The Story Behind The "Barriers" Print

A few years ago I was inspired to work on an image inspired by my experience of barriers. Considering the real world barriers of walls and other physical dividers. My experiences of trying to navigate the unclear terrain of cultural barriers. Plus the unseen obstacles of emotional barriers.

All these ideas were considered when approaching the creation of the “Barriers” linocut prints. Concepts which I drew upon from my own lived experiences.

“Barriers”, linocut print, black ink on paper. Sheet: 6.5 x 9.75 inches; Impression: 4 x 7.25 inches. 2020.

“Barriers”, linocut print, black ink on paper. Sheet: 6.5 x 9.75 inches; Impression: 4 x 7.25 inches. 2020.

This piece meant a lot to me when creating. Drawing out the image, carving out the lino block, and printing each edition by hand. It was meditative work. 

Once completed, I was not ready to reveal the work to the public because the feelings that went into the art still felt fresh and vulnerable. 

During the height of anxieties felt by Black people watching as lives were snuffed out and the challenges of Black existence were being made more apparent to others, what should I come across? After years packed away I found these prints and they resonated so deeply that I had to readdress this work. 

So I gave these pieces my attention and care. 

What I created is a limited edition of 8 black ink prints titled “Barriers”.

Plus, 8 mono prints, such as "Barriers: Variation 1". The mono prints were created using the base image of the black ink relief print with a unique hand-applied colour application of colour pencil or watercolour.  

“Barriers: Variation 1”, mono print, black ink and pencil crayon on paper. Sheet: 6.5 x 9.75 inches; Impression 4 x 7.25 inches. 2020.

“Barriers: Variation 1”, mono print, black ink and pencil crayon on paper. Sheet: 6.5 x 9.75 inches; Impression 4 x 7.25 inches. 2020.

Because of the gravity of feeling that went into this artwork and coming back to these prints at such a very important time in the Black Lives Matter movement it feels right to acknowledge that more work needs to be done to remove barriers for Black people. 

For this reason I will be donating 20% from each piece sold to the Toronto-based organization Black Women in Motion. The “Barriers” linocut prints and mono prints will be available for $60 on June 30, 2020 in my shop.

Black Women in Motion is one of the only organizations in Canada that supports and advocates for Black survivors of gender-based violence. They are doing necessary work to provide mental health education, consent education and resources to support Black womxn, femmes and non-binary people. I recommend you read more on their website.

Toronto Outdoor Art Fair 2019

This post is a long time coming. I hope you’ll agree that there’s truth in the saying, “better late than never.” With this notion in mind I write this blog post. If I ended this year without taking a look back at this art filled weekend I would be remiss.

July 12-14 of this year, I participated for the second time in the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair. I came into the weekend feeling a little less intimidated having given this giant fair a go in 2018. Plus, I had the support of family and friends to ensure that I would make it through without injury.

I graduated to having a full sized booth this time around in the main area of the art fair. Right in the middle of Nathan Phillips Square between the reflection pool and City Hall. Not a bad spot at all if you ask me.

TOAF 2019 Booth Setup: featuring works such as “Ghost Flora”, “Anthurium Shadow Play” and “Bromeliad Conservatory”

TOAF 2019 Booth Setup: featuring works such as “Ghost Flora”, “Anthurium Shadow Play” and “Bromeliad Conservatory”

I was very pleased to be showing some new larger paintings for the first time at the fair. These new pieces were of a more botanical nature which has been my interest for the last year. To see images of the new works do look at the 2019 paintings portfolio.

Myself in front of my paintings “Ghost Flora”, “Ultramarine Spectre” and other select works.

Myself in front of my paintings “Ghost Flora”, “Ultramarine Spectre” and other select works.

The weekend was exceptionally hot, which is to be expected of mid-July, but the weather didn’t deter the art-loving crowds. It was a pleasure to catch-up with familiar faces and chit chat with new acquaintances. The interactions with the public are what make events like this worth while.

It’s the enthusiasm of visitors that motivate artists like myself to come day after day to a hot outdoor tent where we talk for hours, standing all the while except for the occasional break. It’s an exhaustive weekend, but worthwhile. Especially as some artworks were taken away by art collectors to new loving homes.

Toronto Outdoor Art Fair 2018 was a splendid weekend made possible by the support of good people, family, artistic peers and the wonderful staff and volunteers who make this fair run so smoothy.

I’d like to acknowledge the financial support provided by the Ontario Arts Council, as recommended by Third Space Art Projects, for providing Exhibition Assistance that helped make my participation at this fair possible.

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Inktober 2019: Challenges and Victories

You may have seen the posts on Instagram. Ink drawings, and illustrations galore created in response to creative prompts with the hashtag #Inktober. There are so many lists! So many different ways to approach this challenge. Which is exactly what Inktober is for many of us, a CHALLENGE.

