Relief printing

Fish
linoprint 4 x 5.5

I've been investigating relief prints or lino prints lately. I love the graphic look of them and wanted to experiment myself. I haven't done anything resembling printing for many many many years so I thought I'd give myself a refresher course and try a small print.

Of course, living on this island sometimes makes accessing materials difficult, but I did come up with the basics and have sent off my mailorder for more things today. Because it is a refresher course to me, I thought it may be new to others too and I will try to share my process here.

I first spent some time reviewing some videos at Wonder How on relief or block printing that we very useful in outlining the steps to take in creating a piece as well as sharing some tips for success.

The next decision was what design to use. It would have to be something that could translate easily into simple lines and shapes. I then remembered an old piece that I painted on wood many years ago, a sort of stylized fish and ocean and thought I'd see if I could create that as a simple line drawing and reduce it to fit the lino block that I had bought(4 x 5 1/2).

I outlined the size of the block on paper and used it to enclose the drawing of the fish. This was the final drawing.


I transferred the drawing to the lino, then went over it with a fine marker to make sure the lines stayed put. The piece is reversed now and will reverse again when printed.


I then used a carving tool to cut away the areas of the lino that would not receive ink. The decision around what to leave blank and what to carve I found a bit tricky and needed to do a few thumbnail sketches before I was brave enough to make the first cut. No going back then! The block cut like butter and I became absorbed in it, burning supper in the process....

Then came the fun part - making the first print! I used a spare sheet of glass as a palette and water-soluble block print inks for the print. I had a small brayer which was the perfect fit for the block, so I spent some time getting it coated with the right amount of ink. Too little and it would be patchy, too much and it would blur into the cut lines.


I made sure that the block was coated well with ink in all directions then plopped it onto a sketchbook page for an initial proof. I need a baren to be able to really make the ink adhere to the paper well, but as that's not available here and on order, I had to make do with the back of a wooden spoon. I've since found a rubberized grout float that I've 'borrowed' which should do the job nicely til my baren arrives.

I peeked to make sure the ink was doing as it should, then peeled it off the block and let it dry. The results are in the first image of this post. I played around and mixed some additional pigment to alter the blue and for a little more practice, then printed them on Somerset printing paper that I have. The pieces seem to be richer on the Somerset paper than on the plain paper and are obviously more absorbent.


I'll try them on a few other supports and practice a bit more. I have one more small lino block to play with and need to research another design for it. I quite enjoyed the process again and can see all sorts of possibilities for print use. Once I receive my materials I will have more scope with tools as this piece is carved with just one v cutter, making it a little clumsy at times, especially on the curves.

Redheads

Shannon
9 x 12 watercolour

This is a quick portrait of a friend's daughter which was painted mostly while I was on the phone with my friend. I had sketched the portrait last night then thoguht I'd see if I could get that special colouring that only redheads have.

I haven't finished the hand yet and will. The hair needs a little deepening in places but the rest will stay as it is. I don't think I was quite strong enough in the shadows of the sun across her face, as I was wary of going too deep and making it look harsh.

I'm starting to like watercolours again for portraits and just bought a big pad of watercolour paper, so I'm obliged to continue. Or that's my excuse anyway!

Marsh at twilight

Marsh at Twilight
9 x 12 oils

On my drive to and from work, I watch the skies and the water and the landscape, creating paintings in my head but knowing that they may only stay in my head as I won't have time to do everything that I want.

With some snow on the ground when I drive home in the evening, it gives a glow to the fields against the darkened trees that border them and tonight I saw the dying edge of the sun sinking behind the trees. The bright gold was like a slit in the sky, sitting on the treetops against the darkness and I so wanted to capture it.

A small stream winding through the marsh remained open, its movement preventing freezing and reflecting a glimmer of the sunset. I stopped the car and looked at the scene, trying to memorize it, then came home and took out my paints. Here is the result.

Alla prima portrait

Self portrait
oils 7 x 9

I'm trying hard to loosen up my oil painting and act on instinct instead of overthinking things. So I worked on this piece for about 2 hours and think I have a likeness there, but the hand needs some work. The position of the fingers was complex and I sort of glossed over it. I also need to work on brightening the skin tones. I want to replicate the translucent skin, but not overwork it. To do that now, I may have to wait til the first layers dry for a day or two before adding more paint.

