The Odd Bits

Lots and lots of drawing! Here are a few odds and ends from the past few weeks. 

At the AGO, Artist-In-Residence Paul Butler continues to host a series of talks and lectures that include compelling topics such as "Selling Art Without Selling Out" and "The Problem With Canadian Art".

I always try to arrive a touch early so I can draw the people waiting for the lecture to start.

Lectures are a great opportunity to get a bunch of poses out of the same people. You can be assured they aren't going to get up and walk away in the middle of your drawing.

There's always a bit of nervous energy when a person gets up to speak in front of an audience.

There was a day in early November where veteran film titles designer Richard Morrison gave a talk at the TIFF Lightbox. I was able to go with passes I received from attending the RGD Design Thinkers conference.

Richard discussed his body of work and showed clips from the designs he was most proud of. When "Seed of Chucky" hit the screen, the audience howled with laughter. Apparently it's Tim Burton's personal favourite! 

Last week I did some drawing at the National Ballet of Canada's final dress rehearsal before the world premiere of Romeo and Juliet. An hour before the show I found a seat at restaurant Nota Bene to warm up my sketching arm over a cup of tea. (Honestly I'm not that much of a square, but if I drank alcohol every time I sat down at a bar to draw there wouldn't be much work getting done!)

Hostess scans the computer for reservation late comers and no-shows.

My neighbour looked a little sad.

Pretty, but sad.

The suits of Bay Street.

Gosh, this place is amazing. I've had meals here before, but never have I gone with the purpose of drawing. Enough with the arty-types, I want to draw me some businessmen! Definitely on my list of places to revisit.

Also on my list of places to draw is Koerner Hall, the beautiful performance space at the Royal Conservatory that was completed in late 2009. I had never been there, but a friend brought me to a brilliant concert of Arab Jazz by the "3 Cohen's Sextet" and their former teacher Jamey Haddad. Since it was the end of their tour the performers lingered after the show for an impromptu after-party.

 Koerner Hall, I'm lookin' at you! I'll be back!