Decisions

Lioness study
4 x 4 coloured pencil on mylar
copyright Jeanette Jobson

Over the last few days I've been trying to make a decision about which pieces I will put in an upcoming show on October 21st. I can put in four pieces, and feel that I should, as I want to get as much exposure as I can for my work and subject matter. But deciding just which ones is always the challenge. I have narrowed down my decision to a firm one for two of my pieces and am considering my options for the other two.

Creativity seems the easy part, decision making the more difficult.

Light

Lightbulb
9 x 12 graphite
Copyright Jeanette Jobson

"It's the night that makes the dawning.
It's the depths that make the heights.
It's the roots that make the branches.
It's the darkness that gives birth to Light."
-- Joel Heathcote (The Architect of Light")

Its difficult to fit in drawing when there is a young child around, in fact, its near impossible. It makes me wonder how I did it when my children were tiny. I did draw then but usually only when they had gone to bed for the night or in snatched moments during naps when I wasn't too tired myself to get on with it.

I guess I know now why people have children when they are young. The energy levels are so much higher. I was up at 3:15 last night feeding the baby. It wasn't a long process before she got back to sleep, but disruptive enough to disturb my sleep pattern and make me now wish for my own bed at 10pm

The Alma Drawings

Some mangosteens were purchased the other day, more because of their shape and colour as potential drawings than to eat. I've never seen them before or tasted them but according to my research they are THE taste sensation in tropical fruit. These are past their best buy date I think and remind me of carved wooden spheres, quite fascinating. One was prised open and that in itself is a challenge as the rind is very thick and hard. The inside was segmented like a tangerine and quite perfect, but a little over ripe. Then again, I haven't had the experience of eating it before to judge by.

Apparently they were banned from entering the USA for a long time due to the potential of harbouring the Asian fruit fly which was feared would damage crops on this side of the Atlantic. That ban has now been lifted and they are once more permitted into the country. The latest price for these little fruits? $45 - $60 per pound in New York. The price for 9 of these fruits in Newfoundland? (albeit well past perfection) .49 cents on the bargain rack in the fruit and veg section. Regularly $8.99 a pound. Perhaps New Yorkers would like to stock up if they're here...

Weighed down with a turkey dinner and between the baby squealing and my mother chattering, I watched a fascinating documentary on television tonight called 'The Alma Drawings'. This woman claimed that 'The Hand' directed her complex, unique pen and ink drawings and colourful, complex images. Whether outside intervention or psychotic wanderings, the end result was stunning. You can find some of her drawings here.

Alma Kate Rumball (1902�1980) was born in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada in 1902. Alma's career began as a school teacher, but that career lasted only four years. Although she had no formal art education, artistic talent ran through both sides of Alma's family; in fact her maternal grandfather, William Morgan, was one of five runners-up in the design of what became the Eiffel Tower. When she became ill as a young woman, she was sent to a tuberculosis sanatorium for four months. She was deeply affected by the experience. She lived in Toronto for a while but after her vision during the 1950's she returned to Huntville. She became reclusive and unsociable and withdrew from life.

Alma's automatic painting began in 1955, after she experienced a "vision" of Jesus, accompanied by a panther. During this event she felt commanded by Jesus to draw and write in order to help "heal humanity". From that time, her hand began to move spontaneously across pages, in swirls and detailed formations, totally unlike anything she had consciously created before. She filled up every available space on paper provided for her by her family, claiming no ownership for the work. She took no credit for the process, saying, "I'm as excited to see what 'the hand' will do as anyone else is".

There was no trance state involved, she simply allowed the creations to come through her. She never claimed to understand the process, she simply marveled at the wonder of her gift. She devoted her lifetime to these drawings and writings. Her work is reminiscent of the theme of Carl Jung's Collective Unconscious as it is viewed.

How's your list coming on?

Rosehips
October 2007
copyright Jeanette Jobson

Early in January this year, I set myself 10 goals to reach and thought it would be interesting to check and see just where I was in terms of reaching them. In the past year, lots has happened in terms of art for me and I think I have made progress. But the proof is in the pudding, so lets go through the list and see.

1. Offer more drawing classes for different levels
I'm just starting to do this now. I will teach a class online in the near future. This month I start with a kids' class in drawing and in November I start in earnest teaching 2 adult and 1 childrens class a week. I am also booked to teach a workshop late this year or early next year for the Art Association.

2. Start a art club locally
I've joined the Art Association of Newfoundland and Labrador and sit on the Board as Treasurer. I have also joined the Realist Artist Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. As its always said, you have more leverage within than outside, so I have ideas for these art associations to expand and grow to offer modules under their umbrella.
3. Complete a series of drawings or paintings.
I haven't done this yet, but there are many ideas for series that come to me. I seem to get bogged down with practicalities and distractions. I need to commit to a series and just do it!

4. Enter at least 4 art exhibitions
I entered a exhibition in April The piece sold and I received Best of Show for it. A piece has been entered in the Woman in Newfoundland Art show which opens today and runs til October 26th in Corner Brook. I will enter 4 pieces in a show on October 21 and finally another exhibit for a Christmas show on December 2nd. So I guess I will meet my target there. These are all local shows and I would like to try my hand at some national or international shows and be accepted into a juried exhibition.

