365two50

Epilogue

2010-06-16T12:03:00.002-04:00

After reviewing my effort over the past year, I have concluded this blog. I always intended it to be a project with a beginning and an end. I learned a great deal and appreciate the comments and input from those who visited with me along this journey.

I found that posting daily was virtually impossible. I give a great deal of credit to those who can do it. I enjoyed having a goal that encouraged me to produce work, but found my day-to-day to be too hectic for consistency.

I became a part of the IllustrationFriday community. I will continue that in my new blog--http://olddognewtricksillustration.blogspot.com--along with regular postings from my work.

I continue to be confused about my direction. I hoped to clarify that in this exercise, but I still am uncertain about what I want to do with my art.

I hope you will join me in my new blogventure and hopefully this old dog will learn some new tricks.

Peace.

Drawings Continued

2010-05-19T14:30:00.004-04:00

Full Circle--IF Equipment (49-1)

2010-05-19T14:04:00.004-04:00

Here I am, one day from the end of my 365 days. Unfortunately, I've been very distracted from posting and have missed all of April and half of May. I have been working, just not posting.

For the sake of Illustration Friday, these pictures are of lacrosse players and show their equipment--sticks, goggles, ball, uniforms, and cleats. You can't play this game without equipment!

For the sake of my team, these are my seniors. As I did last year, I created a pencil drawing of each of them which they will receive tonight at the school's awards ceremony. I've done this for several kids that play on teams that I coach, and they really enjoy them. In some cases their parents won't let them have them because the parents want to keep them.

As for this blog...well I've tried to keep it all in perspective. I've probably done more artwork becuase of it, even though my most recent posting absence would indicate otherwise. So tomorrow, I'll wrap it up as I mark my 50th birthday.

IF: Rescue (50-56)

2010-03-29T10:57:00.003-04:00

I was in the U.S. Air Force from 1985 until 1992 where I worked as a Munitions and Aircraft Maintenance Officer and Maintenance Staff Officer. Because I was responsible for munitions storage I came in contact with most of the operational units on the bases where I was stationed.

The Air Force has two remarkable missions (that I had frequent contact with) aside from the standard fly and fight: Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) and Rescue/Recovery. This illustration is of a PJ (pararescue specialist) securing an injured pilot awaiting transportation. The PJs are really remarkable people. Like EOD, they are often the kind of people going toward trouble when others are running away from it. They are remarkably fit because they have to be prepared to go in and rescue stranded or injured people in every environment, usually under fire, and often without regard to their own safety. They are skilled marksmen and highly trained.

I had a friend that I went to munitions officer school with, who then went on to become an EOD officer. He was an amazingly regular guy, not prone to bravado. Anyway, here's to all of those remarkable people going in harms way to save others.

Moo (57-59)

2010-03-22T13:51:00.002-04:00

Did these cows this morning for some packaging. Photoshop

IF: Expired (60-94)

2010-03-19T15:16:00.002-04:00

I've been absent from my blog for about a month. Anything I did in that time wasn't worth posting. It was a tough month ending with the passing of my little beagle Sadie. Sadie was my very special friend and companion for 13 1/2 years. She raised our daughters with lots of snuggles. She is missed.

Anyway, here is my entry in IF for the topic Expired.

Another Layer (95-106)

2010-02-13T12:31:00.003-05:00

I have an abstract painting that has seen at least two version so far. I watched videos on Basquiat and Pollack this week and thought I would take a crack at that canvass again. So here it is. I'm going to let it dry on my art cabinet for a while to see if I still like it or if I want to add more.

The yellows and greens seem to get lost in the photo, but the general picture still survives. 18 x 22 oil

IF: Focused (107-111)

2010-02-02T09:08:00.001-05:00

In order to be successful as a guitar player, you must be focused. This is for Illustration Friday--Focused topic.

State of the Union (112-113)

2010-01-28T14:27:00.002-05:00

Thought I would take a shot at the CIC.

I think it is amazing that those that run the gubment are so smug about trying to help regular people have a decent living, go to college, have opportunities, etc. It's as if they think that governing is arguing with the other side. Let's see them consider real problems and provide solutions.

Same as it ever was. Same as it ever was.

I wish the scan were better.

drawing break -- Mark Twain (114-117)

2010-01-26T14:55:00.003-05:00

Needed to take a drawing break. It's amazingly hot outside--from freezing to spring in one day. Thought I would do one for my friend Dwayne. He's big on Mark Twain.

Loose sketching style here. Very fast.

IF: Clumsy (118-120)

2010-01-22T14:53:00.003-05:00

This is an illustration that I finished today for a set of posters for work. When Splinter does something CLUMSY, she quickly rights herself and looks at you as if to say, "what..."

She rarely acknowledges any clumsiness such as misjudging the distance or substance of a landing spot. Sometimes she will slide across the table and come to a stop on the edge, gather herself and then make some gesture like licking herself or looking at you.

Ok, it's probably a stretch. But I liked the result of the poster art and didn't want to waste the category while I had such a nice rendering.

I did the original sketch in pencil on paper, then scanned it into photoshop where I painted it. The original is 11 x 17.

IF: Wilderness--Solitude (121-125)

2010-01-20T08:44:00.003-05:00

As promised, I wanted to do something current for Illustration Friday's theme. I already posted to the theme, so this is just for fun. One of my most pleasurable memories in recent time is of going to Lake Placid for their summer lacrosse tournament. I haven't been in years, but those few times I went with my friends, really stand out.

My friend Steve introduced me to fly fishing on one of those trips. The cool waters of the Sarnac River were both calming and curing. After several games, these old legs were revived by standing for a couple of hours in the cold river. Fishing is not so much about catching fish as it is about trying to catch fish and leaping whole-body out of the hubub of the day. If you just catch one now and then to justify the time, you are satisfied.

I don't often get the opportunity, but it is definitely a moment in the wilderness and a happy place.

IF: Wilderness--The Lion Sleeps (126-127)

2010-01-15T14:40:00.004-05:00

I may do something later in the week to create something new for the theme, but I like this painting which I did last year as a commission. Two ladies that I know went on safari and one wanted to have a photo done into a painting.

It was great fun to do. Splinter regularly poked her paw under the easle to help (which she loves to do when I paint in the house).

Acrylic 18 x 22

The Baseball Hall of Shame (128)

2010-01-13T16:02:00.001-05:00

There are probably enough members now to have a National Baseball Hall of Shame.

Cats (129-132)

2010-01-12T15:31:00.002-05:00

I have a poster that I will be working on in the next few days, so I was doing some thumbnails to get in the mood. I don't seem to have any problem capturing the basics in these scribbles since my point of reference is often walking across my paper or keyboard.

Just for fun, some scribbles.

IF: Confined (133-141)

2010-01-08T15:13:00.002-05:00

The harder I work at posting--the longer it takes. This is a graphite drawing that has been painted in PhotoShop. We have been watching the "Tudors" recently which inspired this illustration. It is amazing how cruel man can be to man over ideals. Maybe one day, people will be able to allow others to think as they wish without feeling the need to harm each other.

This is somewhat of a departure from my recent illustrations, but I think I need to push things a bit more. Let me know what you think.

IF: Pioneer (142-143)

2009-12-30T15:44:00.002-05:00

Pioneer...Last night on the Kennedy Center Awards, Carl Reiner referred to Mel Brooks as a pioneer. He also referred to his "genius mind and unsensorable mouth." I have a tough time deciding whether I like Blazing Saddles or Young Frankenstein more, but for this Illustration Friday theme, it seemed that the Western was more pioneerlike. "Work, work, work, hello boys, I miss you."

