Classic art toys

Garden visitors
graphite 11 x 14
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I don't know of any saved record of my drawings or paintings as a child. I think that was before the trend arrived for parents to save every gum wrapper and scribble that a child produces from cradle to high school and beyond.

I was asked when I started to draw and the question made me think about some of my earliest memories of drawing. Not structured academic drawing, but simply drawing or creating for pleasure. I remember from the age of 5 or so always colouring or creating something and that stayed with me as time passed. When other kids were outside playing, I would be the one inside creating and decorating theatres out of shoe boxes with elaborate sets, characters and backdrops.

There were also a variety of toys that I had which fed my need to create. These may bring back memories for some or be completely new to others.

When children's Give A Show projectors were the rage in the 1960s, I had one. Not content with the slides that came with it, I scrounged pieces of hard cellophane from packaging, created cardboard slides and drew my own stories on the clear surface. I wish now that I could see some of those early efforts at around age 10.

Etch A Sketch. Remember those? Yes I had one and used it til it wore out. Here's an online version for those who want to try their hand at producing something. Was this the early version of the graphics tablet?

Visit Etched in Time to see George Vlosich III's amazing Etch a Sketch art.

You can still buy Etch A Sketch toys.

Spirographs came into existence in the late 1960s and they fed right into the psychedelic patterning of the 60s. I recall making endless patterns in colour or black and white with piles of patterns stacked up in my bedroom or posted to the walls.

If you want to create patterns, or treat a child in your life the Spirograph is still being produced. Check out Ebay for lots of spirographs for sale.

Obviously, toys that bring out creative skills tend to become classics and are used by generations of families and have appeal to both old and young. With the tendency for the thinking to be taken out of life these days and the McDonald's 'instant' gratification needs, we often overlook basic, simple toys that help minds develop ideas and explore possibilities.

Writing

Kiora- 17 months old

I've been doing more writing that drawing these last few days as I try to make inroads into some drawing tutorials that I've been putting off. The drawing part comes fairly easily, but the writing is more of a challenge. Once I wrap my head around the task, I can get into a similar zone as I do when drawing and the words flow. About 1500 so far on the first tutorial. Another 500 or less perhaps and I'll be done.

I need to always remember to scan or photograph at high resolution and leave that image on my computer, as the high resolution of a minimum 300 dpi is the standard for printing crisp images. I am so used to reducing resolution for blog images that I often forget to leave the high res image intact.

I have a few more tutorials in my head and I'll play with those once this is out of the way. The drawings can be built up fairly quickly; the writing takes a day or so of solid concentration then formatting on top of that, which for some reason, I always struggle with. I like to just fit things in where they'll go. However, there is a standardized format that I must stay with and thank heavens I have a lovely editor who is very kind and helps me a lot with that. Let's hope she understands my speed in production lately which is slow, slow, slow.

Above is a photo of my grand daughter who lives quite a distance from me. I don't see her often and quite miss her at times. She's at the walking/exploring/active age and this photo shows the glimmer of intent in her eyes I think. This image may well become a portrait soon.

Good bone structure

Duck skull

This is the remains of one of the small ducks that a fox caught a year or two ago which was found in the woods a week or so ago. Although it may seem a bit gruesome, I quite enjoy examining and drawing skulls and bones. Since my year of anatomy, I developed a new found respect for how a living creature is constructed. It really is quite extraordinary how a living thing works so well with every part having a function.

Looking closely at the tip of the bill there are a series of small holes where nerves ended. Ducks are constantly sifting through mud or grass and the ends of their bills are very sensitive to any change in texture or movement, sensing food.

I will draw this skull in the next day or so, but have a few other obligations on my plate right now. I laid a handful of fresh cherries on the table after supper with full intentions of drawing them. Somehow or the other they got eaten instead. They were good however and there are plenty more to draw.

I need a few deadlines to push myself into action. I'm getting lazy. There is an exhibition on June 29th that I haven't yet decided to put pieces into or not. I should for exposure and potential sales, but do need a couple of pieces framed in order to do that and don't have the correct frames on hand. I know its an easily solved problem, but lethargy is over taking me this week. There is always tomorrow...

Creating tutorials

Glass tutorial update
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I think I must either have too much going around in my brain or not enough as I can't seem to keep going to the end of a project without another one sneaking in beside the first. Tutorials seems to be rather like that with me, maybe because they take up so much left brain and right brain activity and the switch between activities is quite difficult to master well.

My tutorials are a combination of drawings in progress and explanations of techniques and processes to get to the final image. It is a lot more difficult than I had ever imagined it would be. Drawing is something that I do without consciously thinking about how I'm doing it. It just 'happens'. I need to make a very conscious effort to articulate just what I am doing with a pencil. Pressure, softness or hardness of the lead, what I am observing, what lines I am placing, all these things come into play.

The drawing part of a tutorial is easy. However, it is punctuated frequently by stops to take progress photos and that is fraught with problems. I prefer digital images rather than scans so my images are only useable in daylight hours. In winter I end up using the scanner as I am mostly able to draw in early morning or evening when its dark. I have to make myself stop and take a photo when often I'd much rather keep on drawing. It really does break my concentration from drawing, having to take a photo or scan, upload it, tweak it, resize it, etc. That can take 10 minutes or more away from drawing and its difficult to get back into the drawing zone again sometimes.

