Seasonal show

The little oil painting of figs that I did sold at today's show. It was one of the first of my re-emergence into oil paints after a long period of working mostly in dry media. I did a few small oils and am still playing with the medium and trying to find time to do more pieces as well as familiarize myself with the painting process.

I quite liked this little piece and was toying whether to keep it myself or let it go. The play of light and the colours of the figs was one of those happy accidents almost. Sometimes paintings just fall off the brush onto the canvas, other times they need a lot of thought and work put into them. This one was the former. It just seemed to flow without much assistance from me.

Figs
Oils on canvas board 5 x 7
copyright Jeanette Jobson

Today's show did remarkably well considering that the weather was atrocious. Rain, snow and wind dampened spirits and peoples' ability to get around. However, there was about a 30% sell rate which is remarkable considering that it definitely wasn't from passing foot traffic today. The setting was lovely and overlooked St. John's Harbour, pretty, despite the horizontal snow.

Silver bells

I would rather teach drawing that my pupils may learn to love nature, than teach the looking at nature that they may learn to draw. (John Ruskin)

I was teaching a class and needed something reflective for them to draw so picked up this silver bell. I love reflections and how they distort their surroundings. While class was drawing, I sketched the bell and if you look carefully you can see some of us in the drawing.

Tonight I'm finalizing my pieces for tomorrow's show. I'm actually on top of things before a show for a change! All I need to do is pack everything into my portfolio and drop it off in the morning. I promised to do my volunteer stint tomorrow at the show. I firmly believe in giving back in terms of volunteer time. Volunteerism is dying - not slowly, but quickly and many I speak to, cannot understand why I give my time without any money attached to it. Its just inbuilt at this point I guess. And you get back in many other ways that can't be reflected in financial terms.

Fire

Burning match study
Coloured pencil on black mi-tientes paper
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I saw this little reference and realized that I'd never tried drawing flames before and there was no time like the present. There are successes and weak points in it, but I enjoyed working on it and rather like the overall effect, even if cropped a bit.

Its a weekend and they don't seem to exist much for me anymore. My schedule on the weekend - well every day - seems to get busier and busier. As long as I don't think too far ahead, it works out fine.

I spend Saturdays prepping for drawing classes on Sundays and during the week and making sure I have lessons in place and demos in hand. This weekend I also have an exhibition that I'm putting some pieces into and I'll have to spend some time 'show sitting' as a member of the board. I don't mind that, in fact, its rather fun to people watch and get a chance to really look at the drawings and paintings that people have produced. The only spanner in the works is that its supposed to snow on Sunday. The first snow of the year so it could make driving a bit of an adventure. We'll wait and see.

I do have a commission for a set of nine drawings in coloured pencil, depicting the nine emotions of yoga. I've started on the first one and its a little eery with a eyeless face looking back at me, but with a calm expression. I'll work my way through the emotions and use a different colour for each to try to tie them into the emotion being drawn.

I've also picked up another private lesson to teach which I'm fitting in between a strategic planning meeting and life. I'm considering offering some additional private lessons to see how much demand there is for it locally. If there is enough demand and commissions arrive, I may reach the point where I'l have to make some decisions about the levels of my regular job and my art job and how they overlap. But that's the future. Right now I'm just drawing and wishing for more hours in my day.

Jessie

I started this sketch of my daughter's dog Jessie while I was in Saskatchewan. Jessie wants to play. Always. 24/7. Her favourite game is 'pullthistoyoutofmymouthandmakemegrowl'. This becomes a dangerous game when its a little toy, as fingers get mistaken for toys.

Jessie can destroy any dog toy that's ever been invented within 30 minutes. Huge rawhide dog bones, indestructable dog pull toys, ropes, 'guaranteed not to break' toys, anything. She methodically dissects them like a little boy dismantles a clock to see how it works.

The room is littered with dog toy corpses soon after she gets one. Christmas consists of Jessie sitting whining next to her 'present' til she gets to chew it to bits. More toy corpses.

I guess someone needs to tell the dog toy manufacturers that their indestructable dog toys aren't quite so indestructable after all. Hey, perhaps they could use Jessie as a dog toy tester!

