tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44160425192958895062024-02-18T21:26:32.353-08:00BUTCH BELAIRAnother blog where some guy goes on and on and on about himself. NOW WITH PICTURES!bbelairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13492975956576531728noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416042519295889506.post-15926494388732101902013-05-28T14:29:00.001-07:002013-05-28T14:29:53.091-07:00I'M WALKEN HERE<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/WalkenWarehouse1K.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="630" src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/WalkenWarehouse1K.jpg" width="630" /></a></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="254" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/66984876?byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="630"></iframe>
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
WHAO..... IT'S LIKE SOME.... KIND OF BREAKDOWN</h3>
One of the people I regret never having photographed is Christopher Walken. I realize the chances of being booked, any time soon to shoot with the man himself, are rather slim.Therefore I decided to build, if you will, my very own FrankenWalken. Why should I let a little thing, like never having met the guy, keep me from including him in my portfolio.<br />
The attached clip is a loose breakdown, outlining just a couple of the steps in the creation of the image above. The bulk of the steps have been mercifully omitted. Or I plainly just didn't have the foresight to plan this blog stuff ahead of time.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
WALKEN TALK. TRUE STORY, I SWEAR.</h3>
For many years I lived on Prince Street in Manhattan, right around the corner from the Ravenite Social Club. In the summer I would spend a lot of time sitting on my third floor fire escape. And very often I had a bird's eye view of John Gotti, reputed head of the Gambino Family, on one of his infamous "Walk and Talks" with an associate or two. I never heard anything, but it made me a little nervous to think they might glance up and think I had.But, if you went down Prince Street the opposite way near Sullivan, there was this other guy. This guy had a little "Walk and Talk" routine going as well. Thing is, he would stumble around in his bathrobe, drooling and mumbling to parking meters.<br />
<br />
Now this guy was scary.<br />
<br />
Not because he was a few fries short of a happy meal. But because he was completely lucid. His name was Vincent Gigante or Vincent the Chin. And he was the reputed head of all the Five Families of New York. Lucchese, Genovese, Gambino, Bonanno, and Colombo. He was the Oddfather, Capo di tutti capi. Capiche. Dude had serious green, a frightening amount of power and there he was, day after day, wandering the streets.<br />
<br />
Did I mention the bathrobe?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/VincentTheChin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="1003" src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/VincentTheChin.jpg" width="630" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The guy did have a certain style and a flair for the unconventional. So, I figure he's a decent role for my WalkenStein. Essentially, what I was going for here was a "portrait of the actor in character" sort of shot. I imagine an editorial photo shoot for a lighthearted, family movie, with Walken's character based loosely on a guy who definitely liked to wear his jammi-jams on the road and may or may not have killed people on occasion. You know, wholesome entertainment. For the kids.OK, I took some liberties with the slippers, but the rest is reputedly true.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
HERE BE DRAGONS</h3>
If you enjoy long pseudo-techie diatribes, by all means, continue reading. This is not really meant to be a tutorial. I just kind of ramble on about all the tedium I left out of the clip. There's barely any useful information at all. There's no diagrams and hardly any pictures.It's such a nice day, you should be outside. Go out, have a bagel. I hear the park is nice. Maybe, grab a slice.<br />
<br />
OK, fine then. Don't say I didn't warn you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/WalkenWax03-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="431" src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/WalkenWax03-1.jpg" width="630" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;">THE Z-BRUSH STUFF, WHEREIN I GET FAR TOO FAMILIAR WITH SIR WALKEN'S MOLES</span></div>
I sculpted his face in ZBrush using whatever photos I could scrounge up as reference (this would be a good spot for one of those incredible time lapse sculpting clips, but again, I lack foresight). The sculpt was a little tricky as it was my first real attempt at a true likeness. I did one of the Wicked Witch of the West a few years back, but throw that hat and some green skin on just about anyone and they'll be ducking buckets of water before you can say "little dog too". The photos spanned many years and I never found two that lined up well enough to use as reference planes, so as you can plainly see, I just kinda eyeballed it. Recalling the amount of up-close and personal time I spent exploring wrinkles, nose hairs, pores, and moles has me feeling a little unclean, so I'd rather move on, thank you.<br />
<br />
The skin texture was hand painted, rather than using one of those photographic texture source libraries, because I wanted to give that process a try. I'd done the photo-collage route before and thought it'd be a good idea to get a feel for the advantages and limitations of hand painting. It was OK. I felt like there was more control. It took a bit longer, but the time was spent painting stuff, rather than removing unwanted shadows and highlights from a bunch of close-ups of naked strangers, so that was cool. It will take a few more tries for me to achieve the same realism though. The usual displacement, cavity and normal maps were generated and exported as well.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
BATHROBEMANIA. NOT THE BATHROBE, BUT AN INCREDIBLE SIMULATION.</h3>
