To hear more please checkout my latest video below and thanks again for wearing our art!
Celtic Sigh is one of six 12 X 12 works created in this manner. The palette of quinacridone nickel azo gold, quinacridone magenta, Indian yellow hue and naphthol red is a departure from my favourite mix of ocean blues and greens, however these are the colours that can blanket the sky, reflecting in the waters long after the sun has disappeared below the horizon.
The focal point of this painting is a swirling and textured design created with a palette knife in one fluid, continuous movement. Gazing at the result immediately reminded me of a Celtic Knot, and I was amazed when my research revealed how closely my unconscious rendering resembled the Dara Knot. To the Celts, the oak tree’s roots represented divine resources and inner strength including leadership, wisdom and destiny. It is said that the Dara Knot draws inspiration from the winding and twining roots of the oak tree, and the symbolism of oak roots is grounding for all those who need anchoring in their own strength, also acting as a reminder for people to unite in difficult times and draw on their inner strength to get through tough challenges.
My hope is that as the viewer you will soak up the colours of day’s end, and together we will embrace our inner strength and experience a collective Celtic Sigh.
]]>In the beginning, ‘On-Demand Manufacturing’ was a no brainer. Ultimately this type of business model enabled us to do what we love to do with minimal financial risk. But we also saw it as the only way forward and still do for so many other reasons...
So that’s us and what we believe in! On-Demand Manufacturing is still an emerging industry that will hopefully continue to evolve as more and more businesses jump on board. For us it’s the only way forward and we will continue to work with people who believe in and support this mindset.
Hopefully it helps paint our picture so to speak & explain why many of our items are 'sold out' or 'coming soon'! Thanks for your continued support and as always, thank you for wearing our art!
]]>The completed canvas (or so I thought) was left on the easel for a few months of travel.
When we returned and our quarantine began, I gravitated again to this painting and kept on going, everyday adding more: marks, more layers, more hope.
In It Together for me, reflects the full circle of sadness, anger, frustration and then the beginnings of hope and the healing process.
In It Together is part of my Abstracts series collection. Utilizing the vocabulary of shape, form, color and line, this collection exists with a degree of independence from any visual references familiar in this world. With this collection the goal of the artist is to showcase new perspectives through imagination, tossing away the limiting confines of reality.
The original artwork is Acrylic on Canvas, measures 48 x 48 x 1.5 and is currently available at our Artist Generations Art Studio in Valois Village, QC.
p.s. Each piece in the In It Together collection is stunning, however my “go to” are the tote bag and the clutch :)
Thanks for reading,
Wendy
]]>At a past visit to the Botanical Gardens in Florida to see the “The Washed Ashore” exhibit in 2018; I was enchanted with the giant marine sculpture of a jellyfish. The wonder, however, of experiencing such a beautiful creation was counterbalanced by the materials it was composed of; plastics and marine debris. In “Water Bottle Jelly” you will find nylon rope, water bottles, bottle caps and buoys in this blue jellyfish.
Plastic pollution in our oceans and waterways is a global crisis. Each year whales, seals, sea birds, sea turtles and other marine life die after ingesting plastic or becoming entangled in it. Plastic pollution has spread into all marine habitats at every level of the food chain. Plastic bags strongly resemble sea jellies in the floating stage of life, and hungry sea turtles often cannot tell the difference. This deadly mistake is now one of the biggest threats to sea turtles worldwide.
The “Washed Ashore” project creates powerful art that captivates all ages and teaches environmental conservation and sustainability. It’s founder Angela Pozzi began in 2010 to Make Art to Save the Sea rallying her small community of Bandon, Oregon and founding the non-profit organization. Today over 10,000 volunteers have helped clean beaches and worked with Washed Ashore to process over 20 tons of debris into 70 sculptures of the animals affected by plastic pollution. These sculptures now tour as “The Washed Ashore Project” traveling exhibits, educating and inspiring countless people from diverse backgrounds to take action in their own lives and prevent contributing to this global problem.
As a mother-daughter team we share many of the same goals and inspirations for our extended families and what the future holds. Inspired by the “Washed Ashore” project, Reni and I felt that Earth Day would be the perfect opportunity to contribute in our own way through Artist Generations. We first started in 2018 and commit to contributing as long as we can! Here’s what we came up with for 2021, we’re excited and hope that you will be, too!
BLUE TONIC EARTH DAY 2021 TOTE ~ WEAR IT WITH PRIDE
Blue Tonic is part of Wendy’s ‘Abstraction’ collection and has been chosen by Artist Generations to represent Earth Day 2021. Our new Blue Tonic summer tote bag will be offered for a limited time beginning today and ending at midnight on April 30th, 2021..
For every Blue Tonic tote bag sold during this period Artist Generations will contribute 10% to the “Washed Ashore” project. We will be posting our results on Facebook and Instagram, thx for following our progress and pass it along!
Art and love go hand in hand with our Blue Tonic Earth Day Tote, hand sewn ‘on demand’ in Montreal, Canada and featuring custom all over art designed by Wendy Fee. This oversized tote bag features the classic tote shape you love, but with added room to fit more of whatever you want to put in it (picnic blanket, food, more wine!). We love the canvas soft feel and the wide, functional shoulder strap. Beautiful, eco-friendly & affordable….three things that are always important to us when creating our wearable art! Many happy Earth Days days ahead!
