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bethstuesdaytalks-blog · 5 years

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Joey Yu - Oct 1st

Joey Yu, National Gallery

I chose this image to encapsulate Joey’s Tuesday talk because it is a perfect example of her reportage work, her use bright colours and materials.

I first learned about Joey Yu (and briefly met her) at the London Illustration Fair in 2018. I bought an A5 self portrait and asked her where she went to university. She was one of the deciding factors in me choosing Kingston. If I can come out of this degree making work as prolifically and confidently as Joey then I will feel a very successful artist.

Joey Yu’s practice is based in colourful reportage illustrations and animations. Her work focuses on travel, location and people. She works mainly with coloured pencils, gouache (in cake form), C pencils (?) and recommended using Caran d'Ache Neocolor II (A brand of water soluble crayons). My flatmate Nurul has a set and I’ve been experimenting with adding them into some of my own illustrations. They add a lovely rough quality and aliveness to a drawing. I’m planning on getting my own set. She presented her work by showing us her current projects and some of her work done here at Kingston. I loved seeing how she experimented while on this course and managed to flourish with the group projects. Until recently I kind of dreaded group projects but I’m beginning to see the advantages of them. There’s so much to be learned from my classmates and other artists. This course is also the perfect time to just go nuts with what you are making. To really push yourself outside of your comfort zone.

I was very interested by how she gets invited to corporate events to draw quick portraits. It’s inspiring in that its shows how the skills we learn on this course can be applied in an infinite amount of way. Joey has managed to create a practice within illustration that is very extroverted. Much of what I imagine illustration to be is a very isolated experience. It is freelancing from home or from a studio. From her I learned that illustration can be a way to connect with people, it can be centered around others. Illustration doesn’t always have to be so inward facing, it can be location drawing and reportage and a detailed look at the world around you.

A lot of questions were asked about what type of materials she uses, how she gets commissioned, how agents work and how she has managed to get this far in her career. One thing I had no previous knowledge on was agents. Joey has decided not to have representation as she is getting enough work without it and they could take up to 40% of her profit from any given job. It sounds like something that I may be interested in if I was struggling to get my work out there and with making industry connections. I wish I had asked her about how to deal with burnout. By the sounds of it she has a very busy schedule, that must be something she has to deal with.

I would like to further research into other reportage artists and start doing more of my own film studies. I have so much to learn from Joey’s work ethic and enthusiasm!

Joey Yu’s Advice :^)

Have a tough skin. You can’t take every rejection personally. Be able to stand up for your own artwork.

Learn on the job. Be Agile. There are a lot of resources online to teach yourself new programs.

Manifest the work you want (Ex: she started drawing at gigs, was then able to get paid work drawing at gigs). Gravitate towards what you really want to be doing. Don’t be afraid that it isn’t a common pathway.

Know your worth! Demand for more! Make sure you are getting paid well.

Tend to your creativity. Sometimes you have to give your mind a break. It helps to have hobbies outside of creating constantly.

Don’t try and find a style. This will probably just end up limiting you. You can’t force it.

Recommended Reading + Viewing

The Secret Lives of Colour by Kassia St. Clair Bluets by Maggie Nelson Goldfinch by Donna Tartt Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) Little Forest (2018)

Website: https://joeyyu.co.uk/

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doodlewash · 5 years

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Hello, my name is Brenda Jiral and I am originally from Rochester, Michigan. I currently live in Hamilton, Michigan with my husband and two of my three children. I have been drawn to art for as long as I can remember. I see beauty in things that most people would simply pass over or dismiss.

Sunlight Breaking Through

Sunny Day

Like the way bright sunshine creates the most beautiful shadows; full of color and life. Or the multitude of color shifts that are in the human eye or a flower. I am frequently mesmerized by the dazzling light that bounces off a lake in the morning sun, and the range of colors in every rock and weed under the water’s surface.

Enchanted

I have been “making art” since I was a child, so, it was a natural progression for me to become an artist. I believe it’s what I was created to do. I studied fine art at college, but after three years, I decided to put higher education “on hold” in order to pursue my other dream: motherhood. I got married, had three beautiful children, and devoted my life to my family. The only creative outlet during those years were the many craft projects I would do with my children.

Dogwood Leaves

Once they were all in school, I was finally in a position to dust off my dreams of creating art and see what I could do with it. After taking the few watercolor painting classes that were available at our local art center, I was left to my own devices. So, from then on, I became self-taught. I poured over every book and video I could get my hands on at the local library, and watched every You-tube tutorial I could find. And I experimented: A LOT!

Sunlit Shore

My father was also an artist, and one of the things he said all of the time is that “art is 10% talent and 90% work” -Alfred M. Ponte. That doesn’t dismiss natural, God-given talent, but rather, it puts the emphasis on what you DO with that talent. You can either sit on it and do nothing with it, or you can work your tail off to develop it and share it with the world. I’ve chosen the latter, I worked hard, and now I enjoy teaching others what I’ve learned. “Your talent is God’s gift to you; what you do with it is your gift back to God.” -Leo Buscaglia.

Pomegranate

For the past two and a half decades, I have lived with chronic pain and illness. To say that it’s been hard would be a gross understatement. I don’t share this often, because most people really don’t know what to do with that information. And honestly, I’ve been judged harshly all too often.

And I don’t share it to get attention or because I feel sorry for myself. I share it in hopes that if there is someone else out there, struggling with health issues, my story would give them hope. That maybe there’s a purpose for this struggle and something good can come out of it.

