What is it like to grow up in an artist's home?

Growing up our home was constantly changing. During one period just about every surface was covered with decoupage including my bedroom, the floors, ceiling, our stove and more.

Yesterday a friend shared their experience of visiting this wonderland...

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Here's my Jack Whyte story: Many years ago, when I stopped by Jack's house for a visit, a question...not sure what, I noticed his "tiled" kitchen floor. Jack had cut and glued down paper in 12" squares for his floor. I really liked the idea and the effect, so I asked him how he did it. I had recently bought a house and needed to finish a couple of the bedroom floors. So my sons and I collected all sorts of posters, National Geographic pictures, maps, and Bridgehead calendar pictures...all ones they liked because I was going to do the floor for Lucas and Graham's room. They helped me decide where to put what, and I got down on my hands and knees for a few hours here and there, laying things out. Once I'd glued the pictures in place and varathaned the whole thing several times, we were happily amazed at how it looked! We didn't want to put furniture in there and cover any of it...but of course we did. We got many, many compliments on that interesting, unique floor. I always gave credit to Jack for inspiring me.

Kate Thompson

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This version of the Jack Whyte introduction has been  queued to a pan of the original floor in question just before it's inevitable destruction.

Scrapbook stories continue to roll in from the blue...

Hello, I was recently gifted your Collage entitled Womens Institute. 

My grandmother bought it from Beckett Gallery in Hamilton in 1986.  

My Mum gave it to me for a couple of reasons - we purchased a house in PEI in 2012 that looks like the house in the collage, and this past summer I joined the WI there, and most recently, I moved to Paris,ON (for the winters) and joined the newly formed New Brant County WI...!  I'd be interested in any additional information you might be able to share about this piece.  Thank You!  R.

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Hi R. - pardon my delay in writing back.

The Womens Institute has always been an important part of the Island community.

The collage is of no specific place, but is based on the classic Manitoulin two-storey homestead. Because the door on the second floor had no balcony the house was considered unfinished and therefore was not taxable

The ladies here are waist high in the snow, but when I was young I was told that the snow was so high they needed a second door to get in and out of the building - to my mind this was questionable. 

Thanks again for your interest - If you would like to know more about the history of my paper collages I recently launched a free-to-read memoir located at - http://scrapbook.whytesonline.com 

May we have your permission to repost (anonymously) your photo of this collage and story as part of the Kickstarter campaign for the hardcover edition?

Regards,

Jack

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Thank you and certainly.   Are you located anywhere near the School House restaurant on the Island?   A former co-worker of mine owns it with her husband.

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Thank you R!

I am actually in Gore Bay, about 30 minutes north of the School House, where my son and daughter-in-law manage our gallery and shop - Whytes - on the second floor of the Gore Bay Harbour Centre.

How often do you get to experience an artist's story in their own words and images?

Created to coincide with Dad's show of acrylic paintings last summer at the Gore Bay Harbour Centre - this video still serves as an introduction to the work of a truly amazing creative presence - Read the whole story with Scrapbook: a story of art.