Oh! You Pretty Things

Oh! You Pretty Things

“Oh! You Pretty Things”
a drawing of Satsuki with a sheltie dog.
380 x 565 mm.
March 2016

Three weeks ago I wrote  “I Do” – Art Relationships.  The post was about committing to creative endeavours generally and to this drawing in particular.  I admit that I began the drawing with no idea how I was going to pull it off – especially the dog.  After all, one doesn’t know what will be encountered along the way when one starts out on a creative (or any) journey. All one can do is set off well prepared with an open heart and a prayer for safe passage.

Early days of this drawing

Now, late in the month of March, the drawing is completed.  It is a year and a month since my guardian angel put me in the right place at the right time to witness and capture this vision.   In a sense then, there are two journeys – the trip to Japan followed by the journey with coloured pencils and paper.

I have a constant arsenal of songs and tunes in my head.  Some of these are David Bowie songs.  Imagine how much “Oh! You Pretty Things” has gone round and round in my headspace for the duration of this drawing…and even now as I write!

“Oh! You pretty things.  Don’t you know you’re driving your mamas and papas insane.”

Afterword:  “Oh! You Pretty Things” won 1st place in the US publication COLORED PENCIL Magazine 2020 Art Competition.  The Judge wrote:  “This image captured the unique scene of Japanese culture, where the old and new blend beautifully.  I love the soft and delicate mark-making carefully and consistently happening throughout the image, which goes perfectly with the young lady’s gentle grin.  The dog dressed in a hat and sunglasses adds a whimsical element to an image that makes it unique.  Even though the mark-making is consistent throughout the image, Podstolski was able to achieve the various textures and precision in the building structures.  I appreciate how intense and vibrant the colors are while application of the medium is so light and gentle.”

Second afterword: August 2021: I have a lovely story to share. The owner of the sheltie dog saw this drawing posted on the “Geisha Japan” Facebook page this week. Through him I now know that the dog is Jin-kun – a much loved character in Kyoto where they lived. Sadly, Jin-kun “passed over the rainbow bridge” since I did the drawing in 2016. Now his owner knows that people all over the world have seen Jin-kun posing with Satsuki.

Caran d’Ache Open Stock in Australia

Caran d’Ache Open Stock in Australia

There is a shop in Sydney which sells open stock and boxed sets of the whole Caran d’Ache range including my favourite, the gorgeous Luminance 6901 lightfast coloured pencils.  The staff told me that they are Australia’s biggest stockists of Caran d’Ache art materials and that they post supplies across Australia.

It is a heavenly shop to peruse.  Since I found Kadmium, I visit it every time I travel to Sydney and never come away empty-handed.

The name is Kadmium Art + Design supplies.  The address is 80b Bay Street, BROADWAY NSW  2007.  Phone 02 9212 2669.  Website is Kadmium.com.au

Luminance 6901

“Eventide” – drawn with Neocolor 2 and Luminance (including new sample colours)

July 2020 news:  24 new colours of Luminance 6901 coloured pencils are now available world-wide.  Kadmium have them in store.  20 are in a boxed set and the remaining four colours can be bought as open stock.  (All 100 Luminance colours are available as open stock.)

Brand new Luminance colours are now available.

…and here are swatches of the 24 new colours…

“All the World’s a Stage” (August 2020) showcases the new colours of Luminance.

And now – for the full range of 100 Luminance light-fast colours…

This information is also on my Art Materials page.

 

 

Pencil Impressions

Pencil Impressions

Blurry, soft-focus.  Blunt leads, light touch.  An alternative way of thinking with coloured pencils.  Because my drawings have elements of abstraction and realism, I call this style abstract realism.

Spring
160 x 230 mm

Promenade
190 x 250 mm

“Fascination”
200 x 265 mm

Love Story
200 x 230 mm
2015

Transition
217 x 425 mm

These five drawings are from the last couple of months.  To see other drawings in this category, please visit my permanent page, Subject 3:  Mixed Media Impressionism

 

“I Do” – Art Relationships

“I Do” – Art Relationships

Work-in-progress
“Oh! You Pretty Things” on the drawing board

It occurs to me that one doesn’t only form relationships with people.  Emotional investments (commitments) are made with each piece of art one creates.  “Am I ready to do this?  How much energy do I have?  Do I believe in this idea?  Do I have what it takes to make this relationship work?”  These are questions I ask myself when thinking about what my next project will be.

This is also a reason why a failed art work is so depressing.   It is a relationship which was invested in with the best intentions, worked on and ultimately lost.  An emotional toll is taken with each ‘irretrievable breakdown of art’.  (“We’re still good friends”.  Not.)

