David Gothard

The Second Gilded Age

2008-06-02T15:46:42+00:00

What a great time to be alive...if you're a Robber Baron. The Cookie Jar has been raided by the GOP and corporate America, leaving behind only crumbs for future generations.

Fire Breathing

2008-05-05T13:42:46+00:00

A recent visit to Coney Island undoubtedly inspired this concept for today's WSJ editorial drawing. Coney is one of the last remaining places to see a totaly not PC "freak show".

Barkart

2008-04-11T12:24:08+00:00

Inspired by a trip to the New York Botanical Gardens Orchid show, and Julie's amazing photos, I began drawing orchids on pieces of Birch bark that I'd peeled off trees a few weeks ago. An unlikely medium, though bark after all is a cousin to processed paper and provides a natural texture that makes every drawing look good.

A Day for Reflection

2008-01-21T13:57:44+00:00

Martin Luther King Day. Time to reflect upon concepts we hope can one day be realized....peace through courage, and equality through love.

Anti War Art

2008-01-07T12:33:30+00:00

At this point in time, all I have is this poor repro of my contribution to the Artist's against the War show. For a better look at the ugliest elephant ever drawn (my infamous claim) you'll just have to turn out to the opening Wednesday evening. See you there!!!

Steroids

2007-12-21T15:01:49+00:00

As is the nature of topical work, often assignments for the same subject flood in at once. Here are three different quickie illos on the same theme. Apologies to all the inhabitants of Drawgerland for my MIA. Good to be back.

Looking back, through broken glasses.

2007-09-11T17:28:40+00:00

Four years ago, I worked through my grief by drawing. This was the first of what became 32 consecutive drawings before I came up for air.

Recent quickies...

2007-08-21T14:40:44+00:00

I'd like to post some long term projects I'm working on, but will have to wait. In the meantime...some ditties. The first illustrates the demise of bad horror films. As you can see, I had some fun with this. Apparently, sequels to slasher type flics are doing poorly at the box office. Hooray! The second image illustrates a book review and is about America's land grab to the Pacific Ocean during the administration of James Polk. The third image is about professors working in Iraq to bridge the gap between the military and the culture.

Midsummer's Influence

2007-07-28T16:20:59+00:00

I find that whatever activities I'm engaged in at the moment tend to work their way into the images I create. Naturally, the summer months are when I spend a great deal of time outdoors gardening, swimming , biking, etc. The following images are a spate of summer themes turned out in this past week.

A Picture Perfect Day

2007-07-16T18:59:31+00:00

A gathering of Drawgers and Inxsters took place on my turf this past Saturday under blue skies and perfect swimming conditions. We ate, drank, laughed and swam. The goal of having a relaxing day was acheived.

an ENOS fourth of July

2007-07-05T16:17:20+00:00

Along with my son, Dylan, and his girlfriend, Sam, we traversed four state lines to spend the Fourth of July with Randy & Leann Enos at their home/studio/horse farm in Connecticut.

Here, Randy is proudly displaying the catch of the day. It's not uncommon for Randy to follow a horse, bucket outstretched , as it relieves itself... in an effort to catch poop midair before it spoils the immaculately kept arena. Meanwhile, Dylan & Sam get acquainted with various parts of a horse's anatomy.

After a few quick lessons by consummate riding instructor, Leann, Sam was galloping off on her own.

All creatures great and small, are welcomed at the Enos ranch.

Randy & Bri (Musey) strut arm & arm to the house to prepare a sumptuous lunch, followed by a visit to Randy's subteranean studio. The walls are a visual feast and everywhere there is evidence of the rich life Randy lives through his art, family, friends, various collections and momentos from his long, successful career.

THE BLOCK WALL: The wall leading to the studio is lined with Randy's lino blocks. Many of these are discarded and never make to the wall, which i suggested to Randy ...might be considered a crime by most of us. I managed to wrestle this gorgeous original block from Randy, somewhere in between the flat file and the trash bin. I am mesmerized by the mandala like quality of it.

After frolicking on the Westport beach for awhile, we enjoyed each other's conversation over dinner at a local Enos haunt. There is no fireworks display that can compare with the colorful, charismatic, gracious qualities of Randy and Leann Enos.

Micro Spots

2007-06-19T14:43:15+00:00

These mini illos appear in the current issue of Newsweek. They illustrate a lengthy article on coping with Alzheimers disease and were commissioned in B&W as the original idea was to create the feel of an old medical dictionary. Each postage stamp sized spot serves as a chapter marker.

Wandering Wales

2007-04-10T14:35:56+00:00

We are back from our Dublin to Wales to London trip. I left the sketchbook home, but brought all the camera gear to document our kids as they performed all over Wales in their high school marching band...150 members strong. I took around a 1000 photos. Here are some highlights. The trip was featured on the BBC and received local coverage. To see a vid, go here: http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/dailypost/

A Victorian seaside resort in North Wales

Where the lush Welsh countryside meets the sea.

Early morning mist combined with chimney smoke and lake vapors.

The band rolls into Bangor, Wales and marches through spectators.

The first castle they performed in overlooked the sea. Temps were in the 70's.