5. Develop a web site
The concept is in my head, but not on paper. I believe this is a must for the near future and I'll be working on achieving this before the end of the year. I'm not sure about the rate of sales through websites. Some are more successful than others, but I believe that a web presences is crucial. For now, my blog will have to do as my electronic presence.

6. Market and sell my prints
Well, they're still sitting in the cupboard. I have sold some, but I haven't put an active process into place to market them. I see this tied into the website in some ways, but I know there are other more effective ways of marketing them.

7. Rediscover oil painting and do at least one small oil painting a month (I'll never make it into the Painting A Day category)
I have pulled out my oil paints and produced three or four small pieces. I will continue to push myself with that medium.

8. Go to a different art exhibition each month
I haven't done this. Time has been a limiting factor for me. Or maybe that's just an excuse. I hope to go to The Rooms this weekend and see the current Albrecht Dürer exhibition. I really have no excuse for not going to exhibitions, I simply need to make time. They always are a source of inspiration, no mater what the theme.

9. Attend a class in a new medium
I have tried to sign up for several classes, but scheduling conflicts with work or other commitments always come up. I have looked unsuccessfully for life classes and just haven't found any. Its a challenge in a small city to find the services that you need. The Art Association does hold a variety of workshop during the year and I may be able to fulfil my needs through some of them.

10. Develop my market for animal portraiture locally
I have produced marketing brochures and flyers for animal portraiture and distributed them to animal grooming parlours, local stores and some pet stores. Reception for having brochures or flyers in stores has been limited as has been my time for distributing brochures. Working and trying to create and market art is a real challenge. I still need to push this through other sources.

I have just gotten some marketing pieces from the printer promoting animal and people portraiture. I have glossy postcards and magnetic business cards as well as regular business cards. I'll choose wisely where the more expensive marketing pieces go and track results that I get with them.

I've achieved 50% of my goals 9 months into the year with some movement in other areas, but not completion. I don't consider this bad, bearing in mind that I have a full time job as well as producing art. But there is room for improvement. I've learned from writing this down that I procrastinate and I must learn to make time to do what I want and need to do. I need to focus on my priorities and ensure they are taken care of.

So where are you in your list? Do you have a list? If not, why not? Its never too soon to set goals for yourself. Don't wait until January, do it now! A goal for a day, a week or a month can be enough to start your creative juices flowing and push you in the right direction.

Flowers and babies

Cerinthe Kiwi Blue

coloured pencil 9 x 12
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I've finished the cerinthe flower piece and am fairly pleased with it. I really have a block up when it comes to drawing flowers, but I'm trying to push past it. I'll have to try a few other mediums and see if I can get a feel for it. Whatever roads I venture down, I always seem to come back to my comfort zone - portraits of animals and people.

This is a terrible photo, but I was pressed for time and was using artificial light. I will try again in natural light. It looks completely different in real life. Its one of the bears of electronic imaging, the colours and clarity just never are the same unless its professionally done.


24 hours into their visit, I've been left in sole charge of my eight month old grand daughter and she's been very kind to me. Not crying, drinking her bottle then going off to sleep for the night with barely five minutes of squeaking.

So good you get her twice. Yes, grandmothers are allowed to be obnoxious and bombard people with grandchildren photos.

Now I need to get down to the serious stuff. I have a promotion board to complete, flyers for the kids class in October and supply lists for the courses I will teach in November. And a little work for the Art Association. All for tomorrow. No pressure, noooooo, not a bit.

Teaching drawing

I am probably quite certifiable to take on more tasks but I have.

I'll be teaching some drawing classes for adults and children at Michael's starting in November - well one in October - that will take up my Monday nights and most of my Sundays. This is in addition to an online course that I will be teaching for Brenda Hoddinott at Drawspace, when her new website is up and running.

The additional work seems a little daunting at the moment, but once the lesson plans are in place it should be fairly straight forward - touch wood. The kids' classes I haven't done much of before, but 8 - 12 year olds should be focused enough to let them explore some techniques and have fun. They may turn out to be more fun than the adults.

I look forward to some more teaching and the exposure that I wouldn't normally get from passing traffic. It may take me a few lessons to get into my stride, but I'll get there.

Tomorrow my daughter and grand daughter arrive from Calgary for a couple of weeks. Its amazing the amount of 'things' you need to have to accomodate a baby. A crib, a highchair, a bouncer thingy, stroller, diapers, milk, food, etc etc. A small body sure has a lot of needs doesn't it? But I think everything is in place and hopefully she'll settle down and I'll get to know her all over again, as I haven't seen her since she was a month or so old. So I may be absent for a day or two til I get the routine down pat. I will take a few days off next week and the week after, but meetings are so often scheduled into the future for me, a full week at once is always a challenge.

The photo is of some wheat/barley/oats that was grown this summer. So what you say? Well it is Newfoundland and we have a very short season. This was grown from grains taken from some animal feed and planted in the field. I was quite surprised to see that it formed heads at all. The prairie people should be able to identify it more accurately than I can.

Cerinthe

Cerinthe grew this summer in the greenhouse. It was a newcomer to me and I hadn't seen the plant previously but the flowers were enchanting, such lovely shades of blues and purples. I took some photos of it and today thought I'd tackle my arch enemy - drawing flowers. I have to say that I rather enjoyed it so far.

