A Night at the Drive In
Posted by Carl Wiens at 11:19 am on July 1st
I brought my sketchbook along on our last trip and scribbled down these notes. Our local Drive-In opened during the boom in the 50's and rode through the slump and sleazery of the 70's & 80's. The guy who operates it runs it as a family business and makes things fun for everyone & shows first-run features. It has not only survived, it has thrived.
Happy Canada Day! I know there's more than a few Canuck Drawgers. I'm just getting ready for the bike parade, hot-dog eating contest and fireworks later tonight.
In honour of the arrival of summer, I've put together this tribute to the local drive-in.
Shakes and ladders
Posted by Carl Wiens at 9:37 am on June 25th
Here's a recent piece for Cottage Life magazine on building green.
When the nice weather finally arrives I start losing my mind. This year I haven't been able to break away to the cottage. Been thinking about it a lot.
It's a long way up
While Tim was painting holes in his roof I was fixing mine. I needed to get out of the studio and get some fresh air.
Not the most fun you can have, but the view is nice. This is grueling labor, but I did a lot of this when I was working my way through university. I decided to see if I was still up for the challenge
I was lucky to get a week of weather that wasn't too hot and looked to be pretty dry.
A good solid perch.
Due for a change
I'm happy to report I didn't fall off. I don't even want to consider that. I think I spent more time setting up and taking down the scaffolding than shingling. I needed to make sure I had a good safe base to work from.
The studio looks good from up here
Got vertigo?
I'm ready for a real vacation now! Can't wait to fire up the sauna up at the cottage and treat some tired muscles.
There is a scene in 'X- the Man with X-Ray Eyes' where the character played by Ray Milland stumbles across the desert, trying to make sense of the world around him. The good Dr. Xavier, in the model of any good mad scientist, has pushed things a bit too far, using himself as the guinea pig. He could have settled for every young comic-book readers' dream of peering through clothes at a swinging party. He could have stopped when his new vision allowed him to see the inner workings and even malignant growths deep inside his patients... but no. He just had to keep pushing the boundaries....
The scene was filmed in a ground-breaking, state-of-the-art special effect billed as 'Spectarama'. We saw through his eyes as he descended into madness. While I was working on this series of drawings I was reminded of it.
temblor
Growing up i was addicted to b-movies, especially horror and sci-fi. I was just a kid at the time when I saw this Roger Corman opus. The idea of a mad scientist always appealed to me. The lone visionary working late into the night, at play with gadgets and bright shiny objects, lots of dials and levers....does that sound familiar?
These illustrations are all dialed up to 100 percent C - M - Y - K (and all combinations). I was playing around with the transparency function in Illustrator and overlayed a number of different drawings. Many years ago I worked in a screen-printing production department, putting together color separations together manually, using rublithe and halftones. With that in mind, I can truly appreciate what my computer lets me do.
Op-Ed: food or fuel - you decide
Posted by Carl Wiens at 9:40 pm on May 19th
It always a thrill and challenge to get an op-ed page assignment. This piece ran in the letters section of Sunday's New York Times. Got the call from Brian Rea on Friday afternoon, setting off the mad scramble...
sketches here
I should leave the subtleties of this issue with the experts, but here's the gist of it: we live in a time when critical choices have to be made. Corn for biodiesel and ethanol presented itself as a smart and eco-friendly solution to increasing fuel needs and co2 levels. Under closer scrutiny and in light of worldwide food shortages it's time to reconsider options.
Rising food prices in the wake of global food shortages
Several weeks ago I worked on a similar theme for the Boston Globe. Rising food prices are a new reality. Food shortages make it necessary to reflect on how we best utilize what we have. Once again this editorial questions the use of biofuels made from food sources, but the implications reach far beyond topping up our tanks. Rising food prices threaten the survival of millions.
First Time
Posted by Carl Wiens at 4:26 pm on April 29th
If you try something new, your brain grows (we tell our kids that if they eat something different, like a vegetable). Every once in a while I get an assignment that increases my cranial capacity in the same way. I have worked with Doogie Horner at Quirk Books before, so when he called with a new project I was happy to pick up on the challenge. Part of the of the project was something new for me - at least something I haven't done for a long while.
