DRAW FROM LIFE

1.27.12 Ellsworth Kelly

2012-01-27T19:36:00.000-06:00

12.26.11 Denali

2011-12-28T22:22:00.000-06:00

This is Denali, my friend Gail's yellow Lab. I made this painting for Gail for her birthday--December 26th. You may remember Gail from my blog posting on 1.13.11. She's the fighter. She's still fighting and every birthday is a victory. Happy Birthday Gail.

11.24.11 Sarkis and Scott

2011-11-24T09:31:00.000-06:00

At Sarkis Cafe on Gross Point Rd. in Evanston, IL. Sarkis owned it when I started going there for breakfasts when I lived in Evanston over 25 years ago. It's an old-style diner with a counter and a few booths. They claim to have the "World's Best Omlettes."With menu items like the Disaster Sausage sandwich and the Bacon Loretta (who was Loretta, anyway?) and cheesy hash browns with bottomless coffee, you won't need to eat again until dinner. Scott Jaffe is the current owner. He's very friendly and is there most all the time its open. He rarely goes on vacation. Sarkis still comes in once in awhile to "help out" and tell stories. This is a one-of-a-kind find.

10.15.11 Angus and Malachai

2011-10-18T23:46:00.000-05:00

These two talented musicians were playing at the Baraboo Farmers' Market last weekend.

10.10.11 Gridley

2011-10-10T22:12:00.000-05:00

9.26.11 Sharon O'Sullivan at Jackson Hole Airport

2011-09-28T08:15:00.000-05:00

We were stuck at the Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming for four hours waiting for our plane that was diverted to Idaho for mechanical difficulties. Sharon was a good model as she was immobile for awhile, working on her iPad. This is how my Draw from Life blog got started--drawing people in an airport waiting for a flight.

9.20.11 Ron and Sophie

2011-09-20T09:22:00.000-05:00

Ron and Sophie, his 10-yr. old English Springer Spaniel. Met them at a farmers' market in La Valle, WI last weekend. Sophie was a rescue dog. I think she rescued Ron.

9.6.2011 Don Herlihy

2011-09-19T12:10:00.000-05:00

8.27.11 Kyla Painting a Landscape

2011-08-27T17:59:00.000-05:00

Kyla painting a landscape of the millpond in La Valle, Wisconsin.

8.8.11 Desktop

2011-08-08T23:45:00.000-05:00

A "detail" shot from my current desktop in the dining room. Our basement got water in the downpour of 7/23/11 (7" of rain in 3 hrs.). So my studio got moved.

7.11.11: Annie

2011-07-11T20:36:00.000-05:00

Annie is our 13 yr. old Entlebucher Sennenhund. We got her as a puppy from Wilmette Pet Shop. I was supposed to get an aquarium with tropical fish for my 50th birthday. Got Annie instead. She's stubborn, a very picky eater, cranky and leaves little puddles on the wood floors but, of course, we love her.

6.14.11 Good Hands Lisa

2011-06-16T18:17:00.000-05:00

Today my wife was honored by the Advertising Club Foundation in NYC as the 2011 Ad Person of the Year. She was roasted and toasted by her friends and family at the Union League Club. In addition to being a big shot marketing person, she also loves animals, baking pies and gardening. My drawing was used on a printed piece inserted into a pair of gardening gloves for each of the guests.

6.13.11 Ruth Diane Hosfield at StoryCorps

2011-06-14T14:16:00.000-05:00

My mother-in-law at the StoryCorps recording booth in lower Manhattan. My wife, Lisa, interviewed her and my father-in-law for almost an hour. The segments of the recording of their personal stories may be aired on National Public Radio.

6.5.11 Lisa Relaxing

2011-06-05T14:02:00.000-05:00

In a rare moment, my wife catches a few rays on the chaise.

