More Leesburg Log House

You may remember that in August I posted a picture of an old log house in Leesburg, VA. Well, here it is again, the Donaldson house right on one of the main streets of the historic Old Town. This time I drew it in colored ink which will be painted over in watercolor. For some reason, this drawing makes it look like a toy. I played with "Lincoln Logs" when I was a kid and I built things like this. I'd love to have Lincoln Logs to play with again.

Donaldson house is ink on Fabriano paper, 10" x 8", October 13-14, 2011.

Ornate Leesburg Facade

This ornate 19th century building facade was created by craftsmen in Leesburg, Virginia who wanted to show off their woodworking skills. It is the Norris House, which is now a bed and breakfast inn. The innkeepers are British expatriates, hence the Union Jack flying next to the Stars and Stripes. I had a nice conversation with them when I photographed the building for my reference, and I'd love to stay there someday. This drawing was done from one of the photographs I made on that day. (The usual disclaimer apology for not doing the drawing on site like a "real" artist.) Leesburg is full of interesting architecture and I am starting a series of architectural studies which will be shown in a gallery there.

"Norris House" is technical pen in brown ink on Fabriano paper, 8" x 10", October 12-13, 2011. Color will be added shortly.

Christian Wizard miniature

There has always been a connection between religion and magic. Magic seeks to influence reality by symbolic actions, and so does religion, though its attempts to influence reality (or God, if you wish) are more pleading than commanding. The "Deryni" series of author Katherine Kurtz, set in an imaginary medieval world where magic works as well as engineering, explore the boundaries between "legitimate" religion and "occult" magic. This nametag blank is a portrait of a non-specified wizard from the Deryni world, who conjures by magic as well as praying to God. Is that a good combination? The Inquisition would say no, but the fans say yes.

"Deryni Wizard" nametag miniature is ink and watercolor on Fabriano paper, 3 1/2" x 2 1/4", summer 1981.

Autumn Flyer Sign

This is what I've been working at for Trader Joe's lately. The design is not mine, it was done by a co-worker in the sign crew. The making of the signs was my job. The assignment was to make 12 identical signs, with the same design on both sides (it needed to be adjusted a little bit to reverse). That's 24 sides. The base material is Masonite, which was first primed with spray primer coat. Then I traced the design onto the boards. A helpful crewmember with a skill-saw cut them out to the shape you see. Then I painted them with spray paint. Due to bad weather which made it impossible to spray outdoors, I had to take them into my apartment and spray them all in my living room, on a surface of cardboard sheets and newspapers. When they were dry, I returned them to Trader Joe's and painted the details on the leaves with acrylic. Then after that I painted the yellow leaves and lettering onto the signs. That's 24 sign faces in about, uh, 42 hours. In an ideal workshop with enough space to work on them all simultaneously, I might have taken less time. They are now done and will be hanging in Trader Joe's Tysons today.

Koori's Nametag

When I was in Ireland long ago, I saw people (especially in the rural areas) who had hair so red it seemed literally to glow like neon lights. Their skin was pale pink and almost translucent, but they were not albinos. I suspect they were a little inbred, but this coloration would be worth it. I have never seen that color type anywhere else. Now imagine thousands and thousands of people with that rare coloration, and you have the population of fantasy heroines, both written and artistically depicted, emoting and enchanting their way through the genre you love and cherish, as the brown-haired unheroic non-entity that the reader is.

This nametag portrait of a Darkovan lovely was made for a fan who used the pseudonym "Koori," which was the name of a (non-red-haired alien) character on the 1979-1981 TV show, "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century."

Nametag miniature is ink and watercolor on Fabriano paper, 3 1/2 " x 2 1/4", July 1982.

The View from Willowcroft Winery

I brought the iPad back to a winery, being more confident now that I will not hit the wrong button and delete my drawing. I visited Willowcroft Winery, a very rustic place hidden away up a high hillside among estates and pastures. Willowcroft has one of the best views of any winery I know, and this is the view, done on site, plein iPad. I admit to a bit of Photoshop reworking after I brought it into the main system, but not much. The golden glow of sunrays over the mountains really exists, although it looks like special effects. The weather was absolutely perfect. I watched the hills change color as the sun set. Willowcroft, the oldest winery in Loudoun County, features a good selection of whites and reds, including an excellent off-dry Riesling blend and a spicy, warm Chambourcin, one of my favorite red varieties.

Willowcroft View is Autodesk Sketchbook Pro, about 14" x 10" original size, October 8, 2011.

Red Mercury Cougar

I took the iPad to "First Friday" where they show the vintage cars in the parking lot of "Art and Frame" gallery in Falls Church. This was a 1970 Mercury Cougar, beautifully restored in its original cherry-red color. I like the way the 1970s car designers bunched up the rear fenders over the back tires, so the shape resembled the back haunches of an animal ready to spring or pounce. You don't see a lot of new cars with that level of style.

Mercury muscle car is done in Autodesk Sketch Pro, October 7, 2011.