Monday, June 29, 2009

Explorations in art land....

So I just recently finished a very awesome, fun and interesting class at the Westmount Visual Arts Centre. . Back in January I was starting to get the winter dulldroms, and decided I needed to do something constructive. Since I had been experiencing some technical set backs in re-creating the vision inside my mind onto the canvas, I decided that taking a class might be a good idea.

I started researching art teachers in Montreal and had come across the website of an artist by the name of Melanie Mathews. I was very excited with what I was reading on her website about workshops but unfortunately I had a hard time getting in touch with her (cyber demons ate my email).



One event lead to another; the winter progressed the way winters do and just as the spring was starting here in Montreal, I decided it was a good idea to go to Calgary to participate in a group art cabaret at the city art gallery. After I got back from my trip, I decided at the last minute to see what classes still had space at the Visual Arts Centre.

I had narrowed my list down to two classes; one that specialized in the night-time scenery. The other was a class by Melanie Mathews.The night scenery class was canceled, so that left only one choice. I was very hesitant at first about taking Melanie's class only because I am not a morning person and the class was to begin at an ungodly hour; 9am!! Ouch! Who ever heard of starting a class at 9am? (ok, yes yes I am being slightly sarcastic)



Well, needless to say I had a few mornings of sleep-retardation, but asides from that, the class was completely worth it. I didn't realize before hand that the class was really just taking further an experimentation I had already begun on my own; working with textures and mixed mediums in art.

One of my favorite aspects of this class is that I have discovered how to make skins & transfers! Not to mention the exciting opportunity of trying out the many mediums that Melanie made available to us.



Melanie turned out to be a highly talented, intelligent, witty and informed teacher. She offered great observations and nudged us in the right directions in our classroom explorations. One of the aspects that made the class so interesting is that the students came from many walks of life, all ages, both professional and non-professional artists (and almost entirely all women, we had one token male). I have not taken an art class since high school, and those teachers combined with teenage angst, had left a bad taste in my mouth. So I really didn't expect to discover how much I really loved being surrounded by other artists busy at work on their creations. It's a really nice feeling and is very motivating with my own works.

I have attached photos of the 3 out of 4 paintings I finished in class (the 4th one I took home and started doing more work on it). I have all three of these paintings for sale on my etsy shop.


Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Beautiful adventures.... excitement in Aprilanna-land...

The Fringe Festival
Last night I went to see some old and new acquaintance-friends perform in their latest production by The Ancient Rugged Revival, Cabaret l’Amour Fou, as a part of the fringe festival. I simply have to quote the words of another attendee because it really "hits the nail on the nose":

The experience was as if I had dropped acid and spent "the evening shinning flashlights on the ceiling while watching your favourite new, or old-school pirate movies. Now play an old blues record and put on episodes of Jim Henson's The Muppet Show. All this and you'll come close to the experience I had while I was in attendance for this show. I can't hype this show up enough, nor does its artists need me to at all. Without a doubt, the people who see this show, whether they knew what they were in for or not, will, like a wild, giddy, brush fire, tell everyone they meet about the erotic, awesome dream of this show. If you want to see a show that you'll remember forever and will let you grow old knowing that you experienced something wild, see this show, hear this show, become possessed by this show!" - Steven McLeod

Hello everyone!!

It's been a while since I have posted here on my blog. Been experiencing a bit of a brain-fog when it comes to sitting down and typing out my adventures as they have been happening. But also I have taken up the hobby of creating video-journals (some are quite ghetto but fun all the same) of said adventures; but those videos are actually very time consuming to create but it's a great exercise for learning how to do video-editing & video creation!

My latest adventures have included Cabaret Carte Blanche; I created simple version of pan, the nature-god from Greek & Roman mythology (simular gods in Celtic mythology as well). "Pan" was played by JAIAaquarian, a good friend of mine and talented performer here from BC.



I also painted one theatre & spoken word artist, Alessandra Naaccarato, a very talented lady I might add; as well as the beautiful and talented singer MOE & her musical cohert, Pedro.
I will soon post up a video-journal about the Cabaret Carte Blanche.







Onto other news:

I started an Etsy shop so if anyone who loves my artwork, this is a good venue to shop through.... Of course if you are ever in Montreal, you are also welcome to come check out my work in person.

I am only just getting the shop developed, there will be alot more to come (for all budgets) but for now I have 3 body painting styled art sculpture busts, & 3 prints/posters listed....

Please check me out:

http://aprilanna.etsy.com