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.

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

Video Journal - Last Weekend of May - Trip into the forest to work on my art...

Body Painting Art Bust - now available on Etsy

I opened an Etsy Shop for my art works & other hand-made items. I am only just getting started with this, so there is only one item up for sale right now, but there will be more later.

Singing and humming: my art journal, May 2009

I have started a video journal of my world as an artist...

Cabaret Carte Blanche

Throw Poetry Collective Presents

Cabaret Carte Blanche
Friday June 5th, 2009
Doors 7:30 Show 8:00
Theatre St. Catherine – 264 St. Catherine St. E.
$10 at the door

Featuring:
Music by Pharmakon MTL, Michelle Tompkins, James Irwin, Jindalee Lehman
Spoken Word by Moë Clark, Larissa Diakiw, The Throw Collective (including Chris Masson & Alessandra Naccarato)
Mixed Media Performances by Tender Morsels, Rachna Vohra, Vincent Tinguely & John Stuart
Live Body Painting by The Art of April-Anna
& more

7 New Videos

The past 7 days... 3 new videos...

So there has been alot going on for me & my work in the past 7 days; about as much I as I could handle....


The film right below is: the Interdemensional Art Show in Montreal, organized by artist Chris Dyer and Psychonaut Gift Shop. Music is by the "Feast of Spirits", a project of Oliver Lewis & Anna Luisa Daigneault. http://www.myspace.com/montrealvisionaryartshow




I had the body painting competition on May 3rd (more professional photos & videos to come), I worked on completing a large canvas painting all week in my studio (professional photos to come), I went to a technical acrylic class on wednesday at the Westmount Arts Centre, I had a paid contract at a bar in Saint Hyacinthe on May 9th, and prepared for the Interdemensional Art Show on saturday May 9th.





Here is the video from the bar show in Saint Hyacinthe.

This Saturday - "Interdemensional Art Show"

I am participating in a one night only art show here in Montreal this saturday. I don't like to label myself or talk much about my inspirations since the audience of my work is quite broad, I like to harmonize with the people I am with. I am a spiritual person who looks at life through a filter filled with imagination and magick.

This is exactly what this art show is about; Chris Dyer has gathered the international artististic community (many disciplines) who draw from the spiritual & imaginative realms that we find through meditation & good intentions; our common ground is our common goal to leave this earth in a better state then when we got here.

I am showing my latest painting (completed today!) in the "Interdemensional Art Show" as well as I will have a boothspace there... There will be a large art gallery plus live music, performers & crafters market...

The art show got an article published in the "Montreal Mirror"; when you go to the page please scroll down.

Please come out and support us! Lots of dancing, lots of fun! One day only!

This is from the pre-competition photo-shoot test I did in preparation for Color Mundo. Photography by Pierre Simard, model "Kimberly".

Color Mundo

Video Interview with Push-Play TV

Upcoming Events - May 2nd to the 10th

Color Mundo: Body Painting Competition - Sunday May 3rd

Color Mundo: Body Painting Competition
April-Anna is a Sponge & Brush Body Painter & Competitor

Start Time:	03 May 2009 at 08:00
End Time:	04 May 2009 at 18:00
Location:	Marché Bonsecours
Street:	350 St-Paul Est
Town/City:	Montreal, QC

Interdimensional Art Show

Start Time:	09 May 2009 at 17:00
End Time:	10 May 2009 at 03:00
Location:	The Eastern Bloc
Street:	7240 rue Clark, close to metros De Castelnau (blue) and Jean Talon (orange)
Town/City:	Montreal, QC

Fantasy or Fashion: Face Painting Workshop - May 10th, 11am-5pm
This is an introductory workshop for the beginner. Learn how to do styles for both kids & adults.
Registration deadline is May 5th.
$100.
514-243-4315

Colour Mundo: upcoming body painting competition!

So the Color Mundo Body Painting competition is coming up in a week; Sunday May 3rd....

This is my second time participating... Competing is such a strange phenomena to me, I don't like competing, and it was a strange, reflective process watching my reactions last year to being in the competative environment... But it's good because all in all it forces me to grow... But I sort of wish that I didn't want to win, but I do want to win!! Why do I want to win??? Is it an ego thing?? I am not sure... exposure? recognitition? animalistic competition??? I have not figured out what my intentions are when I discovered I wish to win...



The theme last year was Ecology and Destruction. This year it is "Fantasy Worlds".

