IAN LOWE

LOWE TIDE DESIGNS

Medium: Stainless Steel, Wood, Rock

Location: Comox Valley BC

Website: lowetidedesign.ca

Bio:

Ian Lowe: First Nations Metal Artist Sculpture, Vancouver Island BC. 
With over 30 years in the Welding and Fabricating Industry, Ian has combined these skills to create custom art and design. 
 Ian’s passionate connection with the Natural Environment of the West Coast of Canada transfers into his work, mediums include wood, stone and steel. 
 Each of Ian works are hand crafted and highly detailed, commanding a high standard of excellence.  

Q & A

1) Have you had to adapt your studio/home/space to be more suitable to your practice during this time?
My studio Space at home is only occupied by myself and occasional entry by family member, everyone else that may stop by to chat and have a peek at what I'm doing has been  practicing self distancing, so I haven't had to change much at all.

2) Can you describe your daily/weekly art practice, anything that you do differently because your studio is in such proximity?
My daily/weekly art practice consists of 5-7 days a week, depending on how thing are "rolling" and how "inspired I am" , my day usually starts at 9am and I can get around 5-7 hours of productive time in. My work can be exhausting mentally at times, fine detailing seems to take a lot of concentration. When I feel the need to stop, I do just that. There are times where I just need a few hours and seem totally refreshed when I start back up.

3) Has this time of self-isolation changed your practice in any way. I know a lot of artists are missing things (materials, space, etc). Has this time pushed you to be more creative or think outside the box in your practice and can you give us an example?
Yes self isolation has changed quite a bit about my practice, materials and consumables have been challenging to get. Lucky for me most Industrial suppliers have stayed open a essential services. Some of my suppliers are preorder and pay now, with a pick up outside of the business. One thing that was really tricky for me was finding filters for my respirator(I use everyday) When there was talk about the US stopping all 3M shipments to Canada the respirator situation really changed.

4) What is your favourite part about your home-studio?
I recently switched from working with a few hundred people in over 100,000 square feet of shop space to a 20'x20' workshop at my house. I'm a passionate extrovert! so this change was very difficult(lonely) at first but there's something to be said about walking a short distance from a hot lunch and or a fresh coffee in the morning.

5) Do you have any goals of creativity for this time?
Like most artists all my works are in limbo right now as the galleries and businesses my work is in are not open to the public. My goal during this time is to concentrate on getting enough of my work together so I can have my own exhibit at a few galleries that have expressed interest. 

6) Any messages you would like to share with everyone during this time?
My message to everyone at this time is first of all to stay safe and heathy during these times and be proud of how our country  has reacted and continues to handle this ongoing pandemic. Oh Canada!