People first noticed that I could draw in 1980. I had drawn three Rhine Castles and a Dutch Windmill and the framed prints were sold from a shop in Germany, purely for charity.
Today, my sister-in-law called to say she had found an old newspaper article about these four pictures, and there was a photograph of me, the pictures and the lady who ran the shop. I can't wait to see the newspaper as I have no recollection of it ... ... if I don't look too weird, I'll post it here for a giggle.
That got me thinking. My first 'non-technical' drawing was in 1979 - of 'Cotehele House' in Cornwall. Pat put it into a magazine competition and it ended up as the front cover of the magazine. Such a silly turn of events ... I was so embarrassed. So the next four pictures I drew were the ones above, for charity.
This set of pictures were so 'static' and amateurish that I can never understood why they sold.
 |
| Reckteren Castle, Dalfsen, Holland John Simlett (April, 1980) 11 inches x 7 inches Pen & Ink on Cartridge Paper |
Then I drew my fifth ever drawing, 'Reckteren Castle' near Dalfsen in Holland.
Pat and I loved Holland, we lived 3 miles from its border. Anyway... drawing this picture, Dalfsen we call it for short, was the first time I felt 'the pen takeover'.
The drawing was not like the others at all ... a style was beginning to appear ... I'd never drawn a reflection before.... hey ho ..... nostalgia's not what it used to be :0)
So vivid and fresh ,this castle and the river!
ReplyDeleteThis image has a movement that enchants me
watch. Dear John,although monochrome, I feel it colorful!
It was a lovely place, but I was too inexperienced to do it justice ... one day we may return so that I cand draw irt properly :0)
DeleteOh my yes...this one is something else! I am especially impressed with how you handled the clouds in the sky, a perfect solution...and the castle, bridge and water---well, just wow!
ReplyDeleteHa, ha, yeah, darn great thick lines. Probably my first sky :0)
DeleteThanks Celeste, but you are too kind.
Oh yes, Holland has lots of these kind of castles or stately homes! I have lived near one with the same kind of bridge and moat. Great how you handled the reflections! Looking forward to the newspaper article!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Judy ...yes Happy days.
DeleteNostalgia IS what it used to be (technically speaking anyway! LOL)...
ReplyDeleteJohn, I'd give my eyeteeth to have your drawing skills. To this day it amazes me when anyone thinks I can draw. I love going down memory lane with you. Can't wait to see that pic you are talking about too!
Sherry, it took a lifetime. But you have to practise constantly and get used to being disappointed when things don't come out the way you want them ... quite often I start again!!
DeleteI understand. This pen and ink is an excellent, highly detailed illustration. It's very admirable, would look good as a print in a book about Holland. But it does lack...I don't know...the feeling that your current work processes. It's not a laugh though. It's history. Yours. You are and should be proud.
ReplyDeleteYes it's only put up here because my sister-in-law found the newspaper and sent me down memory-lane. I don't have any records of those first drawings, beyond that photo and I don't know how much of the pics it reveals until I see it. Dalfsen is earliest I have. It amazed me how well it turned out, and became a starting point.
DeleteIt must be so lovely to come across things you did so long ago! And how could you forget being included in an article?
ReplyDeleteOrdinarily I would probably be saying 'How nice to see the improvement over so many years'. But I can't really say that because clearly you were so talented already, that there was no improvement possible!
Well Sandra, not to be too modest about it, :0)) I have appeared in lots of articles, although very few to do with art, more to do with flying around with the Royal Family and, later, software.... and there again, it was about 33 years ago as the crow flies. :0)
DeleteThanks for your generous comments
How wonderful to hear about your past work like that. Dalfsen Castle definitely has your style shining through. I'm curious, John. Do you sketch with pencil [something erasable] before going in with ink?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kathryn.
DeleteWell being me, I don't have a set ritual.
The problem with pen & ink is that one is in constant hand-contact with the paper and the battle is to keep it clean. Pencil and erasing can lead to it soon getting grubby and so I try to keep the pencil work to a minimum. There will always be pencil sketching on 'scrap paper' sort of planning/practice alongside the main drawing - which is one reason for my monster drawing-board (bought from Holland).
I used to use dry stale breadcrumbs to rub over a finished work ... not sure it was worth the effort.
The risk when committing to ink is always going to be getting a bit wrong ... there's no turning back ... one soon becomes the master of camouflage, or starts again. I confess I don't worry about that at all ... but it taught me a lot of swear words
Beautiful! Have you ever tried graphic techniques, such as copper, steel engraving, etc..?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI tried to put a link in here, Maga, but I had to remove it because it didn't work. I sold all my stuff on metal plate from 1980 - 1985, in addition to my usual stuff. There's lots of examples way back in this blog to which I tried to link.
DeleteTry 4 May 2012, Magas
DeleteI'm sure YOU can see great progress from this picture to your current work, but to my eyes this one is as amazing - especially the reflections...
ReplyDeleteThank you, Minnemie - it begs the question, who do we draw for? :0). Although in your case, there is usually a message, so I guess you are 'talking' to the world.
ReplyDeleteHi John, this work of 1980 may be it's not as good as those of today, but undoubtedly it has a charm and a beauty......that time has not touched! Ciao!!
ReplyDeleteEhank you, Tito
ReplyDeleteI never cease to be amazed at the fine detail you incorporate into your drawings John and this one, despite being over 30 years old, is no exception. I'm really looking forward to seeing that newspaper article ... whether you look weird or not!! ;-)
ReplyDeleteCiao John,
ReplyDeletei tuoi lavori non hanno tempo e sono così belli e vividi da riempire anche le immagini dei sogni!
Ciao, ciao, Floriana
Ciao John,
ReplyDeletei tuoi lavori non hanno tempo e sono così belli e vividi da entrare anche nei sogni!
Ciao, ciao, Floriana
your drawing says it all john .
ReplyDelete1 picture worth 10,000 words? :0)
Delete