Encaustic Art workshop May 23 & 24

Join me, Jan Kreut,  for a

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2-day Encaustic Workshop

May 23 & 24

10am to 3pm

Quail’s Nest Arts Centre

5840 Airport Street, Oliver BC

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All art supplies are included. The basics will be covered the first day and we will cover layering, incising, & embedding and make an imprinted T-shirt the second day.

 

Bring a T-shirt or other cotton article on Day 2. The cost for the 2 days is $150. Register early as the class is limited to 12.

Contact Jan Kreut at 250-498-4090 or email kreutopia @ gmail.com

Encaustic Art workshop May 23 & 24

Join me, Jan Kreut,  for a

kreutopia_1345231992_600

2-day Encaustic Workshop

May 23 & 24

10am to 3pm

Quail’s Nest Arts Centre

5840 Airport Street, Oliver BC

v3g_3

All art supplies are included. The basics will be covered the first day and we will cover layering, incising, & embedding and make an imprinted T-shirt the second day.

 

Bring a T-shirt or other cotton article on Day 2. The cost for the 2 days is $150. Register early as the class is limited to 12.

Contact Jan Kreut at 250-498-4090 or email kreutopia @ gmail.com

Take an Art Trip on May long weekend

submitted by Thea Haubrich of Twin Lakes Encaustic Art

This year for the first time ever Artists’ Studios in Naramata, Summerland, Penticton and south to Vaseux Lake, will all hold special open houses on May 19 and 20 from 11 am – 5 pm.

The ART TRIP is a free self guided driving tour that will create a memorable day or two. The adventure begins with you, just circle the studios you think will be most interesting, invite a friend and go for your tour. Take a break for lunch at one of the valley’s amazing wineries or cafes and then carry on to more art studios, see as many as you like. You can start again the next day and go to a different area. Bring the kids, it’s a nice way to expose them to the arts.

The ART TRIP is a unique opportunity to see up close and personal how artists work, ask them questions and learn about the stories behind the art. You’ll see places you never knew existed and you might discover a new favorite artist. Learn how jewellery is made, see a sculptor at work, a blacksmith’s fire, or a piece of wood turned into a bowl. Watch the printing process of t-shirts, see a potter throwing clay or a photographer’s cameras and techniques. You can go into a clothing designer’s studio or see how glass is fused into beautiful objects and watch an artist make magic happen with wax, pastels or paint on canvas, paper or fabric.

“I have toured many of the studios and am very impressed with the quality and diversity of the work. We are fortunate to have a strong arts community in Summerland and the South Okanagan” said Lisa Jaager, Manager of the Summerland Chamber and Visitor Centre. “We are pleased to support the local arts and specifically our studios, there are always maps and information at the Visitor Centre as well as examples of local artists work at the Made in Summerland shop attached to the Visitor Centre”.

So, jump in your car or on your bike and take the ART TRIP. ”If you can’t take the Art Trip on the May long weekend, there are plenty of opportunities to visit the studios throughout the summer. May 19/20 is the opening of the season, and most of the studios will be welcoming visitors through until the fall. Many are open every day. Brochures and websites have all the information you’ll need to check days and times with the studios you want to visit. “

Art on the Naramata Bench:  www.naramatartstudios.com   Fourteen studios feature interesting artwork of many kinds, come and meet the artists who have chosen to live and work in the unique setting that is the Naramata Bench, including arts council member Renee Matheson at Robinson Point Studio (Robinson Bed and Beach).

Summerland and Trout Creek www.studiotour.wordpress.com    Not only is Summerland known for its rural beauty but who would have guessed you’d find more than 16 different artists studios. Come and explore the world of art in Summerland.

Lake to Lake www.tinyurl.com/lakestudio   On the Lake-to-Lake tour you will visit 8 artists’ studios in Penticton and 4 studios located between Penticton and Vaseux Lake, including arts council member Twin Lakes Encaustic Art . The self-guided route lies along the Corkscrew Drive on the east side of Skaha Lake, where big horn sheep are often seen. Enjoy the scenery, the wildlife, and expand your art collection through a personal connection with the artist.

