Solo Exhibition at Tidal Art Centre, May 2025
For the month of May 2025, I have the pleasure of being an artist in residence at Tidal Art Centre in Lund, B.C. On the edge of beautiful Finn Bay, in an updated Forest Ranger’s house with comfortable accommodation, a sweeping deck overlooking the bay and best of all a large open studio. I’m painting, printmaking, and lumiéres all inspired by the beautiful landscape perched on the edge of the Salish Sea, and the doorstep of Desolation Sound.
To begin, I spent the first 4 or 5 days getting to know the place, walking down quiet gravel roads, hiking through forest trails, perching on rocks, wandering through boat yards and taking in the activity of the prawn fishermen and pleasure boats on the wharves.
In the studio I worked every day towards making loose, expressive landscapes that were more glimpses than full views and not as I had seen therm, but imaginary scapes I would leave to the viewer to interpret. I worked inks on paper - watercolour paper, mulberry paper and teabag paper.
What I’ve learned is that this is a small but mighty art community who are supportive of each other and their work evidenced by how they show up for each other of course, and artists like me whom they do not know. Opening night saw about 25 - 30 people who showed up to look at the work, ask questions and show interest in my work. They even brought flowers to make me feel welcome.
I’m pleased to announce that I will be exhibiting new works with Georgina Montgomery & Louise Oborne at arc.hive artist run centre in October, 2025. WRIT LARGE is three distinct approaches to a textual investigation presented on large format paper. Arc.hive is located at 770 B Hillside Avenue, Victoria, B.C. Visit the exhibition website https://writ-large.art/ for more information.
FINDING THE LIGHT
As the light outside fades, it’s a good time to invite the warm glow of light inside.
Each year in November, I create a collection of lumiéres, hand made lanterns made with my original designs. Each lumiére is cylindrical in shape and measures 8 1/2” tall x 3 1/4” around. Lumiéres look beautiful on their own or, in a grouping on a coffee table, side table, dining room table or mantle piece, wherever you want a warm glow of light.
The creative idea behind the lumiére project is to use light to illuminate an aspect of nature, something that caught my eye while on my frequent forays into the wild. This year, like every year, I’ve added a few new designs to the collection.
The Lumiére Collection 2024 includes:
Birds - In flight, Shoreline, Perched
Trees - Willow, Birch
Structures in Nature - Gate, Fenceline
Abstract Forms & Shapes - Bent light, Letters, Lilypad, Mushoroom, Fungi
Lumiéres are $45 CAD and include a battery operated tea light, and glass tea light holder.
To order, contact me via the Contact page on this website, via email mlwakefieldartATgmail.com, or Instagram @mlouwootton.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Lumiéres should only be illuminated with battery operated tea lights and NEVER with a flame.
SOOKE FINE ARTS SHOW
Written in Stone, acrylic and ink on cradled wood panel, 2023 has been juried in to the Sooke Fine Art Show July 29 to August 7, 2023 at SEPARC Leisure Complex 2168 Phillips Rd., Sooke, B.C. More than 250 artists from Vancouver Island and BC’s coastal islands in all disciplines will be exhibiting. Purchasers’ Preview event will be held on Friday, July 28 @ 7 p.m. Tickets at sookefinearts.com.
Each lumiére is hand made with my original artwork on heavy, coated, translucent paper. Each one measures approximately 8 1/2 inches tall x 3 1/2 inches wide. $45 CAD each including battery operated tea light and holder.
Lumiéres can be used anywhere you want to add soft, diffused light - lovely in a grouping on a dining room, coffee, or side table.
Each lumiére is hand made using my original artwork on heavy, coated, translucent paper. Each one measures approximately 8 1/2 inches tall x 3 1/2 inches wide.
As of April 2023, there are 4 series of lumiéres with several new designs recently added.
Trees: Willow Tree, *Tree buds
Hand lettering: Calligraphy
Nature: Bird in a thicket, Farm Gate, *Birds in formation, *Magnolia
Reflections: Creek, Glass block, Lily pad, *Graphic grass
*New designs for 2023
To order, go to the Contact page, send an email indicating which type(s) and quantity of each. Include shipping details if appropriate.
I will then contact you to arrange payment and shipping if required.
IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE: Lumiéres should be illuminated with battery operated tea lights or battery operated “candles” ONLY to avoid heat which can alter the shape of the lantern.
Lumières are $45 each and include a glass holder, tea light and battery.
Mark Making with hand made brushes and tools
workshop
Mark your calendars for this 2-day workshop at MISSA (Metchosin International Summer School for the Arts) July 15 and 16, 2023 on the campus of beautiful Shawnigan Lake School.
In this workshop we will begin by looking at a number of well-known artists who make unique and outstanding marks in their work. From there we’ll forage for materials from wild landscapes on the campus gathering botanical materials we are drawn to. Back in the classroom, we’ll create one-of-a-kind brushes and mark making tools that can be bound together with string, wire, leather, wool, jute, roots, cloth strips or any other natural material of your choosing. Once the brushes are complete, we will begin to experiment with making marks, your own individual expressions. We’ll use India ink and a range of coloured acrylic inks on a variety of papers - watercolour paper, mulberry paper, and rice paper and we will observe how these papers “accept” the medium. Students can bring any materials of their choosing to bind and decorate their unique creations keeping in mind that no two brushes are alike and, they are a reflection of the artist who created them. This is an opportunity to let go and express your individuality through mark making. At the end of the workshop we will discuss how our unique marks can be incorporated into painting, print making, and ceramics. Registration for Mark Making with Handmade Brushes and Tools (and ALL MISSA workshops) starts starts Feb 7 for Friends of MISSA and Feb 14 at noon for all.
MAKE YOUR MARK
MARK MADE WITH BLACK INDIA INK AND CLEMATIS SEED HEAD ON WATERCOLOUR PAPER
I’m pleased that my painting Gathering Courage like Dark Clouds on the Horizon was accepted for publication in UPPERCASE magazine Issue #54. Thank you Uppercase for showcasing my abstract work in your beautiful magazine.
I’m teaching a workshop Mark Making with handmade Tools this summer at the Metchosin International Summer School of the Arts at Shawnigan Lake School, August 6 and 7. We’ll make our own brushes from foraged botanical materials and then explore a wide variety of ways to make marks, wth wet and dry, smooth and wrinkled, black ink, coloured acrylic inks, using a variety of tools on different papers. It will be 2 days of fun and exploration. Visit the MISSA website for more information. Hope to see you there.
Go the Distance, acrylic and ink on birch cradle panel, 2021
Three of my paintings have been accepted into art exhibitions this summer, 2021.
The first is ‘Sentinels’ selected for the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s Summer Small Works Show and Sale, in person and online, June - August 2021.
The second is ‘I think we can get there from here’ also in the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s Summer Small Works Show and Sale.
The third is ‘Go the Distance’ selected for the Sooke Fine Arts Show online July 23- August 2,2021.