In the Spotlight: Jaki Durocher



Back Shift - a portrait of Jaki's father

I first met Jaki Durocher a few years ago through the Hants County Arts Council; I quickly recognized that Jaki was an active member of the local arts community and knew she would be a great ally and advisor when it came to starting my own arts based business.

As one of the founding members of the Hants County Arts Council and Director of the Utata Arts Centre, Jaki has played an important part in nurturing the local arts community here in Hants County.

Known mostly for her portraiture and landscape paintings, Jaki is a bit of a Jack of all trades.

Her work, which has been sold nationally and internationally, reflects her love of the things important to her: nature, the Nova Scotian landscape and as a proud grandmother of 10, her family.

In this day and age when life is getting faster, busier and more complex, it is the simpler things in life that keep us grounded and lend perspective on what really matters. My work is about connections. These associations impel a spiritual effigy.         Jaki Durocher

This past year saw Jaki opening Windsor’s first Art School, Inspire! Here Jaki and her husband Philippe teach a variety of workshops ranging from painting and drawing to cement and clay sculpture.

Jaki is always experimenting and growing as an artist, never afraid to accept a challenge! Here at Flying Cloud we are proud to showcase a selection of her art prints as well as her beautiful nature inspired ceramic bowls.

Currently we are showcasing Jaki’s Wave and Whales ceramic bowl series in our online shop; perhaps the perfect complement to a hearty Nova Scotian fish chowder!

For more information on Jaki and the workshops available at Inspire Art School please visit www.jakidurocheer.com or if you'd like to experience Jaki's work first hand come and visit us here at the shop!

In the Spotlight: Mary Garoutte of Swallow & Twig

When I first decided I wanted to open my own shop selling Nova Scotian handmade products I came up with a wish list of artists I wanted to approach – at the top of my list of must have products was a line of hand-painted  jewellery by Mary Garoutte.

I had first discovered Mary’s whimsical line Swallow and Twig while Christmas shopping last year. Her miniature paintings on recycled silver spoons were right up my free-cycle loving alley! With delicate images inspired by nature and Victorian life, Mary creates wearable art that any fashionable lady would be proud to wear.




Mary is an artist-painter-turned-jeweler, who graduated from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. It was while studying there, that hard work, challenge, and creative media were instilled into her.

Mary’s post-graduation years have been spent painting through freelance and commission work, and it was only in recent years that she decided to incorporate her painting background and skills into hand-painted jewelry. Mary says this new direction into jewelry has stretched and challenged her in ways that have improved her overall painting practice as a whole, and she enjoys the wearable art component to her hand-painted jewelry, as she believes fine art should be a part of the everyday.

Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin

Many influences have shaped the aesthetic of Mary’s work, which range from vintage printed and illustrated imagery in children's books, such as Beatrix Potter, tales from the Brothers Grimm and nursery rhymes. She also loves the bold and powerful forms of early to mid 20th Century design.

Art Nouveau and Art Deco are to her the most impressionable design forms from that time period, and are probably the most evident in her jewelry designs. She is also inspired by the light-hearted and playful art forms of kitsch and folk art, and she loves to contrast with more dark and sinister influences such as the wonderful illustrations of Edward Gorey.

While investigating the background of miniature work, Mary became very fond of art and graphics from the Victorian era, as miniature work played a great role in art-making, souvenirs and other minutia from that time period. Another popular past-time for the Victorians was the art of Shadow-boxing. Christopher Cornell 's work is a lovely example of this and a source of inspiration. Like him, Mary shares a love of birds, a predominate subject in her work.

Currently we have a selection of Mary’s earrings, rings and belt buckles in stock in the shop. If you are trying to come up with a little special something for you loved one this season, then I invite you to check out our online shop and get your hands on your own miniature masterpiece!

A Look Back to the Festival of Art

On October 1st & 2nd Flying Cloud Boutique hit the road to attend the 5th Annual Festival of Art, hosted by the Hants County Arts Council at the Vaughan Shand Centre in Windsor, Nova Scotia.

Revealing for the first time our folky "mini cloud" kiosk, we were able to show off a small selection of items from the shop while also providing free artist demonstration for visitors who came out to view the showcase of 20 Hants County Arts Council members.

Instructor at Inspire Art School, Jaki Durocher created a sculpture from clay while Tacha Reed demonstrated needle felting techniques.