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”- Margaret Mead
For more information on the “Washed Ashore” project please click on the following link: http://washedashore.org
For more information on Angela Pozzi, the founder of the project please click on the following link: www.seathingsart.com
For more information on Wendy Fee, Blue Tonic artist, please click on the following link: https://www.wendyfeestudio.art/
For more information on our Print On Demand Process, please click on the following link: https://artistgenerations.com/blogs/news/on-demand-manufacturing-our-story
]]>To enjoy your print in the best way for years to come you need to have it framed and displayed correctly. Not only will your print look beautiful but it will also be protected!
All of our prints come with an existing 1.5” white border so no need for matting! Really you want to focus on the frame itself and choose something that’s classy but not too expensive. We deliberately make our prints in standard sizes so that finding a frame is easy and inexpensive. Most of our prints require an 11” x 14” frame. This size is readily available at most big box stores, online and at art supply shops.
The frame serves two purposes. The first is to protect the print from dust, dirt, and light. The second is to display your new print in the best possible manner.
Our personal preference is to use museum quality glass or acrylic which is a good alternative. Glass frames are less expensive, will not warp, are not easily scratched and all in all just look great. Acrylic frames on the other hand will never break and are less reflective than glass so really both are good options.
Frames are available in a multitude of materials, colors, and sizes. Our preference is a simple, elegant, black or white frame that does not take away from the colors of the print. The material of the frame can be wood or metal. This is sometimes called gallery framing. Metal frames can be thinner than wooden ones. A personal preference but we prefer wooden frames because of the texture and thin as possible without rounded corners.
When choosing colour always consider the wall where you're going to hang your print & the style of your room. Also consider if there any other paintings close by and the colors of your furniture. How will everything look together?
The style of frame of course depends on your personal preference! Nothing prevents you from using broad frames, colored frames, fancy frames, etc. Choose what speaks to you and makes you happy!
The usual way to display your print would be to hang it on a wall. You can hang it on its own to create a focal point or arrange it within a group of prints. Since most of our prints are small, they tend to look great with within a colourful group. Another cool way, however, would be to put them on an art shelf. We love this look and you can then pair them with your favourite plant, candle, etc. The only piece of advice when hanging would be to avoid direct sunlight.
We hope this helps you decide on the framing style for your fine art print. We’d LOVE to see a picture of your finished frame! Please tag us on FB or Instagram or txt/email us when you are ready to show it off!
Happy Framing!
Wendy & Reni xx
]]>Coral reefs, often called “ rainforests of the sea” form some of the most diverse ecosystems on earth. The profusion of colours and the sea life within has the ability to endlessly fascinate me.
With this as my inspiration, I began “Opal Reef” by creating texture with a palette knife and laying down mediums to sculpt and form reef-like structures. This was followed by a repeating process of washes of paint to reveal the patterns; while building up and scraping down the layers until the soul of the painting was revealed. In an effort to capture the flashes of colour beneath the surface, I chose a new palette of crimson, vermilion, dioxazine purple, pyrrole orange and my favourite, Indian Yellow Hue. This series is ongoing.
p.s. Each piece in the Opalescent collection is stunning, however my “go to” are the scarf and the clutch.
The 36 X 36 scarf is easy to wear with your favorite tee and the 50 X 50 scarf works overtime as a wrap at the beach and then dancing into the night!
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This is the inspiration behind Early Summit.
I love creating texture with a palette knife and then laying down washes of paint using a limited palette. It is the same process I use when painting seascapes. I have come to realize that once again, water is the foundation for both and therefore no surprise that I am drawn to these forces.
“The mountains are calling, and I must go” -Author unknown
Witnessing the peaks emerge in morning light still wrapped by drifting fog, I too feel the call and yearn to “Early Summit”. It is my hope that this painting evokes the same feeling in you.
Early Summit is now hanging in our new studio in Valois Village, Pointe-Claire, Quebec. Please be in touch if you wish to see it in real life!
Also available as a limited edition print! Thanks for reading, Wendy xx
Early Summit
Acrylic on canvas
32 x 34
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Perhaps one of the strongest links came in 1912, when thousands of supporters from the suffrage movement donned the bold colour en masse, adopting it as a sign of rebellion and liberation.
Tapping into this history, and keeping it on the lighter side, we say to you this Valentine’s Day, glide on your Ruby Woo and treat yourself to a piece of art, you deserve it!
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On this morning however, I was eager to get the vision in my head onto the canvas: a secret garden surrounded by crumbling stone walls; slightly out of focus with texture being the predominant feature of the painting.
After a few hours of being fully absorbed in the process I stepped away, leaving the studio for a short time. When I came back to the painting I found that a “Lady in Red” had wandered from the ball and found her way into this hidden sanctuary.
Red, the colour of energy, passion, ambition, anger coupled with subtle shades of pink, symbolizing unconditional love, surrounds the aura of this mysterious woman.
Can you see her or has she slipped away as quietly as she arrived? Is she awaiting a forbidden tryst or plotting her revenge?
Lady In Red by Wendy Fee
24 X 18
Acrylic on canvas
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J’adore is the perfect French phrase to express my enjoyment and delight with Montreal, the city I grew up in. My memories turn to the indigo nights of summer, and the glimmering blue-black shadows on the night streets of winter, both alive with the fissure of excitement and intrigue.