From within another castle built in the 11th century, Drum Major Anna conducts the band from the slate disks where the Queen of England annoints Knights. I shot this from one of the turrets.

An emotional moment when Welsh townspeople connect with relatives (band parents) they never met before.

A moment where I catch up with my son.

The band sets up to perform classical compositions in the Bangor Cathedral, built in 522 AD. Our daughter, Anna, sang the Welsh National anthem in Welsh, stirring the hearts of the Welsh in attendance to sing along. Not a dry eye in the entire Cathedral.

Our drums display the Welsh National logo.

Tubas are so photogenic.

Daughter, Anna, yells commands, as they march past local dignitaries.

When the band members take a break, they leave their instruments at their designated spots.

Applying Abstract Textures to the Human Form

2007-03-18T17:44:13+00:00

Using the abstract piece from the earlier post, I began experimenting with what might happen if it were applied to the figure. Here are a few preliminary results.

Viola!!! A happy accident.....a gorilla head built into the form.

When not creating art on demand

2007-03-17T22:06:33+00:00

I try to remain disciplined about using my "down time" constructively. Here is one in a series of non-illustration pieces I'm developing. Would love everyone's honest feedback, but am reluctant to reveal the process....just yet.

My Armor Fetish

2007-03-15T17:36:37+00:00

My two contributions to this interesting show on artist's take on armor at the Williams Center for the Arts, Lafayette College, Easton, PA.

I've always been interested in the imaginitive designs for metal as it conforms to the human (or animal) form.

Amour d’ Armor: Fear, Fantasy, and Fashion in the New Age
Historically, the function of armor has been protection, although during some eras, such as the Renaissance, its use was primarily ceremonial and as fashion. The need for protection has guided human inventiveness throughout history. In the complex modern age, our desire for safety may be greater than ever, even as we realize the essential futility of warding off all dangers, real or imagined. In the quest for protection, contemporary inventors and artists alike have created wildly inventive devices that fuse practicality, fantasy, paranoia, and fashion. This exhibition will explore recent “armor,” from the fantastic to the practical, in a collection of objects that reveal the obsessions of our age. Curated by Lafayette art historians Robert S. Mattison and Ida Sinkevic

Reception: Sunday, April 1, 4:30-6 p.m.

Why I love Watercolor

2007-03-12T15:38:00+00:00

Appearingin in today's WSJ, I decided to render this piece (about extremists aquiring more media coverage than ever) in watercolor, sans ink. I knew that i wanted the successive layers of wash to dictate how and where the heads would emerge. As the swirls of color were applied, I looked for an eye here, a mouth there, until the strands of smoke disappeared, leaving only anguished heads behind. This is the beauty of the medium, the transparency allowing for so many levels of color and depth.

Crop

It's Showtime...Opening Night

2007-03-02T18:13:12+00:00

Thoroughly Modern Millie began it's run last night, with my daughter in the role of Millie. It played to a sold out audience and Anna was in her best form. We delivered the backdrops the night before the full dress rehearsal and everyone seems pleased with the result. If you think facing the "white Bull" of a blank piece of paper can be intimidating...try 48 feet of blank canvas.

A view of the down stage curtain with the excellent pit band.

Just a few of the photos I shot with a telephoto lens.

Punch the cop, Judy the judge

2007-02-23T21:23:44+00:00

Just don't get stopped for a traffic violation in L.A. as this image illustrates. This cover art was for the LATimes on the kangaroo courts, where never a ticket is overturned, police lie and judges rubber stamp.

I'm adding puppets to my list of favorite things to draw. Feel free to list YOUR faves.

1- skeletons
2- dragons
3- puppets

It's Showtime (part 2)

2007-02-22T21:07:30+00:00

It's always startling to have an illustration you've done at, say 22 inches high, enlarged to 22 feet high. The high school leased several local billboards with this image.

The Poster.

It's Showtime (Part 1)

2007-02-20T19:03:37+00:00

There's been little time to blog lately because the backdrop time of year has rolled around again. My daughter is the lead in this year's high school production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie". So i get to do the scenery. This year, I followed the ideas & drawings of my friend (and muralist) James Gloria. Together with a third friend, we finished and hung the first of a series of curtains and props. Sorry...gotta go. There's another 48 foot curtain to paint tonight.

Painting on the floor presents a number of challenges. We held our breath when the curtain was hung for fear that the perspective was skewed.

My Rube Goldberg

2007-02-20T14:51:31+00:00

I always strive for a fresh image and generally avoid the obvious, which I guess is why I never used the Rube Goldberg concept before. But in thinking about the problems of medicare for this assignment from the Wall St. Journal, the Goldberg metaphor felt so appropriate.

Happy Birthday Randy

2007-01-30T18:13:37+00:00

Cheers to one of the sweetest and most talented guys I know, Drawger, Randy Enos.

The Journey Begins...

2007-01-19T18:14:14+00:00

My daughter recieves the early decision acceptance letter to the college of her choice. Her criteria for choosing a school was that it be small, with a strong sense of community, and provide a well rounded education. the priority, of course, for this passionate & gifted young woman (gush), is that it have an outstanding theater program. We were advised by faculty at NYU & Rutgers (without knowing where we lived) that this Pennsylvania college was one of the best for musical theater and drama. And so the journey begins.

