A R T S P A C E

2010-08-23T23:14:00.000-07:00

"Bringing Artists Together " Press release from Linda Arkelian:

Can dancers, artists and musicians inspire each other? Linda Arkelian has literally been "Bringing Artists Together" this summer in her ballet classes at Dance on the Drive. Throughout the summer she has invited artists, photographers and musicians to collaborate and co-exist while practicing the disciplines they love in the same space.

Linda's multi disciplinary project, "Bringing Artists Together" lives up to its title. As dancers arabesque to live musicians, artists wander freely amongst them to observe, photograph and paint the interaction. The inspiration has flow both ways: from the dancers to the artists and then back again to the dancers. Yvonne Chew, a local photographer, muses "at Ballet on the Drive I hope to capture a bit of the energy of dancers in motion...in space and time...in and out of chaos." I personally have a fascination with human movement as an artist and a kinesiologist--movement frozen in a photo or painting is still dynamic in its beauty. It was amazing to experience the energy of the class: to photograph the dancers responding to the music and Linda's passionate and entertaining presence. All I wanted to do was paint canvases of physical expressionism when I got home. This project also has allowed for artists, musicians and dancers to share the creative wealth. At Drive Dance Studio, I met Masha Levene, an artist who melds traditional illustration with digital media such as the iPad, and Laura Baiani, a dancer, who gamely volunteered to model/dance in a photoshoot for me.

Mixed media artist Joy Ann Kirkwood took the words "Bring Artists Together" to heart and used her guest appearance to draw inspiration for her upcoming exhibition at Place des Arts.
"I seek to bring something of [the dancers'] energy, passion and grace to the sketches that I’ll be making." She plans to "create mixed media, figurative pieces to symbolize the qualities distilled from the experience" to exhibit in two upcoming shows. Linda Arkelian is a former professional dancer who has danced with internationally recognized companies such as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company. She is the resident ballet instructor of a weekly drop in class, "Ballet on the Drive", at Vancouver’s Drive Dance Centre on Commercial Drive. Linda is also a visual artist: she tours an innovative creative artists in schools focusing on endangered species. (UNSURE what this sentence means??)
Hundreds of banners with her salmon design hang from the light poles throughout Port Moody.

Together with David Cooper, an acclaimed dance photographer and arts advocate, Linda initiated the series, "Bringing Artists Together." There are not enough opportunities for like-minded creative people to inspire each other. Why cannot artists learn from dancers, or even scientists? David is known for his images that capture the inner strength of dancers, be it in action or through an impressionistic glass. They have seen how this event inspires and fosters chances to share, and they are committed to continue to pursue other artists.

Other guest artists throughout the summer have included:

Afro Cuban percussionist, Russell Shumsky who guest accompanied her contemporary class. He shares 24 years of professional expertise playing marimba, djembé, dunduns, bodhran, and congas.

Yvonne Chew, Vancouver dance photographer captured an event featuring guest artist Andrea Taylor, painter and prolific printmaker from Dundarave Print Workshop on Granville Island. She also documented a collaboration between photographer and artist Josan Pinon and Ballet on the Drive dancers where the dancers were immersed underwater.

Karen Chan and Jon Snow photographed a contemporary class featuring SFU's Ron Stelting on percussion whilst digital artist Masha Levine sketched the dancers on her iPad.

Coming this fall to Drive Dance Studio are Redgy Blackout Band members Scott Perrie and Jeremy Breaks. They plan to introduce the class to music from their recently launched CD "The Leap".

I am very thankful to Arkelian and Cooper for the chance to fulfill my goal of capturing the grace and strength of dance in art and envision a collective exhibit to show the fruits of the collaboration of creative minds from this summer. "Bringing Artists Together" at Drive Dance Studio, is a wonderful concept that breaks down barriers separating individuals in different disciplines. I was surprised myself when I told Linda that I would love to try one of her classes. Who knows, perhaps we will have dancers borrow our photographers camera's and artist's brushes next!

