Self-Portrait (10-04-11)

It looks like I am working on self-portraits again... something I tend to do when I am getting more introspective.

Conflicted?

My Hand (10-04-11)

One of those things I will do to kill time is to try to draw my hand drawing; it's pretty difficult to do and it keeps me busy for a while...

Portrait: D.Martinez (09-27-11)

This is a quick portrait I did of one of my students as I was explaining the things we were going to cover during the class I teach at the Milwaukie Center, such art materials, recording activities in our sketchbook, drawing in comics format, etc.

Ten Year Tribute (09-11-11)

It's been ten years since the infamous date of September 11, 2001. A shocking day, and the world has not been the same since.

I'm not much for retrospectives, but I decided to go back to my sketchbook of the time and scan the artwork I had done then.

Horror

This is still a very powerful image; the flames from the underside of the plane represent a rip through the fabric of everyday life, bringing about horrible things.

Ruins

 This is a mournful image, a twisted castle of smoke...

Stop in Aberdeen (09-04-11)

On the way down the Washington State Coast, we stopped for food and gas in Aberdeen, a pretty ghastly place. We had a great meal at Billy's Bar and Grill, a charming, old-fashioned restaurant in the only old building I saw in the town.

Beach in Washington State (09-97-11)

I am timid when it comes to watercolors, but I tried to put my impressions of the Washington Coast on paper.

Models (09-01-11)

Quick sketches of fashion models...

The Money Changer (09-03-11)

My son Chris and I went to one of those traveling coin merchant shows who take out fill-page ads in the paper "We Give Cash for Silver and Gold! Great Rates!" Of course, despite the lavish advertisement, it turns out that the rates offered are, in fact, pretty bad...

Edward... Twilight... Arrrgh! (08-25-11)

I've watched two of the Twilight movies so far and I can only say one thing: they do nothing for me. The plots are terrible, and the acting (what acting?!) is dismal. As for me, I was snickering the entire time.

Tormented, probably from having to pretend to act

 Anyway, here is Edward, as drawn while watching the movie in the dark at one of the city parks (insert sound of swooning audience...)

Interpretation Job (09-04-11)

I worked on an conference interpretation project where the clients communicated by Skype; so during lulls, I drew the two French participants.

Barbecue at Patrick's Parents' House (08-20-11)

Our daughter Valérie and her boyfriend Patrick are planning to get married in October; we're very excited. We were invited to his parents' house in Springfield for a barbecue. I took the opportunity to do a small panorama sketch of some of the adults at the dining room table.

Memorial for Dr. Richards (08-13-11)

We wouldn't have missed the memorial for Dr. Richards for anything in the world. He was a beloved teacher among music circles, and we'll miss his gentle presence and his sense of humor.

A remarkable man

Inside the Chapel at Lewis & Clark College

The meeting inside the Chapel was emotional and underlined the range of people who were touched by this great teacher.

A great Dixieland Quintet was playing for the crowds exiting the Chapel

Art Class at the Milwaukie Center (07-27-11)

I drew this sketch of some of the students in the Sketching for Journaling class I teach at the Milwaukie Center. We worked on outdoor scenery elements in the lovely community garden at the back of the building.

The challenge I encountered in this exercise was to keep everything on a grid, with credible perspective reflecting my position on a higher plane. Pretty tough!

New Seasons Job Fair in Southwest Portland (07-07-11)

I went to the New Seasons Job Fair on Allen Blvd. in Beaverton and spent a few hours working on the following panorama of the people waiting to get called in for their chance at getting a job at the new Progress Ridge store that will open next month.

The book I used was a small Moleskine accordion fold book, and the scene reflects a 360 degrees view of what was going on around me. This was a fun project, but not an easy task, since I had to carefully compare the proportions of the people in relationship to each other... The last panels are sketches of people's faces, and I tied everything together with a self-portrait holding the book and drawing.

Blues Festival on the Waterfront (07-03-11)

It looks like things were pretty regimented at the Waterfront Blues Festival this year: chairs could be no taller than a specific height, blankets no be larger than a specific size (different is it's a blanket for two vs. a blanket for four...), not pests, err...no pets whatsoever.

