February 2022 - Update

February 01, 2022

New private art studio!
New work - Uncanny Cross-Stitch (3)

Back at the beginning of January, I moved into my first private art studio space! The City Centre Artist Lodge is an old hotel that’s been converted into an artist studio building. This first month was mainly spent sprucing things up (as you can see from the before photos, there was some much needed TLC). Due my recent arm injury I needed to hire someone to do the labour of removing the carpet and painting. But I have to say it’s definitely improved and I’m so happy with how it’s already starting to come together! The past few weekends my focus has been accumulating the necessary furniture and putting it all together. But I’m very excited for this week since I’m hoping to start moving over some of my art and supplies! Once I have things better set up, I’ll start creating/working from there and share more from behind the scenes in my new space.

Lastly, this weekend I finished Uncanny Cross-Stitch (3) to wrap up a new series of three works. These works will be included in a solo exhibition planned for 2023 titled Womanmade: Crafting Architecture and the Mundane.

*Uncanny Cross-Stitch (3)*, 7 x 5.5 inches, embroidery floss, Aida cloth, 2022

June 2021 - Update

May 31, 2021

Inside the Studio
Video Sound Archive
Work in Progress - Funded Art Book Project
Open Call for Anonymous Stories - Deadline June 30

Inside the Studio

Last week I took some long overdue portraits in my studio. I wanted to photograph myself amongst my art and some of the tools I use while embroidering/knitting. On the walls you can see works from my thesis exhibition, Glitch Series, and System Failure series. On the floor is Ouroboros (which I like to refer to as my big ball of yarn) and to the left is the wooden French Knitting loom that I use to re-knit finger knitted strands of yarn.

I have two embroidery stands in my studio. The first one has a rectangular frame and currently holds my ongoing work in progress Stitching Loose Ends. The second one functions more like a clamp stand, which means it can hold various types of frames. In the photographs, you can see it is clamping an embroidery hoop for cross-stitching the handkerchief patterns for my art book project. In another photograph, I am sitting in a wingback chair with a granny square afghan and arm rest covers that I crocheted myself (with a little help from my mom for the covers).

Video Sound Archive

Starting on June 4 @pm ET my video project Part 2: What Happens to a Stressed System? will be part of the first season of featured artists for a virtual video exhibition Video Sound Archive.

Work in Progress - Funded Art Book Project

Last month I continued to tirelessly cross-stitch patterns of handkerchief scans for my art book project. I have completed cross-stitching six of the nine patterns. Only three more to go and I should finish them by the end of June! Then I will begin working on the layout of the art book using InDesign.

Open Call for Anonymous Stories - Deadline June 30

Reminder that I will be accepting submissions for stories till the end of June. Everyone is welcome to submit their experience of having to hide their emotional/physical pain in order to avoid pity or shame for being too sensitive. Please also feel free to share!

Pattern I (Back View), canvas, embroidery floss, graphite⁠, 19.5” x 19.5”, 2020 — *Pattern I (Back View)*, canvas, embroidery floss, graphite⁠, 19.5” x 19.5”, 2020

August 2020 - Update

August 01, 2020

This past month I’ve spent most of my time working through ideas and organizing my thoughts. I’m so happy to have found a “groove” again when it comes to working through my thought process. I finally find myself reaching for my sketchbook throughout the day, as my thoughts constantly stir and jump in different directions. Although this headspace can be confusing and scattered at times, it’s home for me. It’s a place of comfort and where I feel most myself.

There’s nothing like the feeling of a creative “high” and I have to admit that I’ve done a few happy dances around my apartment when ideas come to me out of nowhere or when I finally work on that project or task that I’ve been avoiding. I recently looked through all my old sketchbooks and folders on my computer. Looking back at work that I was making while doing my MFA has helped ignite a flame of inspiration within me!

Pattern I (Front View), canvas, acrylic, 19.5” x 19.5”, 2020 — *Pattern I (Front View)*, canvas, acrylic, 19.5” x 19.5”, 2020

With this new found motivation, I’ve prepped another canvas to start the next painting in the Translation Series, which I started back in September while I was at the VSC residency. I’ve also been brainstorming lots of old and new ideas for future projects. Specifically, I’m contemplating a project which I’ll use to apply to Canada Council for the Arts, Research and Creation Grant. This will be my first time applying for a grant, so I’m giving myself plenty of time to prep and work through my ideas. But so far I’m really enjoying the initial process, since this is the part where i get to brainstorm and write down all the projects that have been stewing in my head, or forgot to write down!