I built low poly versions of his robe, shorts, and tank-top as well rigging an intentionally skinny body to use for the cloth simulation. I knew this project would probably just end up as a still image so I didn't feel the need to get the sim to really settle down. Still, I thought the result might seem more spontaneous if I ran him through a series of movements and then subsequently chose a pose and camera angle to refine, like I would if he were a live subject. The low poly clothes drove a wrap deformer for a high res version of each garment. This sped up the simulation and allowed me to model things, like the collar, belt loops, and such, without catching too much grief avoiding interpenetration.Once I settled on a pose, the body mesh was copied and re-imported into ZBrush to beef him up a bit and tweak areas where my admittedly loose weight mapping caused issues. I also waited until this point to paint the body mesh so I wouldn't waste time painting areas that would be hidden.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/SKINS3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="413" src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/SKINS3.jpg" width="630" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;">OILY SKIN? NO PROBLEM</span></div>
I created the various sub surface scatter maps in photoshop from my painted base texture. A desaturated bluish for the diffuse, a more ochre tone with blotches and veins for the epidermal, a blurred reddish for the sub-dermal, I used a plain red ramp run through multiply/divide node that masked everything but the thin skin areas around the ears and nose for the back scatter. An overall map was created to reduce the scatter on various blemishes and bags. A reflection map was made by applying levels and desaturating the base map and multiplying the cavity map over it. Then some selective dodging of the slightly oily areas of the face ( nose, lids and a little less on the cheeks) finished that map. Finally a reflective gloss map was painted in a similar fashion and a roughness map was made by essentially inverting the gloss map. The SSS shader was pumped through the additional color slot of an MIA material that on its own generated only reflections and some bump.<br />
<br />
I got tips on this skin set-up from the extensive Tony Reynolds tutorial on the subject from Eat3D here:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://eat3d.com/maya_portraits" target="_blank">You too can have beautiful skin</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/HAIR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/HAIR2.jpg" width="630" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;">CLAMPS, HAIRY BITS, AND OTHER PEOPLE'S GUNS</span></div>
His hair is pretty straightforward Maya hair. Three or four hair systems were used to separate and control various regions including thicker hair for the main hair mass, some thinner shorter wispy hairs to disguise and blend the hairline, sideburns, lashes and brows. I used a combination of dynamics and brute-force-curve-tweaking to groom the doo. The slippers are simple Maya fur with some clumping to increase the skeeze factor.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/WalkenWarehouseAODOF2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="630" src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/WalkenWarehouseAODOF2-1.jpg" width="630" /></a></div>
<br />
The foreground elements (appleboxes C-stand clamps, riser etc.) are pretty quick and dirty poly modeling and texturing. The warehouse set visible mainly on the far left of the image as well as the gun are purchased, kit-bashed, and/or retextured assets I had lying around from old jobs. The hanging backdrop is another cloth sim. I had it collide with some basic spheres, bound to his skeleton in conjunction with cubes for the stage and boxes to get a somewhat reasonable drape going.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/Lighting-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/Lighting-1.jpg" width="630" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;">PRETEND I HAVE SOMETHING SOMETHING CLEVER TO SAY ABOUT LIGHT</span></div>
The lighting is an unglamorous combination of spots with detail shadow maps. Twelve of them set in a dome array, as well as a key, rim, and fill . There is also a distant low spot illuminating bits of the far warehouse wall and columns to help sell the dusky sky visible outside. (the rim light an distant spot are out of frame in above image)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/LatLong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/LatLong.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold;">HDRI CYCLORAMA SHEBANG</span></div>
A lat-long HDRI of the background set, sky, and some cards mapped with HDR images for placing specific reflections (eye lights, gun etc) was rendered and mapped to an IBL sphere. That in turn was used as a reflection environment for all the foreground elements and floor. The camera view of the set was also rendered in HDR and camera mapped to a simple poly Cyclorama. The whole shebang was rendered with a fairly shallow DOF to hide the transition between the 3D geometry and the new Cyc background (just behind the dark metal plate in the floor).<br />
<br />
The sky, umbrella card, and big window card images are from the top notch gentlemen at sIBL Archive:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.hdrlabs.com/sibl/archive.html" target="_blank">Check it</a></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
HOW THE COOL KIDS PUT-OUT</h3>
I set up the project for a linear workflow (hey, all the cool kids are doing it). The Primary Mental Ray renderer was the rasterizer with Raytracing checked as a secondary effect. Initially the output had a few EXR passes (beauty, reflection, diffuse, shadow), but I ended up using just the beauty. The range in the EXR held pretty much all the information I needed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
THAT'S IT. A LITTLE TWEAKING IN PHOTOSHOP AND BOB'S YOUR UNCLE</h3>
