Here and There, Switzerland

 

Here and There, Switerland (size: 7" x 9")

Commission artwork, with style based on a previous painting. After visiting Switerland, this is the painting to commemorate the trip. I started with the figure, from a Monday night session at The ARTS Project. I looked through the photos from the trip and picked out images that I felt suited, windows and mountains. I used the greenery to tie it together, similar to “Here and There”. “Edelweiss” the unofficial national flower of Switzerland. (The common name comes from German edel, meaning "noble", and weiß (also spelled weiss) "white", thus signifying "noble whiteness" or "noble purity".) Windows are interesting and symbolic.... they are an invisible division between private and public, are you inside looking out or outside looking in. Windows are said to symbolize enlightenment.

Here and There (size 6" x 12")

A short explanation of the original artwork, created in 2008 ... The human figure is at some level a self portrait. This represented my new found appreciation of the architecture in downtown London. This artwork was done after I came back from Limoux in the picturesque Languedoc area of Southern France, in 2007. The windows: one from a small town in southern France and and one from downtown London on Talbot Street.

Lack of Golf

Too much rain, not enought golf. Can't be on the course drawing, but can still draw from photo reference. These are ACEO cards. Top is Greenhills, bottom left is Heron Point and bottom right is Rocky Crest.  ACEO stands for "Art Cards, Editions and Originals". These cards have one main rule - they are 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches - the size of a trading card.

SS01 Talbot Street, London

SS01, Talbot Street, London, ON

Another streetscape of beautiful, downtown London. The distinctive Victorian architecture of the Talbot Inn, was incorporated into the new London Sports and Entertainment Centre (JLC) shown in this ink and graphite drawing, size 4" x 12". As long time fan and supporter of the London Knights, I have spent allot of time in this building, including the historic season when the Knights broke a CHL record, going 31 games in a row without a loss (29-0-2). Having said that, I was also witness to the record breaking season of 1995-96 at the old Ice House, south of the 401, when the Knights set a record for winning only three games all season (3-60-3).
"This building was originally constructed as the Hope Hotel in the 1840s by William Balkwill. It burnt down in January 1865 and was reopened in September 1865 as the City Hotel. It was renamed the Belvedere in 1871 and later the Talbot Inn. The building was demolished in 2001 and its facade was recreated on the John Labatt Centre which opened on the site in 2002." More info:  Talbot Inn.

Image size: 4" x 12"
Matted with 2" border all around, outside diminsion: 8" x 16"
Price is $65.00

Untitled Female No. 12, Savannah

The figurative portion is from April 4 at The ARTS Project. India ink gesture, then ramdam and free watercolour...  trying to get away from the tight / controlled work. The architecture details are from last years trip to Savannah (well, golfing in Hilton Head and a drive to Savannah). The  Riverfront District is historic and interesting and very beautiful. I unfortunately did not have time to draw while I was there, but have some good photo reference.

About Savannah "The City with the Nation’s Largest Registered Urban Historic Landmark District: Savannah has a unique city plan with 21 lush green squares, a wide variety of architecture, 1,600-plus restored structures rated historically and architecturally significant all within a 2.5 square mile area."

Golf Season

It’s been a long winter, but finally golf season has begun. Middle of April, before Greenhill Course even opened, played 18 holes on Good Friday. Then came the overnight April showers and Dingman Creek flooded the course, so off to GreyStone to play on Saturday.

Sketching on the golf course is good practise in drawing quickly. Usually only have time for a few pencil lines at a time. The rest of the sketch is done on next hole or hole after that, depending on wait time. This is GreyStone Hole # 1 with Niagara Escarpment in background. I find drawing naked trees very challenging and golf courses are full of naked trees at this time of year. In a week or so we will have the lush foliage and the courses will be all green.

On Location

Finally warm enough to be outside to do some drawing. Before work on thursday morning, met Susan at Victoria Park, where there are many large, old victorian era homes. Victorian era refers to a time period and not to a style. Queen Victoria, born in 1819, ruled Great Britain, the most powerful nation on earth at the time, from 1837 to 1901. Victorian architecture, in its broadest sense, is any building or style that was produced during her reign. The feature that attrached me, was the large colums with the ionic capitals. There are so many more wonderful examples of victorian era architecture in this area.

Figure Drawing

From last nights figure drawing session at The ARTS Project. Great model, great poses. I like these freedom and simpicity of these two short gesture sketches. I tend to get very tight and controlled with the longer poses. Still adding the watercolur on some of the ink drawings/sketches.