I'll go back and tweak some more. The eye colour isn't right yet. My eyes are blue but not quite that blue. I find one of the most difficult things for me in oil portraits is getting the eye colour correct. I need to do a series of colour swatches for different coloured eyes to see what mixes I can come up with. These ones need to be greyer to tone them down I think.

I do need to look around and invest in a good book on colour and oils. Any recommendations?

Ice

Iced
yupo, watercolour 7 x 10

My mind is still working around elements of water and a series around that is part of my 2009 plan. I have looked at different forms of water, such as fog, snow and ice as, being winter here, there seems to be lots of it and will be for awhile. There are also creatures that live in or are dependent on water which also interest me.

I have been experimenting with different mediums and supports that I haven't used for awhile and in this piece I used Yupo. This support is a plastic sheet that doesn't absorb water so the paint sits on top until it dries. It can be washed away down to brilliant white again or different effects can be obtained through adding other things to the sheet. In this piece I tried some crumpled plastic film, removing it after the paint had dried, or nearly dried.

The effects left on the surface remind me of ice crystals or the look of ice under your feet when you stand on a deep frozen pond or lake. I'll do some more experimenting with this technique and see if it goes anywhere. I want to see how much I can layer it without it disintegrating the underlayer or muddying the paint too much. It seems from what I've read, you either love or hate yupo!

Sketches from a coffee shop

Sketches from a coffee shop

Graphite Moleskine 8 x 5

I sketch quite a bit and most if for my own enjoyment and doesn't often see the light of day through other's eyes. I love to sit in coffee shops and people watch. Expressions, gestures and capturing movement are fascinating to me. I flit from face to face and see how much detail I can get into a sketch before the person moves or before they notice I am sketching them.

I often find people will use the same movement over and over even if you think they are moving around a lot. I get the gesture in place first, then add details as the movement is repeated. If they move out of range, I can often use a similar gesture in someone else to complete the sketch.

This is the end of a sketchbook that I carry in my bag daily. Its also a kraft covered holder for receipts, gift cards and grocery lists. The pages are a little smeared by now but that adds to the charm.

Its now time to break out a new sketchbook or perhaps make one myself. I've been looking into creating a sketchbook for some time, but haven't acted on it. It doesn't look too complicated so I just may try my hand and see what I can come up with.

The other side

I'm still working on this little sketchbook, knowing that my holiday will be over come Monday and I won't have the luxury of time anymore. I get up early and come down to my studio then suddenly its 11am and I'm immersed in drawing or painting and the world around me disappears. I love it.

I wanted something to complete the reverse of this sketchbook as I put the portrait on the front. I thought of many things that spelled closure or the end, then finally came up with a closed door. That evolved into this old door knob and peeling paint that I've just realized took me the morning to fiddle with! I added a little pen and ink to define the peeling paint and now it almost looks pointillistic or jewel like instead of the rusty knob I used. Silk purses out of sow's ears I guess.

Its coloured pencil on the back cover of my little Moleskine cahier sketchbook. Ok, now that's done and I can get down to more contents for the inside!

Shut the door on your way out please...

Making the cover

Just before Christmas I finally received the little Moleskine for The Sketchbook Project. The due date is February 15th for posting it back to Atlanta, so I've been trying to add a couple of sketches a day to fill it up.

As there are so many sketchbooks that will be exhibited, I wanted mine to perhaps standout from the crowd a little, so last night I did a little self-portrait on the cover in coloured pencil. The proportion is wrong, but that somehow adds to the funky feel of the whole little project. I'll figure out what to put on the back cover later. Maybe a back view with some landscape included?

The interior sketches are a mix of graphite and marker right now, some are ok, some I want to trash, but they'll have to stay as they are. The theme of this project is 'Everyone We Know'. that leaves it open to some interpretation, but I mostly want it to reflect images of people or animals.

I'm throwing this open to readers who may like to become part of my sketchbook. If you would like a portrait of you or your pet included in this, email me a photo (email address on the right sidebar) and I'll do a sketch from it in this Moleskine. I'll scan all the images in the sketchbook once its complete and make it available on this blog. In addition, your individual sketch will be scanned and emailed to you, if you request it.

Please provide me with your images by January 15th, so I have enough time to fit them in and get the sketchbook back to Art House by the deadline. If for some reason, I run out of pages for sketches, I will let you know.

