Artist's Journey

A Note About Inspiration...

2011-12-23T07:44:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it can be hard to maintain your creative inspiration and motivation and continue your journey as an artist or creative. I call it a journey because it truly is and each person has their own path to follow. I have drawn inspiration in a couple of different ways recently but both come from looking at and understanding a little more about other people's work. I recently attended the annual children's book illustration show at Chemers Gallery in Tustin, Ca. Hearing about another artists' thinking process makes you realise that we are all fighting our own battle. Whether it's time, inspiration, economics, personal hardship - we're all in the same boat.

I enjoyed looking at the work of Mary GrandPre which is so colourful and confidently executed. I also enjoyed hearing about the personal touches that she adds to her work which relate to aspects of her own life. Making your work personal can be a real challenge but doing so really creates a connection with your audience. I also spoke with Raul Colon, an illustrator with quite a resume. His work conveys a strong sense of a personal journey and reminds you of the bigger picture. It also brings to mind ideas surrounding identity and of finding your place in the world. Consequently, he is often asked to illustrate stories of historical figures whose journeys through life are an inspiration to us all. I asked him to sign one of his books for me. Specifically, I asked him to write something inspirational in it for me that I could look at during those creative slumps. Which he did.

Looking at the work of other artists is such an important part of the creative process, which can be isolating and quite detached from the 'goings on' in the outside world. Above is an illustration I made in the spirit of these artists, depicting some of the major landmarks of San Francisco. It was created quite quickly and is not concerned so much with realism or perspective but more in capturing something spontaneous and trying to convey a sense of place.

Kew Palace

2011-11-22T15:05:00.000-08:00

This is an illustration I completed recently that had been in production for several months. It is one of the architectural gems in the grounds of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London. Kew Palace is actually the earliest surviving building in the gardens, built around 1631 by Samuel Fortrey. Fortrey was a wealthy merchant of Dutch heritage, alluded to in the distinguished gabled roofs and carved brickwork.

The palace was a royal residence between 1728 and 1898 and has been open to the public ever since its release from royal duties - acquired by Kew in 1896. Notable residents include King George III, who reigned between 1760 and 1820 and used the palace as a school house for his children and during his convalescence from illness.

Kew palace underwent a 10 year restoration completed in 2006. This same year it hosted its first royal engagement for 200 years when it was the venue for Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday party.

I love the palace and have been visiting Kew Gardens since I was a child, seeing and enjoying it in all seasons. The gardens are a haven from the hustle and bustle of central London. At Kew the visitor has the chance to escape to the more exotic climes from which many species of plant life originate. As an artist now living overseas and away from my home city, I realise that increasingly I live through my work. The work itself becoming a connector to the places that I love.

Sources: http://www.hrp.org.uk/KewPalace/stories, http://www.kew.org/visit-kew-gardens/garden-attractions-A-Z/Kew-Palace.htm

Consulate General of Greece, San Francisco

2009-11-26T21:15:00.000-08:00

Walking the streets of SF one day early this year I happened upon (of all things) the high commission of Greece. San Francisco is one of the ultimate in cosmopolitan cities and full of indications of the wealth of people and cultures that exist here on America's west coast. I decided to immortalise this one as I liked the mixture of classic Franciscan Victoriana with more modern additions such as the windows in the upper story. I also liked that they were proudly flying the flag for Greece far from home.

FroYo

2009-11-05T15:19:00.000-08:00

These are 2 images from a recent commission to illustrate a number of frozen yoghurt and ice cream parlours belonging to a chain that can be found in north america and asia. I had a lot of fun interpreting the architecture into my own illustrational style.

Swensen's Ice-Cream Parlour

2009-06-06T19:12:00.000-07:00

This is my latest completed illustration. Swensen's Ice Cream of Hyde St, San Francisco really captured my imagination as I passed by one day. It had to be a drawing. As a move away from earlier images I have included the sidewalk to indicate just how steep the streets here can be! In the very near future my illustrations will be available as greetings cards. As sets and individually. Check back for further info or drop me a line through the email to your right.

