what the day's shooting is going to look like.



One of the locations we went to had this beautiful old barn. You can't tell from this angle, but I did get some pretty shots from the front, which I am saving to use in a project at some point. I adore old barns.

Selfie on the bus on the way home. I think this had to be day 3. We were all exhausted. I was suffering through a steroid treatment (pills) which was pretty awful. I must have been out of my mind to be doing tv while having an attack and taking major amounts of steroids which made me quite sick, but when I want to do something, I *DO* it. By day 4, I just wanted to be home in bed and on day 5 I spent the whole day reminding myself it was almost over.

I am about to launch into working on a secret project, which I will share more about in the fall. Meanwhile, speaking of steroids, I'll be spending 3 days next week at the hospital having infusions again. Not pleased, but if I want to keep using my hands and my left leg, I have to go do it. My summer is being taken up with hospitals and specialists and tests. Fun times! It is what it is. Autumn can't get here fast enough!

Catching Up

Hello again! I know things have been quiet lately. Life stuff, ya know? Add to that we just survived a very long heat wave (ask me how much I hated every second of it) and I haven't been spending much time in the studio. Things have cooled down finally, so here I am.

We had some summer adventures around town before the heatwave hit. 

Here's a peek:

Random graffiti found while walking on the False Creek Seawall. I always have my eyes peeled for little gems like these.

We checked out the Food Cart Fest which is running weekly on Sundays from noon-5 pm in Vancouver. If you're in town, go! There are about 20 or so food carts to choose from. If you're a VanCity member, you can get in free-just flash your bank card. If you're not, no worries-admission is minimal-$2 gets you in. You can get all the details here.

We ventured into the forest at Stanley Park and diverged from the marked path to find Two Spirits nestled amongst the trees. It's been there for over 20 years and this is the first time my husband and I had ever seen it. It's pure magic and one of Stanley Park's best kept secrets.

A couple weeks ago, Indy had his first Charleson Park swim this year. I love that I manage to capture him mid-leap! He loves the dog pool there so much. I wish there was one closer to home. Whomever designed this feature in the park is brilliant. My dog thanks you.

In the meantime, I've been prepping for classes and doing some other things that are hush-hush for now. Autumn is going to be crazy busy. The current Health Mentors program will be resuming in September and the 2014-2015 session will also be launching. I've been confirmed to do VIP Transportation Dispatch for the 102nd Grey Cup Festival in November. (For non-Canadians, that's our big national professional football championship.) I had such a great time volunteering at the 99th Grey Cup that as soon as I heard we were hosting the 102nd, I was immediately on board. There are several other things coming up that I am involved in, so my dance card is filling up fast.

Just a quick update for now. Hope your summer is going well!

Scenes From A Weekend

Thursday night, dinner with my husband at OSF. We love their BamBam Shrimp. So nice to not have to cook after a long commute to UBC. I had an interview with a doctor/professor who is here from the UK to learn about the Health Mentors program and see if it's something that can implement in their country to better the education of their health care professionals. It was a fascinating conversation and I'll be interested in hearing what the outcome is. Amazing to think Health Mentors here are potentially having an impact on the future of health care in the UK!

Friday: We were up and out early to Granville Island since this was the only day forcasted as sunny this weekend and we wanted to spend as much of it outdoors as possible. Indy got a good walk, I got to shoot some photographs, (Don'tcha just love this graffiti?) and we all got to lunch in the sunshine. It felt so good to soak up some vitamin D! The innumerable ornamental cherry trees that are so common here are thick with blooms. Their branches are hanging low they are so loaded.

Of course what's a trip to Granville Island without a wee bit of retail therapy? I discovered that The Cloth Shop has moved to the island-not sure why I hadn't noticed it there before...granted, it is tucked away on a back corner, so it's not entirely obvious. Anyway, they have evolved into a store that is carrying mostly modern style fabrics! I had to have this piece which seemed so collage-y to me. It kind of looks red in this photo, but it's actually a very vibrant orange. I even love the salvage! Really, I wanted to buy more, but I'll visit again next time I'm out there.

