Tag Archives: watercolour

“Looking Back, Looking Out, Looking In” – at the Humboldt Art Gallery this summer!

Looking Back, Looking Out, Looking In
Paige Mortensen and Jess Richter
July 3 – August 31, 2018
Humboldt Art Gallery – 601 Main Street, Humboldt SK
Opening Reception Thursday, July 5 at 7 p.m

WOW! Between life and art there is never a dull moment! I am excited to share the details about my summer show Looking Back, Looking Out, Looking In at the Humboldt Art Gallery! The show will be up from July 3 – August 31, 2018. You are invited to our opening reception on Thursday, July 5 at 7 p.m..

Dotting the Prairie 4 18 x 36″ Watercolour Batik ©Paige Mortensen

Looking In

My focus on architecture came about after a trip to Europe where I was fascinated by all the doors. These may have been ordinary doors and windows for those who live there, however I was looking in with all sorts of questions. Who built this? How did they do it? Who lived here originally (now)? What were/are their lives like?

Looking Out

Back in Saskatchewan we seem to do a lot of driving and I was now looking out. What I see is elevators, homesteads, barns and granaries built by the settlers and reminding us of the past. This prairie architecture takes me inward to thoughts of ancestors who came to this country, to those who lived here long before that and to how different life looks depending on which side of the window you are on.

Patched 24 x 18″ Watercolour Batik ©Paige Mortensen

Looking Back

I am excited to be sharing the gallery with Jess Richter whose intricate paper cut sculptural works are looking back at the tumultuous histories of immigrant populations in mid-twentieth century Saskatchewan, specifically her German grandparents. Using wintery fairy tale imagery and German folk influences, she explores displaced womens’ processes of rebuilding shattered lives and homes in an unfamiliar and often unwelcoming country.

Going, Going, Gone 24 x 36″ Watercolour Batik ©Paige Mortensen

Construction Zone

Speaking of architecture – we are in the midst of having our roof replaced, and skylights removed so now back to the construction zone.

So, I hope to see you in Humboldt on July 5th – or that you can plan a trip that way sometime over the summer!

In the meantime, enjoy the season!

Remembering and Letting Go

First Drive Memories Watercolour Batik 24 x 36″

In this, the city of bridges, we are remembering and letting go of a bridge that has been part of our identity since 1907. It was the first vehicle bridge and replaced the ferry service for connecting what were then Saskatoon, Nutana and Riversdale.

It is fondly (?) remembered by many of us as the first test of our driving skills as it seemed that all new drivers were taken across it on their very first drive. It was extremely narrow so once you made it safely across your confidence was bound to have improved. Since 2010 it has been closed to traffic and it is now being taken down to make way for a new one.

The taking down process has brought people together this winter as they came to watch the demolition. You can watch the crowds, and the explosion from the removal of two of the spans in this time-lapse taken by our son Derek (Electric Umbrella).

And the bridge came tumbling down. #yxe #?

A video posted by Electric Umbrella Images Inc. (@electricumbrella) on Jan 12, 2016 at 10:16am PST

First Drive Memories (Detail)

This is my tribute to a bridge that holds many memories for Saskatoon residents. I invite you to imagine yourself sitting on this bench and remember.

Inspiration in Venice

Last week I talked about being in Rome in 2014. From there we went by train to Venice – a city of water and bridges! Inspiration was everywhere, but water was a big part of all of it. Here again, it was the ordinary parts of daily life that attracted me.

Stories Inside 1V ©Paige Mortensen 15×15″ Watercolour

Stories Inside II ©Paige Mortensen Watercolour 15x15" $300

Stories Inside 11 ©Paige Mortensen 15×15″ Watercolour

There were, of course, more doors but here the windows seemed to draw my attention. Maybe it was the narrow ‘roads’ where we walked because you could never get far enough back to really see the doors. In the windows there was evidence of ordinary lives – cats on windowsills, flowers growing and laundry hanging out to dry. Again, the questions arose in my mind: who built these buildings? who lives her? and what are their lives like?
Venice 2014 Â©Paige Mortensen

One of my favourite memories of Venice actually started before we even got there and I owe it to YouTube. We were very thankful for the video showing us how to get from the S Zaccaria Vaporetto Station (water taxi) to the Hotel al Piave where we were staying. With these tiny streets going in all directions and water and bridges everywhere we would have been lost trying to get there. Having watched this ahead of time made it into a fun adventure instead! You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGvEjqFNOvQ.

