Hello everyone! I just wanted to send out a short announcement about an event I will be doing for World Ocean Week. Registration just went live today! Space is limited.
Low Tide Sketching Class with Natasha van Netten
Date & time: Saturday June 8 from 10am-12:30pm
Age requirement: 16+
Location: The workshop will meet at a public beach access area with tidal pools located in Victoria (participants will be given location information upon registration)
Registration fee: $30.00 per person
Workshop size: 12 students max (minimum 4 students)
This plein air (outside) nature drawing workshop focuses on drawing marine organisms found at low tide. Take a little time to slow down from this fast-paced world and discover the joy of paying close attention to nature as you draw. Natasha van Netten, the instructor, will begin the workshop with an introduction to observational drawing, safe handling of organisms, drawing techniques and present the drawing projects. Have fun exploring the inter-tidal zone while you search for interesting specimens to draw. You might just be surprised by the discoveries you will make while closely observing intertidal creatures.
Suitable for all skill levels.
For this workshop, participants are required to bring basic supplies that can be found at home. Please reference the Supply List (upon registration) for a complete list of what you should bring to be prepared for this workshop.
My newest installation work, Depth Sounding, is now on public display at the Cedar Hill Recreation Centre (3220 Cedar Hill Road, Victoria, BC). It will be in this location until April 28th during open hours: weekends 8am-9pm, weekdays 6:30am-10pm. This installation is located in the hallway just past the reception desk and across from the art gallery space. For more images and to read the artist statement for Depth Sounding, click here.
A peek inside my installing process
Installing at the Ministry of Casual Living Window Gallery(2020)
Incase you might be curious, I thought I would take a moment to share a little about the behind the scenes of art installation. First, I want you know how much I enjoy installation art. I love the challenges that come from working within specific spaces and it is really interesting to see how art can take on new layers of meaning from the surrounding environment.
Over the years, I have come to realize that every installation project is its own adventure and, while I have learned a few tips and tricks along the way, when it comes to preparing to installations… very often you just can’t know what to expect. For this reason I always make sure to have extra supplies and tools with me just in case. The Boy Scouts are on to something good, “Be prepared.”
Often installations require spending time in awkward positions, squeezing into tight spaces, standing on ladders or laying on the floor. You really can’t worry what people passing by might think. A sense of humour helps make this part easier! Earlier this week, as I was installing Depth Sounding, I surprised a few people who were walking down the hall way, peering inside the inset cube spaces when all of a sudden… BAM! There was my face inside a cube! All you can do is smile and carry on. 🙂
Pre-numbered artworks organized and ready for installation Distribution of artworks in cubes before installing
For this particular installation I had a fairly short window of time to install. This is where being organized really pays off in helping reduce stress and pressure. While I always do my best to have a clear plan, it is also important to be ready to adapt.
Below is an image of the map I drew so I would know which whales go in each cube (you can see it folded and taped to the shelving in the photo above). The numbers in the corners corresponded to paper bags that contained the whales for that space. I had to reverse the order of the cubes because this space is accessed from behind, not in front. It took a couple tries before I figured out how to do the map, but it was really worth the extra effort.
Reversed Installation Map
Installation Complete
Also at the Cedar Hill Recreation Centre
The current exhibition in the art gallery space, The Art of Mental Wellness: Unveiling the Wisdom of Wonderland, by Amy Frank is also free and open to the public. It focuses on mental wellness and documents Amy’s journey and struggles. Please be advised, it deals with some heavy subject matter and is rated PG-13.
The Second Chance Café is operated by survivors of brain injury in partnership with the Cridge Centre for the Family. Serving homemade baked goods, sandwiches, coffee and tea. Open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 3pm.
I made a discovery a while back: not striving for perfection is freeing (and you will make better art). This is why I love ink. As you may or may not know, I used to struggle with perfectionism. Not wanting to make a mistake and getting caught in a cycle of clicking the back button: draw, erase…draw, erase…draw, erase.
The world that we live in promotes hyper perfectionism. Photoshopped advertisements, influencers’ flashy life hack stories, plastic lawns that stay green all year, etc. You can even buy a phone now that will compile multiple group shots to make sure everyone is looking their best (no blinking, double chins or crying babies).
