Halifax Crafters & New Map Collages

Happy Spring! It's that time of year again so many of us Haligonians and Crafters look forward to... Halifax Crafters. Come on over this weekend, May 4th & 5th from 10am to 5pm at the Olympic Community Centre on 2304 Hunter Street. 

This year I have lots of new art map collages to sell, as well as new encaustic (beeswax & pigment) waves, beachscapes, yoga paintings, flowers, and even some fun abstract minis...

If there are any collages you want first dibs on, email me daina@artbydaina.com with the description and number listed on each image and I'll make an Etsy listing reserved just for you!

xo D

New collages in the works... staining, cutting, gluing...

The World, 8"x8" collage using an old National Geographic map paired with a cut out giclee reproduction on fine art paper of one of my oil paintings. $79

"Golden" Japan & the North Pacific, 6"x6" collage. $49

All Stanford General Map of the World 6"x6" collages for $49 each
1. "Golden" The World, 2. "Eventide" South Africa, 3. "Beach Party" Australia

All Central Europe 6"x6" collages for $49 each
1. "Nice Day for a Swim" Europe Centrale , 2. "Cruising the Trail" Europe Centrale,
3. "Paddle Out" Mediterranean,  4. "Beach Bike" Denmark, Germany, Sweden

All Vintage-inspired Stanford General Map of the World 6"x6" collages for $49 each
1. "Cruising the Trail" The World, 2. "Sunset Paddle" Australia, 3. "To the Coast" Central America
4. "Hello Sunshine" Mediterranean Sea, 5. "Hale'iwa Fishermen" 1/2 South America,
6. "Hale'iwa Fishermen" 2/2 Central America

All vintage Natuional Geopgraphic World Map 6"x6" collages for $49 each
1. "Walkabout" Australia, 2. "Golden" Indonesia, 3. "Sweetgrass Field" Europe
4. "L'Town" Central /South America, 5. "Paddle Out" Hawaii/Pacific Ocean, 6. "Happy Dude" Eastern USA/Canada

Collages all ready to be packaged.

The BEST Pancakes Ever... And They're Vegan!

Every weekday morning is like Saturday morning when you're self-employed and work from home like me. That's the pro! The con? Leisurely weekend mornings are replaced by the 4:50am alarm and a bustling day at the market. Well, maybe that's a big pro, too, minus the early wake-up call ;) I LOVE my weekends at the market selling my art, socializing with friends, and meeting new people! But to make sure I don't miss out on those lovely weekend pluses (like an indulgent breakfast), occasionally I treat myself to the best pancakes ever. I found this recipe in the Fresh cookbook by the restaurant's co-owners in Toronto. Amazingly, there are no eggs or dairy in this recipe and I guarantee you won't know the difference, plus they're healthy for you! In fact, you'll probably impress the entire family. The original recipe is even gluten-free, but I've amended it a bit to suit my tastes...

“Some people like to paint pictures, or do gardening, or build a boat in the basement. Other people get a tremendous pleasure out of the kitchen, because cooking is just as creative and imaginative an activity as drawing, or wood carving, or music.” ~ Julia Child

I've substituted the gluten-free flour for whole wheat flour, the vanilla-flavoured rice milk for coconut milk (the unsweetened beverage, not the can- it's too thick), added pure vanilla extract, and used coconut oil instead of canola. The agave nectar and the ground flax replace the egg so they are super important and can't be substituted. I usually just use maple syrup and don't make the pineapple syrup but it really is yummy if you take the extra time. Here are all the ingredients I use...

Patience is the key to perfect pancakes. Make sure you have the heat on medium and the oil is hot before pouring the batter. Then wait for the edges to brown and the batter to rise and holes to form before flipping them. This way you have a perfectly cooked pancake on the inside and a crispy texture on the outside.

Time to flip them over...

Pineapple Flax Pancakes

4 cups flour (gluten-free: Bob's Red Mill GF All Purpose Flour, or Organic Whole Wheat Flour)

1/2 cup flaxseed meal

2-1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp sea salt

2 cups non-dairy milk (I always use unsweetened Coconut Dream milk, but you could also use original soy, rice, or almond milk)

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup agave nectar (can be found everywhere, even at Winners!)

1 cup fresh fruit (original recipe calls for finely sliced pineapple, but I also love to use fresh blueberries, strawberries, or peaches)

1. Mix all the dry ingredients together. I like to divvy up a 1/3 cup to use right away, and set aside the rest in a sealed container for when I want pancakes but don't have much time to make them from scratch.

2. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add the wet ingredients. Stir until blended, and add more milk if necessary until it is still thick but can be poured in an even, unbroken column.

3. Heat the oil in a pan, pour in the batter. When the edges are brown and the batter rises and tiny holes start to appear, flip them and let them cook for another minute or so.

4. Serve right away while still hot with fresh fruit and maple syrup. Enjoy!

Now that our bellies are full, it's time to start creating!

xo ~ DS

Sustainable Oceans 2013

Along with a few chosen artists including Bridget Turner Jewellery, I was invited by Dalhousie University and the Marine Affairs Program  to share my vision for a sustainable future for our world's oceans by displaying my artwork at the Sustainable Oceans Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia from April 12th-13th.

