Fogo Island, Newfoundland

I did a recent post on my Newfoundland Paintings, and now I want to show you the place that inspired them.

Hiking trail in the town of Fogo

Loads of icebergs floating through this area

Fogo Island Arts offers artists residencies in four different studios on the island.  These are designed by Todd Saunders, who is originally from Gander, Newfoundland.

Long Studio, front view

Long Studio, side view.  This is in the town of Joe Batt's Arm, where we stayed for several days.

Tower Studio

Tower Studio does not seem all that tall in person, but here I am standing on the side of it, and it looks a lot bigger.

Squish Studio, in the town of Tilting

Bridge Studio in Deep Bay

Vida Simon, who lives on Fogo Island and in Montreal, offers a series of workshops on Fogo Island, called "Funnell Workshops", making use of Squish Studio and other locations.  See Vida Simon's web site and her book, INKLINGS - Gestes, Murmures, Ruminations, which I have and absolutely treasure!  Tiny little personal drawings and ideas.  Here are a few of her recent watercolors that I pulled off her Funnell blog:

Vida Simon, "Voice", watercolor

Vida Simon, "Filaments", watercolor

Vida Simon, "Blue Filter"

A few links to find out more about Fogo Island, see pictures, discover the art scene and local culture:

Fogo Island Inn - we did not stay there, but did take a tour.  The furnishings are all made locally and incorporate traditional forms. 

Shorefast Foundation, which helps fund projects that support economic and cultural resilience on Fogo Island.  See this fabulous short video about the quilts on Fogo Island, from Shorefast.

Newfoundland and Labrador traveler information on Fogo and Change Islands.

Typical fence in the town of Tilting

I certainly hope to return to Fogo Island, though it is a long journey to get there.  A thoroughly enjoyable one, though.  Thanks for visiting.

Newfoundland Paintings

I am calling these "Newfoundland Paintings" only because I did them last week with my mind still swirling in the fog of Newfoundland (see previous post).  They are 22"x30", and come from the 9"x12" drawings I posted recently, blind and otherwise.

NFLD1, 22"x30", acrylic, graphite, ink, and crayon on paper

NFLD2, 22"x30", acrylic, graphite, ink, and crayon on paper

I will probably change the names of these pieces (I don't even know if they are finished yet) once I get to know them a bit better. "NFLD", or "Newfoundland" is much too general.

Thanks to those of you who commented on my previous post about the 100 Drawings class.  I will plan to offer that class early in 2015, as I have three online classes coming up in the fall.

Back from Vacation

I've been away for a couple of weeks, visiting Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.  Fogo Island, off the north coast of Newfoundland, was one of our main destinations.  I will post about some of the artists, craftspeople, and inspiration I found there once I've had a chance to digest.  Meanwhile, back in the studio yesterday I encountered the familiar struggle of re-entry, so I decided to continue with the blind drawings.  It really is a great way to get something going.  Check out my previous post for links and suggestions, plus the video.  Here is the output:

This one has a depth and space that some of the others lack.  I want to pursue this today.

I am always thinking about teaching.  I get all enthusiastic about something that happens in the studio, and immediately my brain goes into Workshop Mode.  Anyone interested in doing this drawing thing as a workshop?  This is like Big Fat Art, only smaller.  "100 Drawings" in a six-week online class.  What do you think?

While on vacation, I found a few spaces that would be ideal for workshops.  One in La Have, Nova Scotia, one in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, and one on Fogo Island in Newfoundland. 

Newfoundland, with Fogo Island circled.

La Have is on the South Shore; Wolfville is a university town on the Bay of Fundy.