bar at the Aladdin

I got in to Iain McCaigs workshop today and that made my trip worth it for me. Watching a master concept artist at work, and witnessing the enthusiasm which animates him and those around him is an example of what is best in the human spirit. And it was just plain entertaining. Sat here in the second floor bar at the Aladdin hotel which is a historic building from 1925. There is a feeling of class in here, even though it must have been really something when it was brand new  during the roaring 20's. Michael the bartender was the only guy there when I started the sketch, after about 20 min, in walked a lady in a red dress as if my pondering the hotels former glory had somehow summoned this mysterious dame from a noir film. Turned out she was actually another artist named Prissila who was just dressed up for the award show. So perhaps there is no truth in the Aladdin being haunted, but it does turn up as such in a google search to be just that.....

Transniestria part two

We have been experiencing some magnetic storms as they call them here, with lighting and rain. It's still perfectly warm and the rain never lasts too long so far. Here is a sketch of some Moldovan style houses set amongst the soviet apartments. Most houses have thick green grape vines hanging over the rooflines. Tiraspol is such a curious place, a rich history and many very famous Russian figures are are from here. I am also posting some of the photos from around these apartments which house workers from the textile factory here in town.

Benbow Inn

Here are a couple sketches I did up at the Benbow Inn. My wife and I went up there this weekend to celebrate our 2nd Anniversary. It is a wonderful spot for anyone near Northern California, off the 101 about 3.5 hours North of San Francisco. It is a historic building which has the look and feel of an Old English Inn. The food is fantastic and the views of the surrounding Redwood Forests and Eel River are breathtaking.