Mission Sketches

We attended a family gathering this past Sunday at the historic MISSION INN in Riverside, California. This spanish style building was built first built in 1903 by entrepreneur Frank Miller (obviously not the Sin City artist) and over the years, was added on to and remodeled and became the pride of the city of Riverside known for it's orange groves.

According to local history, the building was one vote shy of being demolished at one point until a buyer swooped in and saved it from the wrecking ball. Much of the old hotel's spanish inspired architecture still exists which is great for sketching. Both sketches where done on a Moleskin mini watercolor pad. The church was colored with Photoshop using a Nagel series watercolor brush while the facade was watercolored by hand and is an un-altered scan. (except for saturation and levels)

Thr photos where taken with my Apple iPhone 3G and processed with the Camera Bag app.

Leader of the Pack

I finally got to see the movie almost everyone is talking about in SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. I often say that "complete" movie experiences are rare these days so it's a treat when you see one.

Slumdog has been fueled by positive reviews and great word of mouth recommendation which sometimes can be the kiss of death. (at least for me) But I can say that this movie is worth all the adoration and excitement it's getting.

How far will you go to survive? To achieve your goals? To find true love? Some of us don't have to risk much yet some have to do much more just to keep living. And through all of these trials one's character is tested and real heroes are born or lost. This is the constant ebb and flow at the heart of the human experience.

I won't spoil anything else here and just say that director Danny Boyle does a spectacular job story telling both in the visual and the narrative and manages to transport the audience to a world that is rarely seen in this manner.

And if you need a little lift in the spirit department, this movie is pure rocket fuel.

RA + 4

This blog is a whopping four years old and time once again to look back at another great year of posts and interaction from all of you who have taken time to do so.

The blogosphere has exploded and undergone quite a transformation since I started in 2005. For us artists, the impact has been tremendous and art blogging has become a standard for anyone trying to make a statement with their work and their opinions.

Thank you to all of you who have continued to stop by as well as the countless blogs who have been kind to have added a link to this place.

Here's to another great year.

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Below are some recent mini-doodles done in ballpoint pen on a tiny 2 x 4 inch sketchbook I recently acquired. It's small enough to fit in any pocket and great for capturing quick gestures as well as jotting down ideas. The last sketch is a hold over from my DVR sketching sessions.

Couldn't help but color this ballpoint sketch on Photoshop...

This is the aforementioned mini-sketchpad made by Flip Notes

Stormy

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