Women Walking Strong: A snapshot interview with local artist Linda Klippenstein

Here we explore how she uses textured pieces of paper to create incredible works of art.

What is your inspiration for your series 'Walking Strong'? What are you hoping people take away from it?

My inspiration for that particular series came from women who I've met at the Warm Zone, a drop in centre for women who are street involved. Women at this centre live the most difficult of lives, are socially isolated, most are active in addiction as well as in survival sex work. I've been a volunteer at the Warm Zone for seven years, and I've been hugely impacted by women there.  They are survivors, strong and resilient.

I've created and sold artworks for private commissions with this theme, and I've also facilitated larger group projects with this same "Women Walking Strong" theme.  Currently I'm planning a large community project, taking canvases to a variety of locations to include women who otherwise wouldn't participate - women who are incarcerated, elderly women who are isolated, students. These canvases will open March 8 on International Women's Day and will be on display at TheReach art gallery till the end of March.     
                                                                       
I hope that people who help create the series, or who have purchased one of my pieces from that series, will understand that we are much stronger when we walk together, when we "see" each other.

How do you choose your papers?

 I love papers with fine, delicate designs because I cut or tear them into half inch pieces. I also use papers which take paints well. I usually highlight or shade my completed designs with paints, and papers that have a too glossy finish don't take paint well.

How long have you been making art? 

16 years.

Do you have any advice for people who want to try their hand at paper art?

Just start! If you don't like your initial design you can always cover it with different papers. Also, use a good quality adhesive- I use professional mediums such as Golden or Liquitex because they don't yellow over time.

The process:

Papers add a rich texture to your art and give it dimension.

First I buy papers. Sometimes, if I'm facilitating a project for a non-profit, and budget is an issue,  I'll paint some of my own papers and use a combination of painted and bought papers.  Papers are cut into small pieces.

I draw my designs, in this case, the design is of a group of women walking, surrounded by trees, with mountains in the background. The drawing is divided in to small sections, Mosaic like, and I choose which papers I want to put in the different sections and collage (glue) them to the canvas. Once they're glued down I'll add subtle high lights and shadows with acrylic paints, and then I'll varnish.

Linda Klippenstein is a local artist based in Abbotsford. You can follow Linda on instagram @lklip and visit her website at linda.klippenstein.ca.

Blog by Christine Wiebe

Gifts for the special peeps on your list!

You'll find the perfect gift for your friends, mom, sisters or lovers at Paper-Ya. (Ok ladies, we know you are going to be tempted to buy a little something for yourself! Thats okay, you're not alone!)

For youngsters, tweens, or kids at heart. Creativity, making and modeling gifts are always loved. And don't forget the stocking stuffers! Here are just a few ideas to give to those with busy hands.

Is it just us, or is it true that the guys are always hardest to buy for? We have chosen some of their favorites. It seems they like beer! And nature, and style and if all else fails, we have our new gift card!

You will always find something great for your coworkers who get you through the day. And don't forget that generous hostess who made your holiday season more special. 

And last but not least, making memories for the wee ones is the best part of Christmas.

We'll be open until 5pm on Christmas Eve (not that we're encouraging last minute shoppers, but we know how it goes sometimes).

Here's wishing you a safe and toasty-warm Christmas season — no matter how you celebrate it.

Christmas at Paper-Ya: A joy & delight!

Every year, at this time, we find ourselves immersed with heartfelt enthusiasm. We love decorating the store! Our store takes on a delightful feeling that we enjoy sharing with you. We all seem to have so much more fun, and why not, the world needs more fun these days. So let's get decorating!

For the foodie: big fat dill pickles, slices of pizza, hot dogs, and a burger make for a festive party in the kitchen or dinning room.

For the critter lover: and who does not love critters? Mantlepieces, table centerpieces, or the front door are all sweet spots for critters.

For the odd ball: eye balls of course! Hang on the car mirror...and keep smiling!

This is just a sneak peek of what's on our shelves now — Stayed tuned, we'll be posting more!

Our neighbours: Dundarave Printmakers

The other day we were talking about how much creativity is all around us on Granville Island and how sometimes we don’t quite see it because it is so close! That got us thinking and we decided to get yet a little closer and head over to the Dundarave Print Workshop & Gallery just on the outside of our very own building, the Netloft.

Serendipity played its part and we found ourselves at a delightful opening, on that Thursday eve, celebrating with various co-op members the joys or printmaking with Paper-Ya’s fine washi papers. The evening reminded us of the cross-pollination of our enterprises. While Paper-Ya does not make the art, we do make a contribution to the creative life we see daily in our neighbours. Of course, not all the artists at Dundarave use Japanese washi paper in their works, but it is doubtful that a printmaker would not have a deep affinity for paper.

We saw a lot of beautiful work by many talented printmakers that night. We especially enjoyed diving into the work of Barb Synder. Her exquisitely executed prints are both delightful and mysterious. Being a biologist she loves nature and environmental issues are frequent subject matters.

The prints of Heather Aston were also intriguing to us. Her printmaking scope is as rich as her lively imagery. Another nature lover, her prints are bold, colourful, and full of earthy life. Frankly, her love of chine colle, that is, the use of fine Japanese papers in her printmaking oeuvre is impressive both in execution and inventiveness.

