MAMA

Love
Coloured pencil on Stonehenge 9 x 12
Copyright Jeanette Jobson

I have come to the end of the commission and the final image is shown here. Now I have a couple of demos to do for classes in January and a lot of organizing to complete.

Tomorrow I will tackle a personal review of 2007 and share some plans for 2008. I just need to put them all on paper first. I like the reality of words on paper sometimes over typed words. There is something comforting about putting pen to paper, no spell check, no delete button. A quiet corner by the fire, a glass a wine and some reflections of the year past and the year to come.

Katherine Tyrrell of Making A Mark blog has awarded her 'Make Me Think' Gong jointly to me and Tracy Helgeson. I'm thrilled to receive recognition from Katherine and honoured to share this with Tracy whose work is energetic and writing always brings me straight into her life.

Katherine says:

Strong contenders in this category - which means people whose blogs I enjoy reading for the narrative as much as the images - are:

• one of last year’s winners Robert Genn (The Painter’s Keys) and his twice-weekly newsletter
  
• Tracy Helgeson (Works by Tracy Helgeson)
  
• Jeanette Jobson (Illustrated Life

All three frequently refer to the wider aspects of how we live our lives, difficulties we have to deal with and approaches which seem to produce good results. They all speak about both everyday matters and bigger concepts in an everyday way. They often make me step back and think about what I'm doing and how I relate to what they are talking about. In other words they take my perspective out for a spin!

Of course no pressure now to write something thought provoking!

On top of that, Katherine also offered the wonderful Tripod up as a contender for "The Moose" Award - Best Animal in an Illustrated Blog. Tripod, my cat, is the character that captured attention both in photographs and drawings in 2007 and earned me a Best of Show as well for this drawing. Contenders for "The Moose" were varied and all excellent artists. Gayle Mason of Fur in the Paint was the winner of this year's award and so well deserved. Her animal drawings are superb.

Recognition from your peers is something that does several things. It provides confirmation that you're heading in the right direction. It provides an ego boost. It makes the hard work worthwhile and it makes the friendships forged in this unnatural environment real. It also removes geographic barriers and allows sharing of thoughts, resources and lives.

Thank you Katherine and to everyone who reads my blog, shares their thoughts and helps me learn. Perhaps we all need to start these end of year awards, based on personal criteria and input from other artists. Lots of creative little banners could pop up on blogs full of 'feel good' emotion and support.

Cocooning

I digressed a little from my commission work and started a portrait. It was more of a doodle to begin with then I got more involved in it. I haven't slept well lately, so early (4am) mornings seem to be a good time for me to draw. Fueled by coffee and a warm fire, I get a few hours of drawing in before daylight strikes the tops of the trees.

I liked the challenge of this image, trying to draw realistically yet sympathetically. I also find the length of this particular commission I am doing a bit monotonous. There are nine pieces, each have a similar shape, but with different expressions and colours. Its good to break away from it now and then and do a sketch or quick drawing.

Yesterday I cocooned on the sofa with chocolates and a movie while a snowstorm raged outside for most of day, dumping 32 cm of the white stuff. Of course, snow here is rarely the picture perfect stuff that falls straight from the sky. No, this stuff is horizontal snow, driven by 100 km an hour winds. It is often mixed with ice or rain so that if you venture out, it feels as if a thousand tiny knives are cutting into you. Hence the hibernation mode on the sofa....

I'm amazed at how quickly my time has gone by. Three more days then I'm back at work again and I haven't accomplished a quarter of what I wanted to. Its funny how I seem to need a deadline at my heels to spur me into action. I'll fill these next three days with some painting and a start of some demos for classes in January. As another 10-15 cm of snow is due tonight and tomorrow, there shouldn't be too many other distractions brewing.

A cat's Christmas

The main event of Christmas is over and done with now, leaving me, among many no doubt, wondering what all the fuss was about. However, there are some good aspects to Christmas and it brings pleasure to some, including Tripod, the cat who thinks he's a dog.

Tripod loves paper of any kind, so Christmas wrappings were his idea of heaven.

