Random Parking Lot

It’s just a tiny doodle of a random corner of a random parking lot in Poughkeepsie.

But the world takes on a weird wonky magic when I glimpse it the filter of my gouache "eyeglasses."

Detail of a Dinotopian Parade

In an early concept for a dinosaur parade scene I tried a profile view of a small group of humans and dinosaurs bedecked in colorful costumes. 

There's a horn-drum on an Ankylosaurus to set the tempo. I realized I needed to pull back the view to show the whole parade.

Why Are Art Schools Closing?

American Academy of Art College in Chicago has announced that it will close its doors permanently.

It was founded in 1923 with a curriculum that emphasized painting and drawing and painting from live models.

Graduates include some legendary illustrators and easel painters: Thomas Blackshear, Alex Ross, Richard Schmid, Howard Terpning, Gil Elvgren, and Haddon Sundblom.

The closure of American Academy in Chicago follows the closing of UArts in Philadelphia and the Art Institutes all across the country. Why are some art schools closing? Read more on Substack.

Three Book Recommendations

 

On YouTube: a reader review of three top art instruction books, including our bestseller, Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter.

Buick Special

Buick Special, pencil and markers. Note the rust stains coming up through the roof section, the cracked window, and the junkyard fender.

More on Substack