Tagged again

Sue Smith of Ancient Artist has tagged me to reveal seven little known facts about myself and then tag seven others. I was tagged some time ago by Wendy Prior and dished up some facts, but even then the tag process was in full swing and it was harder to find bloggers who hadn't already been tagged. So this time it may be even harder. But I did say that I would play along and share some more things about myself that people may or may not want to know.

So let's see....

1. I love wearing CROCS. I had an ankle injury a year or so ago and they were the only shoes that were comfortable and that I could get on. So now I'm addicted.

2. My favourite metal for jewellery is silver and my favourite pieces of jewellery are rings.

3. I drink decaf coffee 95% of the time and have never missed the switch from the 'real thing'. My heart doesn't miss it either.

4. I had the right half of my thyroid gland removed in 1999 due to a goitre. I function beautifully on the remaining half without the need for medication.

5. I'm an avid Coronation Street fan and need to wear my glasses to see it properly. I've virtually abandoned contact lenses in favour of glasses which I take on and off continuously, depending on what task I'm involved in.

6. Left to my own devices, I'd happily exist on cheese and crackers and abandon cooking forever, even if I do watch the cooking shows on Saturdays.

7. I hate promoting myself and dealing with finances, but it is a large part of my art life. I want a manager.

I really don't know if I have enough on my list to tag at this point as so many have already done so. However, if anyone is interested in revealing their secrets, let me know and I'll link you to this post.

Meanwhile here are some that I have tagged:

Gina Cuff Gina and I met through an art association and my blog. She does wonderful work and makes beautiful jewellery.

Tracy Hall Tracy's work in watercolour is just amazing. Her ability to depict animals is a delight.

Robin Sinclair's blog is one I frequently visit. Her life, drawings and paintings in Italy are lovely.

On the edge

Wash Day
Graphite
copyright Jeanette Jobson

This is the third image that I am submitting in the show on Sunday. The difference is that I have added a touch of colour to the ginger fur on his head and some blues and purples into the shadows. I don't seem to have an image of it for some reason. I'll have to take a photo tomorrow in its frame.

I'm standing at the edge of an abyss, throwing little pieces of myself off the edge, hoping that some of them will make a soft landing or that I will at least hear an echo back as they land instead of silence.

That is what it feels like at times when I take on new ventures. I've pushed myself into new experiences to be able to grow my art and make it take on a life of its own. There are nagging doubts that creep into the excitement. 'Who do you think you are?' 'What on earth are you doing at your age?' Sometimes is it very frightening to stand on the edge and see what is in front of me. Sometimes it is awe inspiring to see the potential. The journey to get there is difficult. Taking that big breath and going to see a gallery or to set up drawing classes all have the potential of rejection. Artists tend to take that rejection personally as our skills are bound up in our souls.

For those who believe that they can sit in their corner of the world and make art then expect to be discovered, it won't happen. Marketing, hard work, contacts, networking, putting your reputation, your work and your ego on the line is what it takes. It takes late nights, early mornings, sacrifice and a lot of drawing and experimentation to find the right mix to even begin to make an entry into the art world.

Note to self

Sometimes when I sit down to write my blog post my mind goes blank. So I'm starting little notes to myself that I jot down when a thought strikes me or I come across an image or blog that pushes me off into another realm of possibilities and inspiration. My scribbles include: television test pattern, tesselations, absinthe....see how my mind wanders? There is no logic to it, just thoughts.

I've had little drawing time over the last couple of weeks with people around and I've been trying to fit it all in in snippets here and there. I start a sketch one day, then elaborate on it another. This sketch of mangosteens is one that I'm hoping to turn into an oil painting, provided I can find a block of time to do so, but that's unlikely until next week. I've even gotten as far as to transfer the sketch to a stretched 11 x 14 canvas - I'm making progress!

Meanwhile here are two of the drawings that I will be submitting to the Art Association show on Sunday. I'll show the other two in another later post. I'm ahead of the game on this too, as they are all framed and waiting to go. I just have to wrap them in bubblewrap to transport them there on the day.

Nest Egg
6 x 8 - Graphite
copyright Jeanette Jobson

Moored
9 x 12 graphite
copyright Jeanette Jobson

Bring the bunny back to life

Its a cute little game to amuse you. Yes, I can be silly too. Especially with little time to spare and little drawing to show for it.

You have a minute to bring the bunny back to life. Don't despair if you screw it up. You can try again. Go on, you know you can't resist...

Time

Just in case you wondered where I've gotten, I am here, just up to my eyes in work and with my daughter and grand daughter staying there's not much time for anything, but jiggling and feeding the baby.

Then it was 'Chicken Day'. The broilers (eating) chickens were sent off to the processor then the day after returned and their buyers shortly after, so it was pretty hectic. My sister drove across the island to pick up her year's supply of chicken and turkey so she did the 'chicken run' back across to the western side of the province this morning.

On top of that, I was supposed to take today and tomorrow off. However, my cover obtained another job so couldn't come in so that put those plans on hold. I wanted to spend a little more time with my daughter and the baby before they leave on Thursday, but it may be limited, depending on how much work I can accomplish during the next day or two.

So where does drawing come into all this? It doesn't really. And I'm having withdrawal symptoms. I NEED to draw something. I started a sketch for an oil painting at work at lunch, then got interrupted so that did get too far. I have, however, chosen and prepared my pieces for the exhibition on Sunday so that's out of the way. I also do a drawing demonstration on Saturday in preparation for my first kids class on the 28th, so I need to prepare some promotion pieces for that.

Yawwwwwwwwnnnnn, I need an extra day or two added on to my week I think.

I was going to provide you with a little drawing but it seems Blogger has other ideas at the moment so you'll have to just use your imaginations and fill in this space.