NYC -Tuesday: somebody get me a leash

Sam Weber artwork from his 3person show at Society of Illustrators: Blow Up.

New York City… New York City? Get a rope, I need a leash.

Had a 5 hour delay in Chicago to get to NYC LaGuardia… so I didn’t get to my hotel until 1:45am Tuesday Morning. Somehow they didn’t have a confirmation for the extra night of Monday night… but they gladly put me up due to open rooms. With an extra minute or two, I was in bed.

The next morning I closed out that old account from a few hours before and switched over to the regularly scheduled program. Now I had the day to explore. I planned out the most efficient walking route down to the destinations… 3 the first day. The Forum Gallery, The Wendt Gallery, and …………………. The Society of Illustrators, you may genuflect if you feel the need.

Forum Gallery: I showed up at a bad time on the calendar, they were packing to move to a new location. They were more than generous to allow me to see what was still up, the current show. It was, nice. But not travel half way across the country nice. But that is due to the new season just beginning and the gallery just packing up. No fault, just bad timing. And they were really nice people.

Wendt Gallery: These girls were the car sales force of the Art world. Hovering around wanting to know how many pieces I was interested in, and as soon as I showed interest in one piece, Man did their eyes and ears perk up… (I probably should have told them that I was not going to buy anything, but it seemed the only way to get information.)

Society of Illustrators: Very nice… very nice indeed. 3 floors. It is a smaller gallery, but full of drawings, paintings, and even a tiny little gift shop. It is smalle

r than the Kemper Museum. There were

two exhibits. One was a 3 person show, which had the final works on the main floor, then on the lower level, all of the preliminary works were displayed as well… which was a real treat. Up the stairwell, and on the Third floor…(the famous Society of Illustrators Bar) was an exhibit of Illustrators who taught. This was capped off by a 12 piece showing of Murry Tinkleman pen and Ink originals. I was in heaven.

Above the Bar, is the original Norman Rockwell painting

masterpiece of a Christmas Carriage in profile filled with passengers, and atop, a driver, horn blower, and several children all having fun. The piece is probably 3 feet high by 5 feet wide? Maybe larger.

I actually had a tonic water

at the Bar… THE BAR. I felt the entire time that somebody was going to yank me out of there in front of everybody… “You! Punk! What do you think you are doing in here?” But nobody ever did. They even chatted with me for a few words.

There were two antique book cases with ooooold illustrated classics in them. Rockwell’s version of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Someone’s illustrations for the Book of Birds… A book Titled Searching for Christy, about Illustrator, Howard Chandler Christy. And tons of others.

As far as original works, I got to see an original Paul Calle pencil drawing portrait, a couple of Rockwells, a huge piece on Tale of Two Cities by Harvey Dunn, It had to have 50 characters in it all charging at each other. What power. Bob Fawcett, Dean Cornwell, James Montgomery Flagg, my mind can’t recall them all.

I was on such a high that I walked all the way back, not realizing that it was almost 3 miles back… until my body told me, Hey Stupid… this is a long hike back, and I am fat. But I made it. Bought some talcum powder, and took a nap. I awoke in time to make the hike back down there to Society of Illustrators for the Drawing sessions. Yes, with the Talcum powder applied, it made a world of difference. (and it was down hill).

Drawing night at Society of Illustrators. *see the previous two posts with the drawings for examples... I posted 6 of the drawings done at the Society open session.

Short poses: 3 minute, 5 minute, 10 minute, 15 minute, then I believe 3 twenty minute poses.

I couldn’t tell you by name the famous people that were there, but you could tell by dress, hair style, and when I walked around the room, the old timers who just flat out were brilliant. There were about 8 of them in attendance. The rest were younger students… some were also really hot stuff. By the time everybody was settled in and working, there were probably 60 people?, yes… 60 people were there. Also live jazz was played. There were 2 models. Really good, both of them. They did classical poses, but could hold them well.

I am really glad I went. By the end of the night, I had produced a couple of drawings that were ok. For the time allowed, I am happy with them.

Cabbed it back to the hotel, it was dark, I was tired, and it was uphill. Head hit the pillow, I was out.

society of Illustrators Open drawing night

from the 5 and 10

minute group of

drawings at the

society of illustrators open drawing session. 10-4-2010

Society of Illustrators Open drawing night

Society of Illustrators Tuesday Night Open drawing night

Society of Illustrators Open drawing night

Once in a lifetime opportunity: Society of Illustrators Tuesday Night Open drawing night: I had to do it... just so say I did.

