Pears

Pears
Watercolour 9 x 12
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I've been pressed for time this week but really felt that I needed to participate in the Virtual Sketch Date for a couple of reasons. One, I was administering the VSD this month and two, I really loved the reference image from Belinda Lindhardt. (thanks Belinda!)

Pears
graphite line drawing 11 x 14
copyright Jeanette Jobson

This morning I started drawing the pears, thinking a graphite drawing and I got the master line drawing done for it. Then the coffee kicked in and I realized that I would never get a graphite drawing done in one day - or at least one that I was happy with. So I pulled out some watercolour paper and figured I'd try my hand at completing the pears in watercolour. Here are the results. The graphite drawing will be worked on when I get time.

Fall exhibition

Its that time again.

My local art association is holding a fall exhibition and I'm putting a few pieces in. It really was a last minute decision as I was called by the President yesterday to participate in a television interview tonight to promote the exhibition. At that point I hadn't wrapped my mind around it and didn't even know what if anything I could put in. So I scrambled last night to find a few pieces and pop them in frames to be ready for the morning. I and a few other artists brought some pieces to give a sampling of what would be availableat the exhibit. Events like this help give coverage to the association and hopefully encourage the public to attend - and buy!

The pieces that I'm putting in are all dry media - ranging from a subdued coloured pencil cat piece to a landscape and a portrait done in charcoal. I find myself comparing my work to others at these events. My niche is shades of gray and usually not on a large scale. Being surrounded by some quite large colourful pieces can go either way. My work can become almost invisible in comparison or it can become a focal point due to its difference. I'm hoping it will be the latter.

With favourable interest in the sneak preview of my work to my peers, I'm hoping that the public will be interested as well and some pieces sell.

For those close enough to attend, it will be held at the Capital Hotel, Kenmount Road.

Deja vu

The Reader

coloured pencil on drafting film 11 x 14
copyright Jeanette Jobson

Here is the start of the portrait that I'm doing with the fantasy creatures and my grand daughter. The previous piece was the study where I worked out placement, composition, colour, etc.

I'm using drafting film for this which is about 11 x 14. I am reducing the number of fantasy figures and will keep them faint to not overpower the reality of this. Just how I'm going to do this, I'm not quite sure of yet... That's an exercise for the sketchbook and tracing paper I think.

I had no choice but to photograph this, but as daylight disappears by the time I get home in the evenings, artificial light doesn't help with colours or values. This is in its preliminary stages, so is difficult to see at best right now and my grand daughter has that lovely pale Nordic colouring so nothing will pop out for awhile yet.

Catching up

I've finally caught up with myself after my trip and the return to work and am figuring out what I'm doing with some drawing.

I did a colour study for a portrait of my grand daughter and this was the completed piece. I learned more about what I wanted to do with the final drawing on this and what changes I need to make. Studies are always useful to me.

I've started the line drawing for the new piece on drafting film and will use coloured pencil still. I've pulled out my box of Derwent Coloursofts. I quite like Prismacolors, but Derwents do blend so well. I haven't used drafting film for awhile but love its surface. Lets see if it loves me in return! Its both forgiving and challenging so I'll take my time and use a light hand.

Yesterday and last night, the island was under a storm watch for wind and rain. St. John's received 85ml and the wind was howling all night taking most of the leaves off the trees by this morning. On the way to work, traffic was backed up so I took a detour through Logy Bay. The surf in Middle Cove was amazing with waves rolling in and crashing on the rocks. The beach was almost obliterated with water. I got out to take a couple of photos as I only had my cell phone camera with me. Later, the stormy seas had subsided a bit but this video shows the force of the ocean. It always amazes me...

Who does she think she is?

Can you name five female artists?

In director Pamela Tanner Boll's new film Who Does She Think She Is?, which opened in New York on October 17th, most people could not name more than a handful of female artists if any.

Why are 80% of art school students women, yet 80% of artists displayed in galleries and museums men?

Does motherhood affect how you create art? Does being a woman impact on how seriously you are taken in the art world?

Watch the trailer and listen to some thought provoking comments about how women as thought of as artists. How many of these comments can you identify with? I know I heard a number of them in my life and related to my work.

New York Times Review

You can visit the official site to order a DVD, find local screenings or host a home screening party. The latter sounds like a great idea for local art associations or clubs.

Visit the Theatrical Trailer on YouTube.

Virtual Sketching

Its that's time again. Virtual Sketch Date is here for October!

The numbers of participants have grown a lot from its initial concept by Rose Welty when we decided to pick a reference out of the air and we both used it to draw the same piece. Now around 40 participants are taking part and providing an amazing range of talent and media.

