posted: August 11, 2010

Aunt Ann’s 80^th birthday is the occasion for a great family gathering at a ranch on the Gros Ventre river near Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Here are some sketches from our trip:

 
I like to spend time around the stables sketching cowboy boots and horses.

Early in the morning the horses are still and quiet as they wait for their riders. The light at this time of day is especially beautiful:

There’s a spectacular view of the Grand Tetons from the ranch:

Afternoon thunderstorms roll in from the west, creating a constantly changing drama of light effects that is wonderful to watch and difficult to paint:

 
 
The clouds and light are unlike any that I’ve seen anywhere else.  They change from one moment to the next, just like the weather.

 
We try fly fishing for the first time. Although I don’t catch anything, it’s heavenly to be down by the river watching the rapids.
 
Here's my daughter practicing her casting.

I inner-tube down the rapids with my son who acts as a guide (it's his third time). We have fun, and it gives me an appreciation for how strong the current really is:

 
 
Finally it's time to take off our boots and go home.

 
Thanks, Aunt Ann, for sharing your birthday with us in such a wonderful way. It’s a pleasure spending time together as a family. And thanks to all at the Gros Ventre River Ranch for taking such good care of us. See you next time!

Travel Sketchbooks

posted: July 15, 2010

I've just returned from a three week trip to Hong Kong and southern China with my wife, our three children, and our friends Mariel and Molly. Here are some sketches from the trip:

 
 
 
During the first week it rains and rains. Even the locals are surprised by how torrential the rain is.
 
 
We recover from jet lag in our own ways.

 
 
 
 
During the rainy season umbrellas are an essential part of one's wardrobe.

 
When an umbrella isn't available, one must improvise.

 
 
 
 
Finally the sun appears, and with the sun comes the heat.
 
With blazing sunshine and temperatures near 100 degrees, an umbrella performs a different function.

Neon signs on Hankow Road, Kowloon. The "Roast Duck" sign is a long-time favorite of mine.
 
Like umbrellas and neon signs, construction cranes often appear in flocks in Hong Kong:

 
A solitary person in a wooden rowboat crosses the harbor between much larger, quicker vessels - a risky business!

 
 
 
On our last day in Hong Kong, we go to the beach on Lamma island, the location for my most recent graphic novel, The Redemption of Professor Nimbus.
 
The water is nearly the same temperature as the air and provides little cooling relief. It's just nice to be there anyways.

 
For our final week we travel to Guangzhou, a two hour trip northwest of Hong Kong.

 
 
The next day we visit the local safari park.
 

 
 
It is very hot - over 100 degrees -  but we are brave and are happy to see all the animals.

 
 
 
We are living on the campus of Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou. It is an oasis of green tranquility, with majestic banyan trees providing shade.

Beyond the campus walls is a throbbing, muscular city of 12 million people:

Many thanks to those of you who suggested drawing materials for black and white sketching. I did most of these sketches using a Holbein Multi-Drawing sketchbook and a Pentel brush marker with disposable ink cartridges, both suggested by Marcellus Hall.
 
And of course thanks to my family, to our friends Mariel and Molly who helped take care of our children, and to our many Hong Kong and Guangzhou friends for making our trip so wonderful!

Travel Sketchbooks

posted: June 10, 2010

Next week my wife, three children and I are returning to Hong Kong and southern mainland China for a month-long working vacation.  I hope to do a lot of sketching on location while I'm there, especially black and white line and wash drawings. Does anyone have any suggestions for materials - good pens, brush markers, and ink that can stand up to a wash without bleeding? I'm thinking of using moleskin sketch pads for the first time. Are they good? What do you like to use for sketching materials?
 
I'd appreciate any advice. In the past I've used watercolors but now I won't have so much time to do these more lengthy type of full-color sketches.
 
Here are a few watercolor sketches from past trips to China:

posted: May 3, 2010

Three of my drawings were included in this year's Communication Arts illustration annual, all from my Travels of Professor Nimbus series. I'm glad and honored that these pieces were chosen, and that my work using black with blue hues is getting some nice recognition as well as more requests from clients for use in assignments. The annual looks great - there's so much terrific work in it.

The Carousel of Disgruntled Animals.

The Happy Valley Trolley.

Here's the sketch and inked art for Stockholm Harbor:

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