I grew up watching David Suzuki's The Nature of Things, and to this day I'm continuously inspired by his environmentalism and devotion to educating our nation towards a sustainable future. When his youngest daughter, Sarika, co-hosted The Suzuki Diaries, a CBC program that highlights environmental solutions, I was equally impressed by her genuine heart and energy. Then I learned that Sarika would be attending the Sustainable Oceans conference as a keynote speaker! What an honor to be part of this event. And even more exciting, I was thrilled the organizers chose one of my paintings, Eastward, to present to her as a gift.

Sarika's speech was both enlightening and inspiring, and the panel of speakers representing different viewpoints was so valuable in connecting all the different perspectives, from government to media to outreach organizations to the fisheries and science. We felt privileged to hear all the incredible people involved in the behind-the-scenes plans to help sustain our oceans for future generations...

Learn more about The Nature of Things series, One Ocean

Watch The Suzuki Diaries, Part 1

Earth Day Celebrates with Revolution

As someone who deeply loves our Earth and Oceans and all life this beautiful planet is home to, I have been really looking forward to this movie. Let's celebrate Earth Day together in spirit at the theatres where Revolution will open our eyes and hearts, inspiring us like no other film has done before...

For more info and showtimes, please visit The Revolution Movie website and Revolution on Facebook.

"If you go to one movie this year, it must be Revolution" ~ David Suzuki

"A must see; an inspirational and beautiful film that will create a much needed ocean revolution." ~ Jean Michel Cousteau

Spring Has Sprung - Veggie Garden Time!

When the snow thaws, and the bird song becomes an excited orchestra, and the sunshine feels a bit warmer, and the fresh air smells a little sweeter... these are my favourite signs of Spring. Just the word feels green and new! Time to plant some veggie seeds and get the garden ready...

Seeds from Halifax Seed, and some great gardening books, including our local gardener extraordinaire, Niki Jabbour!

Tomatoes, Bok Choi, Peas and Beans, Spinach, Kale, Chard, Edamame, Celery, Cabbage, Parsnips, Carrots, Zucchini, Cucumbers, Lettuces, Watermelon... oh and Sunflowers :)

Waiting....

YAY! Sprouting....

So cute! So full of life-giving promise...

Tiller belt issues. Had to exchange it for one that didn't conk out 20 times.

Beautiful, fertile soil!

A little added compost full of manure and wood chips.

Black landscaping fabric will hopefully cut down on the weeding, and keep the soil warm and moist.

Daina, Spring 2013

Are you planting a garden, too? Any tips or favourite veggies you'd like to share?

xo D

Good Reads! Daina's Bookshelf

Daina's living room book nest.

I recently got an email from one of my FB fans asking me what I'm reading lately, and how she really likes my book posts (see My Love Affair With Books). 

Thanks for that, and for inspiring me to keep sharing my favourite books!

Book nest in Daina's home art studio.

In my home studio, I have a great collection of art books I like to reference often. I have books from print-making, to collages, to oil painting, pastels, and encaustic techniques.

Daina's current book line-up, 2013.

The next best thing to travelling, is reading stories about travelling. With our Big Roadtrip shining on the distant horizon, I have a serious case of the wanderlusties that no 1-week getaway will satiate.

wan·der·lust  (wndr-lst)

n.

A very strong or irresistible impulse to travel.

---

[German : wandern, to wander (from Middle High German) + Lust, desire (from Middle High German, from Old High German; see las- in Indo-European roots).]

If you love such reads, too, I guarantee you will be swept away with The Leisure Seeker by Michael Zadoorian. This story moved me so, and I found myself wholeheartedly cheering for Ella and John's last big adventure, despite their odds. In some ways this story made me think of my mom and dad in 20 years, paralleled with a cross-USA roadtrip we embarked on when my sister and I were kids. I found myself smiling and laughing out loud throughout this entire book.

I'm currently reading Steinbeck's Travels with Charley and I'm really, really enjoying Steinbecks language and colourful accounts of his adventures. 

Another good read is On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves. The cover is a bit misleading and seems to be aimed at gals, but I know guys will really enjoy this book, too. It's told through the point of view of a 16-yr old boy and a 30-yr old woman, who go down in a plane crash and survive alone on an island. The historical period transpires through 9-1-1 and the 2004 South Asian tsunami. This might be in the works to become a movie.

Other great reads:
Breath by Tim Winton
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
Crow Lake by Mary Lawson
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King
The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh
A Box of Matches by Nicholson Baker
The Social Lives of Dogs by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
Message from Down Under by Marlo Morgan

Happy reading!

xo DS

PS- I don't mean to promote amazon.com; I included these links because they have the best reviews. If you can, shop local. Second hand bookstores most likely have all these books, plus you might find another gem or two ;)

25% OFF SALE

ENJOY. AND SAVE.

