I was honoured to be the recipient of a Local History Award last Wednesday, April 9th, at Museum London.  "This award is to acknowledge the significant contribution you have made to the awareness of local heritage architecture by means of your drawings, paintings and your publications."

The London Heritage Awards are presented annually by the Architectural Conservancy Ontario – London Region and Heritage London Foundation. This was the 18th annual. It was a great evening at Museum London! Thank you to the awards committee, volunteers, event sponsors, and all those who made the awards ceremony possible.

The London Free Press has highlighted some of the award winners here:
​ https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/18th-annual-london-heritage-awards-winners-unveiled. 

Historic London architecture - WHY, you ask? I moved to London in the 1980s. I have lived, worked, and walked in downtown London ever since. Walking is the best way to observe your surroundings. That's where my inspiration comes from. Simply, I like what I see, and I feel the need to capture it. I currently call Blackfriars/Petersville Heritage Conservation District home. I still walk every day and get inspired every day.

You can find some of my London-based artworks and art cards at the at SHOP Museum London. You can also find many of my art cards at Magpie's Collected Creations - Covent Garden Market.

Drawings from the live model on Tuesday, March 25, at TAP Centre for Creativity. Steve was the model. The last pose is always clothed, a nice change.  A Strathmore Toned Tan sketchbook, a Micron pen, and a white charcoal pencil.

I thoroughly enjoyed the figure drawing session on April 2 at the TAP Centre for Creativity. Allison was the model. She is such a great model and always fun to draw!  A Strathmore Toned Tan sketchbook, a Micron pen, and a white charcoal pencil.

This morning was another Urban Sketchers London ON meetup. The rain and wet weather forced us inside, but we could still see Dundas Street from the front windows in the library. After I added colour, I wished I had left it as black and white.

Today is the day... 5th Annual International Art and Found Day! This is my first year participating in this fantastic event. I will drop some free art (original illustrations) at locations in downtown London. I am hoping that whoever finds the artworks appreciates them and lets me know!

More info https://artandfoundday.com/

"How it Started
The concept of Art and Found was created 7 years ago by Toronto artist Courtney Senior. Before she found her footing in the world of selling art, Courtney decided to find loving homes for her work by giving it away for free. She would package up her original artworks and leave them around different neighbourhoods in Toronto for people to find. Each artwork came with a note on the outside that read “Hello, I’m an original abstract painting in need of a loving home. FREE ART #ArtandFound.”

With the hashtag and personalized note on the inside, dozens of residents have contacted Courtney over the years sharing their excitement and gratitude for their new piece of artwork. Realizing the impact this had on the community and the keen interest of fellow artists to join in this initiative, Art and Found Day was born."

The finishing touches are complete on the beautiful and historic Brescia University College, which was founded in 1919 by the Ursuline Sisters. Canada’s last all-women’s university was fully integrated into Western University in May 2023.

Yesterday was the last class of the 4 part series. The focus was on linear drawings (not contour, not gestural). Lines. Lines that show simplicity and character, using varied line weights, light/dark, or implied lines. The last drawing of the day was 5 poses at 4 minutes for each pose. Happy with the results. 

Yesterday was interesting as we did timed drawings, but kept drawing on the same page. The first example is 4 drawings, at 4 minutes each. Just draw one on top of the other. I know they are light but it's pencil on newsprint - so it's kind of faint. The second image was three pencil sketches and 2-micron pen sketches, again timed at 4 minutes each. Again images are hard to see and confusing to draw, but so fun. The result was so interesting! Looking forward to next week.

Saturday was the second class of "Line and Gesture: An Expressive Approach to Figure Drawing" taught by Awadh Baryoum, at TAP Centre for Creativity.  It's fun. It's refreshing. So glad I signed up for the class. Takes me back to drawing classes in college, which was so long ago!

The Overview:
"The line is a fundamental element of drawing. While creating line work is often perceived as a simple activity that people engage in throughout their lives—requiring minimal manual or cognitive skill—it is also a profound and expressive undertaking that conveys complex emotional states.
In this course, we will investigate line not only as a technique but also as a form of artistic expression. Participants will develop a direct relationship with visual perception and the observation of the human figure in its unrefined state. Our exploration will incorporate both traditional and unconventional artistic materials, emphasizing innovation and creativity. Students will have the freedom to choose their preferred materials and will practice various techniques to cultivate a personal artistic style that reflects their unique interests and personalities."
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A couple drawings from last session. Each page is 18 x 24 inches, which is much bigger than I normally work. Each page was a 10-minute pose from a live model.

A couple more urban sketches yesterday. First: a noon visit to Art with Panache then coffee and sketch. Second: an evening at Western Fair District Raceway. Since I am not interested in gambling, it was just another opportunity for a drink and draw... some people practice and enjoy a beverage.