Creative Finds, Inspiration and Recent Projects

Creative Finds

More Murals

I continue to discover some amazing outdoor murals on my city walks, often on the sides of older buildings or garage doors. I love how these murals, created by talented artists, make art accessible to everyone. One mural that stood out to me carries the message: “It’s Going to be Ok", a helpful message for our current times. Below and further in the blog are photos of a few murals I’ve come across recently.

Accordion structures with marbled paper and painted, collage covers

Accordion book structure with lino cut cover image and painted back and inside covers

Inspiration

Graham Herbert – Artist, Hornby Arts, Hornby Island, BC

"The purpose of art is to connect with other people." — Graham Herbert

ART ISLAND is a delightful series of interviews with artists living and creating on Hornby Island in British Columbia. One featured artist, Graham Herbert, is a painter and boat maker whose love of sailing and craftsmanship is reflected in his vibrant, whimsical paintings. Many artists, like Herbert, are multifaceted in both their interests and talents, and this dynamic interplay between building and artistic expression comes through in his work. Its an inspiring interview of a very talented creator.

Listen to the interview here: The other artist interviews in this series are also worth a listen!

The Power of Art

Sydney Blum, a Nova Scotia-based artist, submitted two pieces for a show in Montreal. Unfortunately, the work went missing in transit, leading to an unexpected and heartwarming story of how it resurfaced. Thousands of kilometers from Blum’s studio, Sonja Krawesky was browsing a thrift shop in Hamilton, Ontario, when two unique sculptures caught her eye. Despite her hesitation to collect more art, she felt compelled to purchase them and was curious about their origin. After a lot of detective work, she discovered they were the missing pieces by Sydney Blum. Krawesky was able to connect with Blum, and plans were made to return the work.

This is a wonderful story about how art speaks to us and the friendships that can emerge from unexpected circumstances. Listen to the story here

Lili Lee-Sloan: An Artist's Journey: The First 40 Years

"Healing can come from immersing oneself in art."

Lili Lee-Sloan is a Toronto-based calligrapher who recently reflected on her 40-year journey as an artist in a charming presentation hosted by Friends of Calligraphy. Her artistic path was sparked by her professional work in communications and writing in the hospital sector, which led her to explore calligraphy as a means of artistic expression. While working full-time, she simultaneously focused on her creative interests, deepening her skills and knowledge through courses and workshops. A pivotal part of her development was her involvement with the Calligraphy Arts Guild of Toronto, where she found a like-minded community and opportunities to grow as a calligraphy artist. Though her primary focus is calligraphy, she also developed an interest in book arts as a way to present her work and pursued training in this area to expand her creative practice. Now retired from her communications career, she dedicates her time to both creating and teaching, sharing her passion with others.

"Approach mistakes and let them lead—mistakes provide opportunity."

Watch the presentation here.

Listening

More NPR Tiny Desk Concerts

I recently watched a Tiny Desk Concert featuring Italian pianist and composer Ludovico Einaudi, recorded in 2022 in the early post-pandemic days. While his compositions were influenced by his experience living through the pandemic, the concert, for me, demonstrates the healing power of music and the arts. As described in the YouTube summary:

“Ludovico Einaudi’s presence at the piano keeps you waiting for more. His fingers glide over the keys effortlessly, but he never seems rushed. As he plays, his eyes are closed. And in this concert, you can tell his music moves him as much as it does his audience.”

More than 4 million people have viewed the recording so far, so clearly others have enjoyed it too! Watch it here.

Quotes

“Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.”

- Andy Warhol

Creative Projects, Recent Work

I recently facilitated a few book arts workshops for North York Arts in collaboration with a writing program led by poet, writer, and educator Rania El Mugammar. These workshops introduced participants to basic bookbinding principles, allowing them to create handmade books to house their writing. The group was creative and enthusiastic, making for an inspiring experience.

I also attended a weekend painting workshop with Farida Zaman, a talented artist and illustrator. Over two days, we focused on acrylic paintings with a botanical theme. Instead of painting on canvas, I prepared boards that could be used as book covers. I’m excited to bind these painted covers into books using a Coptic binding and incorporating embellishments within the pages.

Additionally, I completed a printmaking workshop where I experimented with linocut prints. My goal was to explore the printmaking process and how I might integrate prints into book structures. The workshop, led by the very talented printmaker Liz Menard, was a great learning experience. While I enjoyed the process, I find myself drawn to looser, more spontaneous painting techniques, especially paste paper experiments. I’ve been incorporating these freeform techniques into meandering book structures—a fun format created by cutting and folding a single sheet of paper.

Single Signature Booklet - samples for book arts workshops with North York Arts

Meandering book structure with painted cover and pages

Some more murals discovered on a recent city walk