Truth Journey

Truth Journey – New painting in progress, 2014

I'm sharing my first painting in the new studio, working on the floor, as I always love to do. I'm using torn pieces of my surface designs and my geli mono-prints, along with book pages, handmade paper with dried flowers in it, and inks dripping and running down the canvas. See the sketch taped up next to it? She's my truth, the inner me that I'm exploring and learning about, and she will likely end up the centerpiece in this painting.  

And these are new surface designs I'm working on, shown along with a stamp I carved last summer from the same sketch. I will use both in my paintings, and I the surface designs will be turned into giftwrap, wallpaper, fabric, art prints and will likely be featured on other products down the road.

xo Ginger

Studio christening with a dear friend

Recently my dear friend and I had a late night creative blitz and picnic at my new studio. Celebrating the space, the transition and change, the newness and possibility—it was memorable and so meaningful. Of course there was girl talk and geeking out over creative biz stuff too ;)

To top off the celebration she gifted me this beautiful necklace from The Barefoot Contessa, one of my fave boutiques on Main Street. It's by Little Wren, a Vancouver local brand. The type layered with the dried flowers are beautifully symbolic of our friendship (she's a writer, I'm an artist), and the words play and action feel particularly relevant for both of us – both doers and go-getters. Love it.

The studio is becoming home more and more every day. It felt good to give it a proper welcome.

xo Ginger

Papergirl Vancouver Event July 8-11

Making fine art prints of my work for Papergirl Vancouver.

Hi friends. Come check out all the great art at the Papergirl Vancouver event! Papergirl is a redefinition of street art combining Art, Philanthropy, and Bicycles.

The opening soirée is on Tuesday July 8 from 6-9pm at The Roundhouse in Vancouver, Canada. The art will remain on display until Friday July 11. Then it will be delivered on bikes around the city on Saturday July 19 from 11-3. For some beauty, community and a fun evening of music come out to the opening party. Everyone welcome - families, your peeps, anyone you want to bring along. It's kid and adult friendly and there will be live music. And for a chance to receive a gift of artwork from me or many of these other artists, head on out to the biking routes on July 19 and try your luck!

I participated in this project last year and just loved the premise of giving art to build community. The other thing is that honestly this is a very real experience with real people. The formality of a gallery experience is replaced with an inviting scene at the Roundhouse where you can walk amidst and under and around the art and touch it and truly feel at home. I really loved the vibe last year and am looking forward to it again. You can read about and see a few photos from my experience last year here.

Come on out and support the movement!
xo Ginger

p.s. if you want to submit art for the event the deadline is July 3. 

Nature Inspires

Inspired by these florals in my neighbourhood.

Allium? The beauty is in the delicate details.

Love this floral gift wrap from Front and Company, on Main Street, Vancouver. Given to me by a dear friend who knows my weakness for beautiful paper goods.

Painting Cherry Blossoms by Monique Lum - another New West artist I met recently and found very inspiring.

Out for a trail run and feeling invigorated.

Oh the wildflowers. Imperfectly beautiful.

xo

Studio Tour

New studio - the design nook

I'm settling into my new space at 100 Braid St Studios. It's beautiful, inspires me, and so far I'm really loving this change. Many good things to come! Here is a tour.

My art table - for the making of all things small.

 Space to spread out - new surface pattern designs in the works.

My mini inspo-wall. 

A nook for aprons and coats. The fearless tin is inspiration from Anahata Katkin, an artist I admire greatly.

My cozy corner. For sprawling out and working on the floor, taking yoga and reflection breaks.

 View of my art wall. Originals for sale & some works in progress.

 Window view from the main galleria.


 
The main galleria. 
 

At dusk. Looking very tidy indeed.

 A peek at the early stages of moving in.

Lots of gratitude for all the help I had getting setup. It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks.

Come by for a cup of tea and a tour!

Ginger

My New Studio Space

The main exhibition, event and workshop galleria space @ 100 Braid St Studios. 