Once the sketchbook is returned to Art House it will go on tour along with all the other sketchbooks received to Atlanta, Washington, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, St. Louis, Brooklyn and back to Atlanta and Chicago at the moment. The sketchbooks will be exhibited at galleries and museums in these cities, with more venues being added.

Jugs to the past

Past Times
5 x 7 oils

This jug is likely similar to those in other houses around the world, but to me it brings memories as it belonged to my grandmother. Its held everything from applesauce or custard to gravy. The spout is chipped but it remains in service still.

I was looking for something to paint today and this was at the front of the cupboard. The apple was the remains of some Christmas ones - or pre-Christmas ones that are ready to be made into applesauce to fill the jug once more.

It was late in the day when I took the photo so its a little out of focus. I'm going to stop apologizing for winter light in my photos. Perhaps its a Canadian thing - saying sorry.

Sorry.

2009 - The Three 'Ps'

Driveway - in progress

7 x 9 oils

From my house to yours, Happy New Year

I have made some progress in 2008 but there is always room to move further ahead. I want to set some general goals for 2009. I don't know if setting time lines makes life easier or harder for me. I know deadlines help me achieve goals but too many cause stress and I have enough of that already! I am choosing some areas that I know I can manage and that I know I need and want to gain experience with.

In my day job (I've always wanted to say that :) I work for a non profit and I have a principle at work that helps me decide the level of participation, human and financial resource input and interaction that I use for various functions, projects, meetings partnerships, etc. I participate in something if it fulfills one of the following purposes for the charity:

1. it provides the organization with recognition
2. it brings in revenue
3. it meets the mandate of the organization

This same principle is easily transferable to my art. My purpose as an artist is three-fold too and is somewhat selfish. But I am a regarding myself as a business as well as an artist.

1. I want recognition for my work
2. I want to be paid for my services
3. I want to achieve my own goals in art

With these three principles in mind, it becomes easier to make decisions about what projects to tackle, what organizations to become involved with, what business plans to make, how to market myself and my art and how to interact with the art community.

I'm calling my goals the three 'P's, If I give fairly equal billing to each P, I should have a good balance on which to move ahead.

Promotion
The purpose of art is to share it with others. And to share it, I need to market it - and myself. I will do this by working on the following in the form of a loose work plan for the next 12 months which will give me a list of achievables to aim for and to measure progress.

New marketing materials
These will being the form of updated business cards and postcards as well as developing a consistent 'branding' for my blogs and marketing materials.

I want to market the sales blog more effectively and perhaps rehash what it holds and how it works. How I don't know right now. Its still in the thought formation stage.

A website
This has been on my 'to do' list for a couple of years but not happened. Looking at current trends I'm wondering if a static website is an effective use of my time and energy. Will it produce the results I want or will it just become another thing to update?

Right now I can put most of what I want on my blog(s) and can't really justify developing and maintaining a site unless I want to really push the business side of my art through tutorials and teaching.

I still need to do more research on the effectiveness of this before I make a decision. Stay tuned.

Blogging
I am fairly consistent in blogging averaging 21 days out of each month. With the addition of several other blogs that I will need to participate in, I may need to look at my blogging schedule or develop some well thought out plans of how to juggle everything.

I will still continue to blog and aim for a minimum of 3 times a week on my personal blog. The other projects are more laid back with monthly or bi-monthly participation depending on how they unfold.

Commissions
I want to secure more commissions for both people and animals. I know in the current economic conditions luxury items are becoming more a rarity so costs are always an issue. People are consistent in one thing: they want a high end product for a dollar store price. Finding the balance is the challenge.

I will offer some promotional pieces at no cost to individuals with a request to place them in high traffic areas or promote them to give me additional exposure.

I will offer smaller, looser pieces that provide an entry level into personal original art for the new collector or those on limited budgets. Through word of mouth and the desire for stronger, more detailed or colour work, additional commissions should arrives.

I will be contacting local newspapers to see if I can get a dedicated article on purchasing original entry level art and portraiture in the lifestyles section

Projects
To be effective at anything, practice is required and sometimes that practice comes with a price. In this case, hard work. I know that to keep my skill levels honed I need to keep drawing and painting over and over on a daily basis.

Watermarks
In December 2008, I became part of the Watermarks project which will allow me to explore water in many forms. This is a new undertaking and I see it helping me form a body of work as well as explore a broader range of mediums and techniques, yet still keeping my style recognizable.

