Snowed In With My Girlfriend, Her Doggie, And My Sketchbook.

 Selling my art has gotten a lot more challenging of late with all these recent snowstorms.

When the latest big one descended upon Philly, I decided to abandon my house
and studio to sit out the storm with my friend Nancy and her doggie, Leah.

Sure enough we awoke to find the Weather folks were right; the falling snow was not only beautiful,
but getting deeper by the minute. What was a captive artist to do...?

Nancy suggested a hearty breakfast was in order.

Thank goodness for the Muses of the world. Every artist should have at least one; to provide inspiration,
and nourishment...and...

...a very smart little doggie who knows how to spend time during a snowstorm.
Thank you, Nancy, for cleaning off my car.  Next time I'll be sure to wear my boots.
 

Sketching Super Bowl Sunday.

As I write this Philly is once again getting wrapped in a blanket of heavy wet snow,
and the temperature is dropping.

But on Super Bowl Sunday, it was almost balmy. I started my day
having breakfast at "Manhattan Bagel."

I then went to "Trader Joes," to beat the Super Bowl Party shoppers.
But of course by the time I finished this sketch, the lines were getting long at the check-out.
Whoops!

By mid-afternoon I needed a coffee break, so I walked the few blocks from my home
to "Town Hall Coffee Company," where I joined other "Regulars."

Around six I was to rendezvous with Nancy at the home of friends to watch the game.

As as I walked to the door I could see through the windows the party was already in full swing.
Only one problem; wrong house and party. I thanked the host for inviting me to join his friends anyway,
soon found the right house, and did this drawing as the Denver Broncos got TRASHED.

Happily I did not do the same.   

The Ever Evolving Art Of Parenting.

Do parents ever stop worrying about the well-being of their kids, whatever their age?

Here are my three adult sons; Mason, Will and Pierce.

And here they are as little guys, back in the 1970s. Happy most of the time, but also vulnerable. They needed to be watched over and taken care of.

This past week I had the rare opportunity to once again be "the Dad," and take care of the needs of my oldest son, Will.

 That soccer ball had hit him in the nose really hard when he was a kid, so he finally had some out-patient surgery to clear up some nasal problems. I picked him up at the hospital.

 I did this drawing later that night as he dozed off and on between movies, sitting on his couch.

 On my way home the next morning I realized, in my heart, my big sons will always be "the little guys."      

Sketching that chubby old elf...and other critters, in Florida at Christmas.

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A few days before Christmas my son Mason and I caught a plane to Florida.

We were looking forward to spending Christmas with Pierce and Maggi and my granddaughter, Ms. Diver.
These sketches were done on the plane as we flew south.

As soon as we landed we drove to a gig where Maggi and Pierce were to perform.
I started this drawing with Diver's eye, and three hours later the drawing was finished, just as
we arrived in Stuart, Florida. Diver looks about a year older here than she actually is.
Sometime my pen leads me astray.

Christmas is for the child in each of us, of course. Here is Diver's version of a happy Christmas.
This child draws constantly. Can't imagine where she gets that from.

On one of my morning walks I ended up at this outdoor cafe, where I had breakfast.

This sketch was done while killing time to rendezvous with the kids for dinner.

And a midnight rendezvous of a different kind (under my covers no less!) resulted
in a sketch not of the jolly old elf, but this guy. There are advantages to NOT living in Florida.
                                                           Happy New Year to all!






 

Sketchbook Number Sixty Since 1974...and counting.

If you look through my sketchbooks you'd think I only hang out in bars.

 Which is only partially true.

 Here are some sketches from my current book.

The Art Spirit and Mother Nature Madly At Work.

Give yourself a holiday treat by visiting the wonderful blog of my Canadian friend, Kim Rempel.
Kim is an amazingly talented and versatile and prolific artist. I am honored to have been her guest last week in a lengthy interview posted on her blog. You'll find Kim and her art at http://eatdrinkpaint.blogspot.com.

 It's Saturday night and Philly is getting its third snowstorm in the past week.
The flakes are the big cottony kind that cling to every branch, and makes one
think of sleigh bells and Santa and hot cider and all things warming and good for the soul.

My morning walk of two and a half miles (at a good pace) takes me past some of the
most beautiful and stately homes on Philly's "Main Line." At least the ones you can see from the street.
Here is the infamous original "Barnes Foundation", glowing in the morning light, now empty of its art.

Just down the street is this elegant beauty. The owners are obviously proud of their home because the
facade is usually illuminated at night.

I actually had started to do a painting of this house many years ago, when previous owners had it.
But I decided to do a night scene, after seeing it at night. I must admit to you that in all the years I've lived in this neighborhood, I've never seen the moon in this part of the sky. I decided the picture was crying out to have the moon hovering above the mansion.
 Thank goodness I recently renewed my Artistic License.
Here is the link to my friend Kim's blog:
http://eatdrinkpaint.blogspot.com

Bill's Blog Is Once Again Up and Running.

Does life sometime get in the way, or do we just get in our own way?
Obviously my adventures as an artist in Philly have been ongoing for
the past year and a half, and it is now time to play catch-up.
The following are just a few of my creations during my hiatus.
ENJOY!

In early spring I started painting once again along the Schuylkill river.
This large oil was done where all the bridges cross, at East Falls.

 At least once a week I still go down to visit my dad and brothers in South Jersey.
And if the weather is good, I end the day set up along the roadside, painting.
Here is a watercolor just as a storm was moving in. I love doing these  farmscapes.

 I'm currently exhibiting twelve 5 X 7"oil still-lifes in the Holiday Show at Harcastles Galleries
in Centerville and Newark, Delaware. Here are two done on my kitchen windowsill.

There's now a waiting list to get into my classes at the Barn Studio, in Millville, N.J. I still have
lunch with my dad and brothers after class. Pop is now One Hundred and One years old, and
his mind is still sharp as a tack, as is his tongue. He finally gave up driving a few moths ago.

Looks like I'm gonna' be around awhile, still having my adventures as an arteest.
It's great to be back. Stay tuned.