I try to make light of this theme because every subject that I could think of as a pioneer was really not true. Although we credit the pioneers for their western surge in this country, they were closely observed by the people who were already living there. There were other examples where the history book that we read as children called people pioneers in this or that when in fact they were following in some other person's footprints. So Mel Brooks as a pioneer seems to work for me.

Latest Painting--Swan (144-156)

2009-12-28T12:50:00.002-05:00

A very hectic week and a half trying to move two daughters in and out and out and in; getting ready for the holidays; and trying to be somewhat creative. This is my latest painting, which seems to have lost something in the photograph. It is from a picture of a swan that I took about a month ago.

Oil 18 x 22

House Portrait Done at Last (157-158)

2009-12-16T08:35:00.001-05:00

I have been working on this drawing on and off for about two weeks. Typically, it takes me about 8 hours to complete a house portrait. This one took longer for a couple of reasons. First it is much larger than my usual 8 x 10 image (17 x 22). Second, it is a fairly complicated image with lots of shifts in tone. It is a white stone and white clapboard surface, which can be difficult to get in light and shade. Finally, I wanted this to be special because it is a gift for some people who have lots of great artwork in their home and I didn't want to pale by comparison.

I am pleased with the result, although it probably isn't the best photo here. I hope they enjoy it. Click on the picture to see more detail.

IF: Hatch (159-165)

2009-12-14T12:59:00.004-05:00

This is General Edward Hatch. For the sake of this drawing, I used a great deal of crossHATCHING.

"Edward Hatch (December 22, 1832 – April 11, 1889) was a career American soldier who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. After the war he became the first commander of the 9th Cavalry Regiment, a Buffalo soldier regiment with African-American troops commanded by white officers." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Hatch)

His biography on that site continued, "Hatch was born in Bangor, Maine, and educated at the Norwich Military Academy in Vermont. He volunteered for service as a private in the Union Army at the outbreak of the Civil War. He assisted in raising the 2nd Iowa Cavalry, of which he became colonel in June, 1862. He served under General Ulysses S. Grant in the South. After commanding the entire cavalry division in the Army of the Tennessee, he was made brigadier general in early 1864. His gallantry in the field caused his further promotion to the rank of brevet Major General (1864)

After the war, he transferred from the volunteer to the Regular Army as colonel of the 9th Cavalry Regiment (1866). He succeeded General Gordon Granger as commander of the Department of Arizona (which included New Mexico Territory) in 1876, negotiated a treaty with the Ute Indians in 1880, and became widely known as an Indian fighter.
He died in Fort Robinson, Nebraska April 11, 1889 and is buried in Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery Fort Leavenworth Kansas. "

IF: Crunchy (166-171)

2009-12-07T08:51:00.002-05:00

The Illustration Friday theme for the week is Crunchy. I thought about things that are crunchy and saw that most of them were being rendered already. I thought of my dog when she has a bone or cookie. She makes a lot of noise and crunchy sounds. There is nothing that makes her life better than a steak bone.

Holiday Card(172-173)

2009-12-02T10:52:00.002-05:00

Each year I get the opportunity to create a holiday card for our company. This is the background illustration I created this year. It was created in Photoshop.

This prompted an interesting conversation with my creative partner Dwayne. I posed to him the issue that the term "digital painting" is not an accurate description of this medium. There isn't any paint and I have long had a problem with that characterization of this type of artwork. Guru of Glib that Dwayne is, he resolved the issue with a new term--pixeling. I like it!

So this is a Photoshop pixeling. I am happy with the outcome and have to manipulate the image to work for the various elements (name tags, invitations, electronic, and print cards).

Happy Holidays!

IF: Entangled (174-179)

2009-11-30T11:29:00.002-05:00

Here's my Illustration Friday submission for Entangled. Every once in a while I get to go fishing and I think anyone who has fished from an embankment has either been victim to this or seen the evidence of someone else's misfortune.

In my drawing, the limbs are entangled and the lure has found its way into the mess.

I've been working on a new painting and continue to work on a very large house drawing. Hope everyone had a great thanksgiving.

IF: Music--Chinese Violin (180-186)

2009-11-25T08:28:00.003-05:00

When they say, "you don't really know what you've lost 'til it's gone", I imagine they were not talking about computer technology. But it is just as true.

Last Thursday we began a move to a new office building that needed to happen before the fiber optic connection could be made. We are currently running a full office of 5 people on one cable internet connection. I waited for an hour to download one graphic file yesterday afternoon.

This had a good and bad outcome. The good is that it gave me an opportunity to work on this week's IF: Music. The bad is that I was done on Monday and could only get the scanner to operate this morning. So here it is...

This is a drawing of an old gentleman that my daughter an I encountered on the streets of San Francisco a couple of years ago. I love SF! Talk about a town that gets it from a design sense. We spent the day at the DeYoung museum, the Japanese Garden, Lucas Films, and just enjoying the beautiful city. We also visited the SFMoMA. My daughter will be heading out to California in a month to USC for graduate film study. I'm sure she will visit the City by the Bay again.

Enjoy.

Chevy Truck (187-188)

2009-11-18T15:47:00.002-05:00

Started working on a big house drawing that is a gift for some very generous people we know yesterday. It will take a couple of days to get through.

In the mean time, I did a sketch of a 1948 Chevy Pickup Truck that is parked near my Mom's house in town.

More from today (189)

2009-11-16T11:19:00.005-05:00

Here are some photos I took this weekend when I was setting up for a house drawing I will be doing this week. Local fall color.

IF: Unbalanced "Eating It" (189-195)

2009-11-16T08:47:00.002-05:00

When thinking about Un-balanced, I went to one of the sports that hinges on precise balance--surfing. When hanging-ten on the edge, a moment of un-balance becomes disasterous. Had some fun doing this little sketch. Hope you enjoy it.

Spent a few hours wandering around the Waterfowl Festival this weekend. Saw many different levels of skill and a wide variety of approaches to wildlife carving, sculpture, and painting. The weather was spectactular. I also looked into studio space. I am considering the cost vs. the amount of time I would actually spend in the space. It does offer a high level of interaction with other artists and the public and the price is reasonable. We'll see.

IF: Blur (196-202)

2009-11-09T09:40:00.003-05:00

A couple of weeks ago Illustration Friday was about "Fast" and I didn't post because of time. Here, I thought that the Cheetah theme could be worked into "Blur" very easily. So that's what I did.

I hope to get going on some artwork now that Field Hockey refereeing is over. I have a stack of freelance work to get through too and would like to get back to the gym at least every other day.

IF:"Skinny" Dipper (203-205)

2009-11-02T09:54:00.002-05:00

Illustration Friday word "Skinny"

Last of the Homes Drawings (206-208)

2009-10-30T08:10:00.002-04:00

Finally, I have finished the house drawings for the Festival of Trees Tour of Homes. This last one was a bit of a struggle since the homeowner provided a picture that was very small. I am sure they will be somewhat disappointed because they think they provided something else.

I have been trying to find all of the scans of the past years. I became religous about them only in the past 5 or 6 years, so it is difficult to assemble them back together. I am trying to put together a booklet with as many of the 75 donated drawings as I can find. I might try to convince them to put the booklet on display with the current drawings thinking it might generate some business.

Funny, I need the work, but I really didn't enjoy doing these drawings as much. I've been spending more time working on Illustration Friday sketches and paintings and found this a bit tedious. Oh, well. They turned out pretty nice and I will go into the past of the Tour of Homes knowing that I did something well and meaningful.

Move on.

I didn't get a drawing done for IF this week. The Fast theme was ok. I first thought about several ideas only to quickly see them done by others. Then I thought I would just go ahead and do my take of a Cheetah, but didn't get around to it until there were about 10 images dealing with that. I finally settled on a surfing image, but couldn't manage it with all the other things this past week. I look forward to the new theme and will definitely get something in this week.

