These are two people who hang out at the cpdsa skating circle.  They are not the traditional skaters you see in the circle.  The lady on the left likes to dance, and from what I have observed she is very professional, and passionate.  The other, the gentleman on the right, is dancing, but I don’t know what he is dancing on.  They are the strangest looking “shoes” that actually look like they belong on the moon.  Good exercise anyway you slice it!

If you can help out the cpdsa they would really appreciate it, so would the NOT skaters that join in with them!

Margaret Hurst

The CPDSA is a great nonprofit organization that provides a save and organized and fun place for skaters and for those who love to watch them, or join in with the skating.  They need some financial help to keep the skating ring going in Central Park this coming spring. It costs some money to keep all the activities going and well ordered.  If you would like to help out you can contact them on the web at www.cpdsa.org.

Let’s help keep the passion alive!

Thank you!

Margaret Hurst

EROS   LOVE    CUPID   APHRODITE   DESIRE   ANTEROS   CHAOS   CUPIDO   GOLDEN ARROW   VENUS   CHAOS   CHERUB   PUCK   DESIRE   AMOR   PSYCHE   ANGEL   LOVE DART   BREATH   SOUL   BUTTERFLY   COMMUNICATION   HEARTS   DOVES   FLOWERS

It is said that love is the opposite of fear…

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Margaret Hurst

The Liberty Tree grows, the GAP widens, yet again!

Freedom of Choice!

We the People…

Margaret Hurst

Ginkgo leaf drawn on my iPad 2.  A strange experience in drawing for me.  I’m used to more immediate control over my lines and color, but an exciting app to play with, Brushes.  New approaches to think about in the New 2012.

Happy New Year to everyone!

Margaret Hurst

The GAP widens…

This part of the GAP campaign is mostly about the idea of freedom of choice – having one and using it!

Margaret Hurst

I thought a good symbol to represent The Individual would be fingerprints, so I dipped my finger tips in red watercolor and pressed them on in the shape of the Liberty Tree’s branches and leaves. Also included a tree trunk of the Declaration of Independence.  The thumbnail in the lower left corner is the Declaration of Independence cut out to represent  the left side of a t shirt.  Lots of fun and a little messy!

These drawings are a progression on the GAP Liberty Tree ad campaign.  Just playing with a purpose with symbols and information. I was thinking about the Declaration of Independence, our fundamental rights, the American flag, etc.

Margaret Hurst

On one of my many trips to Disney World to draw/reportage, I was sitting in Liberty Square at The Magic Kingdom. I had previously looked up the Liberty Tree to see what kind of a symbol it was.  Apparently the idea of a Liberty Tree came about in 1765 with “The Sons of Liberty” patriots in Boston.  They were protesting the imposition of the Stamp Act on them by the British.  So the Stamp Act was about stamped paper, stamp revenue and inalienable rights, a “knowledge tax.”  It was all about taxing paper in the colonies. I thought it was ironic that the tax was all about paper and that paper is made from trees and that the protests were held under the Liberty Tree.  Merchants, landowners and local protest groups were behind the protests.  Almost every American town subsequently had a Liberty Tree.  It is the living symbol of the American Freedom of Speech and Assembly.

It can be said that the Stamp Act protest was the impetus for the American Revolution to come.   So, when I was sitting there looking at it I wondered what it would be like to create an ad campaign for a “merchant.”  I decided it would be fun to make the campaign for GAP.  This is the first few drawings I made to begin the visuals for the campaign.

There will be more next week!

GAP: the people have spoken!

Margaret Hurst

As 2011 nears I think of the old year ending and the new year approaching – what will it bring?!  Janus is the Roman god of gates, doorways, beginnings, endings, and time.  That’s a lot!  Janus, of course, January, the first new month of the new year.  Janus has two heads looking in opposite directions – past, future – transitional movement!   I am so looking forward to the new year and what the future will bring.  So here’s wishing everyone an incredible, productive and passionate new 2011!  Maybe I should pull Ganesha, Destroyer of Obstacles, in on the wishes for the new year.  Hey, a few removed obstacles never hurt anyone!

Here’s to 2011!

In the spirit of the Holidays I am posting my Holiday card, which is a gold and black silkscreened hibiscus. The hibiscus is a very beautiful flower seen all over St. Thomas, so I thought it would be nice to use it for my card.  In the spirit of the Holidays this card is also available for purchase.

A lovely, happy, joyous and peaceful holiday to all!

Margaret Hurst

I was in the South Pacific section at The Metropolitan Museum of Art making some drawings of the wooden tree that supports the roof of the house.  It was a beautiful shape, arched out at the top like open hands with a beautiful patterning of the grain of the tree.  I went home and drew this angel, not realizing at first how much I had been inspired by the tree’s patterning.  Inspiration comes in many forms and when you least expect it!

Oh, and I forgot, this drawing was made with a small, hand carved, wooden dowel.

Margaret Hurst

One day at China in Epcot there were dancers.  They moved in and out of the buildings and columns of the Chinese Pavilion so  gracefully.  They were irresistible. They had to be drawn and painted.  Lucky me, I got to do just that!

Margaret Hurst

My friend, and fellow studio 1482er, Veronica Lawlor and I went to draw at the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon blow up last night.  It was buzzing, as usual.  The kids love it.  They scream out every name of every balloon as they go by.  Katy Tur from NBC News interviewed us while we were drawing!  Cheers, Katy!  What a great lady and what a great night!!!

Giant balloons, NBC News, my friend and drawing…all in one night!

There is so much to be thankful for, everyday.

Margaret

The annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be coming up in a few days.  I thought it would be fun to post a page of drawings I made a few years ago on the eve of the parade.  I tried to draw Spider Man from as many different angles as I could.  It’s fun to go Thanksgiving Eve and watch the balloons being blown up.  It’s a real different perspective than the actual viewing on parade day.  These drawings were made on Central Park West on 80th and 79th streets around the Museum of Natural History.

Margaret

Another watercolour version of a Joshua Tree.

I think maybe this one feels the most like upraised arms in the middle of the desert .

Margaret

For Maureen:

Friend classmate fearless bright strong spirit

Always reaching for the sky

Always in our hearts

We miss you

We love you.

Margaret

Another watercolor from the Joshua Tree National Park in California.  This one is vertical!

The Mormons named the joshua tree after Joshua in the bible who raised his hands to the sky in prayer.

It is also known as izote de desierto.

Margaret Hurst

Another in the series of drawings/watercolors from Joshua Tree National Park in California.

Margaret Hurst

Another watercolor/drawing of the joshua trees at the Joshua Tree National Park, definitely one of my favorite places to go to and draw and watercolor and photograph and just be with nature.

Margaret