WORKSHOPS
Sketchbook Development Workshop July 17, 2016
I will be teaching this popular one-day workshop at the Vancouver Island School of Art
This daylong workshop consists of a series of fast-paced exercises to get you comfortable with working in your sketchbook. A wide range of ideas, materials and techniques will be explored. Backgrounds, mark-making explorations, sketching, drawing and writing will also be covered. You will leave this workshop inspired to make your sketchbook a part of your daily practice. No experience necessary. All materials are provided, including a sketchbook and pens for you to take home with you. No experience necessary.
Jul 17 Sunday, 10am - 5pm
Tuition: $150.00 (6 hrs) (materials included)
Vancouver Island School of Art
2549 Quadra St, Victoria, BC
250-380-3500 or info@vancouverislandschoolart.com
INSPIRATION
in Inspiration, Ucluelet, Seaweed
My sources of inspirtation - Big Beaach at Ucluelet, BC
All Photos, video and artwork by Jill Ehlert ©
VIDEO
Intertidal Zone and tidal pools. Ucluelet, BC Canada
Sketch Book work - click on a thumbnail to see a slideshow
The work in my sketch book was done in my room looking down onto the beach below. I was focusing on the black rocks. The last six, I was having fun with mark making -the last two were inspired from the amazing colours and magical world of all the species I saw at the Ucluelet Aquarium.
Great painting location
Using "Old Mans Beard" -a type of lichen that grows on trees had blown onto the beach. I used this to paint with for extra texture. I wet the watercolour paper with sea water and then dragged the paper over the rocks to create line work. A background for future work.
Burned beach log as a mark-making tool
This burnt log was on the beach, I used it to apply charcoal marks on my paper by dragging my paper across it. The green marks are from leaves I dragged the paper over and used a rock o pound some of the colour out.. These pieces will make a good backgrounds for future work.
FOUND MARK MAKING TOOLS
These will make great mark making tools in my drawings. Dipping the tool into India ink, walnut ink, etc.
EXHIBITION
Gala Opening - Endangered Wildlife - The Next Migration
L-R David Monk, Tasha van Netten, Carole Thompson, Diana Durrand, Caren Willms, Luis Mario Guerra, Jill Ehlert, David Hunwick, Trish Shwart, Connie Michele Morey, Michael Hammond-Todd
Panorama of the exhibition space
Carole Thompson, Diana Durrand, Jill Ehlert
EXHIBITION
Upcoming show I am participating in: April 25 to May 31, 2016
Update: The show has been extended to May 31, 2016
The Robert Bateman Centre
470 Belleville Street, Victoria, B.C. V8V 1W9, Canada
Hours: Daily: 10am - 5pm Details: http://batemancentre.org/visit/
Website for this special exhibition: http://endangeredartexhibits.weebly.com/
Participating Artists:
Diana Durrand - www.dianadurrand.com/
Natasha van Netten - www.natashavannetten.com/
Jill Ehlert - www.jillehlert.com/
Connie Michele Morey - www.conniemorey.com/
David Hunwick - www.thesculpturestudio.net
Luis-Mario Guerra - www.luismarioguerra.weebly.com/
Carol Thompson - www.carolethompson.ca/
Trish Shwart - www.trishshwart.com/
Caren Willms - www.carenwillms.weebly.com/
"Devils Hole pupfish" (Cyprinodon diabolis) © 2016 Jill Ehlert 13" X 19"
Watercolour, pencil crayon, walnut and acrylic inks on Arches Watercolour paper.
Large signature is only a watermark for internet and does not appear on original artwork.
Artist statement - Jill Ehlert
The endangered Devils Hole pupfish is significant to me given my interest in aquatic environments and water related species. There were only 131 Cyprinodon diabolis recorded in the biannual count conducted in September 2015. My watercolour painting focuses on a limestone shelf that measures 3.0 X 6.3 metres, which the pupfish depend on for spawning and for much of their diet. The pupfish eat primarily microscopic diatoms, a type of algae that clings to large bright green filamentous algae. Other species found on this shelf are tiny invertebrates: amphipods, spring snails, two types of beetles, and flatworms. The Devils Hole pupfish are considered the rarest fish in the world; they measure one-inch long and are so named, as they seem as playful as puppies. In this artwork, I enlarged the pupfish and took artistic license varying the scale of the microscopic world that surrounds them.
WORKSHOPS
I am teaching 4 workshops in July and August 2016
VANCOUVER ISLAND SCHOOL OF ART
The Vancouver Island School of Art is a learning community dedicated to the advancement of art education through comprehensive programs and presentations for adults of all ages. The focus of the courses and workshops offered by the school is on technique, personal expression and contemporary context.
