The Desire for More Solar Power and 100% Sustainability

A Visit to the Dentist

I finally made my yearly visit to my Toronto Dentist last week and surprisingly had a great conversation before all the dental work took place and was no longer able to talk.  I was intrigued with the amount of equipment and electronics in this place of business.  The continuous improvements in the world of electronics is incredible.  However, it made me think of the amount of power supply needed for such an office.  Sustainability is such a trend though these days.   It seems obvious as to why because of societies  such huge advancements, also comes the concern of long term maintenance of responsibility environmentally, economically and socially.   My dentist had everyday life to think about and the stress involved but also shared these concerns.   We casually discussed the idea of the use of more solar panels for energy supply in such a building so that the carbon footprint would be decreased.  Not an easy project to take on, but not impossible either.   Believe it or not this conversation all began with the discussion of my art work and the small studio projects that I have been taking on.   My art projects are small, but every little green step can be seen as a move forward toward an increase in sustainability.

Salvaged Materials Lead to Creative Ideas

I purchased some small 8″x8″ wood panels that were on sale  to work on and wondered what I was going to do with them.  I really enjoyed the texture of the wood rather than the canvas.  I would run my fingers over the brown wooden surface and feel the shame of painting over such a natural forest product.   However, I took this guilt and decided to see where I could go with it.  My inner voice told me that the wood panels were not meant to be merely painted on with acrylic paint.   They were meant for much more, with more meaning and fun.  I rustled up all my salvaged materials taken from broken and discarded computers, eye glasses, printers, and other things.   The visual arrangement play with the huge assortment of objects on the panels began.   Some of the objects needed to be manipulated but two images of owls appeared.  One was no ordinary owl.  It was a WISE CYBER OWL sitting on it’s perch with arrow keypads for ears.   Two other 8″ x 8″ wood panels suggested whimsical old style images of bicycles with the backspace keypad.   A few more changes need to be made to the creations before they can be considered FINISHED and for display and sale.  

The View of the City from a Distance

I have  created a few various cityscapes including a larger version of Toronto currently hung and for sale in Cafe Uno in the Distillery District.   However, the panoramic wooden panels size 36″ x 12″ just seem perfect for small computer pieces and other objects I have discovered among the discarded.  I love process of using acrylics and the blending of the sky.    I have a bit of a series with these and have 3 more additions of these 36″ x 12″ Cyber Cityscapes.   I do not attempt at realism but play with the possibilities of a simple perfect futuristic quality.  What can I say I am bit of a dreamer.     The line at the bottom is beautiful glass mirror strip salvaged from an old printer that was found in the trash.  I like to believe it adds a reflective quality to the piece.  I am a reflective person and find it a great learning tool if I use it correctly.  I guess I was hoping this futuristic type of city would take a reflective stance as well for possible growth and sustainability.  Remaining diverse and productive over time.

Toronto Artist Tries to Think of New Ways to Pay the Rent

Sustainable Living Artist Style

As sustainable living ideas and concerns increase people are thinking second before throw anything out.  As an Artist I am constantly sorting through things with the hopes that I can find discarded material a new life.  Living and working in an old warehouse building offers the opportunity and space to keep various materials and use them in creations.  Having a collection of material leads to adding another step to the creative process of  an  inventory management  so that things don’t get out of control and you have an excess of clutter of materials that can take on the appearance of  garbage.   I’ve had an excess of unusable computers given to me from an insurance company.    These computers were all intact and ready for my dissection.

Closet Space Devoted to Donations

I had to clear a lot out of my closet space for the computer and devoted a lot of time with tools to finding the beauty within.  I still have electronic donations given to me and have to turn them down from time to time for fear that I don’t have enough time to give them the attention that they need.  I try to use as many items inside as possible , but it takes a lot of imagination.

Electronic Reed Switches and Lunch Containers

The biggest challenge is finding time for all the ideas that come to mind.   Including the  reed switches, gadgets, keypads and other components can leave a feeling of transformational empowerment.   This is one of the reasons why I work with recycled items.  I can take the feeling of being broken and transform it into a rebirth.    I’ve even found a few abandoned small batman  lunch containers at post garage sale street sites and used them to keep some of my materials in.