Back to the Future

2007-01-19T14:45:09+00:00

So I return to the place that inspired me to pursue my passion for drawing. It's tempting to say that my new role at Pratt is no longer on the receiving end. But anyone who teaches well, knows that not to be true. It's an inspiring give and take exchange of ideas. If it were not for the monumental artists (perhaps more importantly - extraordinary human beings) like Jos A. Smith and James Grashow, I would surely have taken another path. BIG shoes to fill. Wish me luck in my efforts to make a difference in the new crop of artist hopefuls.

Martin Luther King

2007-01-15T17:55:38+00:00

Few public figures stir the heart and soul like Martin Luther King did, and still does. When my kids were small, I'd sit them down to listen to his speeches on this anniversary date. What would follow was a larger discussion of American values. King remains a heroe and an example of decency and courage in this household.

I gave myself 2 hours this morning to create this image. The medium...brush & ink, & foil.

Still in Theater Mode

2007-01-06T03:19:31+00:00

This job about intellectual property and the performing arts, landed in a timely way, since lately I've had occasion to do some theater imagery. The article was about where the line is drawn on interpretations of plays and infringements of copyright. In case it hasn't been obvious, I seem to always pare down the image to a central symbolic figure. I think my work is best in this iconic approach. Although, I'm terribly envious (admiring, really) of artists who think in reverse ...of using a visually complicated image to convey the mesage.

A Round of Applause for Illoz.com

2007-01-03T13:58:54+00:00

Millie

2006-12-29T03:07:14+00:00

Today, I juggled gratis work with my deadlines. This is the poster art for my daugher's high school play. She is the lead (millie) in "Thoroughly Modern Millie". They requested something simple and eye catching, so I used the single figure and a bright palette. There will be a great deal of text added to the top and bottom, so it will undoubtedly get busy. i forgot how difficult it is to control watercolor on such large (15 X 22), saturated paper.

A Christmas Tradition

2006-12-26T14:44:13+00:00

Each year, our big event is to host a dinner party for family and friends alike, on Christmas Eve. This year, the guest list rounded out at 25. My goal is to create a magical atmosphere in which everyone can relax and revel in one another's company.

Each place setting is designated with a cutout. This year's theme..."The Gothard Circus". Drawger Jos. A. smith sits here.

Our son, dylan, lights the 100 plus candles before the guests arrive.

With everyone in full attendance, the feast begins. Mrs. G, in the left side of this pic, finally gets to relax.

Afterwards, good conversation continues through the night.

Meanwhile the cleanup crew breaks down and our house is restored to , well....it's original chaos.

Post dinner, the kids retreat to the guest room, where they pile onto the couch, and hopefully, another warm memory is established.

Christmas Eve Guests

2006-12-23T20:45:55+00:00

Every Christmas Eve, we host a dinner for friends and family. I create place settings with a theme. These are always cut-outs with everyone in attendance photoshoped into the image. This year, the theme is "The Gothard Circus". I used a 1920's Diixie Cup Circus propmotional set that we picked up years ago, for the basis of the circus. It's a 30 piece set with extraordinary illustrations (artist unknown). Here are the results. Of course, I am the ringleader.

The Studio

2006-12-21T18:40:26+00:00

A while back, there was a flurry of Drawgers posting pics of their studios. I missed that boat, but am taking the time now to give the tour.

My studio is located about 100ft. diagonally behind our house. It has a long unlikely history in it's 100 years of existence. First it was built as a chicken coup and later converted into an auto fixit shop. Then in the 60's, it was a wood shop. When we took over, I gutted it and put the 2 large windows and skylight in for light. The only regret is that I did not install the windows on the pool side. It's a comfortable, functioning environment.

A short clip from the studio, prepared for a St. John's Univ. podcast can be viewed at: http://www.drawger.com/dgart/gothardwebclip.mov

Turning Point

2006-12-16T04:22:46+00:00

Mostly, I think of good art direction as deference...to me, of course. But a really good art director can locate the best deep within you and coax it to the top, sometimes with a mere suggestion. In this case, the art director was Edel Rodriguez/TIME magazine. The article is about the question of tieing the solution to the Iraq war with resolving Middle East issues. i presented a few sketches, and we agreed on the strongest of them. Edel asked me to treat the color like the "Death Visits New Orleans" art; a limited and more graphic treatment of color. Sometime in the course of rendering the illo, a switch was thrown in my head. I've never been completely satisfied with my approach to color, feeling there is nothing distinctive about it. in fact, I have a sign above the drawing board that reads "It's the color, stupid". Suddenly I felt a direction. Ever since this job, I see color differently. Not sure if I'm prepared to articulate it fully yet, but change is a comin.

Disney

2006-12-15T22:41:31+00:00

Disney; either you love his legacy, or you hate it. Tom Trapnell (LATimes) let me rip with this one. I was afraid the tongue, which was not in the sketch, would be way over the top. But we are lucky when such trust is bestowed upon us. My palette is changing, no doubt the result of adding Dr. Martin dyes to my watercolor arsenal. Next it'll be neon colors. M-u-s-t p-r-a-c-t-i-c-e r-e-s-t-r-a-i-n-t.