Last year I was actually really stressed out the whole time and way too short on sleep. At 4am, laying there tossing and turning, (I was so nervous about doing the competition) and some very drunk happy people from the auberge were below our bedroom window being way too loudly happy in the beaming heat of the newly arrived summer; hence I did the competition on 1 hour sleep... But I did do my yoga before I went!!! ... LMAO... This year I hope to be happy go lucky, and well slept....

It's super intense competing because you have 5 hours to execute your full head to foot body painting; for anyone who does body painting, you know that it's a marathon to achieve this and make it look good.

Anyways, I am trying to go into this for the fun of it, I am trying to have no attachment to outcome and I hope to make my peers feel comfortable and happy to see me...

That is something I appreciated last year is that the attitudes between competitors is actually very positive and very humble... People were so nice to me, it was really lovely.... I could tell that all the competitors were sad they didn't win but everyone was also very happy for those who did win... It was great!


It's really an opportunity to challenge myself to grow both artistically and personally.... My model this year is Kimberely, (model mayhem #79959); we are doing a test run of the concept I have for the event this tuesday in the studio with photographer Pierre Simard. Kimberely is also a hair stylist and will be doing her own hair.

If you come out to Color Mundo to see the competition, please be sure to stop by and say hello!!

Art Gallery of Calgary

Here are the videos & some photos from the recent art cabaret, The Dreadful Gestalt, which was organized by the Papa Wheely Association, at the Art Gallery of Calgary, April 10th. The videos are all posted on you-tube and you can access them by clicking on the links below.

The Art of April-Anna

Model photoshoot

Music

Go away part one

Go away part two


For more photos, please go see my facebook profile. I have photos set up in an album from the entire trip, plus photos specific to the art show on my group page for the art of April-Anna.

Calgary

So exciting! Today is the big day of the art cabaret at the city art gallery in Calgary. I will have to share photos when I get back to Montreal, because I forgot to bring my cord so I could download photos onto my laptop... It's been a great week...

So tonight I will do a live body painting on a contortionist, and will display 5 pieces of my artwork. It's one night only, so if you are in Calgary, you should come check it out! There are 50 artists involved, live music and some performers. Will be lots of fun!

Tickets are $20; I have a couple tickets with me, so if you want to come out, give me a shout on my cell phone & business line: 514-243-4315

April Fools Day

Ok, I admit, I forgot that today was April 1st. I wish I was more on the ball and could think up some awesome and grand prank to pull on all of you via my blog; but alas, my creativity seems not to include pranks...

Oh ye tall tales... spinning a good yarn is a talent.... Maybe I can dream up something for next year...

"April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day, although not a holiday in its own right, is a notable day celebrated in many countries on April 1. The day is marked by the commission of hoaxes and other practical jokes of varying sophistication on friends, family members, enemies, and neighbors, or sending them on a fool's errand, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible. Traditionally, in some countries, the jokes only last until noon: like UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa, someone who plays a trick after noon is called an "April Fool".^[1] Elsewhere, such as in Ireland, France, and the USA, the jokes last all day." - Quoted from Wikipedia

Origins

"The origin of April Fools' Day is obscure. One likely theory is that the modern holiday was first celebrated soon after the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar; the term referred to someone still adhering to the Julian Calendar, which it replaced.^[2] In many pre-Christian cultures May Day (May 1) was celebrated as the first day of summer, and signalled the start of the spring planting season. An April Fool was someone who did this prematurely. Another origin is that April 1 was counted the first day of the year in France. When King Charles IX changed that to January 1, some people stayed with April 1. Those who did were called "April Fools" and were taunted by their neighbors.^{[citation needed]} In the eighteenth century the festival was often posited as going back to the times of Noah. An English newspaper article published on April 13th, 1789 said that the day had its origins when he sent the raven off too early, before the waters had receded. He did this on the first day of the Hebrew month that corresponds with April.^[3] A possible reference to April Fools' Day can be seen in the Canterbury Tales (ca 1400) in the Nun's Priest's tale, a tale of two fools: Chanticleer and the fox, which took place on March 32nd" - Quote from Wikipedia

For anyone wanting a good April Fool's Day Joke, I recommend this BBC youtube video (very amusing).

Royal Astronomical Society of Canada

In Westmount, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada organized their own contribution to Earth Hour by organizing a public gathering at the top of Westmount look-out to view the moon, & Saturn. Members & hobbyist star gazers were kind enough to bring up their private telescopes to share with all those present. It was quite alot of fun to gaze at the craters of the moon with my own naked eyes, little say the rings of Saturn; sure beats gazing at photos on the Internet!