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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. 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!  Sketches from meet up with the Cincinnati Urban Sketchers at the Cincinnati Zoo, April 2024. 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. Spring is coming and so is the #ONEweek100people 2024 challenge!
Our dog Buddy is getting a little older and even thou he loves his walks, he sometimes needs a rest break. So instead of letting him decide where to lay down (which could be halfway across a bridge or a road), I now choose a spot that gives me a place to sit. Buddy gets a rest and I get to sketch. Sketches are quick, done in a micron pen and water brush filled with distilled water and india ink, resulting in a nice grey tone. A fun drawing challenge! Once again this year, took part in the "One Week 100 People" challenge. The goal this year was to draw all 100 people from life, with no photo reference. That can be a challenge, as you have to find indoor places to sketch or freeze outside! Here in London, ON, Canada, Tuesday, March 7 was -2 feels like -9 degrees Celsius. "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 first week of March!" Monday - Day 1: Tim Hortons on my way home from work for coffee and sketching (first 10 people) Tuesday, Day 2: Covent Garden Market was the destination for sketching (27 people) Wednesday, Day 3: Cherryhill Village Mall, with fellow urban sketcher was the destination (22 people) Thursday, Day 4: Just a few out my front window Friday, Day 5: Back to the Covent Garden Market for the rest of the sketches Challenge Complete: Total was 105!         It's been a long time since the release of the books "Barhopping into History, London Ontario" and "Hopping into History, London's Old East Village" by my author friend Kym Wolfe, and myself. It has to be the right project. There are so many craft breweries here in London ON and they each have history and character and awesome craft beer. We are systematically making our way to all of them: testing, talking, observing, taking photos, and interviewing owners and brewmasters.  Played a little golf over the Christmas break. A long drive to South Carolina, but missed the nasty weather here in Ontario, CA. Colder than normal temperatures in Myrtle Beach, but played 5 rounds of golf. The course I liked the best was World Tour Golf Links. After the round, while enjoying a Yuengling Traditional Lager, I sketched the 18 holes in my sketchbook with Micron pen and graphite. |
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