Inktober is the brain child of creator Jake Parker, and you can learn a lot more about the idea of this challenge from their official website. The general idea is to respond to a list of prompts, one for each day of October, which you use as inspiration for 31 ink drawings. Simple premise, sure, but difficult to maintain that creative output for a month.

I did not successfully seen through Inktober last year. Yet, here I was again willing to try once more. With perhaps a foolish sense of optimism I intended to see this month of drawing through. My intensions were to foster positive creative habits and hopefully create some interesting images.

Sorry to disappoint…but I didn’t make it to the end this year either. However I did gain a lot of insight and understanding from attempting to take on this challenge again.


THE FIRST DAYS…

Well the first day of October snuck up on me. Not sure how. It’s in the same place it always is each year. However, the day came quickly and with the time constraints of a day job, then seeing through my evening obligations I found myself exhausted at the end of the night without any ability to pick up a pen and attempt to create an image.

So to sleep I went, prepared to come at this challenge properly the next day.

Day 1 : RING

This first day of pen to paper was damp and rainy outside. Which may have influenced my decision to draw cut wood segments for the prompt “ring”. The weather had me feeling a little melancholic and the site of a cut tree is both sad but also interesting to learn about the long life of a tree from the many ring segments.

I used my favourite Staedtler pigment liners in size 0.1 and 0.3 to offer a variety of line weights. The thicker liner was especially useful in the depiction of the thick wood bard.

Day 2 : MINDLESS

I drew my second prompt image the same day I’d completed “ring”, and for this reason was feeling a little short in time and ideas. What to draw that would embody the idea of mindlessness? I’m wracking my brain and fretting over what to do. Then it dawns on me. I’m thinking too hard! It shouldn’t be this hard. Especially as the prompt is “mindless”.

So with that in mind a first year drawing exercise came to mind: blind contour drawing. This exercise consists of drawing an object’s contour without looking at the paper.

This technique embodied the spirit of the prompt as it would take my overthinking mind out of the equation when drawing one of my house plants. I could just let the process of the exercise take over without concern for the look of the composition.

Best part is, I actually think that the finished drawing turned out quite successful looking. I find the organic shape very pleasing to look at and does resemble the plant model rather well.


Day 3 : BAIT || Day 4 : FREEZE || Day 5 : BUILD || Day 6 : HUSKY

The next four days of Inktober were smooth sailing. I responded to the days corresponding prompt with ease and managed to also post the drawing online usually the same day.

I took the prompt “bait” literally with drawings of some fishing lures. Day four’s “freeze” prompt I drew the tree frog which freeze in the winter time. This was enjoyable for me since I also adore little frogs. The next day’s “build” drawing was a simple illustration of pyramids. Day six’s “husky” prompt I used an ear of corn as the subject, thinking of the husks on corn.


THINGS BECOME DIFFICULT…

Everything was on track and moving nicely….until it wasn’t. I went about a week before I was able to really get another drawing going for this challenge.

Day 7 : ENCHANTED

This drawing came easy to me when I put the pigma liner to paper. The difficulty was in the gap in time between day 6 when I was still on track, to when this drawing came to be, almost a week later.
There are a host of reasons why I didn’t manage to keep on track such as family obligations with Thanksgiving, some new responsibilities at work as well as preparing for a family trip which was on the horizon.

Despite the delays, I feel very satisfied with the final image for enchanted. A small grouping of toadstools which are the epitome of whimsy according to any of my grandmother’s fairytale stories.


Day 8 : FRAIL

Oh, how pleased I was when finishing this drawing of Queen Anne’s Lace. Absolutely thrilled at the final result. This was a really positive day for me in terms of responding to the prompt and getting a really satisfying drawing out of the experience.

Day 9 : SWING || Day 10 : PATTERN

When responding to the prompt “swing” the month of October was two thirds of the way finished. I could feel that I was well past a point of catching up, and had a family vacation lined up in a few days time that was sure to take me even further away from attempting a last minute sprint to victory.

The results of these drawings I think show my feeling at the time, which was “just get this done with”. I wasn’t really interested in either of these prompts very deeply, but did see a necessity in attempting to respond all the same.


FINAL THOUGHTS…

I managed to make it through a third of the way. Not great, but certainly not terrible.

As expected it was difficult to ensure that I put pen to paper every day. This challenge is more about commitment of time and energy than actual drawing. Which was my attitude when entering into this. To try and use this challenge as a reminder to practice and create, even in small ways, as often as possible.

A positive outcome from this experience was a renewed interest in carrying around a small sketchbook for use when traveling on a train, or for using out in public.

Will I do this again next year? Perhaps. There is quite a bit of time and anxiety that can go along with Inktober, but if I have the time and energy to attempt this again I think I will.

If anything, it is a good way to get drawing and creating in a different way than the usual.