Thursday, 26 January 2012

Shaping up!!

A busy time in the office and at home had already reduced my time for art but now things have gotten a whole lot worse. We are having our en suite bathroom completely remodelled. I have always tackled jobs like this myself and did the main bathroom on my own a few years ago however, this time we are having the work done for us by professionals. 

Having said that, I'm finding it next to impossible to sit back and do nothing so to satisfy my need to get involved I decided I'd take care of clearing the room of all the existing stuff in preparation for the plumbers to do the rebuild. So I'm lifting the flooring, removing the basin and toilet, dismantling the shower cubicle and chiselling tiles from the wall, all without water squirting everywhere .... we hope!!!

As an accountant, and therefore a pen-pusher, my hands aren't as tough as those of a labourer so for jobs like this I do like to use a pair of good quality leather work gloves. Apart from anything else, I have on occassion missed the head of the chisel with my hammer. I know you girls use Hand Cream to protect your hands. Call me a wimp if you must but for me cream just doesn't do it.

As good as the modern strong plastic toolboxes are, the old fashioned hesian Plumbers bag takes a lot of beating. It holds a huge number of tools yet it can be carried easily and as soon as it is laid on the floor it flops open and all the tools are instantly accessible.  I have two and wouldn't be without them.

Despite how it might seem, this post isn't about my bathroom project but is all about art. There was a time when I thought quick sketches, though great fun, were fairly pointless and served no useful purpose other than to occupy a few idle minutes here and there, but of late I have been changing that opinion. As you all know I've been doing much more sketching recently and I'm actually beginning to feel as if the pen is moving over the paper in a much more relaxed and easy fashion. Shapes seem to be coming together more naturally and the pen feels as if it is moving more freely.

I am really looking forward to when I can sit down and do a more serious painting or drawing but in the meantime these sketches are helping me feel really positive about my art.



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32 comments:

  1. Vicki Holdwick26 January 2012 at 14:28

    Really nice sketches, John,

    xoxo

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  2. jsicignano2.blogspot.com26 January 2012 at 15:49

    Oh yes John, these sketches are wonderful. I have found so many blogs for sketching and journaling. So what you have done here is a great way to feel you are still producing art, because art it is, don't forget to date what you do.

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    1. John (JWJarts)26 January 2012 at 23:25

      Thank you very much Joan, I really appreciate your comments. And yes, I have written the date on each page of my sketchbook. :)

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  3. Jane26 January 2012 at 19:32

    Finding art even during chaos...very admirable . Your sketching is excellent, they tell the story :-)

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    1. John (JWJarts)26 January 2012 at 23:33

      Thank you Jane. I have yet to decide whether to try and continue the story when the workmen arrive. That may be a step too far for me. :)

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  4. Sandra Busby26 January 2012 at 19:39

    I think sketches are such an important part of art. I love sketching, I just wish I could feel as relaxed about it when I'm out as I do when I'm on my own! Your sketches are great! I love looking at them!! :0)

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    1. John (JWJarts)26 January 2012 at 23:37

      I'm only just beginning to appreciate how important sketching is Sandra. And I know what you mean about being less relaxed when you're out. lol. Thanks very much.

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  5. ann @ studiohyde26 January 2012 at 19:49

    I'm really liking these sketches, very good. Hope you have more success than we did with your en suite, last year we had our bathroom and shower room revamped, it took 4 months! Yes you read it correctly AND we had professionals do it, thought we had adopted the workman at one time!

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    1. John (JWJarts)26 January 2012 at 23:40

      Oh my word Ann, that's terrible. I have no patience for things like that so the plumbers had better hope they finish on schedule ... for their sake. lol. Glad you like the sketches - thank you. :)

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  6. Unknown27 January 2012 at 06:13

    Nice sketches John. Watch those hands of yours ;)

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    1. John (JWJarts)27 January 2012 at 16:40

      Thanks Sue. I washed my hands the other day and now I can't do a thing with them. ;-)

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  7. Pat27 January 2012 at 08:29

    I used to think the same about sketches, but now I think differently. Yours are pretty good - and I love that plumbers bag.
    We used to do all our own remodelling, but this house we've had the pros in, just not enough time in our day - and we're getting older for all this heavy physical stuff! Our bathroom tilers and fitters did all the clearing and renewing and took 2.5 weeks to get it to an empty shell then fit new everything!

