THE IMPORTANCE OF ART

A society without art, is a dead society. 

 I can't imagine living in a society devoid of art. I was born into a family that had little to no interest in the arts. Their main concern was food on the table, and a roof over one's head, with a steady job, no matter what, in order to achieve this goal. 

That I would have an interest in the arts came about when I was a mere child, and a great-aunt came to visit my grandmother, setting up her easel in the summer kitchen, and magically, with a box of colours and a canvas, proceeded to paint an imaginary landscape. From that moment on I began to appreciate that there was more to life than just having a job, and taking home a paycheque. As a boy I dreamt about becoming an artist, and that I did, but only years after getting a "job", a dream kept alive by learning to appreciate art in all of its forms. 

I became an artist and have been fortunate to practice this trade for several decades. Did it provide for me fame and fortune? Definitely not, but the study, and the making of art, has enriched my life beyond my childhood dreams.

So, my message to those that may contemplate becoming artists, don't be dissuaded by the reality of the struggle, but embrace the opportunity to be a part of those helping to make society the interesting and wonderful world that we're privileged to enjoy.

Step #1

I recently picked up my brush, dormant since Covid, to see if I still knew how to make a watercolour painting. Since Covid, and our having to shelter in place, I've been writing quite a bit, neglecting painting, and, as well, I seem to have grown old in the interim giving reason as to why I should. I decided to make a few small paintings as practise, starting off with a pencil sketch.

Step #2

We're slowly adding a bit of colour, and slowly building up my courage to plow ahead and finish, so that I can get on with the next painting...

Stage #3 - Frood Lake, Algoma.

For all intents and purpose this small painting is finished as it will be framed as a small painting to the edges of the image. Now, it's on to the next small painting, Christmas gifts should I get them finished in time....

Provoking Lake - Algonquin Park
Pencil sketch

Island - Provoking Lake, Algonquin
Watercolour Painting 2024

AUTUMN

Sunrise - Pen & Ink Sketch  11/2024

 

AUTUMN

On the horizon there’s a faint sliver of light,

that  slowly grows ,announcing 

the end of night. 

Leafless trees lining the shore of the northern lake ,

are reflected in its cold still water.

The sky turns to hues of red. 

The sun shyly rises above the horizon, its warmth 

stirs the cold still water, and wakens mist,

that swirls across the lake, like ballerinas, 

they greet the morning. 

And then, it’s over. 

The sun in all its glory

frees itself from the horizon. 

Frost,

that settled throughout the night 

retreats, the ballerinas, slowly return 

to the cold still water.

 Raven,

wakened from its slumber by the light,

greets the silence of the morning, 

and soars to heights from which to view,

remnants of the night.

Autumn on a northern lake.

SILENCE IS DEAFENING

Storm Brewing  - Oxtongue Lake  Pencil Sketch.  November 2024

Several days ago, despite the fact that it was mid November and cold, we travelled to Algonquin Park for a few days. To reiterate, it was cold, minuses in the morning sometimes with heavy frost and with day time temperatures never reaching the teens celsius. Still, it was very enjoyable. There was no getting out of the car and sitting sketching. I'm old, and 4C with a windchill too cold for these old bones, but I did manage a couple of sketches from inside the car. Also, on the plus side we experienced something that most who visit the park never experience, quiet. We stopped at Canisbay, Smoke, and Opeongo, Lakes, parked, turn the motor off and listen to the silence. It was deafening, no bird songs, no wind in the pines, just overwhelming silence. A bit eerie to not hear something. An experience to remember.

We're home now, the sounds are overwhelming, cars racing back and forth to the local school dropping off, and picking up children, dogs barking, people chatting, car radios blaring, squirrels chattering, kids screaming....I do wish that I was back in Algonquin. No doubt by now, should one park beside a northern lake, you can probably hear the snow falling......

 

LIFE - SHORTER THAN YOU THINK.

                           Canisbay Lake, Algonquin Park.     Pencil Sketch       September 2024

I'm aged, in my 80s, and with failing health I find myself confined to sketch at the side of lakes, or some comfortable spot in parks while we picnic. How I hate getting old. Makes me wish that I had spent more time doing this and that, instead of putting off until tomorrow.

Anyway, we made it up to Algonquin Provincial park and spent a few days making  the odd sketch. I'll post others in days to come, but in the meantime here's a pencil sketch made at Canisbay Lake. Of note, the park wasn't as busy as in past years. There were only a couple of cars with canoe racks parked indicating that there were few doing overnight or weekend camping further up the lake. I'm inclined to believe that an increase in park admission fees, as well as additional permits required, are having an effect on numbers visiting the park. 

While Sandy explored I parked myself on a picnic table bench and did a quick sketch looking up the lake. The leaning cedar at the side of the lake near to the canoe launch caught my eye bringing back memories of another leaning tree, a huge White pine that once grew on the point depicted, and over time, a period of years, increasingly leaned before losing its grip on the side of the bank and fell into the lake. No doubt this large cedar will suffer a similar fate. Whether I'm around to see it, perhaps not, as even if I'm still breathing, future sojourns to the park are unfortunately are for me becoming doubtful.

I mention this simply to remind those of you who may stop by, that it's not wise to put off doing something important until tomorrow, and tomorrow. Make memories while you can because, as life when you're young may seem long, it's really much shorter than you think.....and then it's over.

 

THE SKETCH

Pen & Ink Sketch  Awenda Provincial Park.    July 25,2024

Hopefully, sometime in the next few days we'll be heading up to Algonquin Provincial Park to do a bit of sketching. Now, important to realize that a sketch is simply that, a few lines, a bit of colour, and not a detailed painting. In fact a sketch, is a sketch, is a sketch, a thought, and idea, quickly expressed and kept as a possible source of information to assist with something more detailed for a future work of art. The sketch, however is not to be thought as just a few lines and a splotch of colour to be tossed away, but a true piece of art, for the real art is in its spontaneity and contains your reaction to the environment.  Should by chance you're not pleased with your sketch, believe that you've failed in your attempt to capture the moment, don't for the moment think to toss it, no, save it, as you will be amazed to find years from now that the memory of that moment has been saved, and the whisper of the pines, the call of a loon, still live within your scribblings.

I have a friend of sorts, a fellow Scottish artist, Leo du Feu, whom I've never met, but with whom I've corresponded and follow on his blog. He has published several videos about sketching worth watching...

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8ouuVLoWqc&list=PLkQd5bEV59uJYkIXIDSq9QHz_l5cSm2RT&index=3

As I mentioned, hopefully, we'll make it up to Algonquin allowing me to make a few sketches to share with you in the coming weeks. So, those of you who are interested, and who have not stumbled into my site in search of someone else's art, stay tuned.