Venice 2014 Â©Paige Mortensen
Some places were busy with gondolas and people everywhere. But then we found lots of quiet, peaceful spots where we could just enjoy being in Venice. Love the reflections!

This summer I have been experimenting with some different styles of watercolour painting and one of the books I worked through was Jean Haines’ book “Atmospheric Watercolours: Painting with Freedom, Expression and Style“. She had obviously been painting in Venice and it was fun to work on her way of painting with my own reference photos of the same places. This is the Bridge of Sighs in Venice. They say it got its name because as prisoners went across it to be locked in their cells they sighed as they had their last glimpse outside. On another note it is also said that eternal love will be granted to those who kiss while in a gondola under the bridge at sunset. This is my interpretation of the Bridge of SIghs done in Jean Haines’ style:

Bridge of Sighs ©Paige Mortensen Watercolour

And my favourite spot in Venice! This piece is currently touring as part of the Dimensions 2015 show and at the moment is in Whitehorse, YT.

By the Canal ©Paige Mortensen 12×18″ Watercolour

Thanks for sharing my adventures!

Inspiration in Rome

A year ago we were in Rome! And what an amazing trip it was full of history and wonder. Inspiration was everywhere – from the ancient ruins to the doors that people use every day. Some of the doors turned into paintings once we got home. All memories of a trip.

Stories Inside XII ©Paige Mortensen Watercolour 18 x 24″ $700

One of the first sites we came to was Trajan’s Column which is an amazing piece of ancient art! This marble column with its stand is about 125′ tall and 11′ in diameter. Spiralling around it 23 times is a frieze that tells the story of wars between the Romans and the Dacians from 102-106AD.

Trajan’s Column ©Paige Mortensen

Trajan’s Column Detail ©Paige Mortensen

As a tourist we greatly appreciated the fresh, cold, drinkable water flowing from fountains around the city – originally built by the Romans 2,000 years ago.

Roman Water Fountain ©Paige Mortensen

We also appreciated the modern fruit stands for their refreshing modern day treats!

Fruit Stand ©Randy Mortensen

Rome – Colloseum

The Colluseum and Vatican were fabulous to see, as were the churches, statues and paintings!

Veiled Lady by Antonio Corradini

For me it will be the doors I remember as I continue to wonder who built them, how did they live, who lives there now?

Stories Inside X ©Paige Mortensen 12×18″ $350

Thanks for reading!

Exploring Wabi-sabi and Boro – Part 2/2

This is the second part of my exploration of the concepts of wabi-sabi and boro. This exploration was inspired by Donna Watson‘s article “The Zen of Discovery” in the August 2015 issue of Watercolor Artist.

For the first part of my story click here.

In Part 1 I explained how I had created the ‘scraps’ I would need to create my finished piece. Now I was ready to put them together.

The Patching Process

I wanted to bring the concepts of wabi-sabi and boro together with the thought that water and warmth are needed to sustain life. Working within this framework it was important to me to limit my materials to the pieces I had created, treat each ‘scrap’ as precious and ensure that I wasn’t wasting anything.

09_PaigeMortensen_ExperimentWithLayoutClosup

As I laid them out it became apparent that this was going to be a 18 x 24” ‘quilt’. None of this was planned out in advance so placing the patches was a process of trial and error. As the composition came together I pinned the pieces in place and began hand stitching it together.

10_PaigeMortensen_PinInPlace

The Finished Quilt

I offer this piece as reminder to us all to bring the concepts of wabi-sabi and boro into our everyday lives. Wabi-sabi to help us accept and celebrate the imperfections in our lives – both in the things we own and the people we love. Boro to remember that the smallest everyday things are the most precious.

©Paige Mortensen Sustaining 18×24″ Mixed Media

How will you explore wabi-sabi and boro in your life?