'City Of Trees' exhibition, 16th-30th May 2009

2009-05-15T12:59:00.000-07:00

Here is a preview of my entry which was selected for the 'City of Trees' exhibition. The exhibition features artworks by both amateur and professional artists depicting trees and views from the city of Tustin, California. The rules stipulate that selected entries must show a tree, or part of a tree, that exists somewhere in the city. Given the number of palm trees in California it is unlikely that you would be able to guess the exact location of my entry from this cropped section of it! However, you can come and see the entire picture for yourself. The exhibition runs from 16th - 30th May 2009 at:

Chemers Gallery, 17300 17th Street, Suite G, Tustin, CA. 92780 USA

Contact me for further info at the top of the blog or link to the gallery's blog amongst 'my reads'.

Royal Albert Hall

2009-04-23T13:03:00.000-07:00

I recently completed this illustration, feeling nostalgic for England and remembering a great trip to the Proms with some work colleagues a couple of years ago. It is for a proposal to a British historical society. I have been working a lot with a small box of watercolours that I have. Nothing fancy, but you can get some great colours out of them and this is always a welcome challenge to someone who has a background in oil painting.

San Francisco

2009-02-23T17:30:00.000-08:00

I have spent the last week in San Francisco. It's like all the best places you have ever visited all rolled into one. We used the City Pass which can be bought for around $60 and gets you free entry to numerous attractions as well as free transport on the Muni transport system which includes buses, streetcars (trams) and the cable car. We saw Alcatraz, Aquarium of the Bay, the De Young museum and San Francisco MOMA all on the pass. Other highlights include Coit Tower, the Streetcar Museum, the California Historical Society and the Exploratorium. The Oakland Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate are spectacular, as is the cityscape. There are many beautiful Victorian houses and the choice of food here is exceptional. It's a very inspirational city.

'Historic Orange' exhibition

2009-02-03T10:19:00.000-08:00

For the past few months I have been working on this project illustrating the houses of 'Old Town' Orange, Ca. The work will be on display at the:

Orange Public Library & History Center, 407 East Chapman Avenue, Orange, Ca. 92866, USA from 12th February - 28th March.

Contact me for further info: mail@jameskeniston.com

"Change Has Come..."

2009-01-20T12:10:00.000-08:00

A new president and a new era for the United States. The above quote taken from the official White House website. I have been fortunate to witness first-hand this transition over the last couple of months and it has been pretty amazing. Politics is certainly not my first love. Nor my second or third to be honest, but perhaps more pointedly we can use this event to reflect on the changes in all our lives. The struggling economy has affected everyone but I've also noticed an optimism amongst my family and friends - despite hardships. Anyway in honour of the day's events here is my own 'White House', acrylic ink and graphic pen on paper:

Historic Illustrations

2009-01-19T17:21:00.000-08:00

Since I arrived in the States, I have been making these illustrations of the historic 'old town' district of Orange, Ca. where I live. There are around 16 images so far and still a great many buildings to draw. Orange is full of history with its old houses and commercial buildings. My drawing technique has certainly improved no end in making these. When I started this project I began drawing the images straight onto the page using acrylic ink and a fine brush but have since refined the technique quite a bit - beginning by marking out in feint pencil lines to pin down the drawing and then going over with my brush once I am happy with the proportions. A fine-point graphic pen also gives great results when highlighting window frames and doors or filling them in. Not too sure where they are headed but I have a couple of ideas in mind...

Image pictured: 'Yellow House On Washington Ave.', acrylic ink on paper.

More? Visit http://www.jameskeniston.com/page27.htm or drop me a line.

Introductions

2009-01-17T14:45:00.000-08:00

Currently I am inspired by new surroundings and opportunities and so this has been a productive time for me. If you are unfamiliar with what I do then here is a brief description: I am primarily a painter and my main mediums are oils and ink. I am heavily influenced by architecture, although this has only manifested itself in my work seriously within the last couple of years. I have also worked with portraiture and landscape and still do, but the built environment is my current preoccupation. I take a lot of photos when I am out and about. For a record of my day or trip somewhere and also as a reference tool for my work. I rarely show or post these pictures - something that this blog will perhaps encourage me to do. This picture is from downtown Los Angeles during a recent visit to see the Louise Bourgeois retrospective at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The trip also allowed me to see the Disney Concert Hall which is down the street and will become the subject of a painting in the near future.

I was struck by how the 'downtowns' of the world are very similar and was strangely comforted to see the same kind of buildings that I am so used to seeing in the heart of London's financial district.

Please visit http://www.jameskeniston.com/ for further images and information.