LINE DRAWINGS The Basics of All Drawing
From before high school, having learned a few rudiments of drawing, I wanted to be able to sketch and produce images with pen and pencil. Drafting in high school and college, and a few tries at perspective, did not end all that well. At university, we learned HOW to draw - 'Drawing On the Right Side Of the Brain' - and that eased the agony somewhat. Then, with Mike Line in 2001 in Manhattan, KS, and again in 2005 as a TA at his first San Francisco workshop, things came into focus. Perspectives, plans, rendering, confidence, and the realization that I actually COULD draw something..... leading to better helping my students express their designs on paper. Now it's just a lot of fun, if only there was nothing else to interfere!
Near Chatham, ON - southwest Ontario, particularly Chatham-Kent and Essex, were once vast stretches of tallgrass prairie. This 'house portrait' was completed for the owner, who chose to use the cabin and 'little house behind the little house on the prairie'. 2005, 8.5 x 11, pen on white bond
No place in particular, this came about as a compilation from many trips up and down the coasts of Vancouver Island, with the mainland mountains in the background. Completed in about a half hour, during a drawing blitz with some (other) children. 2011, pen on white trace, 5"x7"
Looking slightly askew, the slope of the land is deceiving here. Produced from a photograph taken while on tour with the Ontario Communities in Bloom organization conference, Goderich, ON. 2004, pen on watercolour paper, 8x10
The Conservatory in Golden Gate Park, San Fransisco. Pencil sketch in about 45 minutes, completed while on tour with the Mike Lin workshop group I was TA'ing in 2005. 11x17, pencil on watercolour paper
Partial drawing (center of three panels) depicting the Moravian Town layout in 1793 in the present Chatham-Kent, ON. Completed for the curator of Fairfield Museum, which stands on the site of the former village, in preparation for the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, when this village was burned to the ground. Moravian architecture and lifestyle was introduced to and sometimes imposed on native groups, and this group settled in the SW Ontario area to escape persecution in Ohio. 2006, pen on white trace, panel about 18x12
The Golden Gate Bridge, San Fransisco, looking south. Pencil sketch in about 15 minutes, completed while on tour with the Mike Lin workshop group I was TA'ing in 2005. 3.5" square, pencil on watercolour paper
Rural cRural chirch in the London, ON area. Created from a photograph taken while touring as a judge for Communities in Bloom. 2006, 11x17, pen on watercolour paper
Station-Master's house in Port Stanley, ON, now a bed and breakfast. Created from a photograph taken while judging with Communities in Bloom. 2006, 11x17, pen on watercolour paper
Historic residence in Ingersoll, ON, now a bed and breakfast. Created from a photograph taken after a tour of the premises, while judging for Communities in Bloom. 2006, pen on copier paper, 8x10
Historic building, now municipal offices, in Haileybury, ON. Created from a photograph taken while on tour as Communities in Bloom judge. 2006, pen on copier paper, 8x10
Cathedral in London, ON. A Sunday afternoon sketching exercise, about an hour, on a beautiful summer day. 2004, pencil on watercolour paper, 11x17
Letterhead for neighbour's business operation, likely about 2002. pen on copier paper, 8x10
House portrait for friends, given as a gift when we moved to BC. 2010, pen and pencil on copier paper, 8x10
Palace of the Arts, San Fransisco. Created while on tour with the Mike Lin workshop where I was TA'ing in 2005. Approximately 15 minutes sketching, another 30 minutes toning and hatching afterwards. pencil on watercolour paper, 11x17
Los Angeles, April, 2016 - AirBnB I stayed at. Pencil on trace, 9 x 12, 3 hr or so
La Bruschetta, Toronto, ON. After a wonderful meal with cousin Melissa, and an introduction to owner Silvia. 8 x 10, pen and pencil on trace. Thank you Melissa and Silvia, a memorable occasion!
