just want to have a little fun and paint something slightly nonsensical so to speak. baaaaaa

© copyright December 2010 acrylic paint on 11x14 canvas board by JAQ.

i enjoy watching birds. watching their movements. adoring their curious habits. trying to decode their conversations.

© copyright artwork by JAQ. charcoal on 11x14 sketch paper. December 2010

the pawn

© artwork by JAQ. charcoal on 11x14 sketch paper

the jester

© copyright artwork by JAQ. charcoal on 11x14 sketch paper

the queen

© copyright artwork by JAQ. charcoal on 11x14 sketch paper

the jack

© copyright artwork by JAQ. charcoal on 11x14 sketch paper

the king's laurels rest in his crown

a birds nest with a view

to be frowned upon

by those with calculating eyes

a pawn

the jester

a queen

by his side

all eyes

drawn like swords

daggers reap

perched

kneeling before his feet

© copyright artwork by JAQ. charcoal on 11x14 sketch paper. poem by JAQ. publishing prohibited unless with the author's permission.

these two drawings i did with beet juice mixed with vinegar. when you first apply the beet juice it is a bright fuchsia, then it changes into a dark dusty rose, then a light dusty rose with hints of ochre. it reminds me of when you pick a flower and how bright and lively it is at first and then over time it fades. both seem to share a similar process.

© copyright artwork by JAQ.

no show

due to certain last minute unforeseen circumstances i will not be hanging my artwork at Steeps in September. it is unfortunate but a lack of professionalism, on their part, has made this decision for me. i am closing this door so another may open.

for all of you who i met at the Art Walk this season, i know how excited you were to see my art and support me. not to worry! it is a big small world out there and this city offers many venues to hang my art. thank you for your understanding and continued support.

peace, luv and light! *wink*

high voltage

this painting will be shipped off to England soon. my friend Stu has inspired this painting. he suggested that i do thunderstorm clouds. i absolutely luv thunderstorms, lightning and rain! even though thunderclouds are very impressive it is the lightning that has me in awe. a beautiful striking force. we can be like lightning. electrical sparks... currents that run within us and between us. sending life in all directions. connecting us to one another and to nature.

so when i said i was taking a break from painting, i knew it wasn't going to last very long. August is painting frenzy month for me.

© painting by JAQ

soldier on...

this was my first year involved in the Art Walk. i was literally thrown into it. i had roughly three weeks to prepare. regardless i just dove right in and went with it. it was fabulous to connect with other artists and chat with all who stopped by. i received some great feedback.

a friend asked me if i was sad to see my pieces go. i said, "no. i think it's bittersweet. yes, i worked hard painting, each and every canvas. each piece has a special place. but i am thrilled they are being enjoyed by others. they are much better with them than me. the pieces are taking on a whole new life."

when asked if i was going to paint on Monday i said "no, i think i will take some time off from painting, instead i will write and monkey around with GarageBand." but in typical JAQ fashion by mid afternoon on Monday i was already tackling a new canvas.

this whole experience has been positive for me and a bit of an achievement as well. looking forward to September where i will be hanging my art at Steeps Tea House in Old Glenora. from there who knows. by then it's fall and the Stroll's Poetry Reading series will have kicked in. Edmonton has such a great arts community!

© photo by Jacqueline Williams. Art in photo by Jacqueline Williams. 

Art Walk 2010

DAY ONE: rain

from the moment i got up until it was time for me to pack up and leave. it rained! steady and hard at times. discouraged... yes! because i had strep throat. determined... yes! because i had strep throat.

i sat for seven hours in the rain. met a few artists. one even told me i was brave for setting up under such conditions. well it did say rain or shine. oddly enough people stopped and chatted. asking me about my art and poetry. possibly they felt a little sad that i endured such conditions. still it was nice to have those moments. one guy had a heavy accent, he was from Cornwall and he was telling me all about his adventures in Jasper. he had some pretty interesting tales! one was where he went down a crevasse and i am amazed he is standing there telling me this story! so i guess my cold numb fingers pale in comparison.

this was my view. it was comforting to know that i was not entirely alone. my friend Robin was across the street at her booth. we would wave every now and again and call each other on our cell phones.

