New Orleans Sketches

We go to New Oeleans all the time.  Going again next year.  Here are some sketches, I have 100+ more. but scanning sucks.

Art Education - Indie Study

This is my last class before I formally complete my Thesis or "Capstone" as U of Florida calls it.  I conducted research on two teaching methodologies and two design/construction project delivery methodology.  The end output will be my Capstone paper and another "manifesto" ISSUU paper - but for this class, an infographic  for each and then one that identifies the best practice commonalities of all. I'm not done with the final graphic.  The research was a lot of reading and getting it all out into a graphic that relate to each other took some pondering. I chose to color-code similar process steps.  

A Morgen, A Maren, Some Random & Her Troll

Fremont Troll 

You can really cheat with markers - just get the perspective/composition right and just mush the rest together.  Your focus will be where the darkest dark and the lightest light meet - for this I wanted the 'Bread of Life Mission' signage and the historical street light to stand out - This was a daylight sketch - but I think it's be better translated into a night seen with the streetlight and neon Mission sign burning out of the darkness.

 Selfie - beard is getting long, and a bit warm.  But I am still and amazing specimen.

Ugh - Jimi Hendrix statue - this is located directly outside the Dick Blick art supply store on Broadway on Capitol Hill (Seattle) - so there are plenty of shithead (i kid, i kid) 20 somethings running around rolling their eyes mumbling rococo rococo...

Mare-Bear 

Morgen!

Another Pergola view in Pioneer Square - Details got away from me, so it looks a bit abandoned and lifeless.  there's a couple big trees and totems that block this view - I tied to outlined them but that was unsuccessful as well. 

The original second location of Starbuck at the Pike Place Market.  There are other stores on either side but I really only wanted to draw the sign and storefront area.  This one also got a bit dark on me  - I'm trying out a new Copic marker and ink set - but I added some Montana acrylic white paint and I think it  added great expression to the drawing.  

Some more Seattle sketches

My favorite Bldg in Seattle - The Arctic Building. Some lettering.

Been trying to focus when doing lettering - picking out signs of interest is a way to practice this. 

Rachel the Pig (really a Hog for those in the know) @ Pike Place Market

That's a big Salmon!  Pike Place Market

Another signage/lettering sketch. 

Pioneer Square - Pergola

The neighborhood takes its name from a small triangular plaza near the corner of First Avenue and Yesler Way, originally known as Pioneer Place. The Pioneer Square-Skid Road Historic District, a historic district including that plaza and several surrounding blocks, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

On January 15, 2001 an eighteen-wheeler semi-truck crashed into the pergola, shattering it into thousands of pieces; it has since been restored.

Some sketches:

 I've got some thoughts on these - the darkness and jumbled detail on a fairly light structure - there some purpose and intention to that - but my Capstone Thesis project has kept me busy and editorial content will have to wait.

Meet M.A.R.V. - Mobile Art Revival Vehicle

     Seattle’s pretty full of art programs.  While I’d certainly like to see more – if you feel left out you need to get on a bus and get moving.  It’s not like these programs are going to come to your house and paint the picture for you!   Wait – there’s an idea, an on-call mobile art machine. 

      Want to buy some art therapy for your grandma?  Great, we’ll be there.  Want us to teach your kids?  We can do that.  Want us at your event?  No problem.  Want to buy someone some art lessons?  Perfect, we teach those! Too lazy to leave the house?  Cool, we don’t judge.  And when we’re not on a call, we’ll be parked right along the food trucks.  But instead of unhealthy fatty food repackaged as “haute-cuisine” we’ll be bringing art to the suits trapped in their offices all day…only when they’re un-handcuffed from their desks, of course.  And when the stiffs have fled to the suburbs for the evening or weekend we'll be set up at the parks bring art to THE PEOPLE!

     This may in fact be the underserved demographic of Seattle.  The working person.  They may have money, they may have an education, but they don’t have the time.  And if they do have the time they don’t have the energy or desire.  Or they sacrifice for their kids.  Well, maybe a little lunchtime art can ease their burden.

Don’t want to paint?  Fine just stand there and listen to our live music by our talented bruskers.

First off, I don’t think this type of endeavor is sustainable on its own.  To be successful over a long period of time the Mobile Art Revival Vehicle – MARV would have to be partnered with a local museum or art store.  MARV’s primary mission would be to bring a mobile art service throughout the city but its secondary function would be as a marketing opportunity for the parent entity.  And, fundamentally, I’d have to kick in some of my own coin – have some skin in the game.  If you don’t donate money to organizations yourself, then stop fundraising and go join an industry you’re willing to participate in.

But for its kickoff I could see the following fundraising events occurring:

Crowd funding – through Kickstarter or another website.  This would feature different levels of rewards.   From maybe from a t-shirt at the low end up through mobile art lessons and being one of the first with MARV at your event. 

Blogging - You’ve got 3 kinds of donors – the True Believer, The Casual Fan, and The Reluctant Tagalongs. Your blog is your gift of (inside) information to them, as well as to yourself. It’s a platform to connect, to earn trust, and for even the most reluctant of supporters to discover just how much they want to be a part of your community.  MARV could constantly upload work that has been done at the vehicle and at various locations.  Live feeds and such.  People love to be connect to something. 

Corporate Involvement – Challenge design firms to invite MARV to their offices and participate – create something, make something and donate something, then at the “party” (see below) auction off the work from the design firms.  And obviously, invite all those folks to attend (and donate more). 

Annual Gala – The problem with this is that Seattle is absolutely saturated with them.  And I think MARV is more low-key than this.  So maybe a small party at a central park may suffice. 

Add Coffee - People here are absolutely nuts for coffee, so have some for them to buy.

As for a guiding fundraising strategy I would go with the constant contact method.  Getting on every mailing list possible – there are many “what’s happening” types of list servs in Seattle.  Get some press, call the news, drive MARV in parades, get out there and be seen and stay in public view.  And best part of these is that they are low opportunity costs.  

MAKERHAUS - Art in Alternative Settings