Catherine Bayly

Biography

Education

Bowen Island Ferry coming in to the landing in winter Catherine Anne Bayly moved from Toronto, Ontario to Vancouver to study at the University of British Columbia in 1987. After completing her degree in anthropology she longed for a slower, less complicated life for herself and her children - she found it on Bowen Island. Here she was inspired by the natural beauty of the landscape and looked for ways to incorporate it in her work. She is fortunate to work as the curator at the Community museum on the island and an artist.

Inspiration

The unique products Catherine makes began with the desire to make museum experiences for the visually impaired more exciting and relevant. She looked for a way to create “artifacts” that could be touched and studied. There was an need to create exhibits that would be strong enough for people to touch - and capable of capturing the most delicate features of the objects being reproduced. She found that a combination of plaster mixed with a polymer compound that was perfect for making imprints of leaves, bones, flowers, shells and even snake skin. This combination of materials is now the basis for her products.

Catherine usually looks no further than her own garden to find inspiration for colour and texture. Garden flowers and leaves are used as imprints to create design in her plaster work. As well, her background in anthropology, brings symbols from various cultures to adorn her wall sconces and mirrors. Her aim is to create usable, one of a kind pieces, including - mirrors, wall sconces, wall racks, clocks and picture frames.

Creative process of craft

The pieces are made from a plaster mixed with a polymer compound spread on a fiberboard (MDF). Some pieces have flowers and leaves pressed into the wet plaster and removed when dry – leaving a detailed impression. Others have a layer of plaster spread on the MDF and left to dry, later adding a raised image. After the plaster is dry the entire piece is painted with one coat of water-based paint. After that, several washes of colour are applied. The images are then hand painted and sealed with three coats of varathane. These pieces are then used in wall racks, wall sconces, picture frames, trays etc.

Some of the wall sconces are made of black stained wood with resin decorations or stone plaster tiles. The tiles are decorated with symbols – drawing from Chinese, Egyptian, African, Celtic and even "Hobo" cultures.