Last week I finished reading The Artist’s Guide to Grant Writing, by Gigi Rosenberg, which is a great resource, and all in all another source for inspiration. One important thing I got from reading the book, was something I haven’t done before, I learned that I should be fundraising. Apparently It’s helpful when applying for grants to include fundraising efforts in the budget you submit with your application. No matter how big or small the amount you raise, the jury is always happy to see that you care enough about your project to outsource funding prior to applying for a grant. Once I read this, I knew this was something I should be doing, even if it’s mainly to help make my grant application stronger.

This Monday, I’ll be having my first Flash Art Sale on Instagram! Everything will be priced at either $5 or $10, so it’ll be a sale that’s affordable for everyone.

The purpose of the sale is to fundraise money for my art savings. Funds from my art savings will be used for supplies such as embroidery thread, Aida cloth, paint, etc., and Adobe Creative Suite. I’m hoping to create more book projects in the future, but I don’t currently have InDesign, which is a very necessary tool when making/designing books. So I’m hoping to purchase this application with the money made from the sale and some supplies with the rest.

Please share in your stories to help spread the word!

The sale goes live at 9am, this Monday, August 3rd.

Translation #7- Paint By Numbers, 2020, acrylic, canvas, embroidery floss, 4 x 4 inches and Translation #7- Cross-Stitch, 2020, embroidery floss, Aida cloth, 6 x 6 inches — *Translation #7- Paint By Numbers,* 2020, acrylic, canvas, embroidery floss, 4 x 4 inches and *Translation #7- Cross-Stitch*, 2020, embroidery floss, Aida cloth, 6 x 6 inches

February 2020 - Update

February 04, 2020

Not much to update on this month. I got around to finishing another cross-stitch from my Translation Series. I also start another hand-stitched painting from the Paint by Numbers Series. Other than that, I’m just slowly plugging away at these two series right now while also thinking about another potential project for a group show coming up this summer in Abbotsford at the Kariton Art Gallery.

May 2018 - Update

April 29, 2018

RAW: Vancouver

Thanks to everyone who showed up to support me at the RAW: Vancouver showcase back in April. For those of you who couldn't make it, don't worry there's always next time! The event was a success and I definitely learned some valuable business skills while preparing for the show, setting up, tearing down, and of course throughout the night while interacting with lovers of art and newbies alike! I love hearing everyone's opinions and reactions to my work. It is especially interesting getting feedback and unique perspectives outside of an academic setting (this is still fairly new for me). Please check out a selection of photos from the event below, taken by the official photographers, Mike Chen Photography and Evan Chen Photography.

Paint by Numbers Series

Watch me choose the next set of squares for Pattern #2, which is part of the "Paint by Numbers Series". The series of quilted paintings, further explore ideas from my thesis "I Come From a Long Line of Machines".

Settling In to My Vancouver Apartment/Studio

A week or so ago, I finally hunkered down and spent a day hanging my art onto my walls. My apartment now feels like a mini gallery of my work and it feels a lot more like home. It's also starting to feel more like a studio and a space where I can be inspired to continue to create on a constant basis. Instead of looking at blank walls, I look up and I can see a timeline of my art over the past several years. This inspires me to keep going and to assess where do I go from here? What do I want to make now?

There are days when I'm not sure what project to work on and sometimes I question why I'm spending every spare moment of my time on art. But when I look around my space and remember how far I've come and how hard I've worked on my art, it pushes me to keep on moving forward. I've been reading "In the Company of Women" by Grace Bonney and it's reminding that being a creative individual is hard work, and it takes time, patience, and perseverance. These are things I struggle to often remember, but I'm doing my best to be present in the moment and enjoy the journey. I have to keep reminding myself that every artist starts somewhere and I'm just at the cusp of being an emerging artist. Patience doesn't always come easily to me, but it's something I'm working on. Like a muscle, I know it'll get stronger with more exercise.

Everything hanging on the walls is art done by me. The piece on the mantle, above the fireplace, is by my cousin Marvyne Jenoff (http://www.marvynejenoff.org/).

The plant on the left is named Vladimir and the plant on the right is named Priscilla, or as I like to call them Vlad and Pris.

Yayoi made it home and I’m currently reading “In the Company Women” by Grace Bonney. It’s an inspirational book with interviews of various creative women in a range of disciplines.