A Tour of La Fab Gallery & Boutique

Recently I visited the La Fab Boutique where my fine art cards are sold. A 10-minute drive from downtown Ottawa in scenic Chelsea, Quebec, it’s a jewel of a spot nestled within the majestic Gatineau Hills. The area is known for its cozy cafés, art galleries, craft stores and bakeries. It’s also the home of […]

Souvenirs of Canada Day

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Day 2014

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Day 2014

Happy belated Canada and Independence Day to my Canadian and American friends! Canada’s been my home for the past 40 years; it’s hard to believe the time’s gone by so quickly. On our first Canada Day here, I remember my […]

Reflections: Collaging with Your Camera

When it comes to collaging there are many ways to layer your images. In the real world we can use mediums (paints, inks, etc.) and materials (ie. papers, tissue, transparencies, etc.) to achieve layered effects. In the virtual world, software such as Photoshop allows us to do the same using a concept called “layers” with […]

A Beautiful Mess: A Hands-off Approach to Collaging

Each time I look around my studio, I see great potential brewing. In the midst of the chaos, new works are forming themselves without me even realizing it. Collages are coming together on my work table and with a little nudge and tweak* or two from me; I hope they’ll eventually make intriguing pieces. In […]

June 2014 Bits & Bytes

The Shenkman Art Centre’s Significant Contributions Installation (detail views), June 2014, Ottawa, Canada

Significant Contributions Project

This Friday I had a chance to visit Significant Contributions, an installation and public art project I’ve been blogging about, organized by artist Karen Goetzinger. This breath-taking series of towering structures is located in the main lobby […]

A Stroll through My New Neighbourhood

“Today I have grown taller from walking with the trees.” — Karle Wilson Baker

Today I thought I’d share some photos of my new neighbourhood with you, in particular, some views of the trails, walkways and beach I’ve discovered along the Ottawa River where I live. I’m fortunate to have a calm and inspiring view […]

Tapestries of Time: Refrigerator Door Art

While reviewing photos of our old house this month, my heart warmed at the sight of our old kitchen refrigerator door covered with paper paraphernalia. Perhaps you have a similar ritual of posting things to your refrigerator door. In meditating its collage-like surface which offered brief glimpses of my life, I felt it resembled a […]

Dreams of Paper Houses

Sandra Mirabelli (Ottawa Public Art Program Coordinator), Kristina Frangione (Assistant) pose alongside the C4 Cabinet, CCCC Project, Hintonburg Community Centre, 2009 (Photo: Lorraine Victor)

As a child I loved miniature doll houses. A friend of mine had a beautiful three-story one filled with exquisite tiny objects. I could only dream of having one […]

The Presence of Angels: Pursuing My Studies in the Visual Arts

Michelle Casey, "Rise", Collage, 8 x 10 inches, April 2014

“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” (John Holmes)

Do you believe in angels? I believe in the presence of human angels in our lives. Every now and again one steps in and forever changes […]

Lessons of the Heart

Michelle Casey, "Roots & Wings", Mixed Media Collage (marker, magazine fragments on Fabriano paper), 9 x 12 inches, April 2014

Last summer I found myself drawn to the symbol of the heart. While sifting through fragments, I was captivated by a drawing of an anatomical heart in Gray’s Anatomy; I decided that I’d […]