Tag: Love Art by Po

Art Print, Artist Portia Po Chapman Mural, Artist Portia Po Chapman My Creation, Portia Chapman, Portia's Adventures, Uncategorized

A Process of Art Planning Creation by Portia Po Chapman Kingston Artist

Portia "Po" Chapman
A Process of Art Planning Creation by Portia Po Chapman Kingston Artist

We all have our own method and strategy to create our art pieces. For me, I start with 2 things:
1/ An idea notebook that I enter flashes of visions, ideas, concepts, and sketches of possible cool things to do in the future. I also include inspiration quotes and sometimes reflections about my experiences. I keep sheets of paper on my bedside table to record dreams too. When one idea doesn’t float at one point, it may in the future.
The following image was eventually painted in 2022 as a mural for Queen’s University’s Kingston Hall Reflection Room but I first created it in 2018 for my 3rd year BFAH class and it was rejected by the professor because the prof said that, “It looks like something you’d paint in your garage.” The thing is, it was the beginnings of my current art style and landed me several commissions when I finally finished it outside the course.
“My Creation” mural took 4 years before it was commissioned and mounted. It began with a simple sketch and grew for years. The mural was created because the ASUS executive adored the original digital image and had been awaiting the chance to have it painted. This is often how commissions work. The organic growth and development of art concepts can take many turns until it reaches its destination. I still find the journey amazing.

“My Creation” Mural in Kingston
2022

“My Creation” Mural Complete in My Studio
2022

“My Creation” Mural Size Planning
(we chose square)
2021

“My Creation” Published as Cover Image
(the cover is more intense the photo is faded)
2019

“My Creation” Digital Journal Cover Proposal
2018

“My Creation” Began as a Sketch and Then I Painted
a Trial Image Which was Rejected by My Prof
2018

2/ The second thing I do for art creation is take photos or have photos of me in the environment. I like to catch a moment – the nuances of life that happen in a moment in time. The following digital image is a current idea that I am working on as I consider the painting medium and final expression. The piece is entitled, “My Drum and Me.”

“My Drum and Me” Digital Draft for Painting Planning
2023

“My Drum and Me” Stone Lithograph Art Print
2018

“My Drum and Me” Hand Drawing Lithographic Stone
2018

“My Drum and Me” Original Photo
A Family Member Took this Photo When I Was Drumming Outside
2017

Again as one can see, a beautiful moment in time captured by a photo and/or inspiration notes and drawings can lead to some really beautiful art pieces in the future. If anything, their journey materializes as life takes its own twists and turns. An art concept never gets old, it simply waits for its time to shine, but as it waits, the inspiration weaves itself through one’s career and the creation of other pieces. Art is not created in a vacuum – it lives and breathes through us as artists and art enthusiasts. Art is alive, even as it awaits its birth.

Never Ever Toss an Idea or Beautiful Life Moment

Portia Chapman, Portia's Adventures, Uncategorized

Kingston Artist, Portia “Po” Chapman Completes Over 45 Art Pieces in 18 Months

Portia "Po" Chapman
Kingston Artist, Portia “Po” Chapman Completes Over 45 Art Pieces in 18 Months
Kingston Freelance Commission Artist Portia Po Chapman Posing with Stone Lithograph Donation to the South Shore Joint Initiative in Prince Edward County

It is difficult to believe, but it is true. I had lost track. How funny is that!? As they say: “It never feels like work when you love what you do.” I guess, when not sleeping, I am creating. With that said, I often wake up suddenly with an art project idea and quickly sketch it down on a pad of paper that I keep on my bedside table. So, maybe I am working, even in my dreams.

Also, since my 25th birthday in April 2022, I have had a lot of life altering things happen. My family and I moved our home from Belleville to Kingston, and I received a couple new teaching positions. As both a treat and necessity, I even bought my first vehicle. Although the move had its challenging moments, it provided me with space for a small gallery, a bright meeting space and mural painting room, plus a rough space for wood working and drum building. I like to make most of my own hardwood stretchers and like to stretch my own canvas. This winter, I will be able to use a wood steamer that I built in the summer. I can’t wait to bend my drum frames and circular painting stretchers. As you can imagine, life as an artist is never boring.

As an emerging artist it is really exciting as my art is growing in popularity. While preparing competition documents for a current mural commission, I put together a snapshot of my most recent art and art-related projects. As strange as it may sound, I surprised myself. I knew that I had been busy, but when I compiled it in a list, I was like: “Wow, I guess I have done a lot.” The following is the rough list that I compiled. You can read more about these projects in my CV.

