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Hi, I’m Jonathan Price – my blog, Art-Chap-Enjoin, is an anagram of my name. Firstly, thank you Charlie for inviting me to be a guest artist on Doodlewash – I’m honoured. I am from the UK, but have been living and working overseas since 1992, when I left to work in Cambodia. Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to live in Bhutan, Syria and presently the Philippines.
My journey as an artist began when my school teacher encouraged me to join life drawing classes and for many years after that, I took evening classes. However, inspired by my attendance at summer schools in Tunbridge Wells run by Roy Oxlade, and because drawing from nude models in Southeast Asia would be culturally unorthodox, I instead started to carry a sketchbook with me and draw and paint anything, even in the briefest of free moments.
I admire people who can draw from imagination or use reference photos, but I prefer to be there on the spot. At times this has meant being surrounded by hordes of street children in Phnom Penh, who were fascinated to see a foreigner drawing (there were so many children I couldn’t see my subject!), or just getting strange looks at a shopping mall. My experience drawing ‘En Plein Air’ has always been positive though.
With a busy work schedule and the advent of our own children, the frequency of my drawing and painting has gradually declined over the years. Then, just a few months ago, a combination of events occurred: A contract finished and I was free for a while, a friend commented about my creativity and I saw the work of an artist who painted daily postcards.
Into my head came the idea of drawing and painting every day and committing to it by sharing the results on a blog…and with the community I have linked to (including the Urban Sketchers Philippines), this has turned out to be a great source of encouragement.
Most often, I draw in ink or pencil first, followed by watercolour. But sometimes, I’ll use my Derwent watercolour pencils, chalk pastels, oil pastels, charcoal, uni PIN pens, and Derwent Sketching water-soluble pencils…and occasionally all together! I have a great little Winsor & Newton watercolour travel kit (replenished with a hotchpotch of Reeves, Aquafine and Van Gogh).
I also have a set of Pentel Brush pens which are wonderful. To draw, I use a Rotring Art fountain pen. I usually use A5 Daler Rowney Graduate sketchbooks (or anything like them that I can buy locally), but currently I am using a Fabriano one.
I am inspired by the everyday – just humdrum things around me, at home, at the market or nearby, wherever I happen to be living. I find that even in the most mundane of things there is beauty – all it takes is a little imagination.
Jonathan Price
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Jonathan, your art is lively and intriguing. I feel like I’m standing behind you, with all the little kids, watching you paint. So glad Charlie invited you to post today.
Hi Sharon. Lively and intriguing – that’s so kind of you to say. I’m glad you feel like you are there with me – I’ve had such fun painting over the years and I’m really enjoying connecting with everyone!
I like your art very much Jonathan and agree totally with your assertion that there is beauty to be found in the humdrum, in the mundane.
I also love that you draw what’s around you. (I’m very lazy and, although I’ll do this, I’m not averse to drawing from photographs too). The daily draw is something I also adhere too – one can’t help but improve with a daily practise!
Thanks for sharing your work, and thanks to Charlie for inviting you. (I’m so enjoying this blog and the artists that are being introduced to me).
Hi Terri. Thanks for your feedback – I’m glad we share the same ideas. I see you live in Plymouth …as you saw from one of my sketches I was there a while back. Lovely town!
Very fun and talented Jonathan!
Thanks Jodi…fun is good!
Lovely work, Jonathan!
Thank you M L Kappa! – Glad you like my efforts!
Jonathan, it’s great to read your story here. I was sure Charlie would find you when your IG account became public! I’ve been a big fan (as you already know!) of your pure and lively sketches on location in your daily life – full of life!!
Thank you so much Naoko – I continue to be inspired by your art work too. So lovely and fresh!
Beautiful sketches that immediately give a sense of place. Thank you for sharing your art journey.
Very kind of you Teri. I haven’t been journeying very far from home recently…but let’s see where life takes me next!
Very nice ink line work.