Alison Garwood Jones

The swimmer

June 29, 2017

Man Swimming by Alison Garwood-Jones

I met a man at my local pool the other day.

He could shoot himself 25 metres under water in one breath.

When he came up for air, I removed my goggles and asked him, “Are you a pearl diver?”

“No,” he smiled, water dripping from his afro.

“Are you training for a competition?” I persisted. “Or setting yourself a personal challenge?”

He paused. “I do this to control my anger.”

Back under he went, all silence and grace.

Here is the original ink and water colour drawing before I swirled it up in PhotoShop.

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Things dogs do

June 29, 2017

Digging dog drawing by Alison Garwood-Jones

He found something.

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Rush hour

June 29, 2017

A good public transit system is critical. Let’s get it right and borrow from the best examples around the world. The ultimate goal: politicians who are efficient and proficient with time, space and money. I know, it’s a tall order.

Rush Hour sketch by Alison Garwood-Jones

Rush Hour sketch by Alison Garwood-Jones

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Chalk art tips

June 13, 2017

Window Art by Alison Garwood-JonesPhoto: Alison Garwood-Jones

The Merchant Tavern, TORONTO (@TheMerchantTo): Colouring on the back of a window makes the shaded areas appear more solid from the front. This is especially true on double-pane glass. This is my latest #ChalkArt discovery using Molotow acrylic markers.

Some other things I’ve learned since I started drawing on windows two summers ago: ink adheres to the glass really well in the morning when the windows are still cool. By 2:00 pm, any window that receives direct sun is pretty much a right off. The heat makes the ink and the window act like oil and water. My lines bead and slip and slide. This is true for water-based inks, oil-based, and acrylic. I’ve tried them all, and in combination too!

Window finishes (like UV coatings) also create an unpredictable surface. Sometimes I have to will the art to happen!

Thank you to The Merchant Taps & Tavern for inviting me to decorate your windows knowing full well I had never done this kind of work before this gig. This is what happens when you say, Why not?

Alison Garwood-Jones painting the windows at The Merchant Tavern, TorontoPhoto: Greg Garson

Window Art by Alison Garwood-Jones

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Why hire an artist?

June 5, 2017

Window Art by Alison Garwood-Jones

Any business can order vinyl lettering, but having a chalk artist on site shows more care and commitment to the customer (who wants to be delighted), your business and the artistic community. It creates work!

People love to stop and talk to artists in action. The biggest feedback I get is: you spelled that wrong. Guys especially love ribbing me with that. I’ve met some fun people.  I’ve also learned to keep business cards in my back pocket. Doing is the best advertising.

This collage is some of my work, so far, for the The Merchant Tavern in Toronto (@themerchantto).

#hireanartist #Windowart #surfacedesign #gratituden #chalkart

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I made my first wallpaper pattern

June 3, 2017

Summer Lovin' Wallpaper design by Alison Garwood-Jones

I designed this “Summer Lovin'”wallpaper pattern for The Merchant Tavern‘s beer, wine, and sangria station at the #AdelaideEatsTo Summer Food Market. It’s open M-F, 11 am – 9 pm at the corner of University and Adelaide, upper deck. 

I learned how to make wallpaper patterns in a great Skillshare video by Julia Rothman (Thank you, Julia, for sharing your know-how).

You draw something once and repeat it 100 times! It’s so efficient.

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Fred Rogers

May 29, 2017

In 1968  Fred Rogers published a children’s song about managing anger. The generation he wrote it for are all grown up now, but his timeless words can still reach them almost 50 years later.

What do you do with the mad that you feel
When you feel so mad you could bite?
When the whole wide world seems oh, so wrong…
And nothing you do seems very right?

What do you do? Do you punch a bag?
Do you pound some clay or some dough?
Do you round up friends for a game of tag?
Or see how fast you go?

It’s great to be able to stop
When you’ve planned a thing that’s wrong,
And be able to do something else instead
And think this song:

I can stop when I want to
Can stop when I wish.
I can stop, stop, stop any time.
And what a good feeling to feel like this
And know that the feeling is really mine.
Know that there’s something deep inside
That helps us become what we can.
For a girl can be someday a woman
And a boy can be someday a man.

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How I use watercolour pencils

May 27, 2017

Tips on how to use watercolour pencils

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Spring Florals

May 27, 2017

Spring flowers

Nothing beats the new greens and watery blues of Spring.

Watercolour is, hands-down, the best medium for capturing this season.

 

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Kara Walker

May 24, 2017

Watercolour sketch of Kara Walker, artist, by Alison Garwood-Jones

Kara Walker is one of seven artists profiled in the April 17-30 edition of New York Magazine (still on many newsstands). Doreen St. Felix describes a black female artist who is acutely aware that her work and persona are a lightning rod for the pathologies that are everywhere in the U.S. “She knows that putting a naked representation of a black woman in a public space invites all sorts of projections, and bullshit, and reverence. She likes that.”

In Walker’s words, an artist is “a person who is strong enough to withstand projection and can project ideas back to the [public] in such a way that their minds change. Or not.” This drawing is my riff on the cover photo of Walker. #courage #UsingYourVoice #Sculpture #AmericanArt #WomenArtists

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