My drawin' hand is getting a workout.

First off, I need to give a shout out to a few folks. My friend Meloney sold out the M-Bar Monday and treated everyone to a fantastic evening of jazz. It was really great to witness a friend doing exactly what she was meant to do. Also, Roller and Michelle picked me up at the airport on the final evening of their visit from Chicago, and we got to catch up a bit which was great. It was a whirlwind evening. And finally, I must acknowledge how happy I was to watch all the Inauguration coverage on Tuesday, and how thrilled I am to witness the dawn of Barack Obama's presidency. So much excitement! Now I've settled into a week that, while not any less busy, is at least something I can accomplish while sitting at my desk with a good cup o' joe...


While I watched the inauguration I was also madly finishing up an illustration commission. It hasn't been unveiled yet so I can't post it. But to tide you over, here's something recent to look at. The illustrations I've posted above are the first three pieces I've done for a publication called Footlights Curtain Call, a monthly "Playbill" type magazine that serves as the program for many of LA's theatres. From left: January's piece featuring Terence McFarland (executive director of LA Stage Alliance) as the Ovation Award statuette; last November's illustration featuring artistic director Les Hanson, costumer Shon LeBlanc, and producer/p.r. genius David Elzer on the "front lines" of LA theatre; and next month's graphic heralding love month in the theatre. The actors in that one aren't meant to look like specific folks, but ended up looking a lot like David Engel and Teri Bibb who I drew years ago in MTG's Passion.


I've also just finished up a big illustration for a new adventure upon which I am embarking. (Why I've just had a grammar attack I'm not totally sure. Anyway...) While I was in Seattle, I visited with my brilliant friend David Quinn who just pulled a really amazing idea out of mid-air... I'll soon be launching a Facebook page that will feature a weekly illustration celebrating a person, moment, and/or timely event in the theatre. Posting a weekly visual observation on Facebook can get my work in front of tons of folks... and it only costs me time and effort. Can't believe I haven't thought of it before. Thanks Quinn! So, I've chosen to debut with a piece featuring the shows that closed over the month of January. The economy has forced an inordinate number of Broadway shows to shutter after the holidays and while this is devastating to many individuals (and the industry in general), I want to celebrate the amazing work that brought joy to so many. So the 13 shows featured in the sketch are: All My Sons, Boeing Boeing, Dividing the Estate, Grease, Gypsy, Hairspray, Spamalot, Spring Awakening, 13, Young Frankenstein, and the holiday engagements of Liza at the Palace, Slava's Snowshow, and White Christmas. Once I've set up the Facebook page, I'll post the link here to everyone can join up.

So that's all for now. Best wishes to all of you for whatever's next. Peace and love.

Farewell to the Pacific NW (for now)...

I've had such a great time visiting the family and chillin' out. My time on the coast was just fantastic – just the right mix of adventures and relaxation. I'm so thankful for the family's place in Waldport. Such a fantastic retreat! I feel like I stocked up on rest AND got some work done. Nice! After heading back over the Coast range on Wednesday, Mom and I visited sis Deanna and her family which was fun and full of energy.


Then we hit the road on Thursday for Seattle to eat. Well, that's what it felt like. With Aunt Pam and cousin Cori and little Weston, we ate incredibly well all over the city. I'm now on a fast to recover from all the goodness. And in an attempt to curb the appetite with something a wee bit grody, we visited the infamous wall of gum near Pike Place Market. Here's a pic of Mom, Pam and I at the wall. Notice the word "JOY" spelled out in what I'm guessing is neon apple. It took a lot of coersion to get them near it. All kidding aside, the visit was so lovely and I'm so thankful to Aunt Pam for hosting us – and to her dog Bella for changing her attitude towards me. I also had a great visit with repeat offender client and brilliant friend Quinn, AND caught some live music with Cori in Ballard. Good trip.


We returned to the folks' homestead yesterday and had a lovely evening of Taco Time and SNL's Presidential Bash. And now after another visit with Grandma and a shuttle ride, I'm sitting in the Portland airport awaiting my flight home. I'll hit the ground running when I land in Burbank. Brotha-from-anotha-motha Roller and his lady Michelle will pick me up on their last night visiting LA (before heading back to Chicago). If all goes according to plan, I'll catch part of my dear friend Mel's debut solo jazz show before rejoining Roller and gang at Father's Office. The whole whirlwind evening sounds crazy and fun, and I can't wait to get on with it.


