Exhibit Review - Arthur Lismer: Halifax Harbour at War Time

Good Day, Blogger world! 

I've decided to devote some time to actual art review on this blog.  I often have the opportunity to see good art, and it's an experience worth sharing. 

Today I'd like to talk about a small collection of paintings and lithographs by Arthur Lismer currently on display at the Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery.  This is a slightly unusual exhibit for this particular gallery.  The kind of work on display in this venue tends to be very contemporary, by artists who are still midway through their careers, or at least still alive.  This work has more history behind it, not to mention the name of one of the Group of 7 members.  It has a lot of local relevance too, which is part of what MSVU looks for.  As indicated in the name, all the work in this exhibit depicts scenes of Halifax Harbour during World War I, in the form of lithographs and paintings which Arthur Lismer was commissioned by the Canadian War Records to create.  All told, this is a pretty special show for the gallery. 

Seascape and landscape painting are one of those genres that gets taken for granted in this era.  We think of them as something nice to have on one's wall - tasteful, unobtrusive, and unexciting.  Even though we can usually appreciate the work that goes into such a thing, it's hard to get fired up about them, no matter what the historical significance.  At first glance, the paintngs included in this exhibit are calm, even tranquil-looking.  The lithographs are somewhat more exciting, perhaps because they have more images of people, or perhaps because of the raw sketchiness of the medium.  The paintings may hold one's interest too on second glance.  Once we get past the instantaneous impression of the collection of shapes and colours that says "seascape", it's worth it to look at the paint itself. 

The quality of mark-making is really spontaneous, careless even.  In the long panoramic painting "View From Chebucto Head", the strokes are clearly visible.  You can see canvas between the strokes in some spots, but the paint goes on thick, forming glossy ridges where the bristles drew it along.  This particular painting reminds me of something I heard second/third-hand about Lismer and his practice:  that he would collection garbage and detritus on the way to his studio, and then ask his studio assistant "Landscape or seascape?".  He would then arrange his findings in some kind of formation and paint said land or seascape from that arrangement.  Not sure that this is an established truth, but looking at that one painting I can imagine him doing that.  Great idea, really. 

When looking at these paintings, it's interesting to look at the painting technique and try to imagine what the artist was thinking at the time.  The technical competence is clear, even thought the technique does not imply that minute detail was the be-all-end-all for this artist.  This wasn't created as an image rendered in paint - it is a painting.  The subject matter is stayed, though impressive - the technique is exciting. 

This exhibit is up until August 11th, so if you have a chance, I recommend checking it out.  Thanks for reading.  Later Blogger world!  :)

A Day at Home Art Making, Remembering I am lucky.....

Greetings, Blogger world...

I spent the morning and afternoon of this Rememberance Day at home, drawing.  I observed a moment of silence, along with the radio announcer on the program I was listening to (I think it was In Concert on CBC Radio 2), and then went back to drawing.  Whatever it is I'm doing at any given time, chances are I have the veterans of past wars to thank for the freedom to do so.  Not all wars are justified, but the ones that allow us to live in freedom and peace are worth fighting.  When I was little, all the veterans I ever saw were elderly, and wars were something that happened in other places.  Hard to believe there was any span of time at all when I child could think that.  Hopefully there will be more of them as the decades and centuries pass.  

Here is the work I finished today.  I wasn't thinking of Rememberance Day when I drew it, but it ended up being kind of appropriate....

Title:  Shade XII

My First Youtube Upload! Also, Recent Work.

Good day, blogger world!

I just finished uploading a short video to youtube - finally, after years of having an account, I have actually uploaded some content. It's not much - mostly a test, but it features one of my current projects. 




Usually I don't go quite this largescale, but I've had the idea in my head for a while, and I wanted to try it. 

Life is interesting.  I am still in 2 jobs, and the problem with the latest one has become not so much the job itself, but rather the co-worker element.  Specifically working with the same co-worker who answers every question with annoyance and or frustration and deals with her stress by browbeating me each time I make a mistake.  Asking her to explain things yields precious little, as she is low on patience and clearly unimpressed with the fact that I was not borning knowing how this particular workplace works.  Every gaffe on my part is a source of grief, and I've come to think of this job, or rather this job situation, as a form of torture.  Fortunately I don't do full-time hours there yet.  Unfortunately, my earnings between both jobs are only just covering my mortgage payments and condo fees.  So the job search continues.  On the plus side, I have been making a little more money making art lately.  I've had a couple of commissions, and some sales in my Cafepress.  Not much, but it's not nothing. 