There is one night (of many!) that stands out for me, however, when my family and friends gathered to celebrate a landmark birthday of mine. Moving from a home soiree via limo to front of the line access at Funky Town, we danced and laughed until closing time. Spilling out onto the street, we joined our fellow revelers making their way home and savoring the sounds, sights and camaraderie unique to Montreal.
It is these emotions that inspired me to create this abstract cityscape. I hope that as a viewer you are drawn into this space and that you too may “J’adore Montreal”.
The original artwork is part of a private collection but J'adore Montreal prints are now available as well as being a January 2021 feature on our wearable art!
J'Adore Montreal
Acrylic on Terraskin
24 X 36
Wendy xx
]]>Our new One Love collection is based on original artwork called ‘Broken’. It was painted in my basement & must consist of at least 20 layers of paint. It morphed several times & was not until the very end that I decided I was happy with a big colourful flying heart with angel wings.
The painting itself took several months to paint and even longer to dry but by the time it was done I was truly in love. So much so that I selfishly kept it to myself and hung it up in my living room! I love the bright colors & the big size of the original canvas.
Broken has never been exhibited but is now hanging at Boucherie Chartier where it was installed as part of an ongoing initiative to bring more art to the village. Originally we were going to go with my Big Blue painting but at the last second decided to switch it to Broken given our current times; more appropriate considering what we are all going through.
The BROKEN original painting is Oil on Canvas, 30x40 and is currently for sale, please contact me if interested.
Limited edition Fine Art Prints are also now available, each one signed by me! They are museum grade made using a very high quality matte Pura Smooth 420gsm OBA-free paper & vibrant archival inks. They are made locally here in Montreal, resistant to scratches and are perfect for framing.
Also I'm super excited about our new ONE LOVE wearable art collection. The many rainbow colors evoke feelings of love and happiness which we hope to bring to you when wearing our art, because really....we all need more of that!
Thanks for reading,
Reni
To see me chatting away about it check out our latest YouTube video One Love!
]]>With the launch of our new limited edition t-shirts, we both felt that my SANCTUARY art was the perfect choice for our latest collection.
By definition a sanctuary is a physical location, providing a place of refuge and safety. In truth, however, a sanctuary may also be a composite of feelings and locations real or imagined, “healing places” where each individual soul will find the serenity or escape that they seek.
Created on the boat before our world was put on pause, SANCTUARY seems a fitting reminder that we still have control and the power to travel anywhere we choose in our minds, and I know that mine resonates with the beautiful turquoise waters of The Bahamas.
Highlights from my vernissage 'Sanctuary: This Must Be The Place' below ~ Enjoy!
Wendy xoxo
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Big Blue came to life last winter when the days were short and dark. The canvas itself is 3 feet x 4 feet & I painted my Big Blue using a roller & lots of blue, black & grey acrylics.
Even painting this piece was a soothing experience, ridding my mind of all the day-to-day noise. Big Blue only became a ‘she’ (actually a mother) when I decided she needed a ‘little blue’ whale calf who I created shortly afterwards.
Big Blue is unfortunately not for sale but limited edition Fine Art Prints are now available and Big Blue will soon be featured in our new Spring collection....stay tuned!
On a personal note I think that there is still so much more we can do to preserve and protect whales and their ocean homes. While looking for home school activities for my two daughters this week I stumbled across the original Save The Whales website and was pleased to see that they were still active. Save the Whales is a California non-profit organization that began in 1977, by a mother and daughter team. Forty three years later, Save the Whales continues to inspire children, the future of the planet, to know that their actions can promote change. If you are looking to get involved or simply for some whale activities for your children I recommend checking them out.
Thanks for reading & thanks for your support. For more on Big Blue check out our latest YouTube video BIG BLUE!
]]>The Jellies thrive in the seventy percent of our planet that lies underwater in the vast waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic oceans.
They are however, known for their spirit of curiosity. It was on just such an occasion, when the stars twinkling in the night sky over the Bahamas reached down into the Atlantic invitingly. With a wink at each other and a “why not?" attitude, three Jellies launched themselves into the universe, becoming the first Cosmic Jelly Dancers with many more to follow!
It was my Cosmic Jelly Dancer original artwork that inspired our "Cosmic Jellies" collection wearable art collection which quickly became a favorite with our customers. While the original artwork has been sold to a collector it is nice to know that the Jelly Dancer spirit lives on with Artist Generations.
If you'd like to know more about my other Jelly Dancers please read our 'Behind The Scenes Jelly Dancer' blog which is devoted entirely to jellies or check out my latest video below.
Thanks for reading!
Wendy xx
Right now we are really excited to tell you about our new scarves……luxurious SILK scarves! Many of our customers have asked us if our scarves were available in silk so we couldn’t be more happier to finally say yes, yes they are!
Spring Fling scarf size 36" x 36" featured in our smiley happy picture below!
Luxury you not only deserve but can afford!
Our scarves are now available in 100% natural Silk Habotai which is a gorgeous lightweight & airy silk. Starting at $32.00 they feature original artwork, vivid colors, pretty details and mesmerizing patterns.
We love the 50" x 50" size as it can also be worn as shawl or cover-up!
You were born to stand out!
Why not wear art? Feel special knowing you are wearing an original piece of art which has been made just for you!
