I correspond infrequently with a Scottish artist-naturalist, Leo du Feu. We've never met face to face. Some years ago we were put in touch as he was about to visit Canada and wanted to know where to sketch in Ontario. I was involved at that time with a project related to Killarney Provincial Park, and suggested that he might stop off at the park for a few days before heading down to The McMichael Canadian Collection at Kleinberg to view works by the Group Of Seven, and Tom Thomson. Subsequently, I followed Leo's progress as an artist-naturalist through his website, and Facebook. For those of you who might be interested in learning a bit about Scotland, and learn about this devoted naturalist follow this link...
Here's a portion of our most recent correspondence...
Hello Leo.
I quite agree with you regarding time and effort required to encourage sales…..and as to what works and what doesn’t a mystery until tried. Advertising helps, but location and timing would seem more important. With a shop, perhaps centrally located, that is to say with reliable traffic, suitable product to attract attention is the answer to increasing sales….and that
requires compromise. Artists, for the most part, are loathe to compromise the direction of their art, but if one hopes to survive, one must produce product, in order to pursue one’s dream. After all the “starving artist” is a myth. Artists, like Turner, are examples, painting/sketching the familiar, but doing so in such a manner as to pursue their ambition. So, it’s great to think large, and to do so occasionally, but small and portable, the souvenir becomes the answer to survival. When I was out there, so to speak, I compromised by producing “a lot” of small etchings, which I sold matted and shrink wrapped for what appeared a bargain amount of monies. Original art for $10.00 - $50.00. They paid the bills, allowing me from time to time to produce larger, and more involved watercolours and etchings. As to whether by doing so it has the effect of reducing your chances at fame and fortune….probably, but if fame is your goal the direction necessary involves not so much what you know, but who you know…..and a helluva lot of sacrifice for what may be an illusive, and fleeting dream. Since I’m blabbering away
I’ll also throw in the fact that increasing your prominence involves association. If one associates with wan-a-bees, and amateurs, one is seen as an amateur. Life as an artist is cruel, and has few rewards…but, in my opinion, when said and done, is worth the suffering.
A famous Canadian Indigenous artist once looked at my work, and when finished, turned to me and offered this advice, “work hard.” He was a man of few words, but I took heed and worked very hard….and I survived as an artist.
Yes, I once did a lot of drawing using conte crayon. Mostly for life drawings. It’s pretty messy for sketching on location. I actually prefer graphite/pencils for sketching, and drawings done on location.
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Conte Crayon Landscape Drawing. Killarney Provincial Park |
Covid-19, the pandemic has resulted in much change in the way that we live. We’ve been pretty much living in isolation for over a year, going out only to purchased food and for medical necessities. Travel is discouraged, and should you do so, until recently, there have been few places to stay. We haven’t been up to Algonquin in more than a year. We’ve had lots of time to study our navels resulting in mental stress for just about everyone. With the vaccines being rolled out, old to young, there exists some hope that infections will be reduced. However, efforts are hindered by persons with little between their ears who resist restrictions, and believe that the virus is a hoax….. and kills only the old. At the moment, however, the virus, with seemingly scary intelligence, has altered course, and is infecting and killing much younger persons. The rollout proceeds slowly and is dependant upon vaccine availability. We have been vaccinated with Phizer’s vaccine, one half dose with a second to complete the vaccination, hopefully, sometime in July.
Well, I’ve been blabbering away. Time to let you get on with your work. Stay safe. Best to you and your family.
Ernest Somers
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A Northern Landscape. Pencil Sketch. 2021 |
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North Of Lake Superior. Watercolour Sketch |
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