Portrait Study Group
I have also joined two other groups, but both are private at the moment and designed to act as intensive workshops exploring a subject and both giving and receiving critiques that help move us ahead. The first project is a Portrait Study Group. Portraits are my first love and I look forward to this and to the interaction with the other 5 artists involved. We hope to explore a new portrait monthly and look at working with a variety of mediums I hope.

Plein and Simple
The second project is a plein air project. Now this pushes me out of my comfort zone in terms of live landscapes which I've often avoided. I know I can do it and often just need the push to move into this direction, even if winter in Newfoundland may be a challenge with this one! However, there are views from the comfort of home, as I live in the woods, quite literally.

Virtual Sketch Date
I have been involved in the Virtual Sketch Date since April 2008 when Rose Welty asked if I would like to join her in drawing from a single reference. Since then the project has grown tremendously and now has a huge following with many participants each month. With three administrators, myself, Rose and Stacy Rowan, the VSD will continue monthly and have even more success.

Production
A body of work
I need to create a body of work that consists of 15 - 20 plus pieces before I can consider approaching a gallery for representation.

I do have a body of work in terms of pieces but they aren't cohesive enough to provide the makings of an exhibition in my eyes.

I will be concentrating, through the various projects that I am involved with to have this body of work created in 2009. It will need to have the following characteristics:

Similar sized pieces
Consistant theme
Consistant, recognizable style

Mediums
Dry media are my comfort zone, but the past year I have been redeveloping my skills in oils and watercolours. I want to continue to paint as many of my new projects will demand it, but drawing will always be the backbone of what I do.

Grant funding
Production of a body of work has a lot of other peripherals associated with both production and promotion. Most of which cost money.

There are various local grants available to artists that will help with these costs - travel, framing, materials, etc. I will be applying for a grant in March that will help offset some of the costs for a project in 2009-2010. I want to base this on developing a series of pieces around water. If successful, this will give me some breathing room in terms of paying for framing, marketing materials, etc. It will also be a huge push forward in making me accountable to achieve. Its both scary and exciting at the same time.

If I don't get a grant, life doesn't stop. I will still produce and still move ahead with my plans for the year, perhaps at a less frantic pace.

These are my areas of concentration for 2009. Like everyone making plans, they are ambitious, but achievable as well. It will keep me busy but the results will be worth the effort.

Drawing tutorials

Cloud tutorial (2.5 mb)

Drawing glass tutorial (6.2 mb) (file size reduced 12.31.08)

I promised awhile back to post a drawing tutorial for use by anyone interested. I had some problems linking a pdf file to blogger but now have an offsite file host that is reliable. I originally did some for another teaching site and the graphics in these weren't up to scratch. I had photographed some when I should have scanned them. As I didn't want to do the pieces all over again just for the sake of perfect graphics, I have kept these tutorials and will now make them available here for free.

They are designed for individuals learning to draw and are step by step tutorials to the finished piece. Click on the link and it will take you to an external site (sendspace.com) where you will be able to download the tutorial.

If you do download either of these tutorials, please let me know what you think of them and if you do use them to create the drawing, I'd love to see the finished piece on your blog.

Most of all, enjoy my New Year's gift to you!

Observations

This is a bit of a teaser, rather like one of those cropped images where you have to guess what it is. Except that I do give you a link to the answer at the end of the post.

I've been playing with watercolours lately, trying to bring myself up to speed and refresh the old brain cells as how to do this. Drying time illustrates my impatience with the medium and I sometimes rush things and end up with mud. This time I forced myself to set it aside and work on other things while it was drying as I wanted transparent colours to give the delicate appearance of the fish's skin.

I was asked how I could see the colours in the skin. To me, it was quite clear and its difficult to explain to someone who isn't seeing the same colours at all. So what makes me capture these particular colours to use and not others?

For the full image and more details on fish and watercolours, visit my post on Watermarks.

2008 in review

Fruit Series: Orange II
oils 4 x 6

I'm reviewing my year and seeing what new avenues opened up to me, what I accomplished and where I am going. Its not until I write them down that I realize what I've achieved or not completed in the course of a year. I've asked myself a few questions that help give an overview of my art presence in 2008 and through those I can see where I want to go in 2009.

I am not going to be too ambitious though. I will tackle a few projects and help them move along to fill gaps that I see. The old adage of 'under promise and over deliver' works well in all paths of life. I outlined a few goals in October that I am heading for and will continue to flesh those out when I outline my plans for 2009.

