Peony!

My parents have beautiful peonies growing in their front yard. I had to try and capture it. Not so easy, they are so delicate and light! Greg Betza ©2020

The Virtual Misty Meaner

Another virtual drawing of Misty Meaner on the Society of Illustrators site. Fun Sketch Night at SOI128! m hurst

Catching Up with An Old Friend

Last week I reached out to my good friend Mark to check in during these crazy times. All was good on his end but we started talking shop and a little history. Way back in olden times when I was just out of school I worked in a print shop during the day doing various […]

In Memory

Often when I have a reportage job coming up, I’ll spend some time practicing on location before I start the project. This is one such drawing, made in my NYC neighborhood of Jackson Heights in February of this year. It was a cold but sunny day, and I scored a seat in the window of […]

Covering

Ink and crayon on craft paper. ~Despina

The call that never came

Back in 2012 I was called for jury duty for the first and only time. Of course looking back on rooms full of people waiting to be called on to fulfill their civic obligation, it makes you wonder how this process will change post COVID-19. Anyway…I sat there for 3 days, watching TV and making […]

Misty Meaner at the SOI128

A fun night of drawing Misty Meaner at the Society of Illustrators Virtual Sketch Night! m hurst

Holding Strong

Part of staying close to home has been the realization that so much happens when you aren’t really paying attention. The number of bird calls I have discovered echoing through my neighborhood grows by the day. I also have noticed, just like watching a pot boil, that one should NOT watch grass grow. Nothing happens […]

Color Studies

One of the ways that artists can work during the pandemic quarantine are online model drawing sessions, which create their own kind of graphics. Here are some color studies I did during one such session hosted by the Society of Illustrators in NYC last Thursday. Due to the coronavirus, we’ve had to postpone our Life […]

Another figure

A painted figure from 2016. Acrylic Ink on paper. Greg Betza ©2020

Virtual Hairdressing

A Virtual Hairdressing drawing of the Pearling Principle, Arielle and Brendan, a few weeks ago on the SOI128 virtual drawing night. Arielle giving Brendan a virtual hairdressing event. Fun! m hurst

A Spot of Afternoon Tea

Having a bit of tea lately. Morning, afternoon, evening. A spot of tea served from the local tea trolly with a bit of conversation.—Dominick

More leaves blooming

As we are still in quarantine in NYC, I’m still obsessed with the tree outside of my office window! The leaves are really starting to unfurl now, and the fire escape of the building across the courtyard is becoming obscured from view… posted by Veronica

Figures

Greg’s post yesterday got me looking back at some of my old figure drawings. Here is one that I completely forgot about! ~Despina

Another throwback

Last week I posted a figure drawing from a “real” session a few years back, here is another. Watercolor and ink I believe. Greg Betza ©2020

SOI128 Virtual Drawing Night with The Pearling Principle

Another drawing of the Pearling Principle, Brendan and Arielle, from the SOI128, relaxing at home on the couch. m hurst

Under A Tree

It’s funny the number of times in a given week you can jokingly say, “let me check my calendar” knowing there is barely anything on said calendar and yet somehow the weeks fly by in our current state of life with little room for relaxation. Every move requires plan. So before the next storm takes […]

It’s Almost Blooming

Being inside for over a month makes you really take notice of the things that are right outside your window. My office window faces the shared garden in the courtyard of our building complex. I’ve enjoyed seeing the cherry trees bloom, as well as the elms and oaks that surround them. But the tree closest […]

From real life

I’ve been drawing a lot during virtual figure drawing sessions lately. It’s been a way to keep busy or “sharp” during the quarantine. It’s been great, but honestly, nothing beats drawing from “real” life. Here is a drawing made from a non-quarantine drawing session (amazing that that is now a distinction) a few years ago. […]

QUARANTINING WITH THE PEARLING PRINCIPLE

A Society of Illustrators virtual drawing/sketch night with Arielle and Brendan of the Pearling Principle. A fun night! m hurst