Let me propose an alternative view. Rather than eliminating imperfections, flaws and rough edges… why not appreciate their inherent beauty? Things that are plastic might look perfect, but they are all the same. Things that are one of a kind have value, offering something unique and special. Something that cannot be replicated.
When I realized perfectionism was ruining the feeling of joy I found in making art, I knew I needed to break the habit. That’s when I exchanged the pencil for the pen. It was hard to make that first mark on the page, knowing that I couldn’t go back. But it was also freeing! I knew I had to give up the level of control I used to cling to. Drawing with ink helped improve my drawing by learning to loosen up and gain confidence, but it also helped me grow as a person and overcome mental hang ups I had with perfectionism. It helped me change how I look at “mistakes”, from “it’s a disaster, let’s start over” to “oops, I didn’t mean to do that… I wonder how I can use this”.
This isn’t a new idea, its an old one. In Japan, there is an ancient philosophy called ‘wabi-sabi’, which puts value on the simple, modest and imperfect. Sometimes imperfections are not only embraced, but elevated and highlighted. For example, ‘kintsugi’ is a practice of using gold to join broken objects–like a cracks in tea cup.
I owe a debt of gratitude to ink and the lessons I have learned from it. But it is even more than that…. ink opens a world of tantalizingly beautiful, swirling, dripping, flowing possibilities. It has a mind of its own and will take you an a visual journey if you let it. This is what the workshop I instructed this past weekend was about (which is why these thoughts are all stirred up in my mind right now). It was the fist time that I walked through the doors of the Vancouver Island School of Art as an instructor. This is the art school that I graduated from in 2016. It feels a little full-circle to go back and lead a workshop and I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity. I thought you might enjoy a little glimpse into our three hours of inky exploration, so here are a few images from the workshop.
Fantastical Jellyfish Workshop: Drawing with Ink & Water
I am pleased to announce that my latest exhibition will be opening this Friday, January 12, from 7-9pm at arc.hive artist run centre (770b Hillside Avenue, opposite from Meet on Blanchard). This show will be open on weekends between 12-4pm and by appointment until the end of the day on Sunday January 28th. I will be in the gallery during open hours. Included in this show will be a new series of oil paintings, three installation pieces and public engagement piece where you are invited to contribute your own thoughts/stories about orcas. I will be present in the gallery space during all open hours. Please contact me if you would like to arrange a time to see the show outside of gallery hours. I hope you will be able to come and visit the show.
About the Exhibition
Orcaphilia is an exploration of Natasha van Netten’s admiration and curiosity towards orca. This dynamic collection of paintings, drawings and installations are influenced by her personal experiences and by discoveries made in the field of cetology (the study of whales). While orcas are powerful creatures, they are also vulnerable. The works in this exhibition highlight this duality of strength and fragility.
Opening Reception Friday January 12, 7-9pm
Gallery hours Weekends 12-4pm, January 13-28, 2024
Location arc.hive artist run centre, 770b Hillside Avenue, Victoria, BC
I am excited to be participating in a few holiday markets and participating in a group exhibition (which opens tonight! Scroll to the bottom of the page for info)! Markets are such a lovely way to feel part of the community, meet local artists and makers and many of them are also fundraising for charities. I am always grateful for the opportunity to connect in person and I would love it if you were able to pop by and say hello.
November 4: Holiday Handmade Located at Mayfair Mall 10am-6pm, free entry Click here for more info
November 5: Fall Fling Located at the Bay Centre 11am-5pm, free entry Click here for more info
November 10-12: Nomad Holiday Market Located at the Songhees Wellness Centre Friday 4pm-8pm Saturday from 10am-6pm Sunday 11am-4pm $5 entry (or $8 for the weekend) Proceeds go to the Victoria Cool Aid Society Click here for more info
November 25: Handmade Village Craft Market Located at North Douglas Church 10am-4pm, free entry Click here for more info
December 2 & 3: Winter Bazaar Located at the Gorge Park Pavilion 11am-5pm Click here for more info
ART EXHIBITIONS
Segue This is a group exhibition of work by arc.hive studio members and board members at their new location at 770b Hillside Avenue. I am participating in this exhibition as a member of the board. Opening Reception: Friday November 3, 7pm-9pm Exhibition dates: Saturdays & Sundays between 12pm-4pm, November 4-19, 2023 Click here for more info
It’s been longer than I care to admit since I have written a post. Thank you for taking some time to read my musings. Welcome back. =)
I have come to the realization the few weeks ago that it’s been 10 years since moving back to Vancouver Island. It felt like such a huge decision to come to Victoria and take the Diploma program at the Vancouver Island School of Art (VISA). My husband suggested that I go to art school. What an incredible person. He drove down with me to help me move into our new (well, new to us) rental apartment near the art school and then went back to work in Jasper, hoping he’d be able to transfer jobs to Victoria. It was a big risk. I remember walking into the art school for the first time and feeling like I had either just made one of the best or one of the worst decisions of my life.
