Juried. The verdict: to be hung!

"Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other" will be part of the upcoming OMMA

[Ottawa Mixed Media Artists] Exhibit at Centrepointe Theatre Gallery

in Ottawa, January 2014. The details will be posted closer to the time.

I am thrilled to be part of this show. Based on the work that I saw

when I dropped off my painting to be juried, it will be amazing!

I hope everyone is enjoying a creative weekend :)

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Visual Stimulation.

The new look of www.hollydean.com

It's been a hectic time here in the studio, getting ready for two OMMA Exhibits: Feast For The Eyes and Small Wonders South. And the MAG Studio Tour is approaching very quickly - Sep 22 & 23 / 29 & 30.

On top of it all, I discovered an amazing web theme, Archetypon Photographos IV, that I couldn't wait to incorporate into my own website. I love the browser full screen images and slideshows. As a visual artist, I want to show my work to full advantage.

These stimulating and inspirational pages are mixed in with the Theme Flood pages that I still love for their elegant design. [You can find my site listed under their Showcase at the bottom of the page.] So that's what I have been busy with, on top of lots of art production!

I like the new interactive feel at hollydean.com. The home page will be updated often with what's going on and the site will be a more active online hangout. On nearly every page you can click a link to hang out with me on lots of other social media sites and sign up for Mixed Media Musings art emails.  

I am curious to know what you think of the new look - and its ease of use. Please leave comments below so that I can get a good feel for how the changes affect your experience.

Thank you and enjoy this wonderful Autumn weather!

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Passion evolves.

My newest mixed media painting, "PASSION", is hanging at the Almonte Herb Garden in the Bergamot Barn. It is one of a selection of mixed media works in a show called Spice of Life, featuring OMMA [Ottawa Mixed Media Artists].

Spice of Life runs until July 30th. If you are in the area, take time to see the show and wander around the Herb Garden. It is a lovely experience.

As often happens, I finished this piece quite soon before it went to the gallery and I only got a few days to enjoy it myself. The painting is inspired by the series Game of Thrones and I am quite in love with it! Watch "PASSION" evolving below in the short video I made to chronicle the journey of its creation. Enjoy!

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Spice of Life.

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

My day will be spent in the studio finishing a piece for the upcoming OMMA [Ottawa Mixed Media Artists] show "Spice of Life", being held at The Almonte Herb Garden for the month of July.


Spice of Life. What does this phrase bring to your mind? I thought of many exotic things - the Silk Road, spice trade routes, hot food, hot emotions... passion.

an early version.

Passion. The name of this painting and the volatile emotions experienced as an artist in creative mode. This piece has been a struggle for me. I have no idea why.

reworked.

There is a lot of texture in this piece. And a lot of layers. I painted over the whole board more than once in the quest to find my true voice. I am still finding my way.

in process.

It's not always like this. There are occasions when the art makes itself. But these are rare. Passion is what drives me to make art. My Muse will have its way. It's the spice of life.

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Something Rich and Strange I

Once again a deadline has helped me to finish a new painting. It was submitted for jurying for the Ottawa Mixed Media Artists' exhibition at Brush Strokes Gallery in Carleton Place, Ontario. It got in. Yay!

So here is a first online look at my newest work. It is quite different from my other paintings and I am excited about where my muse is taking me.

Something Rich & Strange I - 36" x 24", mixed media on birch panel $2000. CAD

I would describe the process for this piece as very intuitive. It grew organically as I discovered shapes and developed them, working from right to left. I will reveal the transformation in a future post… the finished piece is unrecognizable from the first layers of paint. But they are underneath, adding their mysterious depth and richness.

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Weaving with Paint

My latest painting, "Weaveworld", is included in a fabulous exhibition of mixed media art by Ottawa Mixed Media Artists (OMMA), hanging right now at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum (Almonte, ON) in the Norah Rosamond Hughes Gallery.

WEAVEWORLD, mixed media  48" x 24" $2,500. CAD

I created "Weaveworld" based on the "Woven" theme. Participating artists were encouraged to push creative boundaries and to think "large" in terms of size. I pursued the idea of weaving a story with words and art.

Materials include original digital images, ink, fluid, metallic, iridescent and interference acrylic paints, acrylic mediums, hand-cut masks and stamps, fabric, beads, metal.

Processes include glazing, layering, collage, ink-jet printing, calligraphy, machine and hand-sewing, stamping on gallery canvas.

I chose this painting to accompany the description of my art "style" over at Seth Apter's Altered Page. You can read about it here.


And now for the Exhibition details:
Ottawa Mixed Media Artists (OMMA)
"WOVEN" - A Juried Exhibition
July 19 - September 3, 2011
Norah Rosamond Hughes Gallery
Mississippi Valley Textile Museum
3 Rosamond Street East
Almonte, ON
613 256 3754
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 4 pm
Meet the Artists: Thursday, July 28 - 7 pm

I have included an invitation below, as well as a map to the gallery.

Visit the museum web site to read more.
"Visit the show, see the 47 large exhibits and enjoy being woven into the spirit of creativity." (from the web site)

The exhibition continues until September 3. If you are free and in the area on Thursday evening, July 28, come and meet the artists from 7 pm.

Hope to see you there!

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