Greetings From The Spotted Frog

Seasons Greetings

2011-12-26T08:25:00.000-08:00

Hello dear folk art lovers, this has been a difficult year for many people on our planet, people on our continent,in our community and in our family. I hope that it has been a mostly good year for you.

I had intended to pick up all sorts of wonderful new pieces of folk art this fall and then life intervened. A lovely friend became very ill and hospital visitations took up much of my free time. However, I expect to dash around the Province in the spring and return with lots of beautiful pieces of folk art - many of which will be posted on the website. I will write again after my visit with the folk artists. I look forward to seeing many of you at my gallery when I open again in May 2012. Until then I wish you good health as well as much joy and well being for 2012. Inge

Hello Again

2011-07-29T16:23:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I have written anything - not because I have not thought about it - it is more that I have not just wanted to chatter - so here I am chattering.

We are approaching the 23rd Nova Scotia Folk Art Festival - if you look up the Festival website you will find all sorts of information about the event and the artists. This is my eighth year of being on the Festival committee and participation continues to be much fun with interesting challenges. Such as this year - should visitors be allowed to bring their pooches into the arena. There have been some complaints that these little souls mistake carvings for fire hydrants - much to the chagrin of the artists and oblivion of the owners.

Each year new artists are added to the list of participants and unfortunately some do not return because of ill health and other personal reasons. It saddens me when some of the long time participants no longer find it possible to attend. We always hope that they will be back the following year and sometimes they do return.

Now for my gallery. This is my tenth year of working, living with and loving folk art. It has become such an integral part of my life that sometimes I think that I would like to reclaim my summers and not work. Then each year I recoil at the notion of not driving around the Province picking up a colourful assortment of folk art figures, critters and paintings. What I look forward to the most is seeing the artists again. Their honest, genuine connection to their work touches my heart and I feel the artists presence in each of the pieces.

While ten years ago, I thought that I would sell only Nova Scotia folk art and I have mostly kept that integrity; a few years ago I met a New Brunswick painter Pat Melanson whose work really appealed to me. He is an optimistic and joyful person whose paintings are colourful, humorous and well executed maritime scenes. His paintings have brought joy to those people who have been introduced to his work. Then there is John Boorman from Ontario who is a tall, friendly and curious person who loves searching his mind for new creative ideas. His carvings are humorous, more contemporary in style than most of the work that I carry and also well executed. For those of you who are familiar with my gallery you will recognize him as the "sardines in a can" artist.

This year I stretched my boundaries a little further. I am selling a signed print of a seagull, painted by Craig Rubadoux who is a renown Florida/Nova Scotia artist. In meeting him you would not get the impression that his paintings are in many corporate and Museum collections. He has a quiet presence and is much more interested in hearing your story than in talking about his own. I have chosen to sell this print because it fits in wonderfully with anyone's folk art collection. Also the price of Craig's original paintings is out of reach for most people so this is one way of owning a Rubadoux piece.

Then there is Kate Church, a Rhode Island School of Design graduate. A warm unassuming creator who travels extensively to teach and generously share her skills. Kate's figures are created out of tinted clay and her drinking vessels are made out of hand rolled porcelain. For many years now she has produced prototypes and figures for Cirque du Soleil.

I could say lots more about each of these artists and their artistic style but for now this will suffice. By the end of August I am hoping to have some of their work on display on my website in addition to more works by some of the folk artists whose work I carry. Thank you for taking so much interest in my website. Enjoy the joy of summer and all that it offers you. Inge

THOUGHTS ON NOVA SCOTIA FOLK ART

2010-03-15T17:03:00.000-07:00

Folk Art or "art from the heart" created by self-taught artists illustrates wit and spontaneity, an imaginative and diverse use of materials as well as a lively and vivid use of colour. This creative art form consistently brings laughter and joy to the viewer. It is an essential element of Nova Scotia's rich visual culture.

Some believe that the widespread surge of folk art creativity can, in part, be attributed to pensions. Financial freedom gave many individuals an opportunity to express themselves artistically. It is often reported by the artists that they began carving in their sheds during the winter, offering their creations as gifts to family and friends. Before long, requests were made by other relatives and friends to receive a carving for their birthday or Christmas. The folk artists often report that they were much bemused by the enthusiasm with which their creations were received and happily gifted their carvings. Generally, these were not considered as pieces of art by the creator until someone came along and offered payment. So what began as a way of pleasantly passing away the cold winter days grew into recognition of artistic merit and a defined style of art.

Most artists report that whittling away on a piece of wood,often pine, gives them great pleasure. They feel relaxed and are able to lose themselves in their creation. At times, the artist looks at a piece of wood and based on its shape has a strong sense of what they are going to make. Other times, inspiration comes from other sources. The more known artists get specific requests. Recently, while visiting one of the artists a customer was there picking up a stunning mermaid as a retirement gift for her husband.

Although many artists are retired having worked on the land, fishing or other occupations, the majority of folk artists continue to have employment and work at their creations in their spare time. It is noted that most carvers are males and most painters are females. I only know of two women who are presently carving.

The l976 opening of Folk Art in Nova Scotia exhibit at Halifax, which, at the end of its travels, was installed at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa, did much to further the acceptance and appreciation of Nova Scotia Folk Art.

First Post

2010-02-28T10:11:00.001-08:00

HELLO FOLK ART FRIENDS, I AM WRITING THIS BLOG BECAUSE I SEE THAT MANY OF YOU VISIT MY WEBSITE ON A REGULAR BASIS SO I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO LOOK AT IN ADDITION TO THOSE GORGOUS PIECES OF FOLK ART. I WOULD LIKE TO CHAT WITH YOU FROM TIME TO TIME AND KEEP YOU INFORMED ABOUT THE ART AND ITS ARTISTS AS I EXPERIENCE THEM.