What is Art – Ashley Jackson?

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Karen

The Big Draw – Ashley Jackson and Graham Ibbeson that sounds like fun!

On a cold but sunny Sunday morning we’re up much earlier than usual on our traditional “lie in” day. Warm coats, waterproofs and camping seats loaded we gather up a couple of grandchildren (not mine, but they are known to me, so I haven’t turned into some strange Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Child Catcher) and head for Cusworth Hall, Doncaster. It’s a beautiful day and we’re all set to receive our instructions from Ashley with art pads and pencils at the ready. Whoops! We’re 2 hours early, but never mind!

When we get started some time later we’re greeted by Ashley (wearing his trademark long waxed coat over his artist’s smock) and Graham who offer an insight into each others work to get us started. It’s already interesting to pick up their enthusiasm for what they do, their respect for each other and their typically no nonsense “Yorkshireness” (yes, I think I’ve made that word up) – I mean that down to earth bit about them that throws doubt on some of the more modern approaches to “Art”.

We’re off…we’re going to learn how to draw, nay paint, a quick outdoor scene (we only have one hour and at least 10 mins have already passed). First though, a quick tip “for the youngsters” on how to create a boat from the Christian Fish symbol. The closer the boat the fatter it should be and vice versa. Imagination is fired and Josh embarks on a couple of detailed drawings of ships that keep him quiet for the next 20 mins (because Ashley isn’t very inspiring apparently).

Ashley Jackson Demonstration

Next, we’re introduced to the principles of capturing umbrella (horse chestnut), lampshade (elm and sycamore) and teardrop (poplar) shaped trees, indeed we are surrounded by the green, red and gold autumnal trees of each of those various shapes! Ashley starts to outline our scene on rag paper – (140lb Rough) using a pencil stub, whilst extolling the virtues of good composition (check out Turner’s painting of Bolton Abbey for good L-shaped composition).

The composition starts to take shape with the addition of colour washes, using a limited palette of only three colours – Prussian Blue, Lemon Yellow and Burnt Sienna, in varying proportions. We are reminded of the benefits of a real sable brush and of the principles of colour perspective as the scene to our right unfolds before our eyes on the easel. More words of wisdom:

“If it looks wrong it’s wrong even if it’s right”

Ashley Jackson demonstration

Final point – create four dark corners to prevent the picture falling out of the frame. With the addition of a mount card the picture is a triumph and once again Ashley Jackson has made watercolour painting look so much easier than it really is. Within 15 minutes the watercolour sketch is destroyed as part of the clearing up process.

Inside Cusworth Hall the “Opposites Attract” exhibition features some of Ashley’s fabulously atmospheric watercolour paintings of Yorkshire including some of her roughest Peak District terrain. Each demonstrates the tips we have just been given outside with the exception of how to capture the feeling – without a doubt these pictures really do convey the sense that he sees Yorkshire as his mistress…there’s love in them there hills!

So, a good day had by all and souvenirs for our two budding artists who spent the evening producing even more fine art works!

Josh sketching

Caitlan listens to Ashley

Encaustic Adventures

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Karen

Always keen to learn something new I treated myself to a half day workshop with Brian Nelson at Encaustic Art Plus, Elsecar. I use the word “treat” advisedly! The afternoon was full of fun thanks to Brian’s excellent tuition and the company of him and the other workshop attendees. We were all up and running really quickly with some basic techniques…who would have thought that ironing could be so much fun!!!

My Beeswax colour is selected (I chose to start with vivid) and my iron is set to somewhere in the region of a silk setting. Now I know it is unlikely I will burn myself severely I’m ready to paint.

Encaustic painted pineapple

Encaustic Zeppelin

Spreading a background colour, creating lines using the edge and point of the iron and manipulating the wax using different parts of the sole plate.

I have carved wax before, but encaustic painting is completely different – liquid, runny and far less predictable than wax in its solid state, but it’s interesting to work with less control.

Further experiments produce interesting effects in beautiful, vibrant colours, enhanced when lightly polished with a soft cloth:

Encaustic “Butterfly Wings”

Encaustic “Raspberry Ripple”

A few more experiments with colour and technique and we are ready to move on to more complex techniques that will enable us to create landscapes . This is the moment we had all been waiting for! First, a simple landscape:

Encaustic “Green Landscape”

Using only one colour, but with a small residue from the previous picture, placing and dragging the iron creates a background “mountain”.

Placing and lifting the iron in the foreground creates the sense of depth and the effect of foliage. The side of the iron carves out the meadow grass. This feels really satisfying!

With a little more colour, thought and skill we are able to introduce a whole mountain range in the background. A body of water is created in the mid ground and a pathway through the foliage in the foreground to the lake beyond.

Encaustic “Purple Landscape”

With the introduction of the stylus tool we can add fantasy castles, fences, flower heads and picket fences…this is a real revelation!

Encaustic “Magic Kingdom”

And finally we are introduced to the scraper tools and stamps – the opportunity to add finer detail to the finished images.

Encaustic painted flower

Encaustic VW Camper

It’s refreshing to work in a different medium once in a while and I have thoroughly enjoyed this fluidity of this particular adventure.

Note to self: remember to save for further encaustic adventures…

Am I an artist?

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Karen

I have often asked myself the question “am I an artist?” You’d think the answer was straightforward really, but what is an artist?

Most definitions suggest an artist is someone who makes “art” to express what they are thinking or feeling. That’s fine, but what about commission work then, interpreting what someone else thinks or feels and translating it into an “art work”?

Some definitions suggest art is something that is functional and generally aesthetically pleasing to the eye (Tracey Emin’s contemporary work “My Bed” might disprove this theory). So perhaps we need to think more about form and content, or the skill and techniques involved to determine whether someone is an artist?

That raises another question…who decides whether I’m an artist? I have already made the decision to use the word on my business card, but to be honest I’m more inclined to think the decision rests with others. I know that my intention is to produce art that is aesthetically pleasing both in my opinion and others’. I also hope my work connects with and provokes a response in others. Most of all though I believe it’s the judgement of my peers that determines the answer to my question “am I an artist”?

Karen – caricature

So, I received this wonderful caricature as a gift for my birthday recently. I love the fun, bold colours in the picture and the fantasy fairy image on the easel. My birth date is cunningly incorporated, along with my web identity (KL Art). Oh, and I really love the virtual weight loss around the thighs and bum!

Most of all though I feel reassured by the affirmation that there are people out there who believe I’m an artist!

Thanks for the confidence boost – Stephen, Andrea & kids!

Now, where to hang it…..