The other end of the scale is when I get so involved in the drawing that I forget to take progress shots then realize I've gone too far, then have to redo a step. That's probably more frustrating than stopping to take an image.

Once drawings are complete, the real challenge comes. How to write the information that guides the person through the piece? I aim at a beginner audience, explaining each step as I go, trying to remember that what is simple or common to me, may be totally new to someone reading the tutorial. I used to think, before I did any tutorials, 'how hard can this be?' Pretty hard. Try describing exactly how you draw something or build values. In a live class I can demonstrate what I'm trying to explain. On paper or online I can only use words and images to get that technique across.

Finally, formatting needs to be complete to ensure everything looks the way it should and images are labelled in sequence. I seem to swear a lot when I'm formatting tutorials. You put an image in place, add words and everything moves, no matter how you lock down things. Yes, formatting....sigh.

The headaches and angst of creating a piece seem to disappear once it is complete. It sits in my binder of tutorials and I leaf through it, still marvelling that anyone would want to read it, let alone learn from it.

I have another layer or two to add to the glass before its complete but above is the piece to date from line drawing to its current state. Drawing glass is like putting together a puzzle for me. All those little shards of light and shade and the subtle changes in values that go along with it are such fun to draw!

Donkeys

Donkey study
graphite 11 x 14
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I have wanted a donkey for as long as I can remember. Why? I have no idea except that they are sweet gentle creatures - or at least the ones I have encountered in life so far are that way. A woman in the next town has a donkey, along with her horses and I drive there everyday. I make a point of watching out for the donkey, who never seems very happy. He stands well apart from the horses with his ears back, looking rather dejected. It seems horses and donkeys don't mix well.

I'd love to offer to take him, but then I'd need another donkey to keep him company and donkeys are hard to come by in Newfoundland. I'll keep looking though.

Here's an old photo of me and a donkey friend on the Aran Islands, off Galway, Ireland circa 1975 or 76.

Sketchbooks

I haven't accomplished much in the way of drawing today, even though I intended to lock myself away and do so. Life just got in the way. The start of this sketch was done this morning over coffee and may not proceed any further. Its more like my form of doodling.

Everywhere in the house I have sketchbooks stashed in case I have an idea or vision I want to capture. And there is always one next to me first thing in the morning when I'm having coffee. I don't know that I have a favourite type of sketchbook and I've tried a number of them. Each sketchbook has its own idiosyncrasies from size to binding to paper. Paper tooth and quality tends to be the deciding factor for me when buying a new sketchbook.

For drawing nothing beats the Moleskine for silkiness. Its comparable to drawing on drafting film with that smooth,buttery surface. I use Moleskines to carry around with me as they are inobtrusive and easily slipped into my bag. In the studio, I use large sketch pads to work out drawings and ideas and my favourite there is Canson Universal 65lb, as its surface is versatile enough to let me use a number of materials on them.

Birds

Sunbather
graphite on Stonehenge
copyright Jeanette Jobson

This hasn't been a good bird week on the farm. Four ducks have mysteriously disappeared since Saturday - two today. And there has been no trace. No feathers, no sound, nothing. Three Khaki Campbells which are sweet little soft sounding brown ducks and today a large white Pekin too. A duck skull was found in the woods this evening. While it sounds a little macabre, it was a duck that went missing a year or more ago most likely and the skull is fascinating to draw. I shall see if I can find the jaw bone of it to make the complete skull and perhaps some other bones.

These latest disappearances may be the work of a large hawk or an eagle. Its nesting time for bald eagles here and one did come visiting last year in search of ducks but was unsuccessful luckily. Then again it could be a fox or a coyote, but in broad daylight unlikely. The ducks will stay in for a few days and we'll see what happens.

Meanwhile this sketch of a pigeon settled in on a sandy beach fit my craving for drawing birds today. Its been a very busy week with little time to draw and tonight was a teaching night so that slayed my chances to draw once more. Tomorrow is a late night at work so perhaps at the weekend, I'll finally have time to block out the world and get some graphite on paper.

Health hazards for artists

Raccoon
graphite 9 x 12
copyright Jeanette Jobson

Many occupations have some health risks attached to them, whether mental or physical and they often come through a variety of external factors which can be controlled to some extent by the individual. As I get older and the usual range of aches and pains set in from mild arthritis in my hands to increased sensitivity to fumes or substances to decreased eyesight, I wonder about my ability to continue making marks on paper into the future.

Illnesses can be caused by:

• art materials,
• the contents of art supplies and their effects on the body,
• improper handling of art materials,
• selection and use of equipment to prevent illness and injury,
• the design of studios, classrooms, and other work environments to minimize dangers to artists

There are a number of organizations and groups specifically designed to provide information about safety in the arts.

1. Monona Rossol is a chemist, artist, and industrial hygienist is President/founder of Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to providing health and safety services to the arts. ACTS publishes data sheets (from 1 to 10 pages) on over 60 different technical subjects related to health and safety in art and theater which are available free of charge or for a nominal fee.
2. Art and Creative Materials Institute is an international organization that was organized to assist its members in providing the public with art and creative materials for children and artists that are non-toxic. All products in the program undergo extensive toxicological evaluation and testing before they are granted the right to bear the ACMI certification seal. The institute provides information on hazardous products.
3. The Artists Complete Health & Safety Guide - this provides information on an incredible variety of art materials and processes.
4. The Arts Resource Centre outlines health, safety and insurance for artists.
5. The Crafts Report looks at studio ergonomics.