Man-O-War

2006-12-14T20:59:34+00:00

I've been shackled to the drawing board this last week, finishing this piece for the upcoming "Sequential Art" show at St. John's University, in Queens, NY. It's the first time my Ink & a Brush with Death series will be shown as a body of work. This drawing is titled "Reluctant Man-O-War" and measures 28"X36", and is a more personal statement on the situation in Iraq.

The inspiration for the pose came from a life drawing I did a while back. There was something about the face and posture that captured the feeling I was attempting to convey in this piece.

Artists' Holiday Cards

2006-12-07T18:05:03+00:00

I learned just how anticipated are artists' holiday cards one year, when instead of creating a new image, I sent a standard card around. The reaction was strong and acrimonious. There's something about this season that allows for a chance to do something expressive and emotive. I started a new show on this theme here at drawger link and hope you will all make contributions to it.

As per the excellent suggestions...the flopped reindeer.

TORNADO!!!

2006-12-03T04:28:15+00:00

A tornado ripped through the woods and down our road Friday night, leaving trees toppled and snapped in half, roofing torn off and sheds, trailers and barns knocked off their foundations, porches ripped frome homes, debris everywhere. We were 40 miles north of home, at our son's opening season basketball game (they defeated a heavily favored team) when we received a phone call from a friend in the fire department saying there was a report that a tornado leveled our next door neighbors house. Launched into an immediate panic, we managed to verify the report to be false. The tornado did in fact strike down the road further. For a brief while, my head swam of images of our elderly widow neighbor up in a tree, our pool filled with building material, and all our magnificent pine trees lying on their side. The following are photos we took of our road early the next morning (glorious clear aftermath). Neighbors gave us the classic description of a deafening sound of an approaching freight train and terrifying cracks of trees falling all around them. You can follow the path it took as it cleared a perfect swath through the woods. We felt it disrespectful to take pics of damaged homes, but did record some of the destruction to nature.

Walton Ford at the Brooklyn Museum

2006-11-30T14:16:37+00:00

Yesterday, Jos.A. Smith and I visited the Brooklyn Museum to take in 3 extraordinary shows. I wasn't familiar with one of the artists who ended up being the one that left me awestruck. Walton Ford meticulously renders large scale fantasical looking animals in a style reminicent of early scientific depictions, and Audubon's work. Look further and they become metaphors for contemporary issues, complete with hidden imagery, scrawled notes, and an attention to detail that never gets "tight", all on carefully distressed paper. The works are beautifully rendered and powerfully moving. Highly recommended.

November 3, 2006–January 28, 2007
Morris A. and Meyer Schapiro Wing, 4th Floor

New York–born artist Walton Ford, a 1982 graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, draws inspiration from the work of such nineteenth-century artists as the naturalist John James Audubon and the French caricaturist J.J. Grandville, whose part-human, part-animal subjects satirize man's shortcomings. This exhibition presents more than fifty of Ford's large-scale, meticulously executed watercolors from the 1990s to the present, which depict birds and animals in a style resembling Audubon's prodigious Birds of America—but with a significant twist. While beautiful, Ford's paintings often portray scenes of violence and offer a wry critique of colonialism, the naturalist tradition, and the relationship between man and animal.

Tigers of Wrath: Watercolors by Walton Ford is organized for the Brooklyn Museum by Marilyn Kushner, Curator of Prints and Drawings.

Africa's suffering

2006-11-13T21:19:52+00:00

"Let no good idea go unused". Some time ago, I was asked by Edel at TIME to create an image for the back page, on the current African adoption issue. The article went South, through no fault of ours, but I filed the idea away, since I thought it successful. Today it was recycled to another publication. I still have the concern that the figures are so dramatic that the shape of Africa might be lost.

This one's for RAG

2006-11-09T22:49:41+00:00

Thumped!

2006-11-09T15:39:16+00:00

HEROES AND VILLIANS; a tale of friendship

2006-11-06T15:49:20+00:00

A weekend ago was a birthday to remember. Randy and Leann Enos, James and Guzzy Grashow, visited bearing gifts of art and renewed vows of friendship. How many times is one cast in art as a heroe, by a heroe? My first selfish impulse was to hang this very personalized art above my drawing board, where only I and a few random visitors could enjoy it. But...it's just too damn good not to share. S o here I am, chucking paint brushes at villians, and tending to my garden of loved ones. If one measures his or her life by the quality of friends, then I am truly blessed.

A Testimonial

2006-10-27T18:02:04+00:00

I balked at the fax machine when it first made the scene, but it allowed me to choose where I make my home and studio. I resisted the computer as well, but with it's introduction, I was able to juggle more than one deadline a day. In the last few years, I've known that the solution to catching jobs on the fly...is getting a blackberry. But do I wanna be one of these guys you see pacing on subway platforms, frantically sending & receiving emails, a slave to a 3 x 4" device? A "crackberry", as one drawger aptly put it. Well folks, I'm here to testify. I've been paranoid about leaving the studio during the day, as I've missed a number of jobs in the past that land via email. Often my clients don't follow up with a cell call, probably because at the point of contact, only a few hours remain to complete the job. On to the next iller. Yesterday, I purchased the crackberry from a mall kiosk where they patiently got it up & running quickly. Exiting the mall (always a relief) my berry goes off with an incoming quick turnaround job. A job I would've missed since I'd planned to run errands afterwards. The job fee was exactly equal to the sum of a year's worth of blackberry service payments. Needless to say, I hightailed it back to the studio. Yep...I'm hooked.