I don't draw a lot of celebrities, I prefer to leave that in the capable hands of brilliant and talented people - like so many of those here on Drawger - who do it so well. I thought I'd hold my breath and post these because they didn't turn out too bad, and I had a lot of fun doing them.
These are part of a series of trading cards for 'The First Timer's Guide to Losing your Virginity', due to hit the shelves in September. A hilarious and informative sure-fire solution to anyone in desperate need of a jump-start.
That's all I am saying right now. Doogie is the expert on the subject, I'm the artist. Provide your own punchline.
Aussie Oddities
Posted by Carl Wiens at 8:08 pm on April 15th
Magritte-inspired traffic signs
I've kept a sketchbook, but at the end of each day I usually drop like a dog and drift off to sleep. Traveling with kids can do that to you.
Yesterday we went into Sydney and toured the museums. The MCA had an amazing show of Aboriginal bark paintings. Fiona Hall's work was on display. I was really impressed with her work, a series of birds nests woven from dollar bills really stood out. Incredible crafsmanship.
Walked across the Sydney bridge and stopped at the Australian hotel for a few local pints. Here's a few picks and random observations.
The Australian Hotel - good selection of Aussie beers
Blue Tongue - a solid pilsener
Another good offering. I haven't spotted a Foster's in nearly three weeks.
We had to eat some Kangaroo pizza, just to say we did it. Jacob isn't so sure about this.
Not bad!
Real Aussies drive a UTE.
Australian currency is waterproof. No need to leave your wallet on the beach. This is the weekend lineup at Manly.
Australian Odyssey
Posted by Carl Wiens at 7:29 am on April 13th
Looking for adventure? Australia goes way beyond the thrill of watching the water go down the drain in the opposite direction.
The surf has been massive the past couple of days at the beaches in the Sydney area. We've been able to get a swim or surf in every day since we arrived on April 3. We hiked from Bondi to Bronte Beaches this morning, ducking into a cafe just in time to miss a spectacular thunder shower.
My brother-in-law has been good enough to put us up in Sydney, in an apartment overlooking Manly Beach. He also booked tickets to the Manly Sea Eagles vs. Russell Crowe's South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby match, a real Australian cultural experience. Love the footy.
Last week we went for a sailing trip through the Whitsunday Islands, part of the Great Barrier Reef marine park. Incredibly beautiful and diverse, I wish I was still floating through the coral reefs. Places like this are unique in the world and, of course, threatened by climate change. We wanted our kids to see this area while they still can.
I've been keeping an online journal of our trip. Take a look! Australia
My brother
Posted by Carl Wiens at 5:28 pm on March 18th
I'd like to give a nod to my brother Robert. His show is opening this Thursday in Toronto at Susan Hobbs gallery. He's a very talented and humble guy who has always been a real inspiration, the artistic trailblazer in the family.
I've had the chance to travel with him collecting photographs and images in Temagami, an area of towering old growth pines and breathtaking wilderness. I have a collection of photos, notes and sketches from our canoe trips here.
He's also great to play hockey with, picks me up on the way to the rink every Monday.
Last skate
Posted by Carl Wiens at 6:16 pm on March 4th
Speedster Lucas
March thaws almost claimed the rink this week, but I was able to pull it back one last time. This years' rink build has been a real challenge, one that has me questioning my obsessive-compulsive tendencies.
Some good stuff along the way - we managed a party complete with firepit for the grownups in February. A real blast for the kids.
Jacob added a center line and faceoff circle and built benches and a penalty box
Ready to go
Nice warm fire & cold beverages
With all the frequent thaws and heavy snowfall this year, I learned to handle slush and snowshovels the way a plasterer handles his mud and trowels. I have taken rink repair to a whole new level. A snowshovel is a formidable piece of winter exercise equipment, good core strengthener. The rink covers a lot of ground and my left shoulder is now far bulkier than my right.
Winter blahs. Two choices. The first and most obvious solution is to escape to sunny climes. Every winter this time of year I head north to the cabin and fully embrace winter's icy bosom.
Twenty five below, scary clear skies. Milky way. Sirloin steaks over maple wood coals. It's peaceful and beautiful up here.
Looking forward to dusting off the bicycles and hitting the road. Let the big melt begin. I've had enough of winter.