Thanks for supporting local!
Like all of our products, each scarf is printed, hand-cut and sewn locally in Montreal, QC.
How do we do it?
We are lucky to work with a wonderful manufacturing partner who has mastered the art of transferring our art onto silk using a unique process called reactive printing.
Reactive printing involves four main steps: pre-treating fabrics, printing, steaming and washing. It’s a long process but certainly worth it as it means our scarves are fully washable, perfectly soft and will never fade. Rest assured that your scarf colors will always remain as vibrant as the day you buy it, even when you are still wearing it many years from now! Trust us, you'll be passing your new scarf onto your grandchildren!
Feel good about what you wear!
Also important to us is how our printing effects the environment. The dyes we use are water-based and print a huge spectrum of lively colors that are all environmentally friendly.
Reactive printing ‘on-demand’ is a also a low waste process and better for the environment since every meter we print is for a specific customer. This means we never have overstock or dead stock.
Fabrics that print incorrectly can simply be washed and reprinted. The washing machinery recirculates water to minimize water usage. The steamer uses less than 40 liters of water most production days. Natural gas heaters are used to power the printer heater and our partner practices widely accepted energy saving techniques daily within their facility including recycling all cardboard, papers, and plastics.
See it, like it, buy it!
If you love what you see don’t wait too long! All of our designs are limited!
The 36" x 36" is our most popular size but if you love to have lots of 'wraparound' we recommend the 50" x 50". The smallest 16" x 16" size looks great as a bandana or up in a ponytail. What's your favorite? We want to hear from you!
Simple & sophisticated, our scarves are a definite wardrobe staple in every climate!
It’s been two years now since we started working together and we really do it because we love it, dream it & live it. We still wake up daily and say 'Why not wear art' and hope you now will too!
Thanks for reading,
Reni & Wendy xx
]]>So it’s usually end of January when maybe the sun will come out, maybe my health will come back and hopefully the kids will be back at school and with all that my inspiration eventually returns and I start dreaming about colors and warmth and summer sunsets….a winter coping mechanism no doubt!
Looking back this is exactly when and how Spring Fling came to life. I painted it with so much freedom in a wonderful art class with a wonderful teacher Katica Sitar who encouraged the spirals & explosion of colors. My spirals flowed naturally with the oil paints I was using as oil paints tend to blend so beautifully and take a long time to dry allowing for multiple layers of various shades.
Starting out....
Spiraling....
Today just thinking about originally painting my ‘Spring Fling’ makes me happy. The colors are amazing & always evoke such positive emotions. The final painting is below & also now featured in our ‘Spring Fling’ wearable art collection. I once got a comment from a friend who bought the capris that she couldn’t stop looking at her legs because the colors made her so happy which to this day is one of the best compliments I have ever received!
I was actually so inspired by Spring Fling and the feedback I received from other artists that I went on to paint True Blue, Dragon Fire, Spiraling Down and Summer Haze which are shown below and which were exhibited in En Plein Art in 2018.
True Blue...
Dragon Fire..
Spiraling Down...
Summer Haze...
So definitely for me art helps me get through the winters & reminds me that eventually the sun will come out. Spring Fling is an art story about hope, about love and about healing.
To hear & see more check out our YouTube channel where we are doing our best to share or stories!
Thanks for reading!
Reni xx
]]>I love working on cradle-board as a substrate as it can be scrubbed, scraped, layered and processed endlessly. Knowing this often allows for a “no fear” attitude and for an artist this is a rare and liberating feeling. After the final washes of paint I stood back somewhat pleased however knew the magic element was missing, but what was it?
I had been experimenting with creating gel skins and only then remembered that I had saved my favourite in a sketchbook. The minute I laid the gelskin onto the finished surface of the cradle-board I felt as if I had emerged from a transitional state. I could envision the outer case enclosing a chrysalis splitting and the slow unfolding of the wings. I knew then that, without a doubt, this piece was complete.
Origin of chrysalis: early 17th century from Latin; chrysal (l)is, chrysal(id), from Greek khrusallis from khousog “ gold”, because of the gold colour or metallic sheen of some pupae.
The original artwork is featured below and is the piece that inspired our 'Chrysalis Society' wearable art collection.
To hear more please checkout my latest video below and thanks again for wearing our art!
]]>Spiraling Down came to life after a long, cold winter in Montreal, Quebec. What started out as a dark painting eventually turned into color as the winter days grew shorter and the sun stayed out longer. At the time I was painting at the Montreal Art Center in Griffintown where my mom and I shared a communal studio space. I loved painting there, always inspired by the other artists all around me & very much at home in the old eccentric building. My head was pretty busy back then making it hard to focus on art. When my mind is too busy my art usually ends up spiraling. It’s the equivalent of doodling when you are zoning out, almost like going into a trance. It’s also when I am able to do my best thinking and put my mind at ease. Sometimes it turns out, other times my paintings get ruined & cluttered with too many dots, too many layers and too many spirals!
Some progress shots.....
In the end I was really happy with it and knew that it was time to stop! I can’t say why I spiral but I can say that they have always been prominent in both my mom & I’s art so maybe it was just being around her growing up and watching her doodle spirals as she used to do while chatting on the phone!
