Drawn to Quebec: a new illustrated newspaper column

I am absolutely thrilled to share some great news with you.*

Today marks the third week of an illustrated column - Drawn to Quebec - I have begun penning for North America's oldest newspaper.

The Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph is Quebec City's only English-language newspaper, and I've been a contributing journalist and photojournalist there for a couple of years. 

Sketchbook: in the raw

Lately, I've been trying to capture the character of various raw ingredients found in the kitchen. 

'Performance Art': Sketching opera in the dark

Click on images to view a larger version.
All sketches done during the opera; color added later.

Thursday was another press pass night at the opera - dress rehearsal for La Traviata this time. The lighting and sets were really interesting, the live orchestra (music by Verdi) was exquisite, and the story line was suitably tragic. 

As we are in Quebec, the Italian score is still in Italian, but subtitles posted above the stage are in French.  Now, imagine making sense of it all in English!  Happily, I was not on assignment, but rather in the company of the writer who was.  As a result, I was able to indulge in the details in my own way, and there was no pressure to get a perfect photo in a darkened theater.

Sketching Jeanne d'Arc's park

Jeanne d'Arc is immortalized in countless mural, sculptures, and writings around the world.  Here in Quebec City, this iconic girl also known as Joan of Arc has her very own park.  In keeping with the city's fascination with battles, and tradition of transforming old battlefields into public leisure areas, Joan of Arc's park is across the street from the embattled Plaines of Abraham.  

During the 36th Worldwide SketchCrawl, a group of local sketchers gathered here for Quebec City's first ever.  I will admit, I could not fully tell you Joan's story, though I probably learned it in elementary school.  I wonder if any of the others, mostly Québeçois(e), could fill in the blanks.  

I tried to think of a clever title. In the end, though, this post is about some pages in a sketchbook.

Click on any image to view a larger version.

It seems I have caught the sketching bug hard...again...finally!  It has been a long time, nearly two years, since I really sketched anything, and I missed it.  Since starting the nature drawing class, and gaining momentum with two days' sketching at the naval rendez-vous, I've been on a roll.

A Cultural Interlude

One of the artists at work
Printed in the Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph (06.06.2012)

This past weekend, the Jeffery Hale Friends' Foundation hosted the 2nd Annual Cultural Interlude - a fundraiser event featuring an afternoon tea (catered by the Château Frontenac) and live art/art exhibit.  The event took place at Le Domaine Cataraqui, a remarkable estate built in 1831, and now owned by the City of Quebec.  Amateur artists and professionals exhibited and worked in a side gallery, some painting from photos, and others drawing the rainy view from the windows.  Women in bright dresses and bold hats, trailed by men in casual suits, strolled through, then settled in the salons for a fancy afternoon tea.  I had a marvelous time sketching it all.

Drawn to Québec

As you may know, since February, I have been leading a drawing class series entitled "Nature Drawing in Quebec City."  We have been meeting once a month, and have focused on basic drawing skills and techniques which are useful for sketching outdoors, en plein air.  Because we are in a city, we are obviously also grappling with how to satisfactorily incorporate buildings, etc. into our sketches.

A sketch of the Morrin Centre and Canadian Institute,made
while waiting for a benefit concert to begin in Vieux-Québec.

"Drawing a Blank"

Nature Drawing Exercise 2: Negative Space drawing

Supplement to 'Drawing in Quebec City' Series

Click here to download PDf Version.

One of the greatest challenges facing us when drawing “from life” is the temptation to draw expectations and preconceptions.  Negative space drawing encourages you to consider not only the space occupied by your subject (positive space), but also the space around it (negative space).  In so doing, you will see what you are observing from a new perspective.

A Step Beyond "Just" Drawing

Transforming a sketch into a field journal entry

Supplement to 'Nature Drawing in Quebec City' series

A field journal entry combines words and sketches in a way that records both what you see and your curiosity about your subject. You can turn any sketch into a field journal entry by including some basic information (time, date, location, weather, etc.), and by making some detailed observations to accompany your sketch.

Drawing with Your Eyes

Nature Drawing exercise 1: Contour drawing[i]

Supplement to Nature Drawing in Quebec City series
Click here to download PDF version.