 29 Freelance Commissioned Pieces:

– 7 digital web icons – Queen’s University
– 1 painted drum – Queen’s
– 2 painted drums – Private Commission
– 2 exterior murals – Base31
– 1 interior mural – Base31
– 5 Sensory Garden signs – Base31
– 2 digital border templates – Base31
– 1 interior mural – Queen’s
– 1 book cover digital to print image – Broadview Press
– 5 title page digital to print images – Broadview Press
– 1 logo digital to web and print – Kingston School of Art
– 1 logo digital to web and print – WEYTK Communities Inc. (B.C.)

3 Philanthropic Art Donations:

– 1 painting – QAC/Parrott Art Gallery
– 1 art print stone lithograph – PEC South Shore Joint Initiative (created 2018)
– 1 painting – PEC SSJI

3 Gallery Showings:

– “Must We Wear Heals” sculpture / cast (created 2017) – Parrott Art Gallery
– “Emergence: Future Unknown” painting – QAC / Parrott Art Gallery
– “Drumming Sounds of Colour” 15 piece solo painted drum exhibit – Parrott Art Gallery

Additional Fall 2023 Art and Art-Related Projects:

– 5 Sensory Garden signs – Base31
– 3 large painted drums – WEYTK
– Mural reveal presentation – Base31
– Drum exhibit art talk – Parrott Art Gallery
– Concurrent Education seminar leader – Queen’s
– Artist in Community presentation and workshop leader – Queen’s
– Nursing medical textbook cover
– Drum creation for spring show & sale
– Ongoing paintings

Art Teaching:

– Elementary online Itinerant Art Teacher – ALCDSB
– Grades 9 & 10 Visual Art PECI
– Grades 9 – 12 Visual Art – Regi & HC, ALCDSB
– 5 monthly Creation Stations – Agnes Etherington Art Centre
– 1 March Break Art & Sports Camp – Agnes
– 1 Summer Art & Sports Camp – Agnes
– 1 digital online video children’s story book – Youtube

Additional Art Training:

– Teaching Gr 12 Media Art – University of Windsor
– Teaching International Baccalaureate Visual Art – University of Windsor

Features:

– Kingston in Focus
– QAC Umbrella (this winter 2024)
– QAC Member Spotlight
– County Arts Member Spotlight

Volunteer:

Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning, Kingston – Training November 2023

Art News, Portia Chapman, Portia's Adventures, Uncategorized

Portia “Po” Chapman’s Kingston Art Studio is a Place to Create

Portia "Po" Chapman
Portia “Po” Chapman’s Kingston Art Studio is a Place to Create

My new studio is a place for me to create, have zoom meetings with clients and present my artworks. I do not have a walk-in store location at this time. Thank you for you understanding.

Love Art By Po Portia Chapman Kingston Art Studio and Creation Space Exterior Road Sign and Flowers on Front Wall of White Brick House

It dawned on me that I have not posted any photos of my new Kingston Art Studio. Although I do miss being down on Bagot Street (I adore downtown Kingston), the suburbs in the north end provide me with more creation space, easy access to building supply stores, Michaels, and the my much needed inspiration trips into the countryside north of HWY 401. The following photos are of my space where I create:

Love Art By Po Portia Chapman Kingston Art Gallery Welcome Wall with Name Sign, Hand Drum with Painted Pink Logo and Self Portrait Oil Painting
Love Art By Po Portia Chapman Kingston Art Studio Gallery Art Prints
Love Art By Po Portia Chapman Kingston Art Studio Indigenous Hand Drum Antique Cabinet and Prints
Love Art By Po Portia Chapman Kingston Art Studio Entrance Gallery Wall with 2 Art Prints and 1 Pink Tulip Painting
Love Art By Po Portia Chapman's Kingston Art Studio Entrance with Sculpture of Feet and Reflections of Artwork
Love Art By Po Portia Chapman Standing in the Painting Room Entrance of Her Kingston Art Studio Gallery
Love Art By Po Portia Chapman Standing in Her Kingston Art Studio with Finished Mural Building a Bright Future Greet Freelance Commission Clients
Love Art By Po Portia Chapman's Kingston Art Studio Has a Quiet Meditation Space Outside with a Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Love Art By Po Portia Chapman Kingston Art Studio View of Sunset is a Pink Sky
Art News, Portia Chapman, Portia's Adventures

Portia Po Chapman’s “Drumming Sounds of Colour” Exhibition is More Than Inspired by Nature

Portia "Po" Chapman
Portia Po Chapman’s “Drumming Sounds of Colour” Exhibition is More Than Inspired by Nature

