Life and Death in Ink Part 2

Life...

08/12/19...
Decades ago I started the practice of dating my sketches. This gives me a good idea of when and sometimes where I was on a particular day in the past. Looking at these sketches is like looking through an old photo album. Bringing back  pleasant memories and flooding the memory gates of my mind with images of the day and time over a decade ago. 

So, I invite you to take a stroll with me down memory lane. These sketches speak for themselves and as the saying goes, "one picture is worth a thousand words."

Sketch dated 6/15/03...
In a hospital in Encino, CA my wife LaVonne keeping our daughter Melissa company awaiting the birth of grand child Reese.

( (above) LaVonne playing Othello with daughter Melissa)

 My sketch book is a 'poor man's camera', capturing a moment in time in line. This being my newborn grand daughter, Reese. (left)

 11/17/03 (right)

 Some images are in pencil.
Newborns as you know sleep a lot, the graphite allows me to get a little more detail in the drawing.

 01/02/03 brings a little lifting of the head (left) and a good sleep (below).

 12/27/03 mom gets creative with headbands,'binkies' and cute little dresses join in the sketch party.

11/21/03 more nap time (right and bottom).




                       

 02/15/04 (below).

 

04/24/04 Facial features starting to be noticeable to my pencil (below). I'm starting to see a personality forming around the eyes, the window to the soul. 

You can see some of the edges are pages torn from my sketch book. I do not set out to sketch any particular being, just whomever is in eyesight, thus some of the images of my infants may also contain others.

01/17/04 and 02/07/04 (below) ...lifting head and scooting along.

05/22/04 and 10/22/04 Attempting to sit up and a highchair are added to the learning cycle (below).

    






























06/09/04 With all that sleeping comes growth (right).                                                 

10/30/04 Once balance is conquered it's two feet from now on and no turning back (below).

One of my favorites...Reese at her toy desk making musical sounds...capturing that babyish posture and just enough head turn to communicate her concentration...body language at it's peak.

03/26/05 Reese at 6am asleep and dressed and 9:50am dressed with hair braided ...nap time 9:50am.

 

 05/30/05 Reese interacting with cousin at Great Grandmother's home (left) and being held and walking (below).

08/21/05 (below) more sleep...

12/24/05 (below) Christmas Eve early am slumber.

If anybody asked Reese where was she was on a certain day and time in her distant past, she could look at Grampys sketches and answer confidently "I was asleep on..."

Greatly blessed to record in line these images of my  grandchild Reese (now going on sixteen). These images help me explain my observations of stages in her life from an artist point of view and not a camera lens.  Emphasizing again the importance of always carrying a sketch book and being ready to sketch in it. 

In the next post my attention turns to the end of life that is referred to as death to bookend my observations on Life and Death in Ink

until next time...

Life and Death in Ink Part 1

As those who know me are aware, I make it a  prerequisite to carry a sketchbook everywhere my travels lead me. Spain, Paris, Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Japan... various portions of the US. I don't even have to go anywhere, frequently sketching the occupants in my living room.

Artists like myself with an interest in sketching humans and animals are not only concerned with drawing a walk for example; but we also paying attention to how they walk, stand, gesture etc. This understanding comes from observation and analyzing what takes place when the body is in motion or stationary.

As I observe, I ask myself, "what forces are in place when a foot comes off the ground," "when does the body shift to keep its balance', "how do opposite limbs react while in motion," and "where is the drag and follow through of clothing most evident?" 

I depend on my pen or pencil to supply the answers.

If this reads like a chapter in my book  (Quick Sketching with Ron Husband Revised and Expanded) it is. I "practice what I preach," as the old saying goes and I wouldn't steer you anywhere I haven't been. I encourage you to be more observant of those around you.  It is important as artists to take advantage of observing life (movement) all around us. 

Which leads me to the first part of my blog topic Life... 

Life and Death in Ink

I have the good fortune of being a grandparent who has contact with my grand kids and the triple blessing of them being around long enough, on occasion, to observe them, analyze their actions and take notes in sketches of my children's children. Observation, analyzing and taking notes sounds like a science project and I suppose in a way utilizing them helps me make a better sketch. Here are some examples:

 Grandkids Reese, Rayna and Asher...around 2009? (below).

Until next time...

First in Show...

Friday 'Wedding Photo 1930' was named Best in Show by the Pomona Valley Art Association's 38th Annual Art Show at the Montclair Plaza, Montclair CA.

(Wedding Photo 1930)

(Circus 1930)

Another piece of mine 'Circus 1930' was awarded an Honorable Mention.

If you are in the area drop in and see these pieces and more, the show will be up until May 19th at The PVAA Art Place  Montclair Place, 2031 Montclair Plaza Lane, Montclair CA 91763
(second floor next to Nordstroms)

...what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas?...

April 2, 2019...





The nights inductees...

What happened to me in Las Vegas 46 years ago caught up with me on the evening of April 2, 2019 in the 'city that never sleeps'.

  I attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on a scholarship (football), as a student I got married there (LaVonne, 47 years and counting) and earned my degree (BA) in art there.

What the Lord enabled me to accomplish since I left Las Vegas is what brought me back to Las Vegas.

On that evening UNLV inducted me (and three others) into their Fine Arts Hall of Fame in an unforgettable ceremony.

Here is the occasion captured in pictures...

Chauffeured to the entrance to the UNLV Student Union Ballroom with friends Donnie and Carolyn Rosemond who drove up from So Calif to lend their support.

(Carolyn, Donnie, La Vonne and me being greeted at the entrance)

In the foyer were pictures of past inductees.

Friends from southern Calif who I knew were coming...

(LaVonne and I with the Rosemonds and Donn and Valeria Burwell, seated)

(with Oscar Woodard)

...others a surprise...

(with Lorenzo and Johanna Bellamy from So Calif)

Nate Hawkins a teammate from years back, all the way from Texas...

....and one of the coaches from my playing days, Al McDaniels and his wife Cheryl. Coach Al would later introduce me.

The program...

with two pages dedicated to each inductee...

                                                                            




The table set...




Dean of the Fine Art department Nancy Uscher sets the tone for the evenings activities...










Coach Al's introduction...


                                                                                

  my acceptance and thank yous...













...with Dean Nancy Uscher and award...

...Miss LasVegas not only wanted a picture with me but an autographed program too...


Fellow inductee Frankie Moreno and Dad.


The next morning I had the opportunity to address some UNLV film students with Chair of the Fine Art department Heather Addison (fifth from left) and Artistic Director Francisco Melendez (second on left) in attendance.







After signing the big head...


then going straight from UNLV to the airport and back home to experience what if anything lies ahead.


...until next time