Four of Five Festival Homes (209-218)

2009-10-27T08:58:00.002-04:00

I have only one remaining for this donation. A very busy week since last post meant that I could only work on this one in small portions. I've done a lot of graphic design projects in the week, but nothing particularly creative or original, so I chose not to post it here. This is the fourth of the five donation drawings. The last one will be a challenge, but it will be the last for sure.

IF: Frozen (219)

2009-10-19T14:38:00.002-04:00

It won't be long...

Once or maybe twice a year it snows to amount to anything around this part of the United States. I live in the Tidewater region of Maryland on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. These blackbirds are very tough and scavange for whatever they can find. Here they came in behind the squirrels who usually leave very little.

More Festival of Trees Drawings (219-222)

2009-10-19T10:09:00.002-04:00

Not too much other than these two drawings for Festival of Trees Tour of Homes. Two more to go. No time to paint and weather is crappy for getting in the shed. I'll have to decide where to paint for the winter--heater in the shed or paint smell in the house.

Version 2 of Napoleon (224-223)

2009-10-15T13:14:00.003-04:00

A while back, I created a handwashing poster that featured Napoleon Bonaparte. The customer wanted to use a work for hire piece that a gaming company had as it's brand. I created a take off on Napoleon's portrait for the poster. I posted the illustration here and I thought it was pretty good.

The customer wanted changes. I can never get over how people seem to think that they can change a photo or illustration as an "edit." I think they think that there is a magic change button on the computer or something. Anyway, it was very hard to get them to tell me what they liked because they wanted the other illustration. Of course it was, first inappropriate for the message and audience, and second, looked like Lord Farquar from Shrek.

So here's my most recent take. I hope they accept because it makes a good image. But I don't really care, since each time they change I get to draw and paint! (on their dime)

Top image is new bottom is the older version.

IF: Flying--This Little Guy Caught the Wrong Flyer (225)

2009-10-13T14:53:00.002-04:00

I tried to reach outside the box for this week's IF illustration. Nothing is actually flying, but both the Radio Flyer and the bird have the potential for flight. We'll see if this idea flies with the audience!

Working on Festival of Trees (226-230)

2009-10-13T14:45:00.001-04:00

I've been working on some house portraits for the Hospice Festival of Trees. For 15 years I have donated 5 illustrations as gifts to the people who open their houses to a tour of homes. This helps raise money for Talbot Hospice. Several years ago, I was ready to move on from this project, but my Dad used a very limited hospice service when he died and I felt obligated to continue. That has been more than 10 years ago, so I will be concluding this donation this year with my 75th rendering. Here is the first of the last 5.

Foggy morning (232-231)

2009-10-07T10:39:00.001-04:00

Photoshop sketch...foggy morning light.

A gallery event (236-233)

2009-10-05T09:48:00.001-04:00

Friday I toyed with the idea of attending First Friday gallery walk in town. I was distracted by an issue with the car dealer, so I opted not to go. I also knew that Saturday my friend Greg's gallery 447 was having an event and I would go to that.

I went and was interested in the interaction. I thought that several of the artists were very good and the others were good enough. I think I could participate at that level. I need to get busy creating more work. One of the artists , Mary Ann Schindler was very modern and good. We chatted for a bit. It seems that you almost have to wait until you are retired to do this full time.

Greg wants me to take space in one of the studios, but I can't afford $350 a month and get the most out of it. Perhaps one day.

IF: Germs -- She doesn't feel well

2009-10-05T09:44:00.002-04:00

I've been considering this Illustration Friday subject for a couple of days. It appears that most folks are approaching it from a cartooning or abstract point of view. I wanted to take a different tact and went with this illustration of a little girl not feeling well. The germs are attacking her from in the air.

Peacock (239-237)

2009-10-01T13:38:00.001-04:00

This is from a picture my wife took on Maui last summer.

IF: Pattern—Splinter in a Window (243-240)

2009-09-28T07:37:00.004-04:00

Illustration Friday's theme for the week is pattern. I made this drawing of Erin's cat Splinter looking out of the window (one of her favorite pastimes). The theme is played out in the pattern of the curtain, the pattern of her fur, and her repetitious pattern of moving from window to window each day to see what is going on outside.

From this window she sees birds in the trees of our yard and is able to annoy the squirrels that attempt to eat our trash cans. She often falls asleep when the warm sun is visible on this side of the house. From this perch she also looks over my shoulder while I work and sometimes will climb down to nap in my lap. Things must be taken on Splinter's terms—also a pattern.

Finished the new painting (246-244)

2009-09-24T14:17:00.003-04:00

I have been working for a week on this painting. When I retrieved the old paintings and canvases from Mom's house, this canvas had a shape that I thought matched the subject in my mind. I liked the long horizontal shape. I added the channel marker and boat today.

Today I am taking a "mental health day." I was up most of the night after my dog woke and I had things on my mind. I knew I couldn't function on 4 hours of sleep today, so I had to take a day of sick leave. After sleeping in, I felt better and my eyes work, so I went out to finish the painting.

I will study the image for a while, but I like it for the most part.

Illustration Friday: Infinite (249-247)

2009-09-21T09:39:00.002-04:00

I came across this website http://illustrationfriday.com/ that posts a phrase or word each week for illustrators as a theme for an illustration. I thought I would dabble in this for a while. This week's word is infinite. The illustration is "Infinite—The Depth of a Beagle's Appetite."

Worked on a new painting this weekend. Nothing to show yet. I retrieved a bunch of canvases from my Mom's attic that desperately need gessoing and repainting. What was I thinking! These are images that need to be erased from existance. Hopefully some good will come from the canvas with new work.

I hope this daily gets back on track (250-256)

2009-09-17T12:34:00.003-04:00

I am a little disappointed in myself for not pushing through with drawing at least in the past week. The work schedule was grueling last week and I found that resting and getting house work done took up most of my time. I have been working for the past three days on this illustration for a poster.

The picture provided as reference was comical. It was done for a game and the hand in vest gesture looked more like a hand in pants gesture. My Napoleon ended up a little chunky, but I intended that so that he would look smaller without other reference. I am hoping that this sees the light of day, but at least I had an exercise in illustration.

The original PS4 file is 12 x 18 at 150 dpi.

Two paintings since last I posted (257-261)

2009-09-10T12:47:00.002-04:00

I started painting last Saturday and spent a decent amount of time in my new makeshift studio (the shed). It wasn't quite as hot, although it was still pretty warm in there. I have to find a fan somewhere in the attic or storage.

The first was an oil rendering of the digital file I created a couple of months ago. It is really blue and dark. I painted it over another painting and unfortunately part of that painting is showing through. It ruins the painting, but I might try to either repaint it or turn it into a abstract and paint over it again. Greg would like that.

The second is a scene that I have had in my mind for a couple of years. The Indian River Inlet in Delaware is an interesting place. It forms a venturi and the current is incredibly strong. Lisa and I went there a couple of years ago in the winter and the rushing water was cold and dark. There were people surfing at the beach and I took many pictures. This is a painting of a marker that sits on top of a rock jetty at the mouth. I hopefully captured the cold rushing water and the flashes of bright foam. I have been looking at some Winslow Homer paintings and I think that I was inspired by them for the water.

Proposals and heaped up work have resulted in 15 hour days, so no artwork right now. I will draw or paint when the pattern breaks.

(263-262)

2009-09-04T07:36:00.003-04:00

New drawing (268-264)

2009-09-01T10:10:00.002-04:00

Since last week, I've been busy with other things. I purchased a canvas, so now I need to plan for the next painting. This is another in the series of drawings of people with developmental disabilities. It turns out that the customer left out some crucial information about who the brochure audience actually is. I need to include more support people and providers. As I said to her, "it doesn't bother me, I get to draw more."