Eat your heart out....

2006-10-19T17:50:48+00:00

What has this to do with art? I dunno, but it's my creation, and it's big and beautiful, and heart shaped, and colorful, and juicy, and tasty, and it was grown with tender lovin care. And I've been waitin on this since the first frost. Every day I check the progress of the color red as it slowy transforms from green on my windowsill. Today, my lunch was ceremonial as I sliced a wedge so big, it dwarfed my burger. So if you are among those that have little interest in some other guys tomatoes, I say.....it's the simple rewards in life that make MY day.

It's CHA-CHA time....

2006-10-18T17:26:28+00:00

The campaigns are heating up and so we must watch the dance of empty promises, manipulation, greed, and malice. So if I feel this way, why am I so compelled to draw political images? Answer: what's more fun than drawing an elephant and a donkey doing the cha-cha?... well, maybe dragons. Or pirates. Or actually DANCING the cha-cha.

An event....

2006-10-01T16:44:37+00:00

Last Call....

2006-09-29T15:42:49+00:00

This is a last feeble attempt to lure some fellow Drawgers out to our show's opening tonight, Friday, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Hey, we're only 80 miles this side of the Hudson river, and if the promise of an endless supply of wine, good food, stimulating conversation and some OK art, all in beautiful, historic, downtown Bethlehem is not enuf to entice you...jest stay home. I'll remove this redundant post by tomorrow. For more info: eDavidgallery.com DG

When things get HAIRY

2006-09-27T14:30:19+00:00

Confession: I love quick turnovers....for me it's the ultimate challenge. To solve an assignment conceptually, sketches and final art, all in a mere three hours. For better, or worse, it has become my niche. I think I was a two bit gunslinger in my former life. When it gets hairy is when the image is packed with visual elements, sometimes integral to the image, sometimes at the behest of a non visual editor who fears the message will not be clear unless we hit them over the head with the kitchen sink. I always fight for the integrity of the image...the freshest concept. Where I will compromise is on the minutiae. An extra sign here, a condo there. When the clock is like a ticking time bomb, I set up the execution of the final art like a Zen experience. On goes John Coltraine (this time) and I get into a comfortable groove.... find the meter to carry me through when there are no allowances for a clumsy brushstroke, or a badly rendered alligator foot. Then it's just me and "the white bull". The world at large slips away and the paper is mine to stain with something beautiful, or odious.

Another rush job bull

2006-09-21T11:22:29+00:00

Assignment: A good economy powered by companies using symbols and slogans. Well, I just had to have some fun with this. Here's my solution. For all of you tired of lookin at my dark, brooding, topical pictures.....the lighter side of Gothard.

Where's the Bacon?

2006-09-20T14:09:18+00:00

For those of us that feel less than tidy as concerns our studios....here is a glimpse of the late great Francis Bacon & HIS studio.

What was he thinking?

2006-09-19T19:55:29+00:00

Today's illo, on the Pope's unfortunate comments. I wanted an austere image, to emphasize how polarizing religion can be.

A blast from Halloween past...

2006-09-19T13:30:39+00:00

Time warp....this is an early job that brought a good deal of attention (1982 - checkitout!). I was repped by a legend in his day - Ted Riley, who passed away shortly after this date. Ted was furious with me - post job - because the editor called and asked for the original art (as a gift!), and I agreed. Hey, I was still pretty green! Ted was big on selling the original art - no gifts. The biz was then run by his nephew Whit Stillman (now of independent film fame - Metropolitan, Barcelona, etc.). He used it on all the promos. That was the last of my positive agent experience.

That's right, I'm not from Texas.

2006-09-18T15:33:07+00:00

My one and only ever music post..... Last night, Lyle Lovett and his big band performed in Princeton, NJ and I was among the sold out audience. His quirky personna and lyrics were balanced by some legends in the music biz, mostly from Austin & L.A., that comprise the band. They blend R&B, rock, bluegrass & yes, country, seamlessly. He makes me wanna wear a ten gallon hat.

911

2006-09-11T16:36:02+00:00

While on the Subject of religious icons

2006-09-06T21:08:19+00:00

This self portrait, more in the spirit of Nietzsche, I suppose, is titled "a bad day in the studio". I'm really not this gloomy....honest.

An Odd illo....

2006-09-06T20:34:36+00:00

This piece illustrates the recently released 911 phone calls. There was no story at the point of assignment, just an author's blurb that said the sounds we will remember are not that of the planes crashing into the buildings, but the last calls made from the burning towers. This is a strange image, I think, but was my initial response . The art director relayed the editor's less than enthusiatic rejection; "looks like a hallmark card". So I sent a few other images along that were of a much graver (such a word?) tone. The editor finally decided he actually likes the first image...a lot. Moral: Take heart....editors are not umpires.

