The first drawing I made in my watercolor Moleskine (which is almost full now) was of people lined up at Chipotle Grill. I only just got around to coloring it. I did this at Chipotle looking at another group of people. That way I could observe the light source which made the final project better, I think, than if I had colored it at home using my imagination. Strangers all, but somehow I can relate to each and every one of them.
My son Ian showed me a video on YouTube of a famous father and son in Afro-Cuban Jazz, a wonderful genre of music that we know very well in South Florida. If you haven't heard this form of music, and are curious, one of our public radio stations, WDNA, plays a lot of it. You can listen to the station here.Anyway, the father is Bebo Valdes (I am a fan), and the son is Chucho Valdes. Both are pianists. The video is here The pair was estranged for 18 years according to the video, and they still see very little of each other. Even so, the father-son connection when they play together is very strong, and in this video the way they interact with one another through their music is quite moving.
The video was filmed employing very strong lighting, with the two pianists (and pianos) facing one another. So I had to draw them, right?
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It's funny how drawing strangers can make you feel like you know them. Very nice sketch! I haven't watched the video yet, but will. I love the darkness of the drawing.
ReplyDeleteI like the drawing of people in the queue. I like the simplicity of it and yet they are all individual characters. And congratulations for nearing the completion of your Moleskine !
ReplyDeleteMaravilloso!
ReplyDeleteThe video is a pure moment of joy, very touching to see them connecting through music.
Your people in line are very good,very funny, but I prefer Bebo and Chucho, you capture that moment.
I love the 'people in the queue' - a great sketch. Simple and yet seems to capture their individuality.
ReplyDeleteAwesome drawing Dan. The people in the line surely makes a boring wait something to be remembered. I don't think I'll be able to sketch in public, I guess I am still shy about that. Anyway, back in Germany again, and I've got tons of things to arrange and possibly paperwork to deal with...all regarding my move out of here... need a lot of luck in that, but so far nothing alarming yet. Fingers crossed ^^
ReplyDeleteGreat job Dan! The light source is perfectly captured in both sketches.
ReplyDeleteI like your take on my last post...just call it multimedia and be done with it! I'll certainly not try watercolor in that book again. But I'm so anxious to be done with that sketchbook...don't like it at all. How about you? Have you finished that sketchbook yet?
I liked your idea and the Caption to it...Strangers, yet connected...good..!!
ReplyDeleteWell because I left town I'm a bit behind to respond to you all. Thank you for your kind comments! Alex, I'll cross fingers for you too. Raena, my other Moleskine - to tell you the truth, I don't really like the thick yellow-tinged paper. My Lamy is a bit scratchy on it too. Still - I find because of this I am less formal and more experimental - a bit messier. Sometimes I just need to scribble or draw a small something rather than try to work a whole composition. It's very portable, thick enough for ink, and I think it has unused possibilities yet. Watercolor pencils work fine on it. Thicker paint, like Acrylic will probably work wonderfully. Plug Moleskine Detour Exhibition into YouTube and it will open your mind to the creative possibilities!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh this is phenomenal... the intrinsic connection between the two of them - just amazing.I have played piano since I was 4 and this is one of the most moving pieces I have heard and seen. Deb
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