Sunday, October 11, 2009

The Lonely Glove

I have been invited to participate in a pre-Christmas art show in November and possibly sell some of my paintings. The only problem is, I haven't been doing much painting in the past few months, and this art show is just the incentive I need to get started again. I used to paint everything I saw. This little colored pencil sketch was done several months ago when I lost one of my favorite gloves, and all I had left was its lonely mate. I was about to throw the remaining glove away, when I found the other one lying in a pile of leaves outside. Et voila! I had both gloves again and I was so happy. A few days later, I lost them both. At least they are together.

For some reason, I enjoy working with colored pencils. I have tried watercolor, oils and acrylics, but colored pencils are my favorite medium. They're very forgiving, and they appeal to my sense of being in control of my drawing. I have never been a big fan of "happy accidents". Perhaps that is why I will never venture out of the realm of being a "drawer" to being an "artist". A true artist lets the painting go and allows it almost to paint itself, much the way a writer will let a book write itself. The artist or the writer is the medium, guided by their art. I can never do that. At the same time, after I am finished with a drawing, I find it difficult to part with it.

"Sell it? But I spent so much time on it!"

This little apple is called "Phinnaeus's Apple". He was in Cubs and all the little fellows held an apple sale. I bought an apple, and I wanted to preserve it before I ate it. When I pass into the Great Beyond, this will belong to Phinnaeus. I could never sell it.

So I have my work cut out for me in the next little while, but it is just what I need at the moment, to regain my centre, and to get away from the silliness at work.

Have a great weekend, everyone, and to all my Canadian friends,

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

24 comments:

Hilary said...

I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving. Good luck with the painting. :)

Sunny said...

I had to chuckle at your glove story, I'm always losing mine. Your artwork is very nice. Happy Thanksgiving!
Sunny :)

Owen said...

So now they are together happily ever after in the place lost gloves and socks go... I'm sure there is an alternate universe populated with everything that disappears in this one... and there must be a heck of alot of socks and gloves there...

Happy Thanksgiving Jo !

Jennifer D said...

I loved the story and the "drawings". Good Luck with your next one.

Happy Thanksgiving! I am wondering what Canadians do differently than us Americans on Thanksgiving.

Do you eat A LOT?

TC said...

Before the economy went south I was selling aceos on ebay. Colored pencil is my favorite medium too. I don't know why but part of it is I can do better work with them.
Good luck with the art show. Great you have incentive. I didn't even bring my pencils with me, need to do other things first.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

A human kind of human said...

Happy Thanksgiving (a bit late I think but please forgive me, this is a strange holiday to a South African). I hope you do very well with your art, in fact I am sure you will. I have loved every bit of your paintings and drawings you have shown us on your blog, especially your geraniums.

PhilipH said...

You're quite talented as an artist, as you are with your postings Jo.

Yes, I see how it could be hard to sell your work, but on the other hand ... hmm. Glove, hand ... what am I trying to say? No idea.

Alissa Grosso said...

The art show sounds like a great opportunity. Good luck with it! But as a writer what I really want to know are what are these books that write themselves?

Happy Thanksgiving (I have to wait another month or so for our Thanksgiving!)

The Bug said...

I'm with Jennifer - is there any special food you guys eat at Thanksgiving? I've never been a huge turkey & dressing fan - I like the sides & dessert (corn pudding & pecan pie!)...

I'm glad you have an incentive to get creative again. Sometimes all we need is a little push to overcome the inertia...

susie said...

Hi,

I'm glad you're going to start painting again. I did colored pencil drawings for about 10 years, and now I've graduated to watercolor. Yes it was a big jump, the control factor was a major hinderance to going to watercolor, but I've found that with practice, I can control it to some extent.
And, now my husband has started taking watercolor classes with me and for someone who doesn't draw or anything, he's doing pretty good.

Happy Thanksgiving, ours isn't until next month.

Anonymous said...

More than twenty years ago I read a book about horses, and still remember the part, when I was told to 'give the best horse to a friend, in order to own it for ever'.

Thanksgiving probably the best time as well to become the owner of what one does give away.

A wonderful start into the new week.

Nancy said...

Good luck! I really like your colored pencil pictures. And that apple is very special. He will love it someday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A.M. said...

I love your paintings. Good luck with the show.

Where is it by the way? You know I'll be there!

See you soon.

A.M.

nomore said...

Very nice a painter...almost an famouse artist !! Have wonderful Thanksgiving !!!

the walking man said...

Have a wonderful holiday Jo. Pick someones avatar and draw that.

Swetha said...

Happy Thanksgiving Jo!!
Your have really very talented.. and your story behind each painting is really good.. it tells me how passionate you are!!

Bagman and Butler said...

What an incredible apple!!! If I had your kind of talent, I'd throw away my camera.

Anonymous said...

Cool! I like your paintings/drawings and would love to see more.

Happy Thanksgiving, Jo!

jojo said...

Cool.. I loved the story

Happy Thanksgiving jo..


http://usedcarliftsforsale.blogspot.com

TomCat said...

Happy Canadian Thansgiving!! Are these the same gloves you posted about almost two years ago?

That apple of yours is enough to tempt Adam.

Jo said...

Hilary, you too...!

Sunny, thank you. :-)

Owen, oh yes. I think there is a portal to another universe at the back of my dryer. :-)

Jennifer, we do all the same things -- eat lots of turkey. :-)

TC, I would love to see some of your art work. I have time today to visit your blog. Yay!

A Human ... Thank you! My geraniums are my favorite too. :-)

Philip, yes selling my work is very difficult for me. I like to keep it around me.

Alissa, thank you. I had a wonderful dinner!

The Bug, we have turkey and all the trimmings, just the same as the folks in the U.S. I love it!

Susie, I love watercolor too, I'm just not very good at it, unfortunately. I would love to see some of your work.

Robert, 'give the best horse to a friend, in order to own it for ever' You come up with the most wonderful sayings...! More than anyone I know!

Nancy, yes, there is a little note to him on the back. :-)

A.M., believe it or not, it is in STI on the other side of the building. So you don't have far to go to come over to view the stuff. :-)

Nomore, *heh, heh* Thank you!

Mark, what a fabulous idea! I think I will do that. Thank you. :-)

Inty Swetha, thank you. Yes, all of my paintings have a little story.

Bagman, my goodness, thank you!

Carla, thank you. I will post some more when they're finished.

JoJo, thank you!

TomCat, yes, those are the gloves. I lost them then found them then lost them again. *sigh*

Jeannette StG said...

I know the feeling, Jo - you did spend a lot of time painting it - that's why I sell mine high:)

lovelyprism said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Jo. I love your artwork! I understand how hard it is to part with it, but what an amazing honor and opportunity. Loved the glove story lol.

Paula Slade said...

Happy Thanksgiving Jo! Have fun getting back into to your art,this is a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in your passion! P.S. Loved the story about the two gloves!