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