One of the greatest challenges facing us when drawing “from life” is the temptation to draw expectations and preconceptions.  Contour drawing is a method which encourages you to truly see what you are observing.

Dumplings chinois

Thanks to Qing, our Chinese friend here in Québec, we've been introduced to the finer points of a unique Chinese-fusion cooking style.

Jerod making dumplings

He maintains it is not a certain "type" of Chinese cuisine - it is his personal take on it.  He tends to emphasize lots of vegetables, mushrooms and subtly flavored meats.  His spices and cupboard full of sauces and vinegars are difficult to describe - some of them utterly lack English translations, but all contribute to the alchemy.  We've enjoyed a range of dinners, including several prepared en groupe under his direction.

The highlight, though, were the dumplings!  Qing patiently dedicated an evening to showing several of us how to make them.  More than one kitchen here in la belle ville has been pressed into service, putting French, Quebec, and American spins on the original recipe.  As the photographs indicate, we recently re-created the dumplings.  From what we've heard and found for ourselves, the recipe appears to stand up to a fair degree of experimentation.

Although we are a few days late (Chinese New Year 2012 was 23 January), we are celebrating Chinese New Year tonight in style.  As dumplings are eaten to ensure a prosperous year, we are planning three different fillings, along with spring rolls and fried rice.  In case you want to get in on the fun, here are some of the recipes we will use tonight.
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Bethann's sketch,
based on Qing's directions

Click the titles for various versions:

• Qing’s Dumplings
• Jerod'S Chickpea Dumplings
• Fried rice recipe coming soon...
• Click  on the illustration for step-by-step instructions on how to fill and fold a dumpling.

Serve WITH soy sauce & Chinese vinegar.

Field Journaling Basics

Sign up for a class today to

Learn How!

What is a Field Journal?
When Charles Darwin, Leonardo DaVinci, and other famous scientists were engaged in the journeys and studies that literally changed the world, most individuals used a simple tool when studying the natural world, the field journal.  Field journals have always served as personal tools for scientists, writers, and artists, focusing research, training the eye to make careful and accurate observations, and creatively augmenting learning about the intimate details of a particular ecosystem, animal, or plant.

A field journal entry combines words and sketches in a way that records both what you see and your curiosity about your subject. You can turn any sketch into a field journal entry by including some basic information (time, date, location, weather, etc.), and by making some detailed observations to accompany your sketch.

Field Journals enhance personal interaction with the world around us.
Also known as "location sketching", the practice of field journaling encourages taking opportunities to slow down and concentrate. The opportunity to record thoughts and observations through words and drawings compels closer examination of a subject. Recording what is seen through the medium of a field journal helps to cement that image in memory. As a record of observations and experiences develops, a personal field journal has the potential to become a personal field guide which can be referenced throughout one’s life.

The Field Journal can take many Forms.
The physical nature is secondary - a great field journal might be a beautiful leather-bound volume or a stack of loose scraps of paper.  Often, it becomes a meld of personal life observations and natural history anecdotes. A sketch of a magpie may be accompanied by the day’s ‘to-do list,’ or a phone number may be scribbled on the back of a note about mule deer seasonal migration.

Some advocate keeping non-nature life notes in a separate journal, but I encourage the keeping of a thorough record of life as it is lived. Include the grocery list if it is present in your awareness while you are out birding on an early spring morning. Fundamentally, both are part of your life experience. More pragmatically, you will feel freed to concentrate on warblers if you are not attempting to maintain that list in your conscious memory.

Regardless of YOUR approach
to field journaling, the point is to be curious, to strive to respond to your own curiosity with thoughtful explanations for what you observe, and to always deepen your relationship with the world around you.

For me, the connection was made when I realized that my interests in art and science could be combined in the field journal.  My high school biology teacher once encouraged me to look into scientific illustration, but it took many years of trying other things before I realized what he was talking about.  My appreciation of nature's intricacy could be expressed by combining words, illustrations, and curiosity.

Personally, my field journaling practice has directly resulted in a deeper relationship with the ecosystems in which I live.  Professionally, it has also yielded countless opportunities to share information, encourage others to ask questions, and even help others to develop their own skills as naturalists, engaged citizens, and even as artists.

