Michael Jackson dies as we visit with Anberlin

What an odd memory- first meeting up with Tour Manager Andy Sprague, who invites us into the bus with “Michael Jackson just died, we’ll all watching it on TV” ... How surreal…both events. How often do you get a personal M&G? They’re all such great guys that I immediately wish I’d done drawings of all of them.

The Webster Theatre (Hartford, CT) crowd for Anberlin/Taking Back Sunday/Envy on the Coast is far better behaved than when we went to the Secret Valentine Tour in Mar…however the security is not. I’m really thankful for the VIP passes so we could watch from in front of the barricade, because the show is sold out.

Envy on the Coast I hadn’t heard before, and I still don’t have a good impression of their music, as the sound system was clipping the mids and highs in a big way. Anberlin was so good I’m thinking they really should headline on their next tour. I still can’t get “Breaking” out of my head, it’s just one of those songs that you catch yourself replaying over and over. They’re very intense onstage, and I’m really glad I got to meet them and see them play live before drawing the other band members. It really means more to draw someone I’ve met-I get such a better sense of who they are.

Taking Back Sunday was great also, watching Fazzi’s guitar work and Matt Rubano jumping all over the stage.
( http://www.panicatthestarship.deviantart.com pointed out that Matt has an amazing six pack). Adam was excellent, the crowd was nuts and it was like 110 degrees.

I was trying out my new FlipVideo to see how it recorded under stage lighting, when I accidentally caught a random guy jumping up on the stage and the security guard flew after him and tackled the guy like a football. YouTube video link
Technical note: DO NOT try to dance and take videos at the same time. Or scream. Or sing. Watching the playback will give you VERTIGO.

As for Michael Jackson, I remember him from his old days, when he was black and incredibly talented and my favorite album was “Off the Wall”. That’s how I’d rather remember his personal legacy. I bet he would, too.

And to Anberlin, I ‘m certain they’re destined for music greatness. My nephew Dennis has great faith in them, and I’m sure he’s right. Check out their music on http://www.Anberlin.com. If you haven't caught them live, there's a few US tour dates left before they head off to tour Australia.

And a BIG Thank you! goes to Stephen Christian for posting my drawing on his Twitter !

True Believers Never Die

First time at Mohegan Sun Arena. Liked the curbside valet service-SWEET! We were so late we missed Hey Monday’s set and walked in to the beginning of Cobra’s. We had seats in the Nosebleed section… thankfully I had purchased a VIP pass which I skillfully counterfeited into 4 of them (what would I do without Photoshop?), and we found ourselves allowed onto the reserved floor section. Too bad I couldn’t do the holograph. We were even let in backstage, until some hall patrol Nazi glanced at our badges. I didn’t think fast enough to flash one of my promo cards...

The security guys were really so nice! although there were way too many of them…maybe 1 for every 10 people. no moshing here, folks. the Indians rule and all is well ordered and a bit overly sanitized. I prefer that true nightclub experience, like Webster Theatre(CT) or Lupo’s(RI). A certain amount of grunge and spontaneity is necessary, just like the smell of stale beer and cigarette butts in the carpet. There’s a certain sense of history to those places, like a sacred shrine, y’ know? Maybe it’s because I spent so many profitable years as a bartender in one. hehe. And I don’t drink or smoke- maybe that’s why. but I digress…

Ryland and Alex noticed us from the stage (we were right next to the barricade) so I finally managed to give ALL the Cobras their original drawings-as I promised Ryland last summer at Warped. Their set was really high energy and they just keep getting better every time I see them.

And All Time Low was great, too…Bkat, missing his signature hair stripes, jumped off stage and played in the seated audience for about 5 minutes.

FOB, who I’ve never seen live before, really gave a powerful performance. Patrick Stump’s talent just blows me away…his voice is golden. I never expected them to do such a long set- even their encore was 4 or 5 songs.

So everyone received their drawings, including Pete and Joe…I’m glad to have finished Joe Troh just in the nick of time, but wish I had also completed Andy and a new Patrick…oh well, more for next time I see them. I hope they enjoy them as much as I did drawing them. Great inspiration! :D

Crashing Cobra's Meet & Greet...Sassyback Tour 11/28

We were freezing our butts off in a line like a mile long! from the venue, Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, waiting for the show. I saw another line of people for the Meet and Greet (stupid me, I had the tix for 2 mos. and didn't even think to sign up). After everyone in the M&G had gone in, I saw a couple of security guys outside. I stopped and asked one of them to take my postcard(I have one with a bunch of my FBR drawings on it) in to Cobra, hoping they'd remember me -- to see if they'd let us in. He agreed, then came out a few minutes later and ushered us in VIP-style!!

