'Squirrels are outside again this morning. It's just too easy to sit and watch them. Fun to sketch them as a warm up. The black squirrels are very plump but their tails are thin, so unlike the grey squirrel who's tail is thick and fluffy and obviously quite warm to wrap up in.

While I was sketching the squirrels, my cat Mouse jumped up on my desk and decided the best place to sit was on the paper. It left me no alternative than to draw Mouse. Must have been his plan all along.

Outside my window

It's hard to work today and not be distracted watching the squirrels outside my windows feasting on bird seed. They can be terribly aggravating (they chewed through wiring and insulation under our roof) and yet so pretty to watch in their fluffy fur and cute eyes. Arrrgh!! Back to work!

First day of 2009 at the AGO

If you live in the Toronto area or visit the city you must, and I emphasize MUST, visit the new Art Gallery of Ontario. We decided to start our year with a visit today and we came away tired but thoroughly impressed with the new building and the collection on display. Toronto has finally joined the world of great art galleries. Matthew Teitelbaum, Frank Gehry and the late Ken Thomson must all be congratulated on what has been achieved here. I wouldn't know where to start with the praises. The building is beautiful. And it works. It invites, it holds the art well, beautifully in fact. The building is art. And the art inside is captivating in it's breadth and beauty.

I admit I am a sucker for the Group of Seven, and the collection is beautifully rich in works. The section on drawing is wonderful. The curators have done an excellent job of hanging, with the flow of one area into the next feeling like going from one section of a marvelous treasure cave to the next. But a cave it definitely is not since the rooms feel open and yet intimate at the same time. We bought memberships so that we can return again and again, and so we will.

The visit cannot help but inspire. I wanted to return and draw, but since I will leave that to tomorrow I've posted a small sketch from my Ungava works that was inspired not by a gallery, but by the land itself.

Happy 2009! It feels good.

couldn't help but play with the sketch...

Gee, it doesn't take much to make me happy!

2nd Advent sketch

2nd Sunday of December, 2nd Advent before Christmas. Makes me think back to childhood when there was a fuss over these days before the 24th.

Quick sketch of the lights over the breakfast nook. Brought some cedar in and laid it on...smells lovely. Not much time for better drawing due to the last of marking this morning. Never a fun time judging the work of students. Some tried hard and just didn't get there, others with tons of ability just did not push it. Others surprise me, and some sadly disappoint me. I have never found putting a number on something so complex easy and even frustrating. Part of marking is science, the other alchemy. The science part is the math, the numbers. When added up they don't always reflect the complete picture. That's when the alchemy as I like to call it kicks in. I stand back, take in the big picture and go with my gut. My gut has been correct more times than the math. I balance the two. With all these years of teaching, you would think it gets easier, but instead it becomes more complex as I am aware of subtlies that experience reveals.

Christmas Decorations

This year I am determined to do at least one study a day of the decorations. It's a beautiful time around here. Work is keeping me from getting lights out but there's a tree in the shed waiting to come in, the Nutcracker is back up in the balcony in his house and hopefully I can get big wreath up on the house this weekend. I'm getting tired of tripping over a big pile of boughs in the basement.

This is a sketch I came across today done many years ago of decorations around the front closet doors.

Basset Hound Studies

I needed to do some studies of Basset Hounds for a project. Where else to go but the web. Mind you I would have prefered a read model but with time constraints the web has been a life saver.

Landmarks

I marked up a study of mine to show my students landmarks to look for. I sort of liked the look with all the marks. Good stuff to know.

Mooos and Mooses

Been busy drawing since the last post. The Royal Winter Fair is always a treat, especially if you wait until the evening when the kids are gone, and it seems to settle into more of a farm feeling that showy exhibition feeling of hype. When things got quiet I found a nice bale of hay to sit on and did some sketches of the cows. They are a joy to do, given their bulk, bone and generally odd shape. But their eyes are always so kind, and they have a way of just existing in time, that drawing them is very calming.

