Entries tagged with 'art'


continuous bloom

Posted by Aprile on 2010.03.15:

Hello! Hello spring! It's raining like crazy here but at least it's not snowing... I haven't made any new collages in a long time, I keep convincing myself that it's procrastinating and I should be doing something else. Yet, I am still never doing the thing that I am supposed to be doing. Surprise surprise. So I decided to just let myself do what I wanted to do.

I have been experimenting with some new stuff lately, everyone loved the paper folds I used for the "gray" series, and I kind of like them too so I am working them into this next collection. I think the white space helps with the otherwise very green backgrounds. I am working on green dividers, found in the Better Homes and Gardens book from the 50s—I bought two of the same book at Goodwill, just for the dividers.

I am still working on my thesis, and also going stir crazy with dreams of gardening. We're embarking on a huge gardening project this summer, even though we don't have a yard! It will be a hydroponic window farm, for herbs and lettuces. So excited.

How about some honest feedback now, guys? The first four pieces are on etsy, too.

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the royal family — oct 16th to nov 12th

Posted by Aprile on 2009.10.14:

Oh! I guess I should mention my show again before it is the day of, shouldn't I? I'm a bit scatterbrained from all this hard work I suppose (Plus, I haven't been feeling too well this week).

This is the poster for my first ever solo exhibit (aren't you proud?), and I am extending an invitation to anyone in Toronto that would like to come. The opening reception is this Friday evening at 8pm, and wine and cheese will be served. Here is the formal event writeup:

Entitled “The Royal Family”, this mixed media collage series was inspired by a pair of scrapbooks found at the St. Lawrence antique market filled with newspaper clippings of Queen Elizabeth and her family during the 1950's and 60's. Aprile's collages recreate the scrapbooks, changing the composition and adding materials to give each page a deeper meaning. All of these pieces are created on the actual scrapbook pages themselves, resulting in brittle and delicate collages which further the character and feelings of nostalgia in each piece.

Aprile had tried many different artistic mediums but her restlessness always led to back to collage work where she feels most comfortable. She loves assembling, disassembling, and rearranging the compositions as well as creating contradictions and versatile interpretations for viewers.


Originally from the Niagara area, Aprile moved to Toronto to pursue a career in graphic design. In the future, she hopes to obtain work in print media and has a special interest for visual displays. Though she loves computers, she's a bit stuck in the past, with a penchant for rebelling and doing things the "old-fashioned way” and tries to mix as much collage into her design work as possible.

A fine collection of English cheeses and drinks will be served starting at 8PM opening night. Come out and enjoy the artwork, atmosphere and a little taste of monarchy!

So please visit me Friday or see my work anytime until Nov 12th!

...industtrees gallery
1234 college st.
toronto, ontario
m6h 1c2

416-273-8075
info@industtrees.com

Hours:
Mon – Sat
1pm - 7pm
Closed Sunday

Facebook Event

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echoing and re-echoing.

Posted by Aprile on 2009.06.26:

I don't know, is this nice? I am trying to focus on doing some larger collages, since I have always worked on 8.5" x 11" sheets and smaller. I was thinking of using unconventional "canvases" as well, this one is an olive green legal file I found in an old filing cabinet. I have made some works on wood that are pretty enormous, so let's call this one on the medium side. Should I do more work like this?

Oh! And I used the book "Echoing and Re-Echoing." that I picked up at the bookstore the other day, my favourite part is the repetition of that title (lower left hand corner).



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almost ready!

Posted by Aprile on 2009.06.19:

All the pictures you will see from my studio right now are messes, messes, and more messes! I'm almost ready for Big on Bloor tomorrow, which is a street festival that runs from Christie to Lansdowne (on Bloor of course). It is a BIG festival, and I am excited to be a part of it (it is my first show ever). Unfortunately, there is rain planned for the entire day. I am sort of in denial, because it was so beautiful today, and will be beautiful again every day next week, but Jory said the likelihood of error from Environment Canada is slim to none. Darn. My main problem is that all of my stuff is made out of paper...

So if you're in Toronto and you want to brave the rain, stop by! I'll be at table E30, and I'm there with friends Petra, John, and Carmen at tables E31 and E32. It should be fun regardless of rain, right?