Spent most of the weekend running around, literally.

Hope to be better about drawing and painting as I move forward. I need to plan time for it. The weather has made it difficult for me to use my "new" studio, but I still hold out hope that it will work out for the next few months.

Had to relearn CSS coding for building websites in order to help with the Bright Minds Design website for Mom, Amy, and Cristy. As soon as I get the password/access information, I can upload the new site.

Web work and some visual research (269)

2009-08-27T12:53:00.002-04:00

No time on Wednesday for drawing. I am trying to get back to the YMCA for exercise and begin refereeing field hockey tomorrow so my after-work schedule still needs some adjusting. I had to spend my evening hours getting some last minute things done for Jackie for her grand opening Thursday and working on a rush website for my Mom/Sister/Sister-in-Law at http://www.brightmindsdesigns.com/ where they hand-make items for kids. That link is to the old site. I need to develop a new one quickly for an event they have this weekend.

I've been watching several movies and tv shows lately on artists including Jasper Johns (his flag pictured above) and Jackson Pollack. There was a show that I was watching Wed night on Ovation about several painters exhibiting in a competition that was really good--too late to remember who though.

Today on LinkedIn, I saw a discussion from a photographer who wanted marketing advise for a site where they are promoting this painter Nick Schlee. http://www.bardonstudios.com.au/ is the site There are two clips, on is dialog the other a gallery set to some nice jazz.

Just had a continued discussion with someone in Flordia regarding my drawings of the DD people. It was a good discussion that provided some insight and allowed me to express my feelings. Very touchy feely of me, don't you think.

Another portrait and an interesting critique (270)

2009-08-25T10:41:00.002-04:00

Last week I posted two portraits that I created for a brochure on developmental disabilities. Here's another face that I drew today. These illustrations were done in an effort to avoid two things. First, the cost of stock photography. The program doesn't have a great deal of money and they need to stretch their dollars. So this was an economical way to solve the art problem. Second was a need to stay somewhat ambiguous. The drawing takes it out of the specific and realistic and puts the figure in the context of fiction.

The reason that I get to draw another image is that the customer rejected one of the images. Not unusual. Illustration is a tricky effort. The customer gave little instruction other than asking for photos that were "dignified." After several years of working in this market, I have a sense of what she meant, but it still is very open for interpretation. So I expected that one or all might be out of line.

I have some first-hand experience with meeting and getting to know people with developmental disabilities. I took on this challenge because I thought it would be tough and would offer a great reward at the end if I was able to capture the essence of what I see in those people that I have met. My drawings reflected that emotion and, I feel, were beautiful and successful expressions of the unihibited joy that I always see in them.

I bow to the expertise of the customer--knowing what will work and what won't. But I was bruised by the words chosen to critique the drawing. I think that the customer wasn't aware that I drew these. She perhaps thought that they were clip art placed by John, and was commenting in a way that she thought was educational.

The critique said that the image looked like a charactature of "black face" and perhaps we could find something more "dignified." Again with that vague term. I am not so concerned with the latter, because I doubt she could define that word for me if she tried (not a criticism, just the way it is). But the term "black face" registered sour with me.

I thought I was representing the face as beautiful, animated, and joyful. The reference had big bright teeth, which were well-used, so I drew them in. It is the reference that insinuates that I was working from a characature of a stereotype that I find repulsive. Email does this. Take out the non-verbal, tone, and volume and the misinterpretation begins.

Anyway, it gave me the opportunity to draw this guy. Hopefully they will find him dignified. I hold my head high that the sending of the messages in terms of the drawings were dignified, beautiful, joyous, and well-intended. I can't account for the mind and vision of the viewer.

Then life gets in the way (275-271)

2009-08-24T08:02:00.001-04:00

I did this sketch of a vegetable to show a style for a future task on Thursday. After that, as the title says--life got in the way.

We drove to Frostburg by way of Baltimore to help Erin move houses. It took from 7 am till 12:30 am the next day to get that done and get home. So no drawing then. Saturday was a recovery day and very rainy. Perhaps Bill made a detour.

Sunday we had to catch up on house work and the girls both returned home for a brief stay. Lex arrived with the Fiesta decorated with sticky notes from her cross country trip. I'm sure there's a video coming soon to a blog near you.

Hopefully I will get on track with something today.

When it rains it pours

2009-08-19T15:14:00.002-04:00

I've had a drought for so long and worked pretty much on the gull painting that I was really not doing enough. Now, I've been working on some projects that give me an excuse for drawing. Of course that could come to an end abruptly (he writes as he is given a two-sided flyer with a dense design to add even more copy).

This is a third drawing for this Developmental Disabilities flyer that John is creating.

Two in one day!

2009-08-19T10:11:00.006-04:00

I posted about the painting this morning before I went out for the day. I took this picture which inspired me to write this poem.

Same Grass, Same Trees
By Dave Morrell

Each day I walk out in the morning,
Ignoring the repetitive view.
The same grass,
The same trees,
The same buildings, and sky,
Not looking for something new.

So often I gaze without seeing,
Leave without pause or a clue.
The same grass,
The same trees,
The same buildings, and sky,
Not taking the time for review.

Today I walked out in the morning,
And for some reason was struck by the view.
The same grass,
The same trees,
The same buildings, and sky,
But something caused me to break through.

Through the routine,
And the drone,
Through the worries of the day,
True value was for a moment made clear.
By the light through the trees
Made clear by the fog,
Each day is itself something new.

Summer must be over--the painting is done (276)

2009-08-19T06:49:00.002-04:00

I'm not sure why this took so long to finish. I really enjoyed painting it and am happy with the results.

Illustration for a brochure (278-277)

2009-08-18T14:59:00.002-04:00

I continue to work on my latest painting. Got a little sidetracked yesterday by a trip to Wilmington.

I have enjoyed some summer help at work for the past month. A young designer named John Reid has been working temporarily for us. He has secured a permanent job in Baltimore at the end of the month, so I'll be back on my own.

For the past two days I've had John searching for free pictures of people with developmenal disabilities for a comp brochure that I have to create. After extensive searching, he has only been able to find two pictures for free. He found several Royalty Free image as well. So I told him to pick a few of those and I would use them as reference to draw illustrations.

I made three drawings. Threw one away, scanned two, and liked this one. I have to do at least one more. But I'm going to save that for tomorrow.

I need to get on one of my other projects while he is still here--4 big posters.

Still working on the painting (281-279)

2009-08-16T20:30:00.002-04:00

I am getting pretty close to wrapping up my latest work. Maybe a few more days. I will try to do a sketch tomorrow just to fill in the page.

Continuing on with the painting (282)

2009-08-13T07:22:00.000-04:00

Back in the shed last night to work on my seagull painting. It's coming along. I almost have everything blocked in. Then I can start working on the details. I tried a technique that I saw on the web for the wave, but think I will just go back to my own way of getting that done.

This morning I was thinking about the texture and realized that I was making it too sharp. I'll hit it again this afternoon. The rain and high humidity make the paint hard to work with, but I'll keep pushing through.

working on a painting (283)

2009-08-12T07:44:00.003-04:00

I started the painting on the seagull that I sketched the day before yesterday. I set up in the shed and it was 97 degrees yesterday. I got a lot done, but was drenched. I have to figure out a way to cool that space down, but I like being able to move around without worrying about spilling paint, turps, or brushes.

I did some YouTube surfing of painting techniques. It's amazing how much is out on that website. I think you could learn brain surgery if you put the right search words in.