Christmas card sketch

got done mowing today, and just started sketching. This is the result... I have no idea why. I had no intention of doing anything Holiday related. Certainly not. The green swirls just looked sort of like wreathes after a while... and I put a splash of red on them. Again... just sketching around... kind of like automatic writing? Wondering what the future holds, kinda scared, kind or curious maybe? Who knows. None of us do. We will just ride this thing out.

The Bewitching Miss O'Donnell

Important Safety Tip: When running for public office, don't ask a question to the press or "Grand Inquisitor", It just leads to trouble... Rep. Senatorial Candidate Christine O'Donnell asked back the following question when grilled about commenting "ten years before" about dabbling in witchcraft when she was in High School... "So How many of you out there never hung out with objectionable folks when you were in High School?"

The lady spins an Ouija board when she was 17 and Congress is up in arms about the downfall of the human race... How about the downfall of the Congressional pants? At the drop of a business card it appears... I would like to know what Teddy Kennedy was doing when he... no WHO Teddy was doing when he was 17? No... scratch that.... I don't want to know Just chop off their peckers as they take an oath and lets see how much work gets done then? Perhaps a surprising amount when your mind is ready to focus... It would also open up more of the bathrooms... just a thought.

Red door studio Drawing Session September 11th, 2010

it has been a rough late summer of 2010... This week, I had a second attack of kidney stones... So I had those sonically blasted / broken up. Went to Red Door drawing group. Did ok, nothing to write home about, but nothing to be ashamed about either. It is what it is.

sunday sketching group... short poses

I spent, No... I was blessed to be invited by a dear and talented artist friend to attend a short pose sketching group that meets weekly. It is a mostly younger crowd... I believe from the Dr. Sketchy's group. Watch out people, this group of up and comers or just out of schoolers is a talented lot. Friendly, confident, a good group from what I observed. It was fun... but sheesh, I am rusty in the short pose department... anyways... good bad or indifferent, here are the 10 minute and 5 minute poses that were passable.

red door studio Drawing Session September 4

worked out of the trusty brown sketchbook... it is like a security blanket for me. ahhhhhhhh.

My Beloved Wife

You were the love for certain of my life

To me, you were always my beloved wife

I don't know for certain how I'll live my life

Now alone without my beloved wife......

I can't believe, I've lost the very best of me

-n.merchant

red door Drawing for august 2010

First time back in over 3 weeks. It was a good session. Good company, Good model, good time, no pressure... just go and hang out... do a little drawing. This is the result. Felt good to be among friends and just have fun. Thanks everybody.

Ms. Daisy

Daisy, the Beagle / Corgi mix that we picked up from the rescue center 6 years ago... at the time, they thought she was about 4 years old. She is still sassy.

Wirry-carl

This is the official start of the Boogeyman files. I have been wanting to work on a collection of this sort for years and now is the time. The first piece was done a few months ago with Japan's Kuchisaki-ona... But this piece kicks off the series. How many? Who knows. I have lots of research gathered...

Wirry-carl- In Scotland, a wirey-cow or wirry-carl was a bugbear, goblin, ghost, ghoul or other frightful object. Sometimes the term was used for the Devil or a scarecrow.

more red Door Drawing for July 2010, part 2

A change in how the model stand was set up, and so the ruffle in the routine caused everyone to move from their established spots and think. It is good to shake it up a bit. Bravo to Lacey.

red Door Drawing for July 2010

A full house on this evening... a hot summer night, so I parked myself on the cool floor and drew fabric. It was a good evening. If you can't see the model, it is no excuse to still not produce some work. Focus on something that you can see. This case: fabric draped over a sofa pillow. Good friends, good times, good music, and I get to draw, what else could a person wish for?

disturbance in the I-force

It was this or trying to work out a clean way of using the phrase... getting "Job"ed

Red Door Drawing for July 2010

down to just orange paper out of Patty's gift box of drawing papers from two years ago... thanks again Patty. I have tried several times to try to see what in the world to do with this stuff... I think I finally tripped over myself and discovered a possible avenue.

Steampunks 11: executive

I am starting to play with application or removal of line. Well, I am probably always playing with line technique, but this piece is starting to play with possibilities. Nothing definite... just pushing to see where things can go... or maybe shouldn't go.