First person I met was Alex Suarez, he was so sweet, remembered me from VWT this summer. I gave him and Vicky-T their original drawings, asked them to sign prints for me. I never saw Gabe or Nate at the M&G, I'm thinking they didn't come, because Gabe was saving his voice? and Nate is well, shy? Ryland was there, but by the time I finished talking with Alex and Vicky, he had left...so lucky us, we also got right down in front for the show!!

It was the first time I'd ever heard them inside a club (about 2000 people), and WOW- from the minute they came onstage the energy was electrifying. Amazing performance, start to finish.

Great night! Now I can look forward to seeing them next tour (with a new album!) and maybe I'll be lucky enough to catch up with Gabe, Ryland and Nate to give them their drawings. Meeting Alex and Vicky-T again... priceless...FANGS-UP!!

Rock Band Live 10/28

Enjoyed RBL last night in Lowell, MA. Great performances by the CAB, Plain White T’s and Dashboard Confessional, and of course, PATD. I figured it was high time I gave them some of my original portraits of them, so I packed up 4 and some extra prints. If things had gone according to plan, I would have arrived a bit early to hand the drawings off in person…but after getting my crowd together and spending 2 hours on the road, we were lucky to make it in time to see the CAB get started.

So by the time Panic played I was about 25 feet from the stage (yeah, not exactly close) No, I’m not one who likes to grab attention. But by the time they were into their second to last song, I figured what the hell, took my drawing of Jon Walker and held it up. Spencer noticed it almost immediately and said “Hey Jon, look, that’s you!” and pointed to me. Next Jon and Brendon look closer, and Brendon says, “Wow, that’s some talent!” Here I tried to yell out that it was for Jon to have, but I probably did one of those *deer in the headlights* things (Christ, the main video camera was on me and everything) and didn’t try to advance to the stage to give it to him. The last thing I wanted to do was intrude on their performance, man. In the last song 3 of us held all the drawings up so they’d get the idea the drawings were meant for them. After all, their music and their amazing talent is what inspired me to draw them in the first place, so it seemed that the drawings really belong to them.

So, in the end, Ryan, Brendon, Jon and Spencer have their drawings. My gift to them for the many good times and great music they have inspired me with. Hope they enjoy them and much as I enjoyed drawing them. And, of course, I have more originals to give them next time they come this way.

Portrait Drawings

Lately I've been playing around with charcoal pencils and gouache on illustration board, doing some portraits...most of these you can see on my DeviantArt link~ I knew eventually I couldn't resist playing with the drawings once I scanned them into Photoshop.
So this is traditional art/digital art fusion. I think I'm hooked. And I'm really enjoying drawing portraits, something I haven't done in a few years.

Interview

Amusingly enough, I recently received a email from a high school student, requesting an interview for his Art History class. *What a laugh* since when did I become one of those artists whose work is important enough to be history ? Either out of ignorance or lack of sleep from working/partying the night before, I slept through Art History class at RISD, that early morning class in which they dimmed the lights and showed slides and droned on and on about the significance of each artist and movement.

Anyhow, the interview questions seemed rather bland at first glance, but I found myself really thinking about a few of them as I answered.

Q. Why do you create your art?
A. I am a visual person, compelled to express myself in creative ways. It comes as naturally as eating or breathing. Two quotes which come to mind here: “Without art, the crudeness of reality would make the world unbearable.” – George Bernard Shaw
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” – Pablo Picasso

Life is boring without art. Reality is boring. So I take a bit of fantasy, mythology, and oftentimes “heighten” my subjects, by portraying them larger than life. I am fascinated by the symbolic meaning of things I paint, of the myths and legends behind the subjects. I feel that we have lost some of the ancient wisdom and spiritual connection to the earth that our ancestors had.

Q. What is its purpose?
A. Individual self expression, mostly. I want people to feel something positive, to create something of beauty in this world. There is too much hopelessness and self-destruction out there.

Q. Does any of your work convey a meaning, message or agenda?
A. Yes. I was trained as an Illustrator (RISD, BFA/Illustration) so I always have a purpose in mind when painting or drawing. Once finished, the art takes on a life of its own and may convey an entirely different meaning to the viewer than I had originally intended. This is OK.
For example: When I draw or paint someone’s portrait, I am not necessarily looking for photo-realism, I am looking to bring out the essence of that person, that which is unique and different in their character as I see them.
“The job of the artist is to deepen the mystery.” -Francis Bacon

...by the way, the student got a 100 on his presentation. Alot better than my grade in Art History.

The Garden Lady website

Newly launched is Ana Newell's Garden Lady website. She is a talented landscape designer, and being a lifelong gardener myself (many of her featured flower and container photos are of my own gardens) it was really a pleasure to design this one in the middle of February. I think green will always be my favorite color. Visit Ana the Garden Lady at The Garden Lady