Article by Linda Arkelian and Karen Chan for the Vancouver Observer

final proofs

2010-08-04T22:40:00.000-07:00

short and tall

2010-08-03T22:08:00.000-07:00

short ones are first. I don't think the composition is as strong.

skis! final-ish

2010-08-02T22:04:00.001-07:00

Hi... I'm not to happy about where it it crops when I use the smaller skis.
-I'm thinking of putting a white crown logo that spans both skis but am unsure if that will be too busy
-I think I like the black ones best.

ski design drafts

2010-07-12T22:14:00.001-07:00

Olympics cartoons

2010-03-07T18:45:00.001-08:00

What will happen with all those employed for the Olympics?

http://www.vancouverobserver.com/olympics/2010/03/01/miga-collect-employment-insurance

2009-11-01T21:38:00.000-08:00

Art Site! Check it out :)
http://visualkin.carbonmade.com

:) Good times in Alaska etc.

2009-11-01T21:13:00.000-08:00

S. O. ttawa S....A/P

2009-11-01T20:52:00.000-08:00

Chronic pain is disabling, frustrating, ugly, humiliating and difficult to understand at the very least. I didn't ask for this. I often wonder why and how a kinesiologist, formerly active competitive badminton player and sporty arty nerd, could become this skinny, pale and weak woman.

ME. roar

I look in the mirror and
What do I see?
Someone who stares back differently.
Strength begone and weak knees
Feet and worms of worry eating
Into an apple-bottomed soul,
Who's in control?

Not I
Not my nerves
Not my brain but a power yet unseen
I walk, I preen and I ween
Myself from drugs, hugs, mugs o' tea

S.ubjective: more +, walking upright, no muscle guarding, apparently healthy ' O. bjective: C2-3 discomfort 3/10, L. SI joint pain and inflammation tingling and pain radiating down L. leg to MLA in food A/P: chill right out, get a dumb sucky job. I miss my funny, my cowboy and my Vancity lights. xo KC

2009-09-28T05:08:00.000-07:00

Photography by Karen Chan (c) with exception of E.Broadway by Dawid Spamer.

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it! The Dalai Lama and Rev. Naomi Tutu are Rockstars!

2009-09-28T03:45:00.001-07:00

Dear Editor:

I photographed the Vancouver Peace Summit: Nobel Laureates in Dialogue for the Ubyssey, the student newspaper at UBC today, and am still overwhelmed and exhilarated from my brief chat with Desmond Tutu (affectionately known as Arch)’s daughter, Rev. Naomi Tutu. He unfortunately threw out his back due to his desire to dance like teenage rockstar!

I am an artist and kinesiologist who is offering my help and referring a friend (Dr. Stuart McGill of University of Waterloo Spine Lab). He will hopefully kindly phone you will advice! backfitpro@...a

“I have a dream that one day…” artists of all colours, shapes, tones and magnitudes of talent will collaborate to start a charity called “ART. (eye). SANS ---------à frontières (borders).

All the compassion, wisdom and caring in the room moved me to act on my feelings in my heart: because just a feeling is powerless, if complacent—in the words of Ms. Tutu. I heard repeatedly of examples of brave women, such as Ms. Betty Williams and Ms. Maguire, Nobel Prize Laureate, who gave from their hearts in the face of challenges and adversity. I am inspired. I am alive. I am selfless occasionally. Occassionally a practicer of “random acts of KINDness. HELPfulness. (Humanity)\ is beauty and givers in humankind is beautiful.

Ms. Tutu, who is an advocate for AIDS awareness and rape survivors spoke of the disservice of inaction, as previously mentioned: feeling (LOVE) but not acting on it—when a second can make a difference is powerless. A random act of kindness and empathy is POWERful.

I ask myself this everyday….Who not to help? Myself? Others? Why should I not help? People are often –VE (Negative), but

- (+) -

____I_(CAN HELP!)

/ \

BADNESS!

(COWARDS ARE YELLA)

+ (+) +

UPLIFTING

(RED IS THE BLOOD OF LIFE. LUCK)

Positivity uplifts our spirits. Let me tell you about two gentlemen I know: Bill and Chopper. They reside and are a fixture @ Water Skytrain Station: two gentle giants—a man and his 100lb Karen-sized baby boy (German Shepherd). He is full of sadness and suffering, and at times I feel that he has given up in the face of adversity BUT I believe in him!

