The Manzanita Muse Studio Newsletter

Studio Newsletter for May / June 2008 by Dianne Bersea & Jodi Forster
Newsletter Archives: Did you miss our last newsletters? See them here: March/ April 08..., October 0...,July 07...,March 07...,December 06..., September 06..., May 06..., January 06...,September 05,...,July 05..., May 05..., March 05
What you'll find in
THIS newsletter --

Lots of photos of studio activities

The Fabric Artisans Report

Scroll down to check it all out, and be sure to visit the rest of our site. There's lots to see.

NOW LISTED
Workshops for 2008
including

workshop art gallery on the beachHollyhock
Firesign Art & Design
Denman Island Art Centre
New acylic paintings by Dianne are now on view. Click Here.

Coming soon, Dianne's Classic Watercolours

Mima Gallery interior
Mima Gallery Logo
Dianne is now represented by MIMA Gallery for large, quality reproductions of her acrylic paintings. "Three images have been selected for their catalogue and I'm busily working on a new series." Click Here to visit their web site.
Newsletters by e-mail.

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Hello art friends and art fans! Thanks for dropping in.

Dianne is still basking in her AFCA signature status and contemplating her next challenge which may involve more writing about art as well as creating it.

April was a plein air month (that is, an outdoor painting month for all those jargon challenged folks like us), and we were out sketching and painting for one to three hours twenty-five of the thirty days hath April. We were out no matter what the weather, so gloves, scarves, hats, boots and extra woolies were the order of the day, given that April was COLD, often freezing overnight. The evidence is in the photos! Scroll through our plein air album

Also check out Jodi's new art project, Dream Shields, assembled and constructed on a circular 24" diameter wooden base with bird images and hide mask. This work will be on display at the Campbell River Public Art Gallery Member's Show May 23 - June 27.

More news from our fabric artisans who are creating a needlepoint from Dianne's image Wind Dynamics. See below. We are looking for a collaborative relationship in other mediums.

beach trees, plein air watercolour by Dianne Bersea
Photo to right is a plein air watercolour by Dianne, part of our April studio paint-out.
Dianne painting
Note the hat and woolies here and Jodi below with fingerless gloves!
Jodi Forster dressed for April paint-ou
Dark & Stormy day
Jodi Forster watercolour painting
Image to left is a plein- air watercolour by Jodi, who took on the challenge of watercolour painting as part of our paint-out. Well done Jodi!

Photo to right is of a dark and stormy day..., and I confess.... we sketched from inside the car.

Although..., if sufficiently buddled up, anything was possible, see left.

And some days were down right pleasant and a sun tan came as part of the deal.

Image to left..., the view toward Twin Islands from a beachside tent platform. Thanks to all the local folks who shared their property or favorite locations with us.

Dianne watercolour sketching
Jodi Forster contemplating scene
Martha's Beach, watercolour by Dianne Bersea
Photo (lower left) Jodi painting on an overcast day.

Image below is a plein- air watercolour by Dianne, part of our April studio paint-out.

Windy Bay Sunshine, watercolour by Dianne Bersea
overcast paint out
Photos below of Jodi's Dream Shield project, a double sided circular wooden base with painted bird images, relief images, hide mask and possible copper detailing. Completed Dream Shield will be exhibited at the Campbell River Public Art Gallery Annual Members Show, May 23 - June 27.
Jodi Forster Dream Shield detail
Jodi Forster Dream Shield in process
Rosalyn at work on needlepoint
Fabric Art Adventures

I've had a dream for some time that I would like to work with, and collaborate with fabric artists and artists who work in mediums other than our own. A serendipitous encounter with Rosalyn Cherry -Soleil last summer led to the re-interpretion of my Wind Dynamics painting as a needle point. Rosalyn is now on creative vacation in sunny Florida and took her needle point project with her. Here is a photo she sent. There are also now three other needlepointers working on this image. Visit Rosalyn's web site at: stitchamaze.com.

Another fabric artist, Pippa Moore is about to start work on a fabric / quilted interpretation of Dianne's painting, Majestic. To see some of Pippa's other work, click here.

Calling all fabric artists, crafters, artisans, quilters, felters, needle pointers, stained glass folks! Would you be interested in reproducing, collaborating or re-interpreting a full image or detail of one our artworks? I will make a pattern available including colour reference. Cost based on size of image and reproduction rights requested. Pick an image from any part of this web site, either Jodi Forster's work or mine and contact us. We'd be delighted to discuss your project.