The list of hazards, erogonomics and impacts on health is extensive and can take up a lot of research time. I think that my preference of graphite tends to be one of the least offensive to my body with the exception of fixative spray used at the end of a drawing. So as long as my eyesight and hands hang in there, I should be fairly safe.

Ethnic diversity

Fabric seller

Graphite 9 x 12

copyright Jeanette Jobson

The horrible bug that got me over the weekend lifted, of course, by Monday morning so I could go to work. Why do I only get sick on weekends or when I go on holiday?

Feeling so awful all weekend, I didn't accomplish much of anything in terms of drawing, but I found this sketch done a few weeks ago of a fabric stall seller. The hands look rather small, but in fact they are in reality, suprisingly small. Oriental people can be very petite sometimes and have such refined features.

I'm often asked how to draw a specific ethnic population, as beginners tend to concentrate on skin tone to define ethnicity. While skin tone does play a part in defining a person's ethnic background, I find it is facial structure that is the determinant of ethnic origin. So back to drawing and exact placement of features that is the key to creating any individual, no matter what their origin. All faces, no matter what their ethnicity, possess the same features and these are more or less standardized. That meaning they have similar structure physiologically, but the flesh around those features and the bone structure vary to define the individual face.

Observational skills are critical to achieve a likeness with any individual and cannot be emphasized enough. Take time to observe, measure and practice drawing people from different backgrounds.

Cat & mouse

Black cat

Cat & mouse

I've had this idea of drawing a black cat in my head for ages and have finally gotten around to putting it down on paper. I used Artagain paper, white charcoal and Prismacolour pencils. As today is Drawing Day, it seemed a good time to tackle this idea. This is the original study for the piece. I will create this on a 22 x 30 sheet and see how it turns out.

Originally it was intended to be just the cat, then the mouse sort of came into being. It could have a macabre ending - or not - depending on how the story plays out in your head.

Today I bought a new laptop as my old one was getting slower and slower. This one has all the bells and whistles as well as a 17 inch high resolution screen which is much better for viewing art on. I've spent most of the afternoon installing programs and updates and re-finding links and sites.

I also woke with a horrible cold today and feel awful so I spent the afternoon in bouts of sorting the laptop, sneezing, napping and drawing. I've been trying to get a good image of this drawing without a lot of success. They all come out a little blurry or too light. Black paper......ahhhhh

Art grants

Laguna arch study

I have been mulling over several larger scale ideas for art in my mind recently and wondering how I can fund them. Grants spring to mind, but I've never applied for one personally before. I've done scores of applications for grants for non profit work, so the transition shouldn't be too different right?

Well yes and no. The implication of writing a grant proposal for myself puts the onus on myself to perform. Grants are given not out of the love of providing money to starving artists. The grant foundations want proof that you've done what you said you'll do. That will take a bit of planning on my part to achieve any of the project ideas that I have in mind.

As the funds aren't sustainng grants, it means that I would need to still work and produce a body of work. I do work full time and draw now,but not at the level that I want. There are few demands for performance aside from some commissions now and then. A project grant would mean accountability and performance, neither of which are bad things depending on whatever else is happening in life at the same time.

However, if I can get an art grant it will provide me with funds to concentrate on my project, buy materials, market, frame, etc. etc. I don't want to share my ideas at this time as I don't want to influence anyone or encourage anyone else to beat me to it! A few secrets are always a good thing.

So where to find an arts grant and what type of grant do I want? I'd like to hear from other artists who have received project grants to find out what the process was like, how the project progressed, the evaluation and overall experience.

Here are two links to grants that are both local and national and may be useful to other Canadian artists besides me.

Deadline September 15, 2008 - NL Arts Council - Project Grants

Deadline December 1 2008 - Canada Council for the Arts - Assistance to Visual Artists - Project Grants

Knitting and art

Sock and cookie

copyright Jeanette Jobson

"knitting as a means of expression in fine art has become a global phenomenon, appearing in galleries all over the world. No longer is knitting pushed into the realm of being ‘a suitable pastime for the ‘aged and feeble-minded!''

I started knitting a sock the other night and also was drawing some chocolate chip cookies that I'd made that same day. I was getting torn between the two pursuits as well as listening to a knitting broadcast on my iPod. Sensory overload! (Just in case anyone wants to know, the yarn used here is Patons Kroy Socks 4ply - colour Stained Glass. 75% washable wool, 25% nylon. Knitting on 4 doubled pointed needles size 2.75mm)

I haven't knit for years despite a penchant for buying good yarn when I see it and stockpiling. I think I have the makings of a small wool store in my utility room. What is it about supplies? Its the same with art supplies. I keep buying them, even though I know I don't need them sometimes. It must be that squirrel tendency to store things away for a rainy day - just in case...
Of course living on this island I can justify some purchases as there are things here that I can't buy locally which must be mail ordered or I buy them when I travel.

Knitting small projects is quite manageable and I may make a dent in the Christmas list if I apply myself to it. Knitting is another creative pursuit that has many similarities to drawing and painting. Knitting can also become sculptural like this.

Knitting as an art form and as the revival of a tradition is increasing in popularity. Brigette Cameron's article The Knitting Train delves into knitting as art on the Craft Culture site.