All workshops can be taken for credit towards one of VISA'S PROGRAMS (Certificate or Diploma).
Unless noted, all workshops have materials included and are suitable for beginners.
Mixed Media: Surface Textures (MMED w136)
This workshop will introduce you to ways of creating texture in drawings and paintings using acrylic pastes and grounds. Light molding paste, fibre paste, absorbent ground, gesso, fine pumice and acrylic ground for pastels will be explored. You will learn a variety of techniques including resists, rubbing, lifting, scraping, incising, veiling and burnishing. You will work on watercolour paper, cradled panel and stretched canvas. The workshop includes demonstrations and hands-on practice and will provide you with endless ideas and approaches for drawing and painting projects. The workshop is suitable for all levels of experience. Material fee covers specialty materials and surfaces.
Jul 1 - 3 Friday - Sunday, 10am - 5pm
Jill Ehlert
Tuition: $295.00 (18 hrs) Material Fee: $25 (materials included)
Sketchbook Development (DRWG w132-6)
This daylong workshop consists of a series of fast-paced exercises to get you comfortable with working in your sketchbook. A wide range of ideas, materials and techniques will be explored. Backgrounds, mark-making explorations, sketching, drawing and writing will also be covered. You will leave this workshop inspired to make your sketchbook a part of your daily practice. No experience necessary. All materials are provided, including a sketchbook and pens for you to take home with you. No experience necessary.
Jul 17 Sunday, 10am - 5pm
Jill Ehlert
Tuition: $150.00 (6 hrs) (materials included)
Image Page
Drawing: Pen & Ink and Found Tools (DRWG w167)
In this workshop, you will create a personal visual language of marks and textures, beginning with making marks with a traditional dip pen with a variety of nibs using India and walnut ink. You will learn ways to hold the pen as well as how to control movement, speed, pressure and spacing. You will build on your vocabulary by making your own unconventional tools, beginning with a "Cola" pen, a handmade dip pen/nib, and then you will transform found objects into drawing tools that you will use with ink. "Found" tools will include sticks, twigs, cotton swabs, fingers, toothpicks, dried plant material, bamboo skewers, string, seedpods, feathers and wire. Surfaces to work on will include: Mylar, Stonehenge, tracing and rice paper. The workshop includes demonstrations and hands-on practice.
Jul 29 - 31 Friday - Sunday, 10am - 5pm
Jill Ehlert
Tuition: $295.00 (18 hrs) (materials included)
Mixed Media: Creating Backgrounds (MMED w152)
The focus of this workshop is on making a variety of surfaces that can be used for drawings or paintings, or as works of art on their own. You will learn how to create backgrounds using a variety of mixed-media techniques with resists, washes, gesso veils, ink runs, rust printing, stamping, folding, crumpling, rubbing, burning and waxing. You will use new and found surfaces to work on, such as Mylar, Yupo, watercolour, printmaking, rice, and tracing papers. The workshop includes demonstrations and hands-on practice. This workshop will give you a compilation of ideas and approaches to use in drawing, painting or collage work. All materials are included but you are encouraged to bring an assortment of surfaces to work on, such as cardboard, book pages, commercial papers, plastic and newspaper.
Aug 12 - 14 Friday - Sunday, 10am - 5pm
Jill Ehlert
Tuition: $295.00 (18 hrs) (materials included)
NEW WORK
in Studio, Mark making, New Work
Working in the studio today with fire and smoke!
Click on image to see large view
Burning holes, smoke drawings, piercing and punching holes, folding, cutting, melting beeswax, stitching and embossing.
WORKSHOPS
in Teaching, Workshops, Mark making
I will be teaching a 2-day workshop March 5th & 6th - 10am - 5pm
Drawing: Creating Marks Through Actions
I will be teaching Creating Marks Through Actions at the Vancouver Island School of Art in Victoria, BC. This workshop focuses on unconventional ways of creating marks on paper using traditional tools such as pen, ink and graphite, as well as more unconventional ones such as an awl, smoke, needle, thread, hammer and nail. A range of movements and actions such as puncturing, smoking, burning, rubbing, cutting and sewing will be explored as drawing gestures for mark making.
Jill Ehlert © 2016 Smoke Drawing
All samples below are by Jill Ehlert © Click on thumbnails below to see large images in slideshow.
WORKSHOPS
Sketch book development workshops I will be teaching at VISA.
I will be teaching this one-day workshop at the Vancouver Island School of Art [VISA] located in Victoria, BC Canada.
