sketchbook 09/11/09

Took a break from some computer work and sketched at the Bloor Gladstone Library.

I'm kicking myself for not sketching outside because it was such a beautiful day...oh, well.

I mucked the bottom lettering. Was trying to take advantage of the transparent nature of the watercolour to get a duo reading.

sketchbook 08/11/09

I spent an enjoyable, quiet afternoon at Starbucks sketching people.

sketchbook 06/11/09

This is the façade of the old ROM sketched from a walkway that leads to the new Crystal wing. The walkway had a great irregular shaped opening that I thought would be a nice framing device for this view. I wished I got a bit more of the opening



A few things I learned today:

1. Allan Gardens Conservatory is spelled with an "A" instead of an "E"

2. me+watercolour+drawing vegetation don't mix well.

3. sitting on an iron bench for a few hours-- not very comfortable, on several levels.

4. Bring an apple next time.

5. Another great indoor location to sketch for the up coming winter… and it's free.

Sketchbook 05/11/09

The big puddles of ink are covering mistakes. There I said it. One of the rules I've applied for myself for this sketchbook is not to skip any spreads. So I had to do something with the smudges. My initial action was to ignore it, but in the end I liked how these smudges sat in relation to the drawing. The addition of the date was an after thought.


I had made it an objective today to draw 2 spreads. This is the second one and the colour elements were added at home.

There is no rationale for the colour and shape of these forms other than the fact that I wanted them there. I know, I'm a bad ass, a rebel in a cardigan.
Actually, to apply a bit of arm chair psychology, I think it's a willful response to all the rationalizing i had to do as a graphic designer when I worked in an office.

sketchbook 04/11/09

I's so hard sketching meat! Gotta get down to the St. Lawrence market more often to sketch carcasses...hmmmm, dinner....

sketchbook 03/11/09

Dufferin/Gladstone library.

sketchbook 31/10/09

I didn't have the energy to wander further a field so I returned to Dufferin Mall to sketch people in the food court. What I noticed right away was the large congregation of older european men talking to each other in smaller clusters. I also noticed that most of these gentlemen had really unique shaped ears and noses. Something to sketch, you say?! Absolutely!

sketchbook 30/10/09

I house sat for sister again. She works in a vet's office and is a softie when it comes to animals. So since the last time I was there, she added to her menagerie a hamster named, Peaches.

To house this small fur ball she and her husband bought a state of the art cage called the habitat ovo, a modular system that allows a person to add on more space to the main unit. Very colourful and fun to watch as Peaches ran a circuit while Charles, the cat, eyed her like a walking snack. Very fun, indeed.

The Varsity

Well a few days ago I accepted a request to illustrate an article from the Varsity, The University of Toronto's student newspaper. The article was about the differences in male/female brains and the nature vs. nurture issue.

Here are the roughs from thumbnail right up to inking and the finished piece… and I'm going to bed now.

sketchbook 28/10/09

After completing the previous two spreads by fill hem entirely, this spread really feels unfinished and naked.

sketchbook 27/10/09

Pre and post client meeting. Thanks to all my unwitting subjects for being such good models. Mwah ha hah ha.

sketchbook 26/10/09

Two things I realized while drawing this spread. I might have A.D.D., which would account for the numerous vignettes on the spread and I like my papermate pen. I was trying a new pen for the middle portion of the page, but it didn't have the right resistance on the page that the papermate ink has. I'll give the new pen another try since it was my first attempt at it (however, I'm forced into using it because I bought an entire box of the new ones and my frugal nature will not allow me to buy some more PM until i use up these ones… boy oh boy)

The Varsity trials

Last month , the University of Toronto's student newspaper, The Varsity contacted me about becoming one of their illustrators. I guess it's flattering that someone would seek me out and invite me to illustrate for them, however, it'd be a bigger honour if they paid me for my drawings! However, I do understand that it's a student run paper and funds are limited. It'll also give me a chance to work with a real brief and timelines. Good practice for the real world, I guess.