Doodling

Study for cat's face
graphite 5 x 5
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I can never resist doodling eyes while waiting for inspiration to hit. This expanded a little past the eyes, but still has the therapeutic effect of small strokes making an image arise out of the paper.

Mother Goose - complete

Mother Goose
Graphite 9 x 12
copyright Jeanette Jobson

Here is the final image of Mother Goose completed and framed (the little spots of white are the reflection of the camera in the glass). There were a few more tweaks to get it right after digging it out from the pile of unfinished drawings in the cupboard in my studio.

Some things are worth salvaging and this image had the 'awwwwww' factor in it so it was a keeper. I'm not sure of its final fate quite yet, most likely on a wall somewhere in my house - unless I get a better offer.

Still life

This is the start of a possible still life drawing that is needed for a demonstration. I always love the line drawing part best. I love the clean simple shapes and there is always the fear that adding values will change it into something that I won't like. Of course the values will give it a different illusion, and that is always interesting too. It rarely becomes something that I dislike, it just changes it into something different.

But I still love line drawings.

I do most of my drawings freehand and only use a grid if I really really have to get a perfect likeness. It means that I have take more measurements and really observe carefully to ensure that proportion is correct. There is no shame in using tools to help achieve the final result. A grid or even tracing simply provides the framework for a drawing. Its down to the artist to make it all come together.

Psychedelic Designs

Psychedelic Designs
Marker, ink, coloured pencil
copyright Jeanette Jobson

This is the demo for the design class that I taught the children today and they lapped it up. Freedom of expression, colour and creativity brings out the best in kids it seems and the soar on possibilities. Its very reminiscent of the 1960s psychedelic designs. There are a number of designs created either under the influence of a mind altering drug of the time or stone cold straight. Mine was the latter by the way. Check out Psychedelic Artists for some interesting pieces of art.

Though it had little influence on the mainstream, the Psychedelic movement in design represented a surge in innovation and experimentation that was in keeping with a larger post-war artistic renaissance of the 1960s and 1970s. The backdrop for the movement (which was preceded by the Beatniks and followed by the Punks) is popularly imagined as a whirlwind of drugs and hippies, rock 'n' roll and love-ins. While this may seem a romanticized generalization, it is indeed impossible to extract the movement from the startling developments in the youth culture of the time. Its aim was simple: mind-expansion through visual representation.

As it spread throughout the U.S. and Europe, Psychedelia pilfered from past art movements such as Art Nouveau, Op Art, and Pop Art. Many designers borrowed from ethnic clothing styles with layered colors, patterns, and textures. The result was a synthesis of vibrant colors and exuberant typefaces, which were distorted and warped until the images almost appeared to be fueled by their own movement. Designers, including Peter Max, Victor Moscos, and Wes Wilson, infused their work with a cool and groovy vibe, combining bright and garish colors straight out of an acid flashback. Images trailed off the page, as if mimicking the curling tendrils of marijuana and incense smoke. At the heart, Psychedelic designs were not meant to be viewed, but experienced. The designs sought to capture a vivid moment in time, a certain flash of the mind's consciousness. Rules were made to be broken -- and they were.

There are aspects of teaching children that I find daunting. I'm searching my memory to remember what my girls liked and disliked at the 8 - 12 age range and that memory is limited. So I experiment on friends children and research and read a lot about those age groups, find out about their limitations and expectations.

The kids that come to the class are more precocious than I remember mine being and talk about everything and anything. The kids I have taught talk to me about personal things that sometimes surprise me, sometimes not.

Kids are exposed to so much these days - something I never let my kids do until the age was right. I was the strict parent. Standardized meal times, bed times, monitored television and film watching for age appropriateness - that seems to have all flown out the window. However, I'm not there to judge, simply to show them drawing techniques and make it fun. So far so good. The crows of 'cool' seem to reflect that I'm doing something right with that age group.

Kisses

Kiss
graphite 8 x 5
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I've been writing my 'to do' list for this weekend and it is longer than my weekend. I've made some progress however, despite an afternoon nap which lost me an hour or so. This little drawing wasn't on my list, but just happened from a reference in a weekend drawing thread that I found interesting.