Presence
I've analyzed my online presence and watched it grow - double in fact - compared to the previous year.
There are a variety of reasons why an artist becomes more well known, but the main reason is communication. By visiting other artist's blogs, joining projects, both real and virtual, communicating on other blogs and forums as well as being productive all help provide a presence that allows people to know you better. I think the statistics show that I have increased my readership and become more visible in 2008.

Productivity
I continue to draw or paint on nearly a daily basis. This is a combination of sketches or completion of saleable pieces. I have completed 25 - 30 saleable pieces which include commissions. The rest are practice pieces and pure pleasure for me.

I created a dedicated sales blog - The Starving Artist's Daily Sale. I admit that it hasn't done quite what I anticipated and it needs to be reviewed in terms of visibility, marketing and use. The economic crisis that continues globally makes artists look at pricing and sizes of pieces to attract buyers and I am no different. I will be inviting input to help me look objectively at the realities of selling my art online. Katherine Tyrrell's posts on art and the economy provide good reading on the realities.

I also moved into jewelry creation and sharing some small art pieces in an online Etsy store. Its slowly picking up in sales and provides more exposure and lets me alternate jewelry with art.

Interaction
As in presence, interaction is a big part of others being aware of your existence. Its karma; you have to give as well as receive. This year, I've stepped into several projects online that keep my skills honed and help me move out of my comfort zone as well as give me an opportunity to meet other artists and share in their world.

Virtual Sketch Date was created by Rose Welty in April as a way to provide a reference for others to practice drawing skills. This grew into a huge success with many people participating monthly. Now Rose, Stacy Rowan and I administer VSD as a separate blog.

On December 1st, Watermarks was launched. Watermarks is a small community of artists who make art from water. They like to sketch, draw and/or paint water - the sea, the coastline, beaches, rivers, streams, waterfalls, fountains - in all contexts, styles, genres and media. The brainchild of Vivien Blackburn, Lindsay Olsen and Katherine Tyrrell, I was one of the additional six artists invited to participate in this project.

For the first year, I decided to participate in WetCanvas annual portrait swap. I got enthusiastic and did two portraits which are now in the hands of their new owners. The experience was unique and good fun. The drawback is that not all the participants move at the same speed so completion may lag in your chosen partner and I am still waiting for portraits from the individuals that I was paired with.

I completed a drawing tutorial for Drawspace, where I volunteer as a moderator and teacher. I haven't had time to do more this year as many other projects have taken my time, but I do have a couple of tutorials in the wings that I will make available once I figure out the logistical side of hosting them to make them available on my blog.

There are other projects that are in the works and will be revealed in the 2009 plans.

Tools of the Trade
I finally set up a dedicated studio that will allow me to be more productive and focused. I have room to spread out and do several projects at once as well as room to teach small groups of people.

I purchased a new 17" laptop that provided speed, clear graphics and consistency for writing my blog and viewing art well. I also get satisfaction knowing that the laptop was paid for purely out of funds received from my art.

I am rediscovering oil paints again after a very long absence. I was determined to get into painting and let it free me from the tight drawing that I had gotten into. While I still love detail and realism, there is also satisfaction from creating almost abstract pieces with paint.

I played with different supports this year, from drafting film to colourfix paper and made a big dent in my 'stash' through my stash diet.

What I didn't do
I didn't create the website that I planned on and I wonder if it really matters. There are times when I want a dedicated site to host tutorials and other interactive information. I will have to review the benefits once more before deciding which way too go on this.

Marketing is another area that I haven't done a lot of in 2008. And it is something I need to tackle for 2009. I do have marketing pieces such as business cards and postcards available, as well as brochures. Information on these pieces changes over time and needs updating.

Aside from hard marketing pieces, I also need to contact the local public more to develop additional contacts for commission pieces. I also need to build a body of work to enable myself to approach galleries.

I will explore the plans and goals for 2009 in my final post of the year on December 31st. I'd love to hear about how your year unfolded and what you have in store for 2009 too.

Christmas sketches

Self portrait
pen & ink, watercolour

Nutcracker
pen & ink, watercolour

I've gotten through Christmas Day with not eating too much or being too lazy. A first for me! I also managed some sketching as well - a quick self portrait and a scene of Christmas from by the Christmas tree with a Rapidograph pen and watercolour wash. These were from life. I wanted to see what I could accomplish in a quick session of about 40 minutes each.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas 2008

As Christmas rolls around again, I wonder where the year has gone. As I get older, time does go by so much more quickly. As I get older I appreciate the simpler things in life: a kind word, a smile, a gesture and true friendship.

