Buttnekkiddoodles

Two days of very large turnouts marked the inauguration of Donald Trump to POTUS.

The demonstrations were peaceful by most accounts, though there were a few arrest on the night of the inauguration. So, Friday night, I went downtown to see what would become of a planned demonstration around the Trump Tower which sits beside theChicago River in one of the grandest public spaces in the U.S. of A. I was actually quite surprised and accepting of the building, for sure a large and unmistakably phallic structure from several vantage points. It’s large presence was well situated in the midst of Chicago’s downtown cluster, took full advantage of the immediacy of the river guaranteeing it’s inclusion on the armada of architectural tours popular with out of owners and locals alike. It was the later, unfortunate inclusion of very large letters spelling out the extremely well known developer’s name, that has made the already grandiose building more self aggrandizing and probably increasing the number of it’s detractors.

On my way to Trump Tower, I encountered a police barricade 1/2 a block north of the main entrance, just across from the House of Blues. The fellow in front of me identified himself as press, may even have shown a pass, so…”Evening officer, Don Colley, visual journalist writing for an independent blog”. The officer pointed to the next cluster of cops towards the bridge. I approached the one who seemed to be following me most closely and said, pointing a thumb over my shoulder,”The officer said to tell you I write for an independent blog…” and seeming either satisfied, indifferent, or not particularly impressed, she waved me on. I was on the north side of the river at the Wabash Street bridge and looking across saw the demonstration procession wrapping around the Trump Tower cordoned off a block or more in each direction. Hence, the less than informative view of the goings on as you look towards the bridge tower and the Church of Christian Scientists with the odd buttressed roof.

I got what I could from that view then strolled along the bridge to just behind the police line on the south end of the bridge at Wacker Drive. I got a good start on the drawing before an officer came over to inform me that while she liked my nice drawing, I wasn’t supposed to stop on the bridge and needed to head back or join the revelers. I said I understood but during the course of drawing in court, occasionally officers would permit me to sit in more advantageous spots and this was a particularly good vantage point, yes? She said she had to go back across the bridge and when she returned, I needed to have moved on. Fortunately, I got it done.

The following day I joined some friends and fell into what has been reported as a crowd of a quarter of a million participants for the Women’s March. The high spirited energy of the gigantic crowd was palpable and did not leave this observer untouched. A disclaimer perhaps should be that while I’m prepared to be objective should I witness things out of the ordinary, I was there not just to witness and record the event, I was there in full support of equal rights for Women and Planned Parenthood.

Pitt Pens and fountain pens in a Strathmore sketchbook.

Just some heads. Some witnessed and drawn on site. Some started in public and finished later. Some are from sculpture. Some just made up. Various inks on various sketchbooks.

Head studies done while traveling on public transit or in public spaces. Drawn in ink.

Broke fast at Prairie Joe’s in Evanston this morning. Caught Marshall at work behind the counter. Back from SCAD where he focused on sequential art, Marshall looks to ply his skills in tattooing if not animation. All the best young man.

There are faster mediums besids felt tip markers; watercolor, for one, can prove quite expedient in capable hands. But I return to ink not only because I love it’s presence on paper, that it’s minimal aqueous nature means I can give fairly heavy coverage without buckling and over saturating the paper, and the range just within the shades of grey, that lend dramatic value statements, plus the bold and subtle stroke potential can convey the mark vocabulary of medium such as charcoal, graphite and grease pencils, especially when working on on a wide array of drawing surfaces.

Over the years on this blog and in my posts on Facebook and other blogs, I have demonstrated that versatility especially when incorporating my hands to manipulate and broaden the mark making capability of ink mediums. When felt tip markers are combined with ink from ballpoints, gel pens, and fountain pens (a personal favorite) on paper where sizing and texture can be taken advantage of, the range becomes rich enough to suggest charcoal, watercolor, crayon, and helps articulate and imply surfaces as diverse as shiny metal, weathered wood grain, fabric, leather, beard stubble, satin shirts and silky hair.

I personally enjoy drawings that not only capture the look and feel of different surfaces and optical effects, but evidence the means by which the human hand plays a role in delighting and convincing the eye.

The above sketch, drawn from life, was executed with Pitt Artist Brush pens – Cold Grey IV, Warm Grey IV, Cold Grey VI, Black, and White. Fountain pens Pelikan M205 medium nib, Pelikan M215 bold nib, Platinum Carbon ink,  on a Strathmore tan sketchbook.

  

Bomber hats, fur lined hoodies, ear muffs, ski caps, high collars, and scarves upon scarves challenge one to show up to work, to the Opera, or a dinner date, with hairdo intact. No such problem for bald dudes like myself. Ink drawings from out and about on various sketchbooks and ledgers.