Fred and Ginger

Fred and Ginger
Originally uploaded by chuckrose1.

This week's Illustration Friday topic is dance. So I dug this out of the archives. I did this back in the 80s when I wanted to be the next Bill Nelson. He's an excellent Colored Pencil Illustrator who was at the top of his game back then. Since then I have come to realize we all just need to be the next 'us'. The piece is incolored pencil on Canson drawing paper and is 18" x 24"

Self Portrait marathon 01

Self Portrait marathon 01
Originally uploaded by chuckrose1.

Wally (crack skull bob) has laid down the gauntlet. A one month - once a week - self portrait marathon. Well this is my entry number one. Doing self portraits really makes you look at yourself in a new way. It's not the glancing image of our selves we see in the bathroom mirror every morning. It's frozen in time and it makes me realize I am getting older. There are more wrinkles on my face and bags under my eyes. Sleeples nights show up on my daily face. But I guess that's what a true self portrait is supposed to do, huh?
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Ben, a guy I work with

Ben, a guy I work with
Originally uploaded by chuckrose1.

Well, I gave a lecture at work today on blogging and Flickr and that kind of stuff. I thought it would be good to show the group (about 40 people) how one uploads an image. I thought a fresh drawing would be in order.

I was in a meeting right before my talk, where I did a quick sketch of Ben. I have worked with him off and on for over ten years. So please forgive me Ben. I know your nose is not this large. But if you had just sat still during the meeting I'm sure I would have captured a better likeness. But no, you had to talk and stuff and look at others who were talking.

Maybe this will be a lesson for all of you at work that are in meetings with me. When you come into the conference room, assume a comfortable position and keep it. Put your best side towards me. You never know when you will land on a page in my sketch book.

Color Study of Georgetown

Color Study of Georgetown
Originally uploaded by chuckrose1.

Still working on this piece. Tonight I did a little color study in my sketch book. It's funny how the more you draw a subject, the more you get to know it. I am hoping my sketches of this scene will prepare me to paint it properly. So that when I apply a brush full of oil paint to the canvas it will be like old friends saying hello.

Georgetown sketch One

sketch_02
Originally uploaded by chuckrose1.

OK, this is a really bad photo of my latest project. I am starting a 48'" x 30" urban landscape of a popular spot in Georgetown, a hot spot of Washington, DC.
I was ther last weekend for the opening of a friend's one man show at one of the better galleries in town. This was the view as I looked down the street. Keep coming back because I determined to NOT let this one sit on the shelf.

Let them eat cake

I don't usually post my illustration work, but I had a piece that fell right into this week's Illustration Friday's topic, "Cake".

I did this back in the late 90s when the McCaughey septuplets were in the news. This was an editotial piece for USA TODAY.com.

Giraffe at the National Zoo

Giraffe at the National Zoo
Originally uploaded by chuckrose1.

Jimmy, Amanda and I were looking this guy over. I believe it was Jimmy that said, "Wow, great CGI." And he was right. This animal is so strange looking you just don't expect him to be real. Giraffes look like something cooked up in a Hollywood special effects studio. What was God smoking when he decided giraffes would be really cool? I mean they are cool, and beautiful and a little rediculous all at the same time.

Lion at the National Zoo

Lion at the National Zoo
Originally uploaded by chuckrose1.

I started this WC last night and I thought it was really pretty bad. I put down my sketchbook and thought, "nice try, but that won't make the airwaves."

But tonight, I went to the opening of a good friend's show at a gallery downtown (DC). His work was wonderful. It made me take another look at this little sketch and inspired me to see what I could do to improve it.

So there you have it.

National Zoo Lion

National Zoo Lion
Originally uploaded by chuckrose1.

Well, Laura demanded lion sketches asap, so I rearranged my social calendar to comply. Had to get this in tonight instead of bingo down at the VFW.

Amanda, Jimmy and I at the Zoo today

Amanda, Jimmy and I at the Zoo today
Originally uploaded by chuckrose1.

I had the pleasure of spending the day with Amanda (craftmonkeys) and her husband Jimmy in downtown DC. We were all over town, but took time outside the National Zoo after a rainstorm to take a quick pic.

Violin solo

Violin solo
Originally uploaded by chuckrose1.

A continuation of my last post. Just starting to fill up my new WC Moleskine.

Spring Concert

Spring Concert
Originally uploaded by chuckrose1.

This is a sketch of one of the soloists from my son's orchestra concert. This kid played his heart out.

The 'Book'

The 'Book'
Originally uploaded by chuckrose1.

Here's the little sucker in context.

Moleskine Water Color No. 1

Moleskine Water Color No. 1
Originally uploaded by chuckrose1.

I might have been putting way too much pressure on myself. Not real happy with the way this came out, but what are you going to do? It's amazing the poer these little books hold over you, but this wc sketch is so-so. It's the first entry into the long awaited water color moleskine. I have wanted this for over a year and now it's iin my hands!

Chris in color

Chris in color
Originally uploaded by chuckrose1.

I did a color version of this while I was on a conference call for a different meeting.

I swear I was paying attention. Really.

Monthly Newsroom Meeting

Monthly Newsroom Meeting
Originally uploaded by chuckrose1.

We had the big staff meeting yesterday. I've known this guy for years. He's great at what he does and I love working with him.

Farm house

Farm house
Originally uploaded by chuckrose1.

One of my sons has recently started playing lacrosse. He loves it and so do I. The field they play on is close to this farm which caught my eye. I had to sketch it. The late afternoon light was irresistable.

Today's meeting doodle

Today's meeting doodle
Originally uploaded by chuckrose1.

You can tell it was a lunch meeting. It's all about the food.

Yoda

yoda
Originally uploaded by chuckrose1.

Another meeting doodle, that I think I may have posted before. However, I was playing with some wacky photoshop brushes that Cindy sent my way.

Alan on the Beach

Alan on the Beach
Originally uploaded by chuckrose1.

I was cleaning up the studio/office today and came upon this blast from the past. This is a friend of mine on the beach in, I think, 1984. I was doing a lot of colored pencil work then. I had discovered an Illustrator named Bill Nelson whose work I was trying to emulate.