Dunstaffnage Music Festival 19th-20th July, and other stuff.

I came, I dawdled, I doodled.

This weekend was not the normal stress of the past two DMFs. This one was smaller, more relaxed, less organised, and I decided just to go with the flow for once.

There were some really great bands playing, on all four stages, particular favourites The Sparrow and the Workshop, Rags and Feathers, Wilson Tan, Pama International were a great headliner for Saturday, The Second Hand Marching Band - though they definitely need more practices together, and more microphones onstage; someone shouted out that they couldn't hear the words which is a shame as there's a whole kooky bunch of storytelling going on!

Apparently the Nanobots were fantastic in the Organic Roots tent - a place I neglected I'm afraid. Then there was the Brother Louis collective - Louis from The Moth and the Mirror, the Yellow Bentines played a blistering set - fronted by black gales from the sea - which pretty much headlined the main stage on Sunday since due to stupid stupid rules/organisation Popup played only four songs before they were taken off without warning due to TIME constraints. Bad energy my friends.

One last band to mention, Punch and the Apostles were ACE. They were taken off due to their rabid vulgar vocab if you please - they were being aired live on Oban fm apparently and two different families had complained. My inability to hear most lyrics from music I've first encountered left me frustrated at all the juicy nastiness I'd been oblivious to. I like the drawing I did though, but I could most definitely draw them again.

Incidently it has been confirmed that the Vivians were indeed implicated in the nicking of the drawing I did of them last year. F##kers. I really liked that drawing. Apparently it's in their flat in London. I'm flattered but I'd like some bloody money for it ya wee sh##es! I'm more irritated because I don't even have a copy of it. I hope it's nicely framed.

Anyway, Tom Waits has been, and has gone. I did not see him. Perhaps I should have. But I'm re-evaluating what I'm doing at the moment. Streamlining my focus, but experimenting more.

Apparently there was an events/music/festival illustrator featured in the Independant on Saturday 19th July 2008. Apparently he does exactly what I do, and his style is just like mine. However, I don't have a copy of the article and niether does the person who told me about it, so if anyone still has that article could they please email/send me it - my email is info@jennysoep.com and I'll send you a wee drawing as a thank you.

Right, this month is all about preparing for the Arts Debate I'm covering for the Scotsman at the end of the month. I'm really quite excited about it, it should be great stuff! And then there's Connect... (Ooh and I'm covering the Arches Theatre Festival again in September, plus teaching drawings workshops around Argyll and Bute in November- the amount of participating schools have tripled since last year due to the success of the artists - big old pat on the back for those ey?!)

Time Lapsed Drawing - Pama International

time lapse drawing 1

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Finally, I'm catching Up! Dunstaffnage Music Festival Phase 1

I guess it might have been an idea to only list Saturday's line up for Phase 1, but I've had so many encounters with Technical Constipation, that I'm just banging them up.
Dunstaffnage was a really stunning festival; the local paper The Oban Times, really didn't do it justice. There was GREAT Music, and such a choice - Organic Beats (with unfortunate power cut rendering most bands impotent, but Western Alliance taking full advantage of the only band left still standing to headline!), The Roots, The Open Mic/Stick It On tent, and ultimately the Main Stage - though not all the best acts were featured there. More later.

There were the live mobile bands like Samba Ya Bamba that you must have been a block of stone not to dance to, amazing light projections on giant bits of rock, great stalls - haggis and neeps, the Free From stall, and fresh, oh yes Fresh Oysters.

And then there was the art, and I have to say, on Saturday my animator Garry and I were unstoppable. The combinations of the animated logos before each band (especially when we got the RIGHT band!), plus the animated drawings from last years festival, plus the animated timelapse played right as the Bands were finishing, plus the actual original drawing all contributed to a visual extravaganza.

Pity Sunday was peppered with problems - trust me, MAJOR technical difficulties - Garry went through 5 different laptops (I have no idea where he found them all!!) eventually packing it in in a most dramatic fashion in the evening and calling it a 'day'. We're going to have to work through these minor details...But suffice to say, it was a great dress rehearsal for things to come. Just waiting for the organisers to show me the money...Always get your money up front boys and girls!!!

Suffice to say, Limited Edition Signed prints and originals up for grabs if you're quick enough - info@jennysoep.com or 01866 833207 if you want to place you're order!

STV NEWS!!

Forget painting still life, this is real life


Article by Euan Wemyss
Video report by Euan Wemyss

The life of a toiling artist could be considered by some to be a solitary pursuit.

But a young Oban woman prides herself on getting as close to the action as possible when depicting live music events.

Jenny Soep, based in Oban, travels to cultural events - including dance, poetry readings and live music - in an attempt to express the energy, movement, emotion and colour of the occasion in a way that photography perhaps cannot.

She said: "I'm looking for unique events that I think I can work with; showing the uniqueness of it, showing how creative and beautiful they are and how they are in that moment. I think anyone can take a photo these days and I'm trying to draw attention to the details in those pictures that they're missing out on."

Originally inspired by a trip to the Dundee Jazz Festival; Jenny travelled and painted in and around Taiwan for three years after graduating where she developed her technique.

"I practiced Chinese calligraphy whilst out there and it's really captured by how you're just working the moment. That's why I use watercolours and ink, because it's fast and it can dry quicker than oils basically."

Since then she has captured hundreds of events in a variety of different locations including a performance by the Proclaimers on Arran and was even sponsored to paint at the recent T in the Park festival.

Despite the often riotous atmospheres at many gigs, Jenny has never been afraid to wade into the thick of the action.

"I initially started being in the mosh pits so I've been sort of quite crushed at some points but it all adds to the picture - I'm trying to create visual souvenirs that are all affected by the whole event so it just adds more excitement to the drawing."

Jenny is already developing her work into new areas.

She and a friend are currently animating the paintings to further enhance their live feeling and the results will be on display at the Dunstaffnage Music Festival next weekend.

Jenny’s solo show runs from the 14th to the 29th of October at the Resipole Studios in Acharacle, Argyll.




(c) stv