Sketchbook Development gives a series of fast-paced exercises to get you comfortable and working in your sketchbook. A wide range of ideas, materials and techniques will be explored in your sketchbook. Backgrounds, mark making explorations, sketching, drawing and writing will also be covered. You will leave this workshop inspired to make sketchbook work part of a daily practice. No experience necessary. Book through VISA.
Sunday March 20, 2016 10am - 5pm
Click on first thumbnail below to view larger images in a slideshow.
COLLECTING - BIG BEACH, UCLUELET, BC - DECEMBER 23, 2016
Collecting - Green - December 16, 2015
There is so many greens to choose from here on Vancouver Island. This time of year it almost seems like the land of Oz. I decided to focus on the unusual, I found several different types of lichens, in the categories of the mantles and the hairs. I found an interesting website: Lichens
I added in the seed pod and the two silver green leaves from a Dusty Miller plant for contrast.
In the image below I included my found objects from the same walk. I have to say the country roads I walk on are very clean as I really have to look and scout about for any garbage. I couldn't believe that I came across a green cigarette package as a few days before, it definitely wasn't there. I found an invitation printed on green card stock that cars had driven over so many times that holes were worn in it and I had to pry it off the road - it took on a look of the green "mantle" lichen. A bottle cap with a forwards and backward "F" and the name"Fermentorium". A white plastic straw with a yellow stripe, pull tab, red candy wrapper, a stone with a greenish tinge to it and one red berry. I have said this before but it is amazing what I see and discover when I am focused on one colour; there are so many things that I would overlook otherwise. Give it a try!
Collecting Neutral Colours - December 15, 2015
On my walk today, I found different types of mushrooms. I am amazed how many I see tucked her and there; types I hadn't noticed before. The plant to the left is unknown to me and it was really deteriorating, it is an interesting contrast to the mushrooms.
Collecting Yellow - December 9, 2015
Well, I never guessed that it would be hard to find yellow. It really took a lot of sleuthing on my walk today to find yellow. There is yellow orange, and yellow green but to find just yellow was hard this time of year. I found a mushed up phone book that someone had driven over dozens of times in their drive way, I brought it home for the yellow pages, but decided not to use it. I found a small yellow Rona Hardware bag - the kind you put nails in and that was it for found objects. I did a lot of editing, so there was some material gathered that didn't make it to the final cut.
All of the yellow collection with the phone book yellow pages and the Rona bag - [December 10th] after everything has dried out.
Collecting Orange - December 7,2015
Challenge on today's walk was to find objects that were orange. Five minutes into my walk I found an orange balloon - couldn't believe it. Turned around and across the road was the remains of a pumpkin - probably from Halloween, it was mushy buy I could pull the skin off in several pieces; felt very pleased with that find, even pulled off the short stem. Other finds today were a orange cigarette butt, a pink plastic circle with a hole in it - kind of like a life saver shape; and a metal washer. I was really pleased with the orangey rose hips and even two orangey roses in not too bad of shape but really on their way out. I found those at a little park. It is really interesting that once you put your focus on something how that particular colour just pops into view. I know the balloon and pumpkin had been there for a while but I hadn't even noticed them. This is turning out to be a really fun project and it gives a whole different feel to my walk and what I look at and notice. I love it!
Collecting Red -- December 6, 2015
Walking in the rain today in my neighbourhood of Cobble Hill, BC. I focused on collecting mostly red objects from nature and the manufactured world. Bits of man made objects included, 2 tiny pieces from a red balloon, red tape, 2 small pieces of red plastic. A "Chupa Chups" candy wrapper in red, brown and yellow, [I have never had one]. A white plastic tip from a cigarillo, red plastic bottle cap, 2 white elasticized strings - most likely from a roasted chicken and found in different locations. Various types of leaves, blackberries on a prickly stem that I had to cut with my small red Swiss army pen knife - the blackberries were red, most likely ones that haven't ripened yet, rose hips, arbutus bark, pine cone and pine cone scales, mushrooms. A red blade of grass from a New Zealand flax plant from the front of our property. Salal leaves with their red stems...one was an older leaf that had turned red and two small new leaves. Interesting how they are both red at either end of their life cycle. Love those large brown/red mushrooms with their fancy gills.
Collecting December 4, 2015
A beautiful sunny morning for my walk -- I picked up lots of interesting things on the roadside. A "Scoubidou" key chain done in a box stitch of pink and red. I used to make key chains like this when I was a kid; that brought back memories. A piece of red plastic string, stems from leaves, a gardening glove, an HB Venus pencil, a black plastic knife, two plastic lids, a plastic ring, tin foil, cigarette pack, cigarette buts, blue plastic doggie bag, thankfully empty, dime, purple flower, two daisy's, pieces of bark, sticks, leaves, mushroom, seed pods, fungus...