Resilience Sketch

Resilience

I don’t have one of those inspiring, miracle stories. I will most likely be in pain and ill for the rest of my life. And I have come to terms with that. This story is more about how art has helped me through some of the darkest days of my life. Art has been a blessing in so many ways. I am so very grateful for the gift it is in my life! There have been days that, because of the pain or the endlessness of it all, I felt really down.

And rather than dwelling on that and allowing it to get out of control, I would go downstairs to my studio in an effort to take my mind off of the pain. At first, it can be like pushing a rope. I may not “feel” inspired or excited about what I’m doing, but I choose to do it because I know I need it. I may be just doing a little sketching in my journal or pushing some paint around on a scrap of watercolor paper, or whatever.

Trees & Hills

But at some point, I realize I no longer feel down. Don’t get me wrong, the pain is still there, but my heart feels a little lighter and I am excited about what I’m doing. And that’s when the paint has begun to work its magic on me. I feel joy and peace and alive again! And that’s when I remember: I’m going to be ok.

In spite of the health issues, I still try to teach a few classes or workshops per year. It’s not nearly as much as I would like to be doing, because I love to teach, but for now it will be enough. Maybe someday, I will enjoy better health and be able to do all of the things I want to do with my art, but for now, my life is full.

My Process And How I Got Here

When I was in high school, my art teacher expected a sketchbook full of drawings every term. How I dreaded that deadline! I really didn’t like to draw. I know that sounds crazy, since I am so passionate about All-things-ART. But I really didn’t like to “waste time” in my sketchbook. (That’s the way I felt about it then).

I wanted to do the serious art, not sketch! How silly I was back then; I cringe when I think about how much energy I spent avoiding my sketchbook. I’d wait until the day or two before the deadline and just throw it all together, giving only the bare minimum in order to get the grade.

Kohlrabi

Fast-forward to my early days learning to paint in watercolor. I would get so frustrated with my attempts to draw something in order to then paint it. All I wanted to do was paint, but my efforts showed my lack of drawing ability. I was reminded of my art teacher’s insistence on mastering the basics, and realized that I had failed to build a foundation before I started to “build the house”.

So, I went back. I began the discipline of forcing myself to draw at every opportunity. After all, I had a lot of time to make up! I put a sketchbook in my kitchen, so I could draw during breakfast and lunch and one downstairs, in my studio. I also put one in my car to draw while waiting for my kids to finish sports practice or orthodontist appointments. Eventually, I began to love to draw. I began to see the wisdom of building a foundation of this basic skill. Now, I don’t go anywhere without my sketchbook or watercolor journal. I travel with it and record memories and I draw, draw, draw.

Driftwood

Pink Geraniums

My creative process varies on the project I am working on at the time. If I am looking for a new painting idea, I will often go to my sketchbooks and “mine” them for inspiration. I will also pour over the thousands of photos I have taken over the years for just the right image that speaks to me. I also keep a running list of painting ideas, and sometimes I fear that there won’t be enough time to do them all.

Like I said earlier, a lot of my paintings begin in my sketchbook or watercolor journal. Some of my favorite ways of drawing is contour drawing, blind contour drawing or continuous line drawing. I am drawn to this technique because there is a decisiveness and character to the line that otherwise wouldn’t be there. Rather than a sketchy line, which is hesitant and unsure, the contour line that I employ feels confidant and sure. And rather than going for a photographically realistic look, or an architecturally accurate line, this line expresses more of the freedom I’m after and attracted to in nature. It feels more organic and personal to me.

Single Tree

Continuous Line Drawing

Over the years, I have tried many different brands of paint and watercolor paper and I have no plans on settling on any one kind. I’m all about experimenting and exploring. In fact, I don’t consider myself a traditional watercolor “purist”, but rather, an experimental, mixed media artist, because I will never stop experimenting with new mediums and techniques. That’s what excites me the most about art: that I will be learning until the day I die!

Mossy Tree

Mossy Stump

When it comes to watercolors, I mainly use Daniel Smith and Winsor & Newton paints. And for paper, I love Arches cold press and Winsor & Newton brand. In addition to those, one of my favorite discoveries a few years ago is mineral paper. I am so in love with this surface! It’s smooth and so receptive to watercolor and ink line drawing. I have found two brands so far: Yasutomo Mineral paper, which comes in only two sizes, and Terraskin Stone paper. (This one is a little more difficult to find, but what a gem!)

I also love to use Caran D’Ache Neocolor II water-soluble wax pastels, Derwent Inktense Blocks and watercolor pencils and a variety of water-soluble ink pens. And I can’t leave out my trusty fountain pen that I use for a lot of my drawings in my watercolor journals!

Yellowstone

In closing, I would like to thank Charlie at Doodlewash for allowing me to share my story and my love of art with others. And thank you, fellow-art explorer, for taking the time to read my story.

Benda Jiral Website Facebook Doodlewash

GUEST ARTIST: "How Art Helps Me Through the Difficult Days" by Brenda Jiral - #doodlewash #WorldWatercolorGroup #watercolor #watercolour #art Hello, my name is Brenda Jiral and I am originally from Rochester, Michigan. I currently live in Hamilton, Michigan with my husband and two of my three children.

#WorldWatercolorGroup #art #art therapy #artist #doodlewash #drawing #featured #painting #sketchbook #Sketchbooks #sketching #watercolor #watercolor sketching #watercolour

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