Finally, a unique music video that was knit! The group is Tricot Machine from Quebec (tricot means knit in French). Over 700 of the frames were knit. Its quite amazing really.

Looking for inspiration

Study of Moose

copyright Jeanette Jobson

I was looking for a reference photo of a black cat, as I wanted to try something dramatic on black paper. While I was looking, I came across an image of Maggie Stiefvater's cat, Moose in the WetCanvas library and while I was at lunch today, I sketched it. Eyes always appeal to me and this one was no different.

I've been in a bit of a drawing slump this week, likely because work has been over the top in terms of busy and by the time I get home, I end up collapsing on the sofa not doing much of anything else.

I have snippets of things that I've done this week, but nothing significant. But I hope by this weekend I will have started a larger piece Inspiration hits in strange ways and I never know when it will or what will trigger it. It seems there are a number of artists who are going through a slump right now. Maybe its the change of the seasons. So what do I do to find new inspiration? Here are a few things that usually provide me with something to sketch:

1. Visit other artists blogs. Leafing through pages of other art blogs often provides inspiration for drawings and sparks off ideas.

2. Visit a local art gallery or museum.

3. Looking through drawings that I haven't finished. I am often tempted to go back and finish them or redo them in a different medium.

4. Go for a walk. As I like detail in my work, walking gives me a chance to explore the world at my feet. I bring a camera with me and take a few shots of whatever strikes my interest.

5. Wander through the barn. There are dark hidden corners and lots of animals ready to pose. If you haven't got a barn, go to the zoo or an animal sanctuary or even the animal shelter or explore someone's garden shed.

Rust and iron in the barn

6. Go to the supermarket. Aside from buying groceries, you can find interesting fruits and vegetables, shiny displays, glassware - a artist's treasure trove.

7. Look through old photo albums. Old photos of relatives and friends from when they were children or portraits from the 30s or before make wonderful reference images. That's where I found an old photo of myself as a child and did a drawing from it.

What do you do to break out of a slump?

Nothing and something

Pulsatilla flowers

Usually, throughout the day, thoughts come to me that I can use in my writing in this blog. But for the last couple of days nothing is coming. I've sketched and seen compositions as I drive or walk or drink coffee at the local coffee shop, but nothing has made me pay enough attention to devote time to putting it into cohesive thoughts.

So here I am. Writing, but not writing. Why do I feel a sense of guilt almost if I haven't written here for a day? I created this blog as a motivation for me to continue to draw and it has achieved that.

Am I at a stumbling block or have I run out of things to talk about after 2.5 years of writing?

I started a little knitting project yesterday that took me away from drawing for a night. Its been years since I've knit and I'd forgotten how it feels. There is the same creative element in knitting as in drawing and it has similar abilities to take me away from the world for awhile as I get lost in rows and patterns as the wool and needles do their magic almost on their own.

Today I received an order of some more art supplies. I had wanted to try the Derwent Inktense pencils so bought a tin of 12 to play with. I like most Derwent products and will post my experiments with these new pencils. I also bought some carbon pencils, which, for some reason, I couldn't access here. Sometimes the simplest things become inaccessible on this island. Finally, I added some Linetex 3000 illustration board to my order. This is a smooth plate finish on 15 x 20 inch boards. I like the very smooth surface for drawing, even if it has both advantages and disadvantages.

Vulture update

Vulture - update
copyright Jeanette Jobson

Today has reverted back to cooler temperatures again, but my gardening and the feel of sun against skin helped rejuvenate me yesterday. I also added to my store of images both physically and in my mind with a wealth of colours and light and compositions and I am busy creating compositions with.

As I wake so early lately, I added more layers to the vulture and decided that feathers, or at least this bird's feathers, are a pain to draw. They are fluffy and very much like drawing messy hair, so may take a bit of time to conquer. It makes me wish I'd played around with this on drafting film, as its easier to erase mistakes on!

The duck pond

Another duck disappeared mysteriously. He is no doubt food for another fox or perhaps a mink. 'Abe' was a mottled dark duck that was hatched out here on the farm and he continuously paired up with another male - a white Pekin and they were inseparable. Once spring arrived, they decided that they didn't want to go back into the barn with everyone else at night but wanted to stay on the pond and play. I wasn't about to chase them all over the marsh to herd them reluctantly back in so they got their wish and have been doing so for a month or more. Then the other morning Abe didn't turn up at the barn and the Pekin (known as 'New Guy' even though he's been here more than a year) was there looking subdued and nervous.

Its frustrating this cycle of life. I've come to accept it more but never will do so completely and I resent the eyes in the woods watching, waiting for their turn to pounce.

Gardening day

The vulture is still on the drawing table, but I like to take little breaks in between and play with other sketches like this sad eyed hound. These sketches start out with me drawing eyes. I love drawing eyes. Sometimes it expands past the eyes, sometimes not.

TToday I've been coming to grips with the garden. A new vegetable garden has been ploughed and today was rock picking day. Newfoundland isn't known for its agriculture as the soil is poor and there are more rocks than you could ever imagine to pick out before the soil can be amended with compost or manure and ready for planting. So I spent a few hours harvesting rocks of all sizes and clearing broken sod from the ploughed ground before aged manure could be tilled into the earth.

Work like that gives you a real respect for those who came before and who had to clear land without the aid of tractors and who had to dig out endless rocks and hand till the ground to put in vital crops to see them through the winter. Its quite amazing what we take for granted now in terms of availability of food when all we have to do is provide money and we get what we want. Many years ago, physically hard work and planning as well as luck with the weather was what it took to feed a family and a bad year would mean a very lean winter.

