Life drawing, education & children's involvement.

The United Nations have asked me to note a program that I have been working on as Conceptualist (behind the scenes).

For artists currently in lockdown or restrictions, access to personal instruction or live models, is obviously seriously restricted. 

Yet the basis of all fine art is basic drawing.

Then there are all those people picking up charcoal, pencils and paper (or other media) for the first time because they have nothing else to do and are bored.

So many of those people want to be able to draw and firmly believe they cannot but would love to come to the end of restrictions having proved to themselves they were incorrect about that and it's been a misconception!

My fine artist grandfather always said to start by drawing an apple; he claimed you cannot say you can draw until you have mastered being able to draw an apple. 

Look at the tones, consider the positive and negative spaces, regard the multitude and variety of shapes, practice foreshortening: You will not find a more complex or challenging subject! A lifetime exercise but I digress.

To access SBS's "Life Drawing Live" show from Saturday night, head over to:

https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/1753660995943

This is a properly conducted and organized life drawing session. Those wanting to check it out for an immature giggle session (we all have a human body), need to grab a piece of charcoal and paper then learn to genuinely see what they are considering. Respect themselves, the models and other participants involved.

I was asked this morning whether or not my immediate family took part in the drawing session. Yes, they did; Including my 9 year old daughter.  She drew an arm, a face, a leg and a foot.

My husband (a Shakespearean actor) participated on Saturday night as the program went live to air and also recorded it plus took screen shots for later reference. 

The next day his brother and sister watched the recorded session along with our daughter: They were interested in participating without full nudity being involved. So my husband went through before re-screening the program, noting when full nudity was displayed and skipping those parts of the show while still being able to participate in the exercises and activities explained.

Today they are practicing their new skills on photos they have collected from the Internet. (My daughter is going to try drawing some hydrangeas).

The next question I was asked this morning was did I recommend life drawing for school children and students? Yes, absolutely I do! 

However (I explained, based on my experience as an Art teacher), they can draw a hand, an arm, a leg, a foot, a head; anything they can see exposed on any beach during summer.

The biggest challenges in "life drawing" are hands, feet and faces! Long before there is any need for any full nudity to be regarded as even remotely necessary, there is so much about the human body to be drawn and learned from. 

To be honest, as an art teacher, I would not introduce full nudity to anybody other than tertiary or adult students, simply because it is only such a minimal part of what comprises the art of drawing and life drawing in particular. You have to get past the giggle factor because you are going to be too busy concentrating on tones and all the other factors involved. If you want the giggle factor, check out movies on other channels and leave the grown-ups to concentrate on their artwork (frankly).

It is work to progress into, not a place to start. But if that is what has piqued your interest in drawing, you will soon find yourselves being drawn into the more challenging aspects of life drawing such as eyes, noses, ears and mouths; as opposed to other parts of life drawing more easily represented by shapes such as oblongs, rectangles, circles or triangles!

Not everyone feels comfortable confronting nude models or subjects but that has nothing to do with whether they can draw or not! It can be very freeing to challenge your preconceived notions of how you perceive reality but there are other ways of prompting you out of your comfort zone if these type of exercises do not promote your interest or challenge you. I have worked with many people who simply find full nudity boring and want to skip on to other exercises. i.e. composition of still life subjects.

When you speak to students of all ages, their frustration is with not being able to draw whatever it is they want to draw. i.e. fur or hair on their pets. Or faces, feet and hands in portraits.

In other words, these matters are honestly not an issue. But in terms of COVID-19 restrictions, people in lockdown cannot readily access subjects affected by social distancing: Life or live drawing is a whole other matter under these circumstances! And that is one of the many challenges TV and other Media can actively seek to supply or assist in these challenging times.

Enjoy the journey into the exploration of drawing and fine art you have all embarked on! 

Now go out and buy yourselves some apples. 0:)

Ellen 0:)

Ellen F. Walker

Black Lives Matter. Lives Matter.

The United Nations have asked me to say something about the current situation occurring in America.

I work for a U.S. Media company, ViacomCBS: I lived and worked in northern California for 9 years, including in Oakland, California. Many of my friends and co-workers were (and continue to be) African-American.

I am not un-biased.

But I would like to explain some aspects of this situation which have not been widely understood outside of the U.S. and are only too familiar to members of the Arts, Entertainment and Media communities.

