Happy August!
Big news from the studio today – twenty pieces are done and being shipped out this week. Lots of nature themed pieces of art, and lots of birds. (I like birds).
These are going to a few of the most amazing, awesome, funky, cool, independent bookstores around the world. I’m pretty sure the owners of these select stores will enjoy getting a few pieces of art and secretly slipping them to some of their favourite customers. Fun times ahead!
It’s been a long time, my friends. I have received questions and comments from people – saying WHERE ARE YOU, WHERE IS THE ART? I’ll be honest, things were slow for the past six months. I was doing lots of art, but wasn’t sending pieces around the world. But then the other day I got a message over Twitter:
In May 2021, Cheryl found a piece of Art in library book in a small town in Nova Scotia, Canada. This piece was made about a month before the pandemic hit, and somehow found its way to a library book, and was found over a year later. I do not know exactly how this piece of Art made its way to New Glasgow (which is far away from where I live), but it do. I do not know how it made its way into a library book, but it did. I don’t know what the chances are that Cheryl picked up a book, and found this art.
Let me say that again, because it is incredible to think: A global pandemic was about to hit. Someone hid a piece of my art in a library book and it was found over a year later. That is inspiring, lovely, and speaks to the essence of Found This Art.
More to come, my friends. The energy is returning. More art shall be made, shared, and found.
Hi Friends. Well, this most unusual and difficult year has come and gone. This project has also wrapped up for the year – and 52 art pieces were completed in 2020, one for each week – and the final 11 have left the studio, including this Octopus:
Octopuses are magical. They are intelligent, secretive, magnificent animals. They are full of wonder and awe, and we all need some of that in our world. So, I hope someone finds this piece of art, and enjoys it!
As for Found This Art? I must admit, it’s been a difficult year to keep the project going – very few people have reported finding the art, and my creative energy has waned at times. But a new year brings new things, so perhaps in the coming weeks, things will get rolling again. Until then, I wish all of you happiness and peace.
Hello everyone! Hope you are all doing ok as I know that times are still difficult for so many people. I just wanted to gives a quick update – I HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY!!! For some reason, the creative juices have been flowing again and the project is moving along nicely. Here’s a selection of art that has come from the studio over the past week or so – birds, trees, fried eggs, fish, and more!
And, as mentioned before, these pieces have been shipped all over the world – coffee shops in Wales, Cape Town, and Fiji will soon be receiving some art 🙂
I sure hope everyone is doing ok these days.
I’ve been busy, but also finding a bit of time for some art. I decided to take a leap and include some artwork of people in my project. I have always been uncomfortable sketching, drawing, or painting people. To my eye they always look funny. The wrong proportions, off-kilter, or just weird. But I also know that we are our own worst critic. So, what the heck, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Here are a few from the studio, and these (along with a few other pieces) are on their way to a coffee shop in San Francisco! Safe Travels, Art!
Things are moving… As I wrote last week, things have shifted with Found This Art. And, in the mail right now are two packages, one heading to a coffee shop in Iceland and another to a place called Strauss, in Brisbane, Australia. How exciting! Stay tuned for more news once these packages travel to their destinations.
The world has changed.
It’s a difficult time for so many, and the pandemic continues to have us in its grip.
This project, as you know, is about being a global community, and it is about joy and hope and optimism. I was pretty rattled when my part of the world went into lockdown (soon after a piece of art was dropped off and found in Montreal). I couldn’t do art, and couldn’t find ways to be creative given the fear, anxiety, and worry that was so intense and startling. It’s taken me many months but I have now found some time and space to get the sketch book out. And while things are still grim, it’s time to get cracking again.
However, this project needs to be reimagined. People are not travelling (nor should they!) yet this project was set up in a way for art to travel around the world.
Here’s my idea for phase two of Found This Art:
I am going to mail some pieces to coffee shops around the world, and ask the owners to drop a piece of art on a table, or maybe stick it in with someone’s order. Maybe some people will find the art, and that will put a smile or their face. Or maybe the barista can stick up a piece of art on their wall somewhere for people to enjoy. What do you think? Do you know of a great coffee shop who would be game to take part? Is it in Australia? Maybe Spain? What about Iceland, or Nairobi? Let’s do this.
Stay well, everyone.
Big news from a fabulous Canadian city*… the 58th piece of art was dropped in Montreal and it was found (or “trouvé“)!
This was a “thumbnail landscape” – a small winter scene with a wee cabin and trees. It was dropped by a secret agent on a bench in a fitness center in the downtown area:
The finder of this little piece was delighted, and she tweeted her discovery later in the day! …although it seems to have migrated from the bench to a nearby window sill (Yes, everyone, we have a twitter account)
And this little winter scene was posted up on a bulletin board in its new home:
Once again, it seems this very fun project has brought some joy into someone’s life, and that’s the whole purpose.
The world is a tough place with so many stressful things happening. I believe firmly that art can connect us, bring us happiness, and keep us grounded during difficult times.
Please be kind and spread joy whenever you can.
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*another piece of art was found a while ago in a different and equally fabulous Canadian city – here’s the story!
I have big news to share with you –
Earlier this month a very special secret agent recently dropped piece #38 at the Seven Stars Bakery in Providence, Rhode Island (the Hope Street location). The piece was carefully placed on the condiment table, as seen in this photo, here:
I’d like to visit this bakery sometimes – apparently it is one of the best.
The day after it was dropped, I received a note from the person who found it, who is named Joy.
It reads:
“I found painting #38 dated October 2019 at the Seven Stars Bakery on Hope Street Providence, RI. I saw it sitting on the service station and assumed someone was coming back for it. After it had been sitting there for awhile I picked it up and turned it over and saw that it was probably left there intentionally. I love it so much, it brought such a smile to my face and now lives on my shelf where I can see it everyday. Thank you!”
You are MOST welcome, Joy!
And it is so fitting that this bakery is on Hope street.
Hope and Joy: these are good things.
Hi Friends! Welcome to the new decade!
I had some fun over the holiday season, and prepared six pieces to share around the world, including ones featuring mountains, trees, birds, and trilobites. It’s the first edition of ‘from the studio’ for this year!
The craggy trees was inspired by an old painting in my parent’s house when I was growing up – I believe it was in my Father’s “den” (which was essentially a room with his slides, paperwork, a desk, and a bookshelf containing various interesting titles on all kinds of things, including ships, natural disasters, and field guides – you can never have enough field guides!). I recall a piece of art on his wall that depicted warped trees emerging from steep mountains. There is something amazing about the ways tree roots find their way among the rocks to the smallest patches of soil. They persist.
There’s also something special about birds on a wire. Sometimes when I drive home from the train station after work I can see a nice row of our feathered friends on the overhead wires. They are often pigeons, but I’ve also seen starlings there, and sometimes I can’t quite make out the species because the silhouettes just don’t provide enough clues. So, this wee painting of three birds can be whatever species you wish it to be.
So there you have it: Six pieces to start off 2020. Keep your eyes out, folks, you just might come across one of these when you are out on your own adventures. Let me know if you find one!
Found This Art 