Getting that jumble of lips and noses in the right position was fun. The boy's mother took the photo and his girlfriend obviously wasn't impressed at being spied upon, therefore 'the look'. I always say that you never really see something until you've drawn it stays true for me. The exploration in detail of a kiss makes the process seem rather strange. I wonder who ever thought up kissing?

Despite thoughts of kissing, I've managed to complete the prep for my kids drawing class tomorrow and the adult one and made a start on prep for the December classes. Already I have to turn my mind to January as they want my schedule for that month.

Tomorrow's children's drawing class will be all about design with some interesting explorations into imagination, colour, values, depth, etc. My demos are turning into 1960s pop culture pieces or else I'm reverting! The clear, bright colours are an interesting change from my usual graphite.

Fortune cookies

My business life is being controlled by fortune cookies. Yes. Shocking I know, but true. I did a strategic planning day a couple of weeks ago, then went for Chinese food afterward. We each laid out our 'fortunes' and they seemed so appropriate that perhaps there just was something in them. Or we simply wanted them to be that way, more like. I like to think these three phrases will guide my business work in art over the next few months - or until the next meal of Chinese food!

Actually I had an ulterior motive for this image too, I thought it might make an interesting drawing, despite its poor lighting. Something may come of it if I can squeeze in some time. I have a whole day to myself tomorrow and I'm almost giddy with the thought of it. Oils, drawing, coloured pencil, watercolour, what will I tackle?

What's in a name? Perhaps not a lot, but the concept is the same with a provincial art procurement program. So I'll submit a piece and hold my breath to see what becomes of it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I'm still working on a symbolic self portrait for I class I was doing with Armin Mersmann awhile ago. I became a bit unstuck trying to figure out what to put into the right side of the drawing, but I think I have figured it out now. Or I hope so. I've been looking at the work of Vija Celmins lately and becoming inspired. If you don't know her work, please go and look, you'll be glad you did. She is an extraordinary artist with exquisite drawing ability.

Province Announces Newly-Renamed Art Bank and Submission Deadline for Purchase Program

Tourism, Culture and Recreation November 16, 2007

In keeping with national and international practice, the Provincial Government today announced the Art Procurement Program has been renamed the Provincial Art Bank. "The term Art Bank better reflects the nature of the collection and the purchase program associated with it," said the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. "This program is of considerable significance to artists’ careers and livelihoods, and it is appropriate that its name be aligned with similar programs in other jurisdictions." No other changes have been made to the annual program, which is open to visual artists residing in the province. The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery will continue to administer the program and care for the works purchased.

Artists are advised that January 15, 2008, is the deadline to submit work to be considered for purchase. After the submissions have been collected, The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery will assemble the jury and manage the selection process. The results are expected to be announced by the end of April 2008. Submissions can be made through an artist’s commercial art gallery or
dealer or, if an artist is not represented by a commercial art gallery, submissions can be sent directly to The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery,
addressed as follows:

Attn: Collections Technician, Art Bank
The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery
9 Bonaventure Ave
P.O. Box 1800, Stn. C
St. John’s, NL A1C 5P9

Artists are reminded that they must provide images of the work to be considered in either digital files or 35 mm slide format, as per the submission guidelines. Detailed submission guidelines and submission forms are available at www.therooms.ca, or by calling 709-757-8047. "The Provincial Art Bank collection includes significant works by both well-known and lesser-known artists," Minister Jackman said. "Displayed in Provincial Government offices and public spaces, these works reflect the cultural expression of visual artists, over time, and are a lasting legacy for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador."

The Provincial Arts Bank budget for 2007-08 is $125,000. Established in 1982, the Art Bank has more than 2,500 pieces of artwork.The Provincial Art Bank Program recognizes and promotes the works of Newfoundland and Labrador’s visual artists by exhibiting original art in public buildings. This program offers visual artists a chance to showcase their work to a wide audience, while also increasing the public’s general awareness of the importance of arts and culture in our daily lives. The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery manages the submissions and adjudication process, as well as providing ongoing support and care for the acquisitions. The art bank jury is made up of representatives from the arts community.

