29 October 2016

travelling and drawing and painting

Staying entertained on an airplane is not too difficult when I have a sketchbook with me.  During each flight I decided to make drawings with my eyes closed, and I quite like how some of them turned out.  

These drawings were done in a 4x6" book of 90lb paper, using a fine-tip Sharpie marker and a gold Slicci pen:

travel drawings by verna vogel

blind drawings by verna vogel

travel drawings by verna vogel

blind drawings by verna vogel

travel drawings by verna vogel

blind drawings by verna vogel

travel drawings by verna vogel

drawing with my eyes closed by verna vogel



I also made some portraits of fellow passengers during my flights.  One must be very surreptitious in order to avoid anyone realizing they have become an artist's model and so begin to "pose".  People who are just being themselves are generally more interesting to draw than people who are trying to hold still.

my fellow passengers on WestJet flight drawings by verna vogel

travel portraits by verna vogel

my fellow passengers on WestJet flight drawings by verna vogel

travel portraits by verna vogel


Finally, a few portraits of family members and friends which I made during my stay in Ontario.  These were done in a 9x12-inch sketchbook of 130lb paper, using the Sharpie marker, oil pastels and gouache paints in quinacridone red, raw sienna, pthalocyanine green and cobalt blue:

sketchbook portrait of my brother by verna vogel made with sharpie marker and M. Graham gouache

portrait of my sister by verna vogel made with M. Graham gouache and sharpie marker

portrait drawing with gouache in sketchbook paper

portrait drawing painting with M. Graham gouache and oil pastel by verna vogel

portrait drawing painting in oil pastel and M. Graham gouache by verna vogel

portrait drawing painting with oil pastel and M. Graham brand gouache by verna vogel


Whew!  That was a lot of art-making over the course of one week.  It's always exciting to be somewhere different, and I prefer drawing over taking photographs as a method of recording my experiences.  Drawing takes more time and so contains more feeling, and in that way is a more "accurate" record for me.

Returning home, I'll be teaching a couple of classes straight away next week and working a shift at the art-supply store.  

Then, finally, I will get back into the studio to install some lighting and finish painting the ceiling.  Have I mentioned that I am in the process of moving into a *new* studio?  My studio will now be in the garage instead of in the basement of our home, which is a great improvement.  Having a work space separate from the house - even if only by a few meters - feels so wonderful.  More on that in my next posting, if all goes according to plan.

:)

27 October 2016

Ontario Landscape #2

This one was done from near the top of Harold Town Conservation Area.  Another gorgeous spot with lots of trails and varying topography.  After making the painting, I realized I had chosen a view that is similar to what one might find in Southern Alberta... with a few more trees.

the view

the palette

the beginning

the middle

the finish

the artist


25 October 2016

Ontario landscape #1

landscape oil painting mill creek conservation area Ontario

I'm in Ontario, and I brought my painting kit!  This was made in the Miller Creek Wildlife Area, a beautiful wetland-and-woods type area full of birds and beavers and gorgeous views.