DAY TWO: sunburnt

ahhh... the warmth was very comforting after yesterday and so were the people that stopped by my booth. there were lots of people out enjoying the Ave. i met and chatted with so many people. i sold a few pieces. one piece was bought by my friend, local indie director/producer/writer, Ben Babchishin. Ben is currently working on a documentary with Bill Bourne called For the Record featuring... Bill Bourne. i did not realize just how hot it was. i got a wicked sunburn on my left side. i did get some sketching done in-between questions.

here is Ben and the piece that caught his eye! thanks for your support Ben!

one of my tiniest fans. everywhere i go a lady bug follows. good luck i suppose.

DAY THREE: blue skies

my sunburn was making this a painful day for me but i managed. my voice was still in smoky jazz mode but with loads of people on the Ave it was easy to forget these facts. i saw a guy walking a three legged dog and he had a snake around his neck. this was my last day of the Art Walk. more friends dropped by. time flew by and by two in the afternoon i sold some more pieces. i want to thank all who stopped by "my negative space" it was great meeting you. my family who helped me set up and brought me lunch... that i didn't want to eat... sometimes i think eating is an inconvenience. my friends for all their support.

THANK YOU!

© all photos by JAQ.

four more days until...

Art Walk!

since the beginning of July i have been preoccupied with preparing myself, feverishly painting for this years art walk. i am a first time participant so i do not know what to expect. nervous... i say a reluctant yes!

for three days, 10-5 each day, i will be showcasing my art on Whyte Avenue. meeting other artists and the curious art patrons that are attracted to one of this city's major outdoor festival. if you are in need of something to do this weekend pop by Whyte Ave and check out all the amazing local art, buy some amazing art, stop and chat or just say hi! see you there. *wink*

my wonderful friend, Stu, over at "confessions of an ambitious pessimist" has been experimenting with his camera. black and white photography sets such a mood. upon seeing his photographs i was inspired and wrote a handful of poems. this is one of them...

upon roof tops

i sit

watching all the lovers go by

no one is immune

to my poison arrow

from high

my wings shall guide me

hidden luv

will find thee

if death

doesn't come to soon

behind me!

© copyright written June 2010 by JAQ. publishing prohibited unless with the author's permission. Photography by Stu Morris.

floating along

another Brighton inspired sketch...

© artwork by JAQ

the pen is my sword

or just the thing i sketch with...

this was inspired by Brighton. the town is very hilly and the houses appear to be narrow and squished together. for me, that is what makes Brighton charming!

connections

i tried for the most part of yesterday to do this blog post but blogger was being quite fussy. so i walked away and decided to do something else instead.

i tried sketching in pencil but i get hung up on the fact that you can erase at anytime. it feels like i am constantly erasing not drawing! pen has more flow, more build up for me. plus it is permanent therefore i do not get hung up on erasing.

last week i had the pleasure of meeting in person the lady over at dressmedearly.blogspot.com we had a pleasant chat about beauty products and blogs. when you have a moment swing by her blog. Although i haven't met this lady in person, yet. i say yet because we live in the same province. she too has a fantastic blog. you can find her blog at mariealamode.blogspot.com

some might say...

my two weeks in England have come and gone. the jet lag is slowly on it's way out. i had fun visiting with friends and family. meeting new people. visiting galleries. going for walks along the Thames. riding the tube. blending in with London and London life. just being!

ten years ago the euro was being introduce which lead to the motto "save the pound". now both pound and euro are still standing. upon my arrival it was "down with Brown" and in with Cameron, British Airways threats to strike and they may have. i flew Air Canada, pity, so i wasn't paying to close attention to that story. airport closures, volcanic ash, the Queen opened up Parliament, the 99p wasn't 99p anymore, record breaking temperatures saw me sporting a lovely sunburn, a royal scandal.... ahhhhh yes!