My 'Spiraling Down' painting is still hanging out in our studio and inspired our 'Spiraling' collection which is hands down my favorite as the clothing designs really remind me of everything I used to love wearing growing up. My 'go-to' piece from this collection are the street leggings. They are edgy and I love them for that. The spirals, the dots, the colors, the fit....I adore everything about them.
So that's 'Spiraling Down' in a nutshell!
To hear more please checkout my latest video below and thanks again for wearing our art!
“Opal Reef” is the first in the Chasing Coral series and our Opalescence Collection is created from this piece.
Starting with a blank canvas, texture was created with a palette knife by laying down mediums to sculpt and form reef-like structures. This was followed by a repeating process of washes of paint to reveal the patterns, while building up and scraping down the layers until the soul of the painting was revealed.
In an effort to capture the flashes of colour beneath the surface, I chose a new palette of crimson, vermilion, dioxazine purple, pyrrole orange and my favourite, Indian Yellow Hue. This series is ongoing, and I look forward to getting back to the waters of The Bahamas to create once again in my turquoise haven!
Each piece in the Opalescence collection is stunning, however my “go to” are the scarf and the clutch. The 36 X 36 scarf is easy to wear with your favorite tee, and the 50 X 50 scarf works overtime as a wrap at the beach and then dancing into the night!
To hear more please checkout my latest Chasing Corals Video below and thanks again for wearing our art ~ Wendy
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At the time I was taking a weekly art course where the assignment was to bring in something to paint – a photograph, a magazine clipping, a piece of fruit, etc. The morning of I was scrambling to get there on time and at the last second I remembered the assignment. Completely stumped and with no time to do anything differently I grabbed my favorite pair of sneakers and headed out the door. By the time I got to class I had decided to paint my shoes. My teacher helped me along the way & I loved getting feedback each week from all the other talented artists in the class.
The Shoe took several months to paint and even longer to dry but by the time it was done I was in love. It just makes me smile and brings back so many great memories when I think of everywhere those shoes have been. The Shoe for me represents the road less traveled and is a constant reminder to just get up and go. Picture below is the first time The Shoe was ever exhibited at the Dorval Artist Association's Studio Art Expo 2017.
These days the original artwork is hanging at Boucherie Chartier where it was installed as part of Destination Dorval; an initiative to bring more art to the village by partnering local artists with local businesses.
The Shoe original painting is Oil on Canvas, 24x24 and currently not for sale.
Fine Art Prints are available on demand as well as our The Shoe Wearable Art Collection. I still get such a kick out of seeing my shoe out and about and thank everyone who already wears my art, I am forever chuffed!
Thanks for reading,
Reni
ps. To see me chatting away about it check out our latest YouTube video The Shoe!
]]>The Personality of Paintings
This euphoric jelly dancer came to life with full personality intact, moving and propelling itself with the flow of the ocean currents. I chose the complementary colours of blue and orange with an undertone of red to convey the excitement and energy (red) the fun and adventurous spirit (orange) and freedom and joy (blue) of "Dash & Dive". The first painting created in 2018, "Dash & Dive", was mounted on the window of our boat and traveled from Florida across the Gulf Stream to The Abacos, Bahamas, meeting new friends along the way. To my delight, "Dash & Dive" was selected to be published in Acrylic Works 6: Creative Energy.
After The Storm
September 1, 2019 Hurricane Dorian rapidly morphed into a category 5 without warning. It hovered over The Abacos for three days, slowly moving through each island leaving destruction and chaos in its wake of proportions not previously ever seen or experienced.
We tracked the storm from Canada, waiting, watching and praying for the safety of all. Although the ocean chose to claim our house, we are truly grateful that there was no loss of life on the island we call home. The resilience and support of each other that the community has shown is inspiring given the trauma and loss that each individual has experienced.
Recently my husband and I were able to return, and sorting through the rubble, there was "Dash & Dive", waiting for me. Riding out the wind & tornados, this tough little jelly dancer gives me hope to plan for the future and fills my heart with more joy than I could ever have imagined.
Dash & Dive Survivor
- Wendy Fee, Man-O-War Cay, Abacos, Bahamas, Oct 2019
]]>We instantly loved our tote design as we were able to feature vibrant art inside and out. They have an adjustable strap for comfort and are made from 14" x 17" soft and supple neoprene that stretches to fit whatever you can throw at it...or in it...for real!
Will start by saying that first off they really are a ‘Mary Poppins’ type bag of magic tricks. I kid you not; they grow with you and allow you to just go with the flow…floating through life like a zen human extraordinaire! I put so much in my tote bag that I feel ready to conquer the world! There is nothing that my crazy kids or crazy life can throw at me that I’m not prepared for…or maybe that’s the Girl Guide leader in me but I like to think it’s the magic tote!
Sometimes I am honestly amazed at the strength of our totes tested out regularly by the amount of crap I put in mine – food, wallet, gigantic epipen, asthma puffers, spare clothes, books, kid stuff, glitter, chargers, can opener, clutch, turtle supplies…..you get the picture….don’t ask about the turtle supplies!
This is me and my tote – I use it every single day and have basically forgotten about all other bags.
I have to admit however that one thing that does help me keep the chaos at bay is a little clutch / zipper carry-all thrown in for good measure. Took us a couple of months to realize this which is why we added clutches to our collection in December 2018. To say we love them is an understatement but that’s another story. My Bahamian Rhapsody clutch (also a staple) is always in my tote & holds my little treasures in life like lip balm, earrings, phone & favorite pens….