I thought it would be interesting to try and apply the whole over-sharpened, under-saturated, over-processed, HDR photo-that-sorta-wants-to-be-a-painting look that's got the Still Photo World's panties in a bunch these days.You know, because so many photos these days are processed to look like anything but photos, I tried to make it look less photographic so it feels more like a photograph. I'm still on the fence about that choice, but I added a skoosh of lens distortion and I'll call it done for now. I gotta get out of the house.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Maybe grab a slice.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
bbelairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13492975956576531728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416042519295889506.post-33285210281289142142013-05-23T11:44:00.001-07:002013-05-23T11:48:56.183-07:00OLD DOG NEW TRUCK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/TRUCK01630x902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="902" src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/TRUCK01630x902.jpg" width="630" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
SEE SPOT RUN</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A while back I did a quick sketch of a truck (see below). Not the most profound thing in the world.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The sketch, that is, I was pretty impressed by the truck.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I painted fast, as I was unsure how long it would stay put. When I saw the driver get in the cab, I managed to snap a quick shot with my phone, through my windshield, before the truck pulled away.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The sketch seemed like a runt compared to the actual thing. So on a recent weekend while the girls were away, I cleared off the kitchen table and on a piece of plywood, taped the majority of a 30 X 40 sheet of paper I've been cowering from for about a year.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It was a little daunting having an expanded playground (or maybe I should say battlefield), but I learned much from the experience. The photo and the sketch left many of the details up to the imagination. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So I just winged it. Especially on the undercarriage.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span">Though the structure underneath would probably make a mechanic howl with laughter, I'm fairly pleased with the result of the underpainting with respect to the lamps. I played with an idea on the small sketch that I tried to use to more effect on the large one.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span">Rather than my usual quick shadow underpainting, this time I did an initial large bleed of bright warm colors, then my shadow pass, holding back most of the colored areas. A</span>s I layered glazes to define the forms, I s<span class="Apple-style-span">electively held back areas I thought would catch the colored light. This produced a halfway decent impression of the lights illuminating and reflecting on the dark shapes there. I did a similar thing on the main body of the truck, using somewhat randomly colored bleedy washes underneath a fairly monochromatic series of glazes to try and give the impression of grease over dull metal.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span">Watercolor 101, I know, but something I had yet to try out.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span">So much for the old cliche. Woof.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Below are the small sketch and a work in progress snap. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/TruckSmall630x1016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="1016" src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/TruckSmall630x1016.jpg" width="630" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/Progress630x471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="471" src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/Progress630x471.jpg" width="630" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
bbelairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13492975956576531728noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416042519295889506.post-36260724480737856062013-04-23T13:20:00.000-07:002013-05-24T10:20:01.865-07:00HOT PRESSED AND A HALF PINT<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/MetropolitainandUnion2800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/butchbelair/MetropolitainandUnion2800.jpg" width="630" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Painting the Familiar on the Strange</h3>
<br />
Got some new paper. Arches, hot pressed satin. Loving it so far. I was getting tired of fighting the texture of the cold pressed block, but It took me a while to realize I could simply change my paper.<br />
<br />
With the cold press, even the fine grain stuff seemed opinionated, imposing it's own agenda on my sketches. With this new block the marks go down unchanged by the paper, so no more excuses. And it dries much quicker, so there is less time to futz around (probably a good thing, as I can be rather futzy).<br />
<br />
I painted this joint on Metropolitain Ave, across from Kellog's Diner, in glorious Brooklyn. I've heard writers are encouraged to "write what you know". If that holds true for painters, I may have stumbled over my genre. Bummer.bbelairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13492975956576531728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416042519295889506.post-79706863166105827282013-03-23T00:12:00.000-07:002013-04-18T14:31:12.474-07:00SKILLMAN STREET<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-adHxrtzr7WBrS1iP9ImagtStmohzvhngVr6C8jiUk3Dt0HlHcIMBXDf7kXdFcBWKIFB1g9s9VT4geFSINx6URR8uJ59Hx6YfauXxB8dwOx9vfmdJKt3o4rWjDP_WTpLTdv1bTQ9LbIY/s1600/ICE+WHOLE4+800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-adHxrtzr7WBrS1iP9ImagtStmohzvhngVr6C8jiUk3Dt0HlHcIMBXDf7kXdFcBWKIFB1g9s9VT4geFSINx6URR8uJ59Hx6YfauXxB8dwOx9vfmdJKt3o4rWjDP_WTpLTdv1bTQ9LbIY/s640/ICE+WHOLE4+800.jpg" width="610" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm1CmxTh40g2cyUwW09ui_sMthqKoLBv5z12HLc5PVVZjY0bOfLXAwl2gxZBcJeBkqi5r1I3sS0V7whNdDPBY-U9rFgl1A4t-qplfSFOQLEEMzaRXdzhI7BsD5Lwaq1y3qWgWlM0_9Xs/s1600/ICE+PHOTO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm1CmxTh40g2cyUwW09ui_sMthqKoLBv5z12HLc5PVVZjY0bOfLXAwl2gxZBcJeBkqi5r1I3sS0V7whNdDPBY-U9rFgl1A4t-qplfSFOQLEEMzaRXdzhI7BsD5Lwaq1y3qWgWlM0_9Xs/s320/ICE+PHOTO.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Finally a new one. </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This is the back of a little Bodega around the corner from me. Greasy, grimy, urban goo. It feels good to get out and paint again.</span></div>
bbelairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13492975956576531728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416042519295889506.post-16369057445133593952013-03-22T23:04:00.006-07:002013-04-18T14:32:14.594-07:00BETTER WITH AGE?<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;">ORIGINALLY POSTED ON </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="letter-spacing: 3px; line-height: 21px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none;"><a href="http://www.urbansketchers.org/2009/10/meet-correspondents-new-york-city-butch.html">Urban Sketchers</a></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="letter-spacing: 3px; line-height: 21px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span class="Apple-style-span">,</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;">MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013</span></span></div>
<div class="date-posts" style="line-height: 20px;">
<div class="post-outer">
<div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;">
<div style="color: #333333;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4416042519295889506" name="1269831308122801059"></a></span><br /></div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.25em; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
</h3>
<div class="post-header-line-1" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<h2 style="color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font: normal normal normal 98%/normal 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2em; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.5em; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-transform: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETIXB5qGTGGZ_QaOhpnTF94frcNmYOsumDvolgN_Xd08W9Pw3PxfYrw3lKfeNh8C7cD_w3DmAFMw50s-JPZivt3rpvcc_4inn24_TtLaftYSXim-jwnaZK46pgZTqjshT8qY0Hppqgxl5/s1600/BroadwayFurnature600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #5688aa; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETIXB5qGTGGZ_QaOhpnTF94frcNmYOsumDvolgN_Xd08W9Pw3PxfYrw3lKfeNh8C7cD_w3DmAFMw50s-JPZivt3rpvcc_4inn24_TtLaftYSXim-jwnaZK46pgZTqjshT8qY0Hppqgxl5/s1600/BroadwayFurnature600.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: move; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></a></span></h2>
<h2 style="font: normal normal normal 98%/normal 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2em; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1.5em; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH TIME TO SKETCH.</b></span></span></h2>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">These days, the feeling that I deserve to take time, get out and treat myself to a sweet, slowed-down day of drawing has become a scarce commodity. On those rare occasions, I feel I'm trying to sprint my way through a marathon. An urgent race to find a spot that says, ah, this is the place. Then rarely enough time to reference a sense of light before it changes. Not enough time to work a mark of paint, seeing it dry too soon as my strokes mock me like scars. Never enough time to finish before I'm squinting in the twilight, at a ghost of what attracted me in the first place. Faster, faster, paint faster!</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As I scurry to relax, I think, if only I had more time. Grappling to embrace that feeling, long ago, of calm that once washed over me. Dripping, dabbing, scratching, blotting. Because this is it, my day to paint, I scramble to outrun the sun and produce something that will justify the time that has been graciously given. Inevitably to find the mountain has brought forth a mouse.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
Woe is me, the tortured artist.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
Then today, tucked away on a forgotten page, I came across this.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
Don't get me wrong, it's no masterpiece. I can hardly express the disappointment I felt when my efforts on this one were exhausted. I still see a hurried, over-worked blob. It still looks desperate to me. I still remember what I hoped it to be. And it still does not feel worthy of the time spent.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
I know it's not a bottle of wine, getting better with age. I'm sure the physical architecture has not shifted to compliment my sketch. I know the paint did not re-arrange itself into a better composition, or the colors become more true.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
But, something changed. Maybe my eyes are going, maybe I'm just desperate to post something. But, I see something else there and I don't hate it so much anymore.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
I makes me remember why I started painting in the first place. To relax. So, maybe now when I find the time, I will just paint. Not to justify time or feel accomplishment. Not to produce a painting, but just to be there, painting. That way, when something is finished, it's purpose will simply be to remind me of the day, where I was and what I was lucky enough to be doing. And if I am dissatisfied with the outcome of my time it won't be because I was rushed or felt pressured. I can just put it away for a while and peek back every couple months with new eyes. Agree to disagree with myself for the moment and consider that eventually, I may come around to a different perspective.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
I am hopeful. Maybe, because I know nothing changed here. But, time.</span><br />
