Emotions Harnessed
Taking Flight
Food For Thought!
Today marks ‘Day 928 of a Watercolour Sketch a Day’ and I am happy to report that I haven’t missed a day of my ‘Daily Art Practice’ since I started this journey.
I’ve learnt a lot (with much still to learn) and feel that overall I have progressed, though I have had many ‘plateaus’ on the way.
On occasions, people ask me, ‘so, what’s the goal?’ ‘Are you trying to reach 1,000, 2,000 or more?’ My answer remains the same… ‘my goal is to do a sketch a day and to endeavour to improve my skills.’
This weekend, after posting a sketch, one of my photographer friends commented that he felt I had improved a lot with my A5 daily sketches and suggested that it might be time to cut back on the daily sketches and concentrate over doing one A4 painting a week.
This thought has some merit to it, I must admit. I’m still mulling over that one and feel that I have three options:
- Keep going as I am
- Do one A4 per week as suggested and drop the daily sketches
- Do one A4 on the weekend and do daily sketches during the week
Am feeling that I would like to continue my daily art practice and I suppose that it doesn’t have to take the form of a Watercolour sketch every day (and posted to Instagram). I can see the merits also of pulling back and concentrating on larger paintings though, too.
Till I decide I will keep doing the sketch a day…
Plenty of food for thought, though!
Written by David Johnson
15 August 2021
Talking With Painters
In Sydney at present, and since 26 June 2021 we have been in our second lockdown. One of the ‘breaths of fresh air’ is getting out for some exercise. My favourite type of exercise is walking. As mentioned in previous articles on this blog, sometimes I listen to the sounds of Nature, sometimes to music and other times to podcasts or short stories.
One of my favourite podcasts is one I subscribed to sometime ago, but only started listening to throughout the latest lockdown. That podcast is ‘Talking With Painters.’
‘Talking With Painters’ features Australian Artists talking to the Host, Maria Stoljar about their life and art. I’ve listened to half a dozen so far and I must say that I find them insightful, interesting and informative.
The podcast is available on:
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TalkingwithPaintersthepodcast/videos
- Website: https://talkingwithpainters.com/
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/talking-with-painters/id1144914597
There are currently 113 episodes available to listen to. I’m looking forward so much to my next walk!
Written by David Johnson
7 August 2021
Tentacles Of Life
Winter Light
Changing Your Life
Watery Graves
Just 8 Minutes Drive…
One of the benefits of living in Camden, NSW, Australia is that we have in the vicinity a wonderful place to unwind and relax. Just eight minutes away is the scene below…
We are blessed to live so close to such a beautiful place and I have been down there many times over the years to walk, to relax and do other activities like, photograph, sketch, paint or read. Sometimes, my Wife, Susan will come down there with me as well to walk, sit and or Crotchet (an interest she has taken up in the last 12 months).
There is a Bike/Walking track (up higher) that runs alongside the river and on most days it is frequented by individuals or families to exercise or just have a leisurely outing. There are plenty of places along the 5km/3.1mile track for people to enjoy picnics, ball games etc, though during lockdown at present, the latter is/are not allowed.
Nothing seems to get people out to exercise like a lockdown, though. We went down there yesterday to get some exercise and there were quite a few more people exercising in one form or another.
The images in this article are all taken with a phone, however, over time, I have taken my DSLR down there in the early morning or late afternoon if there is something specific that I want to capture.
I’ve only started sketching down there in the past twelve months and I look forward to doing more. I’m quite challenged with the subject matter down there which is good as it will stretch me.
Here are some more images that I have taken over time.
One of the other activities I mentioned that I do down there was reading. It is such a great place to take a book. Often, I will take a book of poetry when I am going down there to sketch or paint.
All-in-all, I’m sure you will agree that it is a wonderful place to visit and relax and in particular, having a place like this so close takes on even greater value when we are in lockdown.
Till next time…
Written and Photographed by David Johnson
25 July 2021
Peacefulness Comes