Perhaps the idea is spreading, as Karin Jurick started another blog a month or two ago - Different Strokes from Different Folks inviting people to draw or paint an image that she chooses. This too has been very well populated by artists.

Belinda Lindhardt is this month's photographer. You can visit her blog here.

Participation in the Virtual Sketch Date is easy. Draw the reference piece, post it on your blog before the final deadline and let the world come view your masterpiece.

Absent

Toronto skyline

I will be out of town for a few days as I go to some business meetings in Toronto. A little post or two will crop up, provided the gods of technology smile fondly on me in my quest to conquer Blogger's ability to enter the future.

My sketch book will go with me as always, but finding time to sketch is a challenge unless airports or planes decide to make me sit still for awhile.

Blogging will resume on October 20th.

Poverty in my (and your) backyard

Today is Blog Action Day 2008 and this year’s topic is poverty. Blog Action Day tries to raise awareness about a specific issue by having thousands of bloggers blog about a single chosen topic on the same day. This is my rant.

The average person who reads this blog doesn't really know about or has been touched by poverty personally. Have you ever had to make the choice between food or heat? Have you ever had to go without medicine because you couldn't afford it? Yes, I'm talking about 2008 here and North America.

We all whine about not being able to afford the latest technology toy, new car or designer clothes, but we have a roof over our heads, food to eat, heat to warm us and are fairly safe from physical harm in our day to day lives. We can buy goods and services that want, we don't need to work at hard manual labour unless we choose to; we don't need to collect water from a well 3 miles away from our residence or stand in line for basic food rations.

Often poverty is thought of as the problem in underdeveloped countries, but you don't need to go far to see poverty in your town or your neighbourhood. We just often choose to ignore it and are touched by the expensive marketing ads to support doe eyed children in other countries, when the same problem is under our noses, but we either are not aware of it, or choose to ignore it.

Poverty takes many forms, from physically not having enough to eat, inadequate housing, poor working conditions, minimum wages below the poverty line, etc etc. I was once in the position of being classed as 'poor'. I was young with two small children, recently divorced and had just applied for social assistance as I had no other source of income at the time. It is a stressful position to be in and one which many people find themselves and many struggle to get out of. I was lucky to get out of it quickly through hard work and effort. Of course that doesn't mean that those in that position don't work to get out of it. I was just lucky I think. Sometimes the system that acts as your safety net also serves to drag you down and prevent you from moving ahead. I've seen first hand the action and inaction of poverty and how it binds people's hands and wears them into apathy through work with women's shelters.

The issue of poverty is HUGE and far reaching. It impacts all of us whether we are the working poor, comfortable or well off. Poverty impacts both mental and physical health. The concept of 'child poverty' doesn't sit well with me. Children aren't poor. They don't have the ability to earn income or change their status in life. Their parents are poor. Government needs to look at the economic and environmental factors that create low income families, and address those issues instead of labelling it as 'child poverty'.

A lot of research and information is held in the Poverty In Canada website. Interesting that in the federal election which ended yesterday, the addressing of poverty in Canada was not a strong point in any of the candidate's platforms, though some answers were provided to questions asked.

Make Poverty History lobbies government constantly with the anti-poverty message in Canada.
Visit the Make Poverty History blog to read what others are doing and saying.

So how can you make an impact? Get involved. Do something! Volunteer and donate at a food bank, lobby government to increase living wages, or lower taxes for low income people. Find a need in your community and help fill it. A school breakfast program, school supplies, coats for winter, the list goes on and on. Yes these are drop in the bucket ideas but if they can make one family happier, more comfortable and more able to cope, then it is worth it.

Everyone knows that all artists are the original poor, starving in cold garrets, creating work that never sells, don't we? Its a myth that also has some truth to it too. However artists are also the most caring and generous of souls who willing give time money and product where possible to causes that help communities. Why not donate a piece of art to a local cause that helps assist low income families? You do a good deed, you help raise funds for a local organization to do their work and you also will receive some publicity for your art out of it.

Stand up and take action against poverty and inequality!

View from the other side

Fort Amherst Lighthouse

copyright Jeanette Jobson

Last weekend I posted some seascape photos and yesterday I took some more photos as I hiked out to Fort Amherst in St. John's. The first photo in my October 8th post shows the entrance to St. John's Harbour and these images show that view close up from the Fort Amherst side of the hills.

WWII Gun Batteries - Fort Amherst

Fort Amherst is a small community is located on the southern side of "The Narrows", the entrance to St. John's harbour. Apart from some family dwellings, Fort Amherst consists of a man-made harbour, a lighthouse and the remains of gun emplacements built during World War II to defend against German U-boats.

