now you can WEAR MY ART!

Posted on February 13, 2017 by admin

I am so excited to share this news with you! You can now WEAR MY ART on a gorgeous locket made of recycled steel! How cool is that!!? There is an amazing maker on Etsy who offers a whole range of wearable art from her Polarity shop! Necklaces, bracelets and rings – all made to fit interchangeable magnetic ART covered lids! I have always wanted to order a set and was thrilled when Cat Ivins responded so positively with my request that she consider adding my art to her shop! Now Polarity carries two sets of my art (each set includes 3 different lids with my art and you always get one free bonus lid…you get a custom stamped initial charm too). Of course, if you want to order them, I would request that you order through MY etsy shop! If you prefer to order a bracelet, ring or a different necklace option (check out the sweet leather options!), please contact me for a custom listing, see more samples in the Polarity shop).

Have a look and spread the word, maybe there is someone you know (like you!) that would love to get a sweet locket set made with some of my favourite paintings!

Check out the first set (words, wings and water)….

And another set (feathers, whale and oystercatcher in hot air balloon)….

P.S. I ordered the smaller size lockets for my girls (and shorter chains, see options in my shop listings)…..they LOVE THEM!!! Tomorrow (for Valentine’s Day) they will be getting a few new lockets with designs by some of my favourite etsian artists (like Cori Dantini and Shira Sela…did you know Shira is from Montreal!?). Polarity really does create a whole lot of art fun for your every day! Speaking of fun, here’s a peek at some of the Christmas day joy these necklaces brought!

Note: All photos (except for my girls of course) courtesy of Cat Ivins from Polarity. Oh, and I took this one too…doesn’t the whale tail compliment my sister’s horse scarf and bear shirt perfectly!?

for the whales

Posted on June 17, 2016 by admin

It feels to good to paint again….to find an old canvas and bring it new life with layers of playful paint added over a period of weeks, with no plan in mind. To then feel driven to paint something special and to use that colourful, multi-layered canvas to make something like THIS….

I am so glad I made time to paint something FOR THE WHALES, for the amazing team of educators and researchers that are doing so much for the baleen whales in our waters! I hope this playful whale tail will help my friends at MERS (Marine Education and Research Society) keep doing their important work. I hope it will also make you think about the whales and how you can learn more about them. Do you want to help to? Check out all the on-line silent auction items and perhaps make a bid (bidding closes 2 pm on June 26th). There are raffle tickets for sale too and a fun event being planned for June 26th. Why not make a trip…

Of course, you can also visit the MERS website anytime and contribute by Adopting A Whale or making a donation. Just by learning more about the whales and the work MERS is doing to protect whales, you will become part of the team. The more we know, the more we care, the more we will help.

All this on the heels of an incredible string of World Oceans Day events and school programs I participated in. I think this painting was infused with ocean magic after all those amazing events that were topped off by a school camping trip with my daughter to a whale filled bay on the West Coast! Which reminds me, I should go check the calendar to see when we can go back to visit the grey whales in Pachena Bay again this summer!

holiday shopping – go local

Posted on December 11, 2015 by admin

So I made some cards for ME and then some of YOU asked for some too! After a few special orders, I still have a bunch left to sell at the holiday craft fairs I am participating in over the next two weekends. Come on by and grab a few and send some West Coast wishes to those you love! Printed on 100 % recycled paper (as all my cards are), these truly are good for the Earth….and the Sea! Please send me a note if you want a bulk order (and special bulk rate) on cards, or if you cannot make the holiday sales coming up.

I also decided to show you the entire painting (DIVE DEEP) in the form of a bookmark. Wouldn’t they make a nice pairing with the gift of a book (used book are the best kind to get, share your favourites around). To top off the ultimate West Coast gift, you could add my DIVE DEEP calendar (also printed on 100% recycled paper).