Its coloured pencil, 9 x 12 Canson paper. I've kept it soft and somewhat grainy so far. Just getting the richness of the purple-blues is the challenge.

The flower is cerinthe major pupurescens - Kiwi Blue for those who may want to try their hand at growing it. Its an annual and easy to grow. Its also known as the Blue Shrimp Plant.

Reality

Reality Yoked

9 x 12 Derwent Drawing Pencils
copyright Jeanette Jobson

This is not a pretty picture. Its not meant to be. It is reality - or what was reality many years ago, seen through historical reinactments. This is however a real person.

I finished this drawing/sketch today and posted it and am interested in some comments that were made about it that show how people's perception of the world is slewed.

People want attractiveness around them. They fear becoming old and they fear seeing a side of life that they may see a part of themselves in. I think a lot of this perception is in North America and how the press bombards the public with messages of how life will be better only if you have the right lifestyle, have money, are youthful, are a certain height or weight, dye your hair, wear the right clothes, etc., etc.

The thing is, that people buy into this crap like its a religion. Then when confronted with reality, they either turn away or refuse to believe it, preferring the sanitized version of life. I personally like reality, even the harshness of it at times. I refuse to fall into the trap of advertisers and corporations trying to sell their products and brainwash me into believing that it will change my life and make me happy.

There are people out there who have no money, no jobs, no houses. There are people out there with wrinkles and grey hair. People are overweight, have illnesses, dental problems, money problems and no education.

There are no easy solutions to any of the problems and these problems have been around since time began in one form or another. But don't pretend they don't exist and don't pretend that you're any better than others in the world or that anyone else believes you're younger than you are. You can wear the lambskin and live in the house, but you'll still be mutton.

How rare is your personality?

Your Personality is Somewhat Rare (ISFP)

Your personality type is caring, peaceful, artistic, and calm. Only about 7% of all people have your personality, including 8% of all women and 6% of all men You are Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Perceiving.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

Yoked

I've always had a love of historical things, and spent many hours exploring old houses, castles, cemeteries and historic ruins.

In the WDE of WetCanvas there was an image of a woman wearing a yoke from a historical reinactment and the image appealed to me. I have visited similar projects where the characters come to life and play the part of life in that era, making it seem more real. I haven't ever tried a yoke, but imagine that it likely is a pretty good way of distributing weight evenly to be carried.

Here is the sketch for the drawing that will be done with Derwent Drawing pencils. Or an attempt.

Summer ducklings

These are a mix of ducklings that were hatched over the last couple of months. They are all sold and here waiting in the meadow pen for their new owners.

Because they live in the barn and haven't been outside until now, they're skittish and when you approach them, they all move in a group as if they are connected. A wave of birds, rather the way some flocks of birds move in the sky. Its as if invisible cords connect them all.They moved together into the shade of the lean to awning and chattered among themselves as I photographed them. I didn't stay too long as I didn't want to stress them too much. Each day they become less timid and, if they were staying on the farm, they'd be out with the other ducks wandering wherever they felt like and not minding human presence at all.

Art shows

Junior - completed
Graphite 9 x 12 on Bristol Smooth
Copyright Jeanette Jobson

Why is there always a flurry before a show? I must get complacent and figure I have lots of time, then suddenly realize that the deadline is looming and panic sets in.

With panic, mistakes happen and everything seems to go wrong as I rush. I had the piece framed then decided at the last moment that I wanted it in a larger frame. I have a few spare frames so I chose a larger one and one by one the framing pins broke. Then I got the drawing taped in and realized it was crooked. Start again.

More framing pins break.

Swearing starts in earnest.

I finally got the drawing and the frame to cooperate, cleaned the glass, carefully pushed in the remaining framing pins and sealed the back of the finished piece. I decided I'd better wire it just in case. I didn't know how it was being hung on the other end, so figured I'd be on the safe side and cover all eventualities. Of course the posts wouldn't go into the frame would they? Nooooooo. I searched all over the house looking for my dremel drill, but its in the barn. Across the wet yard. In the pitch dark. I went on to plan B.

This is where I knew that high school math would eventually serve me well. A compass point! I rummaged around in the jar behind the kettle and came up with one, applied pressure to the frame and sure enough, it worked beautifully. Its probably the only useful thing that ever came out of my high school math.

This piece is going to Corner Brook, which is an 8 hour drive from here, so next I needed to wrap the picture so it wouldn't have chipped corners or broken glass by the time it arrived. Did I remember to buy bubble wrap on the way home? Nooooooooooooooo. Its 10pm by now and the stores are very shut. Plan B comes into action - or as I call it, recycling. More cupboards opened and searched, more swearing. Finally I found some bubble wrap from another package that didn't have all the bubbles popped (its such a satisfying stress reliever, popping those little bubbles isn't it?). So after liberal application of bubble wrap, wrapping paper and tape, the piece sits, awaiting delivery tomorrow and then on its way. Its not a pretty package, but it will get there.

Now I'm exhausted. And that was just ONE piece. The next show on October 21 is four pieces.

I'm going to buy bubble wrap tomorrow. And a bottle of whiskey.

