Sketching -1 - 2 - 3

 There comes the time when the hills become higher, and the likelihood of your ever climbing to a favourite sketching spot, becomes but a dream. Time then, to pullout the photo album and put it up on the screen to relive a moment and make a quick sketch.....

It's here where creativity, or as some might call it interpretation kicks in. I'm looking at my computer, a screen saver that's going to close in a couple of minutes, so I grab what information that I can and begin to scribble. I don't hope to copy the landscape before me, just a bit of the essence.... and then I lose the image and start to put together a drawing.

Come back in a couple of days to see what I've managed....

~~~ ~~~

I managed to work on the drawing for a wee bit. It's a long ways from finished, but you'll understand that making a drawing can be as difficult as , or more so, than making a watercolour painting. Drawing, painting, as I've mentioned, is all about personal interpretation. In the case of making a drawing it's all about line and tone attempting to interpret light and shadow.

Lake Superior Provincial Park II.                        Graphite Drawing

So, come back again in a couple of days should you get a chance. I'll probably have the drawing finished by then.....

It was a struggle, but I've finished the drawing......

From the Ridge. - Lake Superior Provincial Park.  Graphite Drawing. 2021

One might say it's only a pencil drawing, what's so hard about that? For most, in this day and age it's almost an impossible task as drawing as a discipline is rarely pursued. Most wannabe artists would rather smear paint, and make something that "looks like" this and that. Don't believe me, give it a shot - lets see what you can do.....

Here's a couple of watercolour sketches from the same ridge...done while sitting on a comfortable rock....

I remember that day well, a perfect day, a cold autumn day in the park. The sketches were done several years ago when I was much younger, somewheres around 75 years of age. I was beginning to become a bit breathless during the climb, and wasn't all the confident on my feet. Glad that we did the hike, however, as now several years later, heading into my 80s, there's no going back. Sketches, much better than photos, bring back memories of time spent, even if the view is from a comfortable rock.

So, here's the thing, I'm suddenly feeling a bit old, and having shared hundreds of drawings, sketches, and paintings, as well as some of our experiences, I'm taking a bit of a breather from posting. I may be back. Who knows, but for the moment let me wish everyone well. I do hope that some of you may have gotten some good out of my ramblings, and will do a bit of exploring and make some sketches. Important if we're to bring to the attention of others that this old planet of ours needs some tender loving care and recognition for the paradise that it is, and is worth saving.

Stay Safe, and Happy Sketching,

ERNEST ANDREW SOMERS

CANADIAN ARTIST - NATURALIST

DRAWING LESSONS ANYONE?

 Do you wish to learn how to draw, or perhaps increase your drawing skills, then look no further than the YouTube video of Vincent Van Gogh's art...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4Nh4RmRkH8

Vincent was, in my opinion one of the better artists that ever existed. That his art was overlooked, again in my opinion, has to do with who you know, and not what you know

Wonderful video.

Just for the heck of it, not as good as Vincent of course, but the following are examples of landscape drawings from rough sketch to finished drawing....

These sketches and drawings were included in my Killarney Provincial Park books, which can be found at my publisher's, Blurb.ca, website.....

https://www.blurb.ca/b/9338316-the-road-less-travelled

INSIGNIFICANCE

 

I mentioned in a previous posting that we had been up in Algonquin Provincial Park, here in Canada. While exploring the park we stayed at the Blue Spruce Resort located in the village of Dwight, just outside the park. Covid precautions were in play. Still we had an opportunity to converse with other guests, and enjoyed observing the actions of some starved by the pandemic of the ability to converse with others, vie for attention. It got me thinking about life, and how we all struggle to be significant in the eyes of others. We all succeed in one way, or another, however in the end we revert to being as insignificant as we were when we began our journey. And so, I sat down and wrote a few words.....

 INSIGNIFICANCE

A cry!