He also loved his Christmas present of a bed, even if it is a bit of a tight fit. He has an army of soldiers to watch over him while he sleeps.

While the cat amuses himself, I'm kept busy finalizing a commission which is nearly completed. Then I will have a chance to review my year and make plans for the coming year. Its amazing when you write things down, just how much you have achieved. I'd encourage everyone to jot down some of the highlights of your year and make plans to surpass them in 2008.

Exploring the world

Curiosity, fear, intrigue, belief, wonder, fantasy? Any or all of the above could be present in my 11 month old grand daughter's face at her first encounter with the old gentleman himself. They also need to be present in all of us to create art. Its unfortunate that we often forget to use those same emotions and expression that we had as children. They serve us well as adults and especially well in the creative arts.

You can see the baby explore this person's face with her eyes, absorbing every plane, shape and colour. Its something she has never seen before. Its the same way that an artist explores an object when drawing or painting it. You see it for the first time as you use your eyes and pencil or brush to replicate what is in front of you.

I hope the holidays find you healthy, happy and looking forward to a new year filled with wonder and art. And most of all, I wish that you can rediscover some of your childhood wonder and interest in the world and include it in your next creative challenge.

Handmade paper

Candy canes
Coloured pencil 8 x 5
copyright Jeanette Jobson

Today has passed in a flurry of activity, none of which was really essential and it took time away from drawing and painting which I wanted to start. But there's always another day, but likely not tomorrow as Christmas takes over. But I hope to take some time to play during the day between meals and gifts and people.

I was sorting out my art cupboard today and found a pad of quite expensive St-Armand paper that I bought in Regina last month. It was my splurge at the time and its been sitting in the cupboard ever since while I find something interesting to use it for. Its classed as 'panoramic' size which is 9" x 20". I liked the sizing and thought it would make interesting landscape views. It was also available in a 9 x 10 block format as well. It seems like a fairly strong paper and the salesperson at the store said that it can be used for a variety of mediums, dry and wet. I'll experiment a bit with both and see how it holds up.

I already have some of the St-Armand Canal paper and Sabretooth paper. I love unique, handmade papers and they are a rarity these days, so accessing something when I am off the island is always a treat.

I have made paper myself several times and its an interesting activity. It takes practice to obtain a smooth surface to draw on and most of my efforts have come out as fairly sturdy paper. I often include herbs or flower petals to the paper or essential oils to provide fragrance to the finished product. It is really a summer activity as it involves lots of water and mess, so I do it in the garden on a nice warm sunny day which dries the paper fast on the frames.

For those interested in creating their own paper, there are lots of instructional sites online or contact some of the companies which provides supplies and finished products.

Paper Trail
The Paperwright
La Papeterie

Good drawing days

1950's Reindeer Ornament
Graphite, 8 x 5
Copyright Jeanette Jobson

You know when you have times of good drawing, when things you try just seem to roll off the pencil or paintbrush without effort? These last few days seem to be like that, so I'm trying to fit in as much as I can while the moment lasts. I know there will come a time soon when I try to draw or paint something and it will not work, no matter what I do.

Its a strange phenomenon as it seems effortless on my behalf . I realize of course that this revelation may be simply subjective on my part and the observer may have a totally different viewpoint. Productivity and willingness combined with time availability may play a role in how drawings or painting progress. Whatever factors come into play, I'm enjoying it.

This morning I tackled one of final pieces that go on my tree. This is an old ornament, almost as old as me, that I had as a child. Its a simple plastic 1950's reindeer that I remember being filled with tiny red and green candies. It was in a box of old ornaments that came from my mother's house and is probably one of the last remaining ones from that era still intact. The plastic is yellowing and brittle with age, but it still goes on the tree each year and now I have captured it on paper. I may add some colour wash to it to give it a bit of life. But its currently in a sketchbook and that means I'd have to transfer it.

That will have to wait while I take advantage of the good drawing fairy's visit first!