Got tuna?

Got Tuna?
Graphite & coloured pencil 7 x 9
Copyright Jeanette Jobson

It is only by drawing often, drawing everything, drawing incessantly, that one fine day you discover to your surprise that you have rendered something in its true character.

(Camille Pissarro)

Tripod's favourite food is tuna. People tuna at that. Or dry catfood which he had to learn to eat as he'd never eaten it before judging by how he tried to gulp down mouthfuls of it without crunching it up first.

His gets his fix of tuna twice a day and is VERY vocal about it if you're not prompt enough serving it up. Tuna, with additional 'fresh' morsels that he catches and proudly leaves for me in the grass by the front step. Mice, shrews, rabbit, muskrat and something with a long furry tail - that was all that was left. Disability obviously doesn't cause many problems for this guy.

What's in a name?

I've decided from the names offered as possible titles for the portrait...... and .......

it will be named Watching Her Leave which was offered by Cyril from The Teaching Life. Not an artist in the traditional sense, but creative in many other ways, especially in teaching.

The piece is now framed and will be entered in an exhibition hosted by the Realist Artists Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, of which I am a member. This show is for female artists only.

"Women in Newfoundland Art"

The theme of this show celebrates women and the works of these women that have been inspired by their emotional, social and physical interaction with the environment of this place they call home.

Running October 6 to 26, 2007 at the Arts and Culture Centre, Corner Brook.

I sifted through a number of titles suggested in my blog or via email. They ranged from sentimental to profound. And I am so thankful that there are people out there who were kind enough to take time to offer their thoughts.

Naming an art piece is complex. It reflects the creator, the piece and the viewer. A title of an art piece can make or break it. It is part of the piece and entices the viewer to look deeper and create their own story within the lines and colours.

So thank you Cyril, a print of Moored will be sent to you during this week. Enjoy!

If anyone would like to purchase a print of Moored, please contact me at jjobson at nl dot rogers dot com. They are available for $45 plus shipping. The print size is 9 x 12 with a 2 inch border.

Viewpoints on Commissions

A Different Viewpoint
coloured pencil 4 x 6
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I don't think I've seen a cat with bi-coloured eyes in real life, but its seems to be a fairly common occurance, especially white cats. This image was a nice little exercise in CP to do off and on during the day.

Commission horrors come in many forms. Here are some of mine:

1. Creased, ragged indistinct photos taken against the light so the figure is almost in shadow.
2. Middle aged women who think they are 21 and want their portrait to look that way.
3. Tweakers. Those people who want changes. Over and over and over and over.
4. Last minuters. They want a large portrait. In oil. In two days. Yeah, right.
5. Bargain hunters. They too want a portrait of Mom, Dad, Fido - only the best. But they haggle over price like they're in a market in Marrakesh. Stick with your pricing.
6. No shows. Those charming people who never pick up their paintings. ALWAYS get a 50% deposit.
7. Relatives. Because they are related to you, they believe you should work for free or for flattery. No. Well ok, perhaps a sketch, but no detailed work without payment.

There are lots of problems associated with commissions and also lots of pleasure too. There is a sigh of relief when a piece is handed over to the customer and there are smiles all round with no changes requested and no argument over payment.

Best buy date for art pieces

Crabapples

Drawing is a bit like shopping.

When you don't have the money and don't really need anything, items in stores leap out at you saying buy me. When you do have money and have a need for something to wear, there is not a single thing in the whole city.

With drawing I can start out with a simple sketch of an eye for example and the rest of the drawing just falls off the pencil onto the paper. But present me with a deadline or ask me to create a specific 'something' and it will take me several tries before I can get a decent result.

I want to start a new drawing. No, I need to start a new drawing. I need new pieces for upcoming exhibitions. I have pieces in my portfolio and floating around on my drafting table. These are old pieces to me but new to others. I always date my pieces - just the year alongside my signature and then wonder 'Will the viewing public think this is 'stale'?' if its a year old or two years old. Is there a 'best buy' date for drawings and paintings? Do people want very current pieces, done within the year. Or do they buy older pieces or do they even care or notice?

What do you do? Is your exhibition art all brand spanking new or is some still dusting off from two or three or more years ago? Do older pieces smack of 'loser' and mean that you can't sell your art? The buying public are a fickle bunch sometimes and every edge to keep their attention is vital.

How old are pieces that you show?

Naming an art piece

Watching Her Leave

Graphite 9 x 12 on Bristol Smooth
Copyright Jeanette Jobson

I've completed this self portrait from all those years ago and learned to hate plaid pants. Especially plaid pants in an ill defined photograph. I tweaked the drawing when I got home today, sprayed and framed it. It will likely be a piece for an upcoming exhibition, but I still have to spend more time reviewing my portfolio and see what other pieces are suitable.

Naming a piece is something that can come easily with some pieces and totally impossible with others. Its like getting a puppy and within hours or days its name surfaces without searching, usually based on some behaviour. But art doesn't have behaviour. It does evoke emotion and memory which is what usually inspires the name for the piece. Or if there is a specific activity occurring within the piece it can inspire a name.

