The Joys of Guest Artists

Carol-Ann Michaelson, Potter

One of the pleasures of the Artists of the Limberlost Open Studio Weekend is that we are able to have guest artists.  Carol-Ann Michaelson designs pots that are "lovely to look at, to hold and to use".  Carol-Ann enjoys the creative challenges of new glazes and brought both gas-fired and wood-fired pots to the studio.

Carol-Ann's pots and bowls look wonderful when displayed with Brian's furniture.  The black Tenmoku glaze of this pot with its curved lid and matching birds sit so well on the maple burl table and wrought iron base.  To learn more about Carol-Ann, go to: www.carolannmichaelson.com

Bob McLean, Painter

Bob McLean is an artist with a love of Muskoka and he expresses it well with his water colours and acrylic paintings.  He paints the changing seasons with the lake at sunset, autumn colours and the ice falls on Rebecca Lake cliffs.  Bob's skill in capturing the expression of wonder on a little girl's face has led to his offering to take commissions for paintings of your children or grandchildren. 

 

Don Ablett, Musician

The studio was alive with music and at times we had four-part harmony as guests joined Don Ablett's singing and guitar. To discover more about Don's music, go to: Don Ablett

 

Brian and I want to thank Carol-Ann, Bob and Don for adding so much to our Artists of the Limberlost studio tour weekend.  The beautiful art and the enjoyment and expressions of wonder as people entered the workshop made it the best tour ever.

Artists of the Limberlost Studio Weekend

Mark your calendar for the Artists of the Limberlost Open Studio Weekend on August 17th and 18th, 10-6 pm.  It is your opportunity to see artists in their creative environment and better understand the influence that Muskoka has on their art. The lakes, scenic winding roads, granite rocks, trees and gardens are part of the experience as you explore the natural beauty of Limberlost Road.

 

 

A few of the artists gathered recently for a photograph in front of the road sign, which will be on Highway 60 close to Limberlost Road.  Eighteen artists in seven studios will display a diverse selection of art and craft in a compact twenty kilometre route.

Carol-Ann Michaelson, Potter

We are pleased that potter Carol-Ann Michaelson and painter Bob MacLean are returning as guest artists in our studio.

Bob MacLean, Painter

The Artists of the Limberlost Studios include:

1. Jerry Friedman- driftwood sculpture with guests Brad Wookey-wildlife painting, Barb TenEyke-landscape painting
2. Susan Higgins- fused and stained glass with guests Vicki Sharp- jewellery, Jim Carter-metal and wood artist
3. Brian Markham- woodturning with guests Carol-Ann Michaelson- pottery, Bob McLean- painting
4. Mark Kulas- acrylic painting with guest Dan Hill- pottery
5. Catherine O'Mara- egg tempera painting with guests Cirvan Hamilton-contemporary furniture, Rudi Stade-stone furniture
6. Brenda Wainman Goulet- bronze sculpture with guest Elizabeth Siegfried-photography
7. Jeff Miller- oil and acrylic painting with guest Paul Allan-rustic furniture and accessories

Go to the Artists of the Limberlost website for more details on the tour.

 

www.artistsofthelimberlost.ca

A Successful Studio Tour

The atmosphere of Limberlost Woodturning during the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour was upbeat and postitive as Brian, Carol-Ann and Bob shared their work with the public. 

Visitors entered the studio and expressed their pleasure at being able to experience the beauty of Muskoka as they travelled through the forests and by the lakes in the Limberlost area.  It was the perfect setting to display the Brian's hand-crafted burl bowls and platters, Carol-Ann Michaelson's pottery and Bob McLean's Muskoka paintings.

The 6th year for the Artists of the Limberlost was the busiest ever, with well over 600 people experiencing the tour. All of the artists and their guest artists came to our home on Saturday night for a pot-luck dinner and there was a sense of satisfaction to have a successful tour as a result of the collaboration of so many talented individuals.

Form Meets Function- Cheese Platters

Figured maple platter with wood fired pottery centre

Artistic collaboration with another artist can lead to some exciting new pieces.  Brian used Carol-Ann Michaelson's wood fired and tenmoku glaze pottery disks to create stunning figured maple and walnut platters.  Carol-Ann will be a guest artist at Limberlost Woodturning during the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour on August 18 and 19.

Figured walnut platter with tenmoku glaze pottery centre



Black cherry cheese board and cedar burl bowl

Form and function meet when cheese boards are created from wood with raw bark edges, distinctive colouration, and contrasts of sapwood and heartwood. Black walnut, redwood burl and black cherry bring the warmth and grace of nature to your table. Imagine the reaction of guests when you serve your cheese and crackers on such striking platters!

