Dropped into Madison to visit Madison College, The University of Wisconsin, and Edgewood College, and received the offer from Barry Carlsen to do a print. Worked on a two color lithograph over the weekend. Above is the proof. It’ll be editioned later this fall. Worked from a sketch (below) done about 8 years prior.
Master printer Barry Carlsen above. Sketch of the studio done with Pitt Artist Brush Pens in Strathmore toned sketchbook.
The relocated Megabus stop. Five blocks from Union station. Five blocks from restrooms. Five blocks from shelter. Five blocks from food. Five blocks from where it out to be. This is gonna feel really isolated at night and in the winter. Our mayor and his planning commissioner are clueless or they’re engaging in pay to play.
So we’ve had the first debate and still this Buffoon has his apologist.
 
A drawing from the bus ride to Madison from Chicago where I had to replace a travel suitcase that had lost a wheel way back in Fargo. While the rooster tail of sparks was cool and made me feel like a low rider, it just became a matter of public safety that the old bag had to go.
For the 5th year, I will head out across the country, this time trekking down the middle, from the mountains to the Mississippi, over the Oglalla and amber waves of grain, to sketch and share craft and discoveries with a whole mess of folks. To follow my journey, go to: doncolleysroadtrip.com.
 
The trek began with an 8 hour layover at the Twin Cities airport and  a late arrival in gorgeous Bozeman. From there I made it to the Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument. Go. Hallowed ground. The markers indicating where the combatants fell give and amazing sense of the raging and rambling nature of the battle. From there, Sheridan, Wyo, and a long bus ride to Fargo, where the biplane was drawn at the Fargo Air Museum. The West has to be experienced by bus by car and by train with frequent stops.
All drawings executed with various fountain pens, Lamy Accent, Graf Von Faber-Castell Classic Ebony, using Platinum Carbon ink, grease pencil, and a ide array of F-C Pitt Artist Brush Pens in several types of sketchbooks: Strathmore toned sketchbooks, Moleskine landscape formate watercolor sketchbook, Stillman & Birn Epsilon, Tomoe River Paper sketchbook, and a ledger book from the 1950’s.
Head into the Fall by attending the Labor Day Life Drawing Marathon at the Palette & Chisel. Didn’t put in the hours I usually do, but I got in about 6 hours.
Had surgery yesterday morning and whiled away the time waiting to be rolled down the hall to the OR by drawing the IV in my hand. Never really got nervous and managed not to joke around with the staff inappropriately, tho when the male nurse Steve asked if I had any rings or jewelry on I said “All off. Even removed the Prince Albert.” My apologies Steve. Underwent the procedure with “Twilight” anesthesia so expected to have a foggy awareness of things. But, they were giving me the sedation in stages so I had very clear recollection of being wheeled into the OR, then they were turning off lights, commenting how quick and smooth things went and taking me back to the recovery room as alert as I had been on the way in. My anesthesiologist Jeff must be Morpheus himself. Minimal discomfort, dropped one tab of Tylenol last night, slept good, up and out for a gentle walk, breakfast and to post this. Back to the couch and my best pal, the ice bag. My compliments and gratefulness to Dr. Winchester and his staff, Dr. Jeff, dug my sketches, Steve, Nicole, Kim, Claire(?), and my pcp Dr. Vlahos and the rest of the caregivers at Evanston Hospital. My apologies for not recalling last names. Thanks to coop mates Dianne and Dianne for getting me home and the fresh cut fruit. Ink on a Moleskine watercolor sketchbook.