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with every good wish

Posted by Aprile on 2009.06.09:

I just wanted to share a little something I made for a bridal shower. We were looking for paper to design the invitations, and finally we decided to go with post cards (which I had been printing a ton of all week). I think they work well as really affordable invitations and they're also truly unique! It was fun for me because the bride-to-be has similar taste to mine, woodsy and simple (though she hasn't seen them yet).

I was thinking I would like to do more things like this, so if anyone is stuck for invitations, let me know! I think comissioned invitations are a cute idea.

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new items in my shop!

Posted by Aprile on 2009.05.09:

Some new collages for my Oh Sweet Woods series are in the shop today! I haven't listed all of them yet, but they'll be up soon. I'm still printing the books, and I'm working on five special editions (!) that will be for sale first. But if you can't wait for the whole collection, you can get single originals right now! I've posted some of my favourites right now, I will almost be sad to see them go...

There are pieces in these collages from the lovely 1940s illustrated Winston dictionary I picked up back home for $1, I am really really loving it. I love the colour of the pages and the size of the illustrations (tiny!). Nice to know that my selfish book collecting can amount to something, haha.







PS. I think I might have a little giveaway soon, I've never had one before. I'm not going to say "one of the special edition boxed books" because that would be saying too much... Hush hush!

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house

Posted by Aprile on 2009.05.08:

See, I told you I would share some things I found for my tumblr over here as well! This place, House, I don't know much about. I haven't learned Japanese that quickly (though I am slowly trying). I know they make amazing things by hand, like leather shoes that look like they've been worn for centuries already (in a beautiful way, not a gross one). The aesthetic of this place just amazes me, so earthy—could be all the plants they seem to have hanging around. Anyway, this is on my list of dream places to visit.

And I want these shoes! I love that the label is a hand-drawn "House" on the sole.



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alice gabb

Posted by Aprile on 2009.05.07:

I just came across student Alice Gabb's work via Just Us, and may I just say, I love her! Every single project on her website had me in awe. It makes me want to look my work over again and reassess, there is no way my school work even compares. I really feel like some of the best graphic design comes from the UK. And it's amazing what you can find at 2 am while scouring the internet researching for a presentation on designing travel guides that is due the next morning...

I've been staring at "make portfolio" on my to do list for quite a while, and her little box portfolios are inspiring me to get to work!



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jessie chorley

Posted by Aprile on 2009.05.07:

I find the work of Jessie Chorley to be really wonderful! Her altered and handmade books have so much character, I love that every piece seems like it has a story. If I got my hands on one of these books, it would be like opening treasure, they just seem like they would have all kinds hidden surprises.







She also has a charming little shop with her friend (a jewelry designer) Buddug Humphreys. They seem like quite the fun and eclectic pair.




via Wee Birdy and Jessie Chorley.


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oh sweet woods

Posted by Aprile on 2009.04.18:

1. no more than that., 2. with every good wish, 3. hello, 4. on our road to it, 5. heart;, 6. contents, 7. anything about him, 8. her heart had been aching, 9. she will never belong, 10. we might as well, 11. it certainly came true, 12. index

I am definitely going to more of these... I kind of love them. I did these collages for a school project that I mentioned before, it's about getting back to nature really. Though it might not be obvious to all. I wish I had pictures of the final, but I did it in such a hurry and handed it in on Friday! I turned these collages (and some more, my Let's Build a Nest series) into a saddle-stiched book with a cardboard cover (no surprise there) with cutout trees from this stencil. I tied it with twine and a shipping tag with the title of the book.

I put it in a plain wooden box with a vellum envelope labeled "findings" with things I collected from nature securely tucked inside (some twigs, dried and pressed flowers, some dirt by accident).

I'm trying to create a picture for you I guess, since I didn't get to take any! You will see them when I get it back, hopefully not in September. I wish I wish I WISH I had pictures! Or maybe I will make some more, the whole deal, box and twigs and all and sell them? Like a special edition... I don't know if anyone would buy this. But I will be selling just the books. I have SO MUCH to say, because I haven't been here in so long. I will save it for some more posts.

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