The walk to the lighthouse at Fort Amherst is paved but cars are not allowed. The drop off on the cliffs on the side makes me uneasy. It is fenced but not what I'd call securely. Old railway ties and steel ropes didn't leave me with a sense of comfort, so I hugged the cliff side on the way up and back. Yes, I'm a wuss. I don't do heights well. I couldn't make myself go to the fence once I reached the lighthouse. The wire fence was perched right on the edge of the rock face with a drop of several hundred feet to the ocean below. I tried, but my feet wouldn't go there. Too scary...

The Battery
copyright Jeanette Jobson

The Battery is a small residential area within the city of St. John's, Newfoundland. It sits on the entrance to the harbour located on the slopes of Signal Hill. The Battery is noted for its steep slopes, colourful houses, and its importance as a battery for the defense of St. John's harbour in both World Wars.

The Battery is home to Chain Rock, a land outcropping to which a large chain and anti-submarine boom were attached connecting to Fort Amherst in order to prevent the entry of German U-boats into the harbour during World War II. Chain Rock is one of two rocks located on opposite sides of the Narrows, Chain Rock on the battery side and Pancake Rock on the opposite. The space between the two rocks is 174 meters. Chain Rock and Pancake Rock were used as early as 1770. A chain was stretched between both rocks by means of a capstan at nightfall to prevent illegal entry of enemy ships. During World War I the chain was replaced with anti-submarine nets.

The view back into the city of St. John's from this place makes it look so different. I rarely see it from this perspective which is usually the domain of ships sailing through 'The Narrows' or for those who live in Fort Amherst.

Study for The Reader

Study for The Reader
11 x 14 coloured pencil
copyright Jeanette Jobson

Its the Thanksgiving holiday Monday today and I spent some time playing with the concept for this drawing. I think I'll call this one the study as I'm working out placement, composition, colour and figures in it.

In the next drawing, I will de-emphasize the cartoon creatures to bring forward the reality piece - my grand daughter and let the creatures become almost ghostlike in the background.

Often the journey is more appealing than the destination.

One never goes so far as when one doesn't know where one is going. (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

Fantasy and reality collide

I started doodling this morning with some coloured pencils. It was an image of my grand daughter 'reading' her book. I like the intent look of concentration on her face and the drawing expanded as the day progressed.

Of course, as is the way of life, when you start a doodle that then shows promise, it is always on the wrong paper and always composed incorrectly on the page so you run out of paper.

I decided that I would carry on the theme of the book with some characters from it coming to life and interacting with her. I'm playing around with composition and characters on tracing paper to see what fits, colours, backgrounds etc.

I also have some tinkering to do with her features. The mouth is too low so must be adjusted and the eyes are too bright. This is done in a Canson sketchbook 11 x 14. The paper isn't bad so I'll see how it holds the coloured pencil. If it doesn't work well, I'll simply use it as a study and start a new piece on better paper.

Rejects

Heirlooms
coloured pencil 9 x 12

I'm calling this drawing done but I'm not happy with it at all. Its one of those that will be relegated to the 'bin drawer' where images that don't measure up to expectation go. I don't throw out bad drawings. Sometimes I try to revitalize them at a later date or I review them months or years later to gauge progress and remind myself of past faux pas.

I'll put it down to a variety of environmental effects that came together to ensure that this didn't work to the level that I wanted.

1. A new support - I used Colourfix for this and it was the first time I truly used it to build an image. I need more practice on the surface and how it accepts coloured pencil
2. A hectic schedule - I've been trying to fit this into snatched moments here and there without having a block of serious time to sit down with it.
3. Self doubt - I'm still working my way out of a serious lack of inspiration and have found it difficult to get involved in any piece in any medium for the last couple of weeks.
4. Bad photography - I've found it is near impossible to get a good photo of this piece. The light at either end of my work day is impossible and today was dark and damp so the light didn't improve a lot.
   

Its good to go through the process of analysing drawings or paintings and accepting that not everything goes as planned. Its also good think about the external and internal factors that may play a role in the success or failure of a piece and just move on from there, not dwell on the mistakes.

Entertainment or Learning?

I did a quick search on YouTube for drawing videos. The return that came back was 249,000. For painting videos, a search came up with 324,000.

I get requests to make drawing videos from students and have declined to date because I am not sure just how beneficial they are to the learning process. Yes, some learning is achieved through demonstration, but I wonder if any research has been done as to how many people actually learn and retain information from art related videos or are they simply entertainment?

I know I am old school and learned the traditional way from practical theory, life demonstrations and hands on practice. So yes, I did have those demonstrations but done in addition to books, lectures, professors, art instructors and my own self discipline in practicing the skills I learned.