5.15.11 Caribou Coffee

2011-05-15T12:23:00.000-05:00

I like Caribou Coffee in Winnetka, our home town. It has a nice ambience. Like a north woods lodge. Especially on cold and wet mornings like today. They even have a gas fire place. And, the people who work there are very friendly. They also have a trivia question every day. If you guess the answer, you get ten cents off the price of your drink. Today's is: Who is credited with the invention of scissors? I got it right. Amazing.

5.12.11 Cupcakes

2011-05-12T11:55:00.000-05:00

4.27.11 Man Reading at Starbucks

2011-04-27T16:58:00.000-05:00

There were more people at Starbucks this afternoon than there were at the library. Maybe the library should get an espresso machine and some cool tunes? Nah.

4.24.11 Buena Vida Cafe and Bakery, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

2011-04-24T18:16:00.000-05:00

Lisa and I stopped into a little cafe and bakery near the Bellas Artes for coffee and fresh-baked pasteries.

4.22.11 Cafe de Parroquia, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

2011-04-22T08:41:00.000-05:00

Cafes are great places for people watching and drawing while enjoying a cafe au lait. This one is on the main plaza, overlooking the cathedral and park in the historic district of San Miguel--one of the most charming towns in central Mexico.

4.21.11 Cafe Europa, Minori, Italy

2011-04-21T12:16:00.000-05:00

Found this in my files from a trip to the Amalfi coast in 2005.

It was a watercolor and cooking trip. I did watercolors and Lisa took cooking lessons

from an Italian chef that didn't speak English. She learned how to make gnocchi. I learned that

I really love Italy.

4.16.11 Sparks

2011-04-16T08:31:00.000-05:00

4.8.11 Tillie & Chloe

2011-04-08T19:53:00.000-05:00

3.29.11 Shortcake

2011-03-29T19:10:00.000-05:00

I bought four pounds of strawberries at Costco last weekend. Lisa decided to make strawberry shortcake Sunday afternoon. Gridley thought that was a fine idea.

2.26.11 Bulldogs

2011-02-26T09:55:00.000-06:00

2.22.11 Gadhafi

2011-02-22T14:50:00.000-06:00

2.20.11 Hopper

2011-02-20T10:52:00.000-06:00

2.18.11 Coltrane

2011-02-18T18:59:00.000-06:00

2.17.11 O'Keefe

2011-02-17T17:52:00.002-06:00

2.16.11 Matisse

2011-02-16T21:14:00.000-06:00

1.26.11 Michael's Shoe Repair

2011-01-26T17:05:00.000-06:00

Gridley's not a bad dog. He's just a one year old and likes to chew things with appealing smells. And, 'somebody' left her closet door open.

1.25.11 Chicago Weather Forecast

2011-01-25T17:55:00.000-06:00

I was listening to the car radio while running some errands today. The weather forecast sounded like a broken record--"today mostly cloudy and cold, tomorrow mostly cloudy and cold," etc., etc. It reminded me how much I hate Chicago winter weather.

1.22.11 "Win Win"

2011-01-23T13:56:00.000-06:00

Tom McCarthy ("The Visitor" and "The Station Agent") directs this touching film about the "allegiances and bonds between unlikely characters." Giamatti's character, Mike Flahtery, is an struggling attorney and high school wrestling coash. Ryan plays Flaherty's wife. Set in New Providence, NJ where McCarthy grew up and wrestled on the New Providence team before going off to Yale drama school. Small picture. Great performances. See it.

1.11.11 Christina Taylor Green

2011-01-11T13:29:00.000-06:00

John Green holds a photo of his wife and slain daughter, Christina Taylor, nine years young.

1.6.11 Post-Holidays Cartoon

2011-01-06T10:41:00.000-06:00

I've often been struck with the remains of holidays cast-off at the curb side. I suppose it's ecologically correct but, somehow, sad. Here's a cartoon I just finished that looks ahead to the next holiday--Valentine's Day.