It opens my (EYES), having volunteered a little with Vancouver Coastal Health in “Sketchy-city downtown Vancity.” I strongly believe that my family support and middle class circumstances protect me and give me the strength to “LIVE.STRONG”. (Lance Armstrong). To carry on. To . TAKE CARE. Before I GO !! GIVE-r! It has been a difficult year for my family with two close dances with death—my father and grandma both sustained a brain injury—accident and stroke respectively. Watching them recover with strength and determination is inspiring. I suppose I am inspiring as well.

I have chronic pain and have sustained 3 minor concussions! B ANGGG! I still recall the day Mr. Moffat, my Computer Studies prof @ Sheridan College …

Douglas Park, Henna, Sold Painting and little peeps galore!

2009-09-22T16:47:00.000-07:00

" Dolls are little miniature notions of humans that children carry with them, they create fake souls for them." ---Andrew Markle (2009).

Fly away from this pain.
There's no point commiserating with a friend who sees
Nothing to gain.
RE C O I L. ACt. reACT.
CAREfully. avoidOBSTACLES
Step around them and
Follow virtue to heal and
To Self CARE if I

D. A. R. E.
Do A Real-Good Effort (Dudette).

-----------------------------by Karen "old 27 yr artsci nerdy yogalicious goofball" Chan :P

JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE KAREN !!!-Lloyd (Plaster-Judoka-Man de Paris)
"Sorry, I had a lot to do tonight with overseas contracts. I have to be on the phone from 7pm onwards because that is when the Asian markets open. Happy Birthday and I hope your art show was a success. I was very impressed with your work."

Thanks Charles

"Happy Birthday Karen! Thanks so much for the invite.
Hope you have a great birthday and enjoy yourself with loved ones."
Yvonne Chew--photographer

Ice pick dans les yeux.

2009-09-16T00:57:00.000-07:00

Ca marche? Non, pas vraiment!

S.O.A/P 2

2009-09-14T21:37:00.000-07:00

homeless man and dog: Bill & Chopper @ Water Stn.

Two Indian pals @ Water Station

Drawn on the new Canada Line (skinny dude turned into a cyborg)

Old man with kyphosis and dowager's hump @ VAG

Flapper Pointer/Hippie 4A Cure/
Ballet Flat (below, sculpture wood & ribbon)

SOA/P note 2: pain and Fall down or up?

2009-09-14T21:24:00.000-07:00

Down or up? Pain or none? Is it a choice? Some days. Some times it is easier to submit to it but pain is in my control. MINDset to challenge patiently or DEADset against change..rolling in misery. It's a choice. I make it everyday. Be patient. Accept my limits. Some days I'm woozy and boozy (not an alcoholic) and foggy and groggy but I choose to rest, get up, be SMART about my goals, careful about my influences and positive that I will my abilities and strength regain.

Leave one. My t spine aches. I barely feel my hands. I should jump in a vat of ice. Numb my pain in my mind and body. Freeze my thoughts. Quiet my mind, my turmoil in my belly. ---Karen Chan

Photography by Yvonne Chew

2009-08-23T13:51:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pouya Bastani

Beauty in Pain: SOA/P notes

2009-08-23T13:40:00.000-07:00

I am still overcoming chronic pain issues and have been living a difficult but joyful year full of stress, change, emotional turmoil and incredible anticipation.

Leave one and smile :)

Some old, some new

2008-09-21T02:25:00.000-07:00

Just for Fun

2008-06-12T01:48:00.001-07:00

Concussion Days Drawings

2008-04-27T16:40:00.000-07:00

Wash your sin away

Beauty in Pain
Smoking Red Hot = Dead Rot

2008-04-05T20:11:00.001-07:00

These past few months have been difficult: health issues, post concussion syndrome--over a month of headaches, dizzy spells, motion sickness eg. the sensation of my bed rocking like a boat. I look inside myself and find that I am stronger than I thought.

