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NPR calendar and 3x3

It's been a busy summer, started the MFA program at Hartford and had a number of projects (not to mention a bit of teaching). Today, I received two big boxes of the NPR calendar I contributed to, above (top) is the image. The copy on my page (February) reads:
"As I write this, I am listening to the classical music stream from my local station, KSJN 995.FM in St. Paul Minnesota. I enjoy listening to a wide variety of music and programming NPR has to offer. The music becomes a part of my work, flows through it, as it is doing with this woman's knitting. The music is interwoven with the work, in this image, literally becoming a part of her project."

I also had two images selected for 3x3 (middle and bottom images), nice surprise. I'd forgotten about entering that one and had resigned myself to being snubbed by the competitions this year.

New bus sketches.

Here's another set from the last couple of weeks. When I can't find a good profile subject, I settle for the person sitting in front of me, the back of their head. Not as much character but still an interesting exercise.

Bus sketches

I've been more of a designer than a drawer lately, so I thought I should get back to it by using my bus rides as opportunities for some observational drawing. Here are a few from this week.

Portrait study

This is a study from a sketch for a killed story, thought I would carry it through as a little portrait exercise.

A far country

This image ran in the March 4 issue of the San Francisco Chronicle. It was for a review of Daniel Mason's "A Far Country," about a girl searching for her lost brother. Here is a link to the story online.

Further letting go, this piece used only two paths for the eye shapes. Everything else was "hand" painted using a layer mask, last vestige of control (other than undo). The background pattern is from a gravestone rubbing.

The view is through the girl's eyes as she searches for her lost brother. What we/she sees is a memory of him or how she imagined he left.

Oscar night benefit

This is for a local benefit for the Minnesota AIDS project, an Oscar night benefit at the State Theater in Minneapolis. Attendees enjoy appetizers and desserts from local restaurants while watching the awards ceremony live on the big screen.

Adoption piece final

here is the sketch and the final image for the adoption story. again with this piece, i used only a two paths taking a much more relaxed and freer approach with less control.

Adoption piece study

This is a color study for a story I'm working on about adoption. The sketch didn't fit the space or the story but I did a color study anyway. In Photoshop, I usually create a number of paths that I use for masks and selections but with this piece I just worked with the pencil and eraser tools, collaging and painting texture. Without a net, less control.

Welcome...

...to my studio blog where I will post examples of my professional work, personal work, and elements of my process.