Media contacts:
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0928, 697-5061 Deanne Fisher
Director of Marketing and Development
The Rooms Corporation
709-757-8070, 691-5681
deannefisher@therooms.ca

You are invited

My local art association is holding another exhibition on December 2nd and it would be wonderful if you could join in. These will be small works, no more than 130 square inches for the image itself. It should make for some more affordable pieces to tempt Christmas shoppers in the downtown core. I have one piece earmarked for the show but haven't got much further than that yet. I have a deadline looming to make a decision, so should do so by the weekend or before.

Today I'm nursing a slightly bruised ego. None of my pieces were chosen in the City's art procurement program. Sigh. I sort of figured they wouldn't, but there's always that sliver of hope, isn't there? It seems rejection and art life go hand in hand. I try to never let take it personally and even if nothing sells, I still have my art and name exposed to a whole new market, which is a very good thing.

The kiss

Study for The Kiss
Charcoal and conte
Copyright Jeanette Jobson

I saw the photo for this piece on Maggie Steifvater's blog. Its two of her dog's seven (!) puppies. The lighting was perfect, the colour was wonderful and I knew as soon as I saw it that it would make an amazing drawing or painting, so I asked if I could use it. And Maggie said yes.

She had named the photo 'The Kiss' and it is so appropriate, it will stay as the title. Its funny how we create a story in our heads when we see an image. This one seems sweet and innocent but the reality is more like this:

I was out playing with the puppies in the yard and they were romping and suddenly my eye was caught by the pumpkins and the light on the step. Must put puppy on stair. So first it was just one. But oh no, one's not enough. Up went the second. Snap snap snap the kiss! Which turned into a bite, and then the one jumped/ fell from the stair and took off. ;)

See how you went 'Awwwwwww' as you looked at the image and now I've ruined it for you. Sorry. But its still cute.

Thanks Maggie!

Rituals

These days people on planes are so engrossed in those little television screens built into the backs of seats, they are oblivious to anything anyone else is doing so sketching is usually undisturbed, except for comments by attendants or passengers on their way to the washrooms.

I've reached the end of my 'red' sketchbook and filled it with more images from traveling. I'm considering what the theme of my next sketchbook will be - colour again? More ephemera to add interest? Altered paper? I love the little stack of sketchbooks that appear in my art cupboard. They are proof of production and I like to take them out and thumb through them, remembering places, people and subjects. I see themes throughout them and understand how I have moved and grown as I progressed in time.

Today I taught a class but was still tired from my trip and rushing around ever since. I wasn't in the best of moods for a variety of reasons but had been asked to attend my god daughter's confirmation tonight. I really didn't want to go, but knew if I didn't she would be disappointed and I had obligation in my role as god mother to do so. So I went. The last time I was in a church was when my god daughter was christened, nearly nine years ago. So not bursting into flames as I entered the door was a good sign!

I don't have any religious leanings in me. For the most part, I find religious centres and leaders rather hypocritical. I enjoy learning about religions and how they are structured, their rituals and traditions, but I have no desire to become actively involved in one.

I had similar feelings tonight as I went with my god daughter for her to kneel before the bishop and be confirmed. He was a kind man and the ceremony itself brief. There was the child's usual giggles and chatter that covered up some worry about a first communion. "I have to drink wine! Will it taste funny?" There was that doubting, cynical part of me that sat through the service and read through the prayers and thought 'Someone prove this to me. Someone show me why I should buy into any of this ritual?' Who can get a degree in theology, then claim their calling was from 'god'? Which god?

However, the children were happy to have it over with, the adults equally content and all dispersed to the church hall for cups of tea and left over cakes and cookies from the previous day's fall sale. Another milestone in life safely tucked away, recorded on digital cameras and filed in memories.

Black Christmas

Buying art is the same thing as falling in love. - Nohra Haime

I was given a great 2008 calendar from an art gallery that I visited in Saskatechewan. SPAGA produced a very popular 2007 calendar apparently, so they're doing it again. And its free from SPAGA member galleries! The prints in the calendar are large and well printed and this is one calendar that won't disappear into a drawer or worse.