This is not only about how people are treated by the authorities. 

This is about people living from paycheck to paycheck. 

This is about people living with the threat of COVID-19 without the proper resources to do so such as access to basic health care.

This is about lifetimes of not being able to access a living wage, regardless of what you do.

This is about watching people make decisions on your behalf who know nothing about your reality and do not care or have any desire to improve things for you.

This is about seeing people able to gain at your expense but being unable to do anything about that personally.

This is about U.S. citizens who love their country deeply and who want it to be what it says it is; one of the world's largest Democracies that fulfills their Constitution, enabling and respecting their  Constitutional and human rights.

Do not be distracted by the looting and rioting. U.S. Citizens are acting out of love for their Country and the deepest frustrations possible that it is not what it could be and says it is. They want it to be itself.

I hope that helps clarify what we are all seeing coming from the U.S.

Ellen 0:!

Ellen F. Walker

Coming out of hibernation.

How are you going coming out of lockdown? 

For artists (many of whom would describe themselves as "introverts") this period of seclusion has been nothing short of blissful!

I've been absent (but definitely not AWOL) continuing work with the U.N. and the International Courts so couldn't get back to the blog over the past week or so. It's been crazy busy because "working from home" suits them all perfectly! (They can catch up on filing, for one thing!)

So while I work out where I got to on the blog, I thought I'd spend some time today adding some efforts of artists during lockdown and how they've used it to their advantage.

First off, check out the Royal Ballet's Joshua Junker.

http://www.roh.org.uk/people/joshua-junker

https://www.instagram.com/joshjjj/?hl=en

Do not miss his video. "A Fine Day In Quarantine". Imagine this among your clips or on your reel! 0:)

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B_f9OIJA9mi/?hl=en

Then there are those who have unexpectedly been perfectly adapted to the conditions of lockdown!

How Australia's 'fake genuine Russian choir' Dustyesky went viral during the coronavirus pandemic.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-25/australian-fake-russian-choir-dustyesky-goes-viral-mullumbimby/12270670

Have you added to your professional knowledge? How many short courses have you completed or have you done anything you can add to your resume or vital knowledge?

Such as how a dancer can help prevent injuries as they work.

The 6 New Injury Prevention Rules

https://www.dancemagazine.com/amp/injury-prevention-for-dance-2639821288?utm_campaign=RebelMouse&share_id=5560512&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=Dance%20Magazine&__twitter_impression=true

How about working on your business plan for when you can work more actively?

https://abj.artrepreneur.com/artist-business-plan-guide/

https://www.artworkarchive.com/blog/an-artist-s-guide-to-making-a-business-plan-in-just-6-steps

Have you sat down and had a think about where you are going to go from here with your artwork? With your business? Remember, you and your work are your own product. How much do you appreciate what you do?

Make yourself a coffee/tea, find a quiet spot and consider what you've learned during this time; about yourself and about your Art.

Then give yourself a hug and admire your dedication along with what you've already achieved and in anticipation of where you are going to go from here.

Enjoy!

Ellen 0:)

Ellen F. Walker

Vegetarian & vegan ideas for lockdown or when you are working away from your usual options.

Sorry for the delay in getting this information posted: Work for the International Courts and U.N. had to take priority yesterday.

However, I was not completely ignoring you all! I was checking out what is currently available in local supermarkets for people enjoying (or requiring) vegetarian and/or vegan foods. (I'll cover dealing with restricted diets later, although many matters similarly apply).

First off, these days there is always the option of buying frozen vegetarian or vegan foods which can generally be heated up in a microwave but there are a few issues to be considered if you do this.

1/ They often have large amounts of salt and/or additives included in their recipes. Check their ingredients list in case they include something you do not want to eat.

2/ Keep your food additive number lists handy so you can check what is involved and what you are actually purchasing, wherever you are in the world.

https://www.fedup.com.au/information/information/complete-lists-of-additives

 

3/ Buying ready made meals can be great for an emergency or treat but are expensive and long-term, can hit your bottom line hard!

4/ It is a good idea to make sure you keep some foods (such as frozen) to be used as treats for when you start climbing the wall with boredom and might need a break from the same-'ol'-same-ol' menu!