Walk in My Shoes

Walk in my shoes
Walk beside me and be my friend
Please don't lead me to dark corners or dead ends,
For I will not follow.
I am not shallow or hollow.

Walk with me, be my companion.
Walk and listen but don't expect me to champion
All your causes, shoulder your woes
worries
worms of pain eating into your
apple-bottom
soul.
Please don't feed me lies,
For I will not listen
And you I will not despise.
I am compassionate ad will above hatred and judgment rise.

Walk away from me, be more rational
Walk astray when you will not listen
Go away. Be emotional
but when you're in control

Walk beside me and be my friend.
Because together we'll fight demons and each other defend.
I'll love and care for you until the sweet satiated end.---- K.Chan 04/05/08

Sheridan stuff

2008-02-23T09:15:00.001-08:00

NEW WEBSITE!

2008-02-17T09:34:00.000-08:00

I HAVE A NEW WEBSITE IN THE WORKS!

PLEASE CHECK OUT http://visualkin.carbonmade.com/
Comments are welcome :).. Cheers, Karen

Vargas style girl

2008-02-17T09:23:00.001-08:00

Don't fall in love with potential, mixed media on paper 8 x 10

T.O. photos

2008-01-20T22:03:00.000-08:00

Royal York lobby

Nathan Phillips Square, T.O.

llustration Pub, Sheridan College

Life drawing/painting

2008-01-19T08:38:00.001-08:00

man with no eyeballs, acrylic 15 x 20"

Sports painting in the works!

2008-01-15T04:48:00.000-08:00

--inspired by photo by D.Ho

I'm doing another sports painting ...maybe hockey or badminton or ballet.

Conceptual Process journal

2008-01-15T04:21:00.000-08:00

Here are miscellaneous pictures from my journal. My concept is that the decisions you make in life are choices or happen by chance--either you believe that you can change your fate or everthing is predetermined.

Xmas cards/prints supporting the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre

2007-12-22T06:06:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone is enjoying the snow if you're in Ontario and it isn't cramping your style too much. There are 3 days left until X-mas!
Please consider a gift that keeps giving: Xmas cards & prints of my paintings are available for $5-$10. Net proceeds go to the Ottawa Hospital Regional Cancer Centre.
Working with the determined patients in the Exercise Rehabilitation Program inspired me to do this.

Fake mag cover

2007-12-02T20:02:00.001-08:00

Royal Winter Fair 2

2007-11-23T14:12:00.000-08:00

Fake magazine cover

2007-11-21T13:57:00.000-08:00

Warm Gradient

Neon Technician

Zombie-Technician!

Original Photo

We are doing this assignment all in greyscale, but lack of sleep does funny things to me. I decided to use crazy colours and add some eyeballs. This is by no means finished, but I found it hilarious :) It was made with Adobe Illustrator CS3.

Compass Rose

2007-11-14T09:23:00.001-08:00

Royal Winter Fair

2007-11-13T19:38:00.001-08:00

Nested dolls (finished)

2007-11-13T19:29:00.001-08:00

Nested dolls (continued)

2007-11-11T19:42:00.000-08:00

Here is the simpleton, king and the crown. The crown has determination over the word intelligence on it.

Here's the fairytale:
Three Feathers by Grimm

pinup girl

2007-11-10T07:43:00.000-08:00

This is from an anagram of my name: yellow Karen Chan = clean, lanky whore.
I was inspired by the Vargas pinup girl look.

Nested Russian Dolls

2007-11-10T07:32:00.000-08:00

This is an asssignment for Conceptual Process where I have to decode all the archetypes in the fairytale "The Three Feathers" by Grimm and represent it.

2007-09-28T17:05:00.001-07:00

Sheridan Illustration update

2007-09-27T14:21:00.000-07:00

It's been a very long time since my last post! I just moved to Oakville to start a BAA in Illustration at Sheridan--a scary decision to go back to school for another four years with no guarantees of success. It feels right I guess. You have to throw yourself in there and just hope and try, eh? Here's some new stuff...