Also let me make this clear – just cuz I’m a mom and love our totes it does not mean that they are just ‘mom’ bags! They are great for so many things such as….
Biking! They are bike friendly in that they are ‘messenger bag style’ with an adjustable strap that allows you to center the tote perfectly on your back for safe biking...
Groceries! For those of us who aren’t stuck having to feed an army this tote is for you! It will fit a small shop to the local market or individual grocery list no problem and looks better than any other grocery bag out there...
Travel! Oh my goodness do these bags travel well. They are light, easy to wash and realistically do not show dirt. Because they are covered in art your pen could pop and leak ink everywhere and it will just blend in naturally with the design ~ win win! Pictured here is our adventurous friend Kristin who took her magic bag of tricks to Paris and another beautiful client who wears hers around town in Belgium!
Lastly kids! If you have kids or know kids this bag rocks for them. Soccer practice, swim meets, sleepovers, library books…whatever they need a bag for our totes really do the trick. Funky and fun all kids we know love them!
So that’s that! I will leave you with a Tote Bag Testimonial from my good friend Kate who always makes me smile...she is incredibly smart, super funny, an amazing mom to three great kids & very beautiful inside and out!
"Equal parts pretty and practical, the amazing Artist Generations tote has strength to spare. Soft and elegant, yes, but sturdy and spacious enough for everything I need - and plenty more! I love that it's crafted in Canada and designed by local artists. (Okay, and I'm proud of being their friend.) The print I chose still makes me smile and carrying a piece of original art is so much more fun than a regular purse. Thank you, ladies, for realizing your vision and sharing your creative talent in this way. Your tote rocks, and so do you!" – Kate Doe
So what’s in your bag of tricks? Do you need a new one? We say why not! Comment below, we have 1 last limited edition Jelly Tote (featured below) to give away to the best answer. Thanks for reading! Reni
]]>This prompted us to direct our thoughts to investigating the connection between art & love. We love what we do at Artist Generations, but we also know that creating art is filled with all of the emotional turmoil one finds in a relationship; joy when it is going well, self-doubt and unhappiness when it is not, contentment in the small day to day and at times, sheer elation of being in a special moment.
Do you believe there is an art-love connection? These artists certainly thought so and made it clear in the following quotes:
“If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing.” Marc Chagall
“In our life there is a single color, as on an artist's palette, which provides the meaning of life and art. It is the color of love.” Marc Chagall
“A work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art.” Paul Cezanne
“Nothing can be accomplished without love.” Henri Matisse
We believe in all of the above and that is how we will be celebrating Valentine’s Day next week by focusing on creating from the heart. If, and when, a piece speaks to us with the magic elements of design, perhaps a new collection will be born this February, with love from us to you!
New to our studio this month are.....
JOY RIDE by Wendy Fee ~ Acrylic on Terraskin ~ 36 x 24
BROKEN by Reni Fee ~ Oil on Canvas 30 x 40
We want to leave you with one last quote that inspires us as artists and as a mother-daughter team:
“Stay firmly in your path and dare; be wild two hours a day.” Paul Gauguin
Happy Valentines Day from us to you, and remember, WHY NOT WEAR ART?
Wendy & Reni xoxo
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The Fit
Let’s start with that they fit well. Like really well. The high waist is comfortable, flattering & can be worn with almost anything. The waistband itself is made with fabric (not elastic) so is great for movement and will not feel like they are slicing you in half at the end of the day. They look good under a sweater or a dress & won’t show your underwear or bum when you strike a pose at the gym. Not everyone likes a high waist and we get it which is why we recently launched our street leggings ~ equally as fab just a different style of waist.
Also big believers in 'Strong Is The New Pretty'!
The Fabric
We are pleased to offer you a custom fabric thanks to our local manufacturer who created an 88% polyester and 12% spandex unique fabric. This blend of materials offers some compression but most importantly amazing stretchability and recovery. It is moisture-wicking which is critical to anyone living in a cold climate like us or at the gym! Our polyester blend is made specifically to pull the moisture away from your body and allow it to escape the fabric. And as well as wicking moisture naturally they are quick dry and super easy to care for. Our leggings will look new forever as the colours do not fade and the fabric will not pill or lose it’s shape.
Uniqueness
You are literally wearing art! We think this is seriously cool. One-of-a-kind leggings that not only feel & fit well but are amazing to look at! We all have a pair of black leggings but c’mon now…embrace your inner colorful self!
Life Savers
A pair of leggings will never be as special as your old faded blue jeans but the beauty of leggings is that there are options out there for basically everyone. Where many of us struggle with jeans (we all have that pair in the closet that we will one day fit back into!) the stretch in leggings means they conform to many different body types. Our leggings stretch both across the leg and up and down the body and tuck you in comfortably in all the right places. Our leggings fit true to size, to find your perfect fit please consult our Size Chart. We also offer little ‘mini-me’ sizes for the adorable little people in your life!
The Cost
Our adult leggings retail at $65 Canadian per pair. That’s even cheaper if you live in the United States or Europe. Our wearable art needs to be unique, comfortable but most importantly we want it to be accessible and affordable. We are proud to be able to offer our high quality leggings to our customers at a great price!
