ART IS ART

In my last posting I mentioned that I had been experimenting with a digital art program, and that I had found the process intriguing to the extent that I was considering purchasing a tablet to be used as a sketching tool. Then I began to wonder whether my creations were actually art, and if so what was I to do with them, print them, or simply store them on my computer.

I thought to pose the question to other artists, artists schooled in traditional methods and materials, and to inquire of them as to whether they would think to use a tablet computer for sketching purposes. Surprisingly, none said that they would, pointing out that they were much more comfortable employing methods and materials found reliable over decades of use out in the field.

As for myself I'm still debating whether to include a tablet computer as one of my sketching tools. For the time being, however, I think that I'll carry on with pencil and watercolour. There's just something about the way that pencil and watercolour react with various types of paper producing a feel and effects that , despite the wonders of technology, a stylus and a tablet computer have yet to master.

Oh, and as for my question about whether digital creations are art, of course they are. Art is art regardless of the tools used in its creation.

Algonquin Landscape  Graphite Drawing

Algonquin Landscape  Watercolour 

Algonquin Landscape  Graphite Sketch II

View From Lookout Trail  Algonquin
Graphite Drawing

ARE DIGITAL CREATIONS ART?

Over the years I've experienced some difficulty in accepting photographic processes as a means of making art. By this I mean photo etching, and various other photomechanical processes. I do acknowledge, however, that a degree of expertise is involved in manipulating the photo processes. All the same I feel that there something ingenuous about using cameras, and the like, to make original art. It suggests a lack of various artistic skills encouraging the taking of shortcuts. So, and this runs counter to my personal views, the other day experiencing a bit of a creative block I went off surfing the web seeking inspiration and, in the midst of my search, I ended up at the App Store exploring various digital sketching and painting programs. Some seemed quite interesting, and as a few were free to download I reviewed and installed a version of Sketchbook Express.

My first attempt at making a sketch was a bit tentative, so I tried another, then another..........and I find that I'm quite liking the experience. It's actually quite amazing what can be accomplished with the various tools and an apparent unlimited colour palette. I also quite enjoy the fact that there's little to no preparation involved, and the clean up afterwards involves........well, actually, nothing.

Northern Ontario Landscape - Digital Sketch

Lake Superior landscape   Digital Sketch

Lake Superior Provincial Park Landscape   Digital Sketch

The question that now arise is whether this is art? Should I print it off and sign it, or should I be content to simply allow it to exist in its digital state and store it in a file on my computer? I'm also wondering if I should purchase a tablet of some sort and go off sketching? Technology, eh! It was suppose to make life easier.



   

Year One

So, here we are. The world didn’t end as many thought that it would with the end of the Mayan calendar. Rather the Mayan calendar simply calibrated itself much like the odometer of a car. The previous cycle of the Mayan calendar began on Aug. 13, 3114 B.C., by our calendar, and came to an end on December 21, 2012, the winter solstice. December 22, 2012 was to be for the Mayans the beginning of Year One, the beginning of a new cycle of time.

Year One, think about what it infers, an opportunity to revisit the past and to start anew. Not unlike many others who aspired to become an artist I jumped right into the fire and began to make marks. I suffered the influence of past and present artists, and shaped my art into product hoping to survive. I produced much art, but in retrospect there are moments when I feel that I ignored the very thoughts and feelings that drove me to making art. To begin again. To actually embrace the concept of Year One. Enticing, but is it possible to leave all of the baggage behind, and do what one intended to do when we took that leap of faith?

Probably not!  And, would one really want to go back and begin anew?

The Copeland Forest from the Top of the Valley             Pencil Sketch  1980

In 1979 at the ripe old age of 39 years I left a well paying career to return to study art with the hopes of becoming an artist. Some thought that I was completely crazy as I hadn't done any art for going on 20 years. To be fair, in the next few years there were moments when I felt like they were right, but I continued on learning how to make art and 32 years later, here I am. Still trying to become an artist.