Marketing and creativity

Apple
Pen, ink & coloured pencil 8 x 5
copyright Jeanette Jobson

My mind, like that of other art bloggers, turns to introspection this time of year. A review of what I have accomplished, what succeeded, what didn't, all come in for scrutiny. And I'll write a more in-depth post about that once I've had more time to sit back, relax and consider it for awhile.

I know I've broken new ground this year and will continue to push myself forward into 2008. I, like most artists, find it difficult to be the marketer of my own work. Is it fear of rejection, or the uncomfortable feeling that comes with putting a personal part of my visual expression out for judgement? Perhaps its a bit of both, but I know I hate doing it, but it is an integral part of an artist's life if sales or recognition is wanted.

In reality, I am an introvert. I hate crowds of people and being engaged in meaningless conversation with total strangers, no matter who they may be. Oh, I can hold my own in conversation in these situations but the 'fight or flight' instinct is kicking in big time all the while as I look for an escape route.

Creativity mean I need to spend time away from people and with people. I can't produce well if I have a crowd of people around me. I do draw around people when I do demonstrations. I find it easy to tune out people to some degree in that situation until someone asks me a question and brings me back down to earth.

So marketing always feels strange to me and I do everything I can to avoid it. I would simply like a manager to deal with all the one on one negotiations with buyers and exhibitions etc to let me just produce.

I'm sure I'm not alone in this feeling and others find it odd that I don't want to be busom buddies with the world. Its part of my makeup and what I need to create. However, I don't have a manager, so I still need to deal with the world to market my art and believe me, its a painful process at times for me.

Sketches

I haven't had much time lately to do any more than sketches here and there for personal art. I've been busy working on the masks and tinkering with slight changes to them. I've been waking early in the morning likely because I have a lot on my mind with work and other things, but it gives me a chance to draw at that time of day, so this sketch of a 1920s mother and baby fit the bill the other day.

I find it difficult to allot time for my blog these days and feel guilty if I haven't made an entry for a day or two, so I try to get at least three entries a week. I remind myself of why I created the blog initially. It was to make myself accountable and in that accountability, productive. Well the latter works, but often interrupts the accountability process in that I don't have time to write down thoughts or share processes all the time.

In a couple of weeks it will be my blog's 2nd birthday. That's a lot of writing and drawing and photographs - more than I ever thought I had in me. Its interesting to go back over entries and see life events unfold - illustrated life.

Band Aid 1984

Twenty three years ago in London Do They Know It's Christmas was created and performed to draw attention to world hunger. And it still has the same impact today as it did in 1983, at least to me. I was living in England at the time and remember the concept, the music, the musicians and the flurry it caused with the press and the government at the time when they insisted that the VAT be paid on any sales of this record. Bob Geldof went head to head with Margaret Thatcher's government and won. The government allowed VAT to be donated to aid the cause.

Wikipedia has a lot of information on the event and the players involved:

The original 1984 Feed The World logo was based on a pencil sketch by Bob Geldof after watching a BBC television news report by Michael Buerk from famine-stricken Ethiopia, was so moved by the plight of starving children that he decided to try and raise money using his contacts in pop music. The news report itself has become famous, being voted among the greatest television moments of the century, and it remains Buerk's definitive work, even though most of his career was spent as an anchorman.

The name 'Band Aid' was chosen as a pun on the name of a well known brand of adhesive bandage, also referring to musicians working as a band to provide aid and alluding to the fact that any help stemming from their efforts is likened to a band-aid on a very serious wound.

The group has reformed on three occasions, each time from the most successful British and Irish pop music performers of the time, to record the same song at the same time of year. Co-writer Midge Ure once commented: 'Every generation should have its own version'.

I did a quick sketch of Bob Geldof, just for fun. Office pen and grid paper aren't the ideal mediums, but art is art. I tweaked it a little to remove the grid lines - or most of them. For those old enough to remember the original music and the original players, have a look at the video for some memories. See who you recognize now.

Portraits in oils

I've decided to tackle a serious oil painting in the form of a self portrait. Its been awhile since I've done much in oils though I have completed a few small ones and even sold one of my new efforts recently.

