Journal
When I went to Paris I was so afraid that I would forget all that I had taken in and done, I was afraid all the beautiful paintings would blur together and fade away. I determined to sit down at the end of each day and draw what I could remember of the day. The idea was not to do good drawings but just some kind of visual representation of the day's events. It worked so well and friends really enjoyed looking through the drawings that I kept doing it wherever I went. I make copies for my travel companions and they often tell me how much they enjoy looking through them. I have a friend who decided she would do it in her everyday life except she would only pick out one event. I like that idea, to make our everyday special. Anyway I just thought I'd put it out there in case anyone is interested in giving it a try.
Jan 28, 2025
During Covid our life drawing our life drawing group switched to drawing outside. We shivered through the first winter. When Covid was over we found we were an outside group and never went back to life drawing. In winter though, we went inside and took turns setting up still life for each other. This one is called Escape from a Still Life. In the end we found that drawing was what we wanted, the subject was less relevant. I think drawing is a power for good and I intend to keep doing it as long as I can, I think I'll include painting in that as well. Cheers to all those who love to draw or make art or do anything with their hands really.
March 24 2023
Our show is coming up in April. Glad Rags And Rhodos. Elizabeth has painted clothing portraits and I have focused on the Ocean Park Library garden.
The last of the wild sweet peas on Blackie's Spit, Crescent Beach.
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My book of illustrated poems, Scratching Initials, has just come into print. The poems were generated from vocabulary gleaned from one of my sister's childhood books. She died at age 25 while having an epileptic seizure in the night.
Our Life drawing group has been drawing outside through the winter whenever we can and the Dunsmuir community garden has been one of our haunts. this is of some winter Brussel sprouts.
I found this drawing I did in Haida Gwaii of James Hart, his son Gwaliga Hart and John Brent Bennet carving the truth and reconciliation pole that now stands at UBC. It was so impressive to watch their process.
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These Berries jumped out at me on my morning walk in Crescent Park. I'm not sure what they are, but they looked beautiful cascading out of the woods.
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A few weeks ago before Christmas, I went out drawing with my life drawing group in Dunsmuir gardens, which is a local community garden. We have been drawing outdoors since the start of the pandemic. As I was packing up to go home, I left the bag containing my drawing book, a case of pens and pencils and a small blanket I use for warmth.
When I got home my bag was gone. I rushed back, the book holds drawings going back to 2013 and lots of memories. In spite of looking everywhere, it could not be found. I try generally not to be too precious about my work, but this really upset me. My daughter suggested I post on Facebook and tag all local organizations, which I did. That night it rained heavily and I kept thinking of my book out there somewhere.The next evening I googled "lost sketchbook" and found a listing in Craigslist lost and found.
A lovely woman who lived locally had found it and I was able to retrieve it. She left it on her porch for me.
Here is the drawing from the book of one of the flowers I buy to cheer myself up through the winter.
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My sketch book containing an illustrated poem Summer of Fires is now catalogued in the Brooklyn Art Library and will be available for viewing digitally within the next couple of months.
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