Our Lake-to-Lake Studio Tour members are once again exhibiting work at Tangled Vines Estate Winery. I helped hang the show and the tasting room now looks like a real gallery!

TwinLakes Encaustic Art Ltd.
Thea Haubrich
128 Eastside Road
Okanagan Falls, B.C.
250 497 5163
info @ encaustic.ca
www.encaustic.ca
www.theahaubrich.com

RipOff Artists go-go-go Gothic

The RipOff Artists fifth anniversary Challenge concluded this week with a race to the finish, a ringing bell, and a burst of applause and cheers. The multimedia collective has been hard at work since Monday July 4 creating several works of art inspired by American Gothic by Grant Wood. As an added challenge, each artist in the collective chose their own iconic artist to imitate when “ripping off” the original piece. At 3:00 p.m. on Saturday July 9 , the time ran out on this year’s Challenge, with most artists completing their work.

 

 

 

Marion Trimble followed the style of Mexican painter Freida Kahlo when recreating American Gothic in mixed media. Freida and artist husband Diego Rivera replace the farming couple. Rivera holds a set of paint brushes instead of the pitchfork. The farmhouse only partially conceals Kahlo’s famous Blue House studio. Lush palm trees stand in for Iowa fields.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kurt Hutterli, a 3-D artist specializing and found objects and recycled materials, copied the bold style of Alexander Calder. Hutterli incorporates  Calder’s palette of bright primary colours for the simple wood figures, and Calder’s love of mobiles for the clouds pverhead. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JoAnn Turner, painting on a wooden cabinet, adopted the style of Byzantine iconography for a “diptych” of the farming couple, giving them the dark brown eyes and swarthy complexion more typical of  Byzantine art.    The drawer above was decorated with Byzantine architecture. Turner says she has more detail work to do, perhaps incorporating the delicate artwork of another medieval religious painter Hildegard of Bingen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Encaustic artist Thea Haubrich mimicked the style of Japanese wood-block artist  Katsushika Hokusai. Hokusai is well-known for The Great Wave and several paintings of Mount Fuji. In Haubrich’s reproduction, a pagoda replaces the farmhouse in the background. In front, a Japanese lady and a grimacing samurai (in wire-frame spectacles) pose together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quilter Dianne Birnie experimented in the style of Gustav Klimt. She combined two separate society portraits by Klimt. She enjoyed the contrast between Klimt’s high society models and the American dustbowl setting of the dirty 30s.

 

 

 

 

 

Photographer Russell Work adopted the style of Salvador Dali. Work took inspiration from several of Dali’s techniques: Melting timepieces were replaced with a melting  cameo brooch and eyeglasses.  Dali’s use of wire suspension and props were used for the farmhouse and the farmer’s chin. Dali’s famous waxed mustache twirls into curled and drooping pitchfork tines. Mimicking Dali’s Mae West painting, in which the actress’ face is transformed into a stage, Russell Work similarly transforms the farmwife’s face and blouse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leo Pedersen admits he struggled to find an appropriate artistic style in which to reproduce American Gothic in his chosen medium: wood.  He finally settled on something very unconventional but entirely appropriate, Vancouver Sun editorial cartoonist. Len Norris. Norris was known for “skewering social mores”, much like it is supposed Grant Wood does in American Gothic. Pedersen’s work includes a typical editorial caption poking fun at the RipOff Artists, Grant Wood, and Norris himself: “…and this just when we’re through posing for that cartoonist fellow!” grumbles the farmer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barb Levant took her inspiration from a 1930s textile artist to recreate the apron worn in American Gothic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In perhaps the most challenging recreation of American Gothic, fibre artist Terri Irvine knits a Picasso!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enid Baker’s painting was inspired by the style of Modigliani, whose models are often shown with elongated bodies, oddly bent necks,  and mask-like faces. Basing her design on Modigliani’s portrait Jacques and Berthe Lipchitz, she added a wine glass in Jacques hand– much more  appealing than a pitchfork! The background is based on a separate Modigliani landscape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enid must have had time on her hands, because she also completed this “Gothic” version of  Charles Schultz’s  Peanuts comic. “I was tempted to add some Gothic vampire teeth,” said Baker.