Dear friends, family, and collectors...  From now until Sunday you can take advantage of this first-time Giclée Reproduction sale of my artwork, available online in my Etsy Shop or in-person at the Halifax Seaport Market by visiting my Ocean Art Studio booth. Choose from over 20 different fine art reproductions priced $30-120 each. Now would be a great time to treat yourself or buy someone special a birthday, wedding, or Christmas gift.  Each of these museum quality reproductions begins with a professional high-resolution photograph. The image is then printed using pure pigment inks (rated to over 200 years!) on archival cotton canvas, and finished with a protective coating that is UV, abrasion, and water-resistant. Finally, each limited edition piece is numbered, titled, signed, and wired for hanging.  Free shipping in Canada. Low International rates.  Secure checkout is through PayPal, but you do not need a PayPal account. Visa, MasterCard, Amex accepted. The sale ends Sunday, April 14th at 11:59 A.S.T. Learn More

Let Nature Inspire You, and Your Camera Guide You to Create

Recently at the market I was visited by a woman who is an aspiring artist. She is one of my collectors and we've had some really fun conversations over the past year every time we see each other. She insists she only wants to paint for fun, but is finding it challenging to decide what to paint. She absolutely loves clouds, so I suggested she do a little cloud gazing with her camera to take the pressure off. A Digital SLR equipped with a Polarizer filter can really make clouds pop!

Daina, filming the movie trailer for The Painted Road Project, Mexico 2013

My first love is photography. Some of you might know this about me- when I was a kid I used to spend hours and hours in my dad's darkroom, watching him develop photos he took of my family and of nature, magically making them appear under the glow of the red light. I was fascinated! And I still am, even in this digital age of DSLRs and Photoshop.

I wish I were the kind of artist who could stream what's in their mind out their hand onto canvas, but I'm not, despite all the drawing classes and thousands of hours of practice. Rather my mind works like a camera's viewfinder, looking out at the world and taking mental snapshots of its beauty. When I close my eyes I can still see it and feel it, but there is a fuzzy blockage that happens when I try to relay that image to canvas, and the result is a muddy disaster. It can be very frustrating, but I've worked around it by using photography as a reference tool to bypass that fuzziness and help relay what that image made me feel. So in many ways sometimes I feel like I am not a real artist, or I am cheating in some way, but then if I don't express myself I fall into a rut and get cranky. So, I've decided I am a Resourceful Artist!  I've found a way to express what I feel the best way I know how.

New commission, beginning stages- the sketch.

In progress...

Finished!

Through my experiences teaching kids, and the people I've met while selling my art, I've realized so many creative people don't try to express themselves through art because they encounter the same obstacles as I have. Sometimes the easiest solution is as simple as a snapshot!

Original photo © Lauren Smith, provided for commissioned painting reference.

Happy creating!

xo DS

Original artwork © Daina Scarola, Ocean Art Studio

An Inspiring Interlude to Riviera Nayarit

Last fall when my brother and sister-in-law invited us to join them for a sunny week of surf and sand in Mexico this March, we jumped on board. The last time I travelled somewhere warm in the middle of a cold Canadian winter was to Morocco back in 2001. We were overdue for a winter interlude!

With only a week to enjoy our first visit to Mexico's Pacific Coast, we all stayed at a rustic resort along Costa Banderas. It was great for my in-laws family; no one had to worry about meals, and the kids couldn't get enough of "Kids Camp".

My husband Stefan and I wanted to explore the area, so we waved the bus down and took off on a couple day trips to check out Bucerias and Sayulita. I fell in love with these small towns, and the kind, warm people we met during our visits. Ahh... I could easily live there!

Stefan surfing at dawn, Mexico 2013

Every morning, Stefan and I woke before dawn, and headed down to the beach to join his brother, where we were all welcomed by the surf and sunrise. It was a beautiful way to start the day out on the ocean with the turtles, pelicans and fishermen.

Daina SUP surfing at dawn, Mexico 2013 

Daina SUPing into the sunrise

Dawn on the beach, Mexico

My niece, Jordy, making music on Sayulita Beach, Mexico

Fisherman, Grand Palladium Resort beach, Mexico

Stefan & Daina, Grand Palladium Resort beach, Mexico

Sayulita, Mexico

I knew how inspiring this trip would be for me, and that it wouldn't be enough to just pack my camera equipment. I had to paint, too! I was so glad I thought to put together a little portable kit, just in case. In a zip-lock bag I packed a set of Sennelier Oil Pastels, a 6"x8"Strathmore Mixed Media pad, a drawing pencil, a few paint brushes, and a small container of odourless oil paint solvent. 

One afternoon while everyone was doing their own thing, I snuck away to a quiet spot under a bluff. It was low tide, and the rocks offered a comfortable sandy place to lay my towel and settle in to paint the surf. I was able to sketch my scene, colour it in with the oil pastels, and blend along the way with brushes and solvent. There is something very liberating and satisfying about painting plain-air, surrounded by nature. 

Daina painting, Grand Palladium Resort beach, Mexico

I look forward to many more adventures and plein-air painting...
xo DS

**NOTE All images © copyright 2013 Daina Scarola, Ocean Art Studio**