In this piece I'm stuck for a name., so I'm hoping for some suggestions from blog readers. The setting is Christmas 1955 likely a new doll - some sort of elf by the looks of it. I really am at a loss for a title for this and need to come up with something so it can go into an exhibition. So let's call this a brainstorming exercise and I'll throw in a print of either Weeds I or Moored for the name that is chosen!

Update

Self Portrait
Graphite 9 x 12 Bristol Smooth
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I've worked on this piece in tiny fragments of time. Early morning before work and when I get home from work, I try to fit in some drawing time, then of course weekends where I do my main block of work. I'm deepening values in the drawing to bring it forward a little.

The image isn't great, as I had a late meeting so I wasn't able to take a decent photo in the available light when I got home.

I've been adding more links to other blogs and resources as I remember them and find some new ones too. So if I am missing your link, please let me know and I'll be happy to add it again. More than anything right now I need to sleep. Its been a long busy day and I was up late last night dealing with my little indiscretion of losing all my links.

New look

I've played around with updating my blog's template to add a heading image and I've done so. This is a view of Flatrock bay in one of its tranquil moments. It may not be the final image, more the experiment.

Unfortunately, in doing so, I seem to have lost all my links to other blogs and everything else I had on the page. Sigh. Why is it technology never quite seems to work for me? But never fear my friends, I will find you all and reinstate you, safe and sound and perhaps even find some new people as well!

So tell me what you think of the new look? Is a photo appropriate or should I go with a drawing instead? I'm half scared to tinker more in case I lose anything else!

Sundays

There are bonuses to waking very early in the morning. It means that I have time to squeeze in some drawing before the day hits and takes away my time. I work more developing the line drawing from yesterday and its coming along. Aside from that time this morning, my Sunday was shot in doing other things.


I have a new digital camera - a Canon PowerShot A560. Not an expensive camera ,but its increase in megapixels over the current camera makes a big difference in clarity for images. I also bought a couple of frames as I will need them in the coming weeks.

Before that I did some repairs in the rain to my mother's porch window. In its age, the glass was literally nearly falling out so I had to locate good old fashioned putty and points and reinstall that. The rest of the windows in the porch need refitting and I'll do that over the next couple of weeks. All the windows need replacing as they are very old and the frames themselves are rotting. I guess in a few years not many people will remember how to install glass in a window as everything is vinyl or aluminum and factory sealed.

Portrait

I started this drawing today and haven't quite decided yet where it will go. It is from an old photo of me taken when I was 21 months old. The photo is reasonably clear but does not have the detail that would be in a photograph taken today. However, its a lot better than some I've seen. I'm deciding whether to use it as part of a teaching class or just go ahead and turn it into a painting or some sort of coloured drawing.

I had done a little coloured pencil experiment with it some time ago on a form of drafting film. I hadn't found a source of the correct film at that point, so the experiment was on a harder, thicker version of Mylar and didn't come out quite as I wanted. With the photo in black and white, I created the colours from my imagination and from some vague, sketchy memory of furniture and colours that I was often dressed in as a child.

I'll play with it for awhile and decide where it takes me. Today obviously isn't a painting day for me. I tried two oils so far today and trashed both. They turned into muddy messes so I figured it was best to go on to some other mediums instead. Tomorrow's another day.

Things come in threes

Artist trading cards
2.5 x 3.5 coloured pencil
copyright Jeanette Jobson

Things are coming together. Way back in January I set some goals for myself artistically and, while, its taking some time, its moving towards those objectives.

I've finally finished the ATC cards so they can be sent to their destinations. I have to say that its not an exercise that I enjoyed a lot. I don't like the very small size a lot and trying to fit detail into it. As a mainly realist artist, I'm a detail freak so not getting it in there makes me a little uneasy.

There are several exhibitions coming up - one in a couple of weeks, the other on October 21 and another in early December that I hope to enter. I just need to choose (or create) the right pieces for the shows so tomorrow I'll open the portfolio and make some decisions.

I also have a couple of teaching opportunities coming up too and need to create a course outline for one and then determine whether the other is a lecture type or hands-on session. I'm used to practical teaching by example and having students participate using materials and exercises. I can do a lecture on my training and work and how I have come to where I am now, but need to think about that for a bit. How do I make it interesting and fill a couple of hours? Any suggestions from artists out there who have done lecture series before are very welcome.

There is also another lead for yet a third teaching position that I will follow up next week. If it plays out, it would give me a little more flexibility in content and frequency of teaching.

You know I have never thought of myself as a teacher and it amazes me when someone tells me that I'm imparted knowledge to them effectivly. I have a million thoughts swirling around in my head and often they don't translate into words - or not the words that I want them to translate into. So when people learn and I see progress , its very pleasing and still quite amazing.

Killick

Killick: A small anchor made of an elongated stone set in a wooden frame. Normally has two curved wooden timbers forming a cross as the base to this center stone, with pliable sticks rising from the base around the center stone and then tied and laced together just above the stone. Used for anchoring small boats and fishing nets. Also called killock or kellick. Either from Irish or Scottish origins.

I've had a long day of meetings and no art to show for my efforts, so I thought I'd share a little piece of Newfoundland trivia with you. The photo above is a representation of a killick. These were the original anchors, used when iron anchors were not available or affordable by fishermen, both in Ireland and Scotland. As the majority of ancestors of Newfoundlanders are either British or Irish, the killick was easily replicated from the trees and rocks naturally found here.