“Drumming Sounds of Colour” exhibition is being displayed by the Parrott Art Gallery in Belleville Ontario. The collection features 15 hand drums that Po made and hand painted. It is the first drum exhibit of its kind.
In a recent press release ( Intelligencer local paper ) it is written: “…an exhibition by local artist and drum maker Portia “Po” Chapman, called “Drumming Sounds of Colour” located in our corridor cabinets. This painted hand drum exhibit and sale, displays fifteen drums. Most of the drums feature elk raw hide stretched over white cedar forms and are painted in colourful acrylics with designs inspired by nature…” 
Although it is true that the imagery is “inspired by nature,” it is truly inspired by Po’s experiences growing up with Nature. The 15 piece collection is inspired by Po’s personal relationship with Creation as she grew up in the woods west of Tweed, Ontario. Accompanying the drums are 6 poetic verses that Po and her family wrote together. They tell Po’s story – the story depicted in both the painted images and the size progression of the drums. As such, the exhibit delves into the life and mind of a girl, reclaiming her Indigenous heritage, growing into womanhood as she is guided by Creation. It is a story of the preservation of innocence as revealed in Nature.
The simplistic images, in Po’s characteristic style, are of creatures in relationship with each other and the human experience of that relationship. In this case, creatures seen and unseen. The exhibition also includes 3 drums focusing on virtues: “Love” features a mother and child beneath the watchful , loving protection of a Bald Eagle; “Knowledge” features two people sharing stories around a sacred fire beneath the wing of a Ravine knowledge keeper; “Truth” features two people standing on Turtle Island as Creator lifts the turtle above the turbulent sea.
The poetry features a telling of the drumming pulse of Creation and how it awakens us when we notice it throbbing through our individual and collective pulse. Here is an example:



The drum exhibit is an amazing feat, as it is the first of its kind, at least locally. As a mixed media visual story teller, Po created the exhibit with two things in mind, to share the beauty of her Creation experience and to inspire viewers to tell their stories and share what they see. The exhibit is an amazing experience to take time and to take in.
The exhibition runs until December 1, 2023. If you would like one of the drums for your personal collection, some of them are available for purchase. You can contact gallery staff and they will assist you.

Art News, Portia Chapman

Portia “Po” Chapman Becomes Agnes Etherington Art Centre Art Educator

Portia "Po" Chapman

Portia “Po” Chapman Becomes Agnes Etherington Art Centre Art Educator

In September 2022, I was thrilled to receive an email from the Program Coordinator, Charlotte Gagnier, at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre (commonly called Agnes), inquiring if I would be interested in leading a couple of the gallery’s Creation Stations. Creation Stations at Agnes, are free family (with children ages 2+) arts days that occur once a month. Being a very family oriented artist, who views parents/guardians fostering and encouraging arts experimentation among their children from a young age, this was an opportunity that I was excited to be a part of. At first I was signed on for 3 Creation Station sessions in October, November, and December of 2022, and have now been signed on as Art Educator for more at Agnes. I just completed leading the art segment of Agnes’ Art and Sports March Break camp (in partnership with Queen’s ARC) and the March 2023 Creation Station, and I am signed on to lead the April 2023 Creation Station as well. I could not be more thrilled about working with Agnes!

Funny thing is, a full circle scenario has taken place to get to this point! In my final year of the Concurrent Bachelor of Education program at Queen’s University, I was scheduled to complete a 3-week long practicum placement in the programming department at Agnes during March 2020. I was super excited for this opportunity and was in the placement for 1 day, until… just think about the timing for a second… the next day the Covid-19 pandemic was officially declared, and I was not able to return to the placement.

During this placement, I was going to help run the March Break camp, but of course this did not happen. I thought for about 3 years that I lost this opportunity and my time at Agnes was not going to come. Fast forward to March 2023, and I have now lead the 2023 March Break Camp! It was always meant to be, but just not at that time. I live my life putting full trust into the Creator, never looking back, and THIS is what happens.

Keep reading below to learn more about my Art Educator experience at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre, in Kingston, Ontario.

Creation Station

For Each Creation Station I have lead thus far, I have designed activities that use various art making skills that are attainable by 2 year olds up to adults, depending on how far the participant is able to or willing to take the possibilities. For each session, I prepare 3 different activities often involving making objects out of recycled cardboard, decoupage/collage, painting, printing, paper folding/quilling and other hands on crafty projects. Some activities have included using recycled cardboard to make small treasure boxes and decorative homes, collage scenery pictures, block printing using foam, and paper folded snowflakes to name a few of the activities and are often based on a theme such as the season during which the Creation Station takes place.