To wrap this up, I'd like to show you one more piece of my latest work.  The inspiration was a beautiful performance by Anya Nesvitaylo of the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada, dancing the part of Carmen in a short pas-de-deux during theABTC's  "Intense" Gala. 

 

 

Anya is one of the principle dancers of the ABTC, and her roles have included Christine in Phantom of the Opera and Lady X in Don Juan.  The ABTC has had some really good work out these past few years, pushing boundaries with established storylines, and more recently addressing serious issues, as in the production "Ghosts of Violence". 

 

I have to wrap this up now.  Thanks for stopping by, Blogger world, and I'll see you next time!  :)



Rainy Day Updates

Good day, blogger world!

Not such a good day weather wise.  No wind, but plenty of rain.  Glad not to have to be anywhere today.

I've got some new pics of the ink work I've been doing lately.  A was feeling a lot of uncertainty in the process of these.  The Sirens and Raven were actually works in progress, but looking at them now I might leave them finished as they are.  I often find that my unfinished work will give my finished work a run for its money.  It's less a matter of finishing than a matter of knowing when to stop.  Similarly, I often find that my sketch work is at least as good as my finished work.  Spontaneity is ever my friend, if an elusive one :/.


Ink Tiger Lillies by ~Eseopia on deviantART


Ink Tiger Lillies 2 by ~Eseopia on deviantART


Sirens by ~Eseopia on deviantART


Raven by ~Eseopia on deviantART

In other news, I've started a new blog.  It is significantly more craft focussed than this one - in fact its major function will be as a place to post my craft book reviews.  I've decided I have enough craft books that I ought to put them to good use, and this might just be the way to do it.  Here's hoping, at least.  That's all for now - until next time, bloggers!

PS - Here's a link if you're interested.  :)  The Art Rat Craft Book Review

About Ink

Hello again, Blogger world!

I've been painting. Or drawing. Rendering with ink, brush, and occasionally water. Drawing continues to be my strength, and ink my material of choice. Most often because it's portable, but in this case I'm enjoying the effects of it when applied in different ways. Seems like it could lead to watercolour. We'll see.

Maple Leaf Ink Drawing by ~Eseopia on deviantART This was done just with pen, ink, and brush. I love working with the brush strokes. It started out as a still-life sketch just with pen as I was out and about one day. Then I finished it when I got home. Dragon Ink Panting by ~Eseopia on deviantART This is an example of me working with ink with brush and water, plus pen. I'm enjoying that a lot. I feel I've only scratched the surface of what I can do with it.

Ink is surprisingly versatile. It seems like it wouldn't be because it's so permanent, unlike pencil or chalk pastel. It's true that there isn't much going back once you've put the ink down, but there's so much to be done with it! I love having pens around to work with because I'm not constantly having to sharpen them or clean up eraser bits, spray noxious fixative on the finished work so it won't smudge. I still use pencil quite a lot in the under sketches, but in a pinch I can make do with just a pen. I've noticed some similarities with silk paint, which I've been exploring, and watercolour too. I like when different parts of my art practice can inform each other.

That is all for now. Until next time, Bloggerverse!

Hello again, blogger world!

Been away longer than I expected. Partially due to the new job. Came back to Tim Horton's, after 9 years and a BFA. Getting used to it relatively fast. The cash flow should look good once my first pay cheque is in the bank. I've already got a surplus of coinage thanks to tips. Alright, I am hoping for something better. Still looking. Got an interview at another place that I'm excited about. Dance-related too. I've been dancing for some years now, and a job in the field would add that little touch of legitimacy to all those years of dance classes.

In other news, I have still been able to get some artmaking done. Art marketing too, in fact. The Seeds gallery just accepted 5 of my hand painted silk/cotton blend scarves, which I'm extra excited about :). Wonderful little art shop, that. Hoping this goes well. 'Twould get me that much closer to financial self-sufficiency.

Financial independance is a funny thing for an artist. What looks like a very expensive hobby on the outside is actually a career with a whole lot of overhead. I'm slowly learning the ins and outs of how to work with it. Sometimes I'm not sure if the job on the side helps or hinders. It doesn't help me save time, but it keeps my practice funded. Having a gallery job, or something like that (which I have, for 2 days of the week at least), is at least additional industry experience. For now, all I can do is keep on keeping on.

That's all for now. Hopefully I'll be back again before too long. Later blogger world!