Prophets

These two individuals were some of my favorite models. What just occurred to me as I posted these drawings for a client was that they are linked by a religion.

The man on top was a member of a Christian commune and somehow they stumbled upon some writings of some earlier Church fathers and they all decided to become Greek Orthodox. So, on the outskirts of Santa Rosa is a Greek Orthodox Commune and all the men have grown out their beards. This man is Irish and he is one of the leaders of the group. He posed for me 2 times.

The bottom fellow is my bud Steve who is also my Web Master. He did the Evangelical Christian routine until he gave up on the total lack of depth which he was experiencing. He tried to become an Anglican priest to now avail and now is also Greek Orthodox. The services are about 3 hrs long followed by a large communal meal. Good eats I might add.

St. Malo

Assemblage






In the North of France is a fortified town accessed only by a draw bridge. St. Malo
( pronounced Ma -Lou ) was a pirate fortress until the French turned the town into a civilized village. One island , just a swim away, was used as a penitentiary for a short run. I stayed at a manor that was once a pirates home. The stoned walled structure had wonderful views of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Rocker

I recently saw the DVD "the Rocker" which featured the actor who plays Dwight Schroot in the Office. It was suprisingly funny. His character played the drums for a hair band . He was unceremoniously kicked off the band " Vesuvius ". The rest is history and the band then went Platinum. The movie picks up 10 years later.

It reminded me of a doodle I did who knows when. What if my desk were a drum set and my sticks power brushes?

The Doodle

Is it rude to Doodle while someone is saying something important? How about doodling while listening to a dull message?








Validation at Last. Blasting over the airwaves was a result of a "study" ( todays version of Holy Scripture ...don't get me started ) and the results proved that those that doodled while they listened to a lecture or talk actually retained more comprehension and memory of what was said.

One of the Research Professor said:

"This study suggests that in everyday life doodling may be something we do because it helps to keep us on track with a boring task, rather than being an unnecessary distraction that we should try to resist doing."









Could it be that there are separate programs in our brain designed to multitask? Can this operation be trained? I know for a fact that I have caught myself daydreaming while driving and have " awoken " myself to see that I still am driving between the stripped lines on the road. How could this be!








So for today, if your teacher, pastor, motivational speaker or boss catches you doodling while an important message is being delivered just say "Studies Now Prove" that doodling while listening to a lecture improves comprehension and attention.

The above doodles were done at different periods but all were done at a Christian Conference or while a sermon of profound importance was being delivered. I have to say that taking notes also helps!

Here is the link in Science Daily http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090226210039.htm

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The Adventures of Spike and Dick

Just one of many ideas that I started to develop...

New Mexico Man

Oh to be Young and Carefree

Things were getting a little heavy at " On Being Frank ". So I posted this drawing to remind me that life can be simple and worry free.....as a child.

Carly was my friends daughter and she was hamming it up for me.

Drawing Class

prismacolor




30 second poses with a sharpie pen




Water color




Prismacolor





Charcoal




Vine Charcoal




pen and ink




prismacolors




prismacolors




Sharpie







When Sean Joyce and I started a drawing class at LucasFilm way back when, I realized how much I loved the immediate connection of drawing from a live model. We would draw after the day was ended every Thursday. Most of my drawings have somehow disappeared. I am uploading some that have survived.

I loved to experiment after a days painting in acrylics and oils and I tried as many mediums that I could handle....

Grandpa in Bernallio , New Mexico

My grandfather on my Mom's side was Ralph Rodriguez Sr. He raised a rather large family through the depression. He had a country store and sold groceries to the locals as well as to Hopi and Navaho Indians. I have many fond memories of traveling by train to Bernallio on the "El Capitan" Santa Fe train line. I did a drawing of him in front of a storage building on his ranch where they ground maize. He even had a Hopi oven on the property. It's on his ranch that I learned my fear and distrust of Turkeys. They are evil and vindictive critters . I have no problem eating them.

mixed media on vellum

Fairfax,Ca 1.2

This is a preliminary drawing on tracing paper for another drawing. I was heavily influenced by Chuck Close at this time. I think I was 23. I can't remember this designer but he graduated Art Center in Pasadena with me. He was in Advertising Design and he and his partner had a studio across from mine on Raymond Street. They hit it big time right away by designing the animated intro to Alex Haley's " Roots".

Drawing in Graphite. I started to do a series of friends of mine in this style. Then I got a call from Lucasfilm and started to work on " ET" and neglected the "FineArt" side of me for a long time.








I drew this on location in Guadalajara, Mexico . I was an exchange student as a senior in High School and I was representing the City of Rosemead Ca.














These were previously posted " On Being Frank". They have a new home.

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I also will be uploading a portfolio of old sketch book stuff here. Like really old. How old ? Some back to High School.....please suffer my vanity on this. If it was'nt for this blog...no one would see them. So what would be the point? Its a rhetorical question.

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