I've been looking for these stamps for awhile now and happened to spot it at Paper Ya yesterday. $14 for this charming set.

Too cute! I like that it reminds me of pictures from a 1950's reader.

I made granola from scratch yesterday afternoon. I had some for brekki this morning. It was delicious. 

Today I am taking my husband to this amazing Italian grocery I just found out about and then I am meeting a friend for coffee on Commercial Drive. (A trendy/funky part of town.) It's already been a busy weekend and it's only Saturday! I see a nap in my future!

P.S. Some exciting news is *almost* read to share...stay tuned!

Catching Up!

(Graffiti I spied yesterday!)

Hello! It's been awhile since I last posted. I've been uber busy! May was a whirlwind and somehow that managed to spill over into June. I have had next to no time in the studio so far this month. Instead I've been running back and forth to doctor's appointments interspersed with socializing and a day or two of much needed down time.

Last night was the first Popluck flash mob picnic of the summer. (Or last one in the spring, depending on how you want to look at it.) We had a great time and saw a few familiar faces from last year. It was held in the square beside the Law Courts in New Westminster. The food was delicious and we got to meet some new people, which is always fun. Now we're just waiting for Al Fresco to launch theirs.

I received an invite from the UBC Health Mentors program to help interview potential Health Mentors over the summer. They are recruiting for 2013-2014, so if you live in the Lower Mainland and either live with chronic illness and/or disability or are a caregiver to someone who does and are interested in volunteering with the program, give me a shout and I'll put you in touch. I can't say enough good things about the program, it's value and the students and faculty involved. It's having such a positive impact.

I am about to embark on a *secret project* in the next week. It's something pretty big, but I can't say any more than that. It's really cool and a great adventure which I will share with you when I am free to do so. (It will be awhile, so you'll have to be patient!) Let's just say it's one of those life list things. *wink*

Next weekend in the wrap up for the volunteers for the FCM conference. The city is renting out a theatre and treating us to an afternoon at the movies. I'm looking forward to catching up with friends. The following Sunday, I have tickets (which I won from Vancouver Jazz Festival!) for Shane Koyczan. I just *adore* him! He's playing with Short Story Long at the Vogue. I've invited my friend Jenn to come with me. I can't wait!

I am grateful to have so many good things going on right now, to try and distract me from the fact that I am having to have treatment again. *sigh* Steroids, as my friend Nancy puts it are Satan's tic tacs. They are extremely hard on the body, but a necessary evil. I am doing a high dose pulse with pills (as a concession to my complete unwillingness to give up my plans to NMO right now) but if my neuro isn't happy with the results after 10 days, I will have to go in and do 3 (or possibly more) days of IV steroids. I'm battered, but unbowed and forging ahead through sheer force of will right now.

I have an art date in Early July with my pal Carol and we're going to spend an afternoon Gelli Printing, so there WILL be art on this blog again eventually! I've been stocking up on paint because I know once we start, we're not going to be able to stop! Oh and I should also mention that the fabulous Mary Ann Moss has a new class launching soon, called Sewn. The talented Roben-Marie Smith also has a new workshop, You've Got Mail...Art! which looks amazing. Both look like a lovely way to while away the summer!

Okay, must run! It's Father's Day and my darling husband is waiting for me to make him a special brekki. We're taking him out for lunch later at Granville Island. I'm hoping to shoot some nice photos of him with our son.

YAYOM Whistler Part 2: Graffiti

On Saturday, Vivienne took us to shoot photos in Ross Rebagliati Park. (Which ironically or appropriately, depending on which way you want to look at it, smelled like pot.) Anyway, I noticed there was a skate park there, filled with fantastic graffiti (one of my favourite things!) so I decided to come back early Sunday morning with my camera when it would be quieter.