Planning for a painting (285-284)

2009-08-10T12:07:00.002-04:00

On Sunday, we went to see Julie & Julia (an excellent movie). In the movie, one of the main characters has a daily blog. I was interested to see how they portrayed the task of writing a daily blog as a record of some daily creation. She seemed to have a much simpler time of it than me.

I came across some old pictures I took of seagulls at the beach. I think I might do a painting of them. When I was in the Outer Banks, I came across a seagull on the beach painting that I liked. Perhaps I'll try to do something similar.

I also read an interesting article in Artist magazine about composition. It's like being on a roller coaster when switching from objective to non-objective, then back again.

Abstraction (286)

2009-08-08T14:36:00.003-04:00

Yesterday afternoon I invited myself to Greg's studio for a little painting session. I grabbed up my canvas and paints and drove the half hour to his house. Greg has extended me an invitation for some time now and I was finally able to take him up on it. Yesterday's results was pretty good. If anything, he got me to extend myself and take some risk. I should have taken a picture of yesterday's result, but I forgot.

Anyway, I worked on it some more today after setting up in the shed. And this is the result. I like it. I am still uncomfortable with the process of destroying what you do in order to build up layers. I had at least three stages that I thought were pretty good. But I kept rubbing it out and ended up here. I'm stopping it for now.

Germs (287)

2009-08-07T10:07:00.002-04:00

I did some cartooning for this poster today. I sketched them out then drew them in Illustrator.

Sketchbook (288)

2009-08-06T08:38:00.004-04:00

I have been trying to use a sketchbook so that I am not trying to create full pieces of art each night. I still try to fill the page, but perhaps I will make it more managable by using smaller pages. This is a sketch of Sadie sitting in one of her many "sunny-spots."

Hey where did we go,

days when the rains came?

Down in the hollow,

playin' a new game.

Laughin' and a runnin',

hey hey

Skippin' and a jumpin',

In the misty morning fog,

And you, ...

my brown eyed girl.

--Van Morrison

Getting Caught Up at Work--Nice Logo (290-289)

2009-08-05T07:28:00.003-04:00

Apparently one must work a full extra week before and after a week of vacation now. Oh well, this is life as we know it. I was working last night on a graphic for one of the work projects and I thought it was worth putting here. I did two full pages of thumbnail sketches in an effort to come up with about 4 or 5 good ideas. I put three down on paper, or digits, and kept two in reserve once the committee rejects or trys to hybrid them.

As usual, the name part is way too long.

The Rest of My Vacation (295-291)

2009-08-03T11:48:00.007-04:00

Ups and Downs. Creatively speaking. I thought I would try to catch up on the rest of my vacation. I spent two days working on this painting of the snack/umbrella shack on the beach. Lisa loves it and wants it framed. I am pretty pleased with it. Completely pliene air. No photographic studies or anything else. Acrylic treated like watercolor on watercolor paper.

The next image is the seagull fishing. Its a little different, not exactly realistic. I like the drawing part. Then an abstract drawing followed by some photographs of a sunset and lights after dark. No photoshoping here, straight off the disk.

Catching up to Tuesday (299-296)

2009-07-29T09:29:00.002-04:00

The weekend was amazingly hecktic and didn't allow any time for blogging much less drawing or painting. I was working or coaching the entire time and it wiped me out. Drove to the beach on Sunday night and took all of Monday to recover.

On Tuesday, I did some painting on the beach. I finished what I was working on, but don't really like it. It is a painting of a girl digging in the sand on the beach. In the end, the colors were too bright, the composition was awkward, and there wasn't any sense of touch. Hopefully today will yield a better outcome.

Worth noting yesterday was the passing of Jim Johnson, Defensive Coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. He was everything that they are saying about him and more. I had the fortune to create drawings for his wife Vicky of their dogs and grandchildren (you can see them on my website at www.davedrawsitall.com under drawings). Through that experience, our family got a glimpse of life with Jim.

As a rabid Iggles fan, having these encounters with Jim was a thrill of a lifetime. When we had a chance to talk, he was interested in learning about lacrosse (my sport). He had an amazing way to make you feel important. He is and will be missed.

Worn out (303-300)

2009-07-24T08:36:00.002-04:00

I haven't had any time to draw or paint in the past week. On the way to work this morning, I saw a cat in a field which seemed to be stalking the airport mice. I took a half of an hour and sketched an impression of it. There is a chain-linked fence around the property that I converted into a a broken barbed-wire fence. Poetic license. At least I drew today.

No Time to Breathe (308-304)

2009-07-21T10:28:00.002-04:00

NO entries because I have had to work almost around the clock since last posting. I didn't want to post another graphic illustration. Got to get something done!

Flying Monkeys (309)

2009-07-15T11:07:00.002-04:00

I had so much fun drawing this picture. I almost put a hole in the desk with all the pencil rubbing that I was doing. I was really trying to create a graphic that represented the saying "and monkey's will fly out of my butt."

I smiled the whole time I was drawing it.

Jackie's Photo (310)

2009-07-15T11:03:00.002-04:00

I've been working on branding for the woman that cuts my hair. That's the Jackie's graphic that I showed a little while ago. Part of the plan is to put some large BW prints of Jackie and her co-worker on the wall. I spent time Tuesday working on the images that I took on Saturday. I think this turned out pretty nicely and she loved it.

An Excercise in Failure (314-311)

2009-07-14T07:48:00.001-04:00

Last night, after spending a decent amount of time painting, I decided that the piece I was working on was forced, poorly drafted, ill-conceived, and an abject failure. I turned the page and will hopefully start something new today. I am strongly considering painting over it rather than tearing it up (acrylic on watercolor paper).

I think back to a talk that one of the teachers at my daughter's college gave, where she had a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken and a bottle of Formula 409. She told the stories of how Colonel Sanders tried to sell 1000 restaurants on his recipe and the name 409 was because 1-408 failed. It's not much solice, but you can't be successful every time.

This blog was intended to stimulate my creativity and get me working on painting, drawing, and other creative endeavors. It creates a pressure that I let get to that painting. I will back off and try to start over fresh with some drawing. Hopefully today.

Up Late Doing Graphics (315)

2009-07-10T07:34:00.013-04:00

After a turn on the mower cutting the back yard, I settled in to work on a cover illustration last night. I find it harder to work side graphics jobs since beginning this project because I don't have time or energy for both. After a day of being the creative voice for other people, it's hard to continue the same into the night.

Illustration is different. I rarely get to create illustrations during the day, so I enjoy working on this type of task. The photos I was provided by the client weren't the best, but I started anyway because the deadline was (as usual) very tight. I completed one version (top) and sent it off to the client.

She loved the concept and the style. Then she provided me with a completely different photo that matched the title of the article much better. I knew that the picture I used first wasn't going to be the final and the second shot allowed for better use of text.

In the mean time, I was trying to wrap up a website design that has been out there for a couple of weeks. I got started. That client emailed me at about 9:30 pm with another "hot" request, so I changed gears from web to collateral.

I wrapped up the cover and the mouse pad at about 11 pm and went off to bed after a brief glance at Facebook. My Toronto, Canada friend Dave Gouveia has returned to writing short stories and I wanted to read his latest. I need to download it from there to here--I really enjoyed it. Dave is one of three partners in a firm called 3 Dogz Creative. They are all incredible. Check out http://www.3dogz.com/ when you get a chance.

Photoshop-o-rama (316)

2009-07-09T15:00:00.004-04:00

I was pretty steady working on illustrations for work. In the poster, I had to delete several red pills and change the way the shading went. I took this and extended it to make what I think is an interesting background. A poster about infection? Now that's a catchy subject.

The second illustration was to match the lady that I did a couple of weeks ago. I had to get rid of a cane that was across this guy's face and jacket; change it to black and white; and then color it by hand. Not too bad for the outcome.