Announcement....

2006-08-30T00:18:12+00:00

It is truly my privilage to share the walls with these guys. eDavid Gallery, 535 Main Sreet, Bethlehem, PA. 18018 ph: 610 814 0369 Reception: Friday, Sept. 29th, 6-8:00pm

Weekend quickies...

2006-08-14T03:05:06+00:00

Work used to be a little more predictable. Now I'm doing quick turnarounds on weekends and at night. and I've become paranoid about leaving the studio, fearing the client will become discouraged with the answering machine and not pursue me to the next cell phone link. Time to get a blackberry and catch those emails on the fly, I guess. These two, for the WSJ & LATimes, are on scary topics. Didn't expect the one on the Brits catching terrorists to turn out like a Martha Graham Dance Co. program cover, but, i like the drama. The second piece is written by Judith Miller on those insidious secret Russian biotechnology labs in Siberia with their stockpiles of deadly virus. One courageous scientist converted it into medicine and ultimately peace between the East & West.

NEWS SPLASH!!!

2006-08-07T01:38:21+00:00

CALLING ALL DRAWGERS!!!

2006-07-26T15:59:16+00:00

For all you Drawgers within striking distance of the sleepy hamlet of Bangor, Pa. (85 miles from NYC / 65 miles from Philly ) we extend this invitation to come join us at our pool nestled in lush gardens, for a fun filled day of good food (homemade Indian food), good music, spirits, swimming, and great conversation. R.S.V.P for directions by using the contact link here at my Drawger page.

Drawger Mike Moran's Surprise Birthday Party!!!

2006-07-10T17:44:03+00:00

This past weekend, Mike's super wife, Kristen, threw a fab surprise birthday party in his home. It was great to be in attendance. Happy Birthday Mike!

A reflective moment...

2006-07-05T12:23:31+00:00

A belated Happy 4th of July all !!! We are finally back from a lengthy vacation at the shore, and my cold turkey from both drawing and drawger. I took this George De La Tour-ish photo last night, as my daughter and her friend swam to the edge of the pool and were gazing into a citronella candle talking about whatever 17 year old girls talk about.

My Father...

2006-06-15T13:50:04+00:00

My father, William Gothard, has spent his entire life painting and drawing, and continues to paint nearly every day now, at the age of 74. Happy Father's Day, Dad....you are an inspiration to me and have taught me the value of good drawing. Of course, my father will never see this as he is the original definition of "luddite'", shunning most technology (has never had a driver's license, computer, or cell phone). Aligning himself with the Social Realism school, he studied with some of the greats, from Raphael Soyer (who was a close friend and painted me as a child), to Joseph Hirsch, and has rubbed elbows with a number of the titans in art. Content to be left alone to paint, read, and listen to good music, my dad has never promoted his work to galleries or museums, but has had some impressive shows over the years. He has a number of patrons actively collecting and purchasing his work. I've set up a gallery under his name here where you can enjoy a sampling of his work.

ENOS: Up in Flames (almost)

2006-06-07T19:51:58+00:00

For the record, The NYTimes is great for starting campfires (especially the biz & real estate sections). Firstly, because there is SO much of it in the Sunday edition. And then there is ALL that bad news. So I reached for it last night as we prepared for some serious marshmellow meltin. Just as the fire caught the smaller kindling, I noticed an Enos about to toast. Realizing the moral and aesthetic crime about to take place, I thrust my arm into the burning pyramid of twigs, risking third degree burns, and saved this beautiful art. Well, slight exageration, but I can only hope that someone might return the favor some day and retrieve my work from the bottom of a bird cage or litter box. Sigh. Nice work Randy!

Big night, bright star....

2006-05-26T15:21:26+00:00

I'm gonna do my best to keep the proud papa gushing to a minimum. Last night was the big extravaganza televised ceremonies honoring all the high school's theatre productions in a wide area of what is known here as the Lehigh Valley. It's kinda like a pseudo version of the Tony awards, with all the hype, limos, tuxedoes, red carpets, and excitement. My daughter came away with the prize, but has it all in reasonable perspective ( I don't ).

Bookends....

2006-05-25T14:43:57+00:00

A couple of years ago I did a cover piece for the WSJ that must have made a lasting impression cause they seem to think of me for similar assignments, always citing this bull/bear piece. Tomorrow's cover illo is on the Chinese stock market. The request was to make it link to the earlier "costume" art.

Comix

2006-05-23T18:00:25+00:00

One of a series of ongoing comics. No publisher yet. i think only Drawger Zimm has seen any of these. Would love all the Drawger's feedback (critical & otherwise).

The Senior Prom

2006-05-22T21:16:54+00:00

Following on the heels of Randy's prom post...my daughter, ready for prom festivities, with her date (who looks like he won the lottery). I am just off-screen holding a shotgun.

Historical Humor...

2006-05-19T19:42:14+00:00

Today's illo on two explorers that fought over discovering Lake Victoria (source of the Nile), in Africa.

today's illos...

2006-05-11T17:32:21+00:00

Just finished this limited color piece on North Korean women kidnapped and sold into sex slavery. This and the Oz art could not be more different in mood.

