Friday, June 9, 2023

Town Crier John Webster – a Portrait of Perfect Stillness

Town Crier John Webster – a portrait of perfect stillness. The only ‘great’ portrait (from a portrait) I ever painted was of Copernicus. I was about ten years old when I had a few unsuccessful attempts to paint a portrait of someone and endured a constant frustration of not getting it right. Then I picked an easy target. Copernicus had a uniquely shaped easily reproducible hair style that played great cover for reproduction of his facial features and facial expression. By adding hanging stars, a moon and a few planets in the background, nobody ever attempted to question my result of Copernicus’ head-to-body dis-proportionality. If only my audience knew that I was in fact mastering “bubble head” art, but that never transpired.

“I wanted to become a cartoon artist, a portrait artist, and an illustrator. This was my first idea.” ~ Karl Lagerfeld

I watched intrigued as nine artists gathered at the Aurora Cultural Centre, part of the Society of York Region Artists event, to paint a portrait of a historically significant figure, of the Town Crier John Webster. Town Crier John Webster was an interesting subject to start of with, unique character in unique decorum. And don’t forget the hat which does make him look like a town pirate, a few innocent comments I heard from children once. His stillness was perfect that day. Was he even breathing? On that day John Webster was a man of absolute stillness and silence, definitely contrasting his public appearance where he presents himself with elegance, rings the bell and loudly speaks during ceremonial openings.

“A work of art is above all an adventure of the mind.” ~ Eugene Ionesco

The artist’s work in progress was quite an intriguing experience as well. I don’t ever recall seeing a creation of a portrait of someone with a tool other than a camera. With one click of a camera button and split of a second of millions of calculations, a camera processes a captured moment into a recognizable image made of pixels. This is how easy it is to capture a portrait with a digital camera today; but how do you do it with a stroke of a pencil or a brush? Not easy, I would say.

Town Crier John Webster
Town Crier John Webster

The transformation process began. Talent and skill for sure on display. Time is a definite factor. Lots of patience. Interesting styles, techniques and attempts from each artist. Each artist worked with different tools, materials, assortment of necessary colours, canvas sizes and in different locations relative to the subject. It all started with straight and curved lines or just shading. It was interesting to also see how geometry and measurements are actually necessary to draw a proportional head-to-body human portrait, something I totally ignored on Copernicus.

Town Crier John Webster
Town Crier John Webster
Town Crier John Webster

I must say all were fabulous end results but it was the work in progress that left me with a new experience and greater appreciation of the work of an artist.

Anna Lozyk Romeo
Aurora, ON

Latest Blog Posts

Anna Lozyk Romeo for Mayor of Aurora, Municipal Elections 2022

To my Living in Aurora blog readers: I am running for Mayor of Aurora.  It is a great opportunity now...

From Shining to Shameful – The Continued Loss of the Oak Ridges Moraine

A picture-perfect vista of soft, rolling hills where wild turkey, deer and coyote once roamed has been reduced to...

North East Quadrant of Wellington St & John West Way Development Appealed

At the February 22nd, 2022 Council meeting, Aurora Council UNANIMOUSLY (7-0) voted to refuse a 6-storey, 150 unit residential...

Important Links

The Knowles Butcher Shop on Fire, June 25th 2021 – Photo Gallery

The so known Knowles Butcher Shop on 9 Wellington Street East is a long-standing building in Aurora, c. 1885....

Church Street School, Construction Site (Photo Gallery)

Photos of Church Street School during the Library Square construction. Photos dated May 22, 2021. Anna Lozyk RomeoAurora, Ontario

Cineplex Odeon – What Year Was This Photo Taken?

Photo of the Cineplex Odeon in Aurora. What year do you think this photo was taken? Your clues are...

Snowflake Path Downtown Aurora, Photo Gallery

Finally, just in time for Christmas snowflake decorations are all working downtown Aurora. ... and this is what we used...

Changes Along Wellington Street, 3-Years Ago & Today

Few changes along Wellington Street. While looking back at some of my old blog posts I came across one from...

Archived

Heavy Snow Storm Embraced Aurora, Photo Gallery

Last week we experienced a spring like winter that...

Aurora Jazz+ Festival 2012, The Politics, Part 2

By John Abel, Aurora ON. On Saturday (Aug 4,...

Aurora Cultural Services Agreement Approved, Cllr Abel

By Cllr John Abel, Aurora ON. On January 22,...

Think About It

Leadership Has a Harder Job to Do Than Just Choose Sides

"Leadership has a harder job to do than just...

You Might Also Like