The Artful Justin West

Within these hallowed pages you'll find many pieces of paint on canvas inspired by my background as an early childhood educator and denizen of this great globe.

[justinwestart]

Finding mysteries - children seem to spot things that adults never notice

[justinwestart]

I love when children find the right tool to express themselves #chalk #drawing #children #humanbody #artist #halifax

[justinwestart]

Look what came in the mail last night from #HumberCollege congratulating me on my new job #beechtreeacademy #halifax #childcare last night was also my going away party from #PeterGreenHall #soloved

[justinwestart]

Another great example of #EmergentCurriculum making children visible #ImageOfTheChild #reggio #hundredLanguages #game #beechtreeacademy

[justinwestart]

Almost done #painting #art #children

[justinwestart]

The challenge begins #origami #boats #paper

[justinwestart]

The children began creating paper sculptures and I put the children to a challenge

[justinwestart]

Here we are in the lazy, hazy days of summer - except there is no rest for me. I figured once I graduated I would have the summer time to relax and enjoy the beauty of Halifax complete with beach days, picnics, and the spoils of good weather but than we went ahead and bought a house. A new house means cleaning until I can't stand it, it means buying new stuff, it means contacting contractors, it means we have a delightful new street corner, it also means a new art studio! 

There is a lot on my plate and it is stressful and busy making but it's also a time to contemplate the future - for my art, my career, and the happiness that is to be. 

I look forward to backyard BBQ's, throwing open the door to the art studio and having an abundance of natural light greet me, and building new memories with Matthew, friends, and family and having that inspiration at the ready for the new works I'm conjuring up. 

Happy summer everyone! 

[justinwestart]

Working on a new piece for the swoon exhibition Kids At Heart for November

[justinwestart]

Art shelf #supplies

[justinwestart]

The starting of the art studio #creating #possibilities #children #art

[justinwestart]

sailing In

Hello Sailors! This captain has neared dry dock. My thesis has been written, edited and now awaits the a-ok. The seas have been stormy and we took on a lot of water but now land is in sight and I can't wait to get over my sea legs. Okay, I'll stop with the sailing references. I'm thrilled to have reached the final stages of my Masters process. Next month I'll be in Boston gliding across the stage enrobed and ready with my firm handshake. I don't know how I'll feel once I get the piece of paper that states all that hard word, hours of squinting at the screen, hunched over, and frantic - not to mention the expense was for. Aside from the trip to Boston I'm going to round out my celebration with a quick jaunt to NYC - because what's a better place to party? Amirite? I thank everyone who listened to me as I fretted and verbally tried to work out the sequence. I thank everyone who encouraged me. I thank my family, my co-workers, my mentors, my classmates, and most of all Matthew. I can't wait to get back to creating more art, enjoying the outdoors, and time and again giving myself a little pat on the back for the framed paper that showed I could and can achieve my goals. See you all on the other side.

[justinwestart]

I haven't been putting brush to canvas as regularly as I would like, but I have been working on some proposals for large scale works in the community. As always I have been thinking about art, the wider world and the twining of the two.  

Art helps us to excise inner demons, to create political commentary, for wish fulfillment, and a host of other things but all of it comes down to connections. We strive to find our way out of the void and into a world where our breadcrumbs have lead to some meaningful place, populated by people who care to see the meaning in what we created. 

Over the years I have learned that I have employed my art to help work through difficult and messy moments, non-specific nostalgia, seemingly long-forgotten hurts, and as a way to clarify any ideas in the ether. Sometimes I paint something and then paint over that image - the image is still there, it still holds meaning, still casts a shadow, so even though no one but me has seen the wobbly lines and incorrectly coloured features it is still a piece of art that sought to convey something from deep within. 

Connections = sharing to feel less alone.

What do you think about Miriam Toews thoughts on art and feeling less alone?

[justinwestart]

In a time when the weather has been beating us down with the snow drifts, the howling winds and the still long dark hours of the day I'm struggling to dig my way through the process of creating a succinct masters thesis statement. 

I'm talking with anyone who will listen to help me get a fresh view on the umbrella topic, I'm seeking advice from both friends and professional connections in hope of narrowing things down to a specific direction but, for me, it's a long and exhausting exercise. 

Things are getting clearer but no less stressful. 

From all accounts this is one of the stages of a masters program that is fraught with the most fretfulness and anxiety, so I'm in good company. 

I'll get to where I need to be with just a little bit more work shovelling my way through the slushy bits to get to the pristine snow peaks with the glorious sunshine highlighting it's grandeur. 

So let's all look towards that promising horizon. 

[justinwestart]

And so it begins!

I am in my final stage of a Masters Program. I will be completing this journey on April 27th, which seems so close, but in between seems to be terrifying. I will be conducting research with a 4 year old, where he and I will be working together as we discover the concept of identity and who do we see ourselves as. He has defined himself as an artist - what does that mean, I wonder? As I have been working with him, he has changed my practice and made me consider things that I normally take for granted, for example why do I paint and not draw. He has challenged me to draw using materials I never feel comfortable with. He has got me to do tests, by observing what I am seeing, but has no interest in doing them for himself. I plan to post pictures and updates as the weeks draw nearer - I hope to have something up every week - so that I stay on top of things but for now - here is my start week 1 #art #thesis #drawing #children #inspiration #reggio #petergreenhallchildrencetre

[justinwestart]

The tree is up and cards sent out!  Merry Christmas everyone!  

[justinwestart]

Here are the christmas Cards This year is the celebration of the preservation of Sambro Light