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@clove.bird

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Two years ago today I was convocating with a comp sci diploma from a technical institute. (Swipe to see me in my lil cap and gown.) I remember that we didn't shake hands when we crossed the floor, but instead gave a "firm nod" to the teachers we passed. I remember wondering if it was because of "that" virus in other parts of the world, or if they did this every cold and flu season.

I had taken a couple months break before job hunting, to recover from the rigorous program. It was right around now that I started giving it my all, but interviews I had scheduled were cancelled, hiring was put on hold.

A friend with a small tech business gave me a job, and despite being the best possible environment for me I found more and more that tech was not the right fit for me. I was drawn more and more to art; seriously painting for the first time in years, taking watercolour courses online, and I started up clove bird.

By the time that contract job — whose entire profit came from the stalled events industry — ended in October, I already knew this was what I wanted. I said in June "what if my 30th year is the year I give up on NOT being an artist?" With a bit of encouragement from my boss, my partner, and a friend, I went full time with clove bird.

This was not even a whisper of an idea two years ago, but now I've made art that I care about and that has moved people. I am amazed that this is what I get to do with my time.

Thank you for being here, and helping me do that.

#bodyneutral #bodyneutralart #bodypositivity #fatpositive #canadianartists #beampaints artist sitting in front of a wall of 30 body neutral paintings with a range of skin tones taken in Burnaby, British Columbia by @clove.bird

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4 years ago

I switch terms a lot between body neutrality, body positivity, and body/fat liberation. I paint to achieve goals related to all three.

The first goal is that people can look at themselves with love after seeing themselves painted with love. They can look at a painting of stretch marks or scars and see it as beautiful, and think if it's beautiful here, then it could be beautiful on them.

The second is to invite people to see bodies they haven't considered as beautiful before in a new way. And to treat people of all body types with dignity and respect, and maybe even love.

The last is the most important, and the most abstract. For body liberation, people of all bodies need to be treated equally. To have access to employment. In the medical field, for the health concerns of fat people to be taken seriously. For disabled people, to be allowed to live full lives and be considered in all spaces.

Body liberation is about access to all spaces for all people, regardless of their bodies. And while loving yourself and knowing you are beautiful is an important step, it's not the end goal. I hope my pieces can help people respect and love themselves and others more, and move towards body liberation. taken in Burnaby, British Columbia by @clove.bird

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4 years ago

Fat People are Attractive. (TW for fatphobia in first paragraph)

There’s a video going around of a woman saying there are no beautiful fat people. It fits into a malicious belief that there is an Arbiter of Attractiveness; that there are Correct Things to find alluring. This can translate to a voice in the back of our heads, a fear, that we are not REALLY appealing to our lovers, our friends, to strangers.

Fat people, when I say you are gorgeous, I mean it without conditions. There are people in your life who love you as you are, who are not waiting for some different version of you, and would not love you any more if you were thinner.

I’ve heard friends talk about their fat partners’ bodies with holy reverence. I realized I was queer while looking at a fat woman. Your body IS part of what’s beautiful about you.

Every part of you is glorious.

——————————————————

I’d love for the comments to be full of stories of fellow fat people sharing moments of feeling beautiful. Please share one of yours if you like. ❤️ taken in Vancouver, British Columbia by @clove.bird

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4 years ago

Hello! Surprise! I and a small selection of my art will be at @vancouverdykemarch tomorrow in East van. ♥️♥️♥️ taken in Grandview Park by @clove.bird

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3 years ago

Market day 2! Made some body neutral prints and put those up. Always learning! by @clove.bird

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4 years ago

Every market gets a little more cohesive and cute! I’m at heritage hall today and tomorrow from 11-5 🥰 taken in Heritage Hall Vancouver BC by @clove.bird

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4 years ago

Hehehehhe

These goofy cards are up, and if you’re worried about shipping you can pick them up ✨THIS WEEKEND ✨at the Women’s Faire at heritage hall! I’ll have some available, but to make sure you get yours you can get them ahead of time and choose to pick them up!