A ripped up drawing from 2013.

A few days ago I started my current drawing, to which I already have a (David Bowie) title, “Oh! You Pretty Things”.  I photographed Satsuki posing with sheltie dog in February 2015 but it is only recently I felt ready to commit to using the photo for a drawing.

As with human relationships, so in art, circumstances have to be just right for an emotional spark to ignite.  What awakened my interest to the current work?   It was drawing “Encounter” which led me to this one.  I so enjoyed drawing the “Encounter” corgi that I wished I had another Kyoto dog to draw. Then I remembered the sheltie.  (One good dog deserves another!)

“Encounter”

Why hadn’t I thought to draw this composition before?  The sheltie is wearing sunglasses and a hat – which is too daft.  Nobody would buy that (figuratively or literally). Then I turned my thinking around.  The hat and glasses are crazy but this is part of the eccentricity to be found in Japan.  The odd, unusual, theatrical and absurd are what endear me to the place!

In conclusion, a reversal in attitude may be what helps one to finally commit.   Mentally, Insurmountable Obstacle is somersaulted into Valuable Asset.  One sees the possibilities, makes the decision, then solemnly vows, “I do”.

 

Jewels of Kyoto in Perth

Jewels of Kyoto in Perth

On Saturday 27th February there was an event in the city of Perth.  It was the Perth Japan Festival 2016.  Artists and performers were brought over from Japan.  The crème de la crème were Maiko and Geiko from Gion Higashi…”Jewels of Kyoto”.   I have chosen 20 photos to tell a little of the story as I saw it.  (Please click on photos to enlarge.)

10 o’ clock in the morning at Forrest Chase in central Perth. It is one hour before Perth Japan Festival is due to start and already it is 36 degrees C. Up in the distance is the stage where the performances will be. The audience will sit in  white chairs positioned in full sun.

From left ; Hinagiku, Tomitsuyu, Ryoka and Tomitae. It is now 11 a.m and the young ladies wait to go on stage for the Opening Ceremony.

After the Opening Ceremony, as their performance is not until 12 noon, the Maiko and Geiko have time to explore their immediate environment. Myers Department Store is the coolest place to head to as it is air conditioned.  Onlookers are amazed!

The Okaasan of Tomikiku Ochaya; Reiko Tomimori, introduces the audience to the concept of Maiko and Geiko.  Her English is very good.

A double portrait of Ryoka and Hinagiku as they stand on stage.

Different Japanese styles!

The view looking back at the audience. By now (noon) it is 38 degrees C (that is 100.4 F). It is ferociously hot amidst all that concrete.

Now I show you my problem…the setting. You can have a stunning painting but if it is badly hung and lit, its lustre is lost. And so it is here with the Jewels of Kyoto. I do not want to see an ice cream van behind the stage – it spoils everything.  Where is the finesse?  Where is  sensitivity and empathy?

There is no vantage point to get a view of the performance without it being spoilt by the surroundings. Tomitsuyu and Ryoka do their best in a hostile environment.

Ryoka – always lovely.

Ryoka again – I’m doing my best to crop out the pink ice cream van.

Hinagiku – with a bit of green cactus “sculpture” behind.  (Cringe)

Ryoka and Tomitae.

Tomitae
(There’s no escaping the pink monstrosity at the back; sorry)

Hinagiku sings (she has a lovely deep voice). Miyako plays shamisen and Ryoka plays Japanese flute.

After the first set, a Samurai warrior (he is also a professor at Tokyo University) chats to Tomitae while Tomitsuyu looks on.

During the second performance at 13:20 I have changed position and am now standing at the back of the stage. I think I might have a better view of surrounds but I am wrong. There is no ‘right’ place to stand. Therefore I take very few photos. The women, though stoic, show signs of the tremendous heat in their expressions.

Obi-view of Hinagiku. That’s the central post-office behind and a banner advertising “PIAF” (Perth International Arts Festival).  The faces on the banner look spooky.

Hinagiku leaves the stage.

Tomitsuyu leaves the stage.

Of course I am happy that “Jewels of Kyoto” came to Perth but I do wish some more thought had been given to the environment they danced in.  Even a curtain of some sort to block off the detritus behind the stage would have helped.  The acoustics were not good either plus there was some feedback.

They are in Auckland, New Zealand, as I write this post.  In Sydney, Auckland and Wellington they performed (and will peform) in small theatres.  It really would have been much better to see them in an intimate theatre than outside in a banal, soulless and boiling hot concrete jungle.  However, thank you, Japanese Government, for bringing them.