The day started early today - my first interview (for Canadian Brushstroke Magazine) was at 6 a.m. with Marlene Joudry, a Nova Scotia artist who is keeping alive the tradition of Mi'qmaq porcupine quill art.
As I listened to her story, I could only admire her stamina - quill art means finding dead porcupines (roadkill), collecting the quills - often a two or three day process, digging up spruce roots, finding birch bark, etc.
Before she even gets to the art, she has a whole season of collecting the material. Then the art can take months to complete and it, too, is a painstaking process.
The fabulous, colorful, intricate art is a sight to behold, and through it she feels connected to her ancestors.
My second interview was with artist Carl Shinkaruk - an extremely talented British Columbia artist who is currently doing a significant body of Western art - cowboys, horses, etc.
Our interview was almost four hours in duration, and I can't wait to write and share his story. Find out about his usual palette, his technique, and more about the personable artist.
In addition, find out more about Ontario artist Bernard Poulin (I interviewed him about a week ago). His 40-year history in the art world has a multitude of accomplishments. The story has some of his secrets and philosophies and is well worth the read.
All of these stories, and more, will be featured in the upcoming issue of Canadian Brushstroke Magazine: http://www.brushstrokemagazine.com/ . The issue will be released at the end of the first full week in November. The magazine is free to anyone in or interested in the Canadian art industry and is coveted by many artists, collectors, galleries, suppliers, etc.