Rising costs of fuel will drive up food costs, especially here, as everything is flown or trucked in. It would not take much in terms of shortages, trucker strikes or climate change to make a huge impact on availability of fresh food. So my aim this year is to become as self sufficient as possible and grow as much as I can which I can then process, bottle, freeze etc. Besides making economic sense, I also know just what I am eating and how it was grown. I grow organically wherever possible and am convinced that many of today's health problems are related to the processed foods that are eaten, chemicals sprayed on crops and genetic tinkering to botanical species.

I'm also getting a new little greenhouse to put some of my more tender heritage vegetables in. Its framed up and now needs shelving and the greenhouse plastic on it. The new vegetable garden is beyond the greenhouse on the edge of the meadow. Today was windy so it was pointless to even consider wrestling with huge sheets of plastic. I probably would have ended up parasailing my way to Ireland!

I ended up taking a number of photos today as I wandered around the property, seeing what plants had survived the winter. Yes has been a long time coming this year and even now things are at least two weeks late.

Update

Vulture update
coloured pencil
copyright Jeanette Jobson

Most of the time I like my job, but today - well today scrubbing out toilets would have been wayyyyyyy more preferable.

Human nature never ceases to amaze me and the ability to let something like work overpower your sense and sensibility. Today it felt like a frustrating spiral, surrounded by people, many of whom I have known for a very long time who suddenly felt like strangers. I participated but felt as if I was on the perimeter looking at the proceedings wondering what in hell's name we were all doing.

Its just as well I have my art, as I believe its one of the things in life that keeps me sane. Or at least partially sane anyway. I forged ahead with the vulture last night without even thinking about stopping for updates then realized that I hadn't done any. Oops. I find it difficult to create progress pieces and tutorials as the 'stop and photograph' is a real intrusion on the drawing. I have to consciously make myself stop and take an image. If I get into 'the zone', well the imaging just won't happen as I get too selfish and involved in the drawing aspect.

So now time to kick back and relax a little and do some more work on pretty boy, the vulture. I will have to find out exactly what kind he is so I can give him the appropriate title. (I found out, he's an Eurasian Black Vulture) Tomorrow I'll be working til 9 or 10pm so there likely won't be an update. Unless I quit before then.

Sugar daddies, apply within.

Learning and teaching

Vulture - in progress

coloured pencil on Strathmore sketchpad 9 x 12
copyright Jeanette Jobson

Why is it that when you start something as a doodle almost it turns out well, but if you started the sme thing seriously, you'd fight with it for hours to get it right?

I was awake at 4:30 this morning and found this image of a youthful vulture (I think). I like the shapes and unique look to the bird so started drawing it. I pulled out an old sketchpad that obviously something hard had leaned on for awhile, as it has an indentation in the lower right side as you can see. And, of course the drawing is coming along quite nicely. It always seems to do that on bad paper.

I may be brave and transfer it to another sheet of paper or more likely I will turn it into a learning piece, bad paper and all.

So do we learn from our mistakes? Yes, I believe that most of us do. The learning process is all about trial and error, whether art or anything else. Of course the older we are, the more the world expects of us. They believe that older people have a greater bed of knowledge, skills and expertise, whereas we are still in a learning phase, albeit a slower one sometimes.

Because I am relatively new to teaching art, but am in my 50s, people think that I've been teaching for many years. I'm still learning that process at times and some of my students are my guinea pigs (sorry folks, but I do pre-warn you!). I do have a long period of art experience behind me though and that helps me over the humps - or at least I act well when necessary.

However, there is a world of difference between those who can draw or paint and think they can teach compared to those who can draw and paint and are able to effectively impart the knowledge and skills to others. I don't profess to be either at the moment. Feedback tells me that I do get knowledge and skills across to students and progress is made, so that's a good thing. They don't go running from the room when they hear that I'm the instructor. I believe a good teacher has a variety of skills beside her knowledge of the subject material. A teacher needs to have a strong interest in coaxing the best out of a student, supplying them with the knowledge and skills to do so and encouraging them to surpass her in ability and knowledge.

I think back to teachers who I have had and the ones that I learned the most from were skilled, empathetic, non competitive with the student, insisted on making me test the waters of areas I was uncomfortable with, praised, scolded and encouraged me both during and after my time with them.

These are people that you don't forget. These are the people who impact your art and your life.

Creating texture

Abandoned
graphite 9 x 12
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I often stay with living things when I'm drawing - my comfort zone I guess. But lately I've been drawn to textures and have wanted to do something more detailed depicting brick or wood. This image of an old abandoned house fit the bill nicely , the basement window either frosted over with grime or water stained board behind it.

I loved creating the texture of the rotting wood and the subtle roughness of the brickwork. I want to try my hand at rust next. I've found some old horseshoes in the barn and they may do the trick, though around the farm there's never a shortage of rust it seems!

We often shy away from subjects that have a perceived level of difficulty. Looking at something complex in shape or colour we think 'I can't do that.' But we can do that. Its all down to observation and taking your time, breaking down the image into small manageable sections so it doesn't become overwhelming.

Its a bit like life. One section at a time.

