Recent Sketchbook Observations...

Here are sketchbook drawings from a recent trip to Buffalo. I traveled there to take care of my dad while he was having a surgical procedure (which went very well). Snowstorms were so frequent in February,  I decided it was safer to make the seven hour trip via train.  These are observations of fellow passengers, as well as patients and their families in the hospital.  I generally feel that sketches look empty without people inhabiting them, so I tried to capture at least one soul in each of these images.

A observation on Amtrak train 284, traveling across NY State

Surgery waiting room, Millard Filmore Suburban Hospital, Buffalo, NY

My father, waking up from his surgery. Fortunately, he recovered quickly.

A family waits for the father to be called into surgery.

A few observations from my seat on Amtrak Train 284, crossing NY State.

Thanks for visiting. You can view more sketchbook observations here.

Rhinecliff Station

 

  I drew this piece on August 27th at 12:56 PM at Rhinecliff Station. These passengers are waiting for the Amtrak Empire service to Penn Station. I used a train schedule as a canvas.  It's part of a series called Local Life, which is on display at Taste Budd's Cafe in Red Hook, until October 31st. If you're in the area, I hope you'll stop in and take a peek!

Commuters

A few months back, my friend Adam shared a photo he'd taken while waiting for a train into Penn Station. The panoramic image, which was shot on the Rhinecliff Station platform, captured such an amazing portrait of commuters. I attempted to capture the same spirit in a drawing. To add some authenticity to this portrait, I used an Amtrak Empire Service - Eastbound Timetable as my canvas. It was a lot of fun.

detail of left...

...detail of middle...

...detail of right

I used various mixed media in executing this drawing.

The photo that inspired my drawing, by Adam Aronson

Thanks to Adam Aronson for providing me 

with such inspiring and universal subject-matter .

Beautiful prints of this piece are now available here!

Wherever you're headed on life's tracks,

safe travels!

The Bill of Flights!

 

If summer travel plans are in the works, then you might relate to these drawings, commissioned by Derrick Gonzalez for the Wall Street Journal. He asked me to create spot illustrations about frustrating situations many airline passengers confront. The story is about how our government is addressing these problems.

This assignment resonated on a very personal level.  I was one of those unlucky travelers grounded due to one volatile volcano's recent activities. (In Iceland, this ash-spewing beast goes by the name of Eyjafjallajökull.)

The spots were to be circular and  have basic themes addressing issues such as cancellations, delays and lost baggage .  I decided to create the finals on a parchment paper that I've been experimenting with. This earthy paper helps create a unique pallet. Also, I find that adding the color white helps set off each image.  In any case, I hope these capture the frustration we feel when our travel plans go kablooey!

PS. I love brainstorming, so I always supply a healthy number of concepts for editors to choose from. Below are some examples of those choices:

Here's to a season of smooth, safe & relaxing travels! 

You can view my new illustration website here!