Friday, September 29, 2017

Astoria



From the Astoria column.  The Astoria-Megler Bridge span is 4,062 miles in length.  The 1,233 foot long truss is the longest "continuous truss" in the nation.  Where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean.  Pen and ink drawing in my sketch book.  


Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Insight

I received an email from the university I earned my degree in art from.  I just realized I will never be asked to show my work at the gallery in my own school.  Why?  I studied illustration, not contemporary art.  Why?  So I could earn a living doing what I loved.  

Since 1980, the Art Gym has been recognized as a venue that exhibits some of the most significant and timely art of this region.  The mission of the gallery is to increase public understanding of the contemporary art of the Pacific Northwest through exhibitions, artists' projects, publications and public engagement.  

The trade off for attending a local institution whose focus is an art form I do not practice is I will never be considered significant or timely in their eyes.  Regrets?  Now that I've had thirty years to think about it... I should have gone to a school specializing in illustration.  I do appreciate the education I received but it has proven to have limitations but I did what I had to do to earn a degree in art while raising three small children.  And I LOVE the art of illustration.  If I could go back in time and tell me what I should do I would advise - don't compromise on your dream.  If there is something you want to do, figure out a way to do it.  Not half of it or part of it, the whole thing.  Life is not a dress rehearsal.  Only you can make it happen so make it happen.  It won't be easy but then someone once told me a long time ago, if it was easy, you wouldn't appreciate it.  

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

The Newels of Timberline Lodge

I've had a lot of fun drawing.  All of the rough drafts are done so now it's the inking phase.  It's very time consuming but very rewarding.  Here's a peek at some of them:  





Saturday, September 2, 2017

An update for the Timberline project


I took my rough sketches up to the mountain to check my work against the newels.  I have a couple of corrections to make but then I'm ready to begin inking them.  I've been up to the mountain dozens of times but over the years I can't say I've ever experienced 95 degrees at the lodge.  It's usually cooler up on the mountain but it sure wasn't today.