Drawing ability

Street Performer
7 x 9 graphite
copyright Jeanette Jobson

If you can draw, you can draw, right? Why is it that some days I can draw anything almost flawlessly and other days everything I try turns into a grey mess? The latter is today.

I am tired so that likely has something to do with my inability to be coherent on paper. I wake early and usually do my best work then, even before dawn strikes the tops of the pines.

Ice cream will solve the problem. I am sure of it. I'll let you know if it works. Meanwhile I'll leave you with a sketch of another street performer. I ran out of paper with this sketch so the hand and arm are a little small as I squeezed them in to fit.

Hops

Hop
6 x 6 coloured pencil and pen & ink
copyright Jeanette Jobson

This is the first of a little botanical exercise I'm embarking on that serves two purposes. One, it give me practice drawing botanical plants, which is my weak point and two, it focuses my mind on my medicinal herbs, reinforcing their merits and uses to ensure that they don't become less important in my world.

These are baby hops which are literally covering the fence from the dining room window, stretching out towards the arbour at the rear of the house. I grew them from seed 3 or 4 years ago and the three plants that remain luckily were two female and one male so I get 'fruit' from them.

These hops are the same ones that give flavour to beer, but are also a mild relaxant, used to enhance sleep and calm nerves. It is one of the 'bitters' which aid digestion by increasing saliva and bile.

Applications: Antispasmodic/Soporific/Sedative

Hops are primarily used to reduce tension and aid in sleep.

Sleep Aid: As a sleep aid, hops can be used in a sachet inside of a pillow. The aromatic properties of the herb will help one to fall asleep.

Tension: Hops can be taken to help relax the muscles and soothe anxiety.

Digestive Aid: Hops can help to relax spasms of the digestive system and aid in digestion.

An exerpt from Wikipedia on the use of hops.

Hops have long-established and well-studied medicinal properties and uses, although new uses and properties are also being explored. Two of the many medically active ingredients in Hops are humulene and lupuline.

Dried female buds have a high methylbutenol content, which has a mild sedativecentral nervous system; it is used in the treatment for insomnia, stress and anxiety. If one has trouble getting sleep, hop tea before going to bed may help, though a quantity of beer has similar results. effect on the

Hops' antibacterial qualities also stimulate gastric juice production.

Hops have been studied for anti-viral properties and antimycobacterial properties^]. They also contain numerous various flavonoids, and they have been studied for containing Estrogen precursors as well.

Weekends

I've hardly had any time this weekend to draw or paint. Life seems to have taken over in one way or another. I've been trying to make some inroads on these little ATCs that I promised to do. I have seven, more or less, with another two to go. I can't say that I like working on this scale. Miniature drawings are challenging to compose and execute. Animals, as always, flow better than other subjects.

The pigs were sent off yesterday and it took an hour or more longer than anticipated to load them into the trailer, poor things. Like most animals, they don't enjoy change and walking up a ramp into a trailer for them is big change with lots of different sounds, sights and smells. However, I said my goodbyes to them and they are gone.
Very few people really acknowledge where their food comes from or the process, people and animals involved in it. I think if more people did know, conditions of how animals are raised would improve dramatically. I won't get on my soap box about animal rights, except to say the next time you buy meat or poultry or eggs or milk in the market, give a silent thank you to the animals who provided it.

I found a new fruit today. When I'm shopping I seem to have one eye looking for things that would make interesting drawings and today I found some. Prickly pears. These are very new to me and I've never seen them before here. The taste is fairly nondescript, but the colour of the flesh is a beautiful blood red, perfect for a painting. So those and a bag of large, bright lemons went into the cart and hopefully I'll be able to make a start on some painting tonight or during the week.

Stone arch again

Laguna Arch

5 x 7 oil on canvas panel
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I seem to have an affinity for this scene, as I've draw it several times in pastel and now in oil paints. I wanted to explore a bit more with oils and tested the waters with a triangular knife that was quite fun to use again.

I used the oils straight from the tube more or less. The less, being a touch of turps to thin the paint a little as some colours were stiffer than others out of the tube. Previous attempts were rather thin on the canvas and although the concept was there, it wasn't what I wanted. I want to get those bold strokes of colour that blend together at a distance into perfect sense, but make no sense viewed up close.

This still lacks quite what I want, but is heading there. I need more colours and stronger values in this painting. The stones were quite pale as was the sand around it, but some reddish browns in there would bring it more to where I want it I believe.

So here's the stone arch at Laguna Beach again.

Life cycles

Tomorrow the three pigs will go to the processsor along with a pig from another farm close by. Processor is just a polite term for slaughterhouse, a term that always makes me cringe.

Living on a farm one is supposed to become steeled to the fact that animals are part of the food chain and in some ways I have come to terms with that. But the pigs.... The pigs are more amicable. You can scratch behind their ears and they make grunting noises. You can pat their solid backs and sides and they snort. You can rub their pink, rubbery noses and they look at you trustingly. Am I turning the pigs into my own versions of Babe?