Sleep and feathers

Goose feather
graphite 4 x 4
copyright Jeanette Jobson

My sleep patterns are erratic and more so when I have things on my mind or work creates unconscious thoughts. This means that I wake very early in the morning and I find that is probably one of the best times of day for drawing for me. By early I'm taking 5am, sometimes earlier.

I get a cup of coffee, wrap myself up in a soft, warm throw and my mind forgets whatever it was that woke me and concentrates on pencil and paper. I get lost in the process of drawing, so much so that I suddenly realize hours have gone by and I need to rush to get ready for work.

This morning was an early morning and this feather was the result. This is a goose feather and I was trying to capture the downy hairs around the base of the feather. No wonder goose feathers are reknowned for their ability to trap air and heat. They're quite amazing feats of engineering. I didn't exactly manage to make it as fluffy as it looked but I enjoyed the exercise.

Which came first? The drawing or the painting?

Relaxed
Graphite 9 x 12
copyright Jeanette Jobson

After a busy day yesterday, this image pretty much sums up what I intend to do with my Sunday.

Every teaching opportunity provides me with food for thought and the one yesterday that I gave was no different. The individuals attending were from a variety of backgrounds and skill levels. Many of them were more familiar with painting than drawing.

Its interesting to hear observations about drawing from those more used to painting. I'm of the school of thought that says to paint well you need to be able to draw well first. I was told earlier this year by a prominent painter - "You don't need to paint. You know how to draw well." From that should I infer that he meant that many of those who only paint do so because they don't have a strong background in drawing? Do they believe that painting is a shortcut? I believe that every great painter that you see will have a solid background in drawing. Without the framework of drawing, many paintings will not be seen as competent.

Many of the people attending the workshop yesterday didn't sketch or draw - they painted. The discipline of drawing and the time it takes to create a realistic image was not something that they wanted to adopt. Yes they were interested and did draw the exercises I provided and said they enjoyed the process. But I felt they wanted results - fast results. And reality. But wondered why the two weren't within grasp through dry media.

Rushing a drawing instead of building it slowly is very common in those starting out drawing realistically. Individuals try to put a 4 hour drawing into 30 minutes and then wonder why it doesn't look like the demonstration drawing. Once they know the techniques and can practice them, they need to apply them with the knowledge that the drawing will take time to produce and hard work to see results.

All art forms whether drawing or painting use similar techniques. They are simply different mediums and the mastery of those techniques takes time and practice. They are manual and observational skills learned by repetition.

Observation is another learned skill and essential to artists who want to produce realism. I as individuals to produce a drawing, all using the same reference image and the variety of interpretations of what is seen by each is quite interesting. Many simply don't examine in detail. They are looking for broader values perhaps and in so are missing highlights or variances in light patterns from their subject.

Maybe its a reflection of today's society that people want instant gratification in everything from food to service to creating art. But as with everything, you get back what you invest in terms of time and effort.

I know that I have a passion for drawing. It is something that calls to me and demands attention, so I will be more biased towards the creation of images in any dry media. I also enjoy painting too, but even in that, my foundation for a painting begins with drawing. Unless a piece is abstract - and even then there takes some planning on paper initially - I don't see how drawing can escape the painting process.

Drawing workshop

Eye
graphite 4 x 6
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I teach a drawing workshop tomorrow and am finalizing a few details for it tonight. There are 18 people registered for this workshop, so that will make a fairly large group to coordinate, but once things get underway I'm sure it will be fine.

While teaching children has appeal in some ways, I prefer teaching adults, as the interaction is on a very different level as are skill levels and ability to understand techniques - most of the time. My workshops tend to move towards showing the basics of academic drawing techniques and move into observational skills and how to apply them to create realism.

Not everyone has the patience for realistic work and want quick results but a realistic end product. These are the people who end up getting frustrated with the process and time commitment involved. On average, a highly realistic portrait of a person or animal can take me 25 - 30 hours or more, depending on whether there is a background or not. Realism is not for those who want speed.

Quill pens

Duck & goose feathers

There are a number of ducks and geese that wander around the farm constantly preening, fighting and generally leaving feathers of all sorts behind. This weekend as I did some gardening I was picking up large flight feathers from them and as I held them, wondering if I could create a quill pen.

BD & Buddy, my Muscovy ducks, are here having a great time searching for worms in a newly ploughed garden. They LOVE bugs and mice to eat. Yes, mice. Its bizarre. They are my favourite ducks. They are the ugliest creatures, but placid, slow moving and quackless. They hiss which sounds threatening but its their only way of communicating. They greet me each day when I come home, bobbing their heads, hissing and wagging their tails like little dogs. I adore them. They are very large ducks, the size of turkeys or geese so their feathers are perfect for quill pens.

A quill pen is made from a flight feather of a large bird, most often a goose. Quills were used as instruments for writing with ink before the metal dip pen, the fountain pen and ballpoint pen came into use.

Common writing equipment in medieval times were the quill and parchment. The strongest quills were the primary flight feathers taken from living birds in the spring. The left wing was favored because the feathers curved outward and away when used by a right-handed writer. Goose feathers were most commonly used and swan feathers were of a premium grade being scarcer and more expensive. For making fine lines, crow feathers were the best, and then came the feathers of the eagle, owl, hawk and turkey. Quills obtained from living birds in the spring proved to be the best for writing.

The method of making a quill pen is a little time consuming, but achievable with some practice. I have quite a few feathers to choose from but I won't be tackling one of the geese to get a 'live' flight feather!