The concept for the original request was to illustrate a student juggling too many things, such as school/deadlines, work, family, OSAP. I didn't have the time to submit anything for it, however, it gave me a chance to work on two new approaches to illustrating an image. Neither image really speaks to me, but I thought I'd throw it out there to see what you all thought.

sketchbook 23/10/09

Oh it felt so good to get back to my sketchbook. Went to the ROM to get the most of my membership..it's coming to an end and I need to pack in as many days there as I can.

It was serendipity once again, because there were some sketchers there who I got on paper. Actually it was a mini field trip for two people who appeared to be taking a drawing class with the woman who I got down on paper (lower right side).

sketchbook 16/10/09

First chance I got to sketch in a few days. I felt like a born again sketcher.
The lady in the image got a bit nervous I think towards the end of my drawing her. I guess i would too if I had a semi bald asian man openly looking at me in spurts!

But it was nice to get this in before more reality comes barging in and takes me away from my sketchbook.

sketchbook 10/10/09

Now that I think about it, there were quite a few older folk around me having coffee.

sketchbook 09/10/09

Went to the Dufferin/Gladstone library today. This definitely will be one of the locations I come to during the winter to sketch. Location 2. Check!

I drew this with a mechanical pencil and I didn't realize how unresponsive a MP can be. However, I got looser towards the end and that's when I started drawing the pople at the bottom. The Dufferin/Gladstone Library's s story foyer are is great for sketching pople from above. I'd like to call it the poor man's gesture drawing class.

sketchbook 08/10/09

Scouting for indoor sketching locations for the inevitable winter ahead. I found myself returning to the Harbourfront Centre and drawing Aaron and Bejamin, two glass blowers I've sketched before right here.

It also gave me the opportunity to practice drawing faces. Benjamin's pretty close, but Aaron's a ways off. I'm sure you'll be seeing more drawings from the Harbourfront Centre once the snow starts to fly.

Sketchbook 07/10/09

Trying something new. Moving away from creating a black outlined drawing and using pencil to capture the scene, following by watercolours. Verdict is still out but I will continue on with this process for now.

sketchbook 06/10/09

Today I went to the Ontario Science Centre. I think The last time I went there was about 25 years ago (I kid you not).

So many things have changed in terms of new exhibition wings and the introduction of an IMAX theatre. However, like a salmon returning to spawn, I returned to the things I knew as a kid. That meant the large electric ball, for lack of a better term. Essentially a participant places their hand on the ball and shakes their head up and down until their hair stands on end.

I sat in on the first show and Doris was our host who enlightened me and 5 students who came on a field trip. She did a great job since it was a really tough crowd and by the end of it, she really got the kids going with her show and passed on a bit of knowledge about electricity.


Another point of interest was the Amateur Radio "shack" located on one of the stair landings. It was manned by two volunteers, Bill Thomson (depicted in the drawing) and Peter Dederer. The "shack" that they manned looked like a modified orange trailer with a window cut out from its side. This I thought was a perfect frame for my drawing.

A little about Amateur radio. Each Amateur Radio operator has a call sign and the Ontario Science Centre's sign is VE30SC. Radio frequencies are allotted world-wide by international agreement and several bands of frequency are designated for amateur use. Speaking to Peter, one of his joys of being a ham radio operator is connecting up with people from all over the world from different avenues of life. Image talking to a Prince in the United Emirate or a truck driver in Spokane (I guess the former would be unlikely, but I could definitely image talking to a truck driver in Spokane). So who needs facebook! just pick up a ham radio set and you're all set!

In addition, Peter gave me a go at tapping out a bit of Morse Code. Tapped out my name but I held the first letter a bit too long and Peter thought my name was "Til". Gotta work on my Morse Code.

sketchbook 05/10/09

I forgot how enjoyable drawing with pencil can be. I think I'll stick with it for a bit.