1.3.11 Fighter

2011-01-03T23:15:00.000-06:00

12.28.10 Lady, Gridley, Eden & Lisa

2010-12-28T12:41:00.000-06:00

12.4.10 Melodica

2010-12-04T18:07:00.000-06:00

11.27.10 Self-portrait

2010-11-27T14:17:00.000-06:00

Haven't done a self-portrait in a long time. A little introspection is a good thing once in awhile.

11.12.10: Cake Decorators

2010-11-12T17:18:00.000-06:00

We were at the grocery store this afternoon and Lisa got an important work call that took about 15 minutes. So, I got a cup of coffee in the bakery and took some photos of Sherlyn, the Head Cake Decorator and her colleague decorating cakes. They smooth on the icing and then use an airbrush to spray iridescent food coloring around the sides.

11.5.10: "Open"

2010-11-05T11:26:00.000-05:00

I like this old-style, hand-made neon sign.

11.2.10: All Washed Up

2010-11-02T15:36:00.000-05:00

At the laundromat washing a very large bedspread. Did I mention that we have three dogs?

10.24.10: Woman reading at Portland, ME Jetport

2010-10-25T08:05:00.000-05:00

Waiting for our flight back to Chicago after five days in Maine. Did one oil painting (daily painting) and took about 200 photos (will post an album on facebook). Weather was clear and crisp four out of the five days. I love Maine--the architecture, food and Fall colors. Met some very nice, "real" people, too. All Mainers drive Subaru wagons.

10.22.10: Breakfast Notes

2010-10-22T08:13:00.000-05:00

10.21.10: Kimberly in Camden

2010-10-21T16:22:00.000-05:00

In Zoot's Coffee and Tea in Camden, Maine. Kimberly Richardson working on her Mac. She moved here from California recently where she had a Pilates studio.

10.19.10 Flying to Maine

2010-10-19T18:26:00.000-05:00

Lisa and I flew United from Chicago to Portland, Maine this morning. Rented a car and drove north to Camden where she will go to the Pop!Tech ideas and innovation conference and I'll paint stuff. The colors of the maples are unreal in their iridescence. We split a lobster roll for lunch. Big yum!

Train People

2010-09-28T23:21:00.000-05:00

I took the CTA trains to downtown Chicago today to meet my son, Christopher, for lunch. First, the Purple Line to Howard. Then, the Red Line to State and Lake Streets. We ate at Harry Carey's. He treated. Great spinach pasta with Italian sausage in a tomato sauce. Good people watching on the trains but it's hard to draw them discreetly.

"TODAY I SAW" postcard from Jill Wignall

2010-09-16T14:03:00.001-05:00

This postcard just arrived from my blogger friend, Jill Wignall in London from her blog: http://jillstodayisaw.blogspot.com.

She does one every day and sends the postcards to lucky people who request them. Fabulous idea! Check out her blog. In August, she picked blackberries from bushes along side the train tracks in an industrial area of London.

9.5.10 Cows

2010-09-05T15:04:00.000-05:00

9.2.10 Boston Cream and Coffee at Dunkin' Donuts

2010-09-02T11:41:00.000-05:00

Seems there's not as much "custard" in a Dunkin' Donuts Boston Cream donut as I remember. I guess that's true of a lot of things today.

8.23.10 Live Music at C.J. Arthur's

2010-08-23T14:39:00.000-05:00

8.19.10 Mother & Daughter Lunch

2010-08-21T10:18:00.002-05:00

Katy and Elli enjoy lunch on the patio at Starbucks Plaza del Lago.