<div style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
bbelairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13492975956576531728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416042519295889506.post-64900318464738367922013-03-22T22:57:00.001-07:002013-04-18T14:32:48.745-07:00NO SLEEP TILL THE LAST EXIT WHERE THE TREE GROWS IN...<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;">ORIGINALLY POSTED ON </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="letter-spacing: 3px; line-height: 21px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none;"><a href="http://www.urbansketchers.org/2009/10/meet-correspondents-new-york-city-butch.html">Urban Sketchers</a></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="letter-spacing: 3px; line-height: 21px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span class="Apple-style-span">,</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;">MONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012</span></span></div>
<div class="date-posts">
<div class="post-outer">
<div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;">
<div style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4416042519295889506" name="1699552843383222730"></a></span><br /></div>
<div class="post-header-line-1" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsq3fE3OC6irJTKQij1tzAu1FJZskseNilsoSTdQo4abKdx0OP9o89tsiGjEuSNikebvaenNwZg7bQ3a4CYkiSElHUBdSw9K2MeNASs1-bVF5R5MvXKuv7z7S51hnr3-LdgIsM71Ewp3V/s1600/OutBack01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsq3fE3OC6irJTKQij1tzAu1FJZskseNilsoSTdQo4abKdx0OP9o89tsiGjEuSNikebvaenNwZg7bQ3a4CYkiSElHUBdSw9K2MeNASs1-bVF5R5MvXKuv7z7S51hnr3-LdgIsM71Ewp3V/s640/OutBack01.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It's been far too long since my last post. Here is a quick sketch from my window in Brooklyn.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
bbelairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13492975956576531728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416042519295889506.post-49268617644689308562013-03-22T22:48:00.002-07:002013-04-18T14:33:40.052-07:00TO EL AND BACK<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;">ORIGINALLY POSTED ON <span class="Apple-style-span" style="letter-spacing: 3px; line-height: 21px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none;"><a href="http://www.urbansketchers.org/2009/10/meet-correspondents-new-york-city-butch.html">Urban Sketchers</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="letter-spacing: 3px; line-height: 21px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span class="Apple-style-span">,</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;">MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2011</span></span></div>
<div class="date-posts">
<div class="post-outer">
<div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;">
<div class="post-header-line-1" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxlED9myYnb5uFmfu12wGNm5B0rXTVm8Mnhka59gWh1phkbo4LuJCskzm4vvwEY7BfrkTkLLWt8m4SgeLuiFKYiPDGeDFPQLzrQnqK-1bR9E-Vyem6EuzwaWmZp6_XgJO5-T0dnoV0NQp/s1600/BroadwayBrklyn6A.jpg" style="color: #5688aa; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662038378585961570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxlED9myYnb5uFmfu12wGNm5B0rXTVm8Mnhka59gWh1phkbo4LuJCskzm4vvwEY7BfrkTkLLWt8m4SgeLuiFKYiPDGeDFPQLzrQnqK-1bR9E-Vyem6EuzwaWmZp6_XgJO5-T0dnoV0NQp/s1600/BroadwayBrklyn6A.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 600px;" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>This is the sketch I did for Danny Gregory's short film <a href="http://dannygregory.wordpress.com/2011/10/08/to-hell-and-back-a-film-about-butch-belair/" style="text-decoration: none;">" To El and Back"</a>.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It was a great privilege working with Danny and Tommy Kane. I was a bit nervous during the shoot, I'm far more comfortable on the other side of the camera. If you haven't already seen them, check out Danny's other films. Really cool stuff.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
bbelairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13492975956576531728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416042519295889506.post-619448538988488912013-03-22T22:43:00.002-07:002013-04-18T14:34:05.731-07:00BRUSH PEN<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">ORIGINALLY POSTED ON <span class="Apple-style-span" style="letter-spacing: 3px; line-height: 21px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none;"><a href="http://www.urbansketchers.org/2009/10/meet-correspondents-new-york-city-butch.html">Urban Sketchers</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="letter-spacing: 3px; line-height: 21px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span class="Apple-style-span">,</span></span>FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2010</span></div>
<div class="date-posts">
<div class="post-outer">
<div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;">
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4416042519295889506" name="2973532050528363997"></a></span><br /></div>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.25em; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.urbansketchers.org/2010/11/brush-pen-i-got-myself-brush-pen-few.html" style="color: black; display: block; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"><br /></a></h3>