Dundarave Print Workshop & Gallery is a true cooperative.  Its 30 members dedicated to contemporary fine art printmaking support the co-op through print sales, printmaking courses, and studio rental income. We encourage you to explore their website and who knows, sign up for a workshop and get your creative juices flowing! 

Keeping a notebook: tips for the beginner.

Many feel there is a difference between a notebook and a journal. Notebooks are generally used for recording information and making lists. Journals are most often considered diaries and are of a more personal nature.  Often there is an overlap between the two, and we all find our own methodology. This blog will talk about the notebook.

Have you ever experienced a great idea popping into your head and a day later, heck, an hour later, wondering how you could have forgotten it? We all know that “mental” notes seem to fade quickly. Keep a notebook and write that idea down, now!

One of the most important suggestions is to select a notebook that is right for you. There are so many options and all are worth investigating, but remember life is too short to carry an ugly notebook! A simple spiral bound notebook with lined paper is a great choice. The page will lay flat on any surface. There is inherent order with lined paper. That being said, not all of us wish order, we just might prefer to stretch our thoughts across plain unlined paper! And of course, the size of the notebook is essential. A 5x7 notebook, or smaller, will fit into most purses or bags. And finally the colour and style of the notebook — do consider that brighter coloured notebooks can be found easier amongst all the paraphernalia we lug around! Delfonics and Moleskine are among the many inexpensive soft covered notebooks available at Paper-Ya.

If you are just starting to keep a notebook and not sure where to begin, may we suggest

• Your goals you want to accomplish
• Books you have been moved by and why
• Music that you love or music you want to explore in the future
• Quotes and poetry that inspire you
• Your feelings and response to world events
• Notes of gratitude: what happened your in life that was really good today

Most importantly, never censor yourself. Don’t concern yourself with spelling and grammar, let your ideas flow naturally and without criticism. And finally, take your notebook with you everywhere you go, and don’t forget your pen!

Our snapshot interview with Louise Lockhart and the Printed Peanut

Where did your company name The Printed Peanut come from?
When I started up my business I was living in Vancouver, and North America has brilliant peanut butter compared to the UK and I got a bit addicted to it. I used to do a lot of printing from my bathroom in my tiny apartment, fueled by peanut butter sandwiches. I’m not really sure where the name came from but it’s a good one to google.

What gives you inspiration for your illustrations?
I usually end up doing something food related. I think I’m a bit obsessed with the lettering that you find on food packaging and in cafes. I take inspiration from the world around me, just normal everyday people, clothing, scenes and objects. I am fairly nostalgic for an era that I’ve never lived in, where men wore suits and hats. I think I make my own dream world.

When did you start creating artwork and how has it evolved over time?
I have always loved drawing and knew that I would incorporate it into a job one day. When I was younger I didn’t really know you could do illustration for a living. It was only when I was working in Paper-Ya in 2012 that I realised you can make products with your drawings on to sell! I think of my time in Paper-Ya like a masters degree in the business side of illustration, it was a wonderful invaluable experience. Now I split my time between creating illustrations for clients and designing my own products. 

One of our favorite products that we sell at Paper-Ya is your Pass the Parcel game, can you tell us a little bit about it?
Pass the Parcel is a traditional party game here in the UK. Usually it is made from layers and layers of newspaper and in the centre there is a prize. You pass it around a circle of people to music, and when the music stops you unwrap a layer. I have always loved making these and I saw a gap in the market to buy a read-to-play one (so stressed out parents running out of time on their kid’s birthday don’t have to!) I wanted to make it a really pretty thing with printed paper. Inside each layer there is an illustrated card with an instruction on such as “Name 10 animals in 10 seconds”. It’s good for adults as well as kids and they sell really well at Christmas for some after dinner entertainment. They are quite labour intensive to make though!

Louise works and lives in the UK. You will find some of her wonderful products on our shelves but to get a real eye full of her talent visit her site the printed peanut.

John Steinbeck's Ideal Pencil

A creative process often comes from those that personally inspire us. If you are a pencil maker than it stands to reason that those who used pencils with the greatest success would indeed be an inspiration. The great American writer, John Steinbeck, inspired the designers at Palomino to create their newest Special Edition pencil aptly named Blackwing Volume 24.  Working with Steinbeck's son, the author Thomas Steinbeck, the team created what they felt would be the ideal pencil for the exacting and fastidious John Steinbeck. 

“It occurs to me,” Steinbeck wrote a generation ago, “that everyone likes or wants to be an eccentric and this is my eccentricity, my pencil trifling.” For John Steinbeck, there was no better tool for writing. As he explains to editor Pascal Covici in Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters: “I am ready and the words are beginning to well up and come crawling down my pencil and drip on the paper. And I am filled with excitement as though this were a real birth.”

It was Steinbeck's son, Thom, who was adamant that his father's tribute pencil should be black from barrel to eraser. And because Steinbeck sharpened his pencils continuously, this pencil would need to sharpen to a point without sacrificing any darkness from the lead. The Blackwing 24 has a new graphite formulation perfect for extending writing and maintaining that quality dark black line.

Now, why the aptly named Blackwing Volume 24 and not 12? Apparently Steinbeck started his writing sessions with all 24 pre-sharpened pencils at his ready to begin his day of labor. That was the number that seemed to work just fine for him! He was, after all, exacting.