This guy is the main artist responsible for all the caricature work in the skate park. I believe he's working on an image of Gene Simmons. I didn't get to ask him personally-the air was very fumy with all the paint he was spraying and he had a respirator on. (Smart guy!) Apparently (according to the 20-something skaters I talked to) Gene Simmons has a place up in Whistler, so he's sort of local.

The skater guys were very friendly. I think they were surprised to see my tooling around so very early in the morning, taking photos of their skate park. One of them chatted me up and when he discovered I was there for a photography course, pulled out his iPhone and started showing me all the shots he'd taken of his friends that morning. He was actually pretty talented-he got some great shots and they were really well composed. Talk art and you can instantly make friends with just about anybody!

There will be more about Whistler again tomorrow!

Diamond In The Rough

Diamond in the Rough

Just a quick post this morning to share this image I've created from a photo I shot on the Artful City walk on Saturday. Basically, it was a bunch of posters remnants on a wall. Layers had been created from things that had been hung, ripped down and posted over several times.

Some people see a mess. 

I see possibility. 

A photo, some time spent finessing, doing that voodoo I do and this is the result. I think this is one of my most favourite images yet.

Once Upon A City

So here's my second Montage video. This one uses only stills, but I really wanted to make a video about my love for graffiti, so there you have it! Some of the images are created from photographs I've taken and then finessed through the magic of post-processing and the rest are just as I found them. 

I'll have to make a page on my blog sidebar to house my Montage work. It's highly addictive and I see more movies in my future! In the meantime, I've put a link button for my Vimeo channel on the sidebar.

Alchemy

This is the starting point. Most people would delete this off their memory card. I only see potential. I love working with images I've taken of the nooks and crannies of our city and the impromptu collaboration with anonymous artists.

The Record Keeper

I am in love with the alchemy of what I do. It feels powerful. 

Vancouver's Hidden Gem

I'm now into my 2nd week of Swan Dive. I've already learned something new from taking this class a second time and I'm really enjoying meeting new classmates and reconnecting with familiar ones. Everyone dove right in and the work has been amazing already! This week, we're talkin' textures and I've been busy!

Our instructor, Vivienne lives in Vancouver and often shoots at a warehouse that is home to the motherload of all graffiti. I LOVE graffiti! Vivienne very kindly pointed me in the right direction and so on Saturday, my husband, Indy and I went to go check it out. I was not disappointed! This place is a hidden gem.

As I was wandering around, snapping photos, two guys pulled up in a truck and began unloading painting supplies. They are two of the artists who have been working on the building for some time. I'll have to go back in the summer and see  how the building has evolved.

 Warehouse


The warehouse itself is a really interesting building. The wood is weathered and aged and lots of the windows are broken. I could see the faded evidence of signage near the roof line from days gone by. I shot a ton of photos and it's likely you'll see more of them here, as time goes on.

My apparent gift for finding couches in bizarre settings is becoming a bit of a joke and I couldn't resist documenting them too. Perhaps this is going to become a new series?!?  This is #2 in a series I like to call Urban Couches.*laughs*

Only In Vancouver

This is #1, which was shot at the dog beach a couple weeks ago. The dogs (predictably) had had a go at it and I imagine the city has carted it off by now.

I've also been revisiting some photos I shot for previous classes, but never worked with. Sometimes there is wisdom in waiting to work on something until you know what you want to do with it, as is the case with this image. I shot this graffiti (the words) on the edge of Chinatown last summer and now I've layered with various textures.

An "art" installation on the grounds of the Vancouver Museum, also from last summer. No cloning here-this is what it actually looks like! 

November


This shot is a favourite from my visit to the salmon graveyard in the fall.
As always, click on the images if you want to view them larger.

EDIT:

Before & After

I am adding this before and after image so you can see the dramatic difference between the photograph I shot and the results post-processing can yield. THIS is my sweet spot of creativity and why I love Swan Dive so much!


Before I sign off, just a reminder that sign ups are in full swing for the Washi Tape exchange I'm hosting. Just 5 more days to join the fun!
Details are here.