Journal Page Highlight: I was Raised on Country Sunshine

Today I’d like to share some thoughts with you about another one of my latest journal pages, “Country Sunshine”, which was named in part by the cheerful country tune made popular by Dottie West. Late last year while taking a workshop in Arnprior, I enjoyed trading stories with another student about country music’s role […]

Book Review: Boosting Your Creative Brain Powers!

There’s a popular myth out there that states only some of us have the “natural” ability to be creative. My Aunt always laments that her daughter doesn’t have a “natural” talent for making art like me; this never fails to irk me. I firmly believe that although we may not have all […]

The Collage Artist is In!

Hello! It’s been nice to take a break from blogging to concentrate (almost) exclusively on producing works for my upcoming Atrium Gallery show. Some of my friends thought I was away on vacation, but no such luck! I was here in my subterranean studio slogging away collaging!

It was exciting, nevertheless, to delve into […]

Collage Tip 6: Make History! (Stuck on the Royals, Part II)

Princess in the Making, Mixed Media Journal Page, April 29 2011

Well, I was all set to give you my next tip on collaging textures, when my good friend, Elaine Coombs, emailed me to ask what I thought of the Royal Wedding … excited by sharing my thoughts with her, my left brain […]

Collage Tip #5: A Walk A Day…

My Walks, Mixed Media Journal Page, December 11 2009

The last fragment of snow has evaporated from my front garden… spring is finally here! This past week, I’ve been liberated from my subterranean studio and begun to once again enjoy taking my daily walks. For some time […]

Creating Collage Using Daily Life Ephemera:

Untitled, Collage Journal Page, February 11, 2011

Yesterday, I gave a visual journaling workshop at my friend/artist Wendy Southin’s studio: Dragonfly Dreams. Here’s a fun exercise we tried using recycled bits of material from our daily lives to create journal pages. This method was derived from the work of twentieth century German Dada* […]

Collage Tip #4: Creative Ways to Play with Text in Your Collages

Untitled, Mixed Media Journal Page, November 27 2009

Here are a few exciting ways to play with text and numbers in your collage and mixed media art:

1. Create text using “chance”: cut out words from newspapers, magazines or books. Place them in a bag and […]

Creating Together: Finding a Sense of Belonging in Artist Groups

As I prepare for another Vision Board Workshop, I’m sitting here thinking how wonderful creating art with a group of passionate creative souls is. Although I enjoy the company of others, for a long time, I preferred to create art alone; it took me a long while to find artists groups I enjoyed being […]

Collage Workshops & Courses at the CCCC

Crichton Cultural Community Centre, 200 Crichton Street

One of the Centre’s spacious classrooms

Another view of the classrooms with my hubby Kevin

The CCCC provides a great atmosphere for creating art!

Me waiting for you at the CCCC!

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Home & the Holidays

I don’t know about you, but for me, Christmas was/is a real “mixed bag” season emotionally. I wasn’t raised in one of those “happily ever after” families (yes, I’ve seen some – they actually exist!) where everyone just loves to go “home” for Christmas. My childhood memories of this time are filled with joy […]