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    1. John (JWJarts)27 January 2012 at 16:44

      Hi Pat. I know what you mean about getting older. I used to work for a few hours then have a 10-minute break, now it's the other way round. lol.

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  8. Keith Tilley27 January 2012 at 08:51

    These sketches brought a smile to my face John. They tell an interesting story, but they are good drawings as well. They show the confidence that comes from constant practice.

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    1. John (JWJarts)27 January 2012 at 16:46

      Thank you very much Keith. You've followed me for quite a while so you'll know just how much 'confidence' is an issue for me. Sketching is certainly making a difference to how I feel about my art.

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  9. JANE MINTER27 January 2012 at 12:59

    great DIY sketches john

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  10. Judy27 January 2012 at 21:47

    Sorry for my late comment, John, these are great sketches!

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    1. John (JWJarts)28 January 2012 at 08:11

      You're not at all late Judy. Glad you like the sketches. Thank you.

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  11. hmuxo28 January 2012 at 22:44

    These are terrific, John! I really love that plumbers bag...I would like to start sketching as well...so many times I'm watching T.V. and I look at faces and wish I had that sketch pad handy!!!

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    1. John (JWJarts)30 January 2012 at 13:53

      Thank you very much Hilda. Sketching faces from the TV? That would be well beyond me. Make sure you have your pad handy next time and have a go.

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  12. renate29 January 2012 at 22:25

    Hai John:) I'm trying to make a picture in my mind of you sitting on the floor making sketches with all the professionals around you:)
    "Sir, can you move a little, we like to do some plumbering over here!" But, seriously; you made some beautiful sketches!

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    1. John (JWJarts)30 January 2012 at 13:56

      LOL ... Good point Renate. I think I'd just get walked all over. Maybe I'll give it a miss. Thanks for the lovely comment. :)

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  13. Anonymous30 January 2012 at 22:15

    I see the confidence in your sketches. We are always told in art class that to be a good painter you must know how to draw. So consider yourself a good painter too.
    Jean

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    1. John (JWJarts)31 January 2012 at 15:58

      Thank you very much for such a lovely comment Jean. :)

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  14. suzanneberry1 February 2012 at 00:22

    what a wonderful concept...to tell a story and illustrate it! amazing drawings john, i absolutely LOVE them! and how exciting the remodel must be for you. i have HGTV on when i work. i peek around the canvas to see the before at the beginning and then again at the end to see the after. would you mind taking some snaps to show the progress? or better yet some sketches would be wonderful!

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    1. John (JWJarts)1 February 2012 at 19:08

      Suzanne, what can I say? What a wonderful comment. I have been giving thoughts to a few sketches of the workmen doing their thing but I don't think they'll want to stand still long enough. lol.

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  15. Trudy R. Gomez3 February 2012 at 14:37

    I love your sketches to illustrate the story. I feel drawing is the most important aspect of art. Without a proper drawing, a painting will go no where - I sometimes forget this in my excitement to capture what's before me. Thank you for the reminder!

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    1. John (JWJarts)3 February 2012 at 18:47

      Thank you very much Trudy, and thank you for visiting my blog - I appreciate it.

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  16. Nora MacPhail4 February 2012 at 00:30

    These are lovely. It's awesome to see you documenting the events of your life in sketches. SO MUCH better than a camera!!
    Have a wonderful weekend and good luck with it.
    Nora

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    1. John (JWJarts)4 February 2012 at 10:45

      Thank you Nora. Sketching daily things like this isn't something I've done before but it's great fun. Have a good weekend yourself. :)

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Your comments are very much appreciated and I value every one. Thank you

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