well Big Ben was still standing strong and the chime was more in tune than ever, the TATE Modern is my new luv, charity shops are my favourite for amazing finds, Jamie Oliver's Fifteen was a fabulous delicious dining experience, eating strawberries along the South Bank is my thing, marveling at St. Paul's architecture and Trafalgar Square and the four lions which guard Nelson's Column and house the National Gallery, Brighton ROCKS!!! the tube still hot and overcrowded, over priced admissions and luv those tacky souvenirs. until next time London... xo

yes...

as of today i am on vacation. i am jetting off to London, England for all things poetry, art, friends and family. it has been awhile since i crossed the pond, 10 years. has it been that long... yes!

as sure as i am that somethings remain the same somethings have probably changed. ten years is a long time. i am well overdue. i have always had a very deep fondness for London or England in general. could it be the history, architecture, high tea, the rain, the fog? most of my families heritage comes from the British Isles. or could it be the two pieces of artwork my parents hung in the living room? i remember as a little girl i was always drawn to these to pictures. one was Big Ben the other of a red coat guard standing outside a building. the two pieces were brown and beige tones done in a watercolour like style behind a thin gold frame. i would stare at them for hours. you know i stared at them so much that when i close my eyes i can see them as clear as day. it is sad because i do not think my parents have them anymore. they will forever remain a childhood memory.

whatever my connection with London is, it is one i can not deny. even though i was born in Canada i feel it is not the place that is in my heart. do not get me wrong... i luv Canada. for everything that it is and everything that it is not! England is my home away from home. i will return within two weeks. full of inspiration.

well... i have a few last minute things to do and a plane to catch! *wink*

turn the page to...

yesterday i renewed my membership and picked up my copy of the Stroll's anthology. my poem here she said is featured on page 97. nothing wrong with that all!

the weekend is gone

Sunday i had another poetry reading at the main library downtown. this reading was apart of the Edmonton Poetry Festival. which was a week long festival. everyday a new venue to listen to fellow poets. i read to a packed house. all the seats were full, people were even standing! i kept my five minute set on the move with minimal intro's and lots of eye contact. i got grouped with six other poets, who were absolute amazing. with a poetry reading like that, i wish every week were poetry week.

and we met again

Sunday morning i woke up to find what appeared to be a black dot moving down the white curtains. upon taking a closer look i saw that it was a ladybug... THE ladybug, our former humble house guest of the Royal Windsor Arms. Steve McQueen/Houdini had never left. ever since the great escape i remained hopeful that one day the ladybug would return. it is nice to know something so small can be so resilient.

a tube of many shades

my trips to the art store were very predicable. through the doors, straight to the back, then to the right and hang a left. pretty straight forward. then they remodeled!!! buying paint could not be more easier. better displays and new lower prices... always a bonus considering everything is on the rise and the larger Winsor + Newton tubes. which i am in luv with. not all the colours are available in the large tubes but hey i am not complaining. the basics are good enough.

i also picked up a package of Derwent tinted charcoal pencils. i am excited to try the five muted colours. my experiments will be fun!

on one of my nightly walks i came across a cat. at first it did not notice me but then the cat did, and did i ever get the once over from this creature of habit. so i gave it the once over too. so there we both were in the dead of night making eye contact. making sure we stayed out of each others way. with silence all around us. so much was said through a glance and a stare.

are we there yet

Where did February go? well i guess i was having some fun. March is here and it has brought spring. big blue skies and lots of sunshine. today i enjoyed a bit of ice creme, Maple Walnut. at night i am on a mission of power walking *every* night regardless of what it is like outside. i think all this walking is tiring me out. which does not help my creativity. it may clear my mind but i need a cluttered mind to let my creativity flow. i can't believe it has been awhile since i posted... i will do my best to be here more often. new month... new things to come...

