Another update

Heirlooms
coloured pencil 9 x 12
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I've added more layers and expanded the drawing. The Colourfix is reaching its saturation point in areas so I'm using a light hand and trying not to add more than I have to. I want to make sure the surface of the skin looks realistic and need to soften the highlights a little as well as work on the far right tomato and the leaf section of the bottom one.

I quite like using this paper. Its a unique support for cp and takes a little getting used to to be able to achieve the effects you want.

Arts cuts

Envy

Available from my shop in Etsy.
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I don't often post about politics, but this piece has provoked me enough to do so.

There are a lot of misperceptions about the arts -whether visual, literary, theatre or music. In Canada, the Conservative government dropped $45 million in funding from arts programming and now the 'defence' of the action just seems to ensure that Conservative will not be the box of choice to tick on October 14th.

The perception of those involved in arts from the government's perspective came out in this article.

The Conservative Leader Stephen Harper defended slashing $45 million from the arts budget and dismissed mounting criticism by calling it a "niche" issue that doesn't resonate with "ordinary" Canadians.

In his strongest statements to date over the cuts, Harper said regular Canadians see a "bunch of people, you know, at a rich gala all subsidized by taxpayers claiming their subsidies aren't high enough, when they know those subsidies have actually gone up."

The Globe and Mail adds further in this article.

In his first detailed defence of $45-million in controversial cuts to arts and culture funding, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper called his party's decisions good governance and said the government must walk “a fine line” between providing financial stability and “funding things that people actually don't want.”

I prefer Rick Mercer's poking fun at the government's statement in his program The Rick Mercer Report. Rick is a Newfoundland comedian with host of successful programs - and wit behind him.

Listen to his version here.

This monologue about the arts cuts is by Darrin White, Mudderings blog.


What is the status of arts funding where you live? And, if you are in Canada, what are your thoughts about the cuts?

Heirloom update

Heirlooms
coloured pencil 9 x 12
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I've made a little more progress on this drawing of heirloom tomatoes. These are mostly Brandywine fruit in this piece and they come in many shapes and shades. One of my favourites is the dull red/green ribbed one on the left.

People complain that the Colourfix paper 'eats' coloured pencils. Yes the pencils do wear down more quickly but not at the rate that I was expected based on what others have said. I'll keep experimenting with the paper and have to say that I quite like the surface so far.

Heirlooms in progress

Heirlooms
coloured pencil 9 x 12
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I'm working my way through my stash of art supplies and have to admit that I'm not too tempted to buy extra things when I'm out. I'm sticking with my stash diet and its not at all painful. Either that or I have wayyyyyy too much stuff in my art cupboard.

In my stash is a set of Colourfix paper that I bought from Sterling Art on my trip to southern California last year. I haven't really used it much and decided it was time to put it to the test as well as break out my coloured pencils which I haven't used for awhile either.

I've been growing heirloom varieties of tomatoes this year and they come in all sizes, shapes and colours, as well as being delicious. I was debating with myself whether to draw hops or tomatoes. The colour in the tomatoes won and I chose a piece of dark grey Colourfix 9 x 12. This is the starting layer of colour on the piece. The photo isn't wonderful taken under artificial light with my camera this evening.

I quite like how the pencils go on to the sanded paper and even rather like how I can keep a decent point on the pencil by turning in on the rough surface. I'm not sure how the overall texture will work with the smoothness of tomatoes so I''ll reserve judgement on that til later into the drawing.

September's legacy

Hydrangeas

copyright Jeanette Jobson

September in Newfoundland is when gardens are at their best. Even with the awful summer we had this year, nature still puts its efforts into the end of the season with a burst of colour, fruit and flowers.

I spent some time wandering in the garden and fields taking photos of some things that caught my eye and played around with them, experimenting with shape and colour for future drawings or paintings.

Hydrangeas on the bush outside the back door are so plentiful this year, there are more blossoms than leaves it seems. I toyed with filters as I was trying to make sense of colours and values in this piece for a painting. I liked the muted effect of the fence and trees with the vivid yellows of fall leaves through the trees of the woods. Pastels or coloured pencils might be good to tackle this with.

Hops

copyright Jeanette Jobson

Several years ago I planted hops to grow up over a fence near the house. This year they took off and covered the fence and are now threatening to take over the house as well. I love the shape of the hops and also use them as medicinal herbs. They are a wonderful relaxant and aid to sleep - both of which I am in need of lately!

Behind one of the greenhouses, stuck down behind a compost bin is an old birdhouse. Its weatherbeaten now but still serves the purpose should a bird decide to take up residence next spring or find some shelter during a storm.

Rosehips

copyright Jeanette Jobson

Not too far from this are a huge mound of old fashioned shrub roses. Pink and white, they are covered in flowers for a short time in July and August then form huge fat rosehips that feed the birds and squirrels in winter after I've had my share to harvest for medicinal use. Rosehips are very high in Vitamin C - one cup of fresh rose hips has the equivalent amount of vitamin C in 60 oranges.

Rose hip oil is also renowned for its benefits for the skin, having multiple benefits and I use it in creating skin care creams, especially for more mature skin.

White Pumpkins

White pumpkins
Acrylic 8 x 10

I've had my eye on Karin Jurick's newer blog Different Strokes from Different Folks and have promised myself than I would participate in it. I haven't had a chance til now and the reference image inspired me.

I love the shape of pumpkins and these white ones are so unusual, looking like ghosts sitting in a field when you see them in reality. Pumpkins are such a herald of autumn and I see them with a twinge of sadness that summer is going, taking warmth with it.

I took the afternoon to myself to create this weekend and spent a couple of hours playing with this. The piece is available on The Starving Artist's Daily Sales blog.