Watercolor Head Games

the Cranes of Mare Island

A friend expressed surprise and amusement at the play on words in the title, "The Cranes of Mare Island."

They might have been drawings of birds.

I'm not trying to be funny.  Just trying to create interest.

It's also a comment on how industry has replaced environment.

Mare Island is a former major Naval shipyard.

These two 5" X 7" drawings in ink on paper will be shown in the TINY exhibition at the Studio Gallery 1815 Polk Street, San Francisco --November 11 to December 23, 2010.

 

 

The Stamp Act

A new stamp for my business cards.

Drawing on the Rose

You might be right if you've begun to come to the conclusion that I am already half way there to going off in the deep end of the pool of California Naturalism. I was once a New Yorker myself, and I remember the general consensus had been that Left Coast art was not ambitious --didn't have "edge" and all too frequently fell beholden to the film industry. But I have found that these varied artists and their legacy and progeny worked hard to maintain a set of skills that would be familiar to traditional artists of centuries past. They are present and open in life. They are observant of the world around them. These they share, not only by teaching but in the very images produced. It is a healthy and vibrant art community supported by the loyalty of an enthusiastic audience.

a favorite piece from the deYoung Museum

Earthenware from West Mexico between 300 BC and 300 AD

Planes of the Head

Just got the mannequin head by John Asaro. Great learning tool.

I arrived a little late but found many sketchcrawlers already in the park. A kid was astounded to see all this art on the hoof. 10 years old with the face of a man. His name is Gabriel.
I found Gary on crutches but his sense of direction was intact. He led us right into some sort of a celebration involving dancing lions with giant heads. And an eardrum assault by a longrope of firecrackers accompanied by a crash and drum band.
There is a drawing of a kid named Gerard playing cymbols and a lion dancing and a lion's head. Chinatown has these magnificent streetlamps. Everybody had to draw at least one. And it seems each block had a draping of paper lanterns.
After lunch I came out into bright sunlight and deep shadows; the jumble and bustle of a chinatown street.
This guy was playing a two stringed instrument called an ERHU. He quite happily played and posed while puffing on a cigarette. After a while he came over to spell the name of his instrument on my drawing.