Churchill's got my back

my poetry reading on Sunday went very well. there was a great audience turn out despite the near white out conditions. i was pleased with the selection of my poems being scattered throughout the bookstore. my thanks go to Greenwoods, family, my follow poets and friends who came to support me.

weekend poetry reading

this weekend i will be reading my poetry at Greenwoods bookstore. all week i have been preselecting, then editing, removing and then preselecting {again} my poems. honestly i probably do not need a week to prepare but i like to know what i will be delivering to my audience.

i have done many readings over the years and it is similiar but different. like driving through the prairies... you can probably do it with your eyes closed but you keep them open just incase there is a slight bend in the road.

i luv listening to other poets. it is one thing to read a poem in the comfort of your own home, whether it be a book or on a blog but to listen to a poem is quite unique. each poet breathing life into their words. listening to them form sounds and shapes that dance around the audience. is inspiring!

i look forward to this weekend with great anticipation and exhilaration.

sandstone

i have noticed that it has been awhile since i did a blog post. this is not intentional... of coarse, it never is. there have been some things that had to come first. also i have been going through my five note books, that are 200-300 pages each, filtering and reworking ideas. i found this one and gave it some life.

SANDSTONE

i walked down to the ocean to find my special place. the one by the big rock. bending to my knees i started to silently collect the sand in my hands. allowing the sand to filter through my fingers like a sieve. until my hands and fingers were left with the earthly particles that stuck to my skin. not wanting to let go.

are we all little particles that stick not wanting to let go?

i decided to dig deeper into the sand. my finger nails embedded with the tiny grit and grain. digging like a pirate for the buried treasure. there is none to be had. the tide gently washes to the shore. creeping up to my special place. smoothing out all rough and ripped surfaces. the ocean spills into my footprints. the sand absorbs every drop. my footprints vanish. concealing my existence.

i stare beyond the horizon as the warm breeze combs my hair. brushing my cheek. whispering in my ear. it is easy to remember all the things loved and lost when i am out here. they have found a place beyond the horizon. beyond the sun.

© copyright written on January 21, 2010 by JAQ. publishing prohibited unless with the author's permission. photo by JAQ.

Melissa... is that you?

i wrote this awhile ago. call it a short story or call it the beginning of something bigger. i haven't decided.

MELISSA... IS THAT YOU?

i walked away. i had my reasons. i had a few. i needed sometime to think things through. to stop the mad race that kept replaying over and over again in my head. the words swarming at me like aphids in the backyard on a hazy summer evening.

she had to concentrate. allow herself room to breathe before everything... the walls, the floors and the books started to consume her. time can erase but all it takes is one reminder. one word that puts you back to that place. she saw herself trapped between December and whatever month it is now. looking blankly at the calendar. she had lost all track of time.

"where have i been"? she asked herself. trying to scratch the surface.

until the phone rang...

i didn't pick it up right away. i waited and picked up after the second ring but before the third ring for sure. i said "hello". the voice at the other end of the telephone said "Melissa... is that you"? it took a few seconds for the words to sink in. i paused and was about to answer but i caught myself. remember, all it takes is one reminder. one word. there i was back to that place. with all my energy i replied "no, you have the wrong number". i felt a little numb. not even waiting for a reply i pulled the phone away from my ear and hung up. my eyes shifted to the phone with a sinking stare.

"Melissa"?

do i sound like a Melissa"? the anger was swelling but not reaching the threshold.

"Melissa..........." the eyes tightened. the face blank. draining then wiped clean.

the silence was deafening. here comes the flood. the blood draining from her cheeks. the thoughts rushing. spilling out all over the floor. the flood she could not control but you could. your pretentious observations. your holier-than-thou ego. a martyr to your own lies. fragments floated throughout the house. down the stairs. down the hall. in each and every room. every crack oozed with the flood.

© copyright written on April 22, 2009 by JAQ. publishing prohibited unless with the author's permission. artwork by JAQ