Creative Finds, Inspiration and Recent Projects

Frank Gehry – Architecture, Jean Tinguely – Sculptor, Kleon, and Recent Projects

2/7/2026

Creative Finds

Paper Artist: Andrew Ooi

I came across the work of Andrew Ooi last summer. Ooi creates sculptural work using paper, and I’m drawn both to his material choices and his three-dimensional forms. I also appreciate his less traditional path to finding his way into the arts and how he’s developed his own approach through experimentation with paper.

You can explore his work here.

Jean Tinguely – Swiss Painter and Sculptor

A friend from Germany, knowing my love of all things creative, introduced me to the work of Jean Tinguely. I’m drawn to his unique approach, sculptural forms, and inventive use of materials.

The Museum Tinguely in Basel, Switzerland, houses a permanent collection of works by the Swiss painter and sculptor Jean Tinguely. He is best known for his kinetic sculptural machines — known as metamechanics — which extended the Dada tradition into the later part of the 20th century. His work often satirized automation and the technological overproduction of material goods.

Here’s a short video showcasing some of Tinguely’s work. And a link to the museum.

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Accordion structure with pastel sketches

Soft cover Coptic binding with bead closure

Inspiration

Austin Kleon – 7 Questions I Ask Myself When I Don’t Know What to Do Next

As you start a new year — or at any point when you feel stuck — this short piece by Austin Kleon offers a helpful nudge forward. It’s a thoughtful and playful list of questions that encourages continued making and attention to what you most want to do.

https://austinkleon.substack.com/p/7-questions-i-ask-myself

Listening

Frank Gehry – Architecture and Experimentation

The iconic architect Frank Gehry passed away in 2025. I remember listening to an interview on CBC when Gehry was in his 90s, speaking about one of his latest projects — two condo towers in Toronto that were once again pushing the boundaries of architecture and sparking conversation. I was struck by his energy and continued enthusiasm for design, architecture, and innovation well into his 90s. Creativity and passion transcend age.

I recently came across a wonderful interview with Gehry and Paul Goldberger, author of Building Art, an engaging and nuanced exploration of Gehry’s life and work. Goldberger is also an architecture critic. The interview was organized by City Arts & Lectures, a San Francisco–based nonprofit that presents conversations with leading figures in arts and ideas. Recorded in 2015, it was rebroadcast as an encore presentation following Gehry’s death in 2025.

It’s a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation that highlights Gehry’s whimsical, curious, and experimental approach to architecture — and to life.

One of the things I value about a creative path is that, regardless of discipline — writing, art, architecture, music, or dance — it encourages ongoing exploration and making throughout one’s life. I’ve observed this with many artists. Whether widely recognized or working more quietly, there’s often a deep drive to keep creating.

Quotes

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” — Mahatma Gandhi

“You never know when a gift made for a single person will turn into a gift for the world.” — Austin Kleon

“None of us know what will happen. Don’t spend time worrying about it. Make the most beautiful thing you can. Try to do that every day. That’s it.” — Laurie Anderson

Workshops & Recent (and not so Recent) Work

Last summer, I attended a one-week workshop at Loyalist College on expressive mark making, facilitated by Sharlena Wood.

It was a generous and inspiring week of creative experimentation. Sharlena began each day with a lecture, sharing ideas and references from other artists, followed by demonstrations throughout the day. We also had time to pause, reflect, and look at one another’s work.

I completed a significant amount of work during the workshop and generated many ideas, some of which later became book covers. In the fall, I spent time in the studio making books for two craft shows during the holiday season. It was rewarding to receive feedback and interesting to observe which structures and designs people were most drawn to. Many gravitated toward smaller book forms, noting that a compact blank journal felt less intimidating.

I’ve continued to enjoy experimenting with Coptic bindings — both hard and soft cover — and have recently been incorporating free-form images printed on a colour printer, folded into small accordion structures.