Looking back now, I can see how right I was. In fact, it was a more pivotal decision than I could even have realized. In those three years at school I discovered so much about art and what it can be. I faced many personal challenges, found courage that I didn’t know I had, made long-lasting relationships, found a supportive community, discovered a visual form of critical thinking, and, I know this sounds cheesy, but I became a more authentic “me”.
I had no idea that art would change the trajectory of my life—but it did. I am so glad that I took the risk. In the wise words of Wendy Welch, the Executive Director of VISA, “life is better with art.” I completely agree! It doesn’t matter if you do art full-time or part-time or just for yourself when you are able to find a little time—life is better. It improves mental health, helps you see the world in a fresh way, and welcomes you into a supportive community.
So now I find myself sitting in the same apartment (but now completely over-taken by my studio, cardboard boxes and art supplies ), waiting for my husband to get home from university (where he is now pursuing his interests) and preparing for a couple workshops I am going to be instructing at VISA in the New Year. Full circle. I can’t help but smile. Often it is hard to see the direction you are heading, but when you look back it seems strangely clear. I am ever grateful for the people that supported and encouraged me along the way. ♥
Workshops
I am so excited to be offering workshops at the Vancouver Island School of Art. These workshops are created to encourage and inspire your natural creativity. Maybe you’ve never taken a workshop before? I encourage you to take the risk and try. Everyone and all skill levels are welcome.
Register by November 15th and use this discount code to save 15%: WINTER2024ART
Fantastical Jellyfish: Saturday February 3, 1:30-4:30 You will discover many playful ways to use ink while drawing and painting jellyfish in this afternoon workshop. These ethereal creatures are made of 95% water, which is why the liquid quality of ink works so well to express their forms. Ink and water can be challenging to control—wanting to bleed, flow, run and drip. Learn how to use these characteristics to create interesting and surprising artworks. In this workshop you will discover new approaches to artmaking that can be applied to a variety of aquatic life. Suitable for all levels. All supplies included. Click here for more info & to register
Reinventing Birds: Saturday March 23, 1:30-4:40 This workshop will focus on creating artworks inspired by ornithology—the study of birds—with a whimsical twist. You will use collage as a starting point to develop a composition because collage offers an immediacy that allows you to begin a work without necessarily having a specific idea. You will create two artworks in the duration of the workshop: a collage based on an Audubon image, followed by a watercolour painting influenced by your collage. This workshop will awaken your imagination while revealing the freedom of collage-making and how to use watercolour to interpret forms. Suitable for all levels. All supplies included. Click here for more info & to register
This Saturday is the 34th annual TD Paint-In event hosted by the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. There will be over 160 artists, food trucks, art activities, live music and more!
Paint-In INFORMATION
When: Saturday July 15 between 11am-4pm
How to find me: I will be located at booth #115, on Moss Street between Faithful and May (near to Dallas Road where there will be lots of parking)
List of Artists – use this list to see what artists will be attending and where they will be located
Digital Paint-In Map – this map shows the length of Moss Street and indicates the artist booths, bathrooms, music, food, info stations, water station, etc.
Join me for a weekend drawing retreat located at the beautiful campus of Shawnigan Lake School! I will be walking students through a series of science-inspired projects, introduce an array of inspiring historical and contemporary artists that made/make sciart (yes, science/art) and make discoveries together. This workshop is for adults, no experience necessary. There are still a couple spots available if you would like to join!