The little glass snowman is one of my favourite Christmas ornaments. I had produced a pen and ink drawing of him a year or two ago and thought I'd try my hand at him again for a class on hand drawn Christmas cards that I'm giving. The drawing is done in coloured pencil but not completely finished, just the scarf and some smoothing out left to do. Its drawn on black card stock, that comes with matching envelopes. Black Christmas?? Just another unique twist on a bizarre season already.

Using black paper has its drawbacks and the colours change and seem to sink into the paper. Its a challenge working on it, but rewarding when it does come together.

Home home on the range...

I've spent the last week on the prairies Saskatchewan, both in Regina and Moose Jaw. I've been fitting in both business and pleasure, visiting my daughter and trying to catch up on writing some course curriculum and the inevitable drawings that accompany it. And today I got to see some bison, albeit from a distance. I do enjoy my time on the prairies and have a love affair with the land and sky which expands and surrounds you and is unlike any other landscape. I always go out of my way to find grain elevators too. They are so evocative of another time and stand as monuments to farms and farmers.

I'm creating a course on drawing animals in coloured pencil which will go public in the near future. I'm honing my writing skills and hope that what I put on paper in word form somewhat matches expectations from those taking the course.

I've had a couple of days to unwind and this mid-week break is my 'weekend' as I'll be doing a demo on Saturday and teaching courses on Sunday then back to my 'real' job on Monday. I was emailed by one of the organizers of the Health Care Foundation's fundraiser that there was some interest from a couple of people for possible commissions. Commissions are starting to come through now and I may be in the position of putting people on a waiting list if it continues, depending on schedule. Or I'll just see how fast I can produce work! For the work that I do, which is usually high realism, speed usually isn't a factor. But it depends on the size of the piece and exactly what an individual wants.

Travels

Blog posting may be more sporadic for the next week as I'm in Saskatchewan for meetings and to spend a couple of days with my daughter. I'll try to fit in some sketching and some photos when I can to share and keep for the future. I love the old grain elevators here and they are more a rarity now with farms closing.

I'm in the process of writing some lessons for an online class. I've done this before, but its always a challenge as the left and right sides of the brain compete for attention at the same time. I have to separate the two tasks and its usually the drawing part initially and I draw a bit then explain what I just did in language that I hope people will understand. I've been doing snippets in planes and airports today as I try to play catch up on the backlog.

I did get three pieces into the City of St. John's art procurement program and will have to wait til the 21st of November to find out if any were chosen. Even then, I have to check online as they don't contact individuals who have applied as there are too many I'm told. At worst, they will reject them all and I'm ok with that. It gets my name and work out there and you never know who is on the jury.

Paying it forward

I was browsing Vivien Blackburn's blog and came across a new blog meme - Paying It Forward. The concept of this is karma - you get what you give. Vivien will provide 3 individuals with a piece of her art work on the promise that they make the same offer on their blog. How could I resist the opportunity seeing one of Vivien's beautiful little watercolours or sketches in person? So I left a comment and hopefully will be lucky enough to have been one of the first three individuals to do so.

So often we guard our knowledge in art in the hopes that it gives us an edge either on drawing or painting techniques, materials, where the latest sale of art supplies is or imparting knowledge to students. I have been trying hard to dispel that trait in my life by sharing what I know and what I possess with others. It can be something small such as sharing tools with an budding artist or sharing the latest news about an opportunity to enter an art show. Or it can be more elaborate such as taking the time to create a personal gift of art or spend time to show someone how a drawing is produced.

Karma does come to those who give. So I, thanks to Vivien's (and many others) posts I am offering some of my work to those who will, in turn, do the same on their blogs and in their lives.

I will provide an art piece - I don't know what size or medium at this point - to the first 3 artists who leave comments on my blog. This time of year being busy, so the work may not go out til later in the year or in the new year, but it WILL go out. Those who do sign up must promise to share their abundance with others and do so publicly on their blogs.

For those who were not in the first three to comment, consider doing something for someone to make their road to art easier. It doesn't have to be a big thing, even a random supporting message is often what someone really needs to help them over the hump of a particular day. Share your good ideas and deeds with me. We can all do with inspiration to help others.

