Saw this hat at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Some things are just begging to be drawn! –  Veronica

Eleven Turtles Makin’ Groovy, Ten Skaters Skating, Nine Mocko Jumbies Dancing, Eight Limbo Dancers, Seven Swans A Swimming, Six Saguaro Cacti, Five Peace Roses, Four Angel Drawings, Three Happy Dancing Doves, Two Japanese Dancers and A Partridge In a Pear Tree.     Margaret

The poor guy’s been getting a lot of flack here in the NE coast these days. Thought I’d give him a shout out.

We’ve been having a snowy winter and people are complaining. What an ungrateful, whiny bunch! Hey, myself included. I just CANNOT WAIT for the Spring, and more importantly, the Summer! If it doesn’t snow, we fear global warming. When it snows, we groan. Seriously, I think we’re all losing it!

But yesterday morning, when I looked through my window, I thought: “This is good.” And then: “No, really, this is good!” I convinced myself that Old Man Winter is a neat guy, and made a drawing for him. I signed it:

Love, Despina

Here is a drawing I made in Florida. I’ve always liked it and have never shown it anywhere. I particularly remember enjoying drawing the palm trees.

drawing by Greg Betza

There’s nothing like drawing from the model. YES!! with each breath there’s always something new to explore and experiment with. This weekend I had a chance to do just that when the Dalvero Academy held their semi-annual open house with Kika modeling as only Kika can!!

Loved, loved, loved the magic in the moment. Thanks guys - Michele

I did this at the Botanical garden…

This week (Tuesday) marked the end of Carnival 2010 in Venice. I love carnival and have done numerous drawings, paintings, silk designs, etc on this theme. Some of these works were exhibited at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization; most appropriately, since the history of Carnival goes back to ancient agricultural traditions. This illustration depicts the arrival of the masqueraders in their gondolas for the festivities. A good friend of mine just told me he’s going to Venice – hmmmm, perhaps another trip is in order? ; ) Veronica

Ten Skaters Skating, Nine Mocko Jumbies Dancing, Eight Limbo Dancers, Seven Swans A Swimming, Six Saguaro Cacti, Five Peace Roses, Four Angel Drawings, Three Happy Dancing Doves, Two Japanese Dancers and A Partridge In A Pear Tree.      Margaret

I spent the afternoon at Barnes and Noble the other day. During my break for some coffee at the Starbucks cafe, I made some drawings of the people around me:clockwise froom the top left: the whiny kid, the satisfied customer, the shy girl waiting to order, the eccentric dude, the quiet reader, the old woman in a wheelchair.

Drawings by Despina

Here is a drawing I made a few years ago in the west village of NYC. The place was called the Baggot Inn. One night a week they invited folk musicians, both amateur and professional, to come and play together. Watching very different people, many of which did not seem to know each other, collaborate in such a beautiful way really made an impression on me. Sadly, this place has since closed, but I’ll always remember what a pleasure it was to draw while sipping a Guinness.

drawing by Greg Betza

“True realism consists in revealing the surprising things which habit keeps covered and prevents us from seeing.” –  Jean Cocteau

Reportage drawing by Michele Bedigian

Love

Eddie Peña

My book, September 11th, 2001: Words and Pictures, has just been published by vero press. The book is a first hand account, through my words and reportage drawings, of the events of September 11, 2001 and the weeks that followed in New York City. The drawing shown above is from the book, portraying police officers barricading lower Manhattan that day.

Please visit the website, sept11wordsandpictures, for more information or to order this book. A portion of the proceeds of this project will go to the New York Firefighters Burn Center in honor of Carl Bedigian, a New York firefighter and friend to all of us at Studio 1482 who lost his life that day. Thank you, Veronica.

Nine Mocko Jumbies Dancing, Eight Limbo Dancers, Seven Swans a Swimming, Six Saguaro Cacti, Five Peace Roses, Four Angel Drawings, Three Happy Dancing Doves, Two Japanese Dancers and A Partridge In A Pear Tree.   Margaret

Thank you everyone for giving to our studio 1482 fundraiser for Haiti!

The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis performed Art and Jazz and Greg and I where there to draw. It was a great night of beautiful music and inspiring art.

Click here for more of my Jazz drawings of the night. -Despina

On Saturday night I was fortunate enough to be invited to the incredible Jazz and Art II concert by The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. The show featured works by artists including Bearden, Davis, Sam Gilliam, Homer, Wifredo Lam, Mondrian, Matisse, Picasso and others projected behind the orchestra as they played jazz inspired by the works. What an amazing event to reportage! Honestly it was a bit overwhelming to hear this incredibly original music while watching the backdrop of master works of art. It was an experience both personally and artistically. The only way it could have been better would have been to have all day and all of my art supplies!

Here is a drawing I made while Picasso was the inspiration.

To see more from this series, visit www.gregbetza.com

*UPDATE*

Yesterday concluded Studio 1482′s Haitian Relief Fundraiser and we are pleased to announce that $3032 was raised. The members of Studio 1482 would like to express our sincerest gratitude to all who contributed and we would like to continue to urge you to support CARE in their relief efforts. Thank you again from all of us at Studio 1482.

… a long, long, long time ago there was a secret present put aside by the great, great, great … ancestors high in the sky just for you...

AS WE DRAW TO A CLOSE ON OUR FUNDRAISER FOR OUR NEIGHBORS IN HAITI …thank you to all who’ve already participated. Today we continue to support the appeal for funds by CARE, a leading humanitarian relief organization. Simply donate $50 or more to CARE before midnight tonight and you will receive art from one of 1482’s eight illustrators. Click HERE for the original announcement and complete directions.