Shameless plug for family and a new friend…

My cousin Anna Quon, had her first novel published and she was in town to promote and do a book reading from it. It was only a matter of time before this would happen. She's a super talented writer and even better person. Way to go Anna!
You could purchase her book at the Women's Book Store here in Toronto or through Invisible Publishing, Anna's Haligonian publisher.


Attending Anna'a book launch was, Mike Holmes (NOT the TV home renovation celebrity). He also has a graphic novel out and was in Toronto to promote it at his own book launch/reading yesterday night. His book is called, "This American Drive". It's a book about his American road trip with his Texan girl friend, and the experiences they encountered, the food they ate, places they saw, and did I mention the foods they ate? (You really can't go wrong when a book includes, food, travel, and illustrations that depict the trip)

sketchbook 02/10/09

While waiting to attend my cousin's book launch/reading I grabbed a cup of coffee and did what I usually do in this situation.

Joy Eliuk--Potter/Ceramic artist

I had the opportunity today to sketch Joy Eliuk, a really talented potter/ceramic artist. I went to visit her in her home studio and wedged myself into a corner while she cleaned up a few cups. Not only was she a great model, but we had a really good time talking. I found out that before she decided to take her pottery on as a full time career she was an interior designer. Her design sensibility certainly comes through her work. She also was really generous with her time and knowledge about pottery, but most of it escapes me now. (Sorry Joy.)

As a side note, drawing Joy today made me confront two of my weakest areas as a drafts person. The first being facial resemblance. This image of her does not resemble her at all, and I promised her that I would set the matter straight and tell the blogasphere that her nose is not that big! (It's a really nice nose in reality). Second, I hate drawing circles in perspective. I get uptight about it and that screws it up even more.

But here it is, and I'd like to thank Joy once again for letting me in her studio and being so generous with her time and knowledge.

So if you're interested at all in throwing clay and will be in Toronto, she holds classes and you should contact her through the above link.

sketchbook 01/10/09

I thought i'd sketch behind the counter of a Starbucks since I've spent so much time sketching things in front if it.

sketchbook 30/09/09

I took advantage of a free pass I got for the Bata Show Museum. I wasn't too sure what to expect, but I was really drawn to the native Indian footwear exhibit. The last time I spent this much time looking at shoes was when I was 10 (I think) when my mom had to get a new pair for a wedding… fortunately I didn't throw a fit this time.

As a side note the Bata Shoe Museum was designed by Moriyama Architects, a Toronto based firm. It's really an eye opener of a building. I've passed by it several times, but this was my first time going into it. The concept for the building was basing it on a shoe box (makes sense, right) with a lot of skewed cuts and angled walls to accommodate the programmatic aspects of a building.

sketchbook 29/09/09

I went to the newly renovated Bloor/Gladstone Library branch and it blew my mind away. It had a Indigo feel to it and there were big, orange, comfy seats to sit in on the second floor overlooking the 2 storey foyer area. I chose to sketch my fellow orange seat sitters and this is the result.

Random Thoughts

I did the Lola sketch yesterday but didn't feel the spread was finished. So I finished it with the first thing that came into my mnd: Run Lola Run and Franka Potente, the main character of that movie.

sketchbook 27/09/09

Today was Toronto's Word on the Street. It's a books and magazine festival where authours, publishers and independents sell their books and magazines. It's also where authors have book readings of their most recent work. What was new this year, was the demo kitchen and this was where I drew this image of Marilyn Smith, a cookbook author, who demonstrated how to make chocolate chip muffins, a recipe in her most recent cookbook. She was informative with a lot of nutritional facts but also hilarious. She made the 45 minutes zoom by.

As a side note, due to the limited time that each author had on stage, it gave me a reason not to be so uptight about everything I put on the page. It simply was a case of slapping lines down and trying to get enough information down to convey what the space was like.


The crowd from above. Inevitably I attempt to draw every figure. Not the smartest approach to drawing crowds. I'll have to learn a better method of drawing large groups of people.