Materials

Essential:

• Something to write & sketch with
• Something to write & sketch on
• Drinking water (or thermos of warm beverage for cold weather outings)
• Observation skills 
• Awareness of property boundaries & legal access 
• Humility – the best learning occurs when we recognize there is always more to learn.

Optional:

• Color options (pencils, paints, pastels…)
• Field guides
• Binoculars
• Species checklists
• Maps
• Drawing guides
• Paper clips, clothes pins or a large rubber band (for windy outings)

A note on cameras:
I strongly recommend resisting the temptation to bring both camera and field journal unless you have the willpower necessary to resist just snapping pictures rather than taking field notes.

Nature Drawing in Quebec City

5-month series offered in collaboration with:

 voice of English-speaking Quebec

contact us To sign up today!  

limit of 15 participants/month!

FOR DETAILS:

1. Click here for full-screen view.
2. Scroll down for plain-text version. 
3. Click here for print-able version.  When document opens in new window, select "Print" from options in right-hand column.
4. Click here to view samples of instructor's work.

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Plain-text version:


nature drawing in quebec city
Scroll to bottom for schedule & registration details.

DESCRIPTION

In Brief 

Following a centuries-old tradition, this series offers a casual environment in which to try your hand at nature drawing and journaling.  I've always said, “ANYONE CAN DRAW.  It is like paddling a canoe or dancing the tango – it helps if someone shows you the basics first, and then it’s all about practice.”

In this series, I will work with the group to develop confidence in recording what you see en plein air, outdoors.  You will use words and images to reflect your observations, and don’t worry; it’s not just about nature.  After all, we live in a city, so we will be drawing the things that interest us during any given session.  For example, see samples from my sketchbooks online. 

Session Topics will include:

• Engaging in natural history through field sketching
• Fundamentals of field journal organization
• Basic techniques for sketching plants and animals
• Tips for accurately recording characteristics of plants and animals, to enable accurate identification later
• Additional topics may be arranged, based on group interest.

A LITTLE BIT MORE

The history of science and art are closely intertwined.  Think of the drawings and paintings of Leonardo da Vinci, Maria Sybilla Merian, John James Audubon, or the maps drawn by Samuel Champlain. Prior to the advent of cameras, scientific inquiry required drawing.  Additionally, most people with an interest in the natural world were trained to make basic drawings of what they observed.  Their illustrated journals and drawings persist as tangible records of myriad discoveries, adventures and personal experiences.

Today this ability has lapsed as a public tradition, but it persists as a profession – scientific illustration – and as an avocation for many naturalists and enthusiasts of the natural world.  And yet, these hand-rendered reflections of the natural world still possess the power to transfix us, and make us long for the ability to do something like it. 

Certainly, professionals like Val Webb, Clare Walker Leslie, David Allen Sibley make it look easy.  However, while fine art may not be what you’re after, it is possible to render what you see in a way that satisfies and delights you.  

Join us to hold this ability

in your hands.

sign up today!

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REGISTRATION DETAILS

·         SCHEDULE: Once monthly, February - June (scroll to bottom for complete details).

·         PRICE: $5 if using materials*; free if you bring your own. 

·         Previous experience:

o   No prior drawing experience or other artistic training is required! 

o   More experienced amateurs (naturalists and artists) are also welcome.

·         language: Offered in English

·         PARTICIPATION:

o   12-participant max. per session

o   Open to adults (16+)

o   RSVP requested at least 24 hrs. prior to session. 

o   RSVP to fruit.root.leaf (at) gmail.com or call 581-981-3669.

o   You need not come to every session, although it is encouraged if you want to enhance your drawing skills or natural history awareness.

·         Materials*

o   Basic materials will be available ($5/per session; pens, pencils, colored pencils & paper).

o   A list of suggested materials will be provided to all new participants, and is available online here.

o   You are welcome to bring your own materials if you prefer, such as a camp chair, drawing and painting supplies, binoculars, or identification guides.

DATE

• Monthly, final Tuesdays
• February 28, March 27, April 24, May 3, May 29, June 26

TIME

• 1-hour sessions
• Feb. & Mar., start at 7:00 PM
• Apr.-June, start at 6:00 PM

Location

Location varies each session. Please contact me directly for details.