Our first attempt to claim significance,

in a world filled with insignificance.

I recall that as a child we played a game, 

that we called, “King Of The Castle”,

a means to gain significance, 

a game that as we aged,

became, a way of life, 

a means to gain significance, and to claim

our seat at the table,

the means to attain possible dreams,

fame for knowing all, and

adoration best of all.

Fame, however, is fleeting, and

when your claim to fame has been drained,

and you’ve become old and grey,

be certain that you will be ignored,

and be allowed to fade away.

It’s then that we play another game,

an attempt to remain visible.

Goals achieved by you are prized,

capitalized,

visualized,

made to appear still important.

But, the significance of our sins wears thin, and 

soon,

we are insignificant once again.

Too tired to play the game,

we take our place

in the human race, 

on that journey to the place, 

reserved,

for those tired and weary.

          ~~~~

I'm an older person having experienced the peaks and valleys of the struggle to be noticed. I am now tired and weary, but when all is said and done, I wouldn't have changed anything. Without the struggle the journey is meaningless.

NEW BOOK

I'm putting together a new book that I hope to be able to publish sometime early in 2022. It's to be entitled, "Pen & Pencil", and consists of a collection of landscape drawings and sketches, probably numbering 100+. Not all of the drawings and sketches will be new. Many have been published in previous books that I've published, scattered here and there. This is an attempt to bring some of these sketches together for closer examination.....

Here are a few graphite/pencil drawings that will be included in my upcoming book:-

THE OTHER DAY WHILE SKETCHING IN THE PARK

 THE OTHER DAY....

We had gone to Kearney Lake campground in Algonquin Provincial Park to have a picnic, and to allow me to make a sketch, or two. The campground was closed to camping for the season, so we parked the car near to the closed gate, and gathering our things walked the quarter mile, or so, to the lake. At the main beach I found a place to sit with a view of the island just off shore, and began to sketch. Sandy went off to locate a picnic table, preferably away from pine trees and its pitch, or resin. As I sketch I became aware of two men walking along the beach lost in conversation. One of them stopped to make a very authentic moose call. Upon seeing me they approached interested in what I was doing. I learned that they were doing an independent survey of the wolf and moose populations in Algonquin Provincial Park. I learned that within the vicinity of the campground there was a family of wolves with pups, and to the north there was a pack of wolves numbering fifteen, or more. They expressed interest in my sketches, and then went on their way. A few minutes later one of the gentlemen was heard to make a very authentic sounding wolf call. I continued sketching, when suddenly from no more than a hundred yards, or so away the gentleman’s wolf call was answered, by not one, but a pack of wolves. It was quite amazing as several members of the pack took turns vocalizing followed by pups barking. Within a few minutes the howling wound down, and quiet returned to the lake. Although the wolves were quite close I didn’t observe them. I continued sketching. Minutes later the men returned interested in learning where I thought that wolves might have been located. I pointed out the location, and learned that it was not the family of wolves that I’d heard, but the larger pack thought to be located further to the north. It was thought that the pack may have been in the vicinity and were attracted to the moose calls. The men continued on their way stopping from time to time to make additional wolf calls, but they were not answered. The experience was quite thrilling as  in all the years that we had been going up to the park we had never heard a wolf vocalizing, although we were aware of their presence from their scat and tracks. Sketch finished we located a suitable picnic table and enjoyed our lunch visited from time to time by various bird species including a male and a female Black-throated Blue warblers. Lunch over we headed back to the car, and on the way stopped to read a poster put up by the park administrators which advised to exercise caution regarding wolves spotted in the park as several people had been bitten, and if we were to be approached by wolves to definitely remain calm and not to run from them as…….