<div class="post-header-line-1" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmj9FuPH0dPf7wwf6fwklWjV3S0nbbDZC-bFRbXmv6OBVknXivluBPEi1ciiw7wT2bgu64UPE2bZU6mYhSZqEOMD1FxtPB3OICvY4fXaTpsJmIU43m4sO57aYU1LgotQMC24PZ1eW4wGjr/s1600/BrushPen2.jpg" style="color: #5688aa; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543950988727022802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmj9FuPH0dPf7wwf6fwklWjV3S0nbbDZC-bFRbXmv6OBVknXivluBPEi1ciiw7wT2bgu64UPE2bZU6mYhSZqEOMD1FxtPB3OICvY4fXaTpsJmIU43m4sO57aYU1LgotQMC24PZ1eW4wGjr/s1600/BrushPen2.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 600px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhMn12I2806GvgqFWxqD1zNGpsF5rUFWhRAbhJKxGxUTqPpfV0TZkTEq_UIWLsORNuIneU19EwuNK4H5aCgkpgAFn5v1t3hae7fFVsSil-74k7LgLE_yyh4ME_zDNruXa4c6yxOWVbH6o/s1600/BrushPen1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543950964210223970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhMn12I2806GvgqFWxqD1zNGpsF5rUFWhRAbhJKxGxUTqPpfV0TZkTEq_UIWLsORNuIneU19EwuNK4H5aCgkpgAFn5v1t3hae7fFVsSil-74k7LgLE_yyh4ME_zDNruXa4c6yxOWVbH6o/s1600/BrushPen1.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: move; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 600px;" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I got myself a brush pen a few months back. It's got a nifty bamboo shell and takes an ink cartridge. Very expressive, but not very forgiving. Great for quick shadow studies.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhMn12I2806GvgqFWxqD1zNGpsF5rUFWhRAbhJKxGxUTqPpfV0TZkTEq_UIWLsORNuIneU19EwuNK4H5aCgkpgAFn5v1t3hae7fFVsSil-74k7LgLE_yyh4ME_zDNruXa4c6yxOWVbH6o/s1600/BrushPen1.jpg"><br /></a></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
bbelairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13492975956576531728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416042519295889506.post-66528013115464262742013-03-22T22:39:00.002-07:002013-04-18T14:34:51.869-07:00PRINCE STREET<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 3px; line-height: 21px; text-transform: uppercase;">ORIGINALLY POSTED ON <span class="Apple-style-span" style="letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none;"><a href="http://www.urbansketchers.org/2009/10/meet-correspondents-new-york-city-butch.html">Urban Sketchers</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span">,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2010</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="date-posts">
<div class="post-outer">
<div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;">
<div class="post-header-line-1" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="color: #333333;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7heEoy8Se8PL9f-BNvnbwfTK78QMaAM5kj3T95iiLnQUzllNoC9HpkCULn91rmCVelSiN8OJqgBe9LSiXpgBLLCL-0C4-DYyao4pjHsfwZWEagJn-HZA-vVGuvkCgmVvcWc5Fufyv2-I/s1600/PrinceAndMott.jpg" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506176566819885362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7heEoy8Se8PL9f-BNvnbwfTK78QMaAM5kj3T95iiLnQUzllNoC9HpkCULn91rmCVelSiN8OJqgBe9LSiXpgBLLCL-0C4-DYyao4pjHsfwZWEagJn-HZA-vVGuvkCgmVvcWc5Fufyv2-I/s640/PrinceAndMott.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 800px;" width="800" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It's been a while since I posted. I'll be playing catch-up for a while. I did this in April, sitting in my car.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
bbelairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13492975956576531728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416042519295889506.post-63414011458244516562013-03-22T22:18:00.000-07:002013-04-18T14:35:18.439-07:00WATER BLOGGED<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 3px; line-height: 21px; text-transform: uppercase;">ORIGINALLY POSTED ON <span class="Apple-style-span" style="letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none;"><a href="http://www.urbansketchers.org/2009/10/meet-correspondents-new-york-city-butch.html">Urban Sketchers</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span">,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 3px; line-height: 21px; text-transform: uppercase;">MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2010</span></span></h2>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 3px; line-height: 21px; text-transform: uppercase;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="date-posts">
<div class="post-outer">
<div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;">
<div class="post-header-line-1" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKwdUS4KikWkiyaXi-Jpxi0Pi_DjTYN7QttyZcMcVTcWFFAItsflG55G-4L7Dx-Rrpwh7fYcnKlSuk_Ru2vekZOcw7bC9Go_0rs6mb6e4_p1oPHHPDWB0q1nPjN9D9745V0melfxm8WhU/s1600-h/RedHookGrainTerminalSM.jpg" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em; text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422997361192878498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKwdUS4KikWkiyaXi-Jpxi0Pi_DjTYN7QttyZcMcVTcWFFAItsflG55G-4L7Dx-Rrpwh7fYcnKlSuk_Ru2vekZOcw7bC9Go_0rs6mb6e4_p1oPHHPDWB0q1nPjN9D9745V0melfxm8WhU/s640/RedHookGrainTerminalSM.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 800px;" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOofmua8U0XXgHMsOhF05YC0n9ErDafL7-2VquCnrqaRLTxUeEsO0z2dySTPcbJrvInGjF8m0pYIXk_QRH2LN2PymjkXoUhEWTATZ_w51p0_8mpLSJrq5ec7XHRSnOGKG6o1JI3EmERy3w/s1600-h/RedHookGrainTerminalLG.jpg" style="color: #5688aa; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422997259113926498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOofmua8U0XXgHMsOhF05YC0n9ErDafL7-2VquCnrqaRLTxUeEsO0z2dySTPcbJrvInGjF8m0pYIXk_QRH2LN2PymjkXoUhEWTATZ_w51p0_8mpLSJrq5ec7XHRSnOGKG6o1JI3EmERy3w/s640/RedHookGrainTerminalLG.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 800px;" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdDHxZstL9dAuOWREnOD0WFsMl7FmFGuYa_NitoeDk-zle6xPsmU7HflQQrO7S-Vzcm8qsSida_PZeErbwn_wyx87hZckONtFmGBeW09kzlKmYFPOmflc1QHvil1spb7qIrAq06a57qUL/s1600-h/RedHookGrainTerminalSM.jpg" style="color: #5688aa; text-decoration: none;"><br /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMhOChLHJgWZfaAg_Jk9SfiANNzv6SjHR9NkJAlR2O8AjdafULdBMfL6llxm7VsF_xYVdCGetiXQE-XqU3L9j3htZ51oQ5aBYnuva8YD4XkRyFEOixx9d1nR5ol__zfB3aStnLK9R95y5/s1600-h/RedHookGrainTerminalLOC.jpg" style="color: #5688aa; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6em; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422993948623551266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMhOChLHJgWZfaAg_Jk9SfiANNzv6SjHR9NkJAlR2O8AjdafULdBMfL6llxm7VsF_xYVdCGetiXQE-XqU3L9j3htZ51oQ5aBYnuva8YD4XkRyFEOixx9d1nR5ol__zfB3aStnLK9R95y5/s400/RedHookGrainTerminalLOC.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 291px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;">
</span>
