I snapped this shot while traveling back to our Chicago hotel in February of 2006. We were in town celebrating my mother-in-law’s 60th birthday, and celebrate we did 
We dined at North Pond, and the light snow shown in this photo lasted through the weekend, making the event even more special.
I actually finished this one prior to the completion of Sketch 7: Bay of Las Crucesitas, due to a much more pressing deadline: my wife Stacey’s birthday. Stacey thankfully loves my artwork, and I feel like whenever I create something for her, I push myself beyond a certain comfort zone. Continue reading »
Here is the original photo, taken during a July 2008 wedding trip to Huatulco, Mexico. My good friend Rex Fryhover and his wife Adela Ramirez (Fryhover) were married there, and the sublime location was more inspirational to me than they probably know.
I’ve learned from each piece, progressively, and Sketch #7 is no exception. Continue reading »
Bloomington Radio
As it usually goes after a very tedious piece (see sketch 5: Bloomfield Cows), I needed to blow off a little steam, and get reckless. That’s why I love this project: switching mediums… Continue reading »
Bloomfield Cows
Here is the original photo, taken in the fall of 2006 just west of Bloomington, IN, in Bloomfield. Continue reading »
+ enlargeThis was a labor of love. I haven’t measured it but i would guess the final dimensions are around 40” x 30″. In the process, I was awakened to the biggest advancements of project35 so far: embellishment, adaptation and abstraction. Meaning, the organic nature of this piece (grass, cows, sky, flowers etc.) almost commanded me to take my own stab at reality. Don’t draw exactly what you see– create the scene as it should come across given the materials you’re working with. Continue reading »
What makes this one more time consuming, and difficult at times is the fact that you can’t put your hand down when you’re drawing. As a result, I’ve smeared the black ink so many times that I’ve ended up fixing (artistically, of course) mistakes more often than not.
I have been through 4 gel pens so far…The size of the board is part of the reason for using so much ink, and the other is the fact that I’m drawing organic figures and shapes this time. This is not architecture that I’m recreating, and my drawing style requires the structure that architectural elements provide. Altogether, I think that very element– the idea that I’m “building” organic shapes through an architecturally rooted technique is what will make this the most powerful piece of the series, so far.
I am making progress. Due date: next week? OK, I’ll firm that up– For you, my loyal readers, I will have the new piece completed and posted by the end of next week.
I better get going then. Cheers.
Note the glove– I know, it’s a good look, isn’t it? Like a cross between Scabs McGuillicutty and Tito Jackson. It helps, trust me. The ink smears, especially with any type of sweat or moisture rubbing over it. This one is taking a while, due in part to my personal schedule, but also due in part because it is a larger board. I’ve already gone through a full pen… Continue reading »
Well, before i went on my little Mexican vacation in July, i promised an entry on the occasion of projector maintenance. It seems that i wore the lamp out in my Grandfather’s projector. This bulb was pretty old, and i should have expected that.
When I cracked it open underneath, the burned out bulb read “300W”!! It was pretty hot in there and now i know why: the halogen bulb requires 120V and 300W to project a powerful light that’s bright enough for display. I went to Lowe’s and the max wattage they have there is ~20 or so. I bought one anyway and placed it in to see what would happen– idiot. The power surge blew it immediately after turning it on.
