Category: Projects

Information and updates on projects

Tell Me When (Demo)

So… I’ve really surprised myself this time. Riverworks Studio has morphed into a home recording studio, and I’m in the grips of an obsessive creative bender.

It all started when I decided to rent an acoustic/electric bass guitar from Long & McQuade for the month. Wait, what!? I’m not even a musician, LOL. While learning my way around the bass, I’m also finally teaching myself how to play the old Yamaha piano I’ve had for ages.

A few days ago, a random piano melody began to take shape, so I recorded it in order to not forget (along with some accompanying tracks, mostly just to see if I could do it). GarageBand is truly an impressive piece of software.

FYI, the vocals were improvised and added last, and I honestly don’t know where any of it come from.

It’s definitely a diamond in the rough, and it might make a few ears bleed, but I’m super excited because two weeks ago I knew virtually nothing about the bass guitar; and I could barely put a few notes together on the piano without getting lost and messing up.

As a multimedia artist who is not a musician, challenging myself to grow and expand creatively in a variety of media has always been an important aspect of my process. Right now I’m determined to learn the language of music, and so far the journey has been incredibly fun and rewarding!!

Back to Basics

Sometimes it’s just nice to return to simple paper and pencil drawings. The immediacy and versatility of graphite allows for a range of mark-making that can range from crisp and bold, to light and ethereal.

Work in Progress

These drawings are just a few that I did over a three month period before dismantling my life in Windsor and moving to a new city. Soon after, COVID-19 struck and things never quite got back to normal.

Sketchbook self-portrait from life.

My goal for now is to just get back into the creative flow with the most basic of media.

Emerging

I am emerging from a long pause where deep healing, deep reflection, and much needed self-care were needed.

Babies are born, loved ones die, life as we know it often shifts into a new and unfamiliar reality. We adjust… and my own process is slow. Very slow.

During this extended transitional period, my creative output appeared to wane, while energies regrouped and turned inward. I am not yet ready to speak of my grief and what it has taught me.

Now, finally… outward flowing creative energy is once again manifesting. And I am delighted and grateful for my many blessings.

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In late January I felt compelled to pull out an old sketchbook and get back to my roots. I was curious to see if I had lost my touch, and I also wanted to re-establish some kind of a daily practice. This was a good strategy, because it worked, and now I wish that I had done some of those drawings on better paper. Yes, the paper is important. This is what my daily practice is looking like today.

IMG_5412

Below is a work in progress (Graphite on Stonehenge paper). During my painting years, I worked in charcoal on occasion, but never went back to the humble pencil. Until now.

Work in Progress

 

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