Deborah Borsos’s Weblog
The Art of Philately Project- about art, community culture, mountains,stamps…and moreArchive for June, 2008
Samplings…
I realized I was remiss (see previous post, “en plein air…”) in mentioning that not a stones’ throw away from that funny ol’ Toad Rock is a nifty campground for those who travel on two (motorized) wheels. This lovely spot for motorocyclists serves another part of Basin Culture. For those tempted to travel the winding scenic roads (which I hear are some of the best around for motorcycles) it’s a great place to stop and camp. Though I guess this Canada Day weekend (as per usual) the annual Toad Rock party is already started and you might need a shoe horn to wedge yourself in to the place.
On a different topic, It also occurred to me (eventually) that my style of painting has changed a fair bit since I started using soft pastel. Note: With pastel, when the entire surface is covered, its called “painting”. When only parts of the surface are covered (as with some portraits) its referred to as “drawing”. This was but one of many gems I discovered in my favourite mag, “The Pastel Journal” .
So these are a couple of samples of what I’ve done lately, which will be in my summer show as part of Nelson Artwalk in August.
“Carpets and Mirrors” is a collection of work observing what Mother Nature does, when decorating the great outdoors. They are both pastel on canvas and sprayed with clear varnish, so they kind of look like oil paintings. Pastels are just so diverse-try ‘em out some time!.
And now, since “ the wise ones” in the weather office suggest that it might be a fine hot weekend (for once) , Im off to paint up the Lardeau river a ways.
cheers! DB
©DBorsos. Use of all images by permission only.
Catching rainbows
I had to pull to a screeching halt on the way out to the highway t’other day. No, not to avoid hitting any bear,deer,coyotes,bunnies,turtles,elk,cougars,joggers,…etc. Merely to catch a rainbow. They are so fleeting here in the mountains; by the time I got the photo and drove another 5 minutes along the road, the clouds had shifted and the spectrum gone. That happens with painting too. For just an instant, (particularly with pastel) you hit the nail on the head and the exact colour or shadow or shape is there before you . Then, (being human), you think that adding “just one more” stroke of colour here or there will make it even better.
Ha! Some day I will learn to just stop – at the right time. DB
En plein air with added attractions
I forgot about the time of year it is when I set up my new easel yesterday, by the side of the road.
The mosquitos have certainly arrived . Painting with one hand while slapping the little blighters constantly with the other does not add to your ability to focus . So it was just a quick sketch which I was able to do, and which I will work on more in my studio….or wait til they buzz off (…) in August?…maybe.. and then I can go back to the same spot to finish more versions of this.
The pic above is of Toad Rock (the object of this painting expedition) . As the wonderful John Cooper says, “it just looks like a big ol’ toad”. John should know. He has painted Toad Rock many (hundreds of?) times over the years. And this lends itself to the Art of Philately project. These paintings ’ working on (24 in all) will make up a collection that represents a cross section of “Basin Culture”. I couldn’t leave out John Cooper when thinking of (Columbia) Basin Culture.
He has been in Queens Bay many years now and is a painter. He also knows more about colour and colour theory than just about anyone Ive met. And a character. Not your ordinary guy, is John, but one of a kind, and says it like it is; either in words or in vibrant paintings. He has a heart (and a paint palette) as big as all outdoors… So as a big tip of the hat to this guy and his abilities, I chose to make “one of the 24″ relate in some way to his life here in the West Kootenays. Toad Rock seemed appropriate. The photo doesnt look like much. Eventually you will see the finished artwork…. and you can judge if it looks like anything or not.Thanks for the inspiration John!. Now on to the next 23….chrs,DB.
Stamping out art (so to speak…)
Thanks Gail! Yes I know Anna Banana’s work - isn’t it great? Once Ive mastered a few hundred more options on this blog, I hope to make links to various sites and other artists work as well.
I will actually be using the Canada Post “Picture Postage” program to create
(legal tender) stamps with my artwork. This is by way of showing that anyone can be creative and (even) make a beautiful useful item for themselves. The other way of doing it would be to go through the process of submitting artwork to Canada Post and then waiting to see if they would be interested in my work for their stamps. Which (I discovered) takes quite a while. (You wouldn’t want to hold your breath waiting for the reply…!.).
I think the artists who are chosen are great and more power to them; but this way (via the Picture Postage ) is more immediate and far more accessible to
anyone who would like to have their very own stamps to slam on those
phone bills, power bills, tax bills …… or (most important) letters to Grandma! (and other mail).
And the idea of making an entire collection in one fell swoop kind of appealed to me. So there you have it.
My first adventure for this project, out into the big beautiful West Kootenay will be tomorrow to do some sketches near Queen’s Bay, on my way to Nelson. With any luck Ill have photos to start posting after that. Cheers, DB
The Art of Philately
Greetings!
“The Art of Philately:….is…
A project using original artworks to create a stamp collection
portraying our “Basin Culture” through its geography…
Recently I received word that a grant application I had written had been approved for a Major Project grant through the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance, here in the West Kootenay where I live, in south eastern British Columbia.
(After I stopped jumping up and down with glee), I rolled up my sleeves and began to prepare for the next 18 months in which the project will take place.
The “ Art of Philately” is a project with several purposes; it will allow me time to focus on my own artistic progress and process, and it is also meant to inspire others towards their own creative endeavours. As I create the pieces of artwork, some of them will be posted here on the blog (or on my website, which will soon make an appearance….)
I will be creating a collection of pastel landscapes over the next 10 months which relate in various ways to the culture of the Columbia Basin. Following their completion they will be turned into a stamp collection.
Culture: According to one dictionary I checked, “Culture” is: “the customs of a particular people or group”.
In this case, “Basin Culture” will be explored as it relates to our beautiful extraordinary geography and how we relate to it, through the arts, outdoor pastimes, cultural backgrounds of its residents, etc. The Kootenays (both East and West) which make up a large portion of the Columbia Basin are a planet unto themselves and offer a plethora of possibilities for this exhibit. as much as possible I hope to work outdoors, and as part of this project I will also be doing a brief artist in residency at the Kokanee Glacier hut sometime this summer (stay tuned for dates).
By April of 2009 the artworks (along with their stamps) will be completed and will be exhibited around the Columbia Basin in a variety of places, (most of them non-traditional galleries, such as municipal halls, libraries, etc) as well as on the blog and my website.
As I work my way through this project, you are invited and encouraged to post comments, lend suggestions of places I might include as locations to paint “en plein air” within the Basin, and share your own experiences related to pastel work, the arts, and arts in community or just being creative.
I will be posting comments and pictures about the project from now until October of 2009 on as regular a basis as time will allow. Once I figure out how to squeeze 36 hours into each day, it will make it much easier!. Happy creative trails. DB