<br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;">These were done late in November. Back when the air was merely brisk, well before it turned so bitterly cold.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;">This is the abandoned Grain Terminal in Red Hook. It is a wonderfully odd structure for NYC, with it's scores of soaring silos. I hope to do another from a closer vantage point. Intimidated by the rapidly changing water, I practiced with a little one first. It was done in my tiny Moleskine, the other in the larger book. I also found a photo taken from the smaller tower on the roof of the building. The arrow indicates my location, when the sketches were done.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;">The photo was not taken by me. It comes from this site:</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.hermanyung.com/red-hook-grain/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: inherit;">http://www.hermanyung.com/red-hook-grain/</span></a></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;">Here you can also find some great photos of the interior of this old beast.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;">Happy New Year to All.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.6em;">
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
bbelairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13492975956576531728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416042519295889506.post-36652260628243274922013-03-22T22:09:00.000-07:002013-04-18T14:36:10.015-07:00CAUGHT-UP IN RED HOOK<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON <span class="Apple-style-span" style="letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none;"><a href="http://www.urbansketchers.org/2009/10/meet-correspondents-new-york-city-butch.html">Urban Sketchers</a></span>,TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2009</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="date-posts">
<div class="post-outer">
<div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;">
<div class="post-header-line-1" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynNVrtN8qkGRLYeVWCP0_SXJ4ZutAXotFjAe7LHLUEUpnYKAGKFhbVVQU7B0ecMDUOjuuI2HgtqYZOUPJkxOBBZIh_wYMo53OlMTqEst2x8YEihQiARuMJjtIy299pCTLP8fDlpBqdO5U/s1600/RedHookHouse1.jpg" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405118759335957922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynNVrtN8qkGRLYeVWCP0_SXJ4ZutAXotFjAe7LHLUEUpnYKAGKFhbVVQU7B0ecMDUOjuuI2HgtqYZOUPJkxOBBZIh_wYMo53OlMTqEst2x8YEihQiARuMJjtIy299pCTLP8fDlpBqdO5U/s1600/RedHookHouse1.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 800px;" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
Inspired by Stephen Gardner's masterful sketch of the same building, I made my way over to Red Hook yesterday to try my hand at this Brooklyn icon.</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I may have to try again. Too caught-up in the details, I failed to capture this eccentric old lady. Hat's off to S.G.</span><br />
<div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">On a side note; a friend sent me this link to a collection of travel sketches by John Fischetti. Fischetti was an illustrator for Esquire and the Chicago Sun Times, among others. I enjoyed seeing them. Hope you do too.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://bibliodyssey.blogspot.com/2009/11/fischetti-travel-sketches.html</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
bbelairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13492975956576531728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416042519295889506.post-14671635088420840432013-03-22T22:03:00.003-07:002013-04-18T14:36:32.436-07:00CREATURE OF HABIT<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON <span class="Apple-style-span" style="letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none;"><a href="http://www.urbansketchers.org/2009/10/meet-correspondents-new-york-city-butch.html">Urban Sketchers</a></span>,MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009</span></div>
<div class="date-posts">
<div class="post-outer">
<div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;">
<div style="color: #333333;">
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4416042519295889506" name="8699913833954576906"></a></div>
</div>
<div class="post-header-line-1" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLKal2dxz3-wdqKc1VAcCk84Lo3achj_hyphenhyphencuB4VaUuAqwm4QT6c8WEmPGHAdQYqUOHjQSrV8X-WkPtiZr01mPpg7Qvp40BwpsgDrvignL5KZbJYsejahrhg2UcxzZItbjItDE2QqOaVUd/s1600/ChurchBway11th.jpg" style="color: black; text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404766554297331634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLKal2dxz3-wdqKc1VAcCk84Lo3achj_hyphenhyphencuB4VaUuAqwm4QT6c8WEmPGHAdQYqUOHjQSrV8X-WkPtiZr01mPpg7Qvp40BwpsgDrvignL5KZbJYsejahrhg2UcxzZItbjItDE2QqOaVUd/s400/ChurchBway11th.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 127px;" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJCn8pBv96I9Cf0GcLWvy3nurXm16LrOoVSFrqvh6J-uDFzDI2Oxah5BJPkatrXYqR1O6OL3KBNOhAB4nefH7VHnrcXw6my9pNFafcgV2Qgn8ObepYKVo-M8bvnTOG_00JkQRe9_0e5WF/s1600/UnionSquare3.jpg" style="color: #5688aa; font-family: Georgia, serif; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404766475933491698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJCn8pBv96I9Cf0GcLWvy3nurXm16LrOoVSFrqvh6J-uDFzDI2Oxah5BJPkatrXYqR1O6OL3KBNOhAB4nefH7VHnrcXw6my9pNFafcgV2Qgn8ObepYKVo-M8bvnTOG_00JkQRe9_0e5WF/s400/UnionSquare3.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 126px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I have a regular appointment on Mondays near Union Square and I usually carry a 3x5 Moleskine with me. So, more out of convenience than design, here are two more quick sketches from that area. These are from last week.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I need to get out more.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
bbelairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13492975956576531728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416042519295889506.post-52679729055473285452013-03-22T21:57:00.000-07:002013-04-18T14:36:43.161-07:00KICKED TO THE CURB<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON <span class="Apple-style-span" style="letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none;"><a href="http://www.urbansketchers.org/2009/10/meet-correspondents-new-york-city-butch.html">Urban Sketchers</a></span>,THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2009</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="date-posts">
<div class="post-outer">
<div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;">
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4416042519295889506" name="1891526220416508401"></a></div>
<div class="post-header-line-1" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMd6n7sMcs-of4U9Ja4mcQYhR2r259QM0MtH5z0goGSUmieLvnT9rc5DNDtWbI5x7cMb1lgMzXJ2cQAsOPsXL8HnldMHiPN0C6QAiOnYV2Sz3lixpNqQ_diloxw9WbB_3hAHRHxFvhB-fu/s1600-h/UnionSquare2.jpg" style="color: black; text-decoration: underline;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400679550147246642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMd6n7sMcs-of4U9Ja4mcQYhR2r259QM0MtH5z0goGSUmieLvnT9rc5DNDtWbI5x7cMb1lgMzXJ2cQAsOPsXL8HnldMHiPN0C6QAiOnYV2Sz3lixpNqQ_diloxw9WbB_3hAHRHxFvhB-fu/s320/UnionSquare2.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysGz5JaI5Yu1aBzXSGMZ7aCjvoJJovYoGR6djzzIJQQY-L3hamZ7vfdIZRikNHq1WGeecx2OnHvCeXIl1mB4cPc6erZx8OLTs4LefndyFCCJfHBpyV6l7-Y2wjdsQOvBaVspQPiEqhyphenhyphenyB/s1600-h/UnionSquare.jpg" style="color: #5688aa; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400679005768810530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysGz5JaI5Yu1aBzXSGMZ7aCjvoJJovYoGR6djzzIJQQY-L3hamZ7vfdIZRikNHq1WGeecx2OnHvCeXIl1mB4cPc6erZx8OLTs4LefndyFCCJfHBpyV6l7-Y2wjdsQOvBaVspQPiEqhyphenhyphenyB/s320/UnionSquare.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 192px;" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Possibly through laziness and frustration, lately I have been working from photos.</span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I often see things I would like to draw at the most inconvenient times. I began carrying a small camera to grab a shot or two and got into the habit of keeping prints of these images in my sketch bag, just in case, on the day I set aside to draw, the weather, parking restrictions or my aging back prevented me from finding a suitable subject or vantage point. I found I could retire to a coffee shop or some other agreeable joint and draw from one of the photos.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Cheating, I know.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The odd part is that I found myself surrendering my searches for "live" settings earlier and earlier, knowing the photos and a comfy chair were at my disposal.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">To my eye, when done in this manner, my drawings are different. I can't say better or worse, simply different. But the contrast, in the actual experience of drawing, is night and day.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The connection to the surrounding turf is severed by the photo. The acute sounds and smells I can later recall from an on-site sketch have a disjointed quality. Like poor phone reception the sense of being there, is muddled and interrupted. When all is done, pens and brushes stowed, and I am taking that last look around, there is none of that familiar satisfaction.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">All this is to say, these two small sketches are all I can offer at the moment, as far as new work, done on sight.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Cheers,</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">B.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
bbelairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13492975956576531728noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4416042519295889506.post-89358820648558194892013-03-22T16:13:00.000-07:002013-04-18T14:37:02.947-07:00GLAD TO BE DRAWING AGAIN<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Originally posted on <a href="http://www.urbansketchers.org/2009/10/meet-correspondents-new-york-city-butch.html">Urban Sketchers</a>, October 31, 2009</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTX_qJsQoAa_I98WOxlzR28mhxgF2lcqELJz2CXsDJqLhDvc9OrENv0DlSeKKZoNWIdci2WnZiJ5r27VJE4ZM6y0nrSD7AA-PpPjynSnaD977yLGMmQpe_iURPxiQim5hhxRL1-kw4ak/s1600-h/butchbelairphoto.jpg" style="color: #5688aa; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398844703452717778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTX_qJsQoAa_I98WOxlzR28mhxgF2lcqELJz2CXsDJqLhDvc9OrENv0DlSeKKZoNWIdci2WnZiJ5r27VJE4ZM6y0nrSD7AA-PpPjynSnaD977yLGMmQpe_iURPxiQim5hhxRL1-kw4ak/s1600/butchbelairphoto.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 195px;" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiYMzB9mG2pzsKE17tyboYl3dKk-53-Ng5nr3HSDIM2LUwu9otzhp4re-KkBL0lOXMOgwA6QLcq_vbaKWnyRNt8d2eFCgm8k2PfnXsRLlQi9wSeOl8_ZqyTU5CQgSfhwr9HQz5eetBSo/s1600/Manhattan+ave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiYMzB9mG2pzsKE17tyboYl3dKk-53-Ng5nr3HSDIM2LUwu9otzhp4re-KkBL0lOXMOgwA6QLcq_vbaKWnyRNt8d2eFCgm8k2PfnXsRLlQi9wSeOl8_ZqyTU5CQgSfhwr9HQz5eetBSo/s1600/Manhattan+ave.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"I'm a photographer and digital artist living in Brooklyn. Perhaps because I work in advertising where many hands shape my work, drawing is something I do for myself, like a meditation: sitting for long stretches of time, calmed by the varied forms, texture and fabric of the city and how they are changed and shaped by light. I appreciate the press of time and striving to keep my composure as the light rapidly changes, hoping to capture the small details without losing the overall mood. I aspire to be focused and open at the same time, constantly intrigued by what something actually looks like, as opposed to the idea of it in my head. I drew a lot as a kid, but lost interest for reasons I can't recall. A few years back I started drawing again with a pen and a sketchbook and have since been testing my hand at watercolor. Now, if I could, I would do little else."</span>bbelairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13492975956576531728noreply@blogger.com0