Ikea Table Top Transformed

The reinvention of the old into the new is a theme that is becoming more common as concerns for our planet grow.   This piece was created with a discarded table top, plaster relief and computer components and electric devices inside.  There is a switch on the side that allows you turn a small light on inside to reveal the what is hidden beneath the relief sculpture of the torso.

Distillery District, Cafe Uno Art on Display

Cafe Uno and Restaurant in the Distillery District

I like to frequent Cafe Uno because they are one of the casual places with good prices and food in the Distillery.  I noticed one day they were hanging a local artists paintings.  A friend explained to friendly management that I was an artist/painter too.  I shied away about talking or bringing my art work in to show.   However, I was fortunate they checked out my website and told me they would hang my art work when the current Artist took his down.  I was excited.  I had a chance to exhibit in one of my favourite areas, the Distillery District.  It’s not a lot of hanging space because of the walls.  Well, not exactly the walls because they have rules about drilling holes into heritage buildings, so I had some beams and windows to hang my art work on.  I decided on displaying five of my pieces.   My painting style is all over the place but I have been adding computer parts into my paintings and decided to go with my recycled techno series.

Putting a Price on Your Paintings

When I step into my studio space in my spare time, I try to clear my mind of any thoughts of selling my art work.  Fortunately, I actually have a full time job to pay the bills.  I don`t create my art work with the purpose to sell.  However, if I can make money from one of my artistic creations I am on cloud nine.  Exhibiting my art work in public is a great opportunity to gain exposure and gain more confidence.  I know if I want to sell my art rather than accumulate only on the walls of my home, I need to expand my opportunities.

The difficulty can be found in placing a realistic and reasonable price on paintings.  A challenging task for many but necessary.   I factor in the cost of supplies, time and effort I put into my art work. I also consider how difficult it would be to replicate.  Some art might not have taken a long time to paint necessarily but the pieces that were included and found would be difficult to replace.

I have undervalued my art work in the past, and had my art work sell quickly.  However with the temporary excitement came also the regrets. Some of my art pieces might not look like there is a lot of time invested but taking apart the computers was very time consuming and physically demanding. Some of my objects that have been added to my painting collages are very unique. I have also over valued my art work and had interested buyers who were not willing to meet me at my selected high price.  I learned from this mistake as well.  Now, I take into consideration my emotional attachment to the piece as well.

Painting And Photography Mixing Together for More Exposure

While I was installing my paintings on the walls I was pleasantly surprised by the patrons of the cafe and their reactions.  As soon as I put the art work on display they were taking photos. It brought on a mixed set of emotions.  I was grateful for the opportunity to display my art work. However, many artists forget to consider what they might be giving to the viewers with their public displays and the aesthetic appeal to the establishments . We tend to only think of what we might or might not gain by such an action. As I noticed people taking photos of my paintings I was aware of the reciprocal gift giving. I realized that I want to add more of my personal business storytelling to my art displays.  If I want to sell paintings it’s helpful to develop my personal brand more and connect with my viewers.  I want to open up with background stories on each painting.  They may be personal but sharing can help connect with viewers turning them into potential buyers.
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Exploring Happiness for Bangladesh

Happiness Images With Children

I am fortunate to have friends teaching and living all over this planet due to my Montessori teaching experience. One of my amazing teacher friends works at an international school.  She came up with a great idea for an art project to raise funds for the street children in Bangladesh. I was intrigued when she told me of the idea and grateful for being involved.  She had her classroom and others participate as well. The classroom children were given the art exercise to visually describe what happiness meant to them. They took their paint and applied it to paper to illustrate what happiness look like.

Fortunately I get to work with these paintings as one of the participating artist volunteering my talents and time to the project.  I was surprised to receive 100 paintings on paper in the mail. I was delighted to experience each one and note the differences and similarities. As I looked through them I reflected back on my childhood days and admired the simplicity and beauty of each one.  In some paintings I could tell it was the process itself of painting that brought them happiness, not the end result. This thought brought me a moment of happiness as well.  I love when the theories I believe in are proven true.

Well, I began by taking my scissors out and cutting images. There were plenty of families, pets, trees, flowers, rainbows, butterflies and pizza. This is one of the beginning phases of the project. The step I am going to take is to plan the background and placement of the image objects. I have my work in store for me.  Here are photographic glimpses into the process. I am curious to how this large painting is going to turn out.  I have until June.   Stay tuned for more.

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