Kallitechnia Bedroom Bubble

Eroticism and public sex were a big part of the Kallitechnian ethos, according to my client. It was pretty obvious that he enjoyed embodying his own fantasies in his imaginary world. I was thankfully excused from drawing anything X-rated but the element could easily be suggested. This all-glass "bubble bedroom," designed by the client, was on top of a residence building, connected with the dome but equipped with an outdoor terrace. The big bed was installed under the air-conditioned or heated dome so the users could be there in any kind of weather. There were also bathroom and shower facilities, enclosed within translucent egg-like modules. The sexual activity of the residents on the bed could easily be seen from the middle levels of the houses. In Kallitechnia, "privacy" as we know it was expressed quite differently from our lifestyles and customs. The Bubble Bedroom was quite a sight at night, lit up by colored lights and showing off many variations of Kallitechnian erotic behavior.

Black ink on illustration board, 11" x 9", June 1996. Click for a closer view.

Not a Dumpster

One of the rules of my "Drawing of the Day" is: No dumpsters. I won't draw them, despite my claim that anything can be given an artistic treatment. I may have drawn one or two in the past but not now. They are unsightly, chaotic, and they attract pests. They are not picturesque enough to be part of an "ashcan school" drawing. So what do you see in my April 5 drawing? Is it a dumpster? It's full of heavy trash, renovation remains it looks like, and some blue plastic wrap. But it is not a dumpster. It is NEXT to a dumpster. Which I didn't depict. Whatever this was, I liked the wood textures and the fallen plastic column, which gives it a sort of "classical ruin" look. Also, as you see in the text, it is the first outdoor drawing of 2016. I did it standing by my car, balancing the sketchbook on the fender next to the hood. Car with opened door and natural sunlight counts as "outdoors." Above is a light fixture at Starbucks, an interior drawing I didn't get to finish due to people needing my space for a meeting.

Tech pen black ink on sketchbook page, 5" x 8", April 5, 2016.

Tiny Art

Some years ago there was a short-lived fad for making miniature art pieces on paper cards no bigger than a credit card. They were called "artist trading cards" and artists could exchange them as originals, with an address and contact information on the back. The cards were available at the art materials store in packs. Seeing the work of my fellow artists on the cards, I bought a pack of them.

My good friend and blogging buddy Tristan had some too and suggested we exchange a pair of trading cards. He came forth with two images of what he did best, fantasy male humanoid spirits, and I set to work...and failed badly. Tristan had recommended that I do architectural details, especially Gothic or medieval. My attempt at a Gothic window was a mess. I wasn't used to working in a tiny size. I couldn't give that to Tristan! So I never did my part of the trade...until now. Instead of using the pre-made cards I cut my own set out of art paper with a smooth texture. My first attempt is a farmhouse carved wood porch scroll with a Virginia landscape in the background, just what I like to do best.

Here's my "Gothic" window. It isn't "realistic" but it sort of fits the idea. It actually looks a bit like Tristan's more decorative work, I think, but there's no vampire in it anywhere. 

Tristan even framed the pair he gave me but I didn't frame mine, I hope he doesn't mind.

Both pictures are ink, watercolor and acrylic bits on watercolor paper, 2 1/2" x 3 1/2", March 2016.

Gasbird

The Gasbird, a winged creature of refinement, sits in its bottle nest until it is time for the vapors to rise at which it flies into the air on a cloud of volatile hydrocarbons. It eats debris and sometimes other birds but lately it has been enhancing its diet by snatching drones from the air, crunching and eating them in one gulp.

Black tech pen ink on sketchbook page, 3" x 5", April 4, 2016.

Kallitechnia Town Square

You can't take a vacation in Kallitechnia. It is a closed community running an elaborate social experiment. The people who live there are of varied racial and ethnic backgrounds, and they have to learn to live together. I suspect that a stay in Kallitechnia was time-limited and you would have to go home to the "real world" and apply what you learned in the domed utopia. I never knew what kind of politics these people practiced, though the author was a libertarian. Here in the village you see a scene that I derived from my years in Italy, with a town square, a central fountain, shops, restaurants, and vendors. In the lower right hand corner you can see the author-client, looking through prints at a stand on the street. 

Original art was black ink on illustration board, 11" x 14", February 1996.

The Markers in the Circular Case

As most of you know, I have more markers than any reasonable person, even an artist, should have. When I see a selection in an enticing case, I just have to have it, even if the colors are already in my collection. Some years ago I bought a big marker collection which was kept in an interesting circular plastic case which folded at its diameter, thus providing space for more than 100 water-based markers. I used it a lot when I was doing experimental doodles back in the earlier years of this Blog. I still have the marker set but some of them have dried up. I perform my "Marker Funeral" on them and bid them goodbye. But many of them are still good and I was able to make this modest effort with my circular case markers. 

There are a lot of new marker products around now because of the popularity of "adult coloring books." Most of them, including my circular case set, are saturated bright colors, which is not really what I want. I collect markers in earth, sky, and landscape tones. For these you have to pay more because they are for the professional market though I'm sure the coloring crowd enjoys them too. Some markers last a surprisingly long time if you don't open them too much. Others, like light blue, disappear fast because I use it for sky colors. And all these markers fade, unless they are specifically marked as "pigment ink." I can go on for hours about markers, which may suggest that I don't have a life. I do have a life, but it is a shelf-life.

Markers on sketchbook page, blue background added in Photoshop, 6 1/2" x 5 1/2", April 2, 2016.

Kallitechnia archways

My Kallitechnia client wanted to show that his utopian community was a fun place with plenty of complex architecture to wander about in. He wanted it furnished with stores, restaurants, roof gardens, and other pleasant features. The main design style was Art Nouveau, and he gave me a picture book of Art Nouveau architecture to use as a style model. I based the alleyways and spaces on Mediterranean hill villages, especially those which have been restored as resorts for tourists.To the upper left in this picture is the glassed-in dome that is the communal space, warm and protected even in the winter.

Original illustration is ink on illustration board, 11" x 14", February 1996. Click for larger view.