The moose was done at the ROM on a half price (thank you Sun Life Financial) Friday. I need the moose for a book I am working on and this stuffed one is perfect, except for one thing: the screaming kids while I was drawing. Honestly, can't parents control their kids? I came close to going crazy with the noise. Not all the kids were like that, but it just takes a few. I did however meet one very talented little girl who borrowed paper and did a great sketch of the tiger near by. Given the right opportunities, she is going to be one great talent in the years to come. Always nice to meet kids like her and realize that the talent pool will never ever dry up. It only gets better.

Remembrance day 2008

Remembrance day today.

this sketch is of the Cenotaph here in Guelph. It was done while waiting for the parade of soldiers and Vets. I mistakenly assumed there would be a ceremony there. Instead, after the ceremony at the sports arena, the Vets, the cadets, the police and fire fighters marched by. It gave me time to sketch and think.

Earlier, on my way to the Cenotaph,I was in the city square when 11 o'clock struck. I would not have known it for sadly no bells tolled nor traffic stopped, that is except for a lone bus driver standing beside his bus with head bowed and hands folded in front of him.

It made me stop. I checked my watch, saw it was 11. At that moment a lone 1st WW biplane passed overhead. As he flew over square, past the cathedral he banked his wings in salute. I imagined my grandfather long ago seeing the same sort of sight, and wondered what thoughts might have gone through is mind as he stood in the trenches. My skin was goose bumps and my eyes filled with tears, I was overwhelmed by emotion of the moment. Whoever the pilot who made this tribute with his plane, I must express my thanks to him: it was a beautiful tribute to those who must leave home to sacrifice their lives. Sadly, it would also acknowledge the sacrifice of those who did return, scarred for life both physically and emotionally.


I admit I had to think hard about leaving all the work I had in front of me today and go to the the Cenotaph here in Guelph. It wasn't out of lack of respect, rather life can be very busy, and having been away in Calgary at Kaleidoscope and schools since last Tuesday, there was a lot to get caught up with. But I went and am glad I did. I owed it to the veterans to be there, just as I feel we all should made the effort if at all possible.

Those old vets who marched by must carry incredible stories in their head and hearts. Some will be of adventure and loves, most of tragedy, carnage and sacrifice. I am sure many were silent heroes. One could not see their medals but I am sure each told a story that should not be forgotten.

One thing that I struggled with as I stood there watching the parade: it was the young cadets. Some seemed so young I was surprised that they even could join those ranks; the others made me think that war always takes the young and destroys something in them. In Calgary I heard the esteemed illustrator Ted Lewin tell us of his brother joining the Marines at 15 and fighting in some of the worst battles in the Pacific before he was 18. I think too of the soldiers in Afghanistan who are the ages of my sons.

I am not in favor of war. I was of the age that had I been an American as fate almost made me, I would have had to serve in Viet Nam. Being Canadian I did not have to worry, but I always worried that other conflicts that seems to simmer and boil over in far places in the world would put a uniform on me. I cannot understand war, yet respect and thank those vets who marched past this morning for giving a part of their young lives to allow me to live and thrive here in Canada in peace and freedom. To the old soldiers who I knew but no longer are with us, like Gerry Moses and Jack Spicer, thank you.

To those who never came back, who's bodies lie in cemeteries far from home and those who loved them and saw them leave, thank you.

As a last note: it was cold today with a biting wind. As I stood there waiting and sketching, my fingers went numb, feeling thick and unresponsive. But I couldn't help but think that while it was uncomfortable for me with a pencil, for some had been far harder holding cold metal in their hands and a question of whether they would see tomorrow. My greatest respect to their dedication and resolve.