What Do You Think Makes The Perfect Pair Of Leggings?
Yes we are in love with our leggings but we also always aim to improve. What features would you like to see added to our leggings? Send us specifics and we will happily work with our manufacturer to try and make it happen. Let us know in the comments below or contact us directly; we’d love to hear from you! Some recommendations that we have already taken note of are more sizing options, longer legs, pockets & gussets. What do you think?
Thanks for reading!
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This blog is dedicated to our behind the scenes production process & our not short but not so long shipping times! Before placing an order with us we encourage everyone to check out our production and shipping page so that you feel more comfortable purchasing from us knowing what to expect.
To start with we operate on very low profit margins primarily due to the way we source & manufacture – all local and ‘on-demand’. We are very proud of who we are, who we partner with and of our business model which is founded on ‘On-Demand Manufacturing’. This means we do not carry inventory so everything is especially made for you & therefore may take a little longer...but trust us, it’s worth it!
Our production times for most orders range from 2-10 business days. The time it takes to make a piece of wearable art depends on the item we're making and the amount of orders our manufacturing partner already has lined up in their queue.
Shipping time is separate from production time, and depends on your destination. For example, we may get an order for a pair of leggings which usually take 5 business days to get through production and then maybe 3 business days to ship to New York; or we may receive an order for a cell phone case which takes 2 business days to be produced and then maybe 13 business days to ship to Iqaluit, Nunavut. We estimate transit times for international, USA, and Canadian orders on our production and shipping page. Any time you have concerns about shipping, contact us and we'll be glad to guide you and/or upgrade a shipment.
For all of our wearable art clothing pieces it takes about a day for our artwork to be printed, and then up to a full day to be heat pressed onto the fabric. After that, the fabric heads off to be cut, all done locally in Montreal, Canada. Also, the thread colour, zipper colour, strap colour and our Artist Generations labels are connected as needed with the correct fabric. This process can take up to a full day as well. Then the fabric and any necessary notions head off to the sewing machines. Sewing can take up a bigger chunk of production time as our manufacturing partner uses multiple machines with different purposes for each product. A tote bag may take 1-2 days to get to get to each of the 3 sewing sections and the riveting machine needed to assemble it. Essentially we need to allow for a minimum of 3 business days for our orders to get through production. Our average of late has been 5-10 days due to high volume & holidays but generally most of our orders ship out after one business week, not bad for a completely unique & custom product!
For our non-fabric products like our fine art prints & cell phone cases the production time is usually lower for a couple of reasons. Some of the products require the use of only one or two machines and the machines our printing partners use are smaller and easier to keep physically close to each other. This makes it possible to have dedicated staff who can each work with all the machines for those items. In fabric production each section, printing, pressing, prep, sewing and quality control requires a much larger dedicated team.
So that’s our current process in a nutshell! We realize it’s not always ideal and do understand that sometimes for whatever reason you just really need it right away! We are willing to work with our manufacturing partner to get orders out by specific dates, as long as the request is reasonable and feasible. Sometimes by some fluke miracle we might even have your item or an equivalent in stock so never hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to work with you to figure out if rush shipping is required and what the additional cost will be, if any.
Hopefully this helps to explain why our orders do not ship out the same day! We still love our customers and hope that we make up for it by producing beautiful wearable art that they can truly enjoy knowing more about us & everything that we support!
As always we’d love to hear from you so don’t be shy, comment below and let us know what you think!
]]>For Artist Generations ‘On-Demand Manufacturing’ is a no brainer. Ultimately this type of business model enables us to do what we love to do given the minimal financial risk involved. We truly see it as the way forward for many other reasons though...…
So that’s us and what we believe in! On-Demand Manufacturing is an emerging industry that will hopefully continue to evolve as more and more businesses jump on board. Of course there is always room to improve but For Artist Generations it’s the only way forward and we will continue to work with people who believe in and support this mindset. Hopefully it helps paint our picture so to speak & explain why we did not partake in any Black Friday sales this weekend J. We still love our customers and hope that we make up for it by producing beautiful wearable art that they can truly enjoy knowing more about us & everything that we support!
As always we’d love to hear from you so don’t be shy, comment below and let us know what you think!
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I remember the first time I walked down the main street in Valois looking for a place to rent. The village had a friendly feel to it and a chill vibe. Local shops, happy people, easy to get to and the home to of one of my favorite pubs ‘Kelly’s’; I was starting to feel good about Valois! When I got to the end of the strip just in front of the Valois train station I looked up and saw an ‘à louer’ sign and thought to myself “could this be it”?
Sometimes things just magically fall into place and this was one of those times. The space was not everything we had dreamed of but it certainly had huge potential. It was close, affordable, very bright, quiet, safe, zoned commercial and located in a wonderful old building with ample parking, great neighbors and an amazing landlord. Having our own studio was truly a dream come true and before we knew it we had signed a year lease and were busy making plans to make it our own.
Organizing our studio so that it fostered creativity and enabled us to make the most out of our time there was challenging. Firstly the light; all the windows were covered in old dark sticker decals that were ugly and blocked our view. It took days to get everything off and my hands suffered for it but the end result was very satisfying; clean windows and a beautiful view of Lac Saint-Louis.