How to make a quill pen

Keeping with the era of quill pens, I'm still working on my 1460 self portrait, so here's another update. Everything seems to be done in small chunks of time lately as I haven't had a block of time to sit down and finish a more complex piece. Next week...

I'm working on developing the dark background and dress and sculpting the upper portion of the head dress and the gauze. I've been using charcoal for the dark background but its not covering really well at this point. I'll try a little fixative and go over it again for a smooth surface.

1460 Self Portrait
after Rogier van der Weyden's Portrait of a Lady
copyright Jeanette Jobson

Bad day

Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are. ~Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha

Its not been a good 24 hours.

I developed a severe burning pain in my eye last night that kept me awake most of the night. Trying to get a doctor's appointmentproved difficult. The earliest he can see me is Wednesday. Medical care is free for the most part in Canada, but it sure does have its challenges sometimes in terms of waiting times. Anyway, despite it all, the eye is getting better, and I have antibiotic drops to use, so I'll manage.

Then late this afternoon a friend died of cancer. She had been diagnosed only about a month ago. Its sad and all so common lately, this disease. Was is so prevalent in the past or did doctors just not know what it was? Or is it more common now due to changes in foods and lifestyles? Whichever the case, its a horrible disease, deserved by no one and equally damaging to those who die from it and those who watch the process helplessly from the sidelines.

So I crippled through today on little sleep and pain, wearing sunglasses inside and out as my eye was so light sensitive. Yes, its my pity party tonight. Come on over and bring a bottle.

However, I do have a little update on the tutorial for glass that I am developing. Not a large one, as my brain/eye/hand coordination won't let me see the finer details tonight, but an update all the same. I enjoy drawing glass. The precise shapes are like fitting a puzzle together.

Cosmos - finished & Tripod

White Cosmos

Coloured pencil on Bristol Vellum 9 x 12
copyright Jeanette Jobson

This is a close up of the area that was torn. Its the area immediately to the right of the middle sepal of the flower. Its virtual unnoticeable now thanks to some great advice from Teresa Mallen and others on how to repair it.

Finally, a view of the piece from about 6 feet away. We always see images close up on computers, but not as often from the appropriate viewing point. This gives a better idea of the colours, but is still a little pale.

And now for all the Tripod fans out there, his very own video. This was taken yesterday in the front yard, Tripod proving that disabled or not he can still catch pretty well and is really part dog. Ok, sort of. When he's in the mood. And its not too warm. If he's had enough tuna.

Never work with children or animals....



Enjoy!

Flower drawing update

Cosmos
CP on bristol vellum 9 x 12
copyright Jeanette Jobson

Its the Victoria Day long weekend in Canada and I haven't had much in the way of commitments until tonight, so I'm trying to catch up on some drawing.

I transferred the cosmos line drawing onto Bristol Vellum on Saturday and have made some inroads into the background and the buds. The flower is slowly coming together but there are sections that I have removed and will do over. It doesn't 'flow' for me. But of course, being a flower, that's my usual dilemma! Now in the process of removing some of the pigment on the flower, a small piece of the paper has lifted off, as I was using sticky tape to lift off the colour. I will try to go over it and see what the result is. Any tips from people who have fixed similar problems would be more than welcome.

I'm aiming for a soft, mottled background , predominantly green and am now introducing other colours into to provide interest. I'm pleased with the background and buds so far. I just need to fix the main flower. I'm bringing colours from the background into the flower and hope that will give it some lift. I want it to remain soft and subtle but not be boring.

Virtual Sketch # 2

Tripod 8 x 10
copyright Jeanette Jobson

Last week I emailed a reference photo to those participating in a Virtual Sketch. This was Rose Welty's idea and she and I participated in one a few weeks ago. We decided to continue on and invited others to join which they did. Ten people in all took part, including myself.

The concept is simple. One person provides a reference image and you have a week to draw it, then post it on your blog. Its always interesting to see the different approaches to subjects. The subjects can push us outside our comfort zones but that's a good thing, its how we learn and grow as artists.

I've had my plate pretty full this week, and worked on Tripod, the cat, off and on during that time. Tripod has many obsessions. One of them is paper and in this instance he was lying on the paper I was drawing on. I don't think I've gone a wonderful job of this. His eyes are too far apart I think. This cat has a big square head, a real tom cat face and I may have over emphasized that and then the paw was a bit of an afterthought, so its too small. But there's always next time.

The following individuals took part in the Virtual Sketch this time and I'd encourage you to visit their blogs and see what they have produced from this reference. All drawings will be posted sometime today, Sunday, May 18th. I say sometime, as we didn't set a deadline for posting time, just the day. As people are spread over the globe, posting times will be staggered. Keep checking in during Sunday and you'll find some amazing art I am sure.

Rose, Jeanne, Stacy, Belinda, Jennifer, Gayle, Teresa, Katherine and Paulette (Teresa's image is posted on Rose's blog as Teresa doesn't have a blog)

Juggling art

Fallen Fairy - value sketch

copyright Jeanette Jobson

I'm currently juggling five drawing projects.

• I'm trying to finish up the drawing for the Virtual Sketch project that is due tomorrow.
• I started the background for a cosmos flower in coloured pencil
• I'm still working on the 1460 self portrait - nearly there.
• I'm on stage three of the glass tutorial
• I've completed the value sketch for a portrait of a friend's daughter, which is above.

