The Book Begins....

Tonight we began the first pages of our book with a pencil drawing of one of our bestiary animals. We each got a sheet (or more) of Stonehenge paper in warm white and a decision about what size to make our book. I chose to cut the paper into 16 to produce a lovely, small, non-intimidating book.

My theory of drawing: the larger the image the more you see the flaws, and everybody loves a miniature (OK, 2 theories).

I drew my "Lionagon" and, I swear, that paper made me a better sketcher! It was so smooth the pencil glided over the surface and it was easy to erase those lines that wandered off course. If I get my scanner fixed I'll post it.

Postscript: The Medieval fixation has a firm hold on me, I spent Sunday creating illuminated initials for half the alphabet. It was a fabulous day of watching football, drawing and painting.

The Bestiary

In our second class tonight we didn't actually draw a thing! We reverted once again to childhood and cut-out pictures. Jan had printed out gorgeous black-and-white pictures of animals, real and imagined, from etchings and woodcuts. Our mission was to chop them up and create beasts of our own fantasies for future drawings. We will be creating our own medieval bestiary and these animals will form part of our book project if we wish.

The class was silent as 8 women concentrated on cutting and pasting; the blissful silence of people enjoying what they are doing. Jan brought us ginger tea and chocolate and it was over too soon.

To see some fabulous beasts from 30,000 years ago visit this site:

The Cave of Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc

and marvel at the rhinoceros, mammoth, aurochs, horses and lions.

For more medieval visions, visit

Aberdeen Bestiary
The Medieval Bestiary

First Foray into Drawing

I just began this course last night and I am already smitten. When I got to dip my fingers, nay, my whole hand, into graphite powder and draw a "mystery" object on a huge piece of cartridge paper, I was transported back to the freedom of finger-painting. And the effect of the graphite powder on the skin of my fingertips was an added bonus - they shone with a dull metallic gleam; every ridge and whorl outlined in crime-committing relief.

If you live in Victoria (or Nanaimo) take a course with Jan, it will be worth it (click the title below).

Drawing: Historical Approaches

In this imaginative drawing course, participants apply their drawing skills to popular themes that have inspired artists throughout history, including mapping and creative cartographies; anatomical studies and illustration of the body; natural history and zoology in all its guises, Dutch still-life painting, botanical illustration and the history of the constructed animal. Classes will include a brief lecture/slide presentation introducing the various themes and drawing assignments, including a simple book project inspired by the material presented. Some drawing experience recommended, though not necessary. Jan Gates