Anachronism_a tribute

did a color version. Trying to see where the line work can take me. Where it was not expected to go, and possibly where it may not be able to go.

more big cat sketches

couldn't sleep so I continued on the big cat sketches, hoping this will get some of the spinning ideas at least out onto paper. Steampunk wizard of oz... what to do, how to do it, how does it look, why does it look this way, what story am I telling, and why am I telling this story/ why does it need to be told? So back to the animals. They sooth me. They are stories all rolled up in their eyes, their very existence.

mountain lion sketch

did some sketching today... was worn out after being out in the sun all day yesterday at Lee Ann's first every outdoor show. Was in the mid nineties and high humidity... makes for a steamy day. So today I just took it easy and let my mind wander a bit.

Steampunks 9: Anachronism

Steampunks 9: Anachronism

The short film Anachronism is haunting. It is only about 9 minutes but is is such a piece of brilliance that I promised myself that I would do a piece based upon the film.

University Parking

This falls into "Life never turns out as funny as I first mistake it to be." Walking downtown, I passed a parking sign that read... Faculty Parking, violators will be towed. But what my dyslexic brain processed was: Faculty Parking, Towers will be Violated. I had to do a long double take. Then, I giggled to myself all the way to the car. (Probably kept me safer than any self defense class.) As visual storyteller, I couldn't pass up a gift like that.

Steampunks 10: Mystery Girl

Steampunks 10 Mystery Girl.

Completed during the weekend of June 12th during the biggest downpour that I have experienced.

Somebody Asked about a background story for the inspiration on this drawing.

This piece is the result of me wanting to stretch a bit. So this piece first of all is 24" x 36", the largest yet. It also has the largest cast of characters, seven in all.

I am seeing a group of established and powerful individuals... who each have a control of power... be it wisdom, financial, political, medical knowledge, physical strength, cunning, or charisma. They are an established guard, a closed knit clique secret society within which great decisions are made... and in some instances are assigned to be carried out. It is the way it has always been.

Until now... enter the Mystery Girl. The Mystery Girl, while she may have some similarities in manner of dress, certainly carries her self as an independent leader. Also one who is will not be intimidated. She holds her own ground and is a valuable ally. At the same time she is a formidable rival if crossed. She represents change, possibly a sign of a new order, given time. Or is some eyes, a threat to the established order. For within this one character is wisdom, knowledge, courage, strength, cunning and charisma all in one. And that to the established guard upon self reflection is seen as a most definite threat.

dogsplash

Ah, day two of vacation... raining gangbusters... a real floodgate. All I needed to do was to get out and get a few items we forgot for supper preparation. No problem. But enter the storm phobic/ car riding loving canine. (Dog + Storm = panic-pooch) X (Fat Guy + Car Keys + soaked back steps= Be Careful) = face plant on to concrete drive way with Dog bouncing over my aching bruised body... heading for the car for a chauffeured ride.

Mystery girl... second stages working

The lodge members have been now introduced into the picture and Mystery Girl's dress has been worked out. Some characters have changed, some added, some deleted in the editing state of phase 2.

red door drawing May 2010

Red Door Studio Drawing session for Memorial Day weekend. A good time, good friends, great model, what more could one ask?

mystery girl... first stages working

The start of my largest piece to date. Steampunk 9: Mystery Girl. This board is measuring in at 36" x 24"... and that is a butt load of ink folks. But when finished it will look grand framed. It will reduce magnificently as well. I intend to have 6 to 10 figures in the background reacting to the mystery girl in their own way.

brunette_april '10

college hockey playoffs, rain, and a sketchbook... what a way to spend a saturday. ahhhh

Kuchisake-onna Color

Done, done and done. Did some reworking on the arms, and adjusted the perspective of the drawing a bit. Did it make a true difference? Maybe. I think so. Now, off to something lighter and a bit happier in subject matter.

Kuchisake-onna

Well, the black and white is done on this... I will take to color in the next few days and see where that leads. A good piece of work so far, but when you have such a really creepy story such as this... it is hard to do less.

Santa and the Cardinals_ WIP

The start of a new illustration... this is one that has been sitting for a while. I really need to get back to it, that way it gets finished before Christmas time comes around again.

Some work in progress... The Slit mouthed Woman

first snapshot of a new illustration... Kuchisake-onna, The Slit Mouthed Woman. Sort of a Boogey Man for the Japanese culture... (and they have loads of them). Hopefully this will be done in the next couple of sessions.

Goat man of st georges county demo on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hvFfwYahpM

My first YouTube demo. It is of the goat man illustration from the previous post.

goat man of st georges county for demo

some digital sketching that I did to record a demo of how I work. I distilled it all down this weekend and am complete. Now I just have to perform this same recording process on a traditional technique. Lights... Camera...