Missed the show? Watch for a RipOff Artists exhibit later in the year….

 Photo credit: Penelope Johnson

RipOff Artists make it official

It’s official: the RipOff Artists are the newest group to join the Oliver Community Arts Council. In their own words, the RipOff Artists are “a group of talented artists in many media who join forces every summer to interpret a masterpiece by a famous artist in their own way, to learn new skills and have a lot of fun. ” Pictured at left, they are: Terry Irvine (fibre), Kurt Hutterli (3D, found objects), Barb Levant (weaving), Thea Haubrich (encaustic), Enid Baker (fine art, quilting), JoAnn Turner (fine art on objects), Marion Trimble (fine art, collage, mixed media),  Russell Work (photography) and — not pictured — Dianne Birnie (quilting).

Nearly all its members have also been  individual members of the council, with a few serving as executive officers of the OCAC over the years. All this had given the group a long and affectionate association with the council. Group status, however, confers added benefits to the collective.  The group is now able to apply to the OCAC for financial aid (a “contracted service agreement”) for any public event such as a workshop, performance, class, or exhibit, which reflects the mandates of the arts council.  The group also benefits from publicity (like this!).

Need to catch up on all four of the RipOff challenges over the years? Missed any of the following exhibits: Wheatfield with Cypresses by Vincent van Gogh (2007), Emilie Floge by Gustav Klimt (2008), Pink Tulip by Georgia O’Keeffe (2009), or Mount Lefroy by Lawren Harris (2010)?  You can see them all at once at the

RipOff Retrospective
May 12 – June 23, 2011
Leir House, Penticton, BC
Opening reception: May 12, 7 – 9 p.m.

The RipOffs have chosen their fifth annual challenge: American Gothic by Grant Wood.  You know it: the dour looking farmer with a pitchfork and his spinster daughter in an apron (not a couple, as many assume). The title of the painting refers to the architecture of the farmhouse behind them:  a gothic style window is visible in the second storey.  The image is iconic, and much parodied, so it will indeed be a challenge for these nine creative people to really “stick it to Wood” as the RipOffs say on their website.  watch them in action during the

Fifth RipOff Challenge!
“American Gothic” by Grant Wood
July 4 – July 9, 2011
Quail’s Nest Art Centre, Oliver, BC
Opening reception: July 4, 6 – 8 PM

Take a look at the wonderful retrospective of their art at their very own website:  http://www.ripoffartists.ca/index.html

Encaustic Art Celebration

icarus-thea-haubrichThea Haubrich, encaustic artist, is celebrating her 5th anniversary of teaching Encaustic in Canada. Encaustic (from a Greek word meaning “to burn”) is an ancient form of art using hot wax to paint glowing pictures in brilliant colours. To learn more, visit her website at www.encaustic.ca

Date: Saturday, September 26, 2009
Place: Linden Gardens, Kaleden, BC, Canada
Time: 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Door Prizes, including a free entry to one of next year’s workshops!

Thea invites all her former pupils, and others with an interest in Encaustic art, to drop by for a visit, or to bring their art materials and stay for a day of painting.
 
Coffee, tea, juices and sweets will be provided.
The kitchen at Linden Gardens will prepare lunches as usual for those who prefer to buy theirs.

Thea welcomes greetings from long distance Encaustic enthusiasts and well-wishers who cannot attend.homage-to-emily-carr-thea-haubrich info@encaustic.ca

Inspiring responses will be displayed or read aloud at the party.

The party is free to attend by anyone who has an interest in Encaustic Art,
but
Please R.S.V.P. to Thea by
September 20, 2009
info@encaustic.ca