Drawn Together

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I was included in a profile of two University of Guelph graduates in the May 2013 issue of the University Alumni magazine, Portico. Author Andrew Vowles connected us after meeting each of us in open life drawing sessions here in Hamilton. Ward Shipman, the photographer for the Portico piece, is another regular in the same life drawing circles. I really look forward to any opportunity to spend time drawing from life. The experience keeps my hand and eyes tuned, but I love the state of mind that can be achieved by focusing entirely on the process of observing something carefully through drawing: a meditation when it’s going well. 

I’ve been participating in two life drawing circles in Hamilton since we arrived in 2012. On Sundays you can draw from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the top floor of the Vasco Da Gama building on Hamilton’s James Street North, between Cannon and Mulberry streets. Look for the sandwich board on the street outside. It costs $10 and is run by artist John Martin. Anne Becker, the owner of 337 Sketch Gallery (located at 337 Ottawa Street near Barton Street in Hamilton,) opens up her own studio above the gallery for life drawing from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Mondays. The fee is $12.50. Make sure to be a little early. The street door gets locked promptly. 

More from Ireland

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I’m still under the spell of the January light and landscape in Ireland’s Cork and Waterford Counties. Here are a few more of my drawings, some in pen and ink, and several in pen, ink and white charcoal on toned paper. 

Ireland in January

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Goat Island Ardmore, by Aleda O'Connor 8 1/2" x 11" Pen and Ink

Goat Island Ardmore, by Aleda O’Connor 8 1/2″ x 11″ Pen and Ink

It would be hard not to be inspired by the light and landscape in the south of Ireland at any time of the year. 

Gate, Lismore Castle, by Aleda O'Connor 3" x 4" Pen and Ink

Gate, Lismore Castle, by Aleda O’Connor 3″ x 4″ Pen and Ink

My Irish friends and family thought I was a bit odd choosing to visit in January and urged me to come when the weather was “better,” but I haven’t regretted my timing for a moment.

Middle Glanmire Road, Cork by Aleda O'Connor 8 1/2 " x 11" Pen and Ink

Middle Glanmire Road, Cork by Aleda O’Connor 8 1/2 ” x 11″ Pen and Ink

While I was admiring the palm trees, primroses, daffodils and gorse in bloom, my family was confronting blizzards at home in Ontario.

Blackwater River Near Villierstown County Waterford, by Aleda O'Connor 8 1/2" x 11"

Blackwater River Near Villierstown County Waterford, by Aleda O’Connor 8 1/2″ x 11″

Above the Pier, Ardmore, by Aleda O'Connor3" x 4" Pen and Ink

Above the Pier, Ardmore, by Aleda O’Connor
3″ x 4″ Pen and Ink

This trip was a bit of a sentimental journey to say hello to family, friends and visit a landscape I hadn’t seen for a while, so I especially appreciated finding some of my old haunts in Waterford and Cork Counties empty of tourists.

Without leaves on the trees and hedges, it was much easier to see the landscape.
My sketchbook was a great companion, especially for someone travelling alone. 

Represented by Art Etc.Gallery

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Split Rail Fence, Dufferin County 20″ x 28″

Some of my pastel paintings and pen and ink drawings are available to rent or purchase through the Art Etc. Gallery Shop, at the Burlington Art Centre, 1333, Lakeshore Road, Burlington. I’m pleased to be included in a collection of original works by established and emerging Canadian artists.

My subject here is a split rail or snake fence, that I found just outside Orangeville, in Dufferin County, Ontario. These picturesque and durable fences are constructed of white cedar that grows in swampy areas throughout Ontario, especially where there is limestone under the soil.

The magic of soft pastel

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Sheep, hillside, by Aleda O’Connor. Soft pastel on board. 16″ x 20″

Though I’ve been using oil pastel for almost 20 years, soft pastels aren’t part of my regular kit. So when I noticed a six-class session at the Art Gallery of Hamilton (AGH) taught by pastel artist Clarence Porter, I jumped at the opportunity to experiment. I first saw his exquisite cityscapes of the Hamilton skyline in the spring of 2012 and loved them.

The class was as much fun as Clarence’s colourful paintings. He led us through a variety of techniques and concepts: using sponges to apply and blend colour; the effect of alcohol as a blending/fixing medium; the differences between hard, soft and pan pastels; tips on using a variety of tools from pencils and erasers to palette knives. We experimented with several different surfaces, including paper and board prepared with Golden Pastel Ground, which I also use as a base for oil pastel.

My painting, Sheep, hillside was completed during the class.  Clarence Porter will be teaching another pastel class from March 24 to May 5 2013, at the AGH.

An Oil Pastel Workshop

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Ten members of the Burlington Fine Arts Association (BFAA) spent the day with me
(right, above, with Gail Forbes past president)  for an Oil Pastel workshop, held in the wonderful facilities at the Burlington Art Centre. Oil Pastels are a very liberating medium to use: they’re so portable, durable and stable. They appeal especially to people who love to draw and love colour. Using them reminds me of the fun I had as a child when I first made pictures.