I’ve got big news friends – I’m thrilled to announce that I have a new studio space. 100 Braid St Studios & Gallery is a converted industrial building in New West that has been transformed into an inclusive working art studio, a dream brought to life by local artist Susan Greig. There are 14 artist studios, a gallery and exhibition space, a “splatter room” and workshop and class facilities. The building is urban chic, bright and spacious, community focused, and very welcoming. My studio sits along the south facing wall with lots of natural light and a cozy inviting vibe. And it’s a short few blocks walk from my home (walking culture, check). I am so excited about the connections with other creative souls and the business expansion this new experience will bring (creative community, check). On the home-front my family will reclaim some physical space and have a more present mama (healthy separation between my worlds, check). Collaborating with the studios will create more opportunities for exhibiting, events and visibility (exposure, check).

This collage of beautiful vintage windows was artfully conceived of and created by Susan Greig and her team - isn't it stunning? It creates an amazing play on the space, making the studios accessible yet separate from the public space. Love this design feature of the space.

A lot of thought is going into setting up my studio to create a sacred space that will inspire and nourish, and be practical for the three areas of my business – visual art, surface patterns and graphic design. My vision is for all three to carry equal weight, each with its’ own zone in the layout. Plus of course a cozy corner where all the great creative blitzes brew and percolate, and I take naps and daydream. And so important to me, spaciousness and lightness. Check out my Braid St Studio pinterest board I'm using for ideating and planning. And there's also the art workspaces/ studio board I've been pinning to for awhile now, dreaming of a studio like this (pretty close to a lot of the dream images I've pinned actually, especially the windows).

My new studio, setup in progress. Loving the clean minimal white mood. It's taking shape.

 I'm keeping this post-it note tacked to the side of my art cart, reminding me through my process to always trust my instincts.

I am so delighted to be joining 100 Braid Studios, and am so grateful to Susan Greig for being brave and going after her dream and bringing this amazing space to New West. All of us artists will grow and expand. And very grateful to my support system for having my back and encouraging me on my journey.

Stay tuned, more to come.

Ginger

Renewal

Here's a little peek at my renewal journey. Absorbing beauty and energy from nature, inspirations outings, and small moments of hands-on creating.

Also, I'm realizing taking a break from blogging is hard. I want to share the good things going on. That's part of my journey. So I will, when the moments feel right. 
 

Wisteria tree.

Patterns. At PaperYa on Granville Island.

Working on my back patio flanked by the garden & my yoga mat.

Studio Oh! Love this notebook art by Marisa Redono.

Urban Source on Main Street - alternative art materials. Lots of treasures here to stock up the art supply box. 

White peonies covered in raindrops. Got drenched in today's rain.

Surface pattern. Loved this issue of Uppercase magazine, and still learning lots from the Field Guide to Fabric Design book. Tucked in behind is a new pattern design I'm working on.

Sketching a weed from the garden. It will become a surface pattern.

My most recent shipment of art greeting cards - my spring floral series. Loving how they turned out. You can get the 5x7 cards on Society6 here or the 4x6 ones will be posted on Etsy soon, I'll put a note up when they're there.

With love.

Ginger

Life Sabbatical

An acrylic & ink abstract I did this morning with my family in the back yard.

Friends, I'll be writing less frequently for awhile & dedicating my time to fragile personal priorities. Don't go far – I will be back, and when I do I'll be strong and will have much to share of my journey. Thanks for walking with me.

Before I go I want to share with you two things:

Stand in your power. You are beautiful and smart and capable. You can do more than you know.

We are all more similar than different. If we can see this we can be more compassionate. We can drop fear and act from a place of love.

Go, be beautiful and brave.

Namaste.

Spring

Our spring landscape is lush, colourful and renewed. I'm drawing in little sips and relishing the beauty.

Simply inhaling spring's beauty & feeling thankful for nature. I hope you are too!

–Ginger

A look at my evolving brand

marketing materials/ postcards, biz cards etc

I've been building on my brand for awhile now & I'm stopping for a moment to look at all the pieces and celebrate the small steps.

facebook business page 

blog

etsy shop

company website

 pinterest boards

instagram (@redpearcreative)

new society6 shop, just launched and slowly adding things

flickr photostream

new biz cards printed at jukebox - so loving the spot gloss

mini moo cards - these puppies are so much fun, everyone I meet enjoys them

artful stickers & packs, with branded "local artist" tags

greeting card gift sets

  
what it looks like when I'm packaging up an order of my art products, spread out all over the studio :)


This was fun – it's so necessary to give yourself credit for the small steps. Thanks for joining me and reading about my adventures in business and art and life, friends. Appreciate the love!

—ginger