Red Trillium tour enjoys WC’s fine views

KINBURN – Surprisingly pleasant late fall weather made last weekend (Oct. 18 and Oct. 19) an attractive time to head outside, and the 28th edition of the fall Red Trillium Studio Tour (RTST) added even more colour to the season.

The RTST has been a spring and fall West Carleton institution for the last 27 years, an artists’ studio tour with locations dotted throughout West Carleton providing participants concrete destinations to add to a beautiful fall drive.

“It is an opportunity for you to step in to the world in which an artist creates; to see firsthand the artistic process and inspiration; to ask questions; and to have a conversation about an artwork or fine craft that particularly speaks to you,” Yellow House Studio’s Wendy Clement told West Carleton Online earlier in the month (Oct. 2).

This year, the RTST had 29 local and guest artists at 11 studio stops scattered throughout Dunrobin, Kinburn, Constance Bay and Carp including seven new artists and one new studio location.

As is tradition here, West Carleton Online also took the tour Sunday (Oct. 19) and headed to a studio it has never been to before to talk to artists it has never met before, this time in Kinburn at Justin Richardson’s Black Willow Woodworking studio, that as you can imagine for a man whose day job is kitchen builds, is a garage studio.

Richardson’s hobby and creative outlet is woodworking, making unique cutting boards, charcuterie boards, bowties, headboards, soundboards and more.

Richardson is new to the tour, but not brand new.

“The last one was the first one that I did,” he told West Carleton Online. “I’ve been woodworking for 20 years. My day job is kitchens and furniture, but it can lack the artistic side. I like designing and working with solid wood. If someone asks us to build a table for their kitchen, that’s when the fun comes in.”

Richardson is a Kingston native who moved to Kinburn in 2016 and opened his woodworking shop shortly after. One of the unique features he infuses his projects with is electricity.

“Basically, some of the boards I do with 2,000 volts of electricity,” he said. “I came across it. I have a buddy who’s an electrician and he asked me if I had heard of this. I said I had, and I want to do it. Some people have died doing this. I don’t hold on to the prongs though; I just stick them in the wood.”

Richardson said he and photographer Jordan Walmsley, who was also sharing his talents at the Black Willow Woodworking studio, said Saturday (Oct. 18) was busy, but Sunday had started out a bit slow, although cars started pulling in soon after we started talking.

For more information on Richardson’s work, visit his website here.

Walmsley lives in White Lake and has been a photographer for close to 12 years. For the RTST, he had many large prints of his work including wildlife photography and landscapes available for sale. He also does contract work.

Originally from the Niagara area, Walmsley went to Mohawk College in Hamilton where he graduated from the photography program.

“I do a mix of stuff,” he told West Carleton Online. “A bit of studio stuff. I’ve done some weddings too.”

Walmsley says shooting weddings and wildlife can be similar.

“You never know what’s going to happened and you always have to be prepared,” he said.

He’s even done cookbook photography.

Walmsley has called White Lake home for the last six years and says there’s lots of great spots for wildlife photography.

“A lot of times I go to Algonquin Park or other local parks or conservation areas,” he said. “Quieter ones are better. There’s some good ones in west Ottawa too.”

Of course, when you have a full-time job and are only able to follow your passion on weekends, finding a quiet park then can be a challenge.

For more information on Jordan W Photos, visit Walmsley’s website here.