Journal

My Mom on Youtube!

Kaya Murray — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 23:25:31 +0000

Here is my mother, Salt Spring Island sculptor Karen Reiss, at her studio talking to me about attaching a head to one of her current pieces. I'm new to youtube and haven't learned to edit yet, but personally I enjoy the "verite" quality, and getting to hear mom talk about her art is a treat.

Illustration Friday - "Hollow"

Kaya Murray — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:49:27 +0000

I am pleased to annnounce that I have been accepted and been awarded a bursary to join this year's Toni Only Project, eight days of painting in the remote northern town of Wells, B.C. under the mentorship of two senior Canadian artists, Harold Klunder and John Hall. http://www.imarts.com/artschool/83/toni+onley+artists+project
I am so excited! Wells is close to Prince George, Barkerville, and the Bowron Lakes. I've never been that far North (in the interior) and really look forward to the view, getting out of the city, painting and interacting with other art people.
The word of the week is "hollow". To that end I thought I would post this image of my newest (and largest!) painting, "The Cities Of The Old Will Fall And The New Cities Will Rise". It is , acrylic on canvas, painted to "Dust In The Wind" by Kansas. Kevin stretched this canvas for me as an anniversary present, as well my mom bought me a video camera and I have recorded the painting process. I will post on youtube, but first want to figure out the editing program! I'm not very tech savvy so bear with me.
I thought "hollow" as in a valley suited this image quite well incidentally. To see more detail, visit the "Landscapes" section of my site and click on the image.

Tel Aviv @ 100

Kaya Murray — Sat, 09 May 2009 19:05:53 +0000

I am pleased to announce that my paintings "Speeding Lights" (pictured) and "All roads lead to Tel Aviv" have been included at a juried group show at the Sidney and Gertrude Zack Gallery, downstairs at the Wosk auditorium. It's called "Tel Aviv @100" and is a celebration and commemoration of Tel Aviv's 100th birthday. From May 15th - 31st 2009, at 950 W. 41st avenue, inside the Jewish Community Centre. Drop by and check out the fantastic paintings, photos and metal work in this show!

Main Street Sold! And featured in the Georgia Straight!

Kaya Murray — Sat, 09 May 2009 19:02:00 +0000

Things have been going very well for me lately. The Artists in Our Midst weekend was a smashing success, I sold a number of paintings, including one of my large scale cityscapes, "Main Street - Divided by time". That very painting was featured in the local paper The Georgia Straight that week. Here is the link: http://www.straight.com/article-215417/17th-annual-artists-our-midst-show
I also got a mention in the Opus Visual Arts Newsletter for my artist in residence work at Lord Byng high school. Read more about it here: http://www.opusframing.com/newsletter2/2009/apr/com_artistsinourmidst.html
It has been an exciting and affirming time for me. I am currently working on some new larger scale vancouver cityscapes.

Tel Aviv

Kaya Murray — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:40:06 +0000

The illustration word this week was Hierarchy but as I don't care much for the word I am posting my newest cityscape Tel Aviv. Acrylic on canvas 20 x 30 in. Painted while I listened to the nwew James Bond theme song "Another way to Die".

Talisman

Kaya Murray — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:30:20 +0000

A talisman is described as a small amulet or other object used for protection against evil spirits. In that vein I offer up my newest collage painting, "The Miracle Worker". For me, the process of making art is itself a talisman against the strain and woes of the outside world. Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 24 X 30 in. painted to "Lithium" by Nirvana.

"Poise"

Kaya Murray — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:42:53 +0000

The word of the week is poise. I have just finished a new "Madworld scape". It's addressiing stress under fire. Women's inner/secret strengths against the growing tides of chaos that daily batter our sesnsibilities. MW2 Acrylic on canvas 24 x 30

Artists In Our Midst - Check it out!

Kaya Murray — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 22:57:32 +0000

I'm pleased to report that I will be participating in Artists In Our Midst for the first time this year. Artists In Our Midst (AIOM for short) has been organizing west side artists to have open studio tours for seventeen years. It has been great to meet the community of like-minded art folk, and I have been helping the students at Lord Byng High School to get ready for their show, which will share space with AIOM for the preview exhibition Thursday April 23rd from 7-9 PM. The artists' open studio tour will take place that weekend, April 25 - 26th from 12 - 6 PM. For more information, visit our website:
www.artistsinourmidst.com

Resolve

Kaya Murray — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 23:15:53 +0000

I have resolved to do more urban landscapes this year. As well this painting happens to depict the resolve of the men who engineered and crafted the Brooklyn Bridge in N.Y. regardless of the repeated problems and hazards. The painting is "Bridgeview " and is acrylic on canvas, 24 x 36 in.

Voices

Kaya Murray — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 06:25:51 +0000

This is one of my newer creations. It is called "The Voice" and is a collage of old opera posters, painted over with acrylic on canvas, 48 x 64 in. Opera was the main inspiration for this piece.