I did some painting last night, but not enough to show. I'm not sure if I will push through on that piece or start something new.

I should have some art time tonight, but I will be working on an illustration for a magazine cover.

Not much time again(317)

2009-07-08T08:08:00.003-04:00

I find it very difficult these days to free up an hour or two to draw or paint. I have a drawing sitting on the couch that I want to paint, but I haven't gotten near it in two days.

The best I can muster for Tuesday's effort is a logo that I designed at work. The team selected the top one.

I show this not because I am particularly proud of the graphic, but because it is indicative of the kind of work that I have to do. I think there is a certain skill to being the executor of the vision of the customer. This graphic points out the overburdened nature of this business. Government Healthcare seems to create long complicated names if only to create obscure acronyms.

The real challenge is to put ego aside and match both the nature of the beast and the people participating in this environment. Doesn't do much for the portfolio, but I have enough portfolio pieces.

I hope I get time to get to something artistic today (Wednesday).

Busy Busy (318)

2009-07-07T08:35:00.002-04:00

Monday is always a hectic day for me as I try to work in my weekly trip to Cambridge for "Old Man Lacrosse." I did some more work on my new client's sign and logo and did the drawing for a new painting. I will need to see where that goes in the next few days. Here's a look at the logo.

Metal Sculpture Sort of (320-319)

2009-07-05T20:01:00.003-04:00

I spent the really nice day on Saturday doing some major projects which have been waiting for extended dry weather. I was able to clean the deck and then seal the wood. I worked on some other projects including a logo for a new client.

The lady who cuts my hair just bought the salon she where she used to work. She is a hard worker who is getting a break. I am working with her to create her identity. I'll post more as it develops.

Now for the title. Lisa and I went to one of the florists who was having a 50% off sale to purchase a Purple Martin house which I promised her for her birthday in March. We found one and brought it home.

Back in 1988 I returned from my assignment in Sicily on our way to Homestead AFB in Florida. It was December and Santa had a Barbie Dream House for the girls. The Barbie Dream House was a stick-built house, not pre-fabricated. It had beams and girders and individual walls.

Not since that Barbie Dream House have I had so many parts for a little house. This was a sheet metal and screws project. The 8-room apartment for the little tweeters was a challenge including a ratcheting device and a very tall pole. It took a couple of hours to assemble. When I got to the pole instructions, we discovered that there was no pole.

After a quick trip back to the nursery, we were able to get things done. Finished everything on Sunday and we are waiting the little mosquito-eater's arrival.

Americana Eastern Shore of Maryland Style (321)

2009-07-03T22:40:00.008-04:00

Twice each summer a little slice of American pie is served up in St. Michaels, Maryland at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. The quaint little town is a very popular summer spot for tourists as the Town the British Forgot.

We decided at the last minute to take the 15 minute trip to enjoy the Big Band Night that happens at the beginning and end of the summer. This year, it coincides with the 4th of July weekend and the town's fireworks display. This is a popular spot and can become a nightmare to navigate.

It couldn't have been a nicer evening. We packed a picnic and some chairs. This event has gone on for many years and was one of my father's favorite events. We spent a little time remembering how much my Dad loved the swing music. A normally reserved man, he would cut loose to dance on the lawn with his "girls," including my Mom and my daughters. Dad has been gone for 11 years, but this is one of my most vivid and favorite memories of his time with my kids.

So I took some photos and hope that they convey some sense of the place and the event. I like the 4th of July for it's garish red, white, and blue party complete with overeating, excessive drinking, and explosives. Everybody lightens up. Good for us.

Photos and end of work week (322)

2009-07-03T16:00:00.001-04:00

I spent a good part of the day processing about 80 photos I took of the merger signing yesterday. The rest of the day was more catch-up and proposals. End of day was the end of the work week and we had a nice crab feast on the deck. No drawing or painting, but lots of fun.

Jammin' and (finally) Painting (325-23)

2009-07-02T10:15:00.004-04:00

I continue to wonder why we have to work so hard just to take a few days off. The whole idea of the vacation is that you need to get away and rest. The demands are amazing to take that time. I serve a group of people who want 150-200% percent of my time regularly. They all want to do lip service to wanting me to get away and have some rest, but don't forget to make sure it doesn't cause them any inconvenience. This means that I have had to jam two weeks into the week before vacation and then jam another week into the first few days after returning.

As a result, I need another vacation. You can see the viscious circle this creates.

I finally forced myself to paint last night. It's a little odd. The cat was really tuned up when I went home for lunch. So this is an impression of her fur flying on the green carpet. All you see is the blur of fur. The red is there to represent her real energy (not any blood that may or may not be drawn during her frenzied state).

Holy Cow! Time to Catch Up (330-326)

2009-06-29T12:21:00.007-04:00

Holy Cow! Between slow internet, no art supplies, and way too much food and drink, I have really lapsed. The blog was on my mind the whole time. However, it stayed on my mind, not on my computer.

Ok. I could blame it on Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett, or Michael Jackson dying, but that seems a little over the top. And now infomercial guy! Don't let anything bop you on the head! The truth is that I just didn't make the time to get things down on paper. Unfortunately, my art supplies were not very good and, after an extensive search, I found out that noone on the Outer Banks buys art supplies in a store. Sucks.

On Wednesday, I took a trip to Whalehead Beach Club for an arts and crafts festival. There were some really nice works of art and craft (along with some so-so stuff). I went with several relatives including my wife's cousin's husband, Ace. I really enjoyed spending the week Ace, Alice, Ryder, and Lilly (4 3/4 year old twins). Ace made the mistake of saying to me that he liked artwork, but didn't really get the whole still life thing. I railed on for about an hour until he relented. He is a closet artist as well. Get working ACE! I saw a couple of pieces that I really liked. I also spent about 20 minutes discussing some excellent watercolor paintings with the artist.

On Thursday, I was the family photographer. You've seen those vacation family photos where everyone dresses in the same color or white and takes the picture on the beach. Well, we're just not white clothes kind of folks. I took the big group and then individual families and smaller groups. Of course, I had to take a couple of my beauties! For years we used to take a picture at the beach of them. They look pretty cute!

Friday, we were pretty tied up with the Michael Jackson thing. We had a big dance party on Thursday night and I took this picture of some of the libations for future reference. Maybe a still life for my boy Ace.

Saturday was pack and drive. We had to hit the road at 6 am to miss the one way traffic jam, which we did successfully. Got lost in Virginia Beach and then was able to cut the 2 foot tall grass when we got home. We cooked some steaks out on the grill--our favorite.

Sunday was church and recovery. Worked on the deck for a while. Thought about painting. Maybe tomorrow. I know, it's weak.

Today has been a scramble. You work two weeks worth the week you leave and two weeks worth on the day you return. Oh well. I will try to create something today, but I am not encouraged that this will happen. This is living life.

Watercolor Mustang (331)

2009-06-23T17:20:00.002-04:00

After taking the shots of the Mustang yesterday, I thought it would be fun to try to interpret it in watercolor. I tried to stay really loose with the paint and not get too tied down to reality. It looks like a horse on a dune.

Photo Safari I (332)

2009-06-23T08:39:00.006-04:00

The Outer Banks has always been a source for interesting photos for me. The Corolla light is an image that I drew about 6 years ago and still get a great deal of pleasure viewing.

Early Monday morning, my brother-in-law Chris took cousin Alice and me in his 4-wheel drive car to the northern shore where you can drive on the beach in search of the wild Spanish Mustangs for which the area is famous. It was a little rainy going out, but not impassable.

We spotted one horse on the dune. As we pulled away, we could see that there was another horse on the back of the dune. These were the only mustangs we found in the morning. We were able to get a better view of them on the return trip.

When I got home, I used Photoshop to create some different effects on the images.

