The Manzanita Muse Newsletter by Dianne Bersea
Date: July 2, 2005
What's happening: More from the creative life - preparing for and surviving art events -- Art in Bloom Festival, Quadra Studio and Gallery Tour, Community Gallery Shows, new retail outlets, Cannery Painting to new home, Island Perspectives Show..., and more. Whew!
Scroll down to see the whole story.
Attention Retailers. We are receiving inquiries from retail galleries and gift shops inspired by our artwork, web site and Art Store. For wholesale prices contact us at Manzanita Studio.
New Workshop: - "The Art of the Study" at FireSign Art & Design Studio on Quadra Island. See below and Workshop Page for info
Newsletter Archives: Did you miss our last newsletters? See them here:
March 05...,May 0 5
Gulf of Georgia Cannery painting at Maritime Heritage Centre
Dianne (with help from island friend John) presents Gulf of Georgia Cannery painting to Maritime Heritage Society President, Glen Ashby, for display at the Maritime Heritage Centre in Campbell River. In the background, the restored hull of the famous fish boat BCP45, also on display at the centre. For more information and future interactive keyed diagram of the painting go to www.bcp45.org
The Kitty Coleman Gardens Art and Bloom Festival, May 21 -23, Comox, Vancouver Island
Manzanita Muse Studio display at Art and Bloom
Jodi at Art & Bloom Festival
Fibre and 3-D Arts show, Old Schoolhouse Gallery
Our community gallery in Whaletown is a hopping place. Jodi curated a "Fibre and 3-D" show in early June. Very colorful and intriguing!
Due to high winds and heavy rain, (did I mention the bone chilling non-seasonal cold), the Kitty Coleman Art and Bloom Festival was more aptly called the Art & Gloom Festival.
 Despite the weather, a number of hardy souls visited our Manzanita Muse Studio display, and Jodi sold one of her carved masks. A special bonus..., the resident dog was a most attentive guest.
New Workshop Offered
Study for Wind Fir by Dianne Bersea
How do I create the study on the left and later translate it into the finished watercolor on the right? Find out in a new workshop called "The Art of the Study" to be held
September 26 - 29th
at Firesign Art and Design on Quadra Island. Join us in the studio, in the landscape and stay in beautiful island B & B's. More info on workshop page or go to firesignartanddesign.com.		 Wind Fir painting by Dianne Bersea
Jodi washing shell at Smelt Bay, Cortes Island
Living and working on Cortes Island is a dream come true for Jodi. "I've always dreamed of working as an artist on an island where much of what I do is outdoors." One of Jodi's favorite activities is collecting and preparing shells for her rattles. Here she is rinsing empty shells that she picked at a June low tide. Each beach walk is a reconnection with natural wonders. On this trip Jodi saw an octopus. Octopus den under rocks that are only exposed at extreme low tides and its rare to see them.

More Events: Much warmer and sunnier weather contributed to a marvelous weekend doing demos at Batoche Gallery June 4 -5 as part of Quadra Island Studio and Gallery Tour. Lots of visitors, and Jodi and I both did a lot of work! Three new watercolors are visible on the wall...while I take a break.

Upcoming Show: There is a flurry of activity in the studio as we prepare for our upcoming show with island artist, Meinsje Vlaming. The Show, titled "Meeting the Muse" will be at Grasshopper Gallery on Quadra Island from August 28 - October 2. Join us for the opening Sunday August 28, 1 - 4 pm.
Dianne at Batoch Gallery
Dianne and Chicken Truck at Nanaimo Art Gallery
Meeting the Muse Poster
Island Perspectives Show June 18 to July 23 Nanaimo Art Gallery
Acceptance into another Federation of Canadian Artists show feels good, above at opening of show. Two paintings by Bob Sheridan are to my right. Thanks again to Bob for managing the transportation of the painting . Inspired by a visit to Linnaea Farm on Cortes Island, this piece is called the "Chicken Truck". "Just what I like, the resourceful re-use of old vehicles. Here an old Chevy one-ton has become a chicken coop with chickens roosting in the cab".
Jodi Forster Hide Mask
One of Jodi's pieces for the show continues to evolve.
A Ghost from the Past -
Part of the fun of being an artist is all the interesting and often unexpected connections that occur. A recent phonecall from Winnipeg brought back a lot of memories. Keith called to ask if I was the artist who created the wooden plaque to the left. Yes I did. It's a pen and ink drawing of Kootenay miners, screen printed on wood. When I lived in Kaslo in the 1970's I helped catalogue a collection of old documents and photographs as part of a history project on the SS Moyie, a restored Kootenay lake sternwheel steam ship. The photographs inspired a series of pen and ink drawings of Kootenay history. Thanks Keith for the photo and reminding me of the "old days". Hopefully soon I'll get more of my pen & ink work onto the web site.
Kootenay Miners by Dianne Bersea
Hollyhock workshoppers on beach
Hollyhock Study and Service Workshop Participants return from a reef walk at South Point on Cortes Island. These lucky people took a month out of their busy lives to explore new avenues. With Jodi and I assisting, they investigated drawing & watercolour painting, wood carving and natural materials contstruction. They also discovered our island "free store", cougars, eagles and their own wonderful creativity. Here's a sampling of some of their creations.
Study and Service Workshop rattles Study and Service talking stick
Photos to left from Hollyhock Study and Service Workshop -- Shell rattles, talking stick and watercolor painting.

New Gallery!!

Manzanita Muse Studio now has cards and prints at CedarHouse Gallery at the Tswwassen Ferry Terminal in Richmond, south of Vancouver.
Drop in and visit.
Study and Service watercolor painting