SIM PUBLISHING - News Archive 2009

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NEWS ARCHIVE - 2009

Testing Google Analytics

I thought I would give Google Analytic a try, as the web-site usage reporting provided by my web host is not very comprehensive. Once you sign up, you need to add code at the bottom of all your pages that you want information about. Once I installed the code and refreshed the page, I got a warning that the browser had restricted loading of the page due to security concerns with loading active code (a script) on the page.

Personally I find that annoying, so have just added the code to this single page as a test (for myself from other computers) and for others. I'd be interested to know if you got a security message from this web page, and if so did you find it annoying?

Seasons Greetings!

Best wishes for the holidays and a happy New Year.

Slide Mile 140.3 drawing juried into FCA show January 26 - February 28 2010

My original railway rock gang drawing has been accepted by the Federation of Canadian Artists for their Juried CAPTURING THE CANADIAN SPIRIT exhibition in celebration of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. The exhibition opens on January 26, and closes on February 28.

The drawing is one of a series of pen and ink and india ink brush pen drawings of scenes from the time I worked on the B.C. Rail Rock Gangs in the interior of British Columbia. The image illustrated here is a low resolution cropped scan of the original drawing.

The opening reception for the exhibition is on Thursday January 28, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Federation Gallery is at 1241 Cartwright Street, at the east end of Granville Island near the Granville Island Hotel.

Looking West and Water Taxi etchings at Malaspina Printmakers - December 3 to January 10

My two Savary Island limited edition etchings are on display at the annual Christmas exhibition JINGLE at Malaspina Printmakers on Granville Island. The opening reception for the exhibition was on December 3. The gallery is at 1555 Duranleau Street on Granville Island. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Mondays.

Maud Sherman exhibition at Prittie Library, Burnaby until January 10 2010

A collection of miniature drawings and paintings by Maud Rees Sherman is now on display at the Prittie Library, Burnaby. The exhibition is one of a series of community outreach exhibitions by the Burnaby Art Gallery. The show continues until January 10, 2010, and is available for viewing during regular library hours. All of the works on display were donated to the author by the late Mrs. Joan Dendys, a long time friend and neighbour of the Sherman family, and came directly from the artist's estate.

Looking West etching juried into FCA show Nov. 17 - Dec. 6 2009

My first limited edition etching has been accepted again by the Federation of Canadian Artists for their Juried SMALL PAINTING SALON at the Gallery on Granville Island. The exhibition opens on November 17, and closes on December 6. The etching is the first in a suite of etchings depicting various scenes and views on Savary Island. The Federation Gallery is at 1241 Cartwright Street, at the east end of Granville Island near the Granville Island Hotel.

Higher Rises print published in Art Avenue

The print Higher Rises, sold from the juried OPEN PRINT SHOW, was also published in Art Avenue Vol. 9 No. 5 September / October 2009 issue. Thank you to the FCA's editor for selecting it for publication.

Burrard Bridge drawing published in Vancouver Sun September 3 2009

A friend emailed me to say that one of my drawings was published in the paper. I went down to the local cafe to find the image, but it had been torn out of the only paper there, so I had to chase it down in a convenience store. The pen drawing of Burrard Bridge was originally issued in an AIBC press kit for my exhibition at the AIBC Gallery in 2005.

South Shore - Looking West etching juried into FCA show Sept. 22 - Oct. 4 2009

The first limited edition etching I have editioned has been accepted into the juried exhibition A BIRD, A STONE, A LETTER at the Federation of Canadian Artists Gallery on Granville Island. The exhibition opens on September 22, and closes on October 4. The etching is the first in a suite of etchings depicting various scenes and views on Savary Island.

Higher Rises print sold at Federation of Canadian Artists gallery

The first artwork I've exhibited at the Federation of Canadian Artists gallery, Higher Rises, accepted into the juried OPEN PRINT SHOW, is now also the first artwork I have sold there. Thank you to the purchaser, the jurors (who alas only selected one of three prints submitted), and to the FCA for their ongoing support of artists and art lovers.

"MARKETING BRILLIANCE - Another Opinion by Chris Tyrell"

The B.C. Art Salon held at Le Gavroche Restaurant in February has been reviewed by Chris Tyrell in the current OPUS Framing & Art Supplies newsletter (Issue No. 248 June 2009).

I hadn't expected Chris to quote from my long-winded e-mail message to him about the Salon, but it saved him the trouble of translating what I'd said into his own words and the attendant risk of "mis-translation." Thank you for the review of my project. Thanks also to OPUS for their long-lived newsletter, and for all the art and framing supplies purchased there that went into the Salon and its artwork. Apparently that has elevated me to the rank of "Tier One" customer!

