posted: May 28, 2007

I have always enjoyed Memorial Day. Good time to barbeque, and a great time this year especially since it has been a while since I have had the chance to really spend good time with the kids. I had been away from them for a while, and it is crazy how quickly they change.

I am thankful to the men and women who put it on the line. I hope they get home quickly. I can only imagine how difficult it is for them to leave their kids for longer periods of time, and know they have to deal with being shot at.

posted: May 26, 2007

A couple of weeks ago I went with Jacob North (a student of mine…) to the Cranbrook institute in Bloomfield Hills Michigan. One could not have asked for a better day. We happened to be there as Cranbrook students were packing up for the summer, and we had the chance to see their studio spaces. Overall the place felt as if we were on the set of “LOST” or the old BBC series “The Prisoner”, and maybe we felt this way because of the Saarinen architecture and sculpture on the grounds. Jacob brought his digital SLR, I brought my sketchbook, and we had a great time documenting the place.

It was enjoyable enough for me to go back the next day to hang out by myself. I decided to take my newly purchased Mac laptop to do some digital plein-air painting using Corel Painter 9. A couple of my friends at Pixar use a laptop while drawing on location, so why not give it a try?  I wanted to challenge myself a bit more than usual, and I figured that if I were to use Painter that I would be forced to learn it, and make decisions. I have figured out a way to use my Jullian easel for my digital set-up, but I don’t think I am going to give up my traditional paints and brushes all together. I just needed to push myself out of my comfort zone.

posted: May 23, 2007

I have been somewhat AWOL on Drawger these past couple of months. I feel somewhat guilty for not posting much, and for not commenting on all of the great stuff posted this past while. I am finally reunited with my wife and kids after spending a semester away teaching. Teaching in Detroit was a great experience, and I will post more on that later.

Lately I have made it a point to get up early each day and draw for myself regardless of whether or not I have a job due,etc.. I started this after reading what Rob posted on his morning drawing routine (if I am not mistaken, Hal Mayfourth does this as well…?). I have finally put on paper random ideas that have I have been kicking around for a while. In doing this, I have found that my observational drawing and client work has improved. I have tried to approach these drawings with what Peter Cusack calls a “premiere coup” or first strike.

Check out more of these drawings in my new Experimental Sketchbook gallery.