For more information and pictures from the event please visit the Hants County Art Council's Member's Gallery Blog: http://hcacmembersgallery.blogspot.com/

Believe

Thank you stranger for the sweet little poem you threw away on our lawn... thankfully I can't help but read lost notes when I see them on the ground. This was a pleasant surprise, normally I find grocery lists and crumpled failed tests. This little rhyming message of hope and faith was a perfect summary of how I try to live my life.

Apparently "Believe" is a very popular piece by poet Emily Matthews, so I can't give credit to my anonymous litterbug for it's creation, but still it was a nice cherry on the top of a very awesome day! A day that was spent in meetings with vibrant folks like painter Kelly Mitchelmore and April Griffin from the new Vaughn Shand Wellness Centre, as we prepare to celebrate our local arts community with this year's Festival of Art. An easy flowing day spent following my dreams and listening to my intuition, letting it lead me to where I am meant to go.

Bryan sometimes walks around singing a little tune and ever ever since I first had my "Flying Cloud" dream (which I promise I will share with you all one day) it has become my motto. When ever things start to stray from my "plan" I repeat these words and remind myself that this is my path and that "everything works if you let it, if you let it all work out!"

Open for Business!

This past Saturday we hung our open for business sign and welcomed guests into Sylvia for a tour of Flying Cloud Boutique.

Many friends from throughout the province made their way down to see just what it was I'd been working away on these last few months. Sylvia and her collection of unique local wares were a big hit - I was a proud momma for sure!

I have to admit it was a huge relief Saturday morning to open the door and look in on my little store; I'm really thrilled with how she's turned out and feel so blessed that I get to spend each day in her making and selling art!

Talk about dream job!

The highlight of opening day was when my very first customer picked out a kitty I had just given whiskers to only 45 minutes before hand. A hot pick critter to match her hot pick outfit - how purrrrrrfect! These are the moments I live for :)

Now that we're open for business I can finally get around to some other things on my very long to-do list... like the website, which has a huge update coming this Saturday! 

                 

This online addition arrives just in time for release of Halifax Magazine's summer issue which includes a feature on the store, her reno's and a few of our artists. Look for it in this weekend's Chronicle Herald and at local new stands like Atlantic News. 

Until then I'm going to be making flag banners and working on the promo for our next big event - July 23! More to come on that and other summer events shortly.

Introducing of few of our Artists

This past weekend I attended the Halifax Crafters Society Spring Flight show in Halifax both as a vendor and as a means of recruiting new Artists for the June launch of the mobile boutique.

The response to Flying Cloud was absolutely enthusiastic! I made fantastic connections and even came home with my first batch of inventory - dozens of lovely hand carved wooden spoons and butter knives! 

From cherry and lilac to birch, carver Terron Dodd's pieces are going to look just wonderful showcased in the shop's House Wares section. 

Also newly jumping on board is illustrator and designer Anna Stowe. Anna's hand printed cards and t-shirts reflect a whimsy that I hold close to my heart. 

Our shared love for wild life, in particular an interest in fish, birds, foxes and motorcycles, make her an absolute perfect fit for Flying Cloud - I feel honoured that I get to share her work with everyone! 

Adding to our list of talented artists who create durable pieces for outdoor life is Jerry Walsh and his line Distinctive Garden Accents. 

Working mostly with found materials Jerry makes functional handcrafted treasures including birdhouses and feeders, mail boxes, planters, weather vanes and  garden benches. 

Again Jerry's work tugs at my heart strings; by making use of items reclaimed from nature Jerry creates beautiful objects that not only give back but at the same time compliment surrounding nature. 

I was also lucky enough to connect with James Brown of Steady Brook Saddlery who is coming on as our first leather worker. In addition to his saddles  James also makes belts, purses, and book jackets. A veteran of the arts and craft industry I know James is going to bring a lot of knowledge and experience to the table as I make my way not only as an art boutique owner and promoter but also as a fellow maker. 

These are just a few of the many crafters who have stepped forward to join our list of vendors here at Flying Cloud Boutique. Over the next few weeks I will be sharing more and more about my talented fellow Nova Scotian Artists and Artisans and giving you sneak peeks at some of the items we will be carrying in the mobile shop.

Until then I encourage to take a virtual tour of the Halifax Crafters Society Spring Flight Show and take in a little of what Nova Scotia has to offer.