Secondly the walls; they were purple, dirty and littered with old wiring and phone outlets. It took a full week of cleaning, plastering, painting and fixing to get everything wonderfully bright and clean. We painted our walls in a pale grey so as not to distract from our paintings and installed a professional picture hanging system so as not to damage our newly painted walls. We all chipped in and luckily my handy dad was available which saved us a ton of money and time.
The floors were already damaged so we decided to leave them as is…one less worry knowing we would damage them even more with our paint! The only other critical piece of the puzzle was a work sink. No sink in the space and using the public washroom was not an option (our fellow tenants would not have been impressed). But yet another magical thing happened here….there was already plumbing in place as the space had once been a Hair Salon – win win! The very next day we went out and purchased a work sink from Home Depot, hired a plumber to install it professionally and voila…we had ourselves a working studio and a sink which makes a world of difference when it comes to cleaning up.
Lastly the essentials! Since there were two of us sharing a small space we decided to only bring in the supplies we absolutely couldn’t live without and made excellent use out of our one storage closet. We both have a desk and the rest of the easels and work tables we share. Everything is lightweight and portable which makes it easy to re-arrange for various events or simply to follow the sunlight.
After weeks of hard work we were ready to move in, just in time for our first pop-up – another huge benefit of having our own space to work in! It’s been so nice to have a real venue for people to visit and try things on, if you are ever in the area please stop by! And although it was never our intention to showcase our artwork that’s what ended up happening; our studio now looks like a cross between a workspace and an art gallery and that’s ok! It’s inspiring to see so much color on the walls and nice to have a place where people can see our paintings and wearable art displayed in a professional manner.
It’s now been four months since we’ve moved into 17 Valois Bay Unit 202D and we absolutely love it! It’s given us extreme motivation to make our business work as we really don’t ever want to go back to not having an art studio. The benefits to our lives as artists are enormous. It’s given us a great work-life balance and made it easier to switch gears in the sense that when you are at the studio you are in full-on CREATE mode…when you are at home you can focus on your life and your family. It’s helped our business, helped us focus and helped bring us closer together as mother-daughter working side-by-side in our own personal creative space.
Thanks for reading! What is your perfect space and how did you or will you create it? Please comment below, we'd love to hear!
]]>It was on just one of these such days that my Jelly Dancers arrived to welcome me to their world. I had stepped away from the piece that I was working on, and instead set up three 8 x 8 gallery wrapped canvases with my favourite palette and started to play with mediums and paint. They appeared in full form, racing to the top, diving to the bottom, dashing around and having FUN!
Since the first trio appeared many have followed. They are all unique, yet they share one common characteristic; they are all extremely cheeky. I cannot control my Jelly Dancers, they go where they please, down to the fathoms or into the cosmos, and I willingly follow. I hope that you will too.
Some of my Jelly Dancers are currently featured in our Pretty in Purple and Cosmic Jelly collections as well as our recent Earth Day 2018 Dash and Dive Tote Bag.
xo Wendy
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Plastic pollution in our oceans and waterways is a global crisis. Each year whales, seals, sea birds, sea turtles and other marine life die after ingesting plastic or becoming entangled in it. Plastic pollution has spread into all marine habitats at every level of the food chain. Plastic bags strongly resemble sea jellies in the floating stage of life, and hungry sea turtles often cannot tell the difference. This deadly mistake is now one of the biggest threats to sea turtles worldwide.
The “Washed Ashore” project creates powerful art that captivates all ages and teaches environmental conservation and sustainability. It’s founder Angela Pozzi began in 2010 to Make Art to Save the Se,a rallying her small community of Bandon, Oregon and founding the non-profit organization. Today over 10,000 volunteers have helped clean beaches and worked with Washed Ashore to process over 20 tons of debris into 70 sculptures of the animals affected by plastic pollution. These sculptures now tour as “The Washed Ashore Project” traveling exhibits, educating and inspiring countless people from diverse backgrounds to take action in their own lives and prevent contributing to this global problem.
As a mother-daughter team we share many of the same goals and inspirations for our extended families and what the future holds. Inspired by the “Washed Ashore” project, Reni and I felt that Earth Day would be the perfect opportunity to contribute in our own way through Artist Generations. Dash & Dive is what we came up with, we’re excited and hope that you will be, too! Wendy xo
Dash & Dive
Dash & Dive arrived on the boat early in the New Year and is the Jelly Dancer chosen by Artist Generations to represent Earth Day. The Dash & Dive diverse day tote bag will be offered for a limited time throughout the month of April. For every Dash & Dive day tote bag sold during this period Artist Generations will contribute 10% to the “Washed Ashore” project. We will be posting our daily results on Facebook and Instagram, so please follow our progress and pass it along.
A must have “do-everything-for-you” tote bag with this cheeky Jelly Dancer inside and out! With an adjustable strap for comfort this perfect tote is made from 14” X 17” soft and supple neoprene that stretches to fit whatever you can throw at, or in it! To say we love it is an understatement. Dash & Dive has a plan: to help raise awareness for plastic pollution and be a small part of the solution.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”- Margaret Mead
For more information on the “Washed Ashore” project please click on the following link: http://washedashore.org
For more information on Angela Pozzi, the founder of the project please click on the following link: www.seathingsart.com
For more information on Wendy Fee, Dash & Dive artist, please click on the following link: www.wendyfee.com
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