Wednesday, September 17, 2008
VISIONS FROM DOWNTOWN OAKLAND
Having never been here before, I had no idea but it just so happens that downtown Oakland has some amazing architecture. Aside from the obvious Spanish inspired influence that most older buildings and homes in the area have, the downtown is replete with all kinds of beautiful buildings.
WEST COAST TRIP - PART 2
I'll be meeting Michael tonight in San Francisco to gather our camping supplies for a short trip to Big Sur. Back on Saturday, so expect some new pics then.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
WEST COAST TRIP - PART 1
I arrived in Oakland California Thursday evening, hopped in a rental car and promptly got lost 5 or 6 times on the way to Brandon's with the help of a navigation system. (Ironically, the same navigation system stopped working approximately 1 hour into our trip Friday morning).
ON THE ROAD - BRANDON
Friday morning arrives, we have a quick workout, grab some food and snacks for the road and head north for the 5.5 hour trip to Eureka, a small coastal town where Brandon has friends who own a home that they also run a nonprofit political organization Democracy Unlimited Of Humboldt County out of. It also just so happens that one of the hosts is also a Virgo and was celebrating her birthday with a dozen or so friends the Friday evening we arrived.
Turns out Brandon's friends David and Kaitlan are incredibly kind, warm and welcoming people whonot only welcome us into their home but also make us feel like part of the family, part of the community.
In preparation for the night's festivities we drive Kaitlin north to Arcata where she is part of a co-op farming effort and was planning on picking up her fresh produce and bunch of flowers from the cutting beds. We had no idea that the "cutting beds" were going to be the size of most small Manhattan parks. The woman who oversees the farm got wind that it was my birthday and suggested that I go ahead and cut myself a bunch of flowers.
CUTTING BEDS IN ARCATA
The party was wonderful, 2 delicious cakes, lots of wine and beer and tons of tasty homemade foods.
CHICKS AND DUCKS (Thanks for the delicious eggs ladies)
Saturday, after breakfast made with fresh eggs from the hens as well as the ducks that Kaitin cares for in her backyard, Brandon and I decided to head a little further north to Trinidad in search of the sun and a nice place to draw and grab a bite to eat. The fog apparently had little desire to lift, and we were not prepared for the chilly air so we ended up finding the wonderful little restaurant located in a cove, had lunch, took a quick walk on to the pier and promptly got back into the truck, no drawing today. On the way back to the house we decided to hit a few beaches along the way and discovered that you could drive 3 miles one way and it would be foggy and freezing and at the blink of an eye and 3 miles in the other direction it was 20 degrees warmer and sunny, something that was both intriguing and baffling to both Brandon and myself and a lesson in geography and weather related conditions as well.
PIER IN THE COVE IN TRINIDAD
Sunday morning we shared a quick breakfast and decided to head back to Oakland with specific instructions from David Cobb that we should take a slight detour on the way back and drive through the Avenue Of The Giants. A scenic route of sorts that drives through one of the oldest redwood forests in America. Needless to say,it was an awe inspiring experience with many pit-stops before we finally made it back on to the freeway.
ON THE ROAD - BRANDON
Friday morning arrives, we have a quick workout, grab some food and snacks for the road and head north for the 5.5 hour trip to Eureka, a small coastal town where Brandon has friends who own a home that they also run a nonprofit political organization Democracy Unlimited Of Humboldt County out of. It also just so happens that one of the hosts is also a Virgo and was celebrating her birthday with a dozen or so friends the Friday evening we arrived.
Turns out Brandon's friends David and Kaitlan are incredibly kind, warm and welcoming people whonot only welcome us into their home but also make us feel like part of the family, part of the community.
In preparation for the night's festivities we drive Kaitlin north to Arcata where she is part of a co-op farming effort and was planning on picking up her fresh produce and bunch of flowers from the cutting beds. We had no idea that the "cutting beds" were going to be the size of most small Manhattan parks. The woman who oversees the farm got wind that it was my birthday and suggested that I go ahead and cut myself a bunch of flowers.
CUTTING BEDS IN ARCATA
The party was wonderful, 2 delicious cakes, lots of wine and beer and tons of tasty homemade foods.
CHICKS AND DUCKS (Thanks for the delicious eggs ladies)
Saturday, after breakfast made with fresh eggs from the hens as well as the ducks that Kaitin cares for in her backyard, Brandon and I decided to head a little further north to Trinidad in search of the sun and a nice place to draw and grab a bite to eat. The fog apparently had little desire to lift, and we were not prepared for the chilly air so we ended up finding the wonderful little restaurant located in a cove, had lunch, took a quick walk on to the pier and promptly got back into the truck, no drawing today. On the way back to the house we decided to hit a few beaches along the way and discovered that you could drive 3 miles one way and it would be foggy and freezing and at the blink of an eye and 3 miles in the other direction it was 20 degrees warmer and sunny, something that was both intriguing and baffling to both Brandon and myself and a lesson in geography and weather related conditions as well.
PIER IN THE COVE IN TRINIDAD
Sunday morning we shared a quick breakfast and decided to head back to Oakland with specific instructions from David Cobb that we should take a slight detour on the way back and drive through the Avenue Of The Giants. A scenic route of sorts that drives through one of the oldest redwood forests in America. Needless to say,it was an awe inspiring experience with many pit-stops before we finally made it back on to the freeway.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
IN MEMORY OF
Photos I shot that eventful morning from the 14th floor of the office I worked in at 5th avenue and 12th street.