~~~~~

Pencil sketches from our recent trip to Algonquin Provincial Park......

Island Kearney Lake, Algonquin Provincial Park.  Pencil Sketch

Tom Thomson's Algonquin

Smoke Creek - Algonquin Park
Other side of Hwy 60 overpass
 Sepia Watercolour Sketch
 Circ. 1999

Tom Thomson's Algonquin

In 1998 I thought to make a book of sketches about Algonquin Park. We had been going up there for years, and although I hadn't done much landscape sketching, or painting, I decided to give it a try. You may have read somewhere in one of my the 200 plus postings, that I didn't get much, in fact no support from publishers regarding this project, and ended up pursuing it on my own. Eventually, the various sketches and so on would be used in a CD-ROM, and ultimately, years later a book that I published using Blurb Publishing in California. Anyway, back to 1998. I began the project in April. Back home in Horseshoe Valley the snow had melted and it was well into spring weather, so I headed up to Algonquin Park. Surprise, surprise, there was still snow on the ground and the lakes were pretty much still frozen over. It was a long drive so not to have the time spent wasted, despite a freezing north wind blowing across the lakes I decided to make some sketches. At Tea Lake where the water flows under the highway overpass into Smoke Creek, I made the following sketch of Tea Lake.

View of Tea Lake from Smoke Creek, Algonquin Park. Watercolour Sketch 1998

Tom Thomson's oil sketch of the same scene.

At the time that I made my quick sketch I knew little about Tom Thomson, although I've since learned quite a lot coming to realize that his home base so to speak, was just around the corner at Canoe lake. When I saw Thomson's sketch made decades before mine I realized that he probably stood at the same spot that I made mine. I've since over the years returned to this site and have made a number of sketches. I often make multiple sketches on an area as over a period of years, the view changes as does one's style. It's interesting to observe personal growth.

Tea Lake from Smoke Creek, Algonquin Park.   Graphite Drawing on beige paper 2021

Quick pencil thumbnail sketch of Tea Lake

Tea Lake from Smoke Creek. Pen and Ink Sketch.  1998

Over the years, as mentioned I've made a number of sketches in this area, both here and near to the control dam at the Oxtongue River.

I'm certain that I have more sketches of this area and as I find them I may pop back and include them in this posting. In the meantime you may be interested in reading up on Tom Thomson, his mysterious death, and how, with the help of his friends, the Group of Seven, became iconic.

Tea Lake From Smoke Creek - Pencil Sketch

Tea Lake.   Pencil Sketch 2015

As the title on the sketch indicates this sketch was made in 2015 just below the Tea Lake Dam.

The dam  of Thomson's era has been replaced with a more modern structure. It's a favourite fishing spot for trout fisher persons just as it was during Thomson's day. In fact it is reported that this is one of the last places that Tom was seen before heading back to Canoe Lake where his destiny was to play out.

Tea Lake from Hwy 60, The Corridor.  Pencil Drawing

                                

Tea Lake                                    Pencil Sketch

In the event that you might be interested in reviewing one of my books about Algonquin Provincial Park, I'm attaching a link....

https://www.blurb.ca/b/8036717-my-painting-places-algonquin-provincial-park-part

WENT UP TO ALGONQUIN...

We went up to to Algonquin Park the other day. We actually spent a week in the area, but due to an unusual heat wave, accompanied by a humidex that came close to 40C, we only went into the park on a couple of occasions. Too hot for an older person to sit and sketch. I managed to scribble a couple of sketches....

Costello Lake, Algonquin Pk.    Pen & Ink Sketch.  2021

Oxtongue Lake near to Dwight, ON.  Pencil Sketch. 2021

I also managed to scribble a bit of a poem...

Summer Green

Trees,

dressed in their summer green, 

line the banks of a northern lake.

A loon lays claim, 

only to be answered by another.

A skein of geese,

noisily, 

descends from on high,

and splash land

disturbing the cold clear water.

The sky,

once bright blue,

covers over with clouds 

threatening.

A far off rumble breaks the silence.

The wind, 

once a zephyr,

strengthens.

Droplets of rain band together, 

and form a mist, 

that hides the distant shore.

A flash of light,

a crash of symbols

and the sky now dark and 

unfriendly -

with a roar, 

empties,

and it begins to pour.

The loons seek cover.

The geese once vocal,

tuck their heads, 

under wings folded,

and cringe as lightning flashes

and the thunder roars.

And then…. 

silence.

The clouds blow over, 

the sky returns to a brilliant blue,

the wind dies to a zephyr,

and the trees,

dressed in their summer green,

shake the rain from their leaves, 

and flutter in a cooling breeze.

The loons come out of hiding.

The geese scattered by the storm, 

now gather, 

and gaggle,

then gaggle some more.

Life on the northern lake,

ever timeless,

continues, 

much as before.

 

TIPPING POINT

I've mentioned that I enjoy writing, as much as making sketches and paintings, and in this time of pandemic I've turned to writing to help to pass the time until "we can all get together again."