Exploring wabi-sabi and boro – Part 1/2

Inspiration

Summer is a time for breaking out of habits and trying something new. My inspiration came from Donna Watson‘s article, “The Zen of Discovery” in the August 2015 issue of Watercolour Artist. The article featured her work inspired by two Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi and boro and I knew I had to go exploring.

First some Background

The concept of wabi-sabi has been on my mind for a number of years. Donna describes it as “the Zen appreciation of things incomplete, imperfect and impermanent” and “an appreciation of things humble, modest, simple and minimal”. For me it has been about embracing imperfections – in my art and my life.

Boro was a new concept for me. Donna describes it as “patched and mended rags” created out of necessity by north-eastern Japanese farmers in the 19th and 20th centuries. Small scraps of cloth, generally died with Indigo became very precious as the necessities of mending created quilt-like clothing and blankets.

Washi is another Japanese term; ‘wa’ is Japanese, ‘shi’ is paper. Ginwashi paper is a very thin, strong paper with long fibres and I regularly use it for my watercolours. I also had some scraps of other Japanese papers, which I used to bring different textures into the finished piece.

01_PaigeMortensen_PaperCloseUp

My favourite way of working involves layers of wax and watercolour. The watercolour layers are applied from light to dark with wax applied between layers to preserve the colour and value at that particular point. Once the wax is ironed off the finished piece has a textile quality that seems to be asking to be quilted or stitched. This was something I had only thought about doing and now was the perfect opportunity to do some experimentation.

Creating the Boro ‘Scraps’

PaigeMortensen_WaterJug_Torn copy.jpg My first step was to recreate the concept of scraps. Recognizing that the peasants were only allowed to wear blue brown, black and gray limited my palette.

I had recently completed a not so successful piece with a beaten up water jug in it so I tore the jug out of it and there was the focus piece for mypaper ‘quilt’. Yes, the jug has some purple in it. Could that have been the result of aging? Or maybe I just took some artistic license here.

Out came the Indigo tube of Qor watercolour paint and I got to work creating textures. The first step was simply to paint all of the pieces with diluted Indigo watercolour paint. Once these dried it was time to add some wax with various sponges and stamps to preserve this shade and value of Indigo and create texture.

These are the tools I used and the pieces with the wax applied. In order to create a worn and stained look I added Qor Burnt Sienna, Quinacridon Gold and Paynes Gray to my palette. Once I was satisfied with the scraps I coated the pieces completely with wax to give them an even translucency and seal the pigment into the paper. The last step was to iron these between layers of newsprint to remove the wax.

06_PaigeMortensen_MoreColourCloseUp 08_PaigeMortensen_Ironing

Next week I will tell you about how these ‘scraps’ came together to express my interactions with the terms wabi-wabi and boro.

In the meantime I invite you to consider how you too can explore wabi-sabi and boro in your lives.

Summer Fun – Water & Watercolour

There are so many wonderful things about summer – and this summer water is one of them! While watercolour is my favourite art medium, I have been taking some time out to just enjoy water in many forms.

It is pouring out today but we went so long with no rain this year that it is wonderful to hear and see. We have a skylight in the living room and the sound as I sit here reminds me of camping and the sound of rain on the tent trailer roof. Wonderful, if wet, memories!
PaigeMortensen_Rain

These beautiful swirls of colour in the swimming pool fascinated me. Combined with the sounds of my grandchildren’s swimming lessons they created another wonderful memory!
PaigeMortensen_LumsdenPool

And then there was a wonderful early morning walk by the water in southern Saskatchewan.
So calm and peaceful!
PaigeMortensen_Valeport

Saskatchewan Craft Council Members’ Show & Sale

Stories Inside XIX 12×18″ $350

This week I am excited about the reception for the Saskatchewan Craft Council’s 40th Anniversary Members’ Show & Sale. I am one of about 60 artists with pieces in the show. There is no water in these ones but they are watercolours!

Stories Inside XVII 24×36″ $1,100

I hope to see you there!