I love this last pose. The child is three and loves to dance. She was whirling around, wearing a floaty chiffon dress - her 'princess dress' as she likes to call it. She collapsed in a heap on the floor with the dress billowing around her and sunlight highlighting the dark shadows around her. It was perfect, so I took some photos. I will see what medium I do this in. It may end up as pencil or perhaps coloured pencil. I never seem to know until I turn my attention to the piece what it will become.

Art in the garden

Line drawing - White cosmos 8 x 10
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I am determined to get past the fear that I have of drawing flowers. Well not so much fear, but a dislike of the subject matter. So why don't I just draw what I enjoy drawing and not stress myself? Because I get lazy within my comfort zone.

Being comfortable doesn't:

...test my ability to observe.
...push me into an uncomfortable place and make me figure out how to get out of that place but keep the quality I want
...improve my ability to expand my technical expertise
...inspire me to try different subjects

I have drawn flowers off and on, mostly off over the last few years and am never really pleased with the result. Some are pleasant, but none outstanding. Today I did a line drawing of a white cosmos and buds. The shape is simple and I will do it in coloured pencil with a fairly strong contrasting background to make it stand out. Cosmos are one of my favourite flowers for growing in the garden. They aren't popular here as they are tall flowers -3 feet and more - and the wind tosses them around. I put them up against a fence in a sheltered spot and they are glorious.

Memorial University's Botanical Garden in St. John's has reopened for the season. Its still too early to enjoy blooms as spring, or the Newfoundland version of it, drags on with gloomy weather, making everyone depressed, cold and miserable. However, the Gardens are planning their 31st Annual Garden and Nature Art Exhibition and I may pluck up my courage and enter a couple of pieces. Perhaps one photograph and one drawing.


Submissions for the 31st Annual Garden & Nature Art Exhibition are welcome from local artists. Entry forms are available from their website or the Garden. Art exhibit submissions will be accepted at MUN Botanical Garden between June 3 - June 24, 2008, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The exhibition will be on public view Friday, July 4 - Monday, September 1 in both the conference room and display room of the field centre of the Botanical Garden, 306 Mount Scio Road.

The Botanical Gardens rambles over 110 acres of land within the boundaries of Pippy Park in St. John's and I drive past it each day on my way to work. I can glimpse signs of life in the perennial border and if the weather would only clear and dry up for awhile, I would chance a hike on one of the trails to get some photos and sketching done. The gardens expand regularly with plants that are hardy in Newfoundland and they also make seeds available at times which I have grown successfully. The best being a hardy clematis that took off like a rocket last year and has beautiful fluffy seed heads after the bloom has died.

Art manikins

Meet my new friend. She hasn't got a name yet and is a bit stiff, but is warming up nicely for her role in my what will be my new studio downstairs. I came across a sale on good quality manikins in an art store in Ottawa so decided I'd buy this 16 inch one. I used to have one years ago but with travels, kids using it for playing and just general over use, it became firewood.

Manikins are built in proportion to the human figure with flexible joints, allowing them to be posed in a variety of ways. Manikins are so useful for figure drawing from elementary to advanced artists and are great problem solvers when you haven't got the model in front of you. Besides human models, you can also purchase hand or foot manikins, even animal manikins.

I found this feather from one of the Embden geese as I got out of the car. It was so pristine and fluffy I had to pick it up and now the manikin holds it, waiting to be drawn. This may be the next drawing project...

Finally, a video of drawing an artist's manikin using geometric forms.

Drawing glass

Line drawing - broken glass
12 x 6 - mat board

For people learning to draw, the prospect of drawing glass, metal or water seems daunting and it is a question that I get asked over and over again.

This piece is the basis for a tutorial that I am creating for drawing glass. I love drawing glass or another other reflective surface. To me, its like a jigsaw puzzle. There are many pieces, consisting of light and shade and they only work when placed next to each other for contrast. Only then does the beauty of the surface appear as if by magic.

I start out with a detailed line drawing that can take quite some time, depending on the complexity of the piece. From there, I start putting the puzzle together, starting with the lightest values and working up the layers until I reach the darkest, leaving the white of the paper for the brightest highlights.

Establishing initial values - broken glass
12 x 6 - mat board

Drawing reflective surfaces demands patience and keen observation. If you take your time and slowly build your drawing, you will be rewarded. Drawing metal, glass or still water are all very similar in technical skills as they are all reflective surfaces. If you can successfully render one, you can render any of them.

I am using mat board for this drawing. I scrounged some samples from a framing shop as I wanted to test it as a drawing support. I quite like it! The surface is very similar to the Bristol Illustration board that I have used and is pretty forgiving. I will be using this again.

White on black

Broken egg
White charcoal on artagain 9 x12

I wanted to play with some dark paper today and this was the result. Drawing on black paper brings surprising results and each type of paper brings its own challenges. Some seem to just 'eat' the white and need several applications before it makes any impact.

The other problem with using white on black paper is that its difficult to erase cleanly. It erases fine in small areas that you'll be going over again, but for larger sections, there is a ghost left behind that doesn't disappear and too much rubbing will mar the paper's surface.

I'll keep working on this one and bring the smudged areas under control. I used some coloured pencil for the exposed yolk in this and like the touch of colour it adds. I'm not happy with the overall texture of the egg shell and will try to blend it to a smoother surface if possible.