Deck the Walls...

Twenty-two local artists held a holiday Open House at their studio warehouse in North Vancouver this past weekend, Saturday November 26th. The show offered an opportunity to visit artists in their working environment where they create paintings, mixed media, jewelry, sculpture, and more.


There was live music, cookies, hot spiced apple cider, original art and networking on the menu. Have a look at the video... ~ Sharka

Anonymous Art Show

Last night was the Opening of The Anonymous Art Show. The doors opened at 7:00pm and I was the 25th person waiting in line… This is the third year I’ve participated and by the time I left, one of my paintings had sold, yay!


The show is a group exhibition and a fundraising event that includes paintings by both established and emerging artists. All paintings are 8”x8” on canvas.
The artwork is sold right off the walls - once a painting is sold, the purchaser takes it home with them. Each wall is named after one of Santa’s reindeers and the exhibit runs until Saturday, December 17th.


The paintings are $100 each; 50% goes to the artist and the other 50% to the North Vancouver Arts Council. People do not know who painted each piece as they are only signed on the back. The show allows the community to support local artists and provides you the opportunity to purchase original art work at a great price!


This year, The Anonymous Art Show received over 900 paintings - they have accepted 641 in past years - but because of the number submitted, they allowed room for 732 paintings. I can’t remember how many artists they said participated.

 x   

 

I think since the opening has happened and one of my paintings is off the wall, I can reveal all three pieces I submitted. If you get a chance and live on the North Shore, go and have a look, it’s truly a wonderful venue!!! ~ Sharka 

Recycled Christmas Cards & Gift Tags

 Card #1 - used a holly border punch along bottom, then tore along 3 other sides. 

Glued to embossed piece of golden cardstock which then was glued to green mat

 and all 3 layers glued onto card base.

Card #2 - trimmed father christmas (used card) and glued onto scrap gold 

paper (trimmed to size). Using piece of 'scrap' scrapbook paper, glued to red mat and then 

attached all to base of card. Added bow for decor.

I know there are people who love to receive greeting cards for special occasions  - especially at Christmas time. They're thoughtful, memorable and beautiful - I hold on to them for years and years… But when they start to pile up, it can create a dilemma; what should I do with all these keepsakes?


If you feel like lightening your load of cards, don't send them to the recycling bin right away! There are many ways you can reuse your cards - one is to make easy, beautiful new cards, from pieces of the old ones!

Card #3 - punched circles from a few cards (shimmer/glitter) and created a wreath. 

Added a bow and red gems for holly.

Card #4 - glittered ornaments were done using a paper punch. Attached silver twine 

and bow. All 4 layers of matting were attached to card base. One of the 

white mats was embossed. Added silver Merry Christmas sticker.

You will be able to clear out some clutter, help the environment, and create something new and beautiful - all at the same time! Those who receive your "upcycled" Christmas cards will know that no one else has anything like it!!! :-)


If you’re not crafty and are looking for another option, instead of throwing them away, donate them to a friend, a local school or daycare, or a senior centre. I volunteer my time at a local senior activity centre, and my annual Recycled Christmas Card class (this year on December 5th), is always "sold out"!

Tag #1 - Snowmen with trees were cut to fit tag; added dimension with pop-ups.

Glued to embossed mat and then all was glued to green tag. Used corner punch on 

all 4 corners. RIbbons were attached with a fancy stapler/fastener. 
Tag #2 - Scallop punched both pattern (from card) and blue bling base. Attached gem to
 centre of snowflake and used Stickles to give remainder of snowflake 
some shimmer. Punched hole and attached ribbon.
Tag #3 - Trimmed what I wanted from card and matted onto green, then onto golden tag. 

Stamped "No Peeking!" and used Stickles to give falling snow and flakes some shimmer.

 Punched hole and attached ribbon.

This year create you very own GREEN Christmas cards and tags! ~ Sharka

Life Drawing

I never thought I would voluntarily join our  'Life Drawing' sessions... well I have and I am now in my third month and pretty happy with the results from this week's session.  They are held once a week, on a Tuesday for 3 hours and when I'm done, I am drained and exhausted. You would have thought I had run 5 miles or something!


With drawing there are different tools to try and many kinds of paper. I have tried basic white sketching paper and newsprint, and I noticed that most of the people were using a tannish coloured paper known as Kraft. Kraft is what I'm liking most so I'm sticking with it.  For the drawing tools I have now tried pencils in many different grades, graphite sticks and conte in black, white and sepia.

All I can say is I'm going to hang in with the 'Life Drawing' for awhile, and if nothing else it will give me practice, make my sketching/drawing for my paintings a bit easier, and get the right side of my brain working. It's also a fun evening out! ~ Sharka

My Newest Mini-Album

Today I created my first ever video using still pictures of my newest mini-album "Nature".

Enjoy and let me know what you think!

(of the album, not the video... :) )



~Sharka

Paper Birch {betula papyrifera}

My husband loves Birch Trees. There are many species of Birch Trees, but the one we see here, throughout BC is the Paper Birch, also known as Canoe Birch, Silver Birch or White Birch. 'Papyrifera' means "paper bearing" and refers to the bark.

The Paper Birch grows throughout BC and it typically grows at higher elevations, in floodplains, near avalanche tracks, and in swamps and bogs. It is not usually found on the Gulf Islands or near the ocean.

It's the bark that really gets my attention. It is paper thin, and is white to reddish-brown or copper coloured. It feels smooth, and is characterized by brown horizontal lines. The inner bark is exposed when the bark peels off and the peeled bark gradually turns black.

I painted my first Birch Tree painting above in 2008 - my second painting ever - for my husband. I just completed Birch Tree, number 2 below, a few weeks ago. The paintings are both very different, but the subject matter is obviously the same. My husband asked me if he can trade in the original and take the new one! ~ Sharka

"The birch begins to crack its outer sheath
Of baby green and show the white beneath...." Robert Frost

Hallowe'en in Wonderland

BC Scrapbooking Crop for Kids just took place this weekend and it was my 4th year as one of the class sponsoring teachers.  It was spooktacular to have my Hallowe'en in Wonderland Album class sold out again by Friday night! The pictures included here are from my album.

BC Crop for Kids is an annual charity scrapbooking event benefitting BC Children's Hospital Foundation. Since 2008 it has become BC's most popular educational & inspirational paper crafting weekend. It offers a weekend-long crop with amazing classes designed and taught by talented designers. All of these classes are generously sponsored by local scrapbook retailers and scrapbook manufacturers. Proceeds from the sale of crop seats, class seats and any other products offered benefit BC Children's Hospital Foundation - a great cause to support!

"'I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think: was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is 'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!'" ~ Alice 

~Sharka~