So, armed with our (non-regulation) fold-out chairs, Gary, Valérie and I went to brave the crowds and listen to some good music this afternoon. We found a spot on one of the lawns, incurred the territorial irritation of a few people, but such is life...

It's un-be-lie-va-ble how many people were there! We were all piled up in one place for the concerts, and anyone sitting close to the stage, got their ears blasted off, those further away had to resort looking at a screen (we could have brought binoculars). As for those who were cross with us because of our chairs, the minute the concert started, the people in front stood up and blocked their view anyway...

 But Gosh, how I LOVE the Blues! It's everything "America" to me... at least, everything I've always associated with yearning for a place where anything (good) can happen.

The big event of the night was Buddy Guy, who was pretty funny and a virtuoso at the guitar, but I also liked Patrick Lamb's band. What a great time!...

Good looking young guy

There was also a little kid tirelessly dancing in the crowd that got everyone around rooting for him...

People Studies at Blues Festival (07-02-11)

http://www.waterfrontbluesfest.com/On the way home, I stopped on top of the Hawthorne Bridge to draw people at the Waterfront Blues Festival, a perfect way to enjoy the good weather (and one of the only sunny days we've had so far this year).

The drawings below look like caricatures because people were moving along pretty fast, so one focuses on catching general details (I know, a contradictory statement) that give personality to the subjects (whether size, clothing, hair, etc.).

Mensa Conference in Portland (07-02-11)

So... I read in the Oregonian that Mensa was holding its annual conference in Portland, and I decided to take on the challenge and try out for the test (it's this thing I gotta prove to myself that I can still be one of the best...)

Well, I most likely FLUNKED! I finished only TWO out of 20 Math questions... Arrrgh! Even after all these years in the U.S., I can't make any sense out of the U.S. measuring system and I freeze the minute I see the words "Gallon" or "Yard"... As for the other tests, either I ran out of time, - my brain was playing elevator music to itself -, or the very 70s retro graphic images were so tinny, I couldn't figure out what they were (aside from something that looked like mashed up intestines...).

A reaffirming message to remember

Taking the test gave me a pass to attend the conference the same day and I went to an informative workshop given by French member Thierry Brunel, about Gifted Adults in the Workplace. Small consolation about the test: he advised me that one should always take the test that applies to one's native culture...

Meeting for the Pacific NW Region members

Girls at Pioneer Courtyard Square

Dr. Sketchy Life Drawing Session (06-26-11)

A fun and challenging way to do life drawings of models in costume: Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School. This takes place the last Sunday of the month at Crush Bar on Morrison St.

An unusually tall girl...

Moho Rising Party (06-24-11)

We went to check out the Morrison Hotel in SE, because I always I am game for a good time and I thought that G. might like the ambiance. It was pretty cool, because of the relaxed set-up, the cool Jim Morrison memorabilia and posters on the walls... The classic rock played by DJ Nate C was great, and they were offering Happy Hours Specials all evening.

Moso enjoying the food...

Cool open back paisly dress

Diet Workshop at New Seasons (06-23-11)

It's not that I eat poorly, - because I don't -, but I can't seem to lose any weight, EVER, and after a recent conversation with a massage therapist, I decided to make an effort at eating healthy foods and to start by attending one of the classes offered by New Seasons, to learn more about anti-inflammatory diets.

I tried to take notes but, as usual, I ended up drawing... Some pleasantly puzzling information I overheard (probably due to my not paying close attention) was that butter is good for you. Now, that was great news to me, since I've been feeling guilty all these years for slathering it with jam on sandwiches! Better not trust my ears though, and read the copious amount of information that was provided...

At the Rural Auction (06-21-11)

...Trying out my Pitt brush markers...

What I like about the auction is that one sees all kinds of people, and not just hipsters or the usual city types as in Portland. Here, we have a sampler of humanity, from the well-dressed to the bedraggled, all as they are, mostly imperfect, but memorable.