The key is to know what your body needs and what you want to accept, at what level. Know your basic personal requirements; decide what you absolutely are not willing to eat and what you may be willing to compromise on. i.e. I once worked on a island where the only food available was frozen meat, one tomato and one lettuce. Make sure you get your protein levels daily (including keeping it complete), even if/when you have to use canned goods to supplement what you are choosing. i.e. canned lentils.

A good option is to check out the ready made meals sections at your supermarkets or convenience stores. There are far more options available as vegetarian and vegan requirements become more familiar to businesses both local and otherwise.

Depending on where you are working, check out what type of stores are wherever you are based.

https://www.wholefoodsmarket.co.uk/

https://www.lemaxgroup.com.au/

Also consider your local delicatessens; use your walk workout or running to check out the local area and discover what is available.

https://www.thejunket.com/

In terms of sauces or condiments, always remember that you can use lemon juice, orange juice or vinegars on anything. i.e. malt vinegar.

Again, packaged rice is your friend, as are canned goods. Always pack a can opener somewhere in your luggage; don't assume there will be one where you are travelling to or that you will be able to buy one.

An additional source of product is hiking or camping stores.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/backpacking-food#section10

In terms of take-out/take-away, consider what may be available in the local area regarding foods from other cultures or something you can put together yourself, in your hotel room or car.

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/veggie-fajitas

Google is your friend under these circumstances! Don't dismiss possible sources of food such as local restaurants: Check out their menus in details. This restaurant in Oakland California, have the best Heuvos Rancheros I've ever eaten! 0:)

https://www.buttercupdiner.com/

In brief, knowledge is power. And this is your chance to expand your palette as well as working out how dedicated you are to your choice of diet. Hint: Don't make yourself ill, remember you still have to be able to work at the end of your isolation. Be responsible to yourself and look after yourself. Know what you need and ensure you cover those needs, even if it takes more work than usual to do so.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/protein-for-vegans-vegetarians

https://www.veganaustralia.org.au/vegan_farmed_animal_sanctuaries

Enjoy!

Ellen 0:)

Ellen F. Walker

Recipes for fish as lockdown continues, albeit in an altered state.

How are you going? 

As time goes on, you may be realising that changes you are making may be for the long-term. Which means you may have to make changes to take into account how you are going to work as an artist in ways you have never considered before.

As artists, we tend to work mostly by ourselves (or responsible for ourselves) anyway. But now may be a good time to formalize your life/work balance and daily procedures. You want to come out of this with a fully functioning business able to take advantage of any and all opportunities you are presented with once COVID-19 is no longer such as serious consideration (and even if it is).

How long have you been in lockdown? You may be realising your fitness plan isn't going to cut it long-term. So consider it in terms of what you need to include and revise accordingly; especially if you are more used to tackling your fitness concerns at a gym.

https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/no-gym-required-how-to-get-fit-at-home#1

CBS Newspath have passed on some requests for fish and vegetarian recipes. You may be surprised with what I can suggest.

First off, cans of salmon, tuna or other fish are a great fall back position plus they're cheap and travel well.

But for a dose of luxury, try a piece of salmon. High in nutrition, fast, versatile and easy to cook. 

Google "grilled salmon" for additional ideas. Or google "salmon recipes".

https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/salmon-recipes-31219

My Mum used to make these for community luncheons and they work really well for a variation if you are getting a bit sick of the same 'ol same 'ol!

https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/recipes/salmon-pinwheels-27345

Consider other types of fish you may not usually check out at the supermarket.

https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/recipes/grilled-sardines-13162

And if you are feeling stressed (and your restrictions allow you to), consider taking up fishing. I know many people who fish who never catch anything or release anything they do catch; they simply find fishing a good excuse to relax and do nothing for awhile!

https://www.takemefishing.org/how-to-fish/how-to-catch-fish/ 

Back to the cans of fish you can pick up easily and cheaply.

Consider trying out a simple Tuna Mornay.

https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/recipes/tuna-mornay-23739

Tuna Macaroni.

https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/recipes/tuna-macaroni-11609

Combine tuna with a pasta of your choice.

https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/recipes/tuna-pasta-13497

Obviously, tuna works great in a salad but try this variation which is fast and effective.

https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/recipes/tuna-tabbouleh-9290

Have a good one everybody! Tomorrow I'll check out some vegetarian recipes based on past (and current) experience.

Enjoy!

Ellen 0:)

Ellen F. Walker

Mother's Day special idea anybody in isolation or lock down can use!

