Handmade floral papercraft gift chest by Kingston Artist Portia Po Chapman, styled with vibrant pink pillows and an award-winning oil on canvas swirl painting in the background. — A multidisciplinary composition featuring my hand-designed floral gift chest, accented by vibrant textiles and my award-winning oil on canvas swirl painting.

The Gift Chest

A vibrant look at the “Papercraft Arts and Crafts Gift Chest” by Kingston Artist, Portia Po Chapman.

This multidisciplinary showcase features a hand-designed floral gift chest set against a backdrop of an award-winning oil on canvas swirl paintings, and rich textiles, highlighting the intersection of fine art and functional craft.

Art and the Laws of Attraction

In 2020, the pandemic hit. As a sculpture and installation artist, I just needed to build something that would make me happy. So, I built this chest from whatever was in my apartment studio.

This chest is emblematic of how art kept me moving over the next 2 years. By keeping art in my focus, the [Laws of Attraction] were witnessed. In 2022, I was contacted, which seemed out-of-blue, by an Arts Council member and I was not yet a member of that specific arts council. I was one of six other artists who won a Placemaking contract to paint a mural.

That mural was my launch into community placemaking murals and installations.

Materials Needed to Make the Chest:

To make a chest like this one, you’ll need:
– cardboard
– scrapbook paper
– hot glue gun
– heavy duty glue stick
– Podge
– scissors

Art is in the details.

I’m revisiting this cherished project: a custom-designed Papercraft Gift Chest. I love how the intricate floral patterns of the chest play against the fluid energy of my award-winning swirl painting in the background. It’s a perfect example of how different mediums—paper, paint, and textile—can happily add to a cohesive creative space.

Click through to my [Landing Page] to see where my artwork has taken me since 2020 – from small craft to large-scale community placemaking projects.

To contact me directly, please use this email:

📧 Portia@loveartbypo.ca

2 responses to “Papercraft Arts and Crafts Gift Chest by Portia Po Chapman”

linda Chapman

January 3, 2026

Hi Portia,I love the floral gift chest that you made and I love your little lamb peeking out.He is so cute and looks familiar……..I love you Nanny.
1. Portia “Po” Chapman
  
  January 3, 2026
  
  Thank you. It was a very fun creation. I still use it to store bows, tissue papers and such.

Find Portia “Po” Chapman Kingston Art Studio on Google Maps

Portia Chapman

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

September 25, 2021March 13, 2022 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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Belleville, Ontario, Canada
portia@loveartbypo.ca
613-779-7975

Portia Chapman

Portia Po Chapman, Back in the Studio 2021 / 22

September 24, 2021March 13, 2022 Portia "Po" Chapman

2 weeks after completing my Bachelor of Education in August 2020 (Secondary School Teacher of Visual Art and First Nations, Metis and Inuit Studies) I secured my first teaching position.

I was planning on creating a new collection of woodcut prints inspired by the illustrations I did for Queen’s University, but my teaching position and Additional Teaching Qualification courses occupied my time.

In order to focus more on my artwork, I am teaching less this year (2021/22). As so many of us have found our lives altered by Covid-19, I have found a new breath of creative energy.

If there ever was a time to create, now is that time!

I will be posting more of my art process and documentation. Please continue to check in.

I have 3 projects that I have begun. Well, some of the materials have arrived. I’m really excited about this year.

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’s Indigenous Image Scratchboard Arting was Fun for All

July 14, 2020March 13, 2022 Portia "Po" Chapman

Portia Chapman’s Indigenous Image Scratchboard Arting was Fun for All

This winter, as part of the Artist in Community Education Concentration at the Queen’s University Faculty of Education, we had the opportunity to host “Artings” in Duncan McArthur Hall. I chose to do a scratchboard event.

Basically, an arting is a brief art workshop, often only one night and for one art project. Our scratchboard arting was 45 minutes. Participants were able to start and finish their art pieces in this brief time together. It was so nice to see so many happy faces as participants left with their own finished artworks in hand.

Before participants left to mount their artworks at home, each participant received a certificate of completion. I can’t wait to host more artings this fall.

Thanks:

I would like to thank my supportive sister Jasmine Chapman (BEd CommTech) for photographing this event for me. Not many sisters get to do their BEd together – but we did!

I would like to thank my ACE professor Aynne Johnston for integrating this fun arting opportunity into our concentration. Artings are so fun, productive, and only take a short time to do. If we all took an hour to create each week/month, just imagine how we could beautify our world together.

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

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

Portia Chapman’s “Desk” Has Places to Go What is Your Learning Story?

July 11, 2020March 13, 2022 Portia "Po" Chapman

Portia Chapman’s “Desk” Has Places to Go!

What is Your Learning Story?

desk learning is a journey — “Desk” was Digitally Inserted into My Photograph – Windsor, Ontario

As an Art Teacher and Teacher of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Studies, I hope to take “Desk” on a learning tour. Covid-19 has taught us that learning happens everywhere in life – if we are willing to learn. The classroom suddenly became our living rooms, bedrooms, and even our cars.

We kept learning during a time that prevented us from going to the school building. I want to take “Desk” on a journey across the country.

A moving journey across our great land whereby each stop along the way invites people to sit at “Desk” and to tell their stories of learning. I really, really like school – sharing, learning, teaching, and so much more.

As the artist, I so aspire for “Desk” to remind all of us that we must not move backward – we must keep moving forward. Learning is everywhere and learning flourishes when we share our stories together.

desk learning everywhere — “Desk” was Digitally Inserted into My Photograph – Toronto, Ontario

This is “Desk” in the studio:

“Desk” by Portia “Po” Chapman, 2019 – In the Studio

“Desk” Artist Statement & Story with Additional Photos Including Construction

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Thank you for your response. ✨

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