News and announcements

Artist Profile of the Month
Susan Jean Whyte

Susan’s fascination with the texture of trees started when she moved to Vancouver Island many  years ago from Calgary, AB.  Where the sky is the dominant natural element on the prairies, for Susan, trees are the dominant element on the Island.

Susan takes impressions from the bark of Vancouver Island’s trees. She then makes a mold and uses these molds to create the textures that she designs her jewelry around. The designs are kept simple, to keep the textures as the main focal point.

The texture is transferred onto the metal using a technique that incorporates the use of metal clay. Metal clay is an organic binder with very fine particles of metal in it. The product looks and works just like clay, thus the name. The pieces are formed, using the tree bark molds to create texture and then hand formed into pleasing shapes. The metal clay is then fired in a kiln where the binder burns off and the metal particles sinter together. Out of the kiln comes a perfect pure piece of metal. Metal clay now comes in a large variety of metals. Susan uses fine silver (99.9% silver), copper and bronze. Patinas on the metals transform the surfaces to mimic the wood. Susan’s handmade chain has a solidness to it that goes well with the tree impressions.

Island Artisans Member Catalogue

check out Island Artisans Association catalogue of Fine Craft based Artist members.  Including images and contact information for each individual member.

Our membership spans the geographic area of Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands.

MEMBER CATALOGUE

Our New IAA Logo!

The final vote to select our new logo was held at our February Meeting. Combining the proxy votes and the votes from the Feb. meeting, because the 3 choices were all so attractive, the vote was close!

ISLAND ARTISANS ASSOCIATION, FOR FINE CRAFT ARTISTS

You are all invited to attend

Island Artisans Association’s
Tuesday, April 3rd meeting
at
Cedar Hill Recreation Centre (Arts I Room) 7:00pm

Re-igniting the Fire: Being the artist you want to be
Presented by Kat Thompson

Are you in a rut, approaching your art practice in the “same old, same old” way? Would you like to re-ignite the fire of creativity and become the artist you want to be? 

TRUST…that’s the key. Trusting the journey your art practice takes you on and readjusting your goals can open new ways of seeing, being and making art. That’s the conversation you need to have with yourself. In this presentation Kathi will share stories, tools and inspiration for being the artist you want to be.

Kat Thompson’s Bio:

As an internationally recognized ceramic artist, teacher and now a painter, Kathi Thompson combines practical business experience with art making to create a bridge between the two worlds. She blends her skills as an adult educator and her art practice to shift how people think about taking their art-making to a semi-professional level. Grounded in a strengths-based approach, Kathi works with individuals and groups to become the artist they dream of being.