Address Your Stress

Here's an ad I illustrated for Kripalu Institute - a yoga retreat located in the Berkshire Mountains. The ad appeared in the New Yorker - and is geared towards stressed-out city folks. Kripalu is a peaceful escape from the hectic grind of life in the Big Apple. Thanks to Elena Erber for a perfectly stress-free assignment.

Here are ideas I submitted for this ad:

If you ever need to address your stress - at home or in the office, 

please try these five minute yoga exercises  which I animated.

You can do them right in front of your computer!

namaste.

Musicians in Motion

Drawing musicians as they perform live can be thrilling. It doesn't matter whether you're listening to blues, punk, hip-hop, classical or folk - the energy of the music usually translates into the picture. I drew this portrait of Co. Bruce Hampton (above) on Saturday evening as he played a free concert in my town. This reminded me of a variety of musical performances I've attended in recent years. I hope you enjoy this retrospective...

Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra

Pete Seeger (still going strong at 92 years old)

Robert Randolph and the Family Band - Red Hook, NY   9-18-11

Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra     Buffalo, NY   5.26.12

Chris Martin of Coldplay performing at Sirius XM studios, NY  08.07.14

American Symphony Orchestra - Bard College

Arrested Development - Buffalo, NY - 7-05-12

The Tubes perform White Punks on Dope   Red Hook, NY 9-19-12

Strunz and Farah    Troy,  NY   4-15-12

Pete and Peggy Seeger      Woodtock, NY      3-17-12

Outer Circle Orchestra    Buffalo, NY   7-05-12

Leon Botstein conducts the American Symphony Orchestra at Bard College

Thanks for viewing. 

http://www.danielbaxter.com/sketchbook/

Summer's End...

This is one of the last sketches I drew at the Red Hook Pool this season. A lifeguard taking down their umbrella may be an apt metaphor for saying goodbye to Summer. Here's to a beautiful Autumn.

Onlookers at the Mad Dash 10K run  in Rhinebeck, NY, Labor Day

Tough night in the Emergency Room. Thankfully, all's well now.

Thanks for viewing. You can see more sketchbook excerpts here.

Fala

I'm thrilled to have sold this piece at the RHCAN gallery today. This Scottish terrier, Fala, was FDR's beloved sidekick throughout the latter part of his presidency. He had strong local roots - having been born in Rhinebeck, NY - and having spent much time at FDR's Hyde Park estate. I'm glad this portrait of Fala has found a new home, and will stay in the Hudson Valley.

You read about my Going Postal series (drawings inspired by postage stamps) here.

Or you can see the full collection - and other personal work here.

Focus on Faculty

Here's my cover for the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine's alumni magazine. PCOM is one of America's oldest and most prestigious medical schools. I was asked to portray these beloved faculty members in one portrait. Logistically, it was a big challenge to capture thirteen individual personalities - and organize them in the context of a group surrounding the school seal. Thanks to editor, Jennifer Leone, who did a wonderful job of walking me through the process.

The wrap-around cover portrays PCOM students looking on admiringly at the faculty.

I'm honored to be the first illustrator to have contributed to PCOM's Digest.

You can view my new illustration website here!

Greatest Kid Detectives

Congratulations to Michael Beil, who's Red Blazer Girls landed in Huffington Post's list of greatest kid detectives. I've been fortunate to supply the illustrations for this young-adult series - about a smart (and fun) group of 7th Grade sleuths. Here's a little retrospective...

 

My daughter is a big fan of this series:-)

A special thanks to Kate Gartner for her excellent art direction...

... and to Michael Beil - who brought these lovable detectives to life,
and created a fantastic mystery series.

You can view my new illustration website here!

Gripping Issues

Like many Americans, I've been trying to get a handle on why gun violence is so pervasive in our society. What if you could hold the issues leading to this bloodshed in your hand? What would they be?

With nearly 300,000,000 firearms in circulation, could access to guns simply be too easy? Has gun lobby been too successful (to the detriment of greater society)?

Gun violence is plentiful in American films and TV shows. Is this just a reflection of our culture and history? Is Hollywood just giving us what we want? Or are they influencing the behavior of impressionable minds? Does this industry need to be more accountable for the content of it's product?

Bloodshed is plentiful in many video games. Do gamers become desensitized to the true horror of gun violence? Do these games make it difficult for some individuals to differentiate between fantasy and reality? Does this industry need to be more accountable for this violent content?

The father of our Constitution, James Madison, felt this document should evolve to suit each living generation. Given the technological advancements of firearms (over two centuries), is it time for the  2nd Amendment to be altered to suit today's society?

How much gun violence is the result of mental illness? Do we need to provide a broader mental health safety net to identify and help potentially unstable individuals?

How many gun crimes are driven by the desperation and frustration caused by poverty?

Without a doubt, people associate the use (and trade) of certain illegal drugs with gun violence. Is there any connection between the use of prescription drugs and violence?

In order to curb the gun violence,  is there one issue (above all) which should be addressed - or all of the above? Perhaps there's something my own biases have blinded me from seeing? I'd love your thoughts.

 You can see another of my gun-related posts here.

Thanks for viewing. Please follow my blog.

 

Rhinebeck at Home

In this modern age, many retired senior citizens are choosing to live more independent lifestyles. Instead of moving to a retirement (or assisted-living) community, they're staying put - in the comfort of their own homes. These seniors are creating support networks; helping each other out with shopping, errands, laundry, learning computer skills, and socializing. This drawing for About Town is about one of these successful networks - in Rhinebeck, NY.

Here are the ideas I submitted:

Thanks for viewing. You can see more B & W work here.

Big Show: Little Work

I'm thrilled to have artwork included in the "Big Show: Little Work" exhibit at the RHCAN Gallery (running August 30th - October 6th). These are pieces from my Going Postal series; postcard size drawings inspired by postage stamps from around the world.

The RHCAN Gallery is located at 7516 N Broadway, Red Hook, NY. 

If you're in the area, please stop by and take a peek.

You can see this complete series, 

and more of my unpublished work here.