I have always loved oils and used to work a lot with them. There was then a lean time when I didn't produce much with oils as there was nowhere to keep them out, small children wanting to get involved, fumes, etc etc. But now I want to revitalize my skills with them but in a looser form perhaps, a more painterly form.

I have completed a line drawing and will enlarge this onto a gallery canvas I think and see what I can come up with.

Wish me luck!

Whimsy

Rowdy does Christmas
pen & ink, coloured pencil on Canson
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I've been working on a commission lately as well as teaching so haven't had a lot of time to make any new starts on major drawings or paintings. I've done a few sketches this weekend, trying to fit them into small time slots where possible. These will be the basis of future, more elaborate drawings and I want to try my hand at a portrait in oil. I'll likely try a self portrait first, then I don't have to apologize to anyone for screwing it up.

Early this morning I did a little pen and ink sketch and added some colour to it. It was from the Weekend Drawing Event at WetCanvas and took me about an hour to complete. Its whimsical and could hold the potential for a Christmas card. I used a Nexus pen in sepia with touches of coloured pencil. I like mixing media and the results are always interesting.

This afternoon I taught a drawing to some children. Its amazing sometimes just how quickly the time goes by when we all engage in something that captures their attention. That happened today and its wonderful to see the concentration and those 'aha' moments when they understand a concept or technique. Teaching children always held a bit of fear for me, but the more I understand how to keep their attention and with what, the more fun it becomes.

Drawing time

Christmas Present

Pen and ink, 7 x 5
copyright Jeanette Jobson

My internet connection at home has been sporadic over the last week or so and getting a service man out here seems to be a challenge. However, this morning someone arrived and the problem seems to be fixed - touch wood. Its amazing how much we depend on the internet connection to keep us in touch with a variety of things. Email from friends and colleagues, research, price comparison, shopping and art are just some of things that compete for attention.

The good aspect of not having access is that it enables me to work on my drawing uninterrupted by 'must dos' that always seem to be electronic. And getting sidelined into other sites and losing track of time!

Last night I sat down to watch the news and the old rocking chair across the room was filled with the remains of wrapping material from the previous day's wrapping frenzy to get a package off to my sister. The light was dim, mostly illumination was from the open kitchen door and the television, so I decided I'd tackle the wrapping chaos. I did a quick pencil sketch to establish shapes then tackled it in pen and ink. I used a Micron pen in what looks like burgundy ink but I believe its classed as sepia.

Pen and ink is a little daunting initially to many, but I find that especially in 'busy' pictures like this one, it becomes a very forgiving medium and I enjoy the effect that can be produced with it.

Organization

Sketch -- garlic and jar
8 x 10 graphite
copyright Jeanette Jobson

You know how sometimes you try to get organized and you get too organized and it screws everything up? I did that this year. In the summer I decided I would be ready for Christmas. There would be no big rush, no spending huge dollars at the last minute, no stress. I would be organized. Hmph. Doesn't quite work like that, does it?

I spent last night looking for gifts that I bought for people during the summer. Unsuccessfully looking for them. I searched in all the places I usually stash things. The bottom of the art cupboard. My closet. In the back of the cupboard under the sink in the bathroom. The cold room. I found a couple of things which weren't Christmas presents. Like the Baci chocolates I bought in Regina last month. (they're not bad and you get a little saying in each one). I found a gift left over from last year that was edible at some point, but likely stale by now. But not the things I was looking for.

So tonight, in the snow, I ventured into some stores to 'refind' some gifts. Why is it that when you don't want something or haven't got the money to get something, things literally jump off the shelves screaming 'buy me, buy me!', but when you want something and have the money there isn't a thing in any store anywhere that looks remotely interesting? I came home tired and with some things.

Likely on Boxing Day, the gifts I was looking for will turn up.

