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!

On the Town in Instagrams

Severo and I had a rare sync in our schedules so we went out.

In the car, heading downtown

The Place: dinner at The Nickel Diner

For me, catfish smothered with pecans, etc
For Severo, Smack n cheese
Verdict: delicious

He's ready to try the entire dessert selection

One of our choices was Root Beer Creme Brulee
I found it too strange, Severo liked it

Iam8bit was hosting the ArtHouse Sketchbook Tour
Here is the instruction card

The line for registering and checking out books

No! Yes! SpyGirl book checked out
(I kept getting this message, later to find it was misshelved)

The stacks

Our first set of books. You get two at a time.

Viewing Robin's book
you can view it here

Scary voodoo heads in the window of Yosmar on Sunset

Freedy Johnston at The Mint

Freedy on the uke

A blinged Lincoln outside the club

The next day, we went down to Encinitas to see Freedy and Cindy Lee Berryhill (and Severo) at a house concert. Altogether, a very fun weekend!

Instagram Project: Music Photos Every Day in June

I've been having fun with a fashion-themed photo-a-day project and thought it'd be entertaining to do a music-themed month. Here's how it works: Shoot your photo with the designated theme and add the hashtag #musicphotoed062012. I'll be using Instagram, but you could shoot any type of photo (or even sketch!) and post it wherever - twitter, Flickr, Facebook, your blog...

click on image for bigger
feel free to click and drag to your desktop

Here's the list as text:

1 mp3
2 live
3 instrument
4 classic
5 radio
6 genre
7 speakers
8 CD
9 audience
10 mic
11 cover
12 idol
13 b-side
14 score
15 cassette
16 stage
17 amp
18 acoustic
19 sound system
20 old school
21 headphones
22 LP
23 rehearsal
24 gear
25 electric
26 hit
27 beat
28 player
29 45
30 more cowbell

hashtag #musicphotoed062012