I’ll be bringing lots of my prints and originals, but again anything you want to be sure to get a hold of you can grab ahead of time and just choose the pickup option.

See you this weekend!!? (It’s my biggest market ever I’m terrified)

#watercolor #watercolorpainting #beampaints #watercolour #watercolourpainting #Vancouverart #vancouverartist #yvrartist #canadianartists #christmascards #bodypositive #oranges #pun #thewebc taken in Heritage Hall Vancouver BC by @clove.bird

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4 years ago

It’s late, but I wanted to say a huge thank you to @aptpop and @arrieta_art for hosting my art talk. (And to @suzeshore for snapping a picture!)

I sincerely doubted I’d be able to talk about my art in a coherent way, that explained what my intention was and how I wanted it to be viewed. I’ve been good at public speaking before, but always with something I could research and practice — not just my own thoughts and feelings tied up with string.

I’m truly proud of how it went, and the feedback I got made me feel I got across what I intended to.

Huge thank you to everyone who came and made my first art talk so special.

Keep an eye out for a transcript from Arrieta Studio.

❤️❤️❤️

#watercolor #watercolorpainting #beampaints #watercolour #watercolourpainting #Vancouverart #vancouverartist #yvrartist #canadianartists #bodypositive #bodypositivity #bodyneutrality taken in Arrieta Art Studio by @clove.bird

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4 years ago

Humans are resilient, but it takes time.

So many of my memories of my grandma Lena are of her doing slow things; pinching individual perogies for a huge Christmas dinner, mending my baby blanket (to my great protest), descending the stairs MUCH too slowly and too late on Christmas morning.

I had hoped to ramp up my work load around now, but too much in my life has happened. Next week I’m heading to my other grandmother’s funeral, Annette, my last grandparent, who also took me on slow walks around her neighbourhood. I’m so grateful we got to spend quiet moments together just last May, holding hands, her occasionally remembering me enough to know she would’ve prepped me some cantaloupe if she could’ve.

I’m working on allowing myself to go as slowly as I need to. I made a spicy ganache mocha and am watching the snow fall. I still hope to get a few new things done for a market in a couple weeks, but it will be at the pace it happens. For now I’m just grateful to have that option.

I hope you remember to go slowly when your body calls you to. And hug your grandmothers if you can. by @clove.bird

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4 years ago

One of the coolest things at the market was sitting next to two Ukrainian women from @ukrainianblueyellowart and talking about Ukraine, colonization, the reasons people leave their home countries, and preserving culture through art. I thought of my paternal grandmother, her steady hand teaching us to draw wax lines with kistkas and candles. This is the second pysanka I’ve painted, but I’m dreaming more and more about making the traditional eggs again.

This mini painting has already found a home through @pdacoquitlam , but many more pieces inspired by my Ukrainian grandmother are available to see and buy in person and on their website.

#pysanky #ukraine #miniatures #tinypaintings #watercolor #watercolorpainting #beampaints #watercolour #watercolourpainting @beampaints #Vancouverart #vancouverartist #yvrartist #canadianartists by @clove.bird

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4 years ago

Cheery little market day!!

Found some irresistible goodies, talked about colonization and heritage with my badass Ukrainian neighbours, and saw some gorgeous natural toys from another stall.

I love when people look at my art, y’all. Now I’m scheming a prettier setup for my next market!!

#burnaby #burnabymarket #artmarket #Vancouverart #vancouverartist #yvrartist #canadianartists #watercolor #watercolorpainting #beampaints #watercolour #watercolourpainting taken in Burnaby, British Columbia by @clove.bird

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4 years ago

Tomorrow you can catch me at the Greentree Village Market! I’ll be hawking some sneaky new wares too.

It’s at the Greentree community centre which I hadn’t heard of before but looks cute as heck?? Just east of BCIT! by @clove.bird

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4 years ago