Author John Bemrose, reading an excerpt from his most recent book, "The Last Woman". I'm not a big literary reader, so he and his book were news to me, but it did give me a chance to sketch a person.


My father. He's the hardest person I've ever tried sketching and I'm still not happy with these images. I guess it's because I know what he looks like intimately and anything out of place in these images really is blown up in my mind.

sketchbook 25/09/09

As serendipity would have it, I was grabbing a drink with a friend right by the St.Lawrence Market tonight, so as sketching habit dictates, I went down a few hours earlier and sketched. I happened to find another like minded person and decided to sketch her while she was sketching a fish (i think). I never did get the opportunity talk to her because she left before I finished my drawing, but if mame, you do happen to stumble onto this blogger account and you are reading this, I thank you for not freaking out and being a perfect model for me.

sketchbook 24/09/09

Started a new sketchbook today and it's going to take a few days to get used to a new kind of paper.

I was wondering what kind of sketchbooks you all used? Any recommendations for a SB that takes watercolour and other wet mediums well?

Nudes

The Ben Navaee Gallery holds free figure drawing classes every Wednesday night for two hours. Sounds like a deal to me!

It's been a while since I drew the human figure from a model and here are some of the less embarrassing pages I did tonight.

sketchbook 23/09/09

While waiting for the figure drawing class to start I had a coffee at the Tango Palace Coffee Company Cafe on Dundas East. Great little shop with a dark, wood paneled interior reminiscent Victorian interiors. Lots to draw and I'll be sure to get to figure drawing class a few hours earlier so i could sketch here again.


The last spread of my current sketchbook. A really quick sketch I did after Tango Palace and before figure drawing. I like it for some reason.

sketchbook 21/09/09

A rainy day in Toronto = a few hours in a coffee shop sketching. Happy.

sketchbook 20/09/09

I didn't realize how much energy it takes to draw daily. I took yesterday off and it felt pretty good. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy drawing, and this is what I think I was meant to do, but damn, it's pretty energy consuming. However, I think like anything I want to do well, I have to practice. So I got back to drawing today.

Today I attended the West Queen West Art Crawl, a art show held in Trinity Bellwoods Park for the last 7 years. Artists of all stripes were selling their work during this two day event and I was totally impressed (and a bit disheartened) to see so many talented artists who call Toronto their home town.

However, in the background there was music constantly being played and I found out it was Mr. Something Something playing live, literally on Queen West. The group occupied two parking spaces along the street which they paid for and played for the Trinity Bellwood's crowd. Despite, the constant car and street car traffic that drove between the group and the audience, they were putting out an amzing energy. Front man Johan Hultqvist was a spastic (in a good way) dancer who engaged the audience and passing cars, when stopping for a red light, alike. Unfortunately my drawing fails to capture the energy of the afternoon. But you get the idea of what was happening.

sketchbook 03/09/09

Ok, so I received James Jean's latest book, Process Recess 3, The Hallowed Seam. It's a gorgeous collection of select pages from his sketch books. In fact, it's his work that inspired me to start drawing in a serious way with a regular ball point pen. Anyways, as an ode to him, I put away my micron pen and pulled out my papermate and sketched the interior of Wanda's Pie in the Sky Cafe, a place I sketched previously. As a side note, I had a delicious slice of pumpkin pie with whipped cream and a nice dark coffee. Yum!

sketchbook 17/09/09

Found a laneway near the dojo right before practice and I quickly put it down on paper. The monotone wash was my quick way of trying to capture the late afternoon shadows.

sketchbook 16/09/09

West Queen West, Cork Town and Riverdale were some of the neighbourhoods I walked through to get to Leslieville. It's in the east part of the city which I haven't been to in quite a while. My original intention was to attend a free figure drawing class at a gallery, but apparently the model strained his back, and I didn't get the email notifying me of this. However, it gave me an opportunity to sketch in a new neighbourhood, which definitely has a grittier feel to it than my 'hood. I actually walked by someone being arrested for selling drugs...pretty cool.