I should end with one more note: the memorial was created by a Canadian sculptor by the name of Alfred Howell. After writing the note above I thought I should find out more about him and came across an interesting site by a gentleman by the name of Lawrence Hayward. He made it his task to find out as much as possible about sculptors such as Howell either by direct interview or research. Find out more about Alfred Howell and Lawrence Hayward at his site: http://www.xeroid.150m.com/index.htm

Arctic Memory

I received an email from a friend who owns this painting. She was kind to send a picture of it to me. It holds a very special connection to me. It was done when I was still and advisor to the Inuit printmakers in what is now Nunavik (arctic Quebec).

I decided to post it because it takes me back to a time when the arctic was my passion and my muse. This painting is of the rocks that covered Fat Island which seemed to float in the Povungnituk River just outside my door. In the summer and fall it would seem like a lichen covered whale lazily floating up river. When the river froze, it too froze into place and became my haven to walk to when politics in the printshop became just too much. I would walk over these rocks, marveling at the infinite patterns between primordial rock and paterns of drifted or driven snow. At times I felt I could feel the forces of the earth push from below and drive these patterns up through the crust.

I did many sketches on and around Fat Island, and one of them later became this painting when I returned south. The sketch from this one, done on a large sheet of BFK outside in India Ink, and now in New Zealand, still carries the smear of drops of blood when I cut my numb fingers sharpening my pencil. It made a lovely addition. I must admit, I miss those days. Since returning from the north, nothing has captured my senses as did the arctic.

some drawings

studies from yesterday in the studio. Not the greatest day, far too many scribbles and not enough hitting it right away. When I was drawing the hand on the thigh my thoughts went to a Bernini sculpture I saw at Villa Borghese in Rome, one in which Bernini managed to capture the pressure of the hand into the skin of a soft thigh, all the while in stone. I am always is awe of his work.

Royal Winter Fair Time

It's now officially fall and I'm thinking ahead to the Royal Winter Fair in November. I am so bound by calendars these days with deadlines and commitments that it doesn't seem there is time time breathe. So when I was looking at November and felt there was something missing, it finally occurred to me that it was the Royal that made it's mark felt at that time. If you live in the area definitely take advantage of it to get up close and draw everything from horses to Lamas. Unfortunately they no longer have the farm birds as they once did. In many ways they don't have a lot of what they once did. I do get mad at all the cars and SUV's instead of animals, but if you pick your day right, it can be spectacular. One of my favourites was the Belgian Blue cattle...the Schwarzenegger of cows with their double muscles. Regrettably they are no longer considered worthy of the show. Regardless, it's worth it.

As for the donkey drawing...it's from a Seneca school trip this summer to the Donkey Sanctuary just outside Guelph. Another must visit for your drawing list. At least it is for me.

Drawing workout

This week I had Ed Cz into the studio for some drawing that was a bit overdue. Over the next 5 hours Ed offered excellent poses and for me, over 150 studies and drawings later, a terrific feeling of exhilaration that one gets after a great work out.

For the first 3 hrs we had rapid pose after rapid pose, none more than over a minute. The floor was strewn with ripped off newsprint and dust and broken pieces of conte. I went through 4 pads before we broke for a bite.

The drawings started with studies of force dynamics. My only goal was to capture the force of life vs. gravity as well as the displacement of air as he pushed his body out from the central axis.

Next stage were linear studies done quickly with charcoal pencil. The evening ended with more sustained studies of form as well as stronger conte studies of the light over the form.

The last works above starting from the bottom are a continuation of the study of the back done earlier (posted below).

With the anatomy classes starting next week, and no afternoon class before, I intend to make the most of Ed's modeling every week now that I have him booked solid for the fall.

fun with skeletons

that sort of sounds strange, but I did have fun yesterday when with an hour to kill in the studio, I started drawing a skeleton for practice and ended up with this group of laughing bones. Because of the angle of the teeth in the skull, it always seems if skeletons are smiling. Odd to be happy to be dead. Something so ironic.

It's always fun to play with images in Painter or Photoshop and this resulted.