A fellow drawger asked me to post today's WSJ Leisure & Arts page illo on the Oz writer, Frank L. Baum.

It's a wrap!

2006-05-04T18:05:43+00:00

As promised, the end result.

Sketches.....

2006-05-03T18:59:07+00:00

For me, sometimes the challenge of the final art is to capture the kind of vigorous energy of the 3 minute initial sketch. Since sketches are designed to sell the concept, they are stripped of all the finessing that takes place in the finished product. I pitched this for an article on flood insurance...dunno if it will fly, but I am already attached to the flow and ebb of lines in this drawing....and it's never a good idea to become too attached.

X-RAY fetish...

2006-05-01T18:18:45+00:00

Confession: I've always loved the ghostly B&W quality of x-ray's. I usually manage to convince doctors to let me have them. This is an x-ray of my greyhound's pelvis, taken this morning, after she took a nasty spill (is ok now). My obsession started long before seeing "The Man with X-Ray Eyes" with Ray Milland ( remember the last line in the film?..."if thine eyes offend thee, pluck them out"). I was the kid (sucker) that sent away for the x-ray glasses from the comic book's back cover. Once on, I really believed my eyes were penetrating women's clothing...was an imaginative adolescent. The orbs of light are not the chi or energy flowing through my canine....it's the trees behind the window where the pic was taken.

Plight (or flight) of the artist...

2006-04-27T19:11:19+00:00

Just finished this, my third deadline for today. Am truly spent, but thought I'd throw this up before I go rehab in the gardens. Was for an interesting article about the exodus of artists from NYC to greener pastures out West. Gets into how few artists can really make a go of it and the squalid conditions some must live in to survive in NYC. OK folks, we are operating on new ground rules, so feel free to rip into this while I go hide.

While on the subject of books...

2006-04-26T15:55:18+00:00

Ok, last post for awhile - gotta hit the boards. Krazy Kat has been mentioned a number ot times here, so I want to share one of my personal faves..."Archy & Mehitabal" by Don Marquis,illos by Herriman. I picked it up at a second hand bookshop back when I first began drooling all over my sneakers whilst looking at Krazy Kat....fer 50 cents!!! The original copyright is 1927, my copy is �1944. It's prolifically illustrated (drawings not found elsewhere) and is a hoot to read. Kat & Ignatz are here transformed into the characters of Archy & Mehitabel. Nope, sorry, not loaning this out. You'll have to drop by the studio if you wanna spend some time with it.

Field guide to materials...

2006-04-26T14:31:11+00:00

I suppose I could let you discover the amazing accomplishments of fellow Drawger Jos. A. Smith on your own, but then again, I'm happy to share my best kept secrets. Generally speaking, I'm not much for the "how to" or "guide" genre of books. Mainly because I think it better to learn such things through trial and error, and...with all the great works of literature still waiting for me to discover them, I have felt it best to adhere to my reading list. But, there is an exceptional book out there researched and written by Joseph, that is certainly worth reading. I learned a great deal about materials and their applications/backgrounds, and great artists works employing them. There is a good sampling of Joe's work throughout.

Anti - War Sculptures

2006-04-21T11:52:17+00:00

My three anti war sculptures are displayed together in the lobby of the Skillman at Lafayette College. The close up is of the "Ruby Throated Warrior". When working on them they felt entirely separate from one another, but now they feel in concert together (see more in my "non illustration stuff" category). Reminder for NYC Drawgers....tonight is the Draw-a-thon at Pratt (see my earlier article). Jos A. Smith & I plan to be there and fill up a few sketch pads. 16 models! I died and am going to life drawing heaven!

Art in Nature...

2006-04-19T12:38:16+00:00

I make a regular habit of walking in our gardens w/camera in hand, during the summer months. Nancy inspired me to post this lucky pic (from last summer) of a dragonfly showing off it's ability to blend with the environment, choosing to light on a plant of the same color scheme.

Randy & Woody

2006-04-19T01:41:25+00:00

Resurrected...

2006-04-17T13:27:02+00:00

Unearthed this in my studio recently - Circa '77-'78. Funny thing is, I still FEEL like I can leap tall buildings in a single bound.

Slow day here, too.

2006-04-14T19:38:46+00:00

The Entertainer

2006-04-14T12:40:40+00:00

Gave a talk to academia this week (me on the left). The focus was Iraq and terrorism, using my editorial work as the vehicle. Admirably, the college is attempting to raise the consciousness on campus - Joel Meyorwitz talked last week (a tough act to follow). Started out with 150 images, editing it down to around half that. Had a very thoughtful and interested crowd in attendance and so it went very well. The principle point I was trying to make was that in the age of spin, rhetoric and propaganda, the artist as "purveyor of truth" can cut through it all like a knife. Or, conversely, become a tool of the propaganda machine. Because of the narrow and often skewed opinion expressed in editorials, I try not to illustrate the rant, but instead find a universal humanity - engaging viewers emotionally and hopefully provoking them to think beyond the rhetoric. Having just put this down as text, it looks so damn lofty and self important, but luckily, I think I struck the right chord for the talk.