The other day I was watching a program, or perhaps I was reading a news item, doesn't matter, and the author was going on about our world about to reach the "tipping point" a point of no return regarding global warming. Well, sorry to say, that point has come and gone. We're now faced with adaptation as there's no way that we're stopping the dominoes from falling. I keep thinking of the sci-fi movie, "Blade Runner", and can see the future of Earth in a couple of decades.

Far fetched thinking? Perhaps. but with no one seeming to listen, no one (really) willing to change their wasteful habits......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eogpIG53Cis

 TIPPING POINT

Some time ago, 

we overstepped the reason 

for our being, 

abandoned Nature, 

took a stand, and decided 

to rob the land.

The Laws of Nature

a force needed, that 

provided balance to a world 

created from fire and dust

has become undone, and

like dominoes in a row, 

one by one, 

we watched them fall, 

until wth speed 

we’ve lost control. 

The world is now ablaze

smoke from wildfires spread their haze,

storms unparalleled wreak havoc,

people are becoming crazed

fearful that their world, 

their sense of being, as

their very worth, 

becomes undone.

Of course, it’s true,

no sense thinking otherwise,

the tipping point near,

some would think, 

when truth be known, 

that point was reached

long,

long ago.

It’s quite amazing,

some would say, 

how quickly things went astray, but again, 

truth be known, things went south

long,

long ago.

We told you so, but

you wouldn’t listen,

ignored our pleas 

to see the signs.

Like Aesop’s Fable, 

the “Ant and the Grasshopper”,

the world looked away, and 

fiddled and played,

while all around London Bridge, 

the world we know, 

was falling down.

Now with winter on our heels

we look to Nature to save the day, and

make all the bad things go away, but 

Nature has long since given up, 

deciding to let  the dominoes fall…. 

where they may.

The tipping point has come and gone,

the Pied Piper plays his song, and 

despite skies ablaze the people

fail to pay their dues, and 

through the haze,

senselessly,

they continue 

to march along.

*****

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/pdfs/aesop/the_ant_and_the_grasshopper.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd4DexKGhHw

https://allthatsinteresting.com/london-bridge-is-falling-down

SNAFU

HOME BY GPS - TURN LEFT HERE!    Digital Art.  Ernest Somers  2021

 

I WRITE

I write because I must.

I must leave a record of my being

 here.

Why? 

Why is it important? 

Something that I’ve asked myself 

many times.

It just seems,

at least to me, that

to leave no record of our stay

makes no sense.

We must have had 

  a purpose?

Someone should know that we came,

passed by this way, 

and stayed,

if only for a little while.

And so,

.......I write.

*******

I'm concerned, as many of us are, that we've really, truly, fucked up, and that there's no way that we, meaning the entire population of Earth, can make the deadline to avoid reducing, or turning back, global warming. Thing is, I'm not really concerned having past the event horizon of aging, although I do participate through my actions to reduce my carbon footprint. Actually, my wife and I have been doing so for many decades through composting, recycling, and making do with less. Still, unless everyone gets on board and stop heaping our concerns on fossil fuels as the main cause, and begins to look at our daily wasteful habits, then there's no hope, and life on this planet will be all about Haves, and Have Nots and a very dystopian way of life.

DUE DATE

What must we do?

We’ve tried telling the truth,

tugging at heartstrings,

listing the facts

revealing our fears, but

no one is listening; maybe some are, 

but only a very few.

We’ve punched mother nature as hard as can be 

destroying the seas, and all that dwells 

deep in its depths. We’ve levelled the forests,

cleared the land everywhere, and 

continue to burn coal,

and drive cars, 

that pollute the air.

We rob ecosystems of their worth,

fill them with garbage. and 

cover our sins with dirt.

We’ve paved over paradise, and

make things look nice, but

fail to think what our actions have caused, 

until the heavens open up, 

and the rains start to pour.

The Horsemen are saddled

the riding commenced, 

death and destruction 

knocks at the door.

Is there the chance that 

we might change our ways, 

and save this planet 

for much better days, or 

will the door,

now open a crack, 

swing wide open, 

and take what is due?

Here’s hoping with choices 

we do what is right, 

not for ourselves,

but for the future, 

.......still not in sight.

Stay Safe, and continue masking! The Delta Variant lurks around every corner, and isn't at all picky in choosing its victims, including I'm told, those fully vaccinated.