I like Moleskin Sketchbooks because they have a small pocket in the back, where you can put your train tickets. I put all of my notes on the last two pages of my moleskin books because I can find things instantly. Not that I can read the small type though.
On the right page is a great quote from Matt Caserta, a former student- ” How come you attract all the crazy ones?” Oh, animal magnetism Matt.
There’s a drawing of Ray Beale on the right page at the Chocolate Shop in Cazenovia.
We drove down highway 1 from San Francisco to San Luis Obispo this past year. It was nervewracking travelling south on Highway 1 because we were on the ocean side of the road. I compensated for the scary view by driving on the mountain side of the road until traffic came along.
San Simeon is William Randolf Hearst’s house that he bought in Europe and then reassembled on top of a California Mountain. At one time he owned a piece of property 300 miles square. The house was up on top of a mountain, cold, and lifeless. The bus ride to the top was equally scary.
This drawing was done of the woodwork in the large front Cathedral room. I felt trapped on the tour and couldn’t wait to leave. One second of listening to a prepared speech leaves me gasping for air. No more tours for me.
This is a drawing of Thomas Edison I finished recently. I went to his creative workshop when I was a kid a million years ago. He’s an inspiration to all of us. A workaholic that produced hundreds of patents, inventions, and clever things.
His workshop was in East Orange, New Jersey. I’d like to go back and see what I missed.
This is a drawing I did from the obits page of the New York Times. They always have the best picture of a person on the Obituary Page. Nice stories too. Elizabeth Tashjian owned a giant gothic house in Connecticut, and ran the “Nut” museum from it. Admission was one “nut”.
Eventually, power of attorney was used to evict her from the home. Anyway, here’s to Elizabeth Tashjian. She emigrated from Eastern Europe, and didn’t understand that a “Nut” could also be a person too. Oh, well, nobody’s perfect.
This is a drawing I did of Victor Yushenko after he was poisoned by the KGB by putting Dioxin in his Vichysoisse.
I think I ate in that restaurant once, and I’m not going back.
John Soane was an architect and collectiholic and lived just down the street from Sotheby’s auction house in 1790. He loved Greece, Rome, and once in awhile Egypt.
We can appreciate it today thanks to him, because he bought everything.
In fact, he filled his house with so much stuff that it’s hard to walk inside. When the giant alabaster sarcophagus from Egypt arrived they had a party that lasted 3 days.
I have modeled my house around his. Except, I’m an Uncle Wiggly fan.
Stop by his house in London when you’re there next. You’ll be glad you did.
This is a drawing of a Roman Schard from inside his house. Well done, John.
Valerie Holzworth is one tough lady. She’s British, and made a statement about the poor dental care she was receiving. In retaliation to British Health Care, she extracted 8 teeth with a pair of pliers and one strong glass of spirits. Well, she showed British Health care, didn’t she?
I’ll have a beer thank you. No spirits for me.
This is a drawing in my moleskin of my friend Ray Beale who is one of the best portrait photographers I’ve ever met. He also taught me more about color than anyone else. Interesting, since most of his work is black & white. Ray recently went on vacation in New Orleans. He flew over 2,000 miles and stayed a day and a half and then returned.
So much for vacations. Here’s the quote about being an artist: “It’s very interesting being legendary when you can’t even make a living & the public has never heard of you” Florine Stettheimer.
I like Lisbon, because nobody speaks English there. It’s more fun that way. How great to have 2 hotels named the “Metropole”! Isn’t that great?, and one is like miles away in a totally different direction. Isn’t that great? Anyway, once you figure it out, it’s even more fun. The “Real” Metropole has a neat marble bathroom and located in the old section downtown. Everything is still in the stores from a 100 years ago. I was able to get Rotring pens that haven’t been sold here in 20 years. I love Lisbon. Go there.
This is a spread from my moleskin sketchbook of a small shop in Cazenovia. I’ve shot some interesting panorama photos inside the store. Amanda finds “Objects D’art” for my Museum of Art Supplies. My studio is filled with ancient tubes of dried up paint, brushes that nobody can use anymore, and paint trays made for the Queen of England.
Well, maybe I exaggerated a bit. Hey, wait a minute… I forgot my pen point collection.