I've tried to push it to the back of my mind all day but each time I think of their fate, I feel rather sick. They've had good lives. They've eaten corn and apples and potatoes and had the best accomodation, clean water, listened to CBC in the absence of humans and had geese and baby ducks for pen mates. They've had heat lamps to take off the chill of night when they were small and large fans to cool them in the hottest days. They've lived a good life. Just rather short. They are 24 weeks old and weigh about 180 pounds each. There are people waiting for the meat, but I still don't know if I can eat them.

Farm life sucks sometimes.

So I draw. The beginning of a sketch of Tripod. That accusing stare. His right eye I think was affected by the loss of his leg on that side and is sometimes closed more. Its more apparent in this drawing and makes it look lopsided, but the eyes really are shaped differently.

Opera with soul

Luciano Pavarotti 1935 - 2007

Luciano Pavarotti and James Brown. Their legacies are their music and together, what music they create.

Many years ago I had my first taste of real opera in a small after hours club in Ealing. Some Covent Garden opera singers were having a drink and relaxing and decided to sing a little. I remember distinctly how their voices became almost palpable and filled the large room. I was amazed at the tones and volume and wondered just how a human voice could produce such beautiful sound.

I still do whenever I hear Pavarotti. This morning I heard him talking about his work and life and music. ....it is the oxygen of my life.... he said. How many of us can say that we do what we love so much every day that it becomes vital to our existance?

Ruby completed

Ruby
9 x 12 colored pencil on Canson
copyright Jeanette Jobson

This is the update of Ruby, the boxer, which I am now calling done. I'm not completely pleased with the nose as the nostrils look a little outlined. I may tweak those a little later to soften them. Its funny how you can see something so clearly on screen that you can't see when you look at the image in front of you or even stand back from it in your own studio.

I had taken an extra day to make the Labour Day weekend longer for me in the hopes that I woudl fit more drawing into it. And I did do a reasonable amount of drawing and painting but also a lot of cleaning and sorting at my mother's house too. I feel as if I need another weekend to make up for lost time.

The eagled eyed of you may notice that I've expanded my list of links to other artists' work. While I thoroughly enjoy my visits to all the 'regulars', I am exploring more of other forms and techniques, especially oils. In wandering through the sea of sites, there were a number that I came across which struck a chord with me for several reasons. It could be subject matter, content, style, technique - a range of things that make me stop and think.

My links are not only to share my finds with others, but to act as reminders to myself of where to go to find inspiration, assistance and friendship. I hope you enjoy them too.

Comfrey

Turkeys are curious birds and need to be occupied, like most living things, or they get bored in the confines of even a large pen. So they are provided with bunches of herbs and ears of corn suspended from the ceiling for them to pick at.

In this photo, it is comfrey that they are eating. Comfrey is one of my staple herbs that I use frequently when making topical creams or lotions. Comfrey contains allantoin which causes cells to divide at an increased rate, thus healing bones and wounds more quickly. Comfrey may be used topically -- as a salve or poultice -- on cuts, bruises, abrasions, and burns.

For turkeys, comfrey is pure protein and they seem to love it. They get a bunch about once a week as a supplement and to amuse them with.

Figs

Figs
Oil on canvas panel 5 x 7
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I am determined to find my legs again in oil paints so did this little piece last night and today of some Mission figs that I bought. I had drawn the curtains to block out the hot sun on me as I painted and the resulting light set the scene.

I love the feel and smell of oil paints and how they flow from the brush onto the canvas. I need more practice to get back to speed again I know, but am moving in the right direction.

I was researching the great surge of painting a day artists that have evolved since 2004 and wondering just how many of them succeed in their goal and how many actually sell their little paintings. From what I have seen, there is about a fairly low success rate in actually producing paintings on a regular basis and in having them actually sell. I think that can be comparable to most activities, including blogs. For blogs statistics show that many do not make it past the three month mark. The same seems true for daily painting production too.

The need and want factors are what push people to succeed.

The proper way to eat a fig, in society,
Is to split it in four, holding it by the stump,
And open it, so that it is a glittering, rosy, moist, honied, heavy-petalled four-petalled flower.
Then you throw away the skin
Which is just like a four-sepalled calyx,
After you have taken off the blossom with your lips.

But the vulgar way
Is just to put your mouth to the crack, and take out the flesh in one bite.

Every fruit has its secret.

The fig is a very secretive fruit.
As you see it standing growing, you feel at once it is symbolic:
And it seems male.
But when you come to know it better, you agree with the Romans, it is female.

Figs
By D.H. Lawrence

Juggling

Juggler - Granville Island
Graphite 8 x 11
Copyright Jeanette Jobson

I feel a bit like I am juggling lately. There is so much going on in my life that its hard to keep up sometimes. Work, home, the farm, art, classes to prepare, prints, cards, etc etc. And now my mother.

I spent yesterday cleaning and clearing out her house. Well clearing out what she would let me. She clings, like many older people, to possessions even if they no longer have any value. Its so difficult to clean in her house as there is so much junk there. That, compounded by the fact that two large, very furry cats live there too, doesn't help.

Crisis management is the order of the day with my mother. There is no reliable forward thinking, as she wants intervention on her terms, which are difficult, and by the time intervention is required it is a crisis.

I will go to her house again today and finish what I started, then try to persuade her to have a cleaner come in a couple of times a week to keep on top of it. That I fear will be short lived.