       
It is important to understand how colours work together when you’re working in pastel, because you need to blend them and know how to adjust values to get a full range from each hue. So we spent a little time at the beginning reviewing these relationships and weaving additional hues by hatching and feathering, adding black and white, and by blending complementary colours. The process gave everyone an opportunity to use their new pastels and try out different approaches to mark-making. We worked on masonite panels that were coated with Golden Acrylic Pastel Ground.

West Guilford, by A.J. Casson   McMichael Canadian Collection

The subject for the day’s work was  a simplified adaptation of this drawing by A.J. Casson. The youngest member of Canada’s famous Group of Seven painters, Casson spent some of his formative years in Guelph and Hamilton where he took art classes at the Hamilton Technical School.  This prolific artist had a particular affection for Southern Ontario villages that could be reached easily on weekend drives from Toronto.

Everyone transferred the drawing of this house on a hillside to their panel  – with some lovely results.  At the end of the day, we had a look at the pastel paintings our group produced.  It is always fascinating to see how artists express their own personality to produce unique variations on a theme. Many thanks to BFAA for this invitation and the very warm welcome the members extended. 

Artists Inc. Annual Members show

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Wash Day, Co. Kerry by Aleda O’Connor Oil Pastel on Wood Panel 24″ x 36″

My painting Wash Day Co. Kerry  is part of the Hamilton Artists Inc. Annual Members Show, that opened last night and runs until December 16. The Artists Inc. Gallery is located at 155 James Street North, at the corner of James and Cannon Streets in Hamilton. Over 100 artists are represented in this year’s show. It’s open tonight for the James Street North Art Crawl, or you can drop by during the regular hours: Wednesday to Friday 12 pm – 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday 12 pm – 4 pm.

Burlington Fine Arts Association – Oil Pastel demo step-by-step

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In September, I made a very abbreviated start on an oil pastel demonstration at the end of my presentation to the Burlington Fine Arts Association at the Burlington Art Centre. I didn’t have time to show the group much about how I work in the allotted time, but I promised I’d post it when it was finished. Here’s what it looked like in progress: 

I began by drawing in the major shapes and blocking in patches of colour.  

Wheat field and Willows Step 1

At step two, below, I emphasized the orange/pink glow where the sun shines on and through the wheat stalks.

Wheat field and Willows Step 2

By the third stage, I have worked into the shapes with more colour – building layers with my Sennelier Oil Pastel sticks and Sakura Cray-Pas Specialist Oil Pastel sticks, while also scratching into the surface with a palette knife and a bamboo skewer. I find that by using different brands of pastel I can manipulate the texture and colour better. I also use oil pastels made by Holbein and Caran D’Ache.

Wheat field and Willows Step 3

Finally, I refined the surface, added more colour in the sky, defined the shapes and shadows of the willows and added additional contrasting complimentary marks throughout, but especially in the foreground wheatfield. Notice the distant roadway as well – a last-minute addition.

Wheat field and Willows by Aleda O’Connor Oil Pastel on Wood Panel 18″ x 24″

It’s been a good move…

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Some of you know that Barry Coombs and I moved to Hamilton – 45 minutes west of Toronto – in May. Six months later I can report that we are thrilled by our decision, by our new home that has enough space for both of us to have studios, a guest room, plenty of storage space and a big garden in a lovely neighbourhood, close to the lake and farmers market. What more could anyone want? Barry had many connections here, having taught at the Dundas Valley School of Art (DVSA) for some 20 years, and I have been most warmly welcomed by absolutely everyone I have met, from Barry’s former DVSA colleagues and students, to our new neighbours and the folks at the Burlington Art Centre (BAC) where I recently gave a presentation about my oil pastels to the Burlington Fine Art Association. We have become regulars at the James Street North Art Crawl, and last month I attended some of the screenings of the Art Gallery of  Hamilton’s World Film Festival.  (Heck – all three venues were less than 10 minutes away.)

Bicycle, 3″ x 4″
Pen, Ink and White Charcoal on Toned Paper

To top off this perfect beginning, my little drawing Bicycle was chosen for the Viewers Choice Award at the opening of the Second Annual Miniature Show at Hamilton’s 337 Sketch Gallery. I’m very proud to be part of this show that contains some exquisite works of art – none of which are larger than 3” x 4” or cost more than $200. (I have my eye on a few beauties.) The show runs until October 29 at 337 Ottawa Street, Hamilton.

337 Sketch Gallery – Miniatures!

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Plant Shadow 3″ x 4″
Pen, Ink and White Charcoal

Bicycle, 3″ x 4″
Pen, Ink and White Charcoal

The opening Gala for the 2nd annual 337 Sketch Gallery Miniature Show is tomorrow, Thursday October 11 2012, from 7 to 9 p.m. Work by fifty local and international artists is on display, including some of my smallest drawings in pen, ink and white charcoal on toned paper. This is a great opportunity to find a little work of art for less than $200.  You will find the gallery at 337 Ottawa Street in Hamilton (905-966-2892).  I understand that the $10 admission charge goes towards artist awards. The show runs until October 29.

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