We also took a trip to Kill Devil Hills and the site of the first powered manned flight by the Wright Brothers. Six years ago, we were here when the centennial celebration was being planned. The flight was in December, so the celebration was planned to coincide with that date. But we didn't go to the Park then. This was a fun trip.

As many boys of the 1960s, I have always been facinated by air and space travel. My Dad was in the Air Force and liked to build models. We always had airplanes and spaceship models in our room and books about flight. When I was in the Air Force, I loved visiting air museums and seeing the static displays on the bases. So this was lots of fun for me.

An Epicurian Delight (333)

2009-06-23T08:23:00.003-04:00

Definition:

"epicurean
Adjective
devoted to sensual pleasures, esp. food and drink "

I spent most of the day working with Lisa to prepare the evening meal for 18 people. Each summer, we try to have some kind of party. It usually takes three days to prepare for a couple of hours of eating. But we enjoy it. We decided to be the first family to prepare dinner for the two houses on the vacation.

We began Father's Day at an interdenominational Service. The nearest Catholic church is about 50 miles down the road, so this seemed a good fit. Barbara won a cookbook for having an orange dot on her bulletin. It was a different experience because our Mass is so ritualistic and this was more of a Bible study experience. But they were faithful people having time with God.

We went shopping for the food after that. For some reason it was a challenge to determine quantities. The menu was to be beef, chicken, and shrimp kabobs with safron rice and salad. We have been planning for weeks to try the "World's Greatest Maiti" recipe, so we got the remaining ingredients for that concoction.

Four pounds of shrimp needed to be shelled and devained. Marinade needed to be created. Vegetables and meats needed to be chopped.

Lisa's cousin from Seattle, Washington and family were due to arrive at around 7 pm. The schedule was created to align with that time.

It took all afternoon to shop, chop, cut, marinade, peel, devain, and cook.

All promises were kept! The potion was indeed the "World's Greatest" and the Kabobs were perfect. Everyone was well fed and lubricated and went away happy.

Saturday: The Long Ride to OBX (334)

2009-06-23T08:17:00.002-04:00

Not too much time for making art today. Mostly spent the time preparing to go to the Outer Banks for vacation and actually traveling there. It was rainy when we left, but cleared up the further south we went. I traveling down the lower shore and Virgina side of the penninsula. Norfolk is very congested, however, when you reach the North Carolina border you immediately slow your pace and relax. The ride from Kitty Hawk to Corolla is very narrow and slow, but I don't mind that at all.

Our house is very nice and comfortable. We listened to a book on tape, some music, and sometimes just rode in silence. Not many people can ride in silence, but Lisa and I are very comfortable with it.

Hustlin to Get Out of the Door (335)

2009-06-19T22:35:00.003-04:00

From 6 am until just now at 10:35, I have been compressing all of next week's work requests and preparation for vacation into one long day. We took time out to see Pelham 123, which I thought was excellent. Denzel is, well, Denzel. John Travolta has redeemed himself from his escapade as Irma Turnblat, the Devine role. He is one sick mofo in this one.

Anyway, not too much time for fine art today. I had to get the last business cards out, arrange for a plaque, write and publish a newsletter, and do some proposal work. I also finished the comp for the two postcards that I was working on and related in the last post. Just another day in paradise.

The shop that does our award plaques is a small cottage business that a friend from high school and her father have in their home. The name of the company is the Alladin Shop in Oxford, MD if anyone needs that sort of thing. I look forward to visiting them because they have a business that I admire. They put together boat-loads of trophies, awards and other memorabilia. and the shop is one big stack of brass and wood. Jane is one of the most agreeable and unflappable people I know and her dad, Plato, is a saint--or at least he is trying his honest best to be one.

After hearing the latest on Jane's mom--she had some health issues--she told me her 83 year old dad was doing some rennovations. He walked in and gave his usual genuinely welcoming Eastern Shore greeting, where he makes you feel like you are the most important person in the world. Not bad for a 20 minute drive.

Now for my creative moment. A long-time friend is literally living his last days. This creates in me an introspective moment. So I took the opportunity to ask a true philosopher and as near to an apostle as I could muster on a beautiful Friday afternoon--when did he become aware of his mortality? Jane rolled her eyes and said "you asked him." Then she cruised to the back of the shop while Plato lived up to his name. I enjoyed hearing him regail about Fatima as the most misunderstood Catholic phenomenom. We talked for a few moments about his journey and studies and I told them about this blog. I will draw from the conversation in a future work.

My friends Dwayne and Greg offer me an opportunity to bat around the meaning of life. But I am older than both of them and it was important to get the perspective of someone much closer to the end than my little group. (BTW Dwayne got his Brown Belt and Greg got a new daughter. Yeah guys.)

I will be thinking about my friend who is leaving us as I go about enjoying this vacation. I am happy to say that, although I will be sad to not see him again, he never was anything but kind and gentle to me. He always had time to ask what sport I was reffing or coaching (and always had them mixed up). He is a caring physician who worked way beyond when he should have because there were people who needed his care. It reminds me of my father's passing. He was prepared by living a good life, and prepared us to live beyond him.

I am fortunate to know so many good people. I appreciate that.

One from the J O B (336)

2009-06-19T07:37:00.002-04:00

Every so often I get a chance to do something creative or artistic for my j-o-b. I needed a picture of a senior waiting and the customer wanted it to be colorful. In the "customer-art director" role, colorful attracts attention and black and white aren't colors. It is the same mentality that thinks you should make the logo bigger; bigger, bolder, underlined type can't be used enough; and a flashing magenta starburst is the key to any successful design. But I digress.

When I was a kid, there was a very successful artist that lived and worked in our town by the name of Laird Wise. He was a painter, but was better known for his photography. He also combined the skills by colorizing or painting portrait photographs. At some point in his senior life, he accidentally injured his hands. He was very skilled. I remember a friend of mine had a portrait of his uncle in his Marine dress blues that was done by Wise.

Not to compare, but I reached back into that memory and thought it would be interesting (and colorful--to attract attention) to try that approach for the picture I needed. Here is the result. I think it is kind of neat. It has an old-time appearance. Let's see what the customer thinks.

Even the Rain Knows When to Leave Me Alone (337)

2009-06-18T10:10:00.002-04:00

For many years, I have looked forward anxiously to the coming of summer and Monday evenings. Why Monday? Because that's when "Old Man Lacrosse" kicks in. For years, courtesy of the efforts of Steve Hurley and others in Cambridge, Maryland, a group of die-hard lacrosse players have been able to come together for a couple of hours on hot summers evenings to play the game that we love in the way that it was intended. (Sorry for the run-on Dwayne)

I look forward to it in the way that a kid looks forward to the trip to the toy store promised for good behavior. We meet around 6:30 or so (time becomes unimportant) and play till it gets dark and someone hollers "play to 5." No score is kept--it's irrellevant. No referee is needed. It doesn't mean there aren't fouls, but you would think we were playing golf in the manner that we become gentlemanly about slashing. There is no hate for the other guy, nor pulling of punches. And at the end, with enourmous smiles and sweaty heads, we pack our bags, grab our sticks and head off to have a beer or two and tell some lies.

We've had a good deal of rain this summer so far. But even the rain knows that this game will persist. And for a moment last week, the rain respectfully let the old men have their game.

Coming back to Easton, I crossed the Choptank River Bridge and saw the front waiting in the wings. The storm was awesome, but the river was calm. This is a Photoshop painting of the sense of the moment. I don't know how I would feel if I lived too far from the water, but I am thankful that the storm allowed us our moment.