Art in the Park

2007-07-19T20:01:00.000-07:00

* Bluescape, acrylic & mixed media (sold!)

Ocean Rhythm, (unfinished)

* Ma, acrylic (sold!)

my booth

I am finally uploading pictures from Art in the Park in Central Park (the Glebe). It was my first year there, and I was impressed with the calibre and diversity of the local artists. There was everything from photographic prints altered by fungus growth to giant robots made from metal scraps.

Thank you to all who helped me set up and/or came out!

Preview of Art in the Park

2007-05-14T20:36:00.000-07:00

Art in the Park June 2-3

2007-05-11T08:20:00.000-07:00

Hello!

It's been a long time since my last post.
I am displaying and selling art at ART in the PARK in Glebe June 2-3.

Booth # 46 Patterson Creek Pathway

ladies

2007-04-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

2007-04-21T22:09:00.000-07:00

Sunrise, sunset

2007-04-21T22:02:00.000-07:00

Watercolour Landscapes

2007-04-21T21:55:00.000-07:00

Portfolio submissions

2007-04-12T21:12:00.000-07:00

I've been accepted into Sheridan Illustration and Algonquin Animation, so now just comes the deciding part. Here's a sample

2007-02-20T20:48:00.000-08:00

More art

2007-02-18T19:50:00.000-08:00

Morty the Monkey

2007-02-01T19:47:00.000-08:00

Art Show

2006-11-29T18:20:00.000-08:00

Please visit the e-gallery at www.fotki.com/visualkin

My first art show

2006-11-26T16:11:00.000-08:00

SOLD!

Hello,

I'm giving a bit shout out and thank you to all my friends, colleagues and the general public who came to look at my art @ the Sportsplex. I made only one sale but I kept a guestbook and had some positive feedback. I was told my art is very ecletic. It was also great to see so many different artistic styles and to talk to other artists about their painting methods.
Please keep posted... I will be updating my gallerywith all the work from the sale.
E-gallery: Visual Kin E-Gallery

Cheers,

Karen

Nepean Sportsplex Nov 25-6 Art Sale

2006-11-03T17:04:00.000-08:00

Nice..I'm the featured artist on www.localart.ca/

2006-10-17T17:51:00.000-07:00

It seems my painting of Peggy's Cove in Technicolour is the featured painting on Local Art. ... a little exciting, eh?

Check it out!

Keep checking back please: I'll have another preview of the "X mas Pottery & Art Sale" & Art lending.

--KC

Preview of Nov. Art sale @ Nepean Sportsplex

2006-10-06T20:36:00.000-07:00

I've been working too much recently and haven't been drawing/painting as furiously. My new mat cutter is amazing, and my hand is getting steadier after ruining a few mats. It's been nice to finally mat watercolours that have been sitting in a plastic bag neglected for years.

I am selling art at a pre-X-mas art sale on NOV. 25-26.
Where: Nepean Sportsplex
When: Saturday, Nov. 25 @ 11 am-6pm
Sunday, Nov. 26 @ 10 am-5 pm
What: Paintings (watercolour, acrylic), sketches, digital imagery posters

Please come out if you know me or see a painting you like on here.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre.

Thanks!
Karen
Visual.Kin@gmail.com

4 servings of fruit

2006-09-12T01:42:00.000-07:00

2006-09-10T18:49:00.000-07:00

What kinds of services and artwork will I do?

I am interested in all kinds of projects, but have a keen interest in the following:

portraits
landscapes
abstracts
murals
movement in captured in art eg. sports, a busy cafe
illustration eg. medical
illustration for a manual eg. a health/safety eye wash procedure

Mediums that I work with include acrylic, watercolour, pen/pencil, chalk pastel and digital imaging software like Photoshop.

Please email me at Visual.Kin@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Karen Chan

New art

2006-09-08T19:52:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated in a while. I'm preparing for an art show/sale, and finally painted a watercolour after probably a 10 year drought. It wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. Watercolour is a medium where you have to be fearless with your first touch.
ArtSpace gallery is at http://public.fotki.com/visualkin/art_gallery/ (please don't steal images).