Turkey day

On Thursday, the Christmas turkeys go to the processor. The date was changed and is earlier than anticipated, so it means they'll be popped in the freezer for a week instead of fresh. It makes no difference to the texture or taste of the bird as there are no accelerrants used in the freezing process. When you are dependent on the schedules of others, dates and times get changed so it causes a flurry for a few days to coordinate it, but usually works out.

The turkeys are rather strange looking birds, quite prehistoric but have their own charm. They are so curious about the world around them and people who come to visit them. They love to be amused with a big red ball and feed bags stuffed with newspaper and hung from the ceiling act sort of like those punching bags in a boxer's gym.

But they must go - 94 of them this year and all sold - most prior to them even arriving here as day old poults. I always feel sad when they go, but they've served their purpose in life. I like to ensure that people know where their food comes from and are aware of the process and those who care for it and help it grow. These days we take it for granted that everything comes on a sterile tray or bag in a supermarket or for those who still have butchers, hanging from a rack there.

Raising animals gives you a new respect for their life, and our life and view of the world.

A star is born

Iridescent Star
Coloured pencil on cardstock
Copyright Jeanette Jobson

When I wake up early, I'm usually very productive. And waking early is a by-product of getting older - at least for me. So this morning I was up at 5am, well before dawn, wrapping Christmas presents, making lists, drinking coffee and drawing.

There was a little iridescent star on the table that started as a sketch then kept evolving then turned into a Christmas card for someone. I don't send a lot of Christmas cards so a few sketched here and there act as surprises for those who receive them.

This star isn't symmetrical and isn't perfect, but its a star and considering it was created at 5am, not too bad.

Dogberries

It snowed again today and as I left the house, the contrast of the red berries with their snowcap caught my eye, so I went back in to get the camera and capture it.

The birds make short work of these berries once the weather turns cold and crows carry off bunches, sitting in the tops of trees, eating them like grapes.

The tree is the mountain ash, but locally it is known as a dogberry. I don't know how it got this name as the tart berries definitely wouldn't be the food of choice of dogs. However, the lovely colour against the snow makes beautiful in-built Christmas decoration for the trees.

Lines

My work days seem to get longer and longer lately, at least for the job that is the main earner. My art work is still trying to catch up and not doing too badly this month. But tonight I didn't get home til around 7:30. I had a late conference call then out into traffic and snow.

When it snows, mystery traffic seems to materialize. A person without snow tires or an accident, and everything comes to a grinding halt for what seems like eternity. There wasn't that much snow on the ground, perhaps 5 -10cm but it made driving slick in places especially when you hit the snow outside the furrows left by other cars on the road. I do dislike winter, and especially dislike driving in snow.

On weekends I teach drawing to children and have to have something - or things - up my sleeve to keep their interest, so this weekend it will be anime/manga drawing. I don't have much experience in drawing these kind of figures, but the concept seems pretty straight forward and the techniques of drawing anything is still the same, so this is what I'll be tackling. They're strange creatures, these doe-eyed figments of imagination, but children and teens seem to think they're wonderful. Everything goes through phases and this no doubt will be the same.

Name change

Joy
Colored pencil on Stonehenge 9 x 12
Copyright Jeanette Jobson

My surname is Jobson. A very simple name. J O B S O N You'd think it would not be difficult to read, write or remember in the English speaking world, wouldn't you?

But it is apparently. I have received mail, government forms, cheques and documents all bearing variations of my surname on them. Today was a new variation. Gobson. It would be funny except that it was on three separate cheques from an organization that I spent two hours with filling out forms with my name and other personal information in order for them to get it all correct! Sigh. I'm going to change my name to something more simple. Smith? No....too complex....I think I'll go for X. I'll become the new Madame X, just without the controversial gown. That's a bit too chilly in the snow.

Rant over. Now on to more interesting things.

I'm heading towards half way through a commission of the 9 emotions of yoga - the rasas. I'm doing them in coloured pencil and each mask will be a different colour. There is a fine line between depiicting some of the emotions. The tilt of an eyebrow or eye can make all the difference. So far I've completed Joy more or less, which is shown here, Calmness, Disgust and Sadness.

Those emotions sort of sum up my day so far.

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.