Fave quickie of the week

2006-03-31T18:40:57+00:00

This one on the remarks made by an Iranian leader, invoking the (last) helicopter as a symbol for America's failures at war.

A must see show

2006-03-31T18:24:47+00:00

Man, I'm in some good company this time. If you are in NYC, this is worth your time. The theme is art for social change and it's very powerful art.

Sculpture Finished

2006-03-23T21:15:02+00:00

I got an education in the do's & don't's of bonding glass on this one. In the end these fellows are permanent fixtures. This makes the latest in a series of anti war sculptures. On to the next......

Life Drawing

2006-03-19T16:26:15+00:00

If your lucky, there is a college nearby that has open door life drawing one night a week. I do it once in awhile and find it lubricates the drawing chi nicely. See my life drawing gallery fer more.

Draw til you drop!

2006-03-19T16:02:41+00:00

For those of you who love drawing from the model but don't get enough time in....here's your chance....an all nighter, drawing from several models, plus pizza. Man, who could ask for anything more. I've heard about this from friends for years, but this will be my first time I'm participating. Scratch it in yer calendars.

New sculpture piece

2006-03-18T21:37:21+00:00

Am assembling all the many finished parts to my most recent sculpture, "Six Horsemen of the Apocalypse", all in glass (& paint) and made from laboratory test tubes, light bulbs etc. Another cheery piece from yours truly. As of now there are some bonding issues that are delaying completion. It will be on display with other (non illo) stuff when I give a slideshow talk at the Skillman Library/lafayette College, on April 12th.

Rubber Stampin Mania

2006-03-18T21:21:49+00:00

This stamp turned out very well, I think. Was almost hoping it wouldn't so's I can stop this foolishness.

Digital vs. Film

2006-03-13T22:06:50+00:00

Today's job - an illo for an interestin article on the pros and cons of abandoning film for digital photography. Photo historians worry about losing images to deteriorating discs and discarded hard drives. The claim is that photos are not as physical as they once were and therefore not safegaurded as well. Is a good case to backup those images again, and again.......

Loof Lion

2006-03-09T13:19:37+00:00

The carousel lion I restored as relates to the article below.

Token Artist...

2006-03-09T12:43:19+00:00

Call me De gratis artist. Every community has to have a village idiot and a token artist. That's me (the token artist - wise guy) and since my daughter stars in the high school play....guess who does all the backdrops? I enlisted a friend, and together we banged out three 14'x42' backdrops in little over a week - working the graveyard shift to get it done in time. I do manage to have some fun though. This pic is of the show curtain I decided to give a carny theme to, which actually has very little to do with the wholesome, hoaky world of the Iowa state fair. Also managed to borrow a circa 1900 Coney Island carousel lion for the play. Had restored it some 6 or 7 years ago after it's discovery in a storage shed. Some knucklehead with a goldfinger fixation had sprayed it with gold paint and (probably) having realized the crime he'd comitted, abandoned it to decay. I'll post a pic of the lion in it's current glory.

Rubber Stamps (continued)

2006-03-06T22:03:37+00:00

Haven't made rubber stamps in years and almost forgot how much fun they are. Was inspired by the discussion here...so I sent this little critter off to be etched in rubber and now he is multiplying all over my studio.

Today's Rejected sketch

2006-02-28T20:58:12+00:00

*!*@!**#@!.....and that's all I have to say at the moment.

Rush Jobs

2006-02-17T21:30:56+00:00

Ok Rob, you asked for it. I am pretty good at handling 2 same day assignments a day(generally from 12:00 - 4:00), but this week I had two days where I was juggling three. The WSJ & Newsday call on me alot for 3 hour turnarounds. It's doable only under perfect conditions, ie; smart client, no interuptions, image not too complicated, etc. It was rough going since my environment was less than perfect. But it gets done and I don't miss deadlines (would they call me again if I did?). What am I thinkin about? "I'M WORKIN, I'M WORKIN". Stress as a result of overwork is very different from the scary variety that seeps in when the phone is silent. This job (image) was one afore mentioned - done in an hour, on the divisions in Turkish society. DG

Remember when....

2006-02-11T18:38:41+00:00

OK - so I'm gonna try to get this articles thing happenin right here and now. A number of us have been in the illo biz long enough to remember pre tech times...and then came the Faxeolithic and Macolithic eras, respectively. I've got plenty o' spunk left in me, so the last thing I wanna start is a thread of "the good ol' days". I am thinking, however, that it would be interestin for those artists who have started up their careers in the age of communication, to hear just a little about how dramatically the illo world changed in terms of locations, deadlines, workloads, portfolios etc. with the advent of technology. Like everything else, this change brought some pros and cons. One big result is that it scattered us out from NYC like a tear in the bottom of a big bag of marbles. all rollin in different directions. Which is why we are using this current form to connect. Before fax made it possible to exist outside NYC's boundaries, there was an even bigger concentration of artists living and working in the one community. Freindships were formed amomg artists and between artist and client. There were a few spots that served as a kind of social club for artists. I'm thinkin of the NYTimes bullpen. I met a few of you "drawgers" there. Now, of course, if you tried to hang there you'd be hauled off fer loitterin, but there was a time (if you care to remember).