EXPERIMENTS IN SELF-GENERATING VISUAL RULES IN NON-REPRESENTATIONAL DRAWINGS
Exhibition of new drawings now on at Daily Grind, 1500 West Georgia St.

Six new colour sketches are on display at the Daily Grind cafe until July 15 2009. They are selected from a series of experimental new drawings started at the end of April 2009. See also artists statement. The Cafe is open from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

L-R: Colour Field; Red Growth; The Shortest Route From Here to There; Implied Reactors; Cluster Study; String Theory.

Higher Rises print juried into FCA Open Print show May 19 - June 7

My linocut tribute to residential architecture in Vancouver has been juried into the Federation of Canadian Artists 2009 OPEN PRINT exhibition, on at the FCA Gallery on Granville Island from May 19th to June 7th. The opening reception is on Thursday May 21 from 6 - 8 p.m. Please come down and see the show. One matted and framed print of Higher Rises is on exhibition, and three unframed prints are also available from the gallery.

Another Transient Moorage image on the way to Granville Island

Heading over to Granville Island on the ferry last weekend to go shopping for art supplies at OPUS and wander around the art galleries...my favorite way to spend a day on the weekend. Now that it's warmed up a bit, the ferries don't always close the door flaps during the short trip, so better photographic opportunities are available on the water now than during the winter.

Poodle hunting in Barclay Park

Walking home from work one evening I saw this owl swoop down over a small dog that was running off-leash in Barclay Park. The dog's owner didn't seem to notice that little fluffy had just about become dinner. The owl perched right over my head and was so intent on watching the dog that it didn't seem to mind me taking pictures as it waited for another chance.

SUN DOG / BURRARD BRIDGE
Digital photograph.

WINDOW WASHER
Digital photograph.

SHADOW BOXER
Aluminum wire, matteboard, digital photographs.

PROTOTYPE FOR BELAY DEVICE

I was fiddling around with an idea for a rope belaying device, trying to draw it, and found it a lot easier to make it out of aluminum wire and shoelace. Possibly the seed idea for a series of unique, interesting, but useless devices.

RUNNING THE LIGHTNING GAUNTLET
Pen & ink, india ink brush pen, prismacolour pencil.

While driving from Salmon Arm to 100 Mile House by way of Little Fort, I got caught in an intense lightning storm as I drove down from the pass into 100 Mile. The lightning was striking so close that the car actually shook from the thunder, which came instantly after some strikes. The lightning was striking almost continuously as I cowered as low as possible at the steering wheel. Thundershowers were falling as solid sheets of water, making visibility almost nil even with the wipers going at full speed. To compound the difficulties, the sun was setting in the west directly in my line of sight, and there were some deer out on the road enjoying the rain. When I got to the motel in 100 Mile, the desk clerk was hiding under her desk from the storm.

SNAILS

This is a photograph of the coated copper plate of an etching being drawn, in this case the miniature SNAILS. The plate size is 1.75" high x 4.25" wide. It was drawn on a cut-off piece of plate from one of the Savary Suite etchings. I was using it to experiment with linework, shading, and the level of detail that could accurately be put into the plate with the steel needle I was using. Also, after occasionally sharpening the needle I would draw on this plate first to see if the tip was properly sharpened, rather than take a chance on one of the Savary Suite etchings.

March snowstorm

The extremely variable local weather pulled a sneak attack recently and caught these blooming rhododendrons by surprise. The subsequent freeze killed the flowers completely.

Road trip to Kelowna

A photo of my friends Moses and Ritsa on a recent road trip to Kelowna. I had to do some work and they wanted to see the Okanagan, so we headed out in a rented car to check out the interior. The brilliant sunshine turned into a snowstorm the next day and we barely made it back to Vancouver through the mountain passes.

February 22 2009 - Sim Publishing hosts B.C. Art Salon at Le Gavroche Restaurant

The first ever B.C. Art Salon was held on Sunday, February 22 at Le Gavroche Restaurant, 1616 Alberni Street in Vancouver. A small group of enthusiastic art lovers attended and enjoyed the complimentary drinks and hors d'oeuvres all day while enjoying the artwork. A light rain made no difference to the event, and actually made it seem cosier inside by the fireplace.

Season's Greetings and Happy New Year from Sim Publishing

Best wishes to all for a happy and prosperous New Year! Good luck with your ventures, art, and creativity. Sim Publishing 2008 Christmas card UNIVERSOLMAS illustrated.

Continue to 2008