Pareto's Principle

I'm deciding on an image to use for a class on drawing animals in coloured pencil. I'm toying with using Tripod as the model and am just working out the final lesson plans now. I have a lot of it in place in various forms from other classes. I just need to pull it all together in 4 blocks to make up the sessions. Sometimes the curriculum development becomes trying and I'd rather just draw!

Years ago in a business management class at college we were taught about Pareto's Principle The Pareto principle (also known as the 80-20 rule and the law of the vital few) states that in many things, 80% of the consequences come from 20% of the causes.

Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian economist is credited with it. He observed that 80 percent of the land in Italy (and every country he subsequently studied) was owned by 20 percent of the population.

Over the years, he and many others observed this rule in action in different spheres. Some examples:

1. Relationship: Twenty percent of the people you know (friends, colleagues, family) provide you with 80 percent of nurturing support and satisfaction.


2. Business: Twenty percent of customers will account for 80 percent of profit.


3. Productivity: Twenty percent of your activities will account for 80 percent of your success.


4. Gardening: Eighty percent of garden peas are produced by 20 percent of the peapods.

The value of the Pareto Principle is that it reminds you to focus on the 20 percent that matters. Of the things you do during your day, only 20 percent really matter. Those 20 percent produce 80 percent of your results. Identify and focus on those things. When the fire drills of the day begin to sap your time, remind yourself of the 20 percent you need to focus on. If something in the schedule has to slip, if something isn't going to get done, make sure it's not part of that 20 percent.

I've discovered in building the art side of my life that it seems to involve everything except art itself. There is marketing and promoting, planning, scheduling, developing curriculum, teaching, critiquing, framing, travelling, schmoozing, art shows and all the other things that take place for a piece of art to seem to appear out of the ether. I spend about 20% of my time devoted to the art of drawing or painting. I fit it in whenever I can as I know that my art production is the key that drives all the rest.

Pareto's Principle, the 80/20 Rule, should serve as a daily reminder to focus 80 percent of your time and energy on the 20 percent of you work that is really important. Don't just "work smart", work smart on the right things.

The Yoga of Nine Emotions

The yoga master trying a new position...

I have never really tried yoga. Not seriously. But after delving into this aspect of it, it piques my curiosity and makes me want to explore more.

I have been asked if I can draw the 9 Rasas in the form of female masks. I didn't have any knowledge about this concept so did a little research and found the following information from Rasas Info :

The nine Rasas are the essential aspects or energies that define a set of emotions and moods that thus belong to the same "family" or Rasa. While the nine Rasas themselves are clearly defined energies affecting body and mind, the resulting emotions (Bhavas) manifest in many varieties and their understanding is affected by personal and cultural backgrounds. Knowing the nine Rasas help to understand why a certain mood comes and stays even though it's original cause may be long gone and how to use that knowledge in achieving more emotional control.

The Tantric tradition recognizes nine principal Rasas that relate to quite clearly defined moods or emotions (click the individual Rasas for more details) :

Sanskrit Term	Principal Meaning	Further Meanings & related emotions
Shringara	Love	Beauty, devotion
Hasya	Joy	Humor, sarcasm
Adbhuta	Wonder	Curiosity, mystery
Shanta	Peace	Calmness, relaxation
Raudra	Anger	Irritation, stress
Veera	Courage	Pride, confidence
Karuna	Sadness	Compassion, pity
Bhayanaka	Fear	Anxiety, worry
Vibhatsa	Disgust	Depression, self-pity

Its quite an interesting theory and I wonder if it does work. Perhaps with concentration techniques which are part of yoga you can bring and expel your Rasa at will. The masks themselves would be fun to do, using appropriate colours and details of expression. So often portraits are done avoiding expression, they tend to be serious mostly, neutral canvases. To depict a series of emotions and bring them to life would be an interesting exercise.

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.

Steps forward and back

Cyclamen seed head

copyright Jeanette Jobson

There is no short-cut to art, one has to work hard, be open and flexible in your mind, keep the child alive inside you, and through a whole lifetime be ready to learn new things and – of course – be mentally prepared for a hard punch on your nose – especially when you think you are doing well. (Bente Borsum)

I have been absent for a few days due to work commitments and travel and more work commitments. Workloads seem to bog me down lately and I haven't had a lot of time to start any new drawings. That is the frustrating part of pushing work, art and life forward at speed. I may need to pull back a little and regroup.