8.18.10

2010-08-18T16:18:00.001-05:00

2010-08-11T19:02:00.000-05:00

7.18.10: Artichoke

2010-07-18T15:39:00.002-05:00

7.14.10 Wegner's Cows

2010-07-14T20:24:00.002-05:00

6.20.10 Father's Day

2010-06-20T09:38:00.002-05:00

6.16.10 Iced Coffee

2010-06-16T11:53:00.002-05:00

6.12.10 Whitaker

2010-06-14T19:51:00.002-05:00

5.5.10: Facing History and Ourselves

2010-05-05T21:48:00.003-05:00

5.4.10 11:11

2010-05-04T11:04:00.003-05:00

4.27.10 Gridley

2010-04-28T18:48:00.001-05:00

4.15.10 Ann L. Frank

2010-04-15T21:44:00.002-05:00

4.13.10 Richard Wilson Capron

2010-04-13T21:14:00.001-05:00

4.6.10: Eden Etching

2010-04-06T23:09:00.001-05:00

2.18.09 "Corn Crow" Etching

2010-02-18T10:37:00.002-06:00

2.13.10 Apolo Anton Ohno wins his 6th Olympic Medal

2010-02-18T00:42:00.002-06:00

2.14.10: First Canadian Olympic Gold on Home Snow

2010-02-15T17:25:00.001-06:00

2.12.10 Shin Bang

2010-02-12T00:32:00.003-06:00

2.3.10 "Sadie" Etching Progression

2010-02-03T19:04:00.003-06:00

1.27.10_dogsled

2010-01-30T16:48:00.003-06:00

1.11.10 Portrait of Lady, Kate's Blue Tick Coonhound

2010-01-11T14:01:00.001-06:00

1.5.10 Crow Etching Artist's Proof

2010-01-05T23:01:00.001-06:00

12.20.09 Sparky

2009-12-20T15:03:00.003-06:00

12.19.09 Ben Harper

2009-12-19T22:46:00.002-06:00

11.27.09: Day After Thanksgiving

2009-11-27T15:07:00.002-06:00

11.20.09: Passion

2009-11-20T09:23:00.001-06:00

11.17.09: Things That Go

2009-11-17T12:26:00.001-06:00

11.11.09: Veterans Day Thanks

2009-11-11T13:38:00.004-06:00

11.8.09: Yardwork

2009-11-08T16:48:00.002-06:00

11.6.09: Hot Doug's, Chicago, IL

2009-11-06T21:15:00.002-06:00

11.5.09: Cafe Sarkis

2009-11-05T16:58:00.003-06:00

11.3.09: Mad Men - Don Draper

2009-11-03T10:33:00.004-06:00

10.31.09: Halloween

2009-11-01T08:24:00.001-06:00

1030.09: Coffee Addict

2009-10-30T14:08:00.002-05:00

10.29.09: Crows

2009-10-29T14:49:00.003-05:00

10.27.09: Painting Lady

2009-10-27T13:09:00.003-05:00

10.24.09: Wine & Dine with Foster & Lorca

2009-10-25T11:18:00.001-05:00

10.23.09: Rain, Painting & Fighter Planes

2009-10-24T08:29:00.004-05:00

10.20.09: Eden

2009-10-20T22:28:00.002-05:00

10.18.09: Lisa and Pumpkin Cat

2009-10-20T09:29:00.001-05:00

10.17.09: Fall Art Tour, Goats and Charley Colette

2009-10-19T10:40:00.004-05:00

10.16.09: Audrey Christie

2009-10-18T11:05:00.003-05:00

10.15.09: Today I...

2009-10-16T21:39:00.002-05:00

10.14.09: Kate playing PlayStation 3

2009-10-14T22:14:00.001-05:00

10.13.09: Wax The Car.

2009-10-13T23:36:00.001-05:00

10.11.09: Stowe, Vermont

2009-10-12T22:12:00.003-05:00

10.10.09: Bill & Rocco

2009-10-11T17:46:00.001-05:00

10.7.09: Rena Leonard

2009-10-07T23:26:00.003-05:00

10.6.09: Captain Benjamin Skalaver

2009-10-06T22:20:00.001-05:00

10.5.09: Dog Beach

2009-10-05T18:15:00.005-05:00