Photo Sketching: Yes or No?

As an artist who has used a pencil for as long as I can remember, it is a tad unnerving to use a 'photo sketch' software program to 'render' my photos into 'sketches'. Overall, yes, kinda cool, but without question something is lost in the translation. I think mostly it is the capriciousness of the human hand. These compositions are pleasing enough in their own right, but again, something is missing ... like the ACT of putting pencil to paper and integrating with THAT eye-hand synergy. The above 'illustrations' have been calculated by the push of buttons - and, again, yes, kinda interestin', but also, no, not really. Photography 'documents' moments in time in a way that is very different then a REAL pencil sketch. This effect -  like so many other 'special effects' now available with and for digital photography - are just gimmicky. There, said it.

The issue of our age seems to be the whole concept of TIME: past, present & future, finite, infinite, nano-seconds, clock watching TIME. It's taken me a few hours to get these 'photo sketches' to a state that I am willing to publish them on the net as 'digital renderings' that can now be 'reproduced' ad infinitum globally. Enough TIME, in fact, to have done at least 4 finite paper sketches from start to finish that would stand as tangible material culture from this spot on the planet.

.... hmmmm. Not convinced. ... Are you?

Postscript:  For fun, I linked this item through to the Fine Art Photographers Group on LinkedIn. The response was very interesting. If you are a LinkedIn member, you can access the dialogue/debate here.
(I'm not sure what happens if you try to access the thread if you're not signed up.)

Conversely, Paul Cadden is pencil drawing images of photographs. Samples here 

'The New Aesthetics': Waving at Machines

 Paparazzi Meet Prince Charles & Camilla, Canada, 2009 - Oil by mlh

Earlier this year I mentioned that I would be posting links/profiles of activities in the art world of interest. Yesterday I found this provocative VIDEO of James Bridle giving a lecture in Australia last December. The video is embedded in his website. More then anything, I appreciate that James is attempting to 'curate' the ever-increasing digital world that surround-sounds us. As much as machines watch us, we watch them. Some detest this increasingly intrusive 24/7 surveillance, but others have taken a more pro-active approach that is determined to 'teach' machines to be better, more socially receptive and less alienating.

To my mind, there is no going back. The technology is here to stay (as long as power that drives them exists) and has, in fact, become a mainstay of our existence. Ergo, we MUST adapt, and make the BEST of it.

Sit back and ponder what James is offering. Consider too his age: yup, he sure is a young buck. Now consider his emotional honesty, his desire to IMPROVE where we're headed, how we're getting there, and what to do en route ... His voice addresses our collective Future.

http://booktwo.org/notebook/waving-at-machines/

DVSA's 42nd Spring Auction, April 14th 7pm

 'Mind's Eye' Photo Collage donated by m.l.holton / Popular Choice at 'Memory's Shadow' Solo Exhibit

Dundas Valley School of Art
presents
42nd Annual Art Auction
Saturday, April 14, 2012 

Starts at 7 pm

Over 1200 original works of art from established & new artists

Oils, Pastels, Watercolours, Sculpture, Pottery, Jewellery etc.

Wonderful Works!

Free Previews: 

Thursday April 12 & Friday April 13, 9am – 9pm
Saturday, April 14, 9 am – 4 pm
Silent Auction bids accepted during these hours

Admission is $25 in advance, $30 at the door

21 Ogilvie Street, Dundas, Ontario
905•628•6357

More about the DVSA, here

Exhibit 8: Spring Collection - Art in the Workplace @ McMaster Innovation Park, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

'Northern Lake Light'  (2011) - FOR SALE  

Please join serious artists & zany collectors 

(and/or zany artists & serious collectors)

at 

Exhibit 8: Art in the Workplace

 'Spring Collection' - Reception  

    When?  Wednesday eve

March 28th, 7-9pm
Where?  The Atrium @ MIP

175 Longwood Rd S., Hamilton

Wine & Cheese. Great Crowd. Wonderful Art.

Exhibit runs from March 28 to July 12th, 2012 

80 talented & diverse artists - over 100 pieces of art for purchase!

Also, upstairs from the Atrium, beguiling
PORTRAITURE from the BENSEN FAMILY COLLECTION   

  

    Directions/more info: here

(NB: Free Parking in lot to the EAST of MIP.)

---- 
A few photos from the Opening Reception of March 28th, 
including some riveting early Canadian portraits 
from the fabulous BENSEN Collection ... 

My favorite two paintings:: Timothy Eaton, Grandson of retail titan Timothy Eaton,
painted by by Maurice Codner in 1930 - 
(Timothy Eaton was founder of Eatons Department Store, an icon of Canadian retail) -
and a charming Mrs. Woodhouse, painted by Nathanial Dame, circa 1750.
In both instances the depiction of 'character' and use of colour are exquisite.

 

The Crowd at McMaster Innovation Place.

 

Third fav portrait of the evening:  my pal 'Petey'
in front of my landscape on the ground floor of the Atrium at MIP.

Black & White Digital Photography Samples

 

Note: the above montage was done as a single item. 

Click on the image once & it SHOULD fill your screen for better viewing.

