Swimming in the Salish Sea

Swimming in the Salish Sea, the whale, the whale the seal and me.

We frolicked in the swirling tides with stars and sun as our guide.

Heads or tails, fur, feathers, fins or scales.

Differences matter not, when you are happy with your lot.

 

 details: atlas map waves with encaustic wax.

The ephemera: original atlas map snippets from the early twentieth century; high quality reproductions of an antique star chart and natural history illustrations of sea creatures.

Size: 14 by 18 inches

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Flotilla

Ohé Ohé matelot, matelot navigue sur les flots.

The ephemera:  Various original letters and bills from the 1800s to early 1900s. Various original snippets of altas maps from the 1940s and earlier.

The found objects: One half of a papier mâché globe

Size: 22 inches by 30 inches on wooden cradle. Encaustic wax and cold wax finishes.

This was a challenge to myself to create a large piece. The composition changed as I began working on the piece.

I started with the boats..I adore making them and have become obsessed with them.

Next came the water and waves. It was quite challenging to get it right. I am not sure I am there yet but will make more in the future.

Finally the composition with the boats, birds and tiny globe and a top coat of wax on the waves.

Pink Run

Early September, time for the Pinks to run. She was off to join the others, to swim up stream. Watch out for the hipster waders, at the river mouth, with their nets and rods, they may not know about catch and release.

pink

The ephemera: Original book page; antique French document from 1800s, hand made pulpy paper and reproduction of natural history illustration of a pink salmon.

Size: 5 inches square

All about that bass

Yeah, you know I’m all about that bass, ’bout that bass, no treble!

All about that bass, ’bout that base no treble (X 2)

Yeah, it’s pretty clear, I  got more arms than two

But I can swim, swim, like I’m supposed to do

I’ve got that boom, boom that all the fish chase

All the right tentacles in all the right places!

Sorry  for the poor parody Meghan Trainor

All about that bass

SOLD 🙂

the ephemera: vintage music card; antique French document from 1840; antique paper; high quality copy of natural history illustration of an octopus.

size: small 5 inches square

 

Swimming upstream

He battled a steady stream of barbed words. Navigating this river of miscommunication was not going to be easy.

 

SOLD 🙂

The ephemera: hand made paper; old book page; original French document from 1890; high quality copy of natural history illustration of a snapper.

Size: 5 inches square on wooden block

 

 

Crabbing on the Black Sea

Crabbing on the Black Sea

Won’t you come along with me?

I’ll share with you, if you share with me.

Crabs enough for all, you see.

The ephemera:  original atlas map from 1933; original airmail sticker; original stamp, original legal document 1894; high quality reproduction of natural history illustration of a crab.

Size: 5 inches square on wooden block

SOLD at the teeny tiny Art Show

Crabbing

Let’s going crabbing down by the shore.

I’ll bring the net you bring the pail.

The ephemera: original letter from 1878; original map from 1921 atlas; original stamps and postal stickers; original ration stamps from 1947 France; high quality copy of natural history image of a crab.

Fly fish, Fly

Fly little fish, fly. Registered, par avion, stamped and sealed, you are ready to go. Make haste, across the ocean,  Monsieur is waiting.

The ephemera: high quality copy of natural history illustration of fish; original letter from 1855; original airmail stickers, registered mail labels and stamps; original atlas map of the California coast from 1921.

 

 

 

Limber

Limber: limp; easily bent; pliant

He was limber; flexible; but not easily swayed by the currants and tides of the political times in which he lived; and certainly, not pliant.

SOLD at Bound to be Different

The ephemera: high quality copy of natural history illustration of octopus; original letter from 1888, original vintage stamps and airmail stickers; original dictionary snippet 1900. Original atlas map 1921.

Size: 7 inches by 7 inches on wooden block

SOLD at Bound to Be Different Gallery Boutique; thanks Amy!

 

Saltair

Summers at the beach at Saltair. 

Alberta and May gossiping in the shade.

The picnic, tucked in the basket can wait awhile.

Halycon days, watching  the grand children

sailing, padding, collecting shells.

Altered Cigar Box

The ephemera: Vintage photo of  Alberta and May. Antique original handwritten letter, original vintage postcard of sail boat, original vintage Map Projections from old Atlas, original vintage bill receipt and and a snippet of an original  vintage program to see Madame Butterfly.

The found objects: antique glass bottle, small sea urchin skeleton, fish vertebra, quartz crystal, bit of broken shell and and old cigar box.

Back of the Box : Map Projections

Details: Alberta and May, my two grandmothers, relaxing at the Beach at Saltair, Vancouver Island, Canada, in 1949 or 1950.

 

 

The Boathouse

The idyllic days spent down at the boathouse,

preparing the rigging,

checking the sails,

pottering about.

In the house series 8/9

The ephemera: map from japanese school atlas circa WWII; antique handwriting, reproduction of vintage postcard

The found objects: antique optical lense, vintage typewriter striker key, vintage numbered tack.

Size:  4 inches by 12 inches house shaped wooden block

AT BEACH HOUSE

Hey little goldfish

Where you going to?

Little goldfish let me swim along with you.

Little goldfish, we’ll have a whale of time

Put your fin in mine.

-from the movie “Hello Down There”

 

SOLD (at the Teeny Tiny Art Show)

In the house series 4/9

The ephemera: reproduction of vintage bathing beauties photo, vintage image of blue fish, original vintage letter and stamp from 1904, decorative paper.

The found objects: old key hole, vintage label from old tool cabinet, old game piece number.

Size 10.5 inches by 3 inches house shaped wooden block