New Drawing Courses in Guelph - Anatomy for Artists & Figure Drawing

Well, here it is, the start of the Zimmermann School of Drawing. Not an official school of course, but based on my years drawing and teaching life drawing to animation students first at Sheridan in Oakville Ontario from 1986 to 2001 and most recently at Seneca@York, starting mid September I will be giving two figure drawing courses in my studio in Guelph.

Anatomy for Artists

Of interest to professionals, serious amateurs, comic book artist and illustrators.

A course in making a figure come to life through anatomy

This course will build weekly on an overview of the skeletal and muscular anatomy of the human figure. By examining the structure of the frame, moving from basic forms through an examination of the skeleton and finally to the muscles that move the the figure, students will gain valuable insight and knowledge of the anatomy of the human figure

Using a live model each week, we will do studies of the figure with conte and pencil.
.

Each student will receive a skeleton model on which studies using plasticine will be made as each muscle group is studied.

Both the valuable insights and practical understanding gained will aid in drawing human figures with movement, fluidity and confidence

10 weeks starting Sept 10 7 - 10 pm

Cost: $450.00

enrollment limited to 10

Weekly Outline:

September 10: Intro to the figure - the skeleton: complexity into simplicity / bones into boxes.

September 17: the skull, rib cage and pelvis:

September 24: muscles of the waist and neck: bending, twisting and turning

October 1: the scapula and the shoulders

October 8: muscles of the shoulders and upper arms

October 22: muscles off the pelvis onto the upper leg

October 29: Lower leg and foot

November 5: Lower arm and hand

November 12: head and face - muscles of expression

November 19: Review and summation.

Figure Drawing: from Gesture to Expression

10 weeks starting September 17 3hrs 2 - 5pm.

Cost: $300.

Limit: 10 students

Based on figure drawing for animation, students will be guided in the importance of the gesture in creating life drawings full of expression and dynamics. Anatomy, structure, form and balance will be examined.

To register or for more information email me at: werner@wernerzimmermann.ca

More

Eden Mills again. Couldn't help sketch the dog.

When I arrived the model was standing in the cast light of the setting sun. The shadow from the window played across her body so I toned my paper with charcoal and using my gum eraser painted in the light and then cut the lines of her body. It's a nice painterly way to draw.

Eden Mills

Out drawing the other night in Eden Mills again. Our model Sarah seemed so serene in her poses, seemingly angelic, that I couldn't help but add wings, thinking of all those cherubs from old paintings that must have gotten older at some time or other. Very enjoyable evening with pen and nib, and my trusty Lamy fountain pen.

Katie & Alex, studies for sculptures

I've been commissioned this summer to sculpt two children, life size, to be cast into bronze. It will be an interesting challenge given I haven't done any serious sculpting in a long while. Most of my work has been in clay for myself, never cast, always remushed and reworked. I've often worked out problems of form with clay, whether figures , horse commissions, or characters for books.

I recently was invited into the home and studio of Hanna Boos. As her website will tell you, Hanna first studied sculpting in Germany and later with Frances Gage, notable Canadian sculptor. Hann'a work is beautiful and she graciously shared her knowledge with me. No doubt if she is willing, Hanna will be a valuable resource as work progresses.

At this time I am beginning the first clay and wax studies of the children based on the sketches I have made in the first few visits to their home. Below are but two of the many scratches one makes as young children move and shift uncomfortably under the gaze of the artist. Slowly I think they will warm to the experience, or at least become more comfortable. I think I have begun to get through to Katie by way of a quick sketch of her dog. Alex is far more comfortable but no less restless. Time will tell.

NYC West Village Musician

Spent a weekend in NYC restoring my soul in the museums, galleries and streets of this incredible city. This guy was happily playing his cello sitting at the end of a street closed off for a neighbourhood yard sale. I only had the back of an envelope and a stub of a pencil but his pleasure was too much to pass up.