I have one drawing class behind me and it went well, better than anticipated. I got some time management realizations - there is only so much to fit into a two hour period and people like to talk! Also, being accessible, people are prone to stand and watch and listen in which is a little distracting to those creating drawings.

I have received my order from Blick's of 72 Coloursoft pencils and I'm looking forward to trying them out. I also brought in some plate finish Bristol 500 and 400 as I can't find them in Canada. With the higher Canadian dollar (nearly $1.05 today) it makes it a little less painful on the bank balance to order from the USA than it used to.

My daughter sent me a clip of my grand daughter in her Halloween costume tonight - a vampire caterpillar. And to think I had to settle for a crepe paper cowboy outfit when I was a kid! Times change.

Slowing down

There seems to be a silence creeping over blogs lately. The regulars who post constantly are slowing down the flow of words into a trickle. Have the wheels of autumn taken over after a leisurely summer and created a flurry of activity?

I know that my ability to post as regularly as I have has diminished somewhat due to pressure to accomplish a lot more in other areas. I'm sure that is the case for many other artists who I visit also.

I still try to maintain a minimum of three or more posts a week and it leaves me analysing why I do this writing. I started it as an exercise to force me into creating and to be accountable to myself as well. Sometimes it becomes.....not a chore.....but more difficult to find the words and the put experiences into a form that others will find interesting.

I am looking at other blogs and thinking about what it is that attracts me to those writings. There are several things including, familiarity with topics, learning new techniques, inspiration and the general satisfying feeling of having peeked into someone else's life for a brief moment.

I will continue to write and look into the virtual world that has been created by me, for me and around me and continue to enjoy its trials and benefits. Between more substantial drawings, I am playing with sketches for projects for a kids class for Halloween. Black paper always works well to create magic.

Fall shows

I took part in the Art Association's Fall Exhibit on Sunday. There were 38 exhibitors and I had four pieces in the show. I had chosen graphite for all the pieces and in retrospect wish I had put in some more colour as most of the other entries were paintings in one form or another. But you can never anticipate attendance at shows or what will appeal to anyone. Thirteen percent of the pieces sold overall, but none of mine. I don't mind not selling, as I like the chance to put my work into the public eye and get some exposure.

I wasn't organized enough for that show. I had the pieces ready, but I was volunteering to do some shifts to cover the show, the first starting at 8am. Too early to be organized and I had forgotten my business cards, so couldn't put them in place. And it was pouring rain and miserable out, but the trees in fall colours still shined through.

And there will be two more next times this year. There is another show in early December of small works in downtown St. John's and a fundraiser for the Health Care Foundation on November 8 & 9 and 25 & 26 which I will participate in. More details on those later.

Drawing demo

I did a drawing demonstration on Saturday to try to draw interest into some of the drawing classes that I will be starting in November. It was a unique experience with some good and bad aspects and I always learn something new everytime I deal with the public.

Its distracting trying to draw in the middle of a busy store and I could only work in small sections of time between questions, some art related, some general questions. It seems that if you're in the middle of a store and are doing anything, people presume that you work there and know where everything is! Well I did know a lot of the layout of the store, but if I could have gained commission from directing people to Customer Service, then I would have made a lot of money on Saturday.

I did have a number of interesting conversations with individuals and heard a lot of stories from people who said they can't draw, but would always like to. I encouraged them to join the classes, not simply because it would do me good, but also because I love being the enabler for others to understand the process and technique of drawing. I like to take away the mystique and let people realize that they can achieve this if they really want to do so.

This is the cat I chose for the demo and the first image all that I managed to complete in two hours. The interruption factor, new setting and ambient noise were distracting and I found it difficult to lose myself into the image as I usually do. I worked on the image later at home and a little more tonight. I'll add more updates as they come.

Time is becoming more and more limited. I was asked to name a meeting date today and said November 6th 7am or 6pm and after that I've got no spare time til November 20th. It scares me a little, this momentum that my art life has suddenly taken. Yes, I've pushed it there, now I have to peddle fast to keep up.

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.

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.