Cheers... KC

Anatomy Art/Art in Motion

2006-08-23T19:22:00.000-07:00

"Take care of your body, it's the only home you have to live in" --Anonymous

Thanks so much for all your support

2006-08-16T19:31:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much to all my friends, colleagues and total strangers for all the support and the positive feedback. It really means a lot to me. It's always hard starting out: I made my first sale through this site, and I am encouraged to have a springboard for my name/art. Please feel free to leave me a message--especially if you've bought a piece from me.

I look forward to hearing from you and am very excited about the opportunities that will come my way.

Some famous words to sign off

"Give me a museum and I'll fill it." --Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) JDM.NAC --photo credit--K. Williams

“[Happiness is] the full use of your powers along lines of excellence." --JFK (1963)

"Alcatraz" --photo credit--B.Chan

"When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world." --George Washington Carver (1864-1943)

--photo credit--Reuters

Thank you! --Karen

More acrylic art for SALE

2006-08-09T16:21:00.000-07:00

Rugby, acrylic on canvas 24 x 30"

Frog Series, acrylic on masonite, 8 x 10" ---$40-55

Wildflowers, Watercolour
SOLD! Thanks for your support Colleen.

Nested Tree, acrylic on canvas---26 x 30"
SOLD!

Here is more acrylic art for sale. Please email Visual.Kin@gmail.com to inquire. Thanks.--KC

Biggest painting ever!

2006-08-08T21:31:00.000-07:00

I just started painting the biggest painting ever! How big you ask? Well, the canvas was so big it didn't fit in the trunk of my poor Sentra. How did I get it home? A random painter between jobs stuffed it in his Ford truck! It was too funny. I'm painting a 36 x 60" picture of a VW Golf: it will have an almost cartoon like, Japanese art inspired background that has a somewhat skewed perspective. What I love about acrylic is how fast it dries, and its transparency like watercolour and its ability to be similar to oil paints in texture.
Here's the photo I'm working from.

Karen

Crayon, pastel sur papier

2006-08-06T09:18:00.000-07:00

Chalk pastel on black paper

Nude model drawing

David, pencil on Mayfair

Art for a Cause: Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre

2006-08-04T22:24:00.000-07:00

Hello!

These painting are on SALE with ALL proceeds going to the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre--probably to prostate cancer research.

Daffodils is an 8 x 10 acrylic on masonite
Eye of Courage is a medium sized acrylic on canvas
Lion Cubs,painted in acrylic, is approximately 20 x 30" (work in progress)

Please email me at Visual.Kin@gmail.com to bid. Any amount you think is deserving will be entertained! BIDDING CLOSES SEP. 01.06 ---KC

Starting out

2006-08-04T22:13:00.000-07:00

So here I am starting out--looking for ideas, welcoming commissions and the opportunity to meet creative, interesting people or just people in general. Art can be beautiful or butt ugly to different people; it's all in the eye of the beholder. It can mean different things to different people.

I just want to develop a side of me that's been neglected for my 4 years of studying kinesiology at UW. Science is great but...

Karen

Photo of the Day: Movement

2006-08-04T22:05:00.000-07:00

Cool photo showing the body in movement.

Paintings galore

2006-08-04T21:50:00.001-07:00

Peggy's Cove in Technicolour

2006-08-04T21:46:00.000-07:00

More acylic art

2006-08-04T19:52:00.000-07:00

Some of these paintings will be for sale in the near future. I mostly paint in acrylic but did do a lot of watercolour. It is always hard to part with art, because I feel like I'm selling something personal.
I welcome any critics or fans :) ...positive or negative comments.

Karen

--special thanks to Kenny Williams for taking pics of all my art :)

Paintings

2006-08-04T19:49:00.000-07:00

VOX LYCEI . 2001

Karen's new adventure

2006-08-04T19:39:00.000-07:00

Hey,

So I'm starting a new venture involving my art and hopefully my degree in kinesiology. Stay tuned. Art sales, auctions for charity and other stuff coming soon :)

Karen