Drawing with Science Information
When: July 22 & 23 (Saturday and Sunday) from 9am-4pm
Cost: $362 (includes lunch) (also, onsite accommodation with breakfast and dinner options available)
Workshop Webpage – an overview of the workshop and registration link
Supply List – items that students should bring to the workshop
MISSA– what is the Metchosin International Summer School of the Arts?
The work focuses on a specific type of killer whales, the Southern Residents. This small population is one of the most researched groups of orca in the world. They have made international news on multiple occasions (for example, you may remember Tahlequah the orca that carried her deceased calve on her head for 17 days back in 2018). According to the most recent population count, there are only 73 members left.
Southern Residents contains oil paintings, gouache drawings, ink drawings and metal sculptures. The work investigates the uniqueness of each individual member, their lifespan, fluctuating population count, their activity and stillness, and more. For further information about the exhibition, please visit the McMillan Arts Centre (MAC) website here.
You are invited to the Opening Reception, which will be happening tomorrow, Saturday June 3rd between 1-3pm. There are also two other exhibitions opening at the same time at the MAC, so I am sure it will be a fun and interesting event! Artist introductions will be happening around 1:30, after which I will be giving a short introduction to my work in the Oceanside Gallery.
On Sunday June 4th between 12-3pm, I will also be in the gallery and I have prepared a free activity for those who would like to participate: Colouring Bookmarks! Colouring stations will be set up in the gallery, where you can spend a little time making a unique bookmark to take home.
Here are a few images of the work in Southern Residents. For images and info about available works, please check out this page on my website.
I am overwhelmed with gratitude. A little while ago I was blessed with the opportunity to attend the Marine Mammal Naturalist Course. This surprise gesture has made a big impact on me and the way I reflect on my ability to influence, encourage and champion people I meet every day. We have the ability to break away from our normal routines and surprise someone by taking time to speak into their lives, show them you care and encourage them along on their path. Thank you so much to the couple who did this for me. 🙂
Marine Mammal Naturalist Course
The Marine Mammal Naturalist Course (aka whale school) is taught by the Marine Education & Research Society (MERS). The purpose (or should I say ‘porpoise’) of this class is to learn about marine mammals within the context of sharing and communicating information about them with the public and about the value of keeping wild animals wild. The majority of the students in the class are starting summer jobs working on whale watching vessels, on overnight kayaking tours and other jobs in ecotourism. I consider myself fortunate to be able to take a class like this that is so connected to my art practice.
Our Ocean is Dark… with life!
Do you know that saying, “it’s hard to see the forest through the trees”? Well, the ocean waters in the Pacific Northwest should have a similar saying. It would go something like, “it’s hard to see the sea creatures through the sea creatures”.
Our waters are DENSE with life! Especially tiny lifeforms, which can make the water murky. This poor visibility is one of the reasons why we have such a wonderful diversity of marine mammals! Lots of tiny creatures = lots of delicious food for big creatures.
Plankton
Did you know that the word “plankton” comes from Greek and it translates to “drifter”. Basically, plankton are things that live at the mercy of currents and tides, suspended and floating in the water column. Here is a link to a page by NOA (National Ocean Service) that goes into a bit more depth. Yes, many types of plankton are tiny, but some are larger than you might think! Did you know that jellyfish are a kind of plankton? I didn’t! Mind blown.
Whale Barnacles
I realize this may not be everyone’s cupa tea. And to those people, I apologize. You should probably just skip down to the next point. Or, if you want to push your comfort zone a bit, keep reading ana open yourself up to my enthusiasm. It’s a safe space here.
Oh boy! Whale barnacles! This is actually one of my favourite creatures (well, a couple of my favourite creatures)! I LOVE whale barnacles SO much! Why, you ask? Because 1.) they are incredibly specific, and 2.) they live on whale planets (I’ll explain more as you read).
In class, we talked about two kinds: Humpback Barnacles and Grey Whale Barnacles. Each species will only settle down on its namesake cetacean. Talk about specific! Especially when one considers that barnacles begin their life cycle as small, shrimp-like plankton floating around in the water column, hoping a whale will swim by. And not just any whale. Their species of whale.