Walnut, redwood burl and black cherry cheese boards

For more information on the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour, go to:

artistsofthelimberlost.ca

Artists of the Limberlost- Carol-Ann Michaelson, potter

Carol-Ann Michaelson's Wood Fired bowl

The Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour is pleased to have Carol-Ann Michaelson as a guest potter at Brian Markham's Limberlost Woodturning studio.  The pairing of Brian's wooden platters with Carol-Ann's pottery bowls creates a beautiful display in a woodland setting.

Carol-Ann Michaelson's Tenmoku glaze bowl

Carol-Ann states, "My primary pursuit revolves around functional forms, pieces that are lovely to look at, to hold and to use.  I believe that it is through the handling and use of pottery that its true beauty is revealed.  I design pots with people and their daily rituals in mind.  I have recently purchased a gas kiln and have been enjoying the challenges the new glazes and clay bodies offer me.  I see new forms and ideas rapidly developing with this change.

For more information about the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour on August 18 and 19, go to

artistsofthelimberlost.ca

Carol-Ann's website is carolannmichaelson.com

Thank you for a Successful Tour

The Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour was full of energy, sunshine and happy customers.  Carol-Ann Michaelson and Jamie McGill, our guest artists, arrived on the Friday night with carloads of pottery and paintings.  What fun to find the perfect spot to display the art to its best advantage.  Brian and I were delighted as we made the transformation over the week from a workshop full of woodchips, sawdust and equipment to a remarkable collaborative artist's studio.

 


When customers entered the studio they broke into smiles and said it was a party. Hundreds of people visited Limberlost Woodturning over the weekend and the comments about the wood, pottery and paintings were consistently enthusiastic and positive.  Some visitors were cottagers, neighbours and friends returning to our studio, but the majority joined us for the first time. 

The atmosphere was energetic, busy, creative and enhanced by the music of Don Ablett.  Don, Carol-Ann's husband, is a singer and guitarist who is well-known for traditional blues, ragtime and contemporary folk songs. For Don, music is a pleasure and we were delighted to have him join us in the studio. 
 

Jamie told the stories of his paintings, and there was great interest in the oil and watercolour scenes of Algonquin and Georgian Bay.  His love of the north was evident as he described the experience of painting on canoe trips and en plein air.  It was a family affair with Karen McGill assisting customers and helping with sales.

There are so many people to thank....customers who support us with their postive comments and enthusiasm for the art, Jamie and Carol-Ann for joining us as guest artists, Don for sharing his musical talents and Karen for helping us in the studio.  Thanks for making it our best studio tour ever! 

www.jamiemcgill.ca

www.carolannmichaelson.ca

www.artistsofthelimberlost.ca

www.songwriters.ca/member/DonAblett

Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour-This Weekend

We are almost ready for the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour. Brian and I have put away much of the equipment, cleared out the wood chips, vacuumed and dusted.  Now Brian's beautiful bowls, platters and vessels are ready for your visit. You will see the wood, the burls and the workshop with Brian demonstrating at his lathe.

Tomorow our guest artists' Carol-Ann Michaelson's pottery and Jamie McGill's paintings will be added to the display.

The purchase of a wooden bowl, painting or pottery has added significance when you see where it began, the craft of its creation and the artist who made your special work of art.

Limberlost Woodturning is open Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14 from 10:00 to 6:00.

http://www.artistsofthelimberlost.ca/

http://www.limberlostwoodturning.com/

http://www.carolannmichaelson.ca/

http://www.jamiemcgill.ca/

Black Walnut and Pottery Platter

This black walnut and pottery platter is a collaborative piece joining the art of woodturning with the pottery of Carol-Ann Michaelson.  The highly-figured black walnut is enhanced by the striking tenmoku glaze of the ceramic disk. 

Brian's most interesting platters begin with a remarkable piece of wood.  This black walnut slab was cut from the crotch of the tree where the branch grew away from the trunk. 

The contrasts of the lighter sapwood and the darker heartwood at the split give incredible character to the platter.

Brian was able to cut a couple of round platters from the black walnut slab, turning them on the lathe and giving them a lustrous, food-safe finish.  He made a shallow, round indentation in the platter, and in the centre, placed the pottery disk.

Brian also paired a birds-eye maple platter with Carol-Ann's ochre and teal shino pottery disk. The platters are beautiful to look at and display, but also functional as serving pieces in the kitchen or dining room.

 

Carol-Ann Michaelson is joining Brian as a guest artist at the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour on August 13 and 14, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  It is your opportunity to see Carol-Ann's kiln-fired pottery which includes bowls, platters, pots and vessels.

In our workshop, during the Studio Tour, you will see the harmony created as we display the arts of woodturning and pottery.

http://www.limberlostwoodturning.com/

http://www.carolannmichaelson.ca/

http://www.artistsofthelimberlost.ca/