Happy Mother's Day to all those mothering others, at this time and always! XO 0:)

And here's my favorite Mother's Day image, talking about the importance of  parenting in a child's life. From Australian author and illustrator, May Gibbs.

So what is an Artist or Arts lover to do if they can't see their mother (or mother figure) at this time? Or if they currently feel they are seeing all too much of their mothers in lockdown?

Take up an idea from those who have gone before: Get creative!

Make up some individually applicable coupons, to be redeemed by your mother; at her convenience, of course!

Enjoy!

Ellen 0:)

Ellen F. Walker

Some extra recipe requests from the U.S. & Australia plus it's time to relax!

 

Thank-you to everyone who have been sending requests for information! Lovely to hear from you. 0:)

Two requests first.

One of my American cast members would like to know how to make an Australian/New Zealand style pavlova if you are cooking in the U.S. Well, from personal experience, I can tell you it's not easy! Chickens are fed a different diet in the U.S. so eggs do not react in the same way as they do when coming from Aussie/Kiwi chooks!

An Aussie friend of mine who currently lives in the U.S., became so frustrated with this, she used to get friends and relatives to send her the Australian White Wings Pavlova Magic to make sure it works when she needs it to. 

Edmonds is the New Zealand version.

https://edmondscooking.co.nz/products/dessert-mix/pavlova-magic-125g/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavlova_(cake)

Having said all of that, a pavlova is basically a meringue mix. It can be temperamental and there is a reason you learn how to make it from your mothers and grandmothers! So be patient and make sure the sugar is completely dissolved in the egg whites, ensure there is NO yolk in the white at all, let it cool properly and handle the completed pavlova like it is the most precious thing you own; it's delicate! 

And even if it does crack or shatter, who cares? Cover it with cream and fruit. As long as the sugar has been properly dissolved during mixing (it will be gritty otherwise), it will still taste fine. 

Here's a basic pavlova recipe for you to practice with. It's worth persevering and practicing getting the recipe right because there truly is nothing like it! 0:)

https://www.whitewings.com.au/post/158947644327/classic-pavlova-creating-a-classic-pavlova-is

Now for the Aussies & Kiwis.

You asked for the American Thanksgiving and celebration dish Ambrosia.

Easiest thing to make in the world but SO GOOD! Every family has their own traditional way of making it, alongside their recipes for honey sweet potatoes or green beans/almonds/bacon and other Thanksgiving accompaniments.

Just as Aussies and New Zealanders dispute who invented the Pavlova, Americans argue over whether Ambrosia is a salad or a dessert; I say both!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrosia_(fruit_salad)

Check out this version at the Spend With Pennies website.

https://www.spendwithpennies.com/ambrosia-salad/

But getting back to that argument of who invented the Pavlova; was it Australia or New Zealand? I'm content to allow the Kiwis to claim the Pavlova but the Peach Melba is all Australia's! Not because we invented it but because it was invented to honour our own Dame Nellie Melba: Reflected glory I agree but nobody can argue her town of origin (my hometown of Melbourne). 0:)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peach_Melba

https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/recipes/peach-melba-10609

Another question which came in was how do I relax when I work as a Senior Executive News Producer, Director and Investigative Journalist for the world courts, the U.N. and ViacomCBS? Doesn't listening to the bad news all the time get too much? 

Yes. It does. It can.

For those feeling stressed at the moment, I can suggest a couple of immediate de-stressors I use myself.

Walking is great! 0:)

Beyond that, I can highly recommend some relaxing music and soft lighting, alongside a bubble bath or soaking in the bath using bath salts or bath oil. Home-made or store bought. i.e. Radox.

https://www.marthastewart.com/270270/homemade-bath-salts

If you don't have a bathtub, get yourself one of those luxuriously decadent shower gels then follow that up with a self-massage, using a scented moisturizer. Regardless of who you are, this feels good! 

Climb into freshly laundered pyjamas, wrap yourself in a fluffy dressing gown, don your cosy slippers and watch whatever you want on your Media of choice or even better, read a good book with relaxing music playing in the background!

Beyond that, I can strongly recommend losing yourself in a book of puzzles. 

One more detail, switch off your computer before you do any of that and forget about it for awhile. 0:)

Enjoy your weekend!

Ellen 0:)

Ellen F. Walker