You will find my PEACEFUL ocean creations Dec 12,13, 19 and 20th at the Pier Gallery Artists Collective (Panacea has the best stocking stuffers, hint hint Santa) and this Sunday at the DRIFT Home Show from 1 – 5 pm (come see where the magic happens at Black Bird Studios and meet a bunch of fabulous artists) . Check out the links to see who is involved in each of these fabulous shows.

While you are out and about, check out the other craft sales happening on Gabriola over the next two weekends. The Agi Christmas Craft Fair is at the Community Hall this Saturday from 10 am – 3 pm. Also this Saturday, Dianna Bonder will have her studio open for an Xmas Blast Open House from 10 am – 4 pm (the perfect place to get those books I was talking about). Another talented group of artists will be selling their wares at Christmas at the Roundhouse over the next two weekends from 11 am – 4 pm. La Belle Vie Studio will be full of my friend Josee Velsen’s creations, so stop by while you are making your rounds (her homemade teas would be the perfect pairing with the books you are gifting and make sure you get some of your own to sip while you write Christmas cards).

There is simply no reason to go to Nanaimo when you can get all your holiday shopping done right here on our amazing island. Shop local and have fun! Keep the peace in the season and avoid the hectic crowds at the malls. You will support your community and the Earth by doing so!

P.S. If you are in Nanaimo and cannot make it over this way, check out the beautiful creations made by Katherine Moore at her Breeze On In Open House this weekend. Or head downtown and see my art alongside so many other locals at Artzi Stuff.

2016 calendars are ready to make a SPLASH….and a giveaway

Posted on November 15, 2015 by admin

As we draw towards the end of another amazing year, it is time for me to get my 2016 poster calendars ready for you! They make great holiday gifts — just roll up, tie with ribbon, and pass along with your love and best wishes for the coming year. For the price of a couple fancy coffees (10 bucks), you have art you can enjoy every day of the year!

My calendars are big and bold (12 x 18 inches, with larger font this year, a win for those that have eyes getting older like mine) and printed locally on 100% recycled paper (good for you AND the earth). Get them in my etsy shop or in a couple fun Gabriola holiday shows coming up….at Black Bird Studios on Dec 13th and at the Pier Gallery Holiday Sale here on Gabriola on the two weekends before Christmas (Dec 12/13 and 19/20). Of course you can contact me directly to place an order. Just 10 dollars each (I offer bulk discounts so let me know if you want a bunch).

I am so excited about this year’s designs and hope you are too. In particular the DIVE DEEP whale tail makes my heart SMILE as I remember a magic day this September when I was surrounded by so many humpbacks! Here is a photo I took of a whale called Yahtzee (can you see the spots on the underside of the tail?) getting ready to dive down for another mouthful of herring! (Please note the photo was taken from a distance and cropped and zoomed for this view).

A shout out to my friend The Marine Detective for sharing the magic on that special day and for continuing to do so much to protect our local marine species! A great gift idea would be to pair my whale calendar with a humpback whale sponsorship — give a gift that supports the important research that the Marine Education and Research Society is doing!

Here’s hoping 2016 is full of happy days for the ocean and for you and yours!

P.S. Which is your favourite 2016 design? Leave your top choice in the comments and I will enter your name into a giveaway. The winner gets the calendar they love best! I will close this giveaway at the end of the month.

Update – congrats to Natalie who was the lucky winner and will be getting a calendar from me!

dive DEEP

Posted on August 11, 2015 by admin

What do you do when there is a heat wave? Jump in the sea of course! ….and this is certainly a mermaid summer for me and my girls. Speaking of the sea….here’s a little peek at a painting I did for my little sister in honour of her BIG 4-0. It is called “Dive Deep” and captures a piece of the Tofino shores where she was born and spent her early childhood. I feel like the fourties are a time when we truly dig deeper to find our true selves. I included a big bright moon in this piece to help shine some light on my sister through this important journey. May we all SHINE our own true light in the coming years.

Christy Wilson's Studio

art . inspiration . life

Tag Archives: whale

now you can WEAR MY ART!

for the whales

holiday shopping – go local

dive DEEP

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