Twelve Point Technique

I drew this twelve pointed star in a circular format in, I believe, June of this year. It was drawn near 15th and South Van Ness, and lasted for several months.

The photos show the progression as each section was filled in.

Luna Risen

Completed on 8-8-09
at Dolores and Market.
Third and final day

Knight of Cups Completed

7-10-09

Bird of Forgiveness

Having taken a trip south to Monterey over the weekend, I had a chance to lay down a small chalk piece. I had sketched a bird shape from a bird watching book and rendered it over the days 10-9 and 10-12.
I had gone on this trip to work a small art job for the company Dole, which wanted to promote a new salad product. It turned out to be in the same time frame as the memorial party for an old friend of mine who passed on this year.

A short trip back and forth by train, paid artwork, seeing old friends, enjoying the wilds of Big Sur...

Knight of Cups Crystallized

Most of the coloration was finished by 7-09.
It was a large piece, and a lot of area to cover, as well as having many detail spots. It occured to me that this mural was close to life scale. The figure and horse, though layed flat, would probably be of actual size.

Knight of Cups Conjured

Continuing work from the day of 7-8-09.
Fill-in work went slowly.
Strong winds.

Knight of Cups Conception

I will be posting some images of a beautiful mural I did over the days 7/7 to 7/10.
This one just came out as magic, somehow. It signalled a new direction, a new refinement of line and form. There is elegance to this one that I do not always manage to capture.
I had been thinking about this picture I had seen, in an old art magazine from Pakistan, left from my grandparents, who had lived in many countries in the 50's and 60's. It was printed in 1962, and it is such a bizarre artifact. The graphic design of the advertisements! Amid looking at Pakistani Cubism and dinosaurs battling, there was an article about taking rubbings on paper of the carved tombs of the necropolae. Chaukhundi tombs, in lower Sind. There was a carved figure on horseback which fascinated me. I particularly liked the 'ropey' style of the horse; a convention well suited to it's carved medium, and to chalk.
I envisioned this figure as an outline for a composition. After looking at the images I cobbled together a composite sketch using an older tarot study. I wanted to show the progression here.
The first day I arranged the outline. It was a large, complex outline and I think it came out beautifully. Its so satisfying to have a rendering come out right on target from the smaller sketch. My old friend Stacy had met me and hung out for a while as I worked. It was fun, and for its challenges. When I can easily slip into 'drawing mode', in a state of pondering, looking at shapes , letting things flow...
The corner area of Market and 15th has a wide sidewalk area under some trees. The spot is excellent but very windy.

The figure, though he has the gear of a knight, has a peaceful feeling, soft. The sword is sheathed. His shield, a seashell. Armor, possibly? Is it a man or woman? Is it Hindu?, people asked. Native American? The cups are water and emotion. This card sometimes represents the beginning of a spiritual quest. The least fierce of the Knights.