French Girls, Gallery girls sketch

Was scrolling through my folder of old sketches and found this page with a sketch of 2 models of the Gallery Girls back when they came through San Francisco. Probably been a couple years by now. I just wanted to paint something into a value study.

SPACE TRAIN - An electromagnetic railgun to escape Earth's atmosphere

Here are some sketches of a Space Train. It is a means of generating enough velocity to break out of Earth's atmosphere, timed with the rotation and trajectory to put its many passengers on a path to a distant destination with minimal need for course correction. Just trying to save on fuel and rockets.

Al Jumhuri Morgue

Its a nightmare scene that I have replayed over in my mind to the point its just a familiar sight. December of 2004 during my deployment to Iraq I had to make several stops at the local hospital and had to go into the morgue on a couple occasions. I can't say what the cause of death was for everyone in there, but the volume of bodies generated by the war outpaced the hospitals' ability to deal with it. This holding room on the east side of the examination room was stacked to overflowing, and the extra containers outside were packed. Due to frequent power outages, they could not be kept cool in the hot climate.
    I have often considered making artwork about the deployment but have found it difficult to bring myself to do as it is not light - hearted work.

Sketchbook Uploading - Coffeeshops and beyond

Lemos Farms - Highway 92

Osmosis Meditation Garden - Freestone California

Burlingame Public Library

Black Dragon and some CGHUB magic

I really had fun working on these last few aircraft/spaceships. The white one on a blue ocean background I posted earlier this month, and this one got enough views on CGHUB to make it to the front page! I suppose its an element of luck, a striking thumbnail, sharing on facebook (thank you to all who clicked on those links). It doesn't really mean anything other than I had always wanted to see one of my images up there and had no idea what kind of interest it takes to make it. I believe its something like getting over 100 views a day and a certain percentage of likes or faves? My best guess. Anyways, on to the next image! :)

Sketchbook Dump from the last month

I have been sketching away when I can, and just haven't taken the time to scan them and upload so here are some watercolors and sketches from the last month.

Safeway in Burlingame end of Sept. I think this one I learned what happens when you use too many layers of paint and try to control it too much, it gets a bit muddy and, well, ugly. still was fun to have enough time to try and accurately convey the lighting and surroundings.

On the left is a quick sketch out the window of the renovated Burlingame Avenue with new lamps, trees and a wider sidewalk with a sort of smooth cobblestone. On the right, I met my buddy Abiraj, who was a Stryker driver and Infantryman on our deployment to Iraq. We ate a place in Dublin called Country Waffles at way too early in the morning. Dublin kind of reminds me of Radiator Springs at that hour with the sun rising up and the full moon still out.

Found myself in the city by the Bay yesterday and spent about 1 hour knocking out 4 sketches. The one on the right is the Embarcadero Ferry Building which I used actual watercolor paints. The rest are sort of super saturated because I did them while standing using only watercolor pencils and mostly primary colors at that.

St. Helena the day after Masha and I celebrated our 5th anniversary together. Time has flown! Grandpa and Nanna watched our little one so we could stroll through St. Helena and I sketched a bit while Masha looked through the stores.

The Sherman - Used to be a restaurant and bar, now it sits floating in its moorings surrounded by fisherman, runners and the occasional painter I suppose. Coyote point in the distant rear of the image.

Ships

Ships!