To all the friends I know through this blog and email and to those who I may not know as well, but who still drop by regularly to read my meanderings - Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. Winter holidays, no matter what they are called or what the traditions around them, give us time to sit back and reflect on life and love.

And now one of my favourite pieces of seasonal music sung by Aled Jones in 1985 and the theme song from The Snowman.

Secrets

Peaches

Oils 8 x 10

I have fulfilled my promise of a Secret Santa piece for another site and its now safe to put it here without fear of letting the cat out of the bag!

I have a half day at work tomorrow then some final preparations for Christmas. The next few days posting may be sporadic as I take some time to indulge myself in the season. I hope to be able to review some of my year and consider what I want to do in the coming year. I won't make big plans or concrete ones, as I know time is my enemy and I can't fulfill all my needs, which leads to frustration.

My mantra for 2009 will be no stress.

100 things

Fruit series - Apple I
5 x 7 oils

I loved the colour of this apple and the strong contrasts in the shadow. This was a very quick one where I just slapped on paint to see if the simplicity and colour would help me create something recognizable. There are a few other fruits waiting for similar treatments.

I found this originally on Vivien Blackburn's blog, then again on Tracy Helgeson's and Tina Mammoser's. The idea intrigued me. Its a bit like those 100 things to do before you die books, so I thought I'd reveal my own, which I've put in bold text.

1. Started your own blog (nearly 3 years 0ld now)
2. Slept under the stars (Girl Guide camp and May 24th weekends in my youth) 3. Played in a band (no musical ability!)
4. Visited Hawaii (I'd love to)
5. Watched a meteor shower (yes, the choice was a stiff neck from looking up or damp clothing from lying on the grass. The grass won)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (I work for a charity, I give everyday as a volunteer as well as paid staff)
7. Been to Disneyland (you couldn't pay me enough or drag me there)
8. Climbed a mountain (Butterpot Mountain - not fun)
9. Held a praying mantis (ewwwwwwww insects)
10. Sang a solo (does the drunken rendition at the Irish Navy Christmas party count?)
11. Bungee jumped (nooooooooooooo!)
12. Visited Paris (yes, drove in circles for 3 hours trying to get out of Paris)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (many times)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (some new techniques or new mediums)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (nothing officially diagnosed as such)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (have done so for many many years)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France (the crowds were too large)
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight (yes and had to pick up feathers forever when the casing broke)
22. Hitch hiked (yes as a teenager)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (rarely, I prefer to call them mental health days :))
24. Built a snow fort (as a child we build igloos and forts, sprayed them with water to freeze hard overnight)
25. Held a lamb (I lived on a farm and we'd feed orphan lambs. Their coats felt like hard brillo pads, not soft and fuzzy as they looked)
26. Gone skinny dipping (at the pool at Tom Greenshields. Whether you were the life model or the artist, everyone had the same attire - none)
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (its always too cloudy here usually!)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (constantly, as I'm always up early)
31. Hit a home run (I don't do sports)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person (the falls are spectacular, but the town is tacky and touristy)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (I've traced back to 1600s in Dorset, England,but I didn't get to the actual town, unless you count Google Earth)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (I was very comfortable at one point in life. Satisfying? Not really, it just took one element of stress away)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (when I was pregnant with my first child)
47. Had your portrait painted (by many people in drawing challenges and portrait swap)
48. Gone deep sea fishing (I used to go cod jigging years ago)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain (a long time ago - George....what was his last name??)
53. Played in the mud (my favourite thing to do as a child)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater (they were very popular when I was a teenager and I remember them well)
55. Been in a movie (nearly. I was asked to be an extra in The French Lieutenant's Woman, set in Lyme Regis. I couldn't get a child minder and the thought of lugging a 2 year old around all day wasn't good, so I didn't get in the movie. However, I did get to go to the final set party and met Meryl Streep who was very gracious.)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (I sold medicinal herbs, lotions, creams etc. and still do if people request them)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies (called Girl Guide cookies in Canada and I've sold my share when I was a child)
62. Gone whale watching (3 hours off the southern shore of Newfoundland, close enough to whales to look into their eyes or almost reach out and touch them)
63. Got flowers for no reason (we grow flowers commercially so, sad as it is to say, I almost get sick of looking at them)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (they won't accept my blood here as I was in the UK in the 1980s and they think I have Mad Cow :))
65. Gone sky diving (nooooooooooooooo)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp (it would be very sad but I would like that memory to stay in my head so I could work to ensure it never happens again)
67. Bounced a check (likely so)
68. Flown in a helicopter (they scare me)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (I have an old Christmas ornament from childhood, but no toys)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (tastes like salty ball bearings)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (once. personality clash)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (brought my girls to London and that was something they wanted to see)
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (don't like motorcycles)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (one of the places I want to visit)
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (twice)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (yes, but it always makes me uncomfortable)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (well, not personally, but we do raise poultry and pigs for food)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury! (I've avoided this so far)
91. Met someone famous (I used to work and live in a pub in Sunbury and met Eric Clapton, Denny Lane and several others there)
92. Joined a book club (they're as difficult as the Mafia to try to get away from!)
93. Lost a loved one (several)
94. Had a baby (2.5 to be precise)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit (see # 75 and I won)
98. Owned a cell phone (on my second and its a love/hate relationship)
99. Been stung by a bee (and a wasp, neither are fun)
100. Read an entire book in one day (never enough time)