The March 2023 Creation Station took place on March 19, and was inspired by Springtime. Participants enjoyed making flower wreaths by cutting out and folding paper to make leaves and flowers, paper quilled trees, and spring themed still life paintings (based on a still life scene I set up).

2023 March Break Camp

For the 2023 Art segment of the Agnes March Break camp, I designed a week long project; Mixed Media Diorama making. The goal for this project, was that each camper would explore a wide variety of mediums and techniques throughout the piece by making small elements each day using a different medium or technique that come together at the end of the week to make a completed and cohesive diorama.

Throughout the week, campers learned new art terminology, used the creative process by creating a detailed plan with theme before beginning “the making” of their artwork, and explored diorama construction, watercolour techniques, paper mâché, paper quilling, clay sculpting, block printing, acrylic painting, scratchboard creation, and a 3D tissue paper craft. Campers enjoyed using a variety of mediums and techniques and leaving at the end of the week with completed dioramas.

On the last day of camp, most campers proudly stood in front of the group to present their completed dioramas, each with their own storyline and theme.

This was such a fun, memorable, and enjoyable program to lead!

Portia Chapman

Portia Po Chapman Reveals New Hand Drum Materials – Thanks Bill Worb Furs!

Portia "Po" Chapman

Portia Po Chapman Reveals New Hand Drum Materials – Thanks Bill Worb Furs!

For my new collection of hand painted hand drums, I have been called to use sacred white cedar tree wood and elk rawhide. My supplier for these materials is Bill Worb Furs from Winnipeg, Manitoba. I hope this gives an idea of the size of the drums and the raw materials being used. The drum frames are 14″ in diameter.

I will post more information soon.

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Belleville, Ontario, Canada
portia@loveartbypo.ca
613-779-7975

Portia Chapman

Zhashkoonh ( Muskrat ): Nishnaabemowin Children’s Book by Portia Po Chapman

Portia "Po" Chapman

Zhashkoonh ( Muskrat ): Nishnaabemowin Children’s Book by Portia Po Chapman

During the Summer (2021), I began learning Nishnaabemowin. My Trent University Professor was Shirley Ida Williams. Professor Williams wrote the textbook for the course: “Eshkintam Nishinaabemang Mzinagan: Introduction to Nishnaabemowin.” On page iv, Professor Williams describes the dialect as, “The main dialect used in this manual is linguistically classified as Manitoulin Central dialect of Ojibwe and Odawa and is part of Eastern Ojibway and an offshoot of the Mother language of Algonkian.”

It was really exciting to begin my journey learning the language.

As part of the course, I wrote, read aloud, and illustrated my first children’s book in Nishnaabemowin. In this little video, you can read along with me.

Why did I choose to write about the Zhashkoonh ( Muskrat )? As well as being part of the creation story, I enjoyed watching the muskrats as I grew up along side the lake. They always seemed to be a bit more playful than the beavers. While they are tiny, they sure are mighty!

I hope you enjoy reading along with me! Maybe you too can learn few Nishnaabemowin words!

Click to visit my Indigenous Art page.

Contact

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Belleville, Ontario, Canada
portia@loveartbypo.ca
613-779-7975

Art News, Portia Chapman, Portia's Adventures, Uncategorized

Portia Chapman Curriculum Vitae: The Arts

Portia "Po" Chapman

This page has been updated to this page.

Art Print, Uncategorized

Love Art By Po: More Portia Chapman Blog Posts to Come. Site Being Updated. Please View the Pages.

Portia "Po" Chapman

Love Art By Po: More Portia Chapman Blog Posts to Come. Site Being Updated. Please View the Pages.

Thank you for stopping by. Over the last couple days I have uploaded several images of my art work. My art work can be found in the pages. I will be posting artist statements, reflections, and further information regarding my art. For further information about me, please visit my “About” page. Thanks again, Po.

Contact

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Belleville, Ontario, Canada
portia@loveartbypo.ca
613-779-7975

Art Print, Uncategorized

Portia Chapman in the Art School Printing Studio – Aren’t the Colours Beautiful?!

Portia "Po" Chapman

Portia Chapman in the Art School Printing Studio – Aren’t the Colours Beautiful?!

This was my first year of printing.  I had a ball.  This project was really fun.  I did a 13 layer woodcut print of my dock at sunset. I hope you like it.  Po

Portia Chapman Block Print Sunset Lake Cottage Dock

Contact

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Belleville, Ontario, Canada
portia@loveartbypo.ca
613-779-7975