Jimmy Buffet

Changes in Lattitudes Changes in Attitudes

think about Paris when I'm high on red wine

I wish I could jump on a plane

So many nights I just dream of the ocean

God I wish I was sailin' again

Oh, yesterday's over my shoulder

So I can't look back for too long

There's just too much to see waiting in front of me

And I know that I just can't go wrong

With these changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes

Nothing remains quite the same

With all of my running and all of my cunning

If I couldn't laugh I just would go insane

If we couldn't laugh we just would go insane

If we weren't all crazy we would go insane

Removing all Doubt (338)

2009-06-16T13:54:00.003-04:00

My Guru of Glib, Dwayne, wrote an article on his favorite subject--Mark Twain--for the monthly corporate newsletter. I took the opportunity to do an illustration for the article. I wanted to get a different look. I wanted an ambiguity in his glare, or stare, that relates to Dwayne's topic. Once the article is published, I'll post it here.

Today's title comes from my favorite Twain quote...
"Better to be perceived a fool, then to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

For my part, once again I used a number 2 pencil and card stock. I really wanted this to look rough. I like it.

Played Lacrosse, Designed at Work(339)

2009-06-16T13:52:00.001-04:00

Didn't have time to do any artwork outside of my regular design stuff on Monday.

Pictures of Tour of DC (340)

2009-06-15T09:28:00.008-04:00

Sunday I went with Alexis on her Ford Fiesta Movement Mission to the District of Columbia. FM assigned her to take a Segway tour of the nation's capitol and she took me along as her "human camera." I had a Webbie video camera attached to my helmet and my Canon Rebel over my shoulder. This was very interesting. I can't wait to see her finished mission video. (check out her agent page http://www.fiestamovement.com/agents/view/4 and look for her technology mission)

I took a few pictures of the day, but mostly we just toured around on these amazing machines. The Gay Pride Festival was in town, which made for interesting navigation. Because of the nature of embassies, I was able to travel to Canada briefly as well. I was the worst rider in the group, but got it under control quickly and enjoyed the event. We'll have to go back to go inside the museums soon.

The hydrant was just a cool thing that I saw. I was impressed with how polished it was and the way the red handles popped against the stone and brass.

Web work (341)

2009-06-15T09:26:00.003-04:00

I worked on revising a web tool for a product that I did a storefront design last month. I really can't post what it looks like because it is under development. Coached in Pennsylvania in the afternoon and evening. Drove back in a torrential rainstorm.

Even Better (342)

2009-06-15T09:25:00.002-04:00

Changed logo to have three snowflakes. This looks better. I spent a good part of the day creating a branding strategy which took most of my creative time

A More Developed Logo (343)

2009-06-11T22:11:00.003-04:00

I had a chance to put some time into developing the Sneak Peek logo from a couple of days ago. I was really unhappy with where they were going. My client came up with an idea that I developed tonight into what is now the finished look. I think it works well.

Iris from the Garden (344)

2009-06-10T15:29:00.003-04:00

This is a pencil sketch that I have scanned into Photoshop and digitally painted. I think it has a nice spring feel. I worked from a photograph that I took in front of my house a couple of weeks ago. Taking a moment to stand back, I really like this.

A Graphic Day (346)

2009-06-09T09:30:00.003-04:00

Monday was an overwhelming day of design. No time for any "fine art." These are some really bad logo designs that I cranked out for one of my regular customers. She came back with a better idea that I will develop. Sorry to say this is what I have to show for today.

Sunday Cartoons (347)

2009-06-08T08:19:00.003-04:00

I promised a friend that I would do something I haven't done in a long while--a tee shirt cartoon illustration. About 15 years ago, I used to do a lot of illustrations for a tee shirt company that another friend owned. It burned to the ground and that stream of work ceased. Every once in a while I will get a request for this, the last being a product endorsement for a Clam Club promotion.

This is for a propane gas company and the tee is for the Delmarva Chicken Festival, one of the summer staples here on the eastern shore of Maryland. This is the land of Purdue Chickens along with a couple of other big poultry companies and you can't spit without hitting a chicken house round here. Makes for interesting hot days in the summer.

Saturday (348)

2009-06-07T17:12:00.002-04:00

Spent Saturday coaching girls lacrosse north of Baltimore, which didn't leave much time for making any paintings or drawings. I like to think that it is a creative effort coaching teenagers.
I will be drawing and designing on Sunday.

Knowledge Nebula (349)

2009-06-05T14:08:00.002-04:00

Today was a particularly creative day. I am caught up with this post so that the days remaining is on the correct post day.

My wife is still not feeling well. Each year, at this time, I go into her class and hold a session on cartooning. The kids have completed their exams, turned in their books, and Lisa has to get creative with instruction. Past classes have enjoyed these visits and today seemed to go just fine. I was glad that I could give her a break once again. I like to encourage the kids to keep being creative and not let judgemental people stop those inclinations. Sameness is boring.

This digital painting is a cover illustration for a proposal at work. It is supposed to signify knowledge transfer. I like how it came out. Very internetty.

More on the Dog (350)

2009-06-05T07:22:00.002-04:00

Worked more on the napping dog painting last night. Almost done.

Got to Get Caught Up (351)

2009-06-04T12:51:00.003-04:00

This is from Wednesday night's work. As I said, I had started working on a painted version of the graphic poster that I did last week. This is still a work-in-progress, but I like it so far. I still need to do the afghan and then figure out if it needs anything else to the rest once that color is in place.

Generating a piece of art a day is really challenging. I think I have been pretty successful after two weeks, but I would like to get sharper. Getting the time to blog is a juggling act as well. Vacation is two weeks away and I hope to do some painting in the Outer Banks. Yeah vacation.

Splintaaaa (352)

2009-06-03T07:52:00.004-04:00

On Tuesday I worked on the first sketches for converting the sleeping dogs poster into a painting. But I also worked on organizing and processing some photos.

This is Splinter. She is my daughter Erin's cat and is living with us while Erin finishes school. This is a very funny creature. She loves living in our house and idolizes our old grandma of a dog, Sadie. Sadie tolerates Splinter. After having a dog for so many years, we are amazed at how flexible Splinter is and totally entertained by how she makes herself comfortable.

A Bird Came Knocking (353)

2009-06-01T12:33:00.003-04:00

Today is perfectly beautiful outside and I am sad to be locked inside in a cubical. For the past few weeks, a little bird has greeted me at my window each morning. She seems to show up when I am looking at artwork or photographs and knocks on the window. I think she must have a nest somewhere in a bush outside my window and sees me moving as a threat. I know that is what she is really doing, but I like to think that she looks forward to seeing me like Sadie and Splinter do each day. She just wants a clearer view of the artwork or photos I am examining.

I am listening to Derek Trucks Band Already Free and it rocks. In the liner notes (do they call them that any more?), John Snyder talks about the band and how they "embody The Seven Creative Virtues." Although written for these musicians, I would like to adapt them to visual art. So here they are:

1. Personal Exploration--an ongoing search for new knowledge. Simple. Direct.

2. Community Participation and Enhancement--being a "down to earth" person having a network of like-minded and similarly-skilled friends and associates.

3. Honor your Talent--feed and care for your art by practicing and developing a better understanding of "why we create."

4. Humility--keep it real. There's always someone smarter, better, and more talented and you don't know if you are talking to them next or not.

5. Honesty in Life and Art--my mom had a mantra of "be true to yourself" that she repeated over and over to us growing up. I try to be true in my day to day life. I am trying to discover who I am truthfully as an artist.

6. Purpose Driven Life--try to have a purpose behind what you do each day. In art, have a purpose for the outcome, whatever that might be.

7. Love of Family--peace, love, and happiness. I hope for so much more for my family than I have had and that motivates me to be the best that I can be.

By the way, my little friend was sketched with a 2B pencil on white card stock. The song is Sweet Inspiration.