I've watched several videos, professional and amateur that show drawing specific subjects and I have to say I have not really learned anything new. I have enjoyed watching someone else's technique or say to myself, 'yes, that's how I approach it too'. There is usually a basic shape or gesture drawing that is then refined through accelerated frames to a final product, making the process look very easy. For the beginning artist, it may make it look almost too effortless in some ways.

Is there a difference in how an individual learns a drawing skill from a written form with illustrations a demonstration in real life or a series of 5 minute videos? And what about retaining that information or honing the skill from each of these methods? Done in isolation, videos do make it look easy - and quick. That is just what today's society wants and expects from everything. The populace wants skills that should be effortless and without a time commitment involved but be professional looking as well.

I have been looking for any research that has taken place on the use of video in teaching art techniques, drawing in particular but haven't been too successful to date. So I'm turning to my experts, the readers of the blog to see if they can shed some light, or at least their two cents worth, on this subject.

Is video demonstration simply a trend that is used for entertainment or is it a valid learning tool?

Seascapes

Entrance to St. John's Harbour

Rocky ledge - Logy Bay

Kelp and white rock reflections - Logy Bay

Savage Creek Cove

Even though I live on an island surrounded by ocean, I seldom draw it.

I love the water. I love its ever changing colours and movement. I love the sound of the waves hitting the beach and tumbling the rocks. I love that 'seaweed/fishy' smell that is only there on certain days. I love the power of the water, knowing it is strong enough to take me away forever in an instant and my respect for it grows each time I am close.

I see the ocean everywhere I go here. I drive less than five minutes from home and I can be on the flat rocks that lead to the water. I pass the sea on my way to work each morning and always check it to see the colour, assess the tide, and check the weather as if the water were a barometer. But I haven't seriously drawn the coast here. And I should.

Vivien Blackburn does heavenly images of seascapes that always inspire me with their colour and movement. Each time I see them, I swear that I will try my hand at capturing that light and colour and rocks myself.

For now I will share a few photos of the ocean that I took at the weekend. It was very windy on the day I took these photos, especially the one of the entrance to St. John's Harbour, I nearly blew over the side as I was high up on Signal Hill.

The waves and wind's movement over the water are as mesmerizing as were the mermaid sirens that lured sailors to their death in legend.

I must go down to the sea again....and this time paint it!

Art & volunteers

The Thinker
Pen & Ink, coloured pencil 8 x 10
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I have worked for most of my professional life with volunteers and for volunteers. I also am a volunteer myself in the art world. I worked on the board of directors of my local art association and am a volunteer teacher/moderator on an online art forum and have done for the last two years.

For those who don't work in the non profit industry - or the art industry for that matter - volunteering is a foreign and often dirty word to them. 'Why would you work for nothing?' I hear over and over again. 'What? A meeting at night?'

Volunteers are simply staff that aren't paid for what they do. I treat them the same way I do staff and as a volunteer, I expect to be treated equally well. And I also expect that the effort that I put into volunteering does not cause undue stress or that I am used or abused in that position.

In the world of art online, people expect a lot from an art forum. They never consider that what they are getting is some of the finest instruction from experienced artists for free. And often they come to expect - or demand - it and more without fully realizing the work that behind the scenes to make the finished product come to them or the fact that these individuals also have jobs and lives besides their volunteer roles.

So try to understand what volunteers do in your community; the impact they make; the work that is carried out by them and the dollars that are saved by local and federal governments through the work of volunteers.

Comfort curls

Shannon I
line drawing 11 x 14
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I'm taking a little break from the tomatoes and spent the weekend sketching, photographing scenery and starting the line drawing for a new portrait.

Weekends for me are full, too full usually as I try to cram in things I can't accomplish during the week. Sometimes things fit, many times they don't but I still try to do what I can between getting some R & R.

This line drawing is of a friend's daughter who is three. I love how when she sucks her thumb for comfort/habit, her other hand immediately goes to her hair where she twirls a curl. She has lovely red hair, a lively personality and is adorable. I took some photos of her when I visited earlier this year and finally am getting around to actually starting a drawing. I haven't decided on the medium for this one yet and I have another image of her that may translate into an oil painting.

Another update

Heirlooms
coloured pencil 9 x 12
copyright Jeanette Jobson

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

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

Arts cuts

Envy

Available from my shop in Etsy.
Support handmade!

I don't often post about politics, but this piece has provoked me enough to do so.

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

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

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

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

The Globe and Mail adds further in this article.

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

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

Listen to his version here.

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


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

Heirloom update

Heirlooms
coloured pencil 9 x 12
copyright Jeanette Jobson

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

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

Heirlooms in progress

Heirlooms
coloured pencil 9 x 12
copyright Jeanette Jobson

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

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

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

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