Sometimes things just take time… a lot of time! Started January of 2020. Ended Summer of 2024. Four and a half years ago, I responded to a call to artist from LAC about a designing a medal for the Ontario Summer Games to be held in London ON. I had never designed a medal before. I started with taking a walk by the river for some contemplation. Next up, was some research on medal designs through out the years. What did we do before the internet? The reading and observing other designs gives a bit of context and more confidence in what I think I can do and what I want to do. Next up, sketch out some designs in my sketchbook. Next up, narrow down the ideas and execute a finished drawing. Submit. Wait. One of the hardest parts for me was the write up about my design. I know what I want to say, back getting the right words takes me more time than it should. Because there was a short timeline, it was not much of a wait. They picked my design. That was early February 2020. Then, as we all know, everything shut down, due to the COVID-19. Everything was cancelled. Stay at home.
Fast forward four years, it’s now January 2024. The world is basically back to normal. A message comes from LAC, with the news that the Ontario summer games are ago here in London, and my design will be used for the medal. Sometimes you just need to change things up!
I usually create art that is detailed and realistic. I believe drawing skills are critical. And I think it's not until you can draw realistically that you can leap to stylized and abstracted works… in my little brain anyway. So here we go... I started with some very quick sketches (mere minutes) completed on the golf course. Too little time for details. A few pencil lines. Some simple shapes. Maybe a micron pen. Maybe add some tone. Later at home, I had fun creating these colourful, stylized pieces of art. Each is approximately 4 inches by 4 inches. Inspired by a logo I worked on a few months back, where the client wanted an old feel - like a woodcut. This juried exhibition showcases original two-dimensional works of art that celebrate the artist behind the work, what the artist saw and created, "in their view", real or imagined. This means anything goes.
So pleased that these two artworks were juried into to show: "Looking at the Four Story Walkup" (ink, WC, cotton thread) 9 1/4" x 9" c2024 and "The Upper Two Floors" (ink, WC, cotton thread) 13 1/2" x 8 3/4" c2024 Urban Sketchers is a worldwide organization. They are in over 70 countries and in over 450 cities. Having chapters worldwide means when you visit another city, you can check and see if there is a chapter there, and if so, potentially meet up with them. This usually takes you to a location you may not go to. Last year we visited Cincinnati and I met up with the Cincinnati Urban Sketchers and sketched with them. This week, while in Cincinnati I was able to meet up with them again, this time at the Cincinnati Zoo.
It was a beautiful day and it was so busy at the zoo, but I did manage a couple of very quick sketches. That chapter has a very active membership (usually 4 meetup per month) and a stamp, well more than one stamp actually. Our Urban Sketchers, London ON chapter does not have a stamp... but we need one! On February 17, 2024, Urban Sketchers London met at The Market at Western Fair District for the 2nd sketch outing of 2024. Not only was this a great place to sketch, but host Jane Roy from "The Paint Box" (which puts a spotlight on various aspects of the vibrant visual art community in the City of London) joined us to film and interview the sketchers.
Here is the link to view the show: The Paint Box - London (rogerstv.com) This was my 3rd year to take part in the "One Week 100 People" challenge. This year some of my drawings/sketches are from life, and some I used photo references (just too cold to sit outside sometimes). It is always such great practice. As we all know, the more you practice, the more you learn, the more confident you get and the better your drawings become!
"Taking inspiration from online challenges such as #Inktober, urban sketchers Marc Taro Holmes (Montreal, CA) and Liz Steel (Sydney, AUS) invite the world to join in with #OneWeek100People – every year in the March!" Challenge completed between Monday March 11 and Friday Friday March 15, with a total of 104 people sketched. The beauty of traditional pen and ink is in the power of simple lines. It's a simple process, using simple tools on a piece of paper.
The downside... permanent ink is well, permanent. Sometimes you can correct a mistake, but sometimes it's impossible to correct it! These sketches are drawn from photos, the reasons being:
Spring is coming and so is the #ONEweek100people 2024 challenge!
I have my artwork at various shops and have been entering juried shows, as well as some seasonal shows and sales. So. this year... is the year to have a show of my own. It will not be a solo show, but rather a show with my artwork and possibly a local photographer. Still working out the details about where, when, and with whom. My tentative title is "Within Walking Distance". Most work I create is because I walk a lot. I have many years of walking to work in downtown London and Old East Village, plus walking dogs. The focus is on what I know and what I see on a daily basis. It will include lots of architecture, and it will also include other subjects, that all have a connection to downtown London.
Planning for later in the year: late summer or early fall. Giving me lots of time to create new works. I already have a couple of pieces completed. As soon as I have more details, I will share the details. Because I have been doing admin work and bookkeeping for my day job since 2003, my artwork has gotten smaller and smaller. Most of my artwork has been about 5 inches by 7 inches, with an occasional 6 inches by 24 inches, which is really just one big long 5-inch piece of art... a whole city block of buildings. Now is the time to start working larger!
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