Please never forget the tragedy of September 11 and the terror that is a daily occurrence for those less fortunate than yourself.
Please never forget the tragedy of September 11 and the terror that is a daily occurrence for those less fortunate than yourself.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAY BERUBE-BUG
Since September is such a special month, being that so many brilliant people were born this month, I decided to go ahead and create a Birthday Berube-Bug in honor of these individuals. And, since I just happen to be going out of town for my birthday next week for an extended birthday/vacation combo, I decided to get September's bug ready to go before I left. This time around, there wasn't any initial sketch. Just a drawing directly from my head on to the piece of linoleum, a few adjustments and then cut as I see fit, and print. Presto magic. I'll have a few in the mail by Monday for the couple of people who have already sent their September contribution to my monthly creature collection. Any creatures received after Weds. will have to wait until my return around the 23rd in order to be scanned and posted to the blog.
Below are pics from the creating/cutting/printing process. Tomorrow, I'll go ahead and scan the final printed piece after it's dry.
INITIAL SKETCH ON LINOLEUM (SCAN)
CUT LINOLEUM (SCAN)
INKED LINOLEUM (PIC)
Below are pics from the creating/cutting/printing process. Tomorrow, I'll go ahead and scan the final printed piece after it's dry.
INITIAL SKETCH ON LINOLEUM (SCAN)
CUT LINOLEUM (SCAN)
INKED LINOLEUM (PIC)
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
I LOVE SUNFLOWERS
Just got back from a short visit to Connecticut to visit the family . And although I missed the peak flower and gardening part of the season, I did show up for the prime sunflower veiwing part. Both my mom and my brother had some sunflowers planted as part of their gardens, but my brother injected his sunflower stalks with growth hormones or something like that as they actually topped out at over 12 feet high. I also included a few other pics of some of the flowers in my moms yard, just because I love flowers so damn much.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
BERUBE-BUG #3 / B. RANDY PEPPAPLANTA - THE PROCESS
I just finished printing up the third Berube-Bug for my mailart call. Here's the process after the intial sketch.
SKETCH ON LINO
COMPLETELY CUT LINO IMAGE
INKED LINO
FINAL PRINT
SKETCH ON LINO
COMPLETELY CUT LINO IMAGE
INKED LINO
FINAL PRINT
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
CANADIAN HIGH SCHOOL ART INSTRUCTOR EXTRAORDINAIRE
SUHEEL - BARBARA - MYSELF / IN MY KITCHEN - NYC
I finally met my online pal of over 2 years, Barbara Burns and her partner Suheel a few days before I left for Minneapolis. Barbara is a High School Art Instructor and a very talented artist in her own right teaching in a school in Athabasca Alberta Canada. She's worked into her curriculum a wonderful mailart project of which you can check out the responses I've received in my PORTRAIT MAILART BLOG.
I finally met my online pal of over 2 years, Barbara Burns and her partner Suheel a few days before I left for Minneapolis. Barbara is a High School Art Instructor and a very talented artist in her own right teaching in a school in Athabasca Alberta Canada. She's worked into her curriculum a wonderful mailart project of which you can check out the responses I've received in my PORTRAIT MAILART BLOG.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS MINNESOTA
Here are a few pics from my recent trip to Minneapolis Minnesota to visit my buddy Brandon. I was amazed by the architecture, especially in downtown Minneapolis. The sculpture garden and the Walker Art Center were equally amazing in the scope of artists represented. Thanks Brandon for everything, I look forward to seeing you again soon!!!
ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL BRONZE HORSE SCULPTURE FROM DEBORAH BUTTERFIELD
BRANDON AND ME IN HIS GARDEN (NICE T-SHIRT)
BRANDON IN FRONT OF 2 CALDER SCULPTURES
DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS
DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS
Some pics from my first trip to Minneapolis Minnesota
AUGUST BERUBE-BUG
This guy was discovered on a recent trip to Minneapolis Minnesota. Known sightings at gatherings for mixed race, spoken word artists and pepper farms. Can be located by following the loud cry of his infectious belly laugh and sassy attitude. WARNING: If bitten by the B.Randy Peppaplanta-Laugh Bug seek medical attention immediately. Has been known to cause addictive behavior to those who come in contact with him. Only reproduces as the male of the species. Mildly Dangerous.
ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL BRONZE HORSE SCULPTURE FROM DEBORAH BUTTERFIELD
BRANDON AND ME IN HIS GARDEN (NICE T-SHIRT)
BRANDON IN FRONT OF 2 CALDER SCULPTURES
DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS
DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS
Some pics from my first trip to Minneapolis Minnesota
AUGUST BERUBE-BUG
This guy was discovered on a recent trip to Minneapolis Minnesota. Known sightings at gatherings for mixed race, spoken word artists and pepper farms. Can be located by following the loud cry of his infectious belly laugh and sassy attitude. WARNING: If bitten by the B.Randy Peppaplanta-Laugh Bug seek medical attention immediately. Has been known to cause addictive behavior to those who come in contact with him. Only reproduces as the male of the species. Mildly Dangerous.
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