Mapped: West LA, Lincoln Blvd Alternative

Southbound Lincoln Blvd, on the west side of Los Angeles, in the morning.
On it, your soul will die a small death.
Here's an alternative route, a little less stressful.

This is my submission to The Sketchbook Project's "Map Project | Secret Adventures".

The Sketchbook Project (formerly known as Art House) has lots of fun weekly projects going on now -- every Wednesday, they post a free "assignment". This week's is "Things Found... Under the Bed" which I'm joining in on. The deadline for sign up is 2/27/13.

They also have a new book coming out, chock full of things to get your creative juices flowing. You can pre-order it (with special added goodies!) here for $16.

Now Showing @ TAG - Map Art

"Thomas Guide, Page 671, Santa Monica Pier" ©2010 digital collage, 14.5 x 19" framed

This piece is now hanging in the Loft area at TAG Gallery. Since many people from out of town visit Bergamot in the summer, I thought I'd exhibit a souvenir type piece. It will be up for a couple of months - unless it sells!

If you can't make it to Santa Monica this summer, you may also purchase this online at Society6.

I was going to do a whole series like this, but have only done a couple. Went on to other things...

On the Edge US

Big new project!
I've told some of you about the Big Road Trip that I'm plotting for 2014. I'm calling it "On the Edge" and just now registered the domain on-the-edge.us. After I figure out the "Name Server" stuff, I'll have linkage.

I plan to circumnavigate the US by car on State Highways as close as possible to the perimeter of the contiguous 48 US states. (I might actually have to start earlier, since I want to be in South Carolina in March when my Mom is there). I'm going to crowd fund it on IndieGoGo and need to figure out what kind of artwork I'm going to generate out on the road for donor rewards and such.

The California coast provides a good stretch of highways that are conveniently close to my abode, so I'm using them to perform experiments. Part of my concept is to tape the entire journey out the passenger side window. I obtained a cheap webcam that I can attach to my laptop to directly download the video to my hard drive. I gave it a test run when we drove to Encinitas a few weeks ago.

Reenactment of setup
(hope it's obvious webcam not on!)

On Friday, I was stuck with a long Dr visit wait and took along the laptop to try to see what art I could come up with. I scanned quickly through the footage and found this bit with a slice of the Pacific:

The screen grab from the video

First idea: sketching from screen grab.
Verdict: too drab, needs color.

Next idea: Repaint image in Corel Painter
Verdict: LIKE!
Note to self: next time, attach the Wacom tablet -- finger twiddling on laptop is DIFFICULT

I feel like I'm off to a good start.
Next, I need to spray paint the webcam black to cut down on window reflections and make some kind of rigid platform to hold the laptop. I'll try it out on Oxnard > Santa Monica on PCH/CA 1. Stay tuned!

eastbound map

I was inspired by this map on flickr (click to see)
to do this

road trip journal prep

I started preparing a book to use on my October road trip

first I'm gluing AAA maps of the route into an 8 x 11" blank book
next, I'm painting the non-route portions of the map with gesso

there are portions of the trip I haven't yet figured out so it's a work in progress...