Exposure

Study for 'Hotdog'
coloured pencil on Canson paper
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I started this drawing while I was waiting for students to turn up for a class. I've had the reference for awhile and can't really remember where it came from but it was always amusing. I'll try to find time to continue working on it in spare moments and see what comes of it.

I have a couple of other irons in the fire right now too. Tonight I'm choosing three drawings to submit to the City of St. John's Art Procurement program. The deadline is November 14th for submission so I want them packed up and ready to go, as I will be out of the province all of next week. I return from my trip on the 16th and the next day have a 3 hour demonstration to do with 2 classes the following day. Let's hope jet lag doesn't take its toll.

This year I'm hoping to enter a piece in the Provincial Arts and Letters Competition. The deadline for that is February 15, 2008, so I have time to finish off the representational self portrait I've been working on. Its a large piece and I haven't done as much as I'd hope to have done by now. I was a little lost in terms of ideas for the right side of the image, but more ideas are coming to me now and I will make some inroads on it when I return from Saskatchewan.

These will be my first juried attempts for a long time, so I'm taking my time deciding on the pieces. Choosing art is very much down to the jury's likes and dislikes, as well as budget. As in art shows, you never know who is there or what they're looking for. Its very much a lottery. I'll take my chances with the rest of the world.

Lions

This is my second line drawing of a lion. I did the first yesterday morning at 5:30am (time changes screw me up). I taught a class last night and a person needed more paper, so I told them to take it out of my book. Of course too late it was noticed that it was the lion I had drawn and their drawing was on the reverse. I just tell myself that the practice is good for me and besides, I didn't have the heart to not let the person take their drawing efforts home with them.

I've been reflecting on control or lack of it and how it forms around some individuals and not others. There are various forms of control but all are designed to control your environment so that it remains the same and you never go outside your 'safe' zone. Some people control work, some control their immediate living zone, others control people to ensure that they remain in control of any variables in life.

I was listening to a song tonight on the way home by Great Big Sea, a popular Newfoundland music group and the words made me think more about control and how the controller wants life to change but to also remain the same. Consequence Free. Perhaps there's a bit of control in all of us.

The Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) is taking action to respond to the community of craft artists affected by the Southern California Wildfires. They say:

We are reaching out to artists, arts organizations, galleries, businesses and others in the affected areas to offer assistance and to locate information about the arts community. While it is still too early to know the extent of damage, we do know that the situation is severe as news reports indicate. We also know that this area of California has a significant population of craft artists. We have already heard from a jeweler who lost both her home and studio and CERF Trustee and clay artist, Lana Wilson, had to be evacuated from her Del Mar home.

Please help us spread the word that CERF is available to offer assistance to craft artists in Southern California. Please also be aware that your support of our work during these times is essential so that we can deliver aid quickly and effectively.

Blizzard revisited

Mother Goose
graphite 9 x 12 Bristol smooth
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I came across this drawing while looking for paper in my seemingly bottomless art cupboard and throught it was about time I finished it off and put it to rest.

This drawing was based on the adventures of an orphan gosling - Blizzard - who I become mother to a couple of years ago. This was his sleeping position and I could go around and do what I had to do and this kept him quiet - at least for a short time. I'm still toying with an idea for a background for this, but haven't decided on anything yet. It may be some generic shadowy background unless something else appeals. The inside of the barn might be an option. Or in the case of Blizzard - the sofa!

The red book

No, nothing to do with Canadian car valuations, this red book is a moleskin notebook that I carry in my purse, married to a red pen reserved for sketching while I travel.

These sketches were done on a recent trip to Halifax. Air Canada's lovely scheduling and unavailability of some friends in Halifax meant a long wait at the airport, so I read a little, worked a little and sketched a lot. I'm becoming adept at surreptitiously studying people while drawing. No one accosted me at either the airport or on the plane for drawing them. It occasionally happens, but I've yet to find someone who has been anything but flattered and interested that I would draw them.

Cat update

I've added a bit more fur to the cat face I started in a demo a couple of weeks ago, but things are slow going lately. I'll catch up!

I was asked how I felt about teaching art, as it involves both sides of the brain trying to compete with each other. The right side of the brain is doing a drawing demonstration while the left side is explaining what I'm doing. Well, its a struggle and there are moments when one side or the other take over exclusively, then reverse roles. It becomes a little confusing, but I think I'm getting the hang of it and as long as the gaps aren't too long, no one notices.

I've been playing with a beta version of some software for another online course that I will teach later this year. I'm hoping that course will be delayed a little to allow me time to get up and running with the other courses. I've just submitted my courses for December and now have to create marketing pieces for them as well as the November classes. I have my website in the back of my head and must make some calls this week to find out hosting costs locally. Its not a necessity but is expected by a lot of people to be the calling card and gallery to show my work.

Now back to the drawing board, literally as I need some demos for classes this weekend.