And even though it sounds like a late evening will be in order, I've gotta be up at seven tomorrow morning for the start of Inauguration Day coverage. I'm so excited!! So in addition to a change of direction in America (and HOPEfully a brighter new day), on a smaller scale, I'm responsible to usher in a new chapter in my illustration endeavors. I have to chain myself to the drawing board over the next week or two – a big caricature commission, some adjustments on previous work, and two huge personal projects that may well change my future. We'll see. Nose to the grindstone... that's me. Here we go! Wishes of peace and love are going out to you all. Take care, and love your neighbor.

Oregon, My Oregon!

Howdy from my home state. I've been in Oregon since Thursday. Visited with Grandma on her birthday and spent a day with the folks. Now I'm reveling in some retreat time on the coast. I had to hit up a couple of my haunts and get a little work done, but now, after a bit of a road trip, I'm currently writing from Astoria at the absolute northwestern tip of the state.


I think the last time I was here was about 25 years ago on vacation with the family. Since then they've filmed a lot of movies here, one of which is a guilty pleasure of mine, The Goonies. I'm happy to say that I found "The Goondocks" and some other locations. (Here's a pic of me at THE house.) I also hit up the Astoria Column which was nearly buried in a bank of fog. And I was happy to find a former Bumblebee Tuna packing plant. Back in the day, I think I toured this place with the family. Well, now it's a multi-use facility with offices, coffee shop, and a Rogue Ales Public House. Back when it smelled like tuna, my cousin got sick here. Now it just smells like beer and chowder and Kobe Bleu Balls. Much better.

I'll do a little more work tomorrow along with maybe a visit to the breathtaking Cape Perpetua, and then I'll hit the road back to Lebanon on Wednesday. Then Mom and I will hit the road to Seattle for some time with Aunt Pam and Cousin Cori and her little big man, Weston.

Take care, all. Peace and love!

Ink slingin' and jumping on a plane...

[Brief procrastination session commence...] First off, I've been drawing like a fiend the last few days. I've posted some of the results here. This is art that will be used in promotions for Forbidden Broadway at Walnut Street Playhouse in Philadelphia. Super excited about that. And I'm still in talks about putting my art to use in the set design of the same show, this time at Musical Theatre West in Long Beach. I love Ken Fallin's artwork for the original productions which, of course, is based on the style of my hero, Al Hirchfeld. The trick with tackling my own take on the show is giving huge nods to these amazing predecessors while creating new art. I love the challenge. I'm also hard at work on a huge cast caricature project which will be unveiled sometime in the near future. My goal today is to get all of the individual inked pieces scanned into the computer so I can finish the layout while I'm away...


Yes, I'm going away... for a little vacation. I jump on a plane tomorrow morning to head up to the Pacific Northwest. I so love getting to see the family and the old stomping grounds. I'll be there for Mom's and Grandma's birthdays, and I look forward to a little "me" time at the coast, maybe a bit of wandering about Portland, and a long weekend in Seattle (visiting family and meandering and catching up with old friends). Then it's back home just in time for inauguration day. I'll then have ten days before I'm back in Escondido for The Scarlet Pimpernel rehearsals. No rest for the wicked! Ha!

So that's it for now. I REALLY have to go draw now. Take care! [Procrastination session over.] Peace and love, y'all!

One more Plaid gasp...

I'm on to the next chapter – some super fun illustration projects and prep for my trip north to visit the family – but I realized I didn't post my traditional closing day illustration of the Plaid Tidings show. Here it is! The sketch includes our band and behind-the-scenes crew in addition to the Plaids. The word balloons in the lower part of the sketch are fun things we heard from our audience members. It's wild to think that a whole week has passed since closing. And in less than a month I'll be back in Escondido to start rehearsals for The Scarlet Pimpernel. Time flies. Hooray for new adventures. Take care, all! Peace and love.

It's here!

Happy 2009! Peace and love, y'all!

More teetering...

AND... on the same public TV station I just caught a clip of Rosemary Clooney singing "Hey There" which is another song I sang in Plaid Tidings. This is getting weird. But more peace & love to y'all. Happy 2009 (if it would ever get here)!