Painting at -10

On the Horizon
3 x 5 oils

There was a lovely sunrise on Saturday morning and I promised myself I would try to capture it. The only problem was that the world was covered in snow and it was -10C. This is a glimpse of the sea on the horizon from far back in a field.

I have discovered several things about painting outside in subzero temperatures.

1. Fingerless gloves/mitts are a godsend. I have an ugly purple pair that I was given years ago so I grabbed those as it doesn't matter if paint adds to the current colour. The top half of the mitten unsnaps to allow me to hold brushes, etc.

2. Oils act a little like my car feels when I first start it in very cold weather. Its hard and sluggish and needs more lubrication to get going. I used more turps and medium to get the consistancy that I wanted, but even then it was still heavy and took a while to 'warm' to the idea of doing anything resembling a painting.

3. People think you are stark raving mad to stand in a field at dawn painting when its -10. Avoid eye contact and keep going.

4. Plein air painting is the art world's version of extreme sports.

Portrait update

The Pout
9 x 12 watercolour
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I'm calling this portrait complete, and as with most watercolours, its a struggle for me. I love the look of watercolours and so envy those who can carry it off seemingly with little effort.

I know the trick is practice, as with any medium. The more I use it, the easier it becomes.

And now for those men who may have had their head somewhere else when choosing a partner's gift, take heed of the following little video link - The Doghouse.

PS You still have 3 days to find something else.

Watercolour pout

The Pout WIP 9 x 12 watercolour

I have decided to face my nemesis in this portrait. Watercolour, for me is one of the most difficult mediums, likely because I don't use if frequently enough. I use it for washes in sketches but rarely to complete a piece.

This portrait is of my daughter and I did a sketch of it a couple of weeks ago. I loved the expression in it but have very poor reference photos to work from.

I'm taking my time and building it slowly. Part of my problem with watercolours is impatience waiting for layers to dry and not to keep adding, creating a muddy mess. Especially in the skin tones of children, you want it fresh and light.

So this is the first few layers. The piece has much warmer tones to it - or will - and the hair will be darker. I want it to have life and depth but always shy away from bold dark colours. And with watercolour its pretty much no going back once the brush is applied to paper. Of course, night time doesn't make it easy to capture colours with a camera. I'll try for a scan for the next update and see if I can get truer colours and values then.

Here is a link that I found on Vivien Blackburn's site. What card are you?

You are The Moon

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Moon is a card of magic and mystery - when prominent you know that nothing is as it seems, particularly when it concerns relationships. All logic is thrown out the window.

The Moon is all about visions and illusions, madness, genius and poetry. This is a card that has to do with sleep, and so with both dreams and nightmares. It is a scary card in that it warns that there might be hidden enemies, tricks and falsehoods. But it should also be remembered that this is a card of great creativity, of powerful magic, primal feelings and intuition. You may be going through a time of emotional and mental trial; if you have any past mental problems, you must be vigilant in taking your medication but avoid drugs or alcohol, as abuse of either will cause them irreparable damage. This time however, can also result in great creativity, psychic powers, visions and insight. You can and should trust your intuition.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.