Barn on the Hill    Watercolour Sketch  1980

By the summer of 1980, with a year at art school behind me, I found myself encouraged but with

little confidence in my ability to produce art, real art that is. Whenever I had the chance I'd pack up my sketching supplies and go off sketching in places where I hoped no one would see what I was doing. A favourite sketching haunt was what is called the Copeland Forest, and the nearby ski hills of Horseshoe Valley Ski Resort.

Copeland Forest from the Top Of The Valley II
Watercolour Sketch   1980

Tree Study   Watercolour Sketch 1980

Old Birch Copeland Forest   Watercolour Sketch 1980

Sumac     Watercolour Sketch            1980

I have sketchbooks full of pencil and watercolour sketches, as well as drawers of loose sketches and paintings representing decades of learning how to make art. As I look at them I quite realize that there really is no going back. I did what I did and good, bad, or indifferent, I'm quite proud of the result, and intend to carry on building on my very early experience. It's not possible to repeat Year One when, with making art, every day is Year One.

Mountain Scene   Graphite Sketch                2011

ALGOMA: WHERE RAVEN PLAYS Part III

The Raven (Part III)

Time passes, as time does.

One morning, in twilight’s stillness

Raven wakened with a start.

Weak, and tired, from journeys endless,

he sensed his end was near.

Once more he summoned up his strength,

and soared to heights he'd long forgotten.

Raven soared on raging winds, high above a shining sea,

to a place with rushing rivers, worn mountains, and tall fir trees.

To the land of Gichigami.

And in this place of solitude Raven remembered,

quiet moments, and memories long forgotten.

With failing breath, and dimming vision,

Raven’s spirit soared.

Now Raven’s spirit lingers in those places,

where once he wheeled and soared.

Impressions made upon those encountered,

will live, forever more. 

~ EAS ~

I've chosen to not add captions to the watercolour paintings and graphite drawings attached to this posting as they're really quite self explanatory, all being my interpretations of the Algoma District landscape, the land north of Gichigami, better known to most everyone as Lake Superior. There are a lot more sketches in the folders, but I believe that these few provide some idea of the incredible beauty that exists up that way.

As it's becoming more and more difficult as I age to climb to the top of the hills to reach the outlooks I'm going to call a halt to my sketching and painting north of Gichigami making way for those much younger to follow in the steps of the Group of Seven.

I've had a good go of it exploring Algonquin, Killarney, Algoma, a bit of Western Canada, and some of the American Southwest. I've made a lot of original prints, sketches, and paintings, and produced several books. 


Time to catch up on my notes and to take some of my sketches to the next level..............

TYSON LAKE - WHERE RAVEN PLAYS: PART II continued

Over a period of several years we took advantage of every opportunity to travel up to Killarney to explore and sketch. We sometimes stayed in the village of Killarney, and sometimes, during extended visits to the area, we chose to stay in a cottage at Tyson Lake. Tyson Lake is located approximately midway between Hwy 69 and the village of Killarney. Tyson Lake is a large lake with several fingers, a bit of a challenge to paddle on a windy day. So, on windy days we’d explore Wolf Creek. Wolf Creek, actually a small river, that originates in Spoon Lake approximately 15km to the southeast and empties into Tyson Lake.

Truth be known we spent quite a bit of time exploring Wolf Creek. Being slow flowing and shallow, and narrowing at times to a 50 meters, or so, it provided wonderful opportunities to view wildlife. Over the years our viewing experiences included bears, elk, deer, otters, many species of waterfowl, songbirds, and birds of prey. It was also a wonderful place to sit quietly and sketch and simply let the world pass by.

Leaning Pines - Wolf Creek  Acrylic Painting

Common Loons - Tyson Lake  Graphite Drawing

Tyson Lake   Watercolour Painting

Middle of Wolf Creek   Watercolour Sketch

Wood Ducks - Wolf Creek    Pencil Drawing

Island - Spoon Lake   Watercolour Sketch

Wolf Creek - Watercolour Painting

Mouth of Spoon Lake   Watercolour Sketch

Neck of Spoon Lake   Watercolour Sketch