Clicking on individual images will NOT enlarge them separately. 

If interested in purchasing a single shot from this montage, please contact the artist

Thanks.

Two New Oil Paintings - Winter Magic & Snow Stars

It's been a rotten WINTER all round:  little snow, no ice, no blistering winds, or sustained frozen temperatures. There has been little back-breaking digging: no frozen breath, dribbling noses, frosted fingers or cold toes. There's been no crunchy steps on crispy mornings, no delightful snowflake swirls or crystal clear starry skies.  In short, no blissful white magic. I have missed it. Still, the mood, the feeling, the underlying sense of it all lingers deep within this 'canajun' psyche. Thus, these two new oils revere what hasn't been: WINTER'S MAGIC. - Enjoy.

 'Winter Magic'

 'Snow Stars'

Both items are FOR SALE. 

Contact the artist.

Stellar Sunrises over Lake Ontario

We may have had little ice and snow this year, 

but we have had some spectacular sunrises ...

Bay Area Restoration Council - SILENT AUCTION

T

Bruce Trail - No.2  by mlholton

Donated to the BARC Silent Auction- SOLD

 The Bay Area Restoration Council  

is having a Fund-raiser  

Friday, March 2nd, 2012

7pm Doors Open - 'til 10ish

at the

Royal Hamilton Yacht Club.

Ticket's $40 each, includes appetizers & wine/beer tastings

with great live music by jazz & blues Juno-nominated, 

Harrison Kennedy. 

The above photo-collage is my donation to this worthy cause. 

Help CLEAN UP THE BAY

(aka Hamilton Harbour) 

Tickets, more info, map:   here

 Royal Hamilton Yacht Club circa 1900's

Mid February - Before & After

 Made this little icon at 8:30am. Glorious fun.

Within 4 short hours it was alllll gone ...

Winter really has been poopy thus far. 

BUSH CHORD: Poems & Pinhole Photography ...................... Now available as E-Book on Amazon.ca

FINALLY, 

the SECOND edition of my ever popular 

2006 poetry & pinhole photography book:

  BUSH CHORD 

 E-Book. 

Front cover pinhole image: 'Grand Blue Spruce'

One of the Greatest Speeches EVER Made

Winter Wonder - January 2012

 

 All in all, it's been a rather lame winter thus far in the Great White North .... still, periodically, there are moments of sheer bliss. The following shots were taken last Saturday. Six points for anyone who can name the location ...

Chris Hedges: 'Brace Yourself! The American Empire is Over'. VIDEO

It's not often that I promote 'other' artists/authors/activists, but effective of the beginning of this year, I have decided to do just that. First up is a very provocative 2 hour 'interview' with noted war-journalist and author, Christopher Hedges. This thoughtful fellow truly stands on the side of 'truth & justice'. Sit back, give it a listen: and then consider how YOU are helping to shape the future of this, our finite & beautiful planet. Happy New Year.  :)

'Tis the Season ...

ho ho

Very best to you ALL for the New Year. 

Lindsay

p.s. FINAL exhibit for this year:
@ McMaster Innovation Park
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Exhibit 7: Artists in the Workplace

OPENS Dec 8th, 7-9pm,  
runs until March 2012
Drop in anytime. Free admission to Atrium.
Parking available at side of building.

'The Clearing', oil painting, signed & dated on reverse, by yours truly

Two New Oil Paintings, Fall 2011

 'Ducks at Dawn', Lake Ontario

Signed & Dated on reverse, 24"W x 18"H (unframed)

'Laker on Lake Ontario' 

Signed & Dated on reverse, 24" xquare (unframed)

Both are available for purchase. 

Please contact the artist if interested.

Framing, S&H, and Tax are Extra.

Fall Walks, Fall Talks

Love this time of year, so much to see ...

Using a friends camera, we meandered back country, 

then I 'fritzed' with the images ... 

cropping, colour correction & a bit of mlh 'tweeking'.

Fall is upon us ...

New Oil - The Fox, October 2011

In the seven years that I've lived at the Lake House, I've seen the fox a grand total of THREE times. That's one wily creature considering that this is technically an 'urban' area! I know that it dens on the lakeside embankment twenty feet from the house - but other then that, not much to report. This oil painting is a homage to this beautiful critter. Elusive & magnificent. Signed & Dated on Reverse. Contact me, if interested in purchase. Framing, Shipping & Handling is extra.

Summer/Fall Newsletter - Sept, 2011

Wonderful summer, no?

Here's the skinny ...

http://mim.io/590961

Recent Oils by Margaret Lindsay Holton - Signed & Dated 2011

Water Lilies, Cootes Paradise

Northern Lake Light

Dusk at Cootes Paradise, Hamilton

Prince William in Alberta Canada: Blind to the Tarsands -  2011

All works are FOR SALE as 'original oils'.

All are titled, signed & dated on the back. 

 Avoid dealer/gallery 40-50% mark-up, 

buy DIRECT from the artist.
For size, price & availability, please contact: 

Margaret Lindsay Holton

Kindly note, lakeside studio is open

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.