Ruby

I've made a start on Ruby, the boxer in coloured pencil. I can't say that boxers are my favourite dog, but there is a certain interest in drawing such an unusual face.

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them. ~Phil Pastoret

Medicinal herbs

I have been neglectful of my medicinal herbs since re-immersing myself in art. What was a glorious expanse of orderly patches and rows of plants has become somewhat tangled and overgrown with unwelcome volunteers springing up between the original plants.

I am a trained herbalist and had over 50 varieties of medicinal herbs which has now dwindled to about 25 with the pencil being more active than the garden fork these days. Of course that isn't counting the wild herbs that grow here such as dandelion, clover, yarrow, etc. The comfrey has exploded and I think I have enough to supply most of North America right now. Comfrey has deep roots that tend to be invasive. You can dig it out, but if you leave a small piece of root in the ground, a new plant will sprout from it.

Someone had run the tractor plow over the comfrey patch one autumn day to cut it back and chopped up and spread the roots....now there is a forest.

There is a giant group of elecampane plants sitting on the edge of the manure pile and loving it, if the size of the leaves and height of the plants are anything to go by. Its flowering now and is one of my favourite herbs. Its a wonderful plant for stubborn coughs and respiratory problems as well as aiding digestion and having antibacterial properties for topical use.

I think that during September I will try to incorporate my art and my herbs and try my hand at some botanical drawings of them. A herb a day for September? It may be ambitious but you never know til I try.

Stripes

Black and white or white and black? Its the age old question about zebras' colouring.

My thinking was, do I draw the stripes first and then start modeling the structure or create the form then add the stripes? As you can see I started with the stripes and am now adding some form to the body.

I've never drawn a zebra before. Its another of those perceived difficulties, like glass or water - or flowers in my case. All those stripes! Its methodical and very graphic but an interesting exercise.

"From the age of six I had a mania for drawing the shapes of things. When I was fifty I had published a universe of designs. but all I have done before the the age of seventy is not worth bothering with. At seventy five I'll have learned something of the pattern of nature, of animals, of plants, of trees, birds, fish and insects. When I am eighty you will see real progress. At ninety I shall have cut my way deeply into the mystery of life itself. At a hundred I shall be a marvelous artist. At a hundred and ten everything I create; a dot, a line, will jump to life as never before. To all of you who are going to live as long as I do, I promise to keep my word. I am writing this in my old age. I used to call myself Hokosai, but today I sign my self 'The Old Man Mad About Drawing.' " ~ Hokusai, The Drawings of Hokosai.

Watercolour

Mother Duck
11 x 14 watercolour
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I played with watercolour for the sketch done a few days ago. I still need more layers and of course the scan doesn't look anything like the original.

Watercolour works so beautifully sometimes and other times can turn into a muddy mess. Overworking is a big challenge and keep the colours pure and fresh. I'm using a 24 set of Winsor & Newton half pans that I bought too many years ago to remember, which shows just how frequently that I use watercolours.

Each time I use them I say that I need more practice and love the process even if I am a little impatient in the drying times. What I would like to do is take a watercolour class with a good teacher that would push me in the right direction and undo some of my bad habits in the medium.

ATC

I am doing an ATC swap with another artist, Jeanne Grant, even though I'm in the midst of a trade online right now. Jeanne mentioned that she'd like to to have something of mine, especially my cat Tripod, so I agreed and did this little card yesterday. It's watercolour and a touch of colour pencil. The blue ear? Well, let's call it artistic license and the unpredictability of watercolours.

Tripod likes to get involved when I draw, making it near impossible to do much when he is around, so I retreat to my studio upstairs and he gives me a little space then - well sometimes.

Jeanne has done a beautiful card for me in return of one of her dogs, Friday, as a puppy. It will be wonderful to receive this ATC and see it in real life.

I'm still practicing with working in such small sizes and do find it difficult to be accurate and realistic. I think the more practice the better for these, but I don't think I could constantly do them, the tiny size would become too frustrating and my need for space would overcome. However, it is an interesting challenge to see what I can fit into the 2.5 x 3.5 space.

Birds

I came across a photo while searching through my archives today and decided to draw it as another self portrait. I always seem to have some animal attached to me it seems and this is no different. A day old Pekin duckling that I couldn't resist picking up. They of course climb instinctively to the highest point and I hwas trying to keep hold of him to prevent him taking off over my shoulder.

I'll transfer the drawing and see what I can do with it in watercolour I think.

Birds seem to be everywhere lately and a hawk has been around for a few days trying its luck at having duck dinner. The hawk has taken a duck already this year but I was hoping he'd go away. Yesterday he was manoevering and obviously got confused by the living room window and crashed into it.

From the livingroom window you can see through to the dining room window and it sometimes confuses birds who think they can fly right on through. A small bird makes a very loud noise when it hits the window but a hawk hitting it really does get your attention. He hit it so hard that he left scratch marks on the window with his talons or beak. He flew off again zigzagging and likely has a headache today. Perhaps he won't come back for awhile.

The scratches on the window are pretty obvious, I just hope it hasn't broken the seal on the window. Does insurance cover damage by hawks? Ahhhh, country living....