SCC-40thAnnShow_invite-front

I hope you too can take a moment to enjoy water this summer!
Thanks for reading,

Studio Tour Connections

We couldn’t have asked for better weather than we had for the 2015 edition of the 263 Art Studio Tour! Thanks to Donna, we also had a fantastic venue in their family garage which even had freshly painted walls!

Donna Cessna is an acrylic and mixed media painter, Jeannette Lussier paints her originals in oil and then uses a colour sublimation process to create tiles from digital copies of the originals. My works are watercolours done using a batik-like process on Ginwashi paper. Three artists – three individual styles! Here we are, ready to start making connections with our visitors.

And connect we did. As I said in my last post, as artists we create the works but it is not until others view it that it is complete. Everyone who came by seemed genuinely excited to be on the tour and interacting with the wide variety of art. We enjoyed talking about our inspirations and processes.

We had the opportunity to share our art with people who call Saskatchewan home and others visiting the area from Alberta, New York and Belgium. We heard stories about work they had already seen at other studios on the tour and talked about what they were going to see next. This is Saskatchewan and the seven degrees of separation between people seems smaller here so many of our conversations led to the people or places we knew in common.

PaigeMortensen_Blooming Briefly_263StudioTour2015_Web.jpg

Beyond the connections with our visitors there were a few highlights for me:
~ I had time to get to know two wonderful artists! I enjoyed the weekend with both of you!
~ Sharing the experience with family who drove 2 hours just to stop in and see our ‘gallery’!
~ After I got home a friend sent me a note saying: “A friend of mine was one of the visitors and just raved about your work, recommended that I look at it!” Funny that the visitor and I hadn’t found our link – but thanks to her for sharing her enthusiasm!

And, an added bonus was that we were at the lake and I could spend some quiet time sitting by the water!

Thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s 263 Art Studio Tour!

Delivering Watercolours for Members’ Show & Sale

Today was delivery day! I dropped off my two watercolour pieces at the Affinity Gallery on Broadway Avenue for the Saskatchewan Craft Council 40th Anniversary Members’ Show & Sale July 17 until August 29, 2015.

Paige Mortensen Stories Inside XIX 18 x 24″ $350

The show includes works by some of the Saskatchewan Craft Council’s founding members and others by emerging artists. Over 50 artists working in fibre, ceramics, photography, wood, metal, glass, and visual art are included.

As pieces are sold, they will be replaced with new ones so remember to stop by often as the show will be changing over the seven weeks.

I am very excited that my watercolours will be a part of this and I plan to be there to see all the amazing works on Friday, July 17th!

PaigeMortensen-StoriesInsideSeriesXVII Watercolour Batik 24 x 36" $1,100

Paige Mortensen Stories Inside XVII Watercolour Batik 24 x 36″ $1,100

I will also be at the reception on August 7th. I hope to see you there!

SCC-40thAnnShow_invite-front

Thanks for your support!

Northern Saskatchewan Fires

Raging forest fires are burning in northern Saskatchewan and at last report about 13,000 people have been evacuated. They have had to leave their homes and the relative quiet of northern living and come to big cities where many of them are living in gymnasiums full of people. Those that have stayed are fighting fires that are dangerously close to the communities. I wish them courage, strength and a safe return to their homes.

We have a cabin about an hour’s drive from the major fires but we didn’t go this weekend because even here in Saskatoon the smoke was thick enough to keep us from doing anything outside. I feel very thankful to have the choice and to be safely here in my own home.

An extra weekend at home meant more time in my studio! The fireplace is only used as a display case for pieces I have recently finished. This is what is there today:
Fireplace Display 07-05-2015

Daisies are one of the simple little things in life that make me smile and bring happy thoughts. They are blooming beautifully right now and some were sitting on my table. They just had to turn into paintings too.

In the midst of the trauma of fires and being forced from their homes I hope the evacuees can find some simple things that bring a smile to their faces too.

Wishing everyone a safe return home!

Looking Back, Looking Out, Looking In Paige Mortensen and Jess Richter July 3 – August 31, 2018 Humboldt Art Gallery – 601 Main Street, Humboldt SK Opening Reception Thursday, July 5 at 7 p.m