I love the idea that these creatures, once they have found their whale and start settling in for the rest of their lifespan, are now committed to that whale. Humpbacks and grey whales both migrate. Traveling long distances, swimming through different submarine climates, living their own life cycle, and taking along these crusty animals with them. Basically, they live on planet whale, who is hurling itself through watery “space”. An ecosystem existing on a creature within an ecosystem.
If you are sad that I am moving on to write about something else, here is an article I just found on Hakai Magazine with more about whale barnacles.
Orca
We reveled in an entire day learning about killer whales! That is a quarter of the course! Which was perfect timing for me because I have been busy creating an exhibition about Southern Resident killer whales (which just opened on Monday). I have been doing my own research into orca a while, but this was the first time I could ask as many questions as I wanted and just sit there and soak up in-depth information and knowledge. Here is a quick summery.
There are three kinds of orca along our coast: Bigg’s/transient (mammal eaters), Southern and Northern Residents (fish eaters) and offshore orca (eats mainly sharks, skates and rays). Of these three types of orca, we know the most about the Residents because they are smaller populations. Female orca go through menopause, which is also quite unique in the animal kingdom. Orca live in family clans which are lead by the matriarch (this is special because most species leave their mom as they mature, but orcas stay with their mom/grandma/great grandma/etc.). Killer whales live in an acoustic world. Remember how cloudy our water can be? Orca use bio sonar to “see”. Similar to how bats use echolocation to catch moths flying in the dark, orca use it to locate their prey in the ocean. For Resident orca, their echolocation can identify the swim bladder of a salmon, which I have heard is the size of a pinky figure. If this is the kind of information that gets you excited, here is a research article published by the University of Washington that goes into depth about salmon swim bladders and orca. If you scroll down, you will see an image showing the variation of shape/size of swim bladders in different species of salmon and here is another article on Science.org that summarizes the first article and is an easier read.
Whale Watching
We were just sitting down to do a visual identification quiz about dolphins and porpoises, when someone yelled “Dolphins!” And yes, outside our classroom, which was located at the Maritime Heritage Museum in Campbell River, was a pod of dolphins! The timing couldn’t have been better. We all ran onto the balcony and watched the dolphins (Pacific white-sided dolphins), who were probably hunting fish in the channel as the tide turned. Later that day we were interrupted again. “Orca!” And we all stampeded onto the balcony and watched killer whales across the channel. The next day, as if this couldn’t get any better, someone yelled, “Humpback!” And yes, back to the balcony we went. One of the staff members used a pair of binoculars and could see that the boat in the channel had a whale warning flag up—alerting other boats that there were whales in the area, so they could slow down and could avoid a possible collision situation. Not bad cetacean action for a purely classroom-based course! Needless to say, I was absolutely thrilled!
And so much more!
We also learned about humpback whales, seals, sea lions, sea otters, river otters, minke whales, Dall’s porpoises, Risso’s dolphins, elephant seals and more! I realize though that I am probably going on a bit long already, so I will wrap this up. The course was incredible. To be surrounded by people that share the same deep interest in marine biology, cetology, whales, marine mammals and whale barnacles was absolutely amazing! I have mentioned before that information has always been at the centre of my art practice. It inspires me to think of creative ways to communicate about whales in a visual way through my art. Bringing science and art together.
I feel so blessed to have had this experience and know it will continue to deepen and strengthen my art practice in the future as I let the things I learned sink in. Stay tuned for more art to come!
I am thrilled to announce an upcoming joint exhibition at Xchanges Gallery, opening April 7!
I have the great pleasure to be exhibiting work with my husband about a topic we often find ourselves drawn to—mountains and the ocean.
Throughout our relationship, we have had the unique opportunity to live and work in the mountains of Jasper National Park and on a sailing vessel in the Mediterranean Sea. These experiences of inhabiting immense and often daunting natural spaces have given us a deep respect for the power of nature. Our conversations about these experiences have led us to create SURFACE TENSION.
We have been working on a completely new series of work for this show, including: oil paintings, experimental drawings, photography and installation.
Opening Reception Friday April 7 from 7-9pm The artists will be in attendance and will give a brief introduction to the work around 7:30pm
Natasha van Netten 