Young Sinatra

I just finished reading the fascinating book Hit Makers: The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction Hardcover by Derek Thompson. In his book, Thompson states that studies have proven that most people stop listening to new music after the age of thirty. It’s like people lock in a permanent playlist and only listen to that. I definitely must not be the norm. I’m always on a quest to find new music to listen to. Last year, I was into listening to blue grass and traditional folk music. It seems in the last few months I have been listening to all sorts of Big Band music from the 1930s and 40s people like Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and many others. Of course, each Big Band had singers accompany them. Young Frank Sinatra was a singer for the Tommy Dorsey Band before he struck out on his own. I did this portrait of young Frank Sinatra in watercolor and colored pencils. What’s on your current playlist? What new music have you been listening to, if any?

One is for Crows (or Magpies)

One is for Crows (or Magpies)

I came across this old-fashioned nursery rhyme in a mystery book I was reading.  It was funny because I had just started to draw a picture of a crow.  I had since seen the nursery rhyme on two TV shows that I admire.  I thought it was some kind of sign, so I included it with the drawing.  It turns out the nursery rhyme is really about magpies which are in the same family of birds as crows.  The picture I was working from was of a crow standing in the grass.  I couldn’t see what his feet looked like so I googled crows’ feet and a ton of people came up with lines around their eyes (aka wrinkles).  I had to chuckle.  I finally found a picture of a crow’s foot and completed the drawing. 

johnny b goode tonight

During my freshman year, at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, I really don’t know how I got the money (having very limited funds) or even who I went with for that matter.  I do remember, my very first ride on the L train to the historic Aragon Ballroom.  That evening there was a beautiful sunset.  It was truly mesmerizing.  Seeing the sunset from the L train, made me realize that living in a dorm in downtown Chicago I was surrounded by skyscrapers.  Needless to say, we didn’t see the sunrise or sunset.  In the 1930’s, during the age of the big bands, the Aragon Ballroom was a big deal.  It had fallen on hard times, the people that bought it in the 70’s decided they would host monster rock shows there.  The ballroom was an architectural wonder.  It was a sight to be seen with a second floor balcony that wrapped around the main floor.  The balcony overlooked the dance floor.  The ceiling was painted with vivid imaginary in a lifelike sky with projected images with clouds that moved from one end of the ballroom to the next.  I remembered watching them as much as the concert.  Berry was 45 at the time of the concert and was backed up by a much younger band.  He pounded out all of his classic songs and strutted around the stage doing his famous duck walk.  He, of course, had the audience shouting as he played my Ding-A-Ling.  He truly was a great showman.  As John Lennon once said, “If there was another word for rock-n-roll, it would be Chuck Berry.”  RIP Chuck Berry.

Jeremiah

Jeremiah

Jeremiah was a student intern of mine about a decade ago.  She was a theater major and needed some publicity photos taken for her portfolio.  I said I would take the pictures if I had the rights to draw her portrait at a later date.  Ten years later, I finally got around to completing the portrait of Jeremiah.  It is clear that I’m a procrastinator.  The nice thing about being retired is that I have time to paint and draw from the stockpile of photos that I have always wanted to do yet never had the time.  Now I can devote the time I need to create without any constraints. 

"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...."

It seems like it was a long, long time ago (ok it was only the late 1970’s) that I was watching the previews for an upcoming movie.  I was blown away when the trailer came on for this new sci-fi movie. I turned to my girlfriend, at the time and said, “That looks like it’s going to be a really good movie!”  She said, “Why would anyone want to see a movie like that!?”  Which is probably one of the main reasons I’m not with her today.  Months later, I was standing in an extremely long line wrapped around the theater with what seemed like half the city of Rochester, waiting with anticipation to see the new sci-fi film, Star Wars.  The film seemed to have everything; incredible special effects, impressive music, a young hero on his first quest, a rogue pirate, a giant teddy bear-like eight foot tall creature, and a princess that was a damsel in distress…damsel in distress??? Say what?  What are you talking about?  This was no damsel in distress.  The character Princess Leia was no fairy tale princess.  She was the leader of the rebels, a warrior, and a force to be reckoned with.  She grabbed the blaster and led the charge and showed the men how it was done. The nineteen year old, young actress who starred in the role was Carrie Fisher.  She was the daughter of Hollywood superstar, Debbie Reynolds and singer Eddie Fisher.  Even though she would go on to star in many memorable movies and became a well-known author, I think she will always be remembered for her portrayal of Princess Leia.  I was really saddened to hear of the death of Carrie Fisher.  This portrait is in honor of her and the strong character she portrayed.

We think that our country is divided today, let's remember that in 1860 after one of the most bitter campaigns, the country had ever experienced, Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States. He was so disliked by certain factions in our country that he had to sneak into Washington D.C. at night, for his own safety, just before his inauguration. Of course, the division of the country eventually led to one of the bloodiest conflicts in the history of mankind. So during this Presidents' Day celebration let's remember the sacrifice